“Why?”
“Because you’re hungry and if you do that, I’m going to have to take us back to my apartment right now. No food for you.”
I grin and move my foot higher by an inch, our eyes still locked. But then I pull away, I’ve seen enough of this new Xavier to know that he has every intention of fulfilling his threat. Not that I can say I’d mind too much. I can’t imagine anything better in the world, than being in Xavier’s bed.
“I shouldn’t even be eating now,” I say, looking at the time. “I have to go out for dinner tonight.”
“So, I’m not going to see you tonight?” I get a thrill at the thought that he still wants more of me.
“I would think you’ve seen enough of me today.”
“It will never be enough. So, anyway, what did you tell Preppy about the noise from your office?” Xavier says, and I roll my eyes at his nickname for Cameron.
“I told Cameron that I was just laughing at a funny video on my phone.”
“And he believed you?”
I shrug, “Don’t see why not.”
“It didn’t sound like laughing from where I was standing.”
“Well, you had a front row seat. Better acoustics. ”
“And… he wants one.”
“He doesn’t, we’re just friends. Best friends. He’s been there for me for a long time, Xavier.” I don’t like the thought that there is any animosity between the two of them. It will make my life too difficult. Xavier doesn’t reply, just moves his cutlery around a bit before looking up at me. His stare makes me feel nervous. “I told you, he’s my business partner. Not… anything else partner.”
“Doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be.” And I don’t tell him the thought may have crossed my mind once or twice in the past.
“Well, if that were true, which it isn’t, that would be his problem, not mine, and definitely not yours.”
“Might be mine.”
“It’s not.”
He reaches over and takes my hand in his, turning it over and then lifting it to press a kiss to my palm.
“Whatever’s your problem IS my problem. You said it, you’re mine. That’s what being mine means.”
Trust my own words to come back to haunt me. I did say that because it’s true. Whatever is going to happen, I’m his. I’ve always been his.
Him
I walk Malynda back to her office but don’t go up. I’ve spent so much of my time focusing on her since she’s come back into my life, I’ve neglected a lot of my work. My walk back to Ash Industries is spent on the phone following up some loose ends for Kaine and planning some meetings for the rest of the week.
I step off the elevator on my office floor. “Patti, can I have th-…”
“On your desk,” she says, her hands moving over her keyboard so fast I can barely see them, her eyes locked on the computer screen. It’s her “don’t bother me” mode, and I know better than to disobey.
The file is on my desk, just as she said, and I sit back, flicking through.
What I’m looking for, I’m not sure. I guess I’ll know it when I see it.
By the time I look up from my desk after working through the absolute urgent list of tasks for the day, the sun is level with my eye. I glance at my cell. Almost 7:30. And there’s a list of texts.
I scroll through them, stopping when I see her name.
“What cologne do you wear? I can’t stop smelling you on my skin. I’m turning myself on.”
“Fine, don’t tell me. Keep your sexy man scent to yourself.”
“Just in case you’re wondering, MY scent is Vanilla and Jasmine. Wait, don’t tell me, you already knew that.”
I tap reply and thumb in my response.
“It’s not cologne, it’s just the smell of my skin.”
The reply comes back before I can even exit out of the screen.
“Don’t believe you.”
“Come over, I’ll let you smell me to prove it.”
“I can’t. Busy, remember?”
“No.” Yes, of course I do.
“Yes, you do.”
“Fine, I’m busy too anyway. I just remembered I made plans.”
“Smell ya later?”
“You can count on it.”
I change into a fresh shirt and jog out the door, shouting, “Go home, Patti!” to my assistant as I step into the elevator.
***
B. B King is filtering through the speakers when I step out into Kaine’s apartment fifteen minutes later. I can hear the sound of Jade’s laughter before I step into the living area, the smell of something delicious making me salivate. I tease Kaine about putting on the pounds since Jade moved in, but he was always a pretty good cook anyway. I wonder who is on chef duty tonight considering Jade has been busy juggling the baby and her new roles with the foundation and I saw Kaine barely an hour ago at the office.
“Hey,” Kaine greets me as I turn the corner into his foyer. He hands me a glass and the ice inside it clinks against the crystal. “Just in time for our toast,” he says, stepping back to the drinks trolley.
“What are we toasting?” I ask.
“Me,” replies a familiar voice. I spin around and Malynda is there, drink in hand.
My heart jumps and I feel my body tense and soften at once. I’m still not used to seeing her after all this time.
“Oh, hey,” I say, wandering over to her and dropping a kiss to her cheek, lingering for a moment as I take a deep breath. Yup, vanilla and jasmine. “And why are we toasting you, exactly?”
“Because she told us, if we visit you now, there’s somewhere for all four of us to sit,” Jade yells across the room from the couch. She’s stretched out, her bare feet dangling off the side. I laugh as I walk over and lean down, giving her a kiss, purposely lingering longer than I should.