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“Yeah, but I’m cute. So I can get away with it.” Kane bumped her shoulder with his, and she made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a growl. “I’m guessing you’re drawing some parallels between your ex running your business with you and me coming around to help?”
“Something like that.” Iris bit the words out.
“And you’re worried that you’re just making the same mistakes all over again? Falling into the same patterns.”
“Yup, that about sums it up.”
“You’re not wrong to feel this way,” Kane said, and Iris glanced at him, surprise written on that pretty mismatched face of hers. “It makes absolute sense. Plus, our brains naturally look for patterns, so it’s easy to see why you’d lump me in with your ex-boyfriend, insulting though it is.”
“I’m not trying to insult you. These are just my feelings.” Iris hunched her shoulders, and Kane ached to hold her once more and promise her that everything would work out just fine.
“And I’m telling you they are valid,” Kane said. He turned to look out over the water as he formulated his thoughts. “I don’t mind you being scared or anxious that my help with your business is similar to how Warren involved himself in your previous shop. However, if you’re going to look for similarities, then it’s only fair you look for differences too. Have I signed any contracts with you?”
“You have not,” Iris whispered.
“Have I, at any point, told you what to do? What color to paint? What furniture to buy? What logo to design? What toilet paper to buy?”
At that, Iris cracked a smile.
“You have not.”
“Have I asked for account information, passwords, keys, or any other private or security-related information?”
“You have not.”
“Have I asked if I can help you run the business or become involved with your social media following?”
“You have not.” Iris sighed.
“What have I done, then?” Kane wanted her to say it, so she could really understand for herself how he was worlds apart from that jerk of an ex-boyfriend who had ridden her coattails to success.
“You’ve shown up every day, often with snacks. Then you ask me what I need. And then…”
“I do it.” Kane raised his eyebrows at her.
“You do,” Iris agreed. She sighed and pinched her nose. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You’re entirely right. Just because you’re male and I’m attracted to you doesn’t mean that you’re anything like Warren. That wasn’t fair of me to lump you in with him.”
“You’re attracted to me?” Kane perked up. “Tell me how. And in full details.”
“Oh, right, like I’m going to feed that ego of yours.” Iris shot him a look.
“Ego? Hardly,” Kane scoffed.
“Well, I suppose that’s fair. You’re confident, but I wouldn’t say you have a big ego. But I’ve met you at a difficult time in your life.”
Kane reached over and picked up Iris’s hand, threading his fingers through hers.
“You may not know it, Iris, but you’re rescuing me.”
“What? I am?” Iris said, turning to Kane.
“You are. I…I so admire you. You, who had your world shattered at your feet, picked yourself up the next damn day and hopped on a plane to another country. You’ve met new family, started a new business, and even found a new place to live. It’s pretty incredible to watch. You’ve inspired me to work on moving past my own hurts and to make progress in my own life.”
“Kane.” Iris’s voice caught, and a sheen of tears shimmered in her eyes.
“I didn’t bring you up here to make you cry again,” Kane said, reaching over to run a finger over her lips. “But I’d be remiss in my role of knight in shining armor if I didn’t tell you how much you’ve helped me.”
“Why do you have to go and get hotter every time I talk to you?” Iris glared, and Kane threw his head back and laughed.
