Page 49

“Hey, I brought you something.” He holds up a small brown paper bag, and I smile.

“I get the distinct feeling that it’s some kind of food.”

He frowns and crosses his arms over his chest. “You saying I’m predictable?”

“If it walks like a duck…” I reply, letting my voice trail off as I shrug, and he scowls down at me. “Or maybe, you just have some odd fetish where you like to watch me eat. So…which is it?”

A deep growl rumbles in his chest as he leans down and latches on to my waist, lifting me up in the air so I’m eye to eye with him. “Or maybe I just like taking care of you.”

I melt. It’s a damn good thing that he’s holding me otherwise I’d be a puddle on the floor. “Well, I like that answer but I don’t have time for breakfast.”

“Make time,” he demands, walking into the house and shutting the door behind him before carrying me into the kitchen and setting me down on the counter in the exact same spot that he bandaged my knee.

“Seriously, Storm. I’m going to be late if I stay and have breakfast with you.”

He grabs the pot of coffee I made a little bit earlier and pours a cup. “Cream or sugar?” he asks.

“Are you listening to me? I really have to go.”

“Cream or sugar?” he asks again, and I sigh, nodding my head as I point to the fridge.

“Two creams. They’re in the fridge, second shelf.”

He opens the fridge and grabs the little individual cream cups and pours them in the mug before bringing it over to me.

“Storm, I have to go now,” I say again, glancing up at the clock on the wall.

“Baby, shut up and eat breakfast with me. I’ll get you there on time.”

My brow quirks, and I shoot him a look. “And how are you going to do that? Traffic is terrible in the morning.”

“Not on a bike.” He holds a pastry in front of my face. “Now, eat.”

I bite into it, not taking my eyes off him. His eyes are warm like a crackling fire as he watches me eat, a smile lighting up his face. He pulls the pastry away and leans in, licking a drop of frosting off my lip, and I barely hold in a moan.

“I fucking missed you,” he mumbles like he can’t quite believe it himself, and I lean into him, kissing his cheek just below his ear.

“I missed you, too,” I whisper, surprised that I admitted it out loud. He pulls back and searches my eyes, seeking an answer to some unspoken question. After a moment, he leans in and presses his lips to mine with a hunger that makes my entire body ache with need. He pulls away and shakes his head, turning away for a second.

“Here, finish this, and I’ll get you to work.” He hands me the pastry, and I take a few more bites before setting it down on the counter and drinking some more coffee. He turns back to me, and I set the mug down before jumping off the counter and grabbing my bag.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Shit. I’m really sorry but I just got a text from the guys, and I gotta go. Tell your boss it was all my fault, all right?” He leaves without another word, and I just stand in my kitchen for a moment, trying to catch up to what the hell just happened. Just when I think there might be something here, he disappears and I can’t help but wonder if he’s making up all these excuses to avoid me.

Shaking my head, I walk out to my car, and just as I’m opening the door, he drives past me on his bike. I watch him until he turns the corner and sigh as I slide behind the wheel. I don’t want to push but I need to know what the hell this is and soon.

I start the car and head toward work, doing my best to rush, but as predicted, the traffic is terrible. Luckily, I’m only five minutes late when I walk in, and Mercedes smiles at me.

“Sorry I’m late,” I say, and she laughs.

“Five minutes? Please, I’m five minutes late all the time. No biggie. Meet me in my office in ten though. There are some things that we need to go over.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, and if you’re late ‘cause you were totally having sex with that hot as sin man that came in asking for you the other day, then I fully endorse you not coming in on time.”

I scowl. “Wait. What guy?”