Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 154728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
The simple curiosity in the question took me aback. He wasn’t asking because he felt like he should be polite and pretend to care about it; he genuinely seemed like he wanted to know.
“It depends on the day, but usually, the first thing I do is source protein for the restaurant. If I want to or have the time, I may go to look at artisan producers of ingredients. Then I go to the restaurant to get started on prep, and I’m there till close.” I kept my tone brisk as I pulled my halter over my head. I knew I’d have to stop at my apartment to change. Not to shower, though. I wanted to smell like Kane all day.
“What does your normal day look like?” I asked him as I put on the last of my clothes. I’d obviously forgotten what I told myself moments ago when I’d decided I didn’t need to learn more about him.
He showed his teeth, creating a smile with an edge. “Baby, I haven’t had a normal day in my life, and if I’ve got anything to do with it, I won’t have one till the day I meet the reaper.”
We couldn’t have been more opposite if we’d tried. Completely wrong for each other.
“I’ll walk you down, get you a cab.” He pushed off the bed then went to the closet, presumably to retrieve something from his exploding suitcase.
“You don’t have to; I’m quite capable of hailing a cab,” I called to him, suddenly feeling awkward and needing to get out of there so I could get distance from him. Surely, once I was out of his orbit, sense would return, and I’d realize he was just another man. A handsome one, a muscled one, and one with a talented tongue, but a man, nonetheless.
“I know you’re quite capable.” Kane emerged as he pulled a shirt over his head, wearing cut-off sweats. “But grant me the boon, at least.”
He was charming. Effortlessly so. And I felt myself falling for it.
“Fine,” I huffed.
He walked me down the stairs with his hand on the small of my back, my steps becoming heavier and heavier.
Kane’s gait was easy, unhurried, casual. Of course, it was. He’d likely done this dance countless times, hence why he was so effortlessly likable. He wasn’t holding on to last night like it was something sacred. It was a night of passion, of fun, of chaos that was nothing but another night to him.
I strove to treat it as something similar for myself. A taste of his life, of recklessness. I could channel it into my food. Store last night away somewhere like I did all the other complicated experiences in my past.
The air was crisp, the morning light still emerging, though the city was thriving as it always was. The flurry helped center me. Though I didn’t love chaos, the wildness of the city helped to center me. I wasn’t a New York native, but it had been home to me for almost my entire adult life.
At the curb Kane whistled, and within seconds, a cab was there.
My heart hammered.
Kane took my hips, pressing our bodies together so he could kiss me. Fully.
Despite my panic, I returned the kiss with fervor.
The horn of the impatient cab driver ended the kiss. Cab drivers in New York didn’t care about life-altering moments. I was sure they were immune to couples thinking they were main characters in some love story by now.
Kane smiled against my lips. “I don’t think the cab driver will take lightly to me fucking you against the hood of this car like I’m tempted to, so I’m gonna have to let you go.”
My body sailed with lust at the mere mention of such an act. For anyone else, it would be nothing but a ridiculous comment. For Kane, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was into that kind of thing.
I wasn’t into that kind of thing, I reminded myself.
I put on my mask of indifference, trying to step back from Kane, but he held fast.
He cupped my face. “I’ll be seeing you, Avery Hart.”
It sounded like a promise.
But it was just another line. We didn’t exchange numbers, make plans. He was being polite.
“I’ll be seeing you, Kane ‘The Devil’ Rhodes,” I replied back with a flippancy in my tone I was proud of.
He held me a beat longer before opening the door to the cab. I all but fell into it, forcing myself not to look at Kane again as he closed the door then banged the top of the car.
My body sank into the faded leather of the seat.
I wouldn’t be seeing Kane again.
A good thing. Since he was the antithesis of everything I was. A near miss. That’s what that was. A brush with a meteor that very well could’ve leveled me. I closed my eyes, sinking back, inhaling the smokey smell of the cab while running through my day. I forced Kane from my mind, promising myself I wouldn’t think of him again.