Page 9

“Uhhh, yes, I think so. Oh,” she added, “I was wondering if you wanted to join me for dinner, I’m cooking—”

“I’m fasting. Goodnight.”

He hung up and redialed Kildare, pacing.

“All good?” Kildare asked.

“How long until my replacement?”

A pause. “Uhhhh… well. There is no replacement. It was just for optics.”

Kaos’s rage coiled so fast he had to hang up before the phone shattered in his hand.

Another knock.

“I’m so very sorry,” she called. “I think I locked myself out.”

He opened the door and found her arms crossed, face tilted in that sheepish way that somehow kept crawling under his skin.

“Where’s your phone?”

“It’s in the… house,” she said, rubbing her arms and shivering.

“I can’t unlock it if it’s not here.”

She frowned. Then gasped. “Not my phone! I’m locked out of the house!”

He stared at her for three seconds then made his way to her apartment. At the door, he took hold of the handle, pulled in a microscopic thread of rage, and shoved with his shoulder.

Fuck. The door snapped clean from the frame.

“Oh my God!” she gasped. “I didn’t mean—I should call—”

“No,” Kaos cut in, leaning the door against the wall like it had offended him. “Go to my apartment. We’ll call tomorrow.”

“I can just lock my bedroom door if—”

“You’ll stay in my apartment,” he said, tone final. “I’ll stay here.”

She glanced around, froze, then cursed. “Shit!” She sprinted to the kitchen. “Just—let me turn this mess off. I ruined it.” She spun the stove knob off then turned and disappeared through a doorway. “Just getting clothes,” she called.

The barrier he’d erected created a blur of her again. He closed his eyes, thinned it slightly. Her sadness hit like cold breath. Disappointment. Bitter and pointless.

Was it the food?

“I have food,” he called, hating this odd need to fix something he hadn’t broken.

“Thank you,” she replied, her warmth dragging claws through his restraint. “I’m not really that hungry.”

She reappeared, an entire suitcase in hand.

“It’s for one night,” he reminded.

She paused mid-step, like the words had hit her in the gut. She set the suitcase on the floor right where she stood then dropped down and yanked it open. She ripped things out in handfuls, a flash of black lace summoning his Lust.

She stood, arms full of clothes, breathing hard. “There. One night’s worth.” Her eyes met his, clear and cutting. “Does that make you feel better, Mr. Kohl?”

He stared.