Page 25 of The Devil In Disguise

“Just take it. Be here in an hour.” He turns to his cousin. “You are coming with me.”

Luciano raises his hands in mock surrender and follows behind Kylo. “I like her,” is the last thing I hear before they’re gone.

They don’t turn around again and I’m glad for it because I was shamelessly watching Kylo storm off. It should be a crime to look as good as he does. The man is hotter than hell. He knows it, though, so I’ll just keep my thoughts to myself.

It only occurred to me once I was alone that I didn’t necessarily have a way of checking the time. He is just going to have to wait until I'm finished. After taking my time buying a whole new wardrobe including new combat boots, a pair of champagne lace-up heels that I could not resist, and two books. I meet Kylo at the spot where he left me.

The bags aren’t heavy, but there are so many that I try to hide my struggle. Without a word, he takes all my bags and stalks off to the car. When he sits in the passenger seat, he pulls out a new phone and hands it to me.

“The phone you asked for.” Pulling out of the parking lot, he avoids my face. “My number is already saved in there as well as the handmaid that distributes the meals on the compound.”

“I can cook for myself, I just need groceries. Can we make a quick stop?”

He stares at me for far longer than he should before directing his attention back to the road. When he doesn’t say anything, I assume we are going back to the property until he pulls into a supermarket.

I can’t hide how excited I am to shop for groceries—it’s more so the anticipation of cooking and baking. Having something productive to do brings me joy.

Seeing the aisles of ingredients has recipe ideas surfacing to the front of my mind rapidly, igniting a warm feeling inside.

Kylo pushes the shopping cart while I grab random items off the shelves and toss them in, making small talk as we go. “Ace is the only one you seem to tolerate. Are dogs your favorite animal?”

“I guess so, I never thought about it. What’s yours?”

“Piggies,” I blurt out mindlessly.

“Just say you want siblings.”

My nose involuntarily scrunches up and I move on, grabbing a big bag of flour. “Do you like flowers?” He scoffs as if I asked an absurd question. It’s only when I stop and look at him expectantly that he realizes I’m serious.

“I never got any.”

With a hand on my hip, I narrow my eyes. “But if you did?”

“Lilies.”

I don’t let the surprise show, instead busying myself with seasonings. “Me, too.” We stay silent for a while, debating on what else to grab.

Being around Kylo is oddly easy, despite the way he tries to provoke me. But even then, bickering with him excites me as much as it irritates me.

As I sneak a grape out of the bag and pop it into my mouth, my mind wanders to the same conversation I had in my dream before waking up.

Don’t trust anyone.

What I need is a long ride on my bike, one that takes me far away enough to give this same sense of peace without it being attached to a person. Diablita herself was able to give me that peace, even if it was fleeting. I miss her.

“Hey, have you gotten an update on my bike?” I ask Kylo, hopefully. “I want to go on a ride soon.”

“No, but you can ride me, instead.”

My eyes threaten to roll to the back of my head. I pick a grape and toss it at his head. “You have too much access to your lips. Close them.”

“I don’t have enough access to yours. Spread them.”

With a groan, I say, “Calladito te ves más bonito.” It’s a Spanish saying I grew up hearing that means, you look better when you’re quiet.

He places his hand over his chest. “I’m flattered you think I’m pretty.”

“I think you are insufferable.”

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