Page 15 of Just Between Us

He shakes his head, walking over and planting a soft kiss on my forehead and I feel myself melt. If I knew having a ridiculously hot boyfriend would feel like this all the time, I would have found Cole sooner.

“How did you find dinner?” he asks, slipping on a pair of shorts for bed.

“Besides the waitress shoving her boobs in your face, I’d say it was pretty good.”

Cole laughs. “Feeling territorial are we, Evie?”

“No, but she was really hot,” I say. “I kinda respect the audacity, to be honest.”

“You weren’t jealous of Kai having my attention.”

I shrug but he’s right. Cole focusing on Kai through dinner pleased me more than it probably should. I should be mad at him for barely paying attention to me. And as much as I try to reach for that emotion, I can’t seem to. All there seems to be is excitement.

Cole narrows his eyes. “You like him, don’t you?” His voice is not accusatory, more curious.

I think about it for a second. I do like Kai. I like how smart he is and how surprisingly funny he is when he’s comfortable. I like that he likes us. I like the idea of untangling him. But I also know it’s crossing a line. I know thinking about him on his knees is messed up especially since I have Cole. Something builds in my throat, realisation hitting me like a freight train.

Oh, what the fuck, Levi?

“I guess yeah,” I say, looking at Cole. “Who wouldn’t?”

As if he can read my mind, he walks towards me and tips my chin up. A smile dances on his lips. “I should be pissed you have a crush on someone who isn’t me.”

I open my mouth to argue it’s not a crush but that’s exactly what it is. How else do I explain inviting him to dinner with Cole tonight and then inviting him to Anant’s birthday? Kai isn’t just one of my weird fixations. He’s a crush and I feel like an idiot for not realising it sooner.

“Are you?” I ask him hesitantly because if he is then this stops now.

His lips capture mine, kissing me deeply, enough to bruise. “What do you think, baby?”

Chapter Five: Kai

“This is amazing!” Jenna says over the music as we step into what seems to be a private burlesque club. A red glow emanates through the entire space, women and men swing from fabric suspended from the black ceiling, some doing quick tumbles before hoisting themselves up again in a smooth motion. A few gasps ring around the room, house music pulsing in the background.

Jenna grips my arm as a waiter appears and hands us each a glass of champagne from an ornate silver tray. I turn to her, and we bump our glasses together.

“Cheers to a good night.” She winks, flicking her blond hair behind her back. She is in a short black dress with gold safety pins running down the side, enough to show off her insane body in a way that makes me think of Elizabeth Hurley in that one Versace dress.

I opted for a sheer black dress shirt and black pants. You can barely see any skin but there’s enough of a hint. I can admit I look good and surprisingly; my confidence is at an all-time high despite being surrounded by all the designer watches, shoes, short dresses, and expensive silks.

“Kai,” a familiar voice comes from behind me.

My heart shoots up to my throat and all that confidence I had flowing through me seems to dry up in a second because when I turn, Levi is standing there. He’s in all black again, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up and buttons popped open, enough to show the hint of a tattoo that sits just under his collarbone. The diamond bracelet sits in its place as if reminding me to stop staring.

“Oh, you must be Levi,” Jenna says without missing a beat.

Levi’s brown eyes fall on her, and he smiles, that personable one he gives everyone in the office. “And you must be Jenna.” He holds out his hand and she takes it. “A pleasure.”

His voice is smoky and smooth and despite the people around us and the dancers floating above us, it’s like I’m paused in time.

“I’m glad you came,” Levi says, his eyes shifting to me. “You both look great.”

I suddenly feel self-conscious in my sheer shirt. “Thank you,” I finally manage to get out, “You uh—you look great too.”

Smooth, Kai, smooth.

I can feel Jenna grinning next to me. She knows I’m drowning here because Levi looks like that.

“This place looks amazing. It’s like we’re in a Parisian burlesque club,” she says, looking around and saving me a little in the process.

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