Page 76 of Mine to Ruin

“It’s the least he can do.”

“What’s the least I can do?” Kian asks as he steps inside.

Brandon swallows the rest of his sandwich, kisses my cheek, and muffles a smile. He loves to provoke his brother, and I shake my head at his antics.

Before he leaves, he says, “Good luck, brother. In case they won’t like you, maybe I should try?”

I shoot him an ‘are you kidding me’ look while Kian’s jaw ticks so hard, it might break.

“He’s kidding.”

His brows knot together. “So you two always have lunch together?”

“Yes, he’ll pick something up for the both of us and bring it here.”

“I see.” A line digs between his brows and his eyes darken.

“Kian.” I snap my fingers to bring his attention to me.

“You will have lunch with me from now on,” he says, his tone brooking no argument.

“A demand, well then my answer is a no.” I cross my arms and he leans into me.

“You don’t mind them when I fuck you.”

With a raised brow, I counter, “That’s different.”

He takes the seat next to me and cocks his head, his lips curling up in a mischievous grin. “Maybe I should keep you only in my bed.”

A heat wave rumbles in my lower belly, and I squeeze my legs together, pinning him with what I hope is a serious stare. A smirk lights up on his face revealing he knows his words affect me.

“Brandon almost choked when he heard you wanted to meet my parents,” I tell him.

He shakes his head then drags in a lungful of air, pinching his nose. “I don’t run away from responsibilities, but he wouldn’t know what that is, so it doesn’t surprise me.” He stands up, buttons up his jacket and whispers in my ear. “Tomorrow, I’ll take you out for lunch.”

“Kian...”

He steals a kiss from me and swaggers away. He’s going to learn what happens when he leaves before we are done talking. My eyes follow his firm back, and when he turns around and catches me, he chuckles.

“Like what you see?”

Color creeps up my cheeks, and I bite my lip and answer, “Just lost in thought.”

The next day, when I go to lunch upstairs to the restaurant with Kian, I take Brandon with me. Kian hasn’t stopped scowling since he saw him.

“Is it me? I thought I was invited, too?” Brandon says.

Kian shoots me a glare, and I stare back at him. This is me trying to make them spend time together and failing.

“No, it’s not you,” I say.

“Yes, it is,” Kian retorts.

I elbow him in the ribs, and he looks at me like a petulant child. When we exit the elevator, we find everyone else at the table—Kendrick, Jason, and Melanie.

I greet them with a smile and bury my disappointment. A bout of anger gives way inside of me, but I swallow it back and take a seat. Melanie is seated across from Kian, and my vision clouds when I hear her saccharine voice telling him she ordered his favorite.

“That’s thoughtful of you,” he says.

---