Page 12 of Complete Me

“It really is.” I gesture to the phone. “He’s obviously fine with you having his number.”

Kaino’s expression is unreadable. Not that I know their expressions well. They swallow another mouthful of coffee before pushing to their feet and reaching for their coat. “Thanks for the coffee. I’ve taken up enough of your time, and I should get going.”

Quickly setting the phone on my desk, I stand. “I’m glad we ran into each other. How often do you interpret for this client?” What am I doing? I should let them go, not try to meet up with them again. They. Are. Competition. At least, I’m pretty sure they are. And if they’re not, they’re certainly not interested in me. And I’m not interested in them. I’m interested in Bjorn.

With deft fingers, Kaino buttons the front of their coat, and my brain helpfully imagines what else those slim, dextrous fingers could do. “It’s a Tuesday morning class.”

Their words snap me out of my thoughts. “Oh. Well, we should do this again next week.” The raised single brow is sexy as hell and does nothing to calm me. “I enjoyed our conversation. I’d like to get to know you better.”

“Really?” It’s said casually, but with a hint of skepticism.

“Really.” Taking a deliberate breath, I settle my agitation. “You’re very different from what I’d expected.”

Kaino’s entire presence stills, their gaze pinning me in place. “You had expectations? Why? And what were they?”

A tingling starts in my gut and radiates up my spine as I’m struck by an image of Kaino as a panther, stalking prey. Somehow, I know I’m the prey, frozen between fight and flight. Under that stare, the truth spills out of my mouth. “Someone less thoughtful. Less independent, and frankly, less reserved. Bjorn is a gregarious goof. He’s smart, but he also needs to be in charge of everything. So I assumed I was the exception to a prior dating pool of individuals who were looking for a…” I struggle to find the right word.

“A daddy.”

There’s a quirk to the corner of their lips, and I nod, grinning. “Exactly. I mean, he is a Daddy, but that’s a completely different thing. He struggled so much trying to keep his siblings on the right track that I assumed he’d look for anyone willing to relinquish decision-making to him.” With a shrug, I lean against my desk, relaxing a bit. “I often wondered if the real reason we broke up was my inability to let him have his way.”

Kaino’s eyes sparkle mischievously. “Well, he certainly never blanketly got his way with me.”

I have the strongest impression that I’m missing context for that statement, and I’d very much like to know about it. “No. You don’t strike me as someone lacking opinions.” In fact, they strike me as someone who is very much in control of themselves and enjoys being in control of others. “If I may ask, is that why you two broke up?”

“No. At the time we were together, I was in my late twenties and focused on my career and financial independence. Bjorn was nearing his mid-thirties and already well into caring for his siblings. We had different priorities, but it was an amicable parting.”

I snort. “Of course it was. As I’ve told Bjorn, I don’t think he’s ever had a bad breakup. The only person I’ve ever seen him fight with is Gunnar.”

“If not giving him his way was the real reason you broke up, I’m assuming that’s not what you told people was the cause. So what was?”

Sighing, I cross my arms and then uncross them when I realize how defensive that makes me look. “Most of why we broke up is my fault. I tend to…” I glance out the window before forcing my eyes back to Kaino’s. “I can be a bit needy when it comes to partners. Not all the time. I enjoy alone time to read, and my job is quite demanding. But when I’m ready to be social, I’m ready. And I’ve never had issues asking for what I want.”

Kaino tilts their head to the side, considering me. “Or demanding it?”

I huff out a laugh. “Possibly.”

A small smile tugs at their lips. “I’ll bet you can be a brat.”

That pulls a full laugh from me. “Absolutely. Someone should probably turn me over their knee.” A deliciously wicked look flashes in Kaino’s eyes, and then it’s gone. I’d swear I imagined it, if not for the residual heat sweeping through me.

“I should get going. You need to prepare for your next class, and I need to get to my next client.”

I push off my desk and extend my hand, but withdraw it almost immediately, remembering that they don’t do that. “Sorry. Habit.” Their gaze is penetrating, and makes me feel all kinds of tingly—and a little afraid—but not in a negative way. It’s more a promise of something I’m not sure I want. But it’s intriguing, nonetheless.

“No problem. Thank you for understanding.”

Before I second guess it or even consider what I’m doing, I snatch my phone from my desk and open a contact. “You should give me your number. We should have coffee again next week after class.”

When I thrust my phone at them, they stare at the screen for a long second before taking it from me. “What about Bjorn?”

Are they asking about my offer to give them Bjorn’s number, or are they asking if Bjorn and I are romantically involved again? Do they want to be romantically involved? And if yes, with which one of us? Confused, I shake my head. “What about Bjorn?”

“You don’t think it’ll be odd that we’re intentionally meeting for coffee without him?” Their thumbs fly over the screen, and then they hand me back my phone.

I glance at the contact entry. Kaino Nieminen. “Nieminen. Is that Scandinavian?” They have the pale hair I’d expect, but their eyes are a bright green and their skin is a warm brown.

“Yes.” They stare at me for several seconds, an enigmatic smile tugging at their lips. “I won’t make you ask. My father was Finnish. I get my hair color from him. My mother was Sámi. Hence the skin tone and eye shape.” They gesture to their face as an absolutely mischievous grin appears. “No one knows where the green eyes came from.”

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