Page 20 of Kiss Me

He snorts. “And?”

“What else could there be?”

“You do understand that blackmail is illegal, correct?”

“Someone else with the damn legal advice,” I gripe. “Also, that’s pretty rich coming from someone who locked his girlfriend in his damn house.”

Dae scowls. “I only did that to keep her safe.”

“So you keep telling us.” Kennedy comes up behind my cousin to stand next to him.

I’m unsurprised when his expression softens.

“Something I’ll never do again,” he says with a serious weightiness in his voice.

I don’t doubt he means it. That crazy stunt almost cost him the love of the woman he’d literally obsessed over for more than a decade.

As I stare between my cousin and his wife, talking in hushed voices to one another, I expect the typical apathy I feel in the presence of couples to manifest.

It never arises, however.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss,” three of the Townsend girls, led by Kennedy’s sister, Stasi, cheer while she holds mistletoe over the couple’s heads.

Dae and Kennedy oblige while laughing. Alarmingly, my attention darts over to Tania. The urge for Stasi to hold mistletoe over our heads, encouraging us to kiss, hits me with a pang in my gut.

I assume it’s only because I’ve wondered what Tania’s lips taste like for the better part of the day.

That’s it. Nothing more.

I don’t even believe in the whole love thing.

Not for me, anyway.

I give Dae and Kennedy one last glance. The expression on Dae’s face imprints on my memory. It’s not the first time I’ve seen the glow my cousin wears whenever he’s in his wife’s presence.

But this is the first time that a part of me, and I mean, a super small part, has an inkling to know what it feels like. To be so deeply devoted to a woman.

I shake the thought off and head back to the table where Tania’s seated.

“How’s your ankle doing?” Liza asks, standing over her.

I can tell her assistant is extremely competent and devoted. Yet, her presence begins to piss me off.

“I’m certain her ankle is fine,” I answer for Tania. “And if it’s not, she’ll let me know.” I glance around and spot the waiter from earlier in the day who was checking Liza out, again throwing glances her way.

“I think that table over there is looking a little empty,” I tell her, pointing at the table with the least amount of family members, which is also closest to the waiter. “Maybe you can help them out since the competition is about to start soon.”

It’s not a question.

Liza’s eyes widen and she looks down at Tania, who clears her throat and adjusts her propped up leg.

“Yes, I don’t think they’ll mind you sitting with them,” Tania says.

“Alright … just let me know if you need anything,” Liza says before giving Tania one final look and heading off to the table on the opposite side of the room.

Alone at last.

“How is that ankle of yours doing?” I grin as I place one of the mugs of hot chocolate in front of her and take the empty seat next to her.

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