Page 36 of Things We Burn

An hour later, the coffee was gone, and our croissants were no more than crumbs on plates on my coffee table.

I was sitting tucked into Kane’s chest, not really by choice. When he’d come back with coffee and breakfast—looking far too sinfully attractive in his shirt, jeans, tousled hair and a cheeky grin—I’d attempted to put a sensible distance between us. He was having none of that, grabbing on to me and hauling me across the couch so I was almost sitting on his lap.

Kiera watched this happen with the same gleam to her smile that she’d had the entire time she was here.

I had given her a complete rundown of the past four days. Had it only been four days? Trite as it was, it truly felt like a lifetime. Like Kane had changed something fundamental inside me.

I was plagued with romantic notions I’d been certain I was immune to.

Yet there I was… Instead of getting ready for the day, getting to the restaurant, keeping my orderly and important schedule in place, I was lazily drinking coffee in Kane ‘The Devil’ Rhodes’s arms while shooting the shit with my best friend.

My best friend who had never sat casually in my apartment drinking coffee and eating breakfast with any of my boyfriends. Never smiled and laughed warmly, joking with them as she had been with Kane for the last hour.

It felt easy. Nice. Kane was just as engaging, asking Kiera questions about her life, meeting every one of her sarcastic quips with jokes of his own.

“I’m having a party,” he said. “Well, my agent is making me have the party because of some fucking booze he talked me into endorsing. To be fair, it’s fucking great shit; I’d never promote something I didn’t actually like. Plus, the owner is a friend I owe a favor to, and I love a party.” He hiked up a shoulder. “Obviously, Chef is coming. And I would be honored to have you there to liven up the place.” He winked at Kiera.

I craned my head to look at him. “Obviously,I’m coming?”

“Yeah. You’re my woman.” He looked down, unaware or unbothered by the bite in my tone as he smiled lazily. “Want you there.”

My mouth went dry at ‘my woman.’ It had me momentarily stunned. He’d said it last night too.

I was only stunned momentarily, though.

“I have a job. I can’t take the night off with no notice.” My spine was straight, tone chilly.

Kane didn’t so much as flinch. “Yeah, which is why I scheduled the party for this Monday.”

I gasped in surprise. The restaurant was closed the third Monday of every month. Completely closed. We weren’t open for service every night, but there was always work to do. But those Mondays were a black day for everyone. It was so I could test out new menus, for the staff to have a proper break and to have the opportunity to deep clean or redecorate whatever Heidi decided to redecorate at the time.

The fact that Kane not only knew the restaurant was closed and had organized his party to be on that particular night was a huge gesture. Maybe a sweet one. If it weren’t coupled with him also making a decision for me.

“I could be busy,” I informed him coldly.

“Areyou busy, Chef?” His eyes glittered, obviously amused with my irritation.

That only served to irritate me more.

“If you are, I’ll simply change the party,” he continued as if it were no big deal.

I bit my lip. That tic had returned whenever I was around Kane because I was never in control when I was with Kane.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. You’re not busy, Avery,” Kiera chimed in.

I shot her a death glare. Even though she seemed immune to them.

“I get it. You don’t like a man making plans for you. Which I wouldn’t recommend doing again,” she told Kane. “On account of Avery not only being a massive control freak but also a woman with agency who is entitled to make her own plans.” She gave him a jaunty smile. “But on this occasion, I’ll allow it.”

“Willyouallow it?” I wanted to strangle my friend.

“Cut the shit, Chef,” Kane grasped my chin so I was looking at him. “You’re sexy as shit when you’re pissed, something I’m gonna keep in mind, but we’re gonna have a good time. You’re gonna have a good time, and I’m gonna show you off.” He leaned in to kiss me, grazing my lip with his teeth as he did so.

All thoughts of arguing with Kane flew out of my mind.

“You gonna battle me some more—which I welcome—or you gonna come to the party?” he murmured.

“I’m gonna come to the party,” I whispered, almost in a trance.

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