Page 11 of Fast Fury

When she’d woken up this morning, the last thing Abby had expected to happen was that she would wind up in Kai’s shower tonight.

She breathed in deeply as she worked the shampoo into her wet hair, and almost moaned. The clean, spicy fragrance was all Kai, made her imagine him standing in here completely naked with soapsuds trailing over his smooth, deep-caramel skin. And had it been her imagination, or had he kind of checked her out back at the gym?

Granted, she’d been sweaty and disgusting with not even a trace of makeup on. Maybe she’d imagined it. He went for model types, not people like her.

Clean, dry and dressed in dark jeans and three-quarter sleeve faux-wrap top that did wonders for her cleavage, she paused in front of the mirror for a moment to smooth her bangs to the side.

A nervous flutter stirred in the pit of her belly. Weird. This wasn’t a date, but it felt entirely different from when they’d shared a meal when they’d been neighbors. More intimate. It was like that parting hug the day before he’d moved out had changed things between them somehow.

Or maybe you’re nuts.

Yeah, okay, maybe. Her intensifying crush on him might be clouding her judgment.

She found Kai busy getting things prepped in the kitchen. He stood with his back to her, allowing her a moment’s privacy to admire the width of his shoulders, taut waist and the way he filled out those snug jeans.

“Need a hand with anything?” she asked.

She loved food. It was her solace and had been since she was a teenager living in her constantly tension-filled house. She loved to eat it, cook it, and share it with people she cared about. In the kitchen, she was in her element. There, she felt the freest, and in control. It was why she spent so much time there, cooking up big dishes she no longer had anyone across the hall to share them with. Without Kai, her place and life seemed a little empty.

He glanced over one muscular shoulder at her and shot her a smile that made her belly flip. “No, I’m okay. I’m not anywhere as good as you in the kitchen, but this I’ve got. Want some wine?”

“If you’ve got some.”

“I do, and it’s your favorite.”

It touched her that he’d remembered her favorite label and bought some for her. “Wow, you’re spoiling me.”

He tossed her another of those lazy, appreciative grins, and he turned back to pouring her a glass. “You always spoiled me. High time I returned the favor.” He handed it to her.

“Thank you.” She stood at the island and sipped at it as he got the salad together, savoring the delicate cherry notes to her favorite red wine. God, she’d missed him. “Your place is really great, Kai.” A loft-style space, open concept, with lots of old brick and great light. Big step up from the units in the building she lived in.

“You like it?” Kai asked.

“It’s gorgeous.” Urban without being too modern, masculine, and warm rather than cold the way industrial-style places so often were. “Suits you perfectly.”

She wandered into the open-concept living area. Goliath was safely ensconced in his tank in the living room portion of the loft. Framed pictures of Kai and his grandma or teammates lined a long shelf mounted on the brick wall separating the main living area from the master suite. She especially loved the ones of him in his Marine dress uniform.Hot.

“I lucked out. It had just come on the market the day before I got the word I needed to move.” He picked up the plate holding the steaks. “I’m gonna go grill these outside on the deck, if you wanna join me.”

“Sure.” She followed him through the far end of the loft and through a large sliding glass door out onto a private balcony, giving them a panoramic view of the city and river. Out here she could breathe easier, that undercurrent of sexual tension simmering between them less prevalent. “Wow, look at that view! No wonder you were so quick to get out of our building,” she teased.

He stopped in the process of lifting the lid to the grill, his eyes meeting hers. He had gorgeous eyes. At first glance they seemed dark as espresso. Up close in the light, they were studded with bits of dark amber and chocolate. “It’s a great place. But it doesn’t feel as homey as when I lived across from you.”

Something in his tone and expression gave his words a weight that told her he missed her. “No,” she agreed. “It’s not the same for me now either. Not gonna lie, I miss having you around. I felt safe with you there, and I liked being able to share my cooking with someone who appreciated it.”

“You’re still safe,” he told her, sliding the steaks onto the hot grill. “I had someone from the agency review the building’s security video surveillance. No sign whatsoever of anyone casing the place or following you to or from the building or parking garage.”

“When did you do that?”

“Last night. Called in a favor on the way home from the bar.”

“Oh.” Warmth glowed in her chest that he would go to such trouble, that he cared about her so much. “Well, thank you.”

“It’s nothing. After what you said about being followed and then Shelley showing up, I wanted to be sure.” He stepped back from the grill and leaned against the deck railing to fold his arms, giving her an eyeful of the muscles in his arms and shoulders. The swirling edge of a black tribal tattoo peeked out from beneath the bottom of his left sleeve. So many times she’d wondered where they started and ended, wanted to see the whole design.

And then trace it with her fingers and lips.

“So, any word on Maui yet?” he asked.

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