Page 49 of Covert Temptation

Or build something entirely new.

The roughened touch of Dante’s fingertip on her chin brought her back to him.

His eyes were warm when he looked at her. “Let’s clean up and eat.”

She firmed her jaw in determination. “Then I can help you with whatever you’re working on.”

Surprise flashed across his face as if he hadn’t been expecting her to say that.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Kennedy.”

“Why not? I’m more than qualified. I have a lot of skills. I’m a master at organizing data.”

“I have no doubt of that.” Several beats passed while he stared down at her. Finally, he said, “I’ll think about it.”

A smile spread over her face before she could stop it. “That’s more than I expected.”

It hit her then—Dante had his own walls, just as thick and weathered as hers. And for the first time, she wondered if she wasn’t only seeing past them…but slowly being let in.

She didn’t say anything in that moment, just held his gaze for a beat longer than necessary. Something unspoken passed between them—recognition, maybe. Understanding.

She wasn’t the only one who’d learned how to survive behind walls.

They went to opposite bedrooms to clean up, but the thought lingered like steam in her mind. She stood under the spray of the shower, eyes closed, wondering when the shift had happened—when Dante King had gone from someone she couldn’t trust to someone she didn’t want to stop believing in.

By the time she emerged in clean clothes, still towel-drying her hair, the scent of hot pepperoni pulled her out of her head.

He was in the kitchen, laying out slices of pizza onto paper plates one at a time and heating them in the microwave like it was a tactical mission. His hair was damp, the dark swirls pushed back off his forehead, and he’d changed into a plain gray T-shirt that clung to his back as he moved.

It was so…normal. Comforting, even. And after everything they just shared, Kennedy found herself strangely grateful for the simplicity of it.

Food. Warmth. Him.

She sidled up to the counter beside him and plucked one of the turnovers out of the box. She bit into the flaky crust and the tart cherry filling with a groan.

“Is that a good groan or a bad one?” he asked.

“Good,” she responded around the bite. Then, on a whim, she held it out to him.

A beat passed between them.

Another wall to climb…but maybe not quite a fortress to scale.

Dante bit off a chunk and chewed.

Her ovaries exploded. God, the man was even sexy when he chewed, hard jaw flexing at the crease. Her attention dropped to his hard lips, and a shiver rolled down her spine at the memory of what those lips were capable of.

“Kennedy.” Her name came with a note of warning.

“Yes?” She used her sweetest voice.

“If you don’t stop looking at me that way, we’ll never get this pizza in us let alone get any work done.”

She bounced on her toes a little. “So you’re going to let me help?”

“I’m still thinking about it.” Even though he wasn’t committing to her request, she could see he was wavering—that he might actually be starting to believe her. Trust her.

They ate on the sofa in companionable silence, cradling their plates on their knees and setting their bottles of water on the floor. After they finished, she rose first and reached out to take his plate from him.

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