Page 11 of Barefoot Chaos
I didn't recall Kai telling me what the ages were of the two people he'd rescued. Damn. I should have asked him. But I could hardly be expected to think of appropriate questions when he was in the room. Or talking to me. Or looking at me like that with those mesmerizing hazel eyes.
And now I was supposed to meet Esa and Bailey at Chocolate Dreams. What if Kai showed up? We'd just had an argument, for cripes’ sake! How awkward would that be?
Aha! I'd just run in, grab a hot chocolate and go. Tell Esa all about it later.
I jumped up, grabbed my bag loaded down with papers to grade and headed out.
“Hessa!" Esa shouted my name when I walked through her door, bringing everyone's eyes in my direction.
Welp, there went my idea of just running in and back out without anyone noticing me. I waved to her over at a table with a crew of lifeguards and walked in the other direction to the counter to place my order.
Before I could figure out what I wanted, Esa hollered over to me again. "Hessa, wait! Come over here and try my newest flavor before you order." I grimaced before pasting a smile on my face and turning around. She was only trying to be helpful by coming up with a way for me to join their little group. Kai was two seats over from her, skewering me with his stare. I resolutely ignored him and sauntered over to their group like I had all the time in the world and all the reason to be there.
"Jax, give up your seat, would ya'? Everyone, this is my friend Hessa." Esa practically pushed poor Jax off his chair, which was of course, situated right next to Kai. I gave Esa a quick hug and then maneuvered my way to the now empty chair. The spacing was tight and I had to shimmy between the chairs, putting my ample ass in Kai's face to get the job done. I begged the gods to keep the blush from my cheeks for as long as it took to get out of this situation.
The lifeguards around the table all said their hellos and I caught a few names but didn't retain any of them. Too much testosterone in one place, along with the feel of Kai's stare burning into my skin, scrambled my brain.
"Hessa." Kai merely said my name and the trembling in my body started. "Lovely to see you again."
In slow motion, I turned my head in his direction, almost jumping when I realized my thigh was practically sitting on his lap. Could the chairs be any closer? Or my thigh be any wider?
"Kai." I gave my well-practiced head nod and looked away. I managed one word, maybe I could go for two next time.
"Here, girlie. Try this new one I made today. It's chocolate praline." Esa interrupted my silent treatment by shoving her cup at me. I took the lifeline she offered and tipped the cup to my lips. The flavor was dark and nutty. I couldn't hold back a soft moan from escaping as I set her cup down on the table.
Kai reached across me, presenting his own cup. "Try this one. It's macadamia nut chocolate." His eyes were piercing green and laser focused on my lips. I kept my gaze on his face, intrigued by his focus. I took a quick sip, catching a drip of hot chocolate out the side of my mouth with my tongue.
Before I could let him know what I thought of the taste, he'd shoved his chair back. He reached down and pulled me up by my arm, dragging me over to the counter.
"Kai!" I was about to lose my footing in these damn heels and I didn't particularly like to be dragged anywhere.
He didn't stop, instead throwing me an intense look over his shoulder that shut me up. I didn't know what he was so mad about, but we were going to have words. Starting with a rule about no dragging, which shouldn't need to be stated.
When we reached the counter, he spun me around and backed me up till I had nowhere to go. His chest was brushing up against mine and I lost my train of thought. His hands landed on my hips and for one brief dream-like moment, he pulled my hips into contact with his. My breath lodged in my throat and I could have sworn I felt more than just two hip bones pressing into my belly.
Then he was spinning me around again, speaking to the clerk behind the counter. "She'll take the macadamia hot chocolate. Whip, Ono?" He whispered that last part in my ear. Only one part of my body still touched his. I was thankful, maybe for the first time, for my impressive derriere.
"Ono?" I squeaked out the word, too befuddled to process what he meant by that.
"It means 'delicious'. Did you want whipped cream, Hessa?" He pushed off the counter and headed back to the table, leaving me cold, confused and more than a little turned on.
The clerk was still looking at me, cup and marker in hand, waiting to see if I wanted whipped cream, I suppose. Her eyes were on Kai's back, however.
"No whip, please," I whispered.
"That was hot..." she whispered back, still not bothering to look my direction.
5
Hessa
I was relishing sleeping in on Saturday morning, knowing I had stacks of papers to grade, but enjoying just a moment longer in bed. My sheets were warm and cozy, my pillow inviting me to stay a little longer. But my brain was focused on replaying my encounters with Kai. All my awkwardness, his hot and cold treatment, his pet name for me. Ono, meaning delicious? Did that mean he thought I was tasty? Or he wanted to taste me? Or was he just teasing me? Call the fat girl delicious as she orders more sugary chocolate?
I tossed my sheets back and climbed out of bed in a huff. There was no use second-guessing things. I wasn't fat by any means. I was a size twelve for God's sake. That was smaller than the average American female. I wasn't overly self-conscious about my body and I wasn't going to let some muscled-up, tattoo-bearing, hazel-eyed lifeguard make me start doubting myself. So there.
With my attitude readjusted, I threw on some workout clothes and put my hair up in my standard ponytail. My doorbell went off, making me whip my head up from tying my tennis shoes. My pony whacked me in the eye and I hopped, one foot in a shoe, one barefoot, one eye squeezed shut and the other darting around. By some small miracle, I made it down the stairs and swung the door open.
My stinging eye became the least of my problems when I saw who'd darkened my door.
