Page 54 of Kylo
“You met Eddie.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means, why would I bother trying to cook when it’s all going to pale in comparison?”
“That’s fair,” I agreed. “I dreamed about his food for days after.”
“He’d be thrilled to feed you again anytime you want.”
I’d barely met the guy, but I had the feeling that was true.
“How about we order before I give you the rest of the tour?”
He damn near ordered the whole menu, including some extra meats for Ernest as he set down a cereal bowl full of water for him.
After that, I was led upstairs to check out the fully empty spare rooms and bathroom, then, finally, the primary room.
He had a clear vision for the space, judging by the rolls of sage green grasscloth wallpaper and the rolled-up rug leaned against the wall.
He’d already picked out the upholstered bed and luxe linen bedding, as well as oversized wooden nightstands and lamps.
“Wow,” I groaned as I stepped into the primary bedroom with all its granite floors, walls, and shower niche. There wasalso a minimalist soaking tub that made me acutely aware of how achy I felt all over.
As if reading my mind, Kylo gestured toward the tub. “How about I take Ernest outside for a bit while you unwind in the tub? My clothes will probably swim on you, but I’m sure I got something with a drawstring somewhere.”
“I couldn’t—”
“You can. You are,” he added, going over to the tub to run the tap. “Now, you stop it when it’s the right temperature while I scrounge up some clothes and a towel.”
Five minutes later, the tub was full, I had a t-shirt and a pair of basketball pants with a drawstring, and I heard Kylo a floor below trying to coax a very tired Ernest outside.
I turned to put the clothes on the counter. In doing so, I caught sight of myself in the mirror for the first time.
It was not good.
My cheeks were raw. My eyes were red. My lids were swollen. And I looked ghostly pale.
Great.
Just how I wanted to look in front of Kylo.
I grabbed a washcloth out of the cabinet after I stripped, soaked it in frigid water, then climbed into the tub to drape it over my face, hoping to reduce the redness and swelling while the hot water eased the aches in my body.
By the time the water cooled and I climbed out, I looked slightly less splotchy and swollen, though Kylo’s clothes were doing absolutely nothing for me.
Not that I had any hopes of something happening between us. Not after I ugly-cried through his shirt.
Really, the last thing I should have been thinking about was what I wanted to happen between Kylo and myself. Not after the night I had.
Then again, I knew I would be obsessing nonstop about the events once I got home and back to my life. So why shouldn’t I just let me be here, with Kylo, for a few hours?
With that in mind, I heard Kylo coming in, then Ernest letting out a deep sigh as he, I imagined, found a place to rest.
Before I could even make it to the stairs, the bell rang and I could hear Kylo speaking to the delivery person for a moment.
“I was starting to worry you’d drowned,” Kylo said, spotting me descending the stairs. “Food’s here. Dog is beat,” he lifted the bag, then waved toward where Ernest was asleep sprawled out on his side.
“Feel bad that I don’t even have a rug for him,” Kylo said as we both moved into the kitchen.
