Page 38 of Shattered Secrets (Shattered Secrets 1)

“You shouldn’t talk to people like that,” I said.

“Like what?” He pushed his plate away.

“So...” I searched for the right word. “Abruptly.”

“Should I have gotten on my knees and begged him to bring us the cake?”

“A please would have been nice.”

“I speak with my money. He won’t give a damn if I insulted him when we leave.”

Money. A necessary evil.

“Money isn’t everything.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” he muttered.

A slice of cake that looked more like an entire cake landed on the table. Kane offered me one of the dessert forks.

“I’m not sharing with you.” I set the fork down.

He shrugged and pulled the plate closer to him. “Suit yourself.”

“Are you going to eat that whole thing?” I asked incredulously.

“I was going to let you have half of it.” He licked the icing off his fork. “You’re missing out, Barn.”

It did look good. And I deserved some, didn’t I? I’d been in jail earlier. This cake could help me forget that. Or at least ease the sting.

I dug in on the corner where there was icing on the side and the top.

“Hey, that’s the best part. I was saving it for last.”

I put it in my mouth unapologetically. His gaze narrowed on my lips. I felt it, as if his fingers were on my skin.

“You’ve got something...” He wiped my bottom lip then sucked the chocolate off his thumb.

I jolted at the contact, as if I’d stuck a screwdriver in a light socket.

Why? Why did this man make me feel so mixed up and turned about and inside out? I’d joined him for dinner to get what I wanted... progress for my daughter.

Instead, I’d allowed the conversation to go everywhere but her. I’d squandered perfectly good time to discuss her issue.

I snatched the plate and pulled it to my side of the table. At least this cake could be my consolation prize.

CHAPTERFIVE

KANE

Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

I kicked my feet against the washing machine.

The one good thing about my wife—my almostex-wife—having a boyfriend was that I didn’t have to move out.

Not that I would have. I paid for this damn apartment and even if I hated it, I wasn’t leaving.

“Why are you always in the laundry room?”

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