Page 9 of Seduced By You

If anyone asked me how I did it, I couldn’t say, but somehow, I managed not to emit a groan.

“You’re so easily pleased.”

“You have no idea.” Another third disappeared. She plucked one coffee from my hand and peeled off the plastic lid. Blowing across the top, she sipped. “Ow, that’s hot.”

“Is it? What a surprise, considering it’s made with hot milk.”

She grinned, pastry crumbs on her chin only endearing her to me further. “You’re learning, Kingcaid. That was almost good for you.”

Dash poked his head in the kitchen, checked out who the infiltrator was who’d interrupted his morning, then padded over, head high and proud. He purred as he weaved in and out of my legs.

I’m honored.

Dash tolerated me, until he didn’t. Tentatively, I bent down and scratched behind his ear. He wasn’t fond of being touched by anyone other than Lee. I didn’t know a thing about cat psychology, but it must have had something to do with being a stray. She was his savior, his person. Everyone else was treated with the highest level of suspicion.

“It’s odd how you’re the only one he comes anywhere near. If anyone else stops by, he runs and hides.”

I sent a grin her way. “He’s a brilliant judge of character. That’s why.”

“Oh God. I fed you that one, didn’t I?” She face-palmed. “Wake up, Leesa.”

Laughing, I pulled out a chair at the breakfast bar and sat beside her. I removed the lid from my coffee, too, and drew my pastries toward me. Tearing off a hunk of the pain au chocolat, I slipped it into my mouth. Delicious. “You’re right. I am learning.”

Dash jumped up on the countertop and almost dipped his tail in my coffee. I picked him up and put him on the floor. He gave me this look as if to say, “Touch me again and you die,” then, tail pointed straight up, he almost pranced into the next room.

Normal service has resumed.

“That cat is a law unto himself. He puts up with me, but only on his terms.”

“It’s true.” Lee nodded sagely. “We’re all stooges in his world domination plan.” Plunking herself on the stool next to mine, she sighed. “Okay, so I’ve been thinking.”

“Uh-oh. Never a good idea this early in the morning.”

I received a dig to my ribs for my troubles. “Kadon! I’m being serious.”

“Fine. Fine.” I held my hands up on either side of my head. “What have you been thinking about?”

“This fake dating thing.”

Ah… the fake dating.

Fake for her. The opposite of fake for me.

Spending three days as Lee’s boyfriend was about as real as it got. Not that I could ever tell her that. I’d thought about it. Too many fucking times. But what good would it do? Was there anything more painful in the world than to tell someone that you loved them and have them not say it back? Or worse, for them to say something like “I’m sorry.”

God. It gave me the shivers to even think about it. I might as well say, “Here’s my balls. Squeeze ‘em until they pop.”

“What about it?” I brushed pastry crumbs off my hands and reached for a tissue to wipe grease from my fingertips.

“I couldn’t sleep last night. I… I don’t think it’ll work, Kadon.”

My heart skipped at least three beats. Sure, I’d never have Lee for real. I didn’t fucking deserve to have her for real. But goddamn, Universe, let me have this one thing. This one tiny speck in time where I could pretend I had the funniest, kindest, most beautiful woman in the world on my arm and know that every man in the room was looking at me and burning up with jealousy. Even Benedict.

EspeciallyBenedict.

That man would wake up one day and realize the price he’d paid for success wasn’t worth a dime.

I cleared my throat. “Why not?”

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