Page 40 of Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen

Keaton never showed his stress, even though he must feel it. He worked so hard to take care of his family, but sometimes August wondered why he still acted like he needed to squirrel money away for a rainy day. He’d expanded and renovated Leah’s house. He’d paid off his mother’s debts and given her money to go back to school. He owned a beautiful apartment in Manhattan.

Yet there was still an undercurrent of duty, like he hadn’t done enough. Like he was still repaying a debt. Like he believed he’d never make up for the past.

“How about I bring you back something?” she said, her eyes searching his face.

The stress melted away and there was a warmth in his green eyes. “That would be great.”

For a moment, it felt like he might lean forward and kiss her, and August’s lips parted in anticipation. A tingle of awareness rang through her body, a resoundingyesechoing in her mind. She wanted him to kiss her.

What the hell are you doing? He’s about as far from your practical partnership ideal as you could possibly get!

Why did it always feel like everything was a hop, skip and jump away from her falling back into old feelings. Falling back into being the naive, young woman who trailed after him like a rock star groupie. Falling back into wishing she could change the past.

You can’t change the past.

Keaton leaned forward and she took a step back, as if trying to extricate herself from whatever force field encompassed him that made her act like a giddy schoolgirl. His brows creased, like he wasn’t quite sure what had just happened.

“I can’t kiss you because I’ve already kissed Asher,” she blurted out.

There was something about hearing Asher’s name that caused Keaton’s competitive streak to flare up, and knowing that August had kissed him... Hell, no. It prickled under his skin. It was an itch he couldn’t scratch. Itbotheredhim on a deep level and he hated that. Because being bothered meant he cared, and he didn’t want to care. He didn’t want to be affected by her. He didn’t want that sick green pulse of jealousy to ebb through his body like a poison.

But she could do so much better for herself.

Better...like you?

It was obvious she was attracted to him—had been since she was old enough to have such feelings. Back then it had been a silly crush and nothing more. But now when she looked at him...oof. He felt her wanting like a fist to the gut. It was intoxicating. Addicting. It made him feel real and alive and whole, like he wasn’t a man made of broken parts haphazardly glued back together with cocky smirks and quippy one-liners.

It felt like he was the man he wasbefore.

Her chest rose and fell in uneven bursts, as though she had to remind herself to continue breathing. The action strained the soft fabric of her sweater and flushed her cheeks pink. Her eyes glittered with frustration, but underneath that emotion was desire. Not a simmer, but a full rolling boil.

She wanted him.

“You kissed him?” Keaton nodded. “Tell me, what’s it like locking lips with a wet fish?”

She narrowed her eyes. “He’s not a wet fish.”

“No? Because one of the interns at our first firm told me that it was like sucking face with a sea creature. I’d assumed fish, but maybe he was more like an octopus—hands everywhere, kinda slimy, weird smell.”

The narrowed eyes turned to a glare. He’d never thought anyone could beat Molly’s death stare, but August was giving her a run for her money. “Why do you even care?”

He shouldn’t. But unfortunately for Keaton, he did. Because every time she looked at him with that undisguised need, it made his body misbehave. Made his mind misbehave. Made his brain sign a fucking hall pass so it could GTFO and shirk all responsibility.

This is a dangerous game. You don’t want to go there.

Oh but he did. He wanted it very much.

“I just find it interesting that you stand here, looking like you want me to shove you up against a wall but then you chicken out because you’re supposedly attracted to Asher Benson.”

“There’s nothing ‘supposedly’ about it.” She frowned. “I like him.”

“Maybe. But I bet you felt nothing when he kissed you. There’s no chemistry between you, is there?” Keaton asked. The question was the equivalent of poking her with a stick to see if she’d react.

Her cheeks flamed even harder—he was right. Then why did she keep going on dates with the guy if there was no spark? It was very curious indeed.

“What I felt isnoneof your business.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Besides, chemistry isn’t everything.”

“That’s a red flag so early in the relationship.”

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