Page 28 of Dice & Dekes

“Look, we all know the ‘rents keep score, and this one’s going to cost you. Sure, you passed pre-calc, but onlyoneof us has committed arson.”

“It was an accident!” Knova flips over to face me. She’s trying to give me the same death glare she wore at the stadium, but the slight curve of her mouth gives her away. “Why are you always so—”

“Right?” I suggest.

“Soimpossible. Are you going to put on a shirt?”

“And deny your eyes the pleasure of observing these abs?” I gesture to my stomach. “Nah.”

Instead of dismissing me outright, Knova gives me a lingering once-over. Her scrutiny is so intense that I’m tempted to cross my legs and twist away from her. I know I look good, but Knova’s spent time in the service, and she’s presumably seen a lot of fit guys. Is she comparing me to them?

To Mick?

Just who the fuck is Mick?

Having finished her perusal of my body, Knova shrugs. “I’ve seen better.”

“Hey!” I snatch up one of the couch cushions and hurl it at her. “Rude!”

Knova cackles and snatches my pillow out of the air. “I’ve turned over a new leaf. I’m done being nice. From here on out, I’m not holding back. It’s the start of my villain era!” She whips the cushion right back at me.

“Today, the pool house. Tomorrow? World domination!”

A knock at my door startles us both into silence. Knova sits upright to peer over the back of the couch. “Please tell me it’s not a booty call? I can’t listen to anyone else having sex tonight.”

“I’m married. I don’t do booty calls.” I get up and pad over to the door. “Also, please note that he knocked like a normal person, rather than compulsively ringing the doorbell like afucking sociopath.”

“Doorbells are normal,” Knova protests.

I return a few moments later, holding two boxes from Knova’s favorite pizza place. I know it’s her favorite because she insists that I order the same thing every time she helps me move a piece of furniture or carry boxes of stuff over from my old bedroom.

“Ooh.” Knova sinks lower until only her eyes are visible, like some sort of adorable pizza-loving gremlin. “Is that what I hope it is?”

“Prosciutto, goat cheese, and hot honey thin crust.” I indicate the second, smaller box. “Plus some of those spinach and feta garlic knots you like. While you were insulting me, I ordered delivery from the place downstairs. Luckily, they stay open extra late to take advantage of bar close.”

I wanted to feed her. Stupid, maybe, but primal. Like if I could fill her up with something warm and good, I could erase everything that’s hurt her tonight.

Knova’s hands appear over the back of the couch, opening and closing like a pair of crab claws. I love her grabby hands. When we were kids, I used to tease her for how crabby she got when she was hungry, and she leaned into the pun. “For me?” she asks. “Are we sharing?”

“I already ate.” I pass her the boxes and retrieve a roll of paper towels from the kitchen. That hot honey getseverywhereif you’re not careful, as evidenced by a permanent stain on the undersides of several couch cushions. “You were making dinner when you burned the place down. I thought you might still be hungry.”

Knova pauses with the box of garlic knots open on her lap. “Really? That’s so sweet. If I didn’t hate you so much, I’d kiss you right now.”

I look away. That’s dangerous language from her. She never calls me sweet. I don’t want it if it’s pity. But some reckless, buried part of me wants to believe she means it.

Instead of deflecting with my usual reply—something along the lines ofI hate you more—my mouth opens without running a clearance check with my brain. “Well, I think you should kiss me anyway.”

“And why’s that?” She rips into a piece of the still-steaming bread. “Are you looking forward to experiencing my garlic breath?”

“I thought you might give me the wife experience.”

I wish I could cram the words back into my mouth. She’s going to bolt. I’m going to ruin this. I open my mouth to backpedal—but she beats me to it.

Knova freezes with her mouth full. She looks up at me, unblinkingly, like a rabbit that has just sensed danger.

I’m a bumbling idiot. Why did I say that? Knova just told me that she doesn’t want to stay with her brother, so if she leaves now, she won’t just leave the condo, she’ll leave theneighborhood.Besides, she felt safe coming to me. What kind of selfish bastard would sabotage that? What kind of blathering idiot ruins his own forced proximity? Romance novel guys stand for that shit. I wasn’t even asking her to sleep with me. Not that I’d complain if she did, but what I had in mind was more of a trial run. I should have known how it would sound to her, though.

I’m trying to figure out a casual way to roll that back or laugh it off when a wicked smile spreads across Knova’s face. She swallows her mouthful of garlic bread.

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