Page 85 of Rush the Edge

That chiseled jaw of his turns toward me. “You sure? You followed my command pretty well.”

My nostrils flare.

“Maybe I should reward you with a treat.”

Part of me wants to bark at him, but then I picture myself biting him.

“Maybe I should reward you with abite,” I snap.

He turns around, flexing his abs in my face. “Wouldn't be the first time a woman has bitten me.”

Ugh.

I storm through my bedroom and head for the kitchen. If I’m going to be forced to talk to Kane this morning, I’m going to need my matcha latte as backup. Once I reach the island, I pause mid-step.

My tense shoulders drop slightly.

There’s a mug of matcha already waiting for me.

“One drop of honey,” he says, having followed me out of my room. “And I added a little turmeric. I saw it next to your vitamins, and I read that it’s supposed to help with inflammation.”

Unwilling to let him see my confusion, I grab my mug and take a sip before slowly turning to face him. I rest my back against the island and eye him closely. “Interesting,” I note.

He squints. “What is?”

I shrug. “I didn’t know you could be kind.”

The taste of matcha remains on my tongue, and Ihatethat it’s better than when I make it. The hint of honey bursts through the bitter tea taste, foamed to perfection.

Unfair.

Kane turns and walks toward the windows, keeping a distance from my plants. He stares at the skyline as I stand back and watch him from the kitchen with a pit in my lower stomach.

“Why are you here?” I finally ask.

I refuse to be blinded by one small, kind act from him.

I’m not naive enough to think that just because I let it slip that I cared more for him than I admitted back when we were teenagers that it’ll be some new beginning for us. There’s too much tension lingering in the air. It brushes against my skin like electricity. I bet if I look closely enough, the hairs on my arms are standing erect.

“What do you mean?” He keeps his attention on the city while sipping his coffee.

“I mean…” I place my mug down. “Why did you come over last night?”

He inhales deeply. His chest expands before answering me. “River asked me to check on you.”

Oh.

Why am I disappointed?

I shouldn’t be, but there was definitely a little prick of disappointment to my skin. Did I want him to come over on his own?

I glance to the floor and stare at my bare feet. I count my toes to keep me grounded, but then, Kane’s feet end up next to mine. He grips my chin gently and tips my face to meet his. I do my best to cover up my thoughts by flattening my lips and evening out my furrowed brow.

“I knew something was off last night when you stormed off into your apartment. I called River, and he asked me to go check on you.”

My eye twitches with skepticism. “You don’t know me that well, Kane.”

Is he lying? Did he come over to continue our fight? Or did he come over because he was worried about me?

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