Page 43 of Her Big Fat Hunky Billionaire Boss

“What?” He tried to lift the wrap so he could steal one of the cookies.

Kat swatted at his hand. “Seriously? It’s almost dinner time. No sneaking cookies.”

“You’re deflecting,” he said, his gaze capturing hers.

She blushed and looked down at the counter. “My sister thinks you like me.”

He wanted to laugh it off, but something made him stay serious. He was curious about her. He wanted to know how Kat felt about him. “I do like you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not like. She thinks you like-like me.” She shook her head. “Now I sound like I’m in sixth grade. Just ignore Hilary. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

He played with the edge of the plastic wrap. “Maybe I do like-like you.” He lifted the wrapping and stole a cookie. He had it half-way to his mouth before Kat realized it.

“Hey!” She started after him, but he anticipated it and ran into the living room. He was taller than her, and he held the cookie up high so she couldn’t reach it.

“Give me that,” she said as she jumped to try to get the cookie from him. She managed to snatch it away from him and he grabbed her around the middle, pulling her close so she couldn’t take off with it.

She squirmed and but his hold on her was too tight. “Let me go,” she said, her smile betraying her.

“Unlikely.”

“Fine. Then suffer the consequences.” She stuffed the cookie into her mouth.

“What happened to ‘it’s almost dinner time?’” he said, trying but failing to hold back a laugh.

She chewed for a second before swallowing. “It was instinct. Sorry.” She gave him a wide grin.

He suddenly became aware of how close she was. Her face was inches from his. He could feel her cookie-stealing breath on his cheek. She felt good in his arms like she belonged there. His thumb grazed across her side where her sweater had exposed a tiny slice of skin, and his heart pounded.

She sobered, and he gazed into her eyes. They looked like the surface of the ocean on a calm day. “Did you mean it?” she said quietly.

And that’s when he realized what he’d said. What he was doing. He couldn’t flirt with Kat. He couldn’t like-like her either. Things between them would never work, for so many reasons. He couldn’t tell her he was beginning to have growing feelings for her. He was there to do one thing, close the newspaper down. And if he did, she would hate him.

He released her and took a step back. He had to get out of this without hurting her feelings. “What’s not to like?” he said, forcing his voice back to being lighthearted. He punched her shoulder like a buddy would do, then he walked back into the kitchen to steal another cookie.

Kat didn’t follow him.

Chapter 15

Kat stood in the living room, her heart pounding. What had just happened? Damian had flirted with her. He’d almost come out and said he liked her as more than just a friend, but then he’d cooled and shut down. Why?

She didn’t understand, but her emotions couldn’t handle any more Damian today. She took a deep breath and steeled herself, then she walked into the kitchen. “We should put your desserts in your car so you can take them to your hotel. I’m sure you have things to do.”

Damian looked at her, his gaze intense for a moment before he broke the connection and stepped toward his coat. He picked it up and slipped it on. “You keep them.”

“Are you sure?”

He eyeballed the cheesecake. “Maybe I’ll take this one.” He picked it up, a small smile on his face.

“Okay.” She tried not to look at him, but her body wouldn’t cooperate with her, and his dark gaze met hers.

Neither one of them spoke for a moment, but the mood in the kitchen shifted. Deepened. He swallowed. She could see the indecision on his face. And then he steeled himself and she knew what was coming. “Kat I—”

“Don’t.” She turned from him. “You don’t have to say anything. I understand.” She was plain coffee, and she knew it.

He stood there for another moment before turning and walking out the door.

Her hands trembled as she stood there, waiting to hear his car pull away. Why was she going all school-girl crazy for him? He was not available. Not really. He was leaving and not coming back. And her life was here, in Pleasant Hollow.

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