Page 57 of Complete Me
“I don’t say useless things. If I say it, you can believe it because it’ll only ever be the truth.”
She looks up at me, her eyes swirling with confusion, and I swear I see a glimmer of heat behind her irises.
“It’s not Bean Haven but we’ve got a fancy machine in the kitchen, took me way too damn long to figure out how to use it, but I made you your favorite.
“My favorite?”
“Salted caramel latte,” I say matter-of-factly. I know damn well that’s her favorite because she drinks one almost every day. She takes the tall mug from my hand and brings it to her nose, inhaling the rich, sweet scent of the espresso and caramel.
“I’m nervous. What if it’s terrible and you spent all this time trying to make it for me?”
“Then you tell me what you don’t like about it so I can try again.”
“That easy, huh?”
“For you? Yeah.”
Her eyes stay on me as her perfect, pouty pink lips reachthe rim of the mug, and she ever so slowly takes her first taste. I know the moment I got it right because her eyes soften and her posture relaxes.
“Ohmygod. Yesssss, Reid. Thank you.”
“Fuck me,that sound,Kinsey.”
“Mmm. I don’t even care. This may give Bean Haven a run for its money. Thank you so much, Reid.”
“Watching you enjoy it is all the thanks I need.”
“You say such pretty things sometimes. It messes with my head,” she whispers against the rim of the mug as she enjoys every sip. God, I love watching this woman enjoy things.
“They’re all true, baby.”
“I’m not in the right place for the fake flirting, Reid.”
“There’s nothing fake about this, Kinsey.”
“Please. I appreciate everything you’re doing for me, but you and I both know you’re just like my brothers, and this would go nowhere fast.”
She struck a chord and my head cocks to the side as I take her in. She has no idea.
“Sweetheart, I am nothing like your brothers,” I confess, my words firm and low. She sets the mug down on her lap and meets my eyes just as my hand touches her cheek. I lean in, letting my lips brush her ear as I whisper the next words, wanting her to know how serious I am. “I’m so much worse.”
A shiver runs through her, her body breaking out in goosebumps, but then she scoffs, brushing off my words.
“I don’t believe anyone could be worse than my brothers. They take overprotective to the extreme. You can’t top that.”
“Trust me, sweetheart, I can and I will. They don’t feel the way I do, and I’m not ever going to let harm come to you again.”
“I’m not going to trade one cage for another, Reid.”
“I’d never put you in a cage, Kinsey. You’re far too strong for one.”
“Well, that’s something I haven’t heard before.”
“That you’re strong?”
“Mhmm.”
“The strongest woman I know.”
