Page 60 of Known By You
Before I resorted to calling the man—a thing I likely should’ve done before I showed up on his doorstep but toolate now!—the door swung open and Kenny stood, bare-chested and bleary-eyed, cradling a sleeping Kit in one hand against his very flat stomach.
“Liz, wow. You look so beautiful.”
He sagged against the door and the way his words were lazy and slow instantly clued me in.
“You have your own little happy hour here?” The question didn’t really need asking. His red-rimmed, sleepy eyes and the borderline slurred speech painted a very clear picture.
His eyes widened and his smile grew. “Oh, woman, yes I did.”
Oh, womin, yesh I dithd.
“Can I come in?” This man needed water and probably something to eat.
“Would you? I would love that. I would absolutely love to have you in my house again.” He stumble-stepped back, and I entered his living room, half expecting to see it ransacked.
“What’re you lookin’ for?” he asked, shuffling in front of me, but clearly having noticed the way I was surveying his space for hints of what’d happened.
Not that he wasn’t allowed to have a few drinks and get sloppy if he wanted, but it seemed quite out of character for the man. He didn’t strike me as someone who liked to drink alone or to excess.
“Just trying to figure out if you’re okay,” I said honestly.
“Aw, that’s so nice. You’re really really really nice.” He leaned on the doorframe between the living room and kitchen, his gaze hazy, and then he startled, looking down at the little black ball in his hand like he’d just realized he was holding his cat. “And oh my gosh, Kit is really really reallycute. Like he’s so cute and I love him so much and—” he sniffed. “I’m just so glad I get to be his cat dad.”
“Okayyyy. Mind if I take him and get him settled in his bed?”
I reached for the kitten and Kenny nodded with so much enthusiasm, I hoped he didn’t start a brain bleed. My fingers grazed his chest when I took the small creature, and with shockingly fast reflexes, he caught one of my wrists and guided my hand back to his tattooed skin.
“This feels good.”
His blue eyes were laser-focused on mine and his taut skin was burning through my palm. The man was gorgeous at all times, but shirtless and unfiltered, he was deadly. He would also likely be horrified if he kept this up, but I didn’t want to push him away and have him shut down on me.
“It does,” I agreed, my thumb stroking along the side of his pec of its own volition.
No, thumb! Bad thumb.
“I would like to feel your hands everywhere. And your mouth.” His lazy eyes widened. “Andcrap,I’m not too drunk to know I shouldn’t say that out loud I’m so sorry.” The hand pressing against mine disappeared and covered his mouth.
I stepped back, hiding a laugh and most definitely ignoring what those words had done to me. This was notTrue Confessions, and I shouldn’t be turned on by the fact he’d just said that. He didn’t know what he was saying and I wouldn’t hold it against him.
“Let me get this guy settled. Why don’t you have a seat in the kitchen?”
He nodded but didn’t move the hand covering his mouth. I didn’t bother hiding my chuckle then, though aneedle of worry threaded into my chest. Something was off and I had a sinking sensation I knew what.
After depositing Kit in the laundry room and gently shutting the door, I returned to the kitchen to find him slumped in a seat in his breakfast nook, staring at his hand.
“Have you eaten dinner?” I asked softly, sensing his mood may have shifted.
It took him a minute, but he blinked me into focus. “Uh, I don’t think so. I didn’t eat lunch and then I was supposed to meet my family for dinner but then—” He scrubbed a hand down his face and his chin stayed low, practically glued to his chest. “So no, I haven’t eaten since breakfast or maybe the guacamole.”
The guacamole we had at dinner last night… yikes. No wonder he was ten sheets to the wind.
“Anything sound good?” I moved to the fridge and looked for something to make, then noticed a loaf of bread and quickly popped two slices into the toaster sitting nearby.
“I am not going to say you, because that would be inappropriate.”
I chuckled, turning to see if he had a little mischief in his eye, but his chin still rested on his chest, and I could see the downturn of his lips and brow.
“Hey, can you look at me?”
