“Yes. With a bit of work, of course. Not many bosses would drive their employees home when their car breaks down.” Or give them their coat because they were cold. The scent of him surrounded her. She liked it. He always smelled so delicious.
“That wasn’t entirely a selfless act. I’m no boy scout, sweetheart.”
“Really? And here I would’ve thought you would always be prepared.”
Dear Lord, was she flirting with him? As soon as it came out of her mouth, she wished it back. Flirting with him was a terrible idea.
What was she doing? Feeling ill, she took a step away. “I have to go inside. I’m tired.”
“Wait.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Don’t pull away. Not when we were coming to a truce.”
A truce? Was that what they were doing? She supposed it was as good a description as any. She’d been about to tell him they could be friends, but that was stupid. People like her weren’t friends with someone like him. Sure, he might act like he was lonely, but he’d soon tire of playing with her, and the only person who would get hurt was her.
Silly, Kinley. Maybe James isn’t the lonely one.
“Take this please. I don’t know when I’ll next see you to return it. It would probably be best if you got Elsa to clean your office again.”
She took off before he could say anything, hating that she took the cowards way out. But she couldn’t be around him for much longer. Not without saying something stupid, like what a lonely mess she was, and she was scared because she’d just lost the best thing in her life. Yeah, like that wouldn’t be disastrous.
James stared after her, dumbfounded. He stood there, holding his jacket against his chest, where she’d shoved it, until it finally registered that she’d left. Just ran off without his permission to leave.
He had enough self-awareness to realize he was arrogant. He was selfish and used to getting his own way. He was not used to people defying him. People jumped when he said jump.
A soft bark of laughter caught him by surprise. He didn’t laugh much, not anymore. But he was so surprised by his reaction to Kinley it shocked him.
Well, he did tell her she interested him because she didn’t tell him what she thought he wanted to hear. She was genuine and honest. And hot. God, she was gorgeous. He imagined having her in his bed. He could tie her up, make her pay in the most delicious ways possible for going against his orders. He specifically ordered her to leave his coat on. And she certainly hadn’t been given permission to leave.
He could teach her his desires, teach her what he wanted, what he liked, how to act. But then, wouldn’t she be like all the people in his life? Giving him exactly what they thought he wanted. Wasn’t that why she intrigued him? Because she was different? It was the only explanation he could think of for why she’d gotten into his head. There was only one other person who’d truly challenged him that way. Sloan.
Not that he and Sloan had a sexual relationship. Neither of them was interested in men. But they’d lived together, they’d shared a sub together, and they’d been a family in every way. James had always led, and Sloan had been happy to follow. Until the day James fucked everything up.
He climbed into his car then turned it on and sped off. He headed back to his apartment, to ponder what the hell he was going to do about the redhead who took up far too much of his thoughts and time.
9
“So, you’re still alive? I’m relieved.”
Sloan didn’t bother looking over as Alex sat next to him at the bar in Club Decadence. He knew coming here tonight was a bad idea. But he just couldn’t face another night of drinking at home.
He lifted his beer to his mouth and took a sip.
“I’ll have an orange juice, thanks,” Alex said to the bartender. Then he turned to look at Sloan. “Where have you been?”
“Around.”
“Around. Right.” Alex sighed. “You missed my party.”
“Sorry.”
“You going to use one-word sentences all night?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay, then I guess I’ll leave you to wallow in whatever sort of pity party you have going on here. Just tell me, is Kinley all right?”
The million-dollar question. And he didn’t have a clue what the answer was. Because you haven’t called her, asshole. Over two weeks had passed. In the beginning, he’d been mad. Told himself he was better off without someone who could so easily lie. But as time went on, he realized part of that anger was at himself. Was he so touchy about money she’d been afraid to tell him? It wasn’t like he’d been completely forthcoming with her.
He missed her desperately. He hadn’t realized exactly how ingrained in his life she was. Wherever he looked in his house, he could see her, almost smell her. Hear her laughter. He wanted that back.