I stumble over my own feet, trying to slowly sort out what he just said.
“Kode, I can’t start living with you. Whatever is going on between us… It’s way too soon for me to just move in. And I can’t go to New York with you. You’ve got work to do, and I’ll be in the way.”
He doesn’t respond for a few minutes as he grabs orange juice from the fridge—his favorite thing to drink in the mornings, I’ve noticed. After he pours a glass, he looks up at me.
“Tria, even if I have to chain you to my side, you’ll stay with me. That’s not negotiable. I’m not stupid enough to think this isn’t way too soon for us to start having that sort of intimacy as far as living arrangements, but I’ll be damned if I leave you out there for him to torment without any line of defense. So, get used to it. You’re moving in.”
Groaning, I lean over the chair, propping my elbows on the top while staring at him. He’s really beautiful when he’s protective. I didn’t know he had it in him.
“Kode, as much as I appreciate your concern—and I do appreciate it—I can’t stay. Not live with you. I happen to like this thing we’ve got going on, and I don’t want Pete Mercer to screw it up. He’s messed up enough things in my life.”
I never thought I’d see the day when Kode Sterling’s eyes softened to be so compassionate, but right now, he look
s like all he wants to do is save me. I’ve never had anyone look at me like that. Ever.
“Tria, you’re staying here. It’s not going to mess anything up.”
He moves around the side of the bar, and without any warning, his lips press gently against mine as he pulls me close to him. His hand grabs a fistful of the shirt I’m wearing, gathering it at the back as I move to my tiptoes to deepen the kiss.
He pulls back, nuzzling his nose against mine. “Right now, you need to get dressed. You have to go deliver a statement to the police station.”
I groan again while leaning against him, and he holds me to him. I’m starting to wonder if I’ve spent all these years judging him wrong, or if he’s changing toward me.
“My car is at my house,” I remind him. “I took a cab to the club last night so that I could drive your car here.”
“Your car will have to stay at whatever condo I tell Rain and Dane I’m putting you in. We’ll take one of my cars to the police station.”
“You can’t come in,” I say through a sigh.
“Fine. I’ll wait in the car and do some business via phone while you go press charges.”
This isn’t how I pictured this morning going.
Chapter 12
TRIA
“Tell me we’re on the road to success,” Leo, my business partner—the brain behind the formula of Beauty Graffiti—says over the phone.
I feel like a constant failure. His part is done, but I keep falling short on my end.
“Another no. Sorry, Leo. Regret taking this leap with me yet?”
He sighs over the phone, but he doesn’t say anything negative. Never does. “It takes time, Tria. We’re new and trying to compete with brands that have been out there for forever. You fronted all the cash, so that means you’re taking the majority of the risk. You gave me a chance to do this when no one else would even review my proposal, so no. I sure as hell don’t regret going into business with you. I have faith you’ll get it out there. Internet sales are doing decent for a new launch at least.”
Only because Ash knows all the tricks to get our line to show up in search engines. But the sales aren’t enough to keep the business afloat. Very few people internet shop for new makeup. Leo just assumes those numbers are big, when in reality, they’re actually very small.
“I’ve got more lined up. I’ll drive them all crazy before I give up,” I assure him.
He laughs before saying, “I’m sure you will. Hey, is something up? Darla said she was forwarding all your mail to another address when I asked her to send you some fresh samples.”
Damn. One more person who has to know. “I’ll be fine. Just staying with a friend until some drama gets sorted out.”
“Guy or girl?” he asks, prying. I can almost hear his smile.
“Guy, and no, it’s not anyone you know.”
He snickers before speaking again. “Fine. Fine. Well, let me know if you need anything else for the meetings.”