“Taxi!”
The scream of frustration. Kids crying. Kids arguing. Parents yelling.
Pressing her lips together, she tried to focus on all the noise around her and not think about what happened last night.The kiss she shared with Ruin. She couldn’t believe he’d been at the one bar she had picked. He was a sexy, hot guy who could have his choice of women. Why hadn’t he been at a nightclub? Why that bar?
“Stop it. Stop thinking about him and that kiss,” she told herself.
Her lips tingled at thethought and the memory. She ran her fingers across her lips and was sure she could still feel his lips there, but she shook her head. It was so freaking crazy.
She blew across her coffee while trying to listen to the world going by. When there was a knockat her door, she gasped. No one ever knocked on her door. Not even the mailman. She put her coffee mug down on a coaster, then got to her feet and wrapped her robe around her as she walked to the door. She checked through the peephole and gasped. Ruin was at her door. How was that even possible? He’d walked her home last night, but how did he get inside? She unlocked the door and opened it.
“Ruin, what are you doing here?”
“I come with breakfast.” He held up a wrapped pastry bag from a bakery she adored.She rarely went in as their items were always so expensive, but when she wanted a treat, that was the place. She adored their cinnamon rolls. They always were sweet and delicious, with the right amount of frosting. The scent of cinnamon filled the air and her mouth watered. Even though she wasn’t in any state to have company, it seemed rude to tell him to leave.
She stepped back and opened the door wide enough for him to enter. He walked through and closed the door.
“Why don’t you have any bolts on this thing?”
“Huh?”
“You do realize a single lock will not keep intruders out.”
She frowned and rubbed at her temple. “I have the bolts but Ihaven’t installed them.”
“Why didn’t you pay a guy?” he asked.
“I couldn’tafford it.”
She wasn’t going to waste money on jobs she could eventually learn how to do.
Ruin tutted.“Get me the bolts.”
“Ruin, you don’t have to do that. I can do it. I’ll figure it out.”
“I’m doing this, now get me the bolts.”
She rolled her eyes but rather than argue with him, which wouldn’tbe too productive, she moved toward her drawer beside the door and grabbed him the package of bolts. He took them from her.
“Do you have any screwdrivers?” he asked.
“Erm, no…”
He tutted again. “I’ll go and grab some.” He stood. “Enjoy your breakfast. I’ll be back to fix your door.”
Before she could argue or tell him not to go, he was gone.Callie held onto the bag of cinnamon rolls and frowned. What the hell had just happened?
Ruin was coming back. She glanced down at her negligee and winced. It was time to get changed.
She putthe bakery bag on the kitchen counter, but her mouth was watering too much to just leave them there. Callie opened the bag and inhaled the sweet spice of cinnamon. She had to have a bite. She pulled off one of the pieces and put it in her mouth. It was so good.
She had to get changed, otherwise, she’d still be in her bedclothes when Ruin returned. She didn’t know where he had to go, but she wasn’t going to risk it. After the kiss last night, she had to wear clothes, not be ready for bed … for sex. The thought of Ruin, naked in her bed, wasn’t a bad thought.
She scrambled around her bedroom, changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt, and ran a brush through her hair. Checking her reflection in the mirror, she was relieved to see she didn’t have any makeup smudges or sleep in the corner of her eyes. Everything was clear.
She left her room, went back to the kitchen, and then enjoyed another bite of the cinnamon roll.It almost brought tears to her eyes, but she held them back. She was about to take another bite when she heard a knock. Making her way to the door, she checked the peephole and sure enough, Ruin was back. She opened the door. He tutted again.
“Why are you tutting?”