Barely Breathing(6)

I couldn’t help smiling. “Okay. Well, then. Have a good night.”

“How’s your neck?” He eyed my collarbone and I suddenly felt self-conscious about the bruises that had darkened and become more prominent there. But it wasn’t like I could wear a scarf to the gym.

I reached up and brushed my hand over my neck. “Oh, it’s . . . fine. I’m fine.”

“Cops call you?”

I nodded. “I have a friend who works for the prosecutor’s office who will let me know when the charges are filed. I’m an attorney.”

Kane nodded back. Damn, there was an intensity to his eyes. They were framed by dark lashes but still had a calculating edge to them. I felt like he was trying to decide how long he had to be nice to me before he could escape this uncomfortable conversation.

“So . . . I’m off to the gym,” I said, gesturing at the door.

“Yeah,” he said gruffly. “Okay.”

“Bye.”

He nodded silently. I turned to leave, grateful to be making my exit. It wasn’t tension that existed between us, but awkwardness.

When I reached the front door, I pushed it open, looking back at Kane over my shoulder one last time. He was still standing in the same spot, staring down at the brownies with an expression of confusion.

Most people probably bought bouncers a drink to say thanks rather than dropping of a nine by thirteen of brownies. I smiled, deciding that if nothing else, I’d left an impression. And leaving an impression on dark, hulking, scowling Kane gave me a measure of pride.

It wasn’t like I’d ever see him again, anyway. I jogged over to a waiting cab and slid in, looking forward to the night ahead. A workout, solo dinner and some trash TV were just what I needed.



Kane

I was headed to my office with the dish of brownies when I caught sight of Lex heading across the room toward me, a giant white bag in his hand.

“Got what you needed, boss,” he said, grinning proudly.

I glared at him and spoke through gritted teeth. “Get that into my office, you stupid shit. What are you doing parading around here with it?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not parading. I just got back with it.”

“Look at the side of the bag, dumbass.”

He looked down at the large bag and read the wording on it. “Oh.”

“Yeah. To my office. Now.”

I followed him through the light crowd, my gaze working from side to side. Anyone who made a comment about the bag or the brownies would feel my wrath.

Once in my office, I closed the door behind us and lit into Lex.

“Jesus Christ, man, be more discreet next time.”

“Sorry. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to me.” I snatched the bag from his hands and peered inside it.

“I asked the saleslady what’s the best way to burn five hundred bucks on American Girl shit and she helped me find all this.” Lex was beaming with pride over this accomplishment. “The receipt and change are in there.”

I grunted my approval and took the bag over to the closet, setting it on the floor and closing the door. Then I pulled out my wallet, peeled off two twenties and passed them to him.

He put his hands up in refusal. “No need, boss.”

“Take it.”

He accepted the money and slid it into his pocket. “Thanks, boss.”

“Good work. Get your ass back to the car.”

He grinned and bowed before heading out of my office. Crazy Chinese motherf*cker was always bowing. I liked him, though. There were few people I’d trust with the errand he’d just done for me.

I sat down behind my desk and pulled off the lid of the brownies. The sweet smell of chocolate filled my nostrils. I grabbed a brownie and took a bite.

It was f*cking good. I polished it off in less than a minute. Vivian was gonna make some suit a very lucky man one day. She was gorgeous, could cook and was an attorney.

But not Eric. That motherf*cker could rot. I shook my head as I remembered the way he’d treated Vivian, and also her refusal to play his game. Hell of a woman.

I got up to get back to the floor, but turned back to my desk before making it to the door. There was an unused filing cabinet behind my desk, and I put the container of brownies in the top drawer. If I brought an employee in here for a talk about how they’d f*cked up, the last thing I wanted was them seeing brownies on my desk.

Also, I didn’t want to share them. Those f*ckers were all mine.





Vivian

CARA LOOKED ME OVER AS I checked my makeup in a travel sized mirror, nodding with appreciation.

“On the prowl, I see?” she quipped.

“No.” I glared at her. “What, just because I look nice, I must be trying to hook up with a man? How very caveman of you.”

She rolled her eyes as she applied pale pink lipstick. “I know you, V. You only dress this way and curl your hair when you’re hoping to meet someone.”

“I’m wearing jeans. And I just have some waves in my hair that are almost gone already. Stop being so suspicious.”

“Yeah, but you’re wearing heels with the jeans. And I know it actually takes effort to do the whole effortlessly wavy thing with your hair.”

The cab we were riding in pulled up in front of Six and I handed the driver some money, thanked him and followed Cara onto the sidewalk.