It had to be because he’d saved me. This was just some sort of knight-in-shining armor complex I was experiencing. Why else would I be fantasizing about Kane? He’d shown no interest in me and more importantly, seemed to be the polar opposite of the men I usually chose.
“It’s screwed up to be thinking about a guy after the other night,” I said, my voice nearly a whisper as I stared into space.
“Honey, the only thing that’s screwed up is what that asshole did to you. Don’t you dare make yourself feel like anything you’ve thought or felt since then is wrong.”
And that was why I loved Cara. She knew when to push and when to reassure.
“You have time for a Starbucks run?” I asked, standing up and reaching for my purse.
“Always.”
“How’s my scarf?”
I walked around to the front of my desk and Cara rearranged it a little. She fluffed up my long, dark hair a little, too.
“Perfect,” she said. “Let’s just drop by my office so I can grab a scarf.”
“You don’t need one. It’s not cold or anything.”
She arched her brows at me. “It’s badass bitches wear a scarf day, Viv. Now let’s go find me one.”
“Not the one you used to tie up your personal trainer in bed.”
She threw her pretty blond head back and laughed. “No, that one’s at the dry cleaners.”
“Good call.”
I made not one, but two Starbucks runs during my work day, and also walked down to my favorite café for a long, quiet lunch with a book. By the end of the day, I knew coming back to work had been good for me. The police had come by yesterday to interview me about what happened with Eric and take photos of my neck. I’d follow his court case, but for now I had a sense of closure. It was time to move forward.
When I got back to my tiny downtown apartment and pushed open the steel front door, the lingering smell of brownies greeted me. I’d forgotten about making them yesterday.
It was a silly idea. Homemade brownies for the bouncer who’d pulled Eric off of me? It was all I could think of to thank him, because I was pretty sure Hallmark didn’t have a ‘thanks for saving me from sexual assault’ section of greeting cards. But maybe my thanks to him that night was enough.
I changed into yoga pants and a t-shirt and grabbed the dish of frosted, chocolately goodness from the kitchen counter, flopping into my favorite old living room recliner with it. I could have some of these brownies for dinner and then go to the gym.
Pulling off the lid, I considered it. But then I decided I should skip the brownies and just go to the gym. I could pick up dinner on the way home. I’d just drop these brownies off at Six on my way.
Decision made, I laced up my tennis shoes, grabbed my gym bag, purse and the brownies and went downstairs to hail a cab.
When I walked into the front door of Six after the ten minute cab ride, the after-work crowd was just starting to fill it up. I scanned the room and spotted Kane standing near the bar talking to a group of employees. He still wore the scowl I’d seen the other night.
My stomach did a flip of uncertainty as I walked toward him. The closer I got, the slower I moved. I was out of place in this hip club, wearing yoga pants and carrying a tray of neatly cut baked goods.
One of the women in the group of employees clustering around Kane glanced at me as I stopped and waited off to the side. Her expression was confused and I realized I couldn’t do this. Not here, in front of all these people. I could stand in front of the meanest judge in the state and argue beneath his aggravated stare, but not this. Offering brownies baked in my own kitchen made me feel unexpectedly vulnerable.
I turned toward the door, planning to sneak out undetected by Kane. But I’d hardly even moved when a deep voice called out to me.
“Vivian?”
I looked over my shoulder and saw Kane dismissing the group of servers. He walked over to me, brows arched expectantly.
“What’s up? Do the cops need something else from me?”
If only. I considered hiding the brownies behind my back.
“No, it’s, uh . . . no.” I smiled sheepishly. “Actually, I . . . made you these.”
I thrust the container toward him. He looked down at it and then up and me, his hazel eyes narrowed in confusion.
“What’s that?”
“It’s brownies. You know, the frosted kind. The ones that fulfill every chocolate fantasy. Unless you don’t like chocolate. But of course you do. Everyone likes chocolate. Wait, do you like chocolate? Oh, and nuts? Do you like nuts?”
His scowl deepened as he glanced from side to side to see if anyone was within earshot. “I like nuts. Unless they’re attached to a dude.”
I let out a single note of nervous laughter, my face warming. “Uh, no. These are just . . . walnuts.”
He just stared at me.
“So anyway . . . here. And thanks again for the other night.”
He ran a hand over his bald scalp. “Yeah, you don’t have to thank me, Vivian.”
“Viv. My friends call me Viv.”
A few beats of uncomfortable silence passed before he spoke.
“You don’t need to make me brownies.”
A passing server glanced at us with an amused expression. I sighed deeply, still clutching the container.
“I already did. So, if you can just take them, I’ll be going.”
He looked at me like the Tupperware container was on fire. Jesus. I was going to have to walk back out of here with it. I’d be scarfing these brownies in horrified embarrassment later tonight.
“Alright,” I said, an edge in my tone. “I’ll just go.”
Kane suppressed an eye roll and glared at me. “No, I’ll take ‘em. I just . . .” He reached for the container. “Okay.”
“If you’re just going to throw them out—”
“I’m not throwin’ ‘em out. I’m gonna eat these things like a motherfucker.”
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?”