28. Chapter 27
Leo
Leo - Help!
Kai - What did you do?
Kai - No wait let me guess.
Kai - Did that mole come back?
Leo - It was never a mole. You stuck a raisin to my face.
Kai - Really?
Leo - Yes, and you can’t even blame it on the alcohol as you were in training.
Kai - Huh? Could have sworn you went to the doctor for it.
Leo - I worry about you.
Kai - No, I’ve got it. You walked in on Hunter and Jade and you made eye contact with Hunter and he showed you his O face.
Leo - Again, I worry about you.
Kai - Fresh out of guesses, my friend.
Leo - I almost kissed Ria
Kai - WHAT?!?!
Kai - Mate you’re progressing too quickly with the program. We’re supposed to be at lingering touches.
Kai - I’m coming over.
I’ve been a ball of energy since I bolted from Ria’s office.
I almost kissed her again.
Yes, we’re married, but we weren’t playing. It was just the two of us. But I’ve never felt a pull like that, having her in my arms, her scent engulfing me. It has never felt like that.
That real, that free.
She was vulnerable, seeking something that in that moment only I could give her, and if Grace hadn’t walked in, I would without a doubt finally know how she tastes.
She wanted it too. In that moment, she had relaxed into me, releasing her tension onto me for me to bear for her, and I would have gladly taken it.
And what is completely messing with my head is the look in her eyes when we sprang apart.
Deep ocean eyes swimming with lust and longing, the slight pink tinge to her cheeks, and the exaggerated rise and fall of her chest. I’ve seen that look many times, the look of want aimed at me, but never from Ria.
Was this a lapse in her judgment?
Pacing her living room, I wait for Kai to make his appearance.
Ria messaged to say she was meeting with the girls after work for cocktails and final wedding planning, and thank God, because I need to talk this out with someone.
And the person I would normally turn to for advice would be Hunter, and I don’t think that’s wise right now.
I’m also thinking Kai wasn’t my best option either based on his text messages.
Rushing to the door when I see him climb out of an Uber, I fling it open, watching as he shakes his head when he walks up to me and pats me on the shoulder as he walks past. “I thought we planned on taking this slowly.” I silently shut the door behind him, following him through to the kitchen.
“Tell Kai all about it,” he says smugly as he perches on the barstool.
“You look like you’re two seconds away from a full-on meltdown or you’re going to run, and that can’t happen. ”
“Why can’t I run?”
“You think Hunter would forgive you if you ran and left his sister to deal with this?” He quirks an eyebrow at me and I groan, opening the fridge for a bottle of water. Passing one to Kai, I slump down next to him.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Oh God, that sounds good.” He moans and shivers next to me. “Say it again, baby.”
“Fuck you.” I shake my head at him, rolling my eyes.
“As gorgeous as you are, you aren’t my type. So, explain how you’ve deviated from my perfectly laid out plan and bulldozed straight into almost kissing your wife.”
“I have no idea. She was there and I was there and then...” Raking my fingers through my hair, I replay the image of Ria’s lips and how plump and fucking perfect they looked, my mind not focusing on anything else.
“Mate, you aren’t making any sense. And you’ve zoned out.” He snaps his fingers in front of my face, refocusing me. “Start from the beginning.”
“I went into her office to check on her after the news she got this morning—”
“What news?” he cuts me off.
“We found out that Ezra’s dad is Thomas’s rival and he’s bought into Peak, and the day Ezra disappeared on her was the day we think he set the wheels in motion for the takeover.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah, oh, shit. So I went to make sure she was okay, and she was playing it down but I could tell she was panicking. She has these tells. My body was on autopilot, and I couldn’t stand to see her so vulnerable, so I tried to comfort her.
It’s something I’ve done countless times, but she curled into me.
My stupid heart didn’t know what had happened and was beating out of my chest. Her lips were mere inches from mine.
I could feel her breath on my skin and I was desperate for her, but then Grace walked in. ”
“Grace nearly witnessed your first kiss.” His face crumples with disgust. “If anyone should see your first kiss, it should be me.”
“You seriously are a strange man.”
Shrugging, he grins and uncaps his water. “As the puppet master of this little scenario, I should see the results.”
“I actually have no words for you.”
“That’s been said before but how did you leave it?”
“I ran away.” My feet become restless as the images of what happened flash through my mind.
“You ran away?”
“Yep, bolted.” My chest tightens and I rub at it, trying desperately to ease the ache.
“Left the office early and have been an actual mess ever since. I bought this on my way back here.” Reaching over to the kitchen island, I pick up the bonsai tree that I saw in the window of the cute boutique flower shop on the corner outside the office.
I thrust it at him, and he is caught off guard and almost drops it.
“No idea why except I know Ria loves plants and trees, and this is a tiny tree she can have in her house or on her desk.” Snatching the tree from him, I place it back down on the island and pull on the ends of my hair, my mind working at a hundred miles an hour.
“I ran back from the office since apparently a three-mile run in a custom-made Brioni suit is what I wear to do my cardio now, along with a tiny fucking tree under my arm. Have cleaned her kitchen from top to bottom,”—I wave dramatically at the gleaming kitchen—“still in my suit which I wouldn't recommend. Very restrictive.” Twisting my body, I stretch my arms to emphasize.
“But her fridge is now organized and all her cabinets have the cans and boxes pointing in the right direction. Oh, and then I—”
“Mate, can you take a breath?” Kai cuts me off.
“Oh, thank God. I wondered when you’d stop me.” I flop down on the barstool and rest my head against the cool marble countertop.
“So it’s safe to say you’re spiraling.”
“It would appear so.” Lifting my head slightly, I peer at Kai who is grinning widely.
“You good now?”
“Define good.”
“Not going to organize Ria’s closet by designer and color?”
“Don’t need to. It already is.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Why are you surprised?” I sit up straight now, my heart rate slowly returning to normal.
“I suppose I’m not.” He shrugs before continuing. “So you haven’t spoken to her since?”
“Nope.”
“Has she tried to speak with you?”
“Only to say she will be late tonight.”
“Okay, we need to move the plan on a few steps.”
“Huh?”
“Yep. We move straight onto step three.”
“What were steps one and two?”
“Were you not listening when we outlined the plan? Have you not read your email?”
“Briefly.”
“Well, read it thoroughly. Do that instead of turning cans around in the cupboards.” He sighs. “I’m working with amateurs. Step three is allowing her to make the first move.”
“And how will I do that?”
“You ramp up the touching, and you slip into conversation that you need to show more physical affection. Haven’t you got a gala next weekend?” His eyes are alight with mischief as he practically bounces in his seat.
“Yeah?”
“Then you use that as your test. You show her what it’s like to be on your arm, what it’s like to be your woman, your everything. And I can guarantee that is the night she kisses you, my friend.”
“Really? That will work?”
“It’s foolproof. But in the meantime, you ramp up the tension and flirting. But you don’t take it any further. Okay? You let her make that move.”
I’m not sure if talking with Kai has made things better or worse. My head is now spinning. I’m trying to settle my racing heart and thoughts as I stare into my tea. Apparently, Lily has been subconsciously slipping her thoughts into our minds as I’ve never drunk so much tea.
The front door creaks open, and the sound of keys jingling has my head snapping up.
She’s back.
Okay, you can do this. Flirting. It’s simple.
“Oh, hi.” Ria beams at me as she comes into view.
Her beautiful brunette hair is swept off her face in the same tight bun as earlier, but small tendrils have come loose around the front, softening her features.
Taking off her jacket, she drapes it on the counter before pinning her cobalt-blue eyes on me as she sits next to me. “I thought you’d be in bed.”
“Um, I was about to go up. Just having this first.” I nod toward my mug. “Did you want one?”
For fuck’s sake, flirt, you fool.
“I’ll get it.” She goes to stand but I grasp her wrist, halting her.
“I’ll get it.” Swiping my thumb across her skin, I stare deep into her eyes. “You just relax.” She swallows and wets her lips as she just nods, and I rise to make her drink.
“Leo, why is there a bonsai tree in my kitchen?”
“That’s Bartholomew. He’s cute, right?” I say over my shoulder as I turn the kettle on.
“He is.” She laughs. “But why is he here?”
“I saw him in that flower shop near the office and thought you might like him. You know, bringing the outside indoors. He’s a tiny tree but he looks like a big tree.” I lean against the counter and cross my arms. Her face is soft as she watches me.
“You bought him for me?” She points her finger at her chest and I nod. “Thank you, he’s beautiful.”
“You’re welcome. Just make sure you look after him. Apparently he needs quite a bit of attention. Very needy.”
“I’ve got this covered.”
“Good.”
Flirt, you fool.
“Anyway, is Jade all ready for the wedding?”
“Yes, all boxes are checked. Jade has to be the most laid-back bride ever.”
“Oh, I don’t know. My bride was no bridezilla.” I wink as I get her mug out of the cabinet.
Seriously, Leo, do better.
“Can you really remember our wedding?”
“Mmm… Not all of it.” Scrunching my nose, I finish preparing her tea and place it down in front of her.
“And I hate that, because Grace was right. You deserve to be shown off, Ri Ri. I took that away from you.” Closing my hand around hers, I squeeze as I sit back down next to her, our legs brushing against each other.
“You are worth so much more than a quickie wedding in Vegas.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve never been one for being the center of attention,” she says quietly.
Turning my hand in hers, I interlock our fingers. “Maybe not, but you deserve to be.”
“You know when Cole was here you said you would have proposed to me differently?”
“Yes?”
“How would you have done it?”
Giving her a small smile, using the hand that isn’t holding hers, I cup her cheek and she tilts her head slightly into the touch. “I’m not going to tell you my secrets, Ri Ri.”
“But why not?” she whispers.
I’m quiet for a beat before releasing her and standing, staring down at her.
Mapping out her face like I have thousands of times, I tuck her loose tendrils behind her ear, allowing the tips of my fingers to brush her soft delicate skin.
“Because if I tell you, when I do it for real, it won’t be a surprise.
” Kissing the top of her head briefly, I grin as her mouth hangs open slightly then I turn to leave. “Night, Ri Ri.”