Chapter 8 Who The Hell Is That?
Who The Hell Is That?
Kai to Tess: If you flirt with one more fucking person I will spank your ass so hard. [unsent]
Tess
Kai is avoiding me. I know it. He knows it. And yet, here we are, pretending like it’s not happening.
He said he regrets kissing me. And yeah, that stung. But I’m not about to dwell on it. If he wants to avoid me and never kiss me again, that’s fine. Totally. Fine.
Carina has been texting non-stop, checking in and making sure I’m okay. I told her about the break-in and let her know that I’m staying at Kai’s again. I haven’t told her about the kiss. She offered to let me stay at hers, but for some masochistic reason I don’t want to leave.
It’s been two days, though, and Kai has spent most of that time holed up in his office doing God knows what.
He clearly has a routine that he doesn’t like to deviate from.
I hear him get up at an ungodly hour (always the same time every day) and leave the house for sixty minutes—no more, no less.
I usually see him at lunch—he’s eaten the same thing both days, I’m not sure if that’s intentional or coincidence.
Something tells me he’s not a coincidence guy.
Then, at dinner he eats with me, though not really acknowledging me, before he hurries back to his man cave.
I don’t understand how he doesn’t get bored of constantly doing the same thing every day.
Me? I need some variety.
I should be back at work by now, but after the break-in, I needed a couple of days to recalibrate.
Unfortunately, I can’t put it off any longer.
Kai hasn’t said more than two words to me since the whole “kissing you was a mistake” bombshell, but I can’t leave the house without telling him. Logically, I tell myself it’s because I’ll need him to let me in later. Deep down, I know it’s because I want an excuse to see his stupid, gorgeous face.
Which is why I’m currently standing outside his office door, overthinking how to knock. Because apparently, that’s where my life is now.
Soft knock? Like a gentle whisper?
Loud and insistent? Demand an answer?
Or should I just burst in and act like I own the place?
Before I can make a decision, the door swings open.
“Hi!” I blurt, way too loud. Real smooth, Tess.
Kai’s expression is unreadable, but my stomach decides to host a gymnastics meet anyway. His presence is magnetic, his grumpy aura a direct assault on my self-control.
“What are you doing?” His voice is rough, low, and entirely unfair to my hormones.
“I have work,” I say, crossing my arms as if that will keep my dignity intact. “Just thought I’d let you know I’m heading out.”
His expression darkens. “Is that wise?”
I narrow my eyes. “I have to make money somehow.”
He holds my gaze for a moment, then shrugs. “Okay. Need a lift?”
I blink, caught off guard. “Uh, no. I’ll take the tube.”
“Suit yourself.”
I turn to make a swift escape, but his hand shoots out, catching my arm. The contact sends an electric jolt through my body, and I freeze.
“Give me your number,” he says, his tone low and commanding.
“What?” My voice comes out sharp, as anger builds inside. “Are you kidding me? First, you say you’re not interested, then you ignore me for two days, and now you’re asking for my number? Arrogant prick—”
His hand covers my mouth, silencing me as he backs me against the wall.
Every nerve ending in my body ignites as I become hyper aware of how close we are. His hard, muscular frame cages me in, and, for a moment, I forget how to breathe.
“I’m not asking because I’ve changed my mind, Hurricane,” he rumbles, his voice a dangerous whisper. “It’s for emergencies. I’ll text you so you can call me if you get into trouble. Got it?”
His hand is still on my mouth, his dark eyes boring into mine. My heart races as I nod.
He releases me, pulling out his phone. I rattle off my number, my voice unsteady, then bolt before I do something stupid—like beg him to kiss me again.
It requires me to get three tubes to get to my job at Fitness Magic due to rail strikes and because Kai’s house is much further away than my flat, and I almost regret not accepting the offered lift. Almost.
By the time I collapse into my chair behind the front desk, I’m a sweaty mess.
My iced latte (yes, Starbucks was absolutely necessary, how else would I cool down?) is already halfway gone.
Strands of hair cling uncomfortably to the back of my neck, so I twist them into a high ponytail, savouring the relief as a bead of sweat rolls down my temple.
The door chimes, and I plaster on my best customer-service smile as the first gym rat of the day strolls in. Of course, it’s the Sweat Sprinkler.
“Hi, David!” I chirp as he swipes his membership card.
“Tess, glad to see you back.” He saunters over with a confidence that far outpaces his actual charm.
“You miss me?” I tease, keeping my tone light.
“Always, baby girl,” he winks before heading off. I suppress a shudder. Gross.
Another member breezes past, swiping their card without even glancing in my direction. Just as I’m about to enjoy the quiet, Dana, my coworker, slides into the chair beside me, flashing a perfectly professional smile for the line of gym-goers filing in.
“Was that the Mirror Magnet?” she whispers, her tone laced with amusement.
“Yep. Wonder how many selfies he’ll take today,” I reply, trying to stifle a laugh.
“His record is twenty-five.”
“Christ,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.
My mild irritation spikes when my least favourite member saunters in like he owns the place.
Brad. He’s the kind of guy who oozes self-assuredness, but in a way that’s more cringe than cool.
His too-white teeth flash in what I think is meant to be a flirty smile, though it lands somewhere between smug and downright creepy.
“Hey, cutie,” he greets, leaning far too close over the desk.
“Brad,” I say flatly, pursing my lips.
“You still got that boyfriend?”
My stomach flips. Oh crap. What was my story again? Right—he left town. Totally believable. Totally fine.
“Nope,” I say, rolling my eyes playfully, like it’s no big deal. “He moved away.”
Brad’s smirk widens. “Shame. How about I take you to dinner? Help you forget all about him?”
He’s been asking me out since the day I started here four years ago. His persistence would almost be admirable—if it wasn’t so obnoxious.
“That’s going to be a no, Bradley.” I enunciate his full name with a sugary-sweet tone, knowing he hates it.
Sure enough, his frown flickers, but he recovers quickly, his smirk snapping back into place. “I’ll wear you down someday, Tess!” he calls over his shoulder as he heads to the locker room.
Dana shakes her head beside me. “I don’t know how you deal with him.”
The rest of the day continues uneventfully and by the time I’m ready to pack away I’m glad I came back. My job isn’t amazing, I wouldn’t say I love it in any sense. But I needed to get out of the house. Away from Kai’s intensity.
I started working here for no reason other than I have no idea what else to do with my life and they were hiring.
I don’t think I want to use my degree. Not that I’m against it or anything, I love Psychology, but to do anything worthwhile with it requires more school. And that is a big fat no from me.
This job is simple, and for a mediocre receptionist gig, the pay isn’t half bad. It’s not great—obviously—but it’s manageable. I can’t complain too much. I like keeping things easy.
My afternoon shift ends as the sun begins to dip, casting London in a wash of soft pinks and purples.
On my way out of the gym, I feel it—like a weight pressing down on the back of my neck.
Something’s not right. I scan my surroundings, half-expecting a figure to step out of the shadows.
Instead, my eyes land on a man leaning against the brick wall a few yards down.
He’s smoking a cigarette, the glowing tip briefly illuminating his face as he holds my gaze.
My heart skips.
I force myself to look away, but every instinct is screaming at me to move. I take a few quick steps in the opposite direction, my pace picking up as my pulse races. When I risk a quick glance over my shoulder, he’s gone.
Did I imagine him?
I exhale in relief, only to walk straight into something solid.
A wall.
No.
Not a wall. Him.
He’s right in front of me now, his presence suffocating. His smile is cold and sharp, like he’s savouring something he’s about to devour. “Hi, Tessa.” The words slide from his lips like he’s known me forever. His accent is thick—Eastern European maybe.
How the hell does he know my name?
I take a half-step back, attempting to mask the panic creeping up my spine. “What do you want?” I demand, hoping my voice sounds steadier than I feel.
He cocks his head, the smile on his face not reaching his eyes. “Just wanted to say hi.”
“Who are you?” I stutter, trying to stand my ground as my skin prickles with suspicion.
“You’ve been... busy lately, haven’t you, Tessa?” His voice is casual, but there’s a knowing edge to it that sends a chill straight through me.
I swallow, my breath quickening. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Oh, nothing,” he shrugs, but his eyes never leave mine, their intensity enough to make me shiver. “Just that some things are harder to bury than others. You’ve learned that, haven’t you?”
My throat goes dry, and I fight the urge to recoil. He’s too close, too perceptive.
“Relax,” he says, the mock sympathy in his tone making my skin crawl. “I’m not here to cause trouble. Just remember—this is a small world, Tessa. You never know who’s watching.”
With a final lingering look, he pushes off the wall and strides past me, disappearing into the night. The hairs on my arms stay raised long after he’s gone, and I’m left standing there, trembling in the dimming light.
Kai
I’ve been watching Tess all day. I shouldn’t have. But I hacked into her work’s security cameras. I watched as men came in, flirting with her without shame, and jealousy churned in my gut.
I even skipped lunch. I never skip lunch. But I was too busy stalking her movements like I’m some creep.
When she steps outside, I switch the feed to the camera across the street.
I lean in, my eyes narrowing. Who the hell is that?
A man follows her. I can’t get an accurate image of his face. He moves quietly, taking advantage of her distraction to get in front of her.
My blood boils.
He talks to her for a few moments then walks off. She doesn’t move. I can’t see her face from here. I need a better angle.
She pulls something from her pocket. What the hell is she doing—?
My phone rings, cutting off my thoughts. Tess’s name flashes across the screen.
“Kai?” Her voice is so small, so cracked, it nearly breaks me. Blind rage floods my veins.
“Tess? What’s wrong?”
“I think someone saw what I did,” she whispers, her voice raw and trembling.
My heart skips a beat. “I’m on my way. Get somewhere safe. Stay there.”
I don’t wait another second. As soon as her name hit my screen, my feet were already moving.
“Okay.” Her voice is barely audible, a ghost of herself.
I curse the distance between us. I curse the traffic. London moves too slowly.
“I’ll be as quick as I can, Hurricane.” The nickname slips out before I can stop it. She’s in danger, and I’m already behind.
“Will you stay on the phone with me?” Her voice cracks again.
“Of course,” I answer, my Bluetooth kicking in as I speed out of my drive. “Talk to me. Where are you now?”
“I’ve gone back inside the gym,” she replies.
“Good. That’s good.” My heart pounds harder. “Tell me what happened?”
“A... a guy came up to me outside the gym. He said something about how I never know who’s watching, and that, um, some things are harder to bury than others.”
A small sob cracks through the phone, and my chest tightens.
I need to distract her so she doesn’t cry. “Tell me about your day, Tess.”
She sucks in a breath, then tells me about her colleague Dana, who is on husband number three apparently. She runs through some of the nicknames for the clients at the gym: Grunt Goblin, Barbie and Ken, Protein Princess, to name a few.
I’m almost there.
“I’m pulling up now. Stay inside. Don’t come out until I get there.”
“Okay. I’m okay. I’m sorry I freaked out. I’m sorry I called you. I know you don’t care.”
My teeth grind. "I care, Tess. I’m right outside. How are you doing now?”
“I’m okay. Sorry. I... I don’t know.” She breathes out a shaky laugh. “I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“Stop. You’re not bothering me. I’m here, Tess. And I’m not going anywhere.”
I slam on the brakes outside the gym, my heart racing as I fly out of the car.
“Open the door, Hurricane.”
She’s standing there, her face unsure, eyes shining with vulnerability. Without thinking, I pull her into my arms, the world around us falling away.
She sinks into me like she’s been waiting for this, her soft body pressing against mine. I inhale her scent—vanilla cupcakes—and hold her tighter.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur into her hair, as my pulse steadies for the first time all day.
“Hey, Kai?” she mumbles into my shirt, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
“Yeah, Hurricane?”
“Why do you call me that?”
I can’t help but laugh, though the sound is more of a rumble than anything else.
Of course that’s what she’d pick up on. I hadn’t meant for the nickname to slip, but now that it’s out, it feels right.
“You’re like a storm. You come in fast, and you don’t give a damn who gets caught in the whirlwind. ”
She goes quiet for a beat, and I can almost hear the confusion in her pause. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
I tilt her chin up gently, my thumb brushing across her jaw. “I’m not,” I say, and this time, I mean it—surprisingly so.