Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
KIKI EMMERSON
T obias lets out a belly laugh, and it’s so delightful that I swear an angel somewhere got their wings. “You’re hysterical,” he says, his voice smooth and low. It flows over me, warming my insides as the contact with his skin electrifies me. This man is seriously affecting me.
I smirk at him. “That’s top-secret information.”
He continues to trace my tattoo with his finger, and his touch feels so good I’m about ready to die and go to heaven. It’s what Christmas morning would feel like if it were able to caress my skin. I’m hyper-aware of him sitting next to me, holding the back of my hand, and every movement he’s making. It’s quite sensual. Even his breathing is sexy.
“What do I have to do to get that information?” His voice has a teasing tone, but I can sense the underlying question. The one he isn’t asking. The one tentatively probing if I would open up to him. The problem is, I can’t tell him what it means. He wouldn’t let me near Skyler again if I did.
“You don’t want to know what you’d have to do,” I tease. I pull my arm back from him, but I instantly regret it. I want more Christmas caresses, but it would be awkward to change my mind, so I hug my arms to myself and live with my poor decision.
A faint tune comes from somewhere above us, and I look up past the white lights to a bedroom light that’s shining. It sounds like someone playing a guitar. “What’s that?”
“Micah, probably.”
I nod, remembering he’d said he wanted recording equipment. A voice joins in the mix, and I gape at Tobias. “He sings?”
“Yeah. He’s pretty good.”
“Wow.” I shift in my seat trying to hear the song, but I can’t make it out. “I thought he was gaming or something. I didn’t know he was posting songs on YouTube.”
Tobias frowns.
“What?” I nudge him when he doesn’t answer right away.
He stiffens. “I just don’t like him posting stuff on the internet.”
“I’m sure you’ve taught him internet safety, right?” I eye him skeptically.
“Of course.” He sighs. “I just don’t like that he wants to become a YouTuber. That’s so…”
I laugh. “He’s a teenager. All teenagers want to grow up to be YouTubers. It’s normal.” I poke him in his side.
He grabs my hand. “Hey. Don’t do that,” he says in a serious tone, but his grin gives him away.
I admit, I’m glad for more skin contact. “Toby is ticklish. Got it,” I say, logging that away for later.
He chuckles, not letting go of my hand. “Don’t call me that.”
“But it fits you so well,” I say, laughing because that’s the opposite of true. Toby is a hipster who wears skinny jeans and a beanie. I don’t think I’ve seen Tobias wear anything but a white button-up shirt and dress pants. He’s an old soul in a young man’s body.
He laughs with me, and I don’t forget to notice he’s still holding my hand. “If you call me that, I’ll call you Kat.”
“Ooh, way to bring up past mistakes, Toby.”
He finally releases my hand. His smile fades. “You’re different than I expected.”
I look up at him and the world shifts. He’s staring at me quite intently, and I could fall into this cool, grey eyes. “What did you expect?” I ask as my heart beats fast.
He shakes his head, like he doesn’t want to elaborate. “Not you.”
“You’re not what I expected either,” I say, turning it on him. “You actually know how to laugh. But I think your wardrobe needs some help.” I clamp my lips shut, shocked that I said that. We’re getting a bit chummy, but that was uncalled for.
He pushes the swing back, setting it in motion again. “And what would you dress me in, Kitty Kat?”
I groan. “Dear heavens. That was horrible. You’re banned from ever uttering those words again in reference to me.”
He chuckles. “I agree. That was bad. But the question still stands.”
“You’re what, twenty-seven?”
“Twenty-eight.”
“I think a pair of jeans might be appropriate.” I let my gaze travel over him, which is a huge mistake. He looks like a dream come true even though he’s all business class attire, and it’s making my chest feel funny. “And maybe a thing called a t-shirt.”
“T-shirt and jeans? Really? We headed to the barn to milk the cows, Bertha?”
I have a hard time breathing because I’m laughing so hard. “Since when do jeans equal milking cows? You do realize the rest of the world wears jeans to do like, everything, right?”
He places his hand on my knee, and I admit my heart stutters at the Christmas caress. “I was joking. Do you really think I don’t own jeans?”
I open my mouth in shock. “You own a pair of jeans? I don’t believe you.”
“Cross my heart, Kat.” He gently squeezes my knee, and I feel like my heart is going to pound out of my chest like those cheesy cartoons.
“Wear them tomorrow.” I don’t know what’s coming over me, but I’m not usually this demanding. Maybe I just don’t believe him and want him to prove it.
He exhales and runs his hand over his hair, shaking his head. “I have meetings tomorrow.”
“What kind of meetings? Don’t you work from home?”
“Zoom meetings.”
I scoff at him. “No one can see what your pants look like, Mr. Stuffy. Do you shake your booty at the camera? I dare you to wear jeans tomorrow, to all your boring zoom meetings. All business on top, party on the bottom.”
He grins at me, and I can’t help but marvel at how his smile along with his dimple transforms his face. “My zoom meetings are no joke, Ms. Anderson. I’m meeting with people who I might invest a million dollars in.”
My mouth falls open, and I try to shove away the guilt from him calling me by my fake last name. “Seriously?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stares at me, and I’m getting the impression that he’s weighing my reaction.
I already knew he was a multi-millionaire. But having him say so casually that he’s thinking of tossing a million dollars at something makes it a bit more real. “Then you really need to wear jeans. Big decisions should be made while comfortable.”
He lifts his eyebrows and hides a smile. “Really?”
“Absolutely.” I picture him in a white dress shirt and jeans, and I have to pinch my leg not to bust out laughing. Oh, how I hope he takes me up on my challenge.
He shifts. “Did you fill out that paperwork? I need it before I can pay you.”
The bottom drops out of my stomach. “I forgot. I’ll do it tomorrow. Is that okay?”
“Sure. Just put it in my office.”
I nod, wondering how long I can keep this up without filling that out. Or I could accidentally put in my social security number in wrong. It could give me a little more time with Skyler before I have to disappear.