Boy oh boy, were they back.
Dan was legit bringing sexy back.
Whoa.
In the next moment, his mouth hooked upward and he pushed away from the wall, sauntering toward me. Instinctively, I took two steps back.
“Kit-Kat.” He wagged a finger at me, like I’d been naughty. “You liked me.”
“You liked me, you just said so,” I volleyed back, the words sounding like an accusation.
“I did.” His grin grew and his voice deepened. “And I do.”
Oh.
Okay.
Here we go.
He was using his naughty-secret voice.
Am I ready for this?
“We can’t do this right now.”
What? What is wrong with you? Do it now! Do it right now!
“Why not?”
“Because—”
“I know you’re not seeing anyone else.”
“Because—because I smelled your underwear and touched your cologne!”
Dan stopped, his eyes widening with what looked like alarm. “You what?”
“Ah!” Heat surged to my face, hot and mortifying. “No. Sorry. No, I mixed that up. Not what I did. I mean, I touched your underwear and smelled your cologne.”
“O-o-o-o-kay. That’s . . . interesting. And strangely arousing.”
“I want to deserve you.” Like before, this was blurted. But I stopped myself before I could also confess, I want to be stable, rational, healthy, and sensible for you.
“Deserve me?” He grinned at that, my words apparently confusing him because his grin seemed shaded with both amusement and concern.
“I owe you so much and—”
Dan made a face, flinching, all traces of sexy-humor dissolved in a single instant. “Uh, no. You don’t owe me.”
“I do. I really do. I’m so, so grateful.”
“You do this every time we’re together. Like I told you before, you gotta stop thanking me.” He pulled his hands through his hair, turning away. “Shit.”
I didn’t know how, but I seemed to be making things worse. Rushing forward, I placed a hand on his arm and stepped in front of him, anxious to get this right. “Sorry. I’m doing this wrong. Let me start over. You are so kind, and generous, and I—”
“Stop making me out to be some Mother Theresa. You think I married you out of the kindness of my heart? Think again.”
I couldn’t help my smile. “Dan.”
“Kat.”
“Come on.”
His hands were back on his hips. “Where’re we going?”
I chuckled, my smile beaming. “Why do you want me to believe you’re not a good guy?”
“I didn’t say I’m not a good guy. I didn’t say I am a good guy. I said I didn’t marry you out of kindness.”
Squinting at him, I gave him a rueful grin. “I don’t believe that.”
“You should.”
“Okay, well,”—I rolled my eyes to the ceiling—“fine. Whatever your reason, I’m allowed to be grateful for your help.”
“I don’t want your gratitude.” He stepped back, shaking his head adamantly as he folded his arms. He wasn’t smiling. In fact, he looked frustrated. Or angry. Or both.
I didn’t understand him. “I’m not allowed to be grateful?”
“No.” He lifted his chin. “Being grateful is like giving me a participation ribbon when I’m after the goddamn gold medal.”
I winced at his voice’s volume and sharpness, but before I was able to ascertain Dan’s meaning, Quinn opened the door.
The big man stopped short, glancing between us for several seconds with his trademark lack of expression. Eventually, he strolled into the room and to the coffee. Selecting a cup, he claimed the seat he’d been sitting in earlier and pulled out his phone.
“Don’t mind me.”
“I—” I started, paused, looked to Quinn and then back to Dan. Dan hadn’t even looked at his friend. His eyes remained on me the whole time, his usually luscious lips an angry slash on his handsome face, his jaw rigid.
I worried for his dental work.
But at the same time, I wanted to shout at him. His unwillingness to accept my appreciation was infuriating.
Worried I would yell, I turned for the door, murmuring as I went, “I’ll go get more coffee,” and hurried out of the room.
I needed a minute to think about what he’d said and review our conversation. I needed to examine each of our words, but especially his last comment about gratitude.
What am I doing wrong? How am I messing this up so badly?
I’d made it three steps to the door when I felt a hand close over my arm, bringing me to a stop, and effectively turning me around.
I was given just a single second to recognize that the hand belonged to Dan before he tugged me forward, slid his arms around my waist, and captured my mouth.