Page 61 of Kane

That seems to happen a lot around Ryder.

It feels good, and for the first time, I embrace that. I don’t know if this is a date, but it could be. So I text him back, smirking as I do so. Date or not, I’m going to enjoy this moment, because he said yes.

Kane: If you’re a good boy for me tonight and behave, maybe I will reward you.

He doesn’t answer, and for a moment I think I fucked up. Made it weird, awkward. That’s not hard to do sometimes over text where it can be easy to misconstrue people’s words since you can’t hear them.

Way to go Kane.

But before I can set my phone down in shame and chastise myself for being too forward, too bold, two words appear on my screen.

Ryder: Yes, Sir.

And as I smile, relishing in those words like they are my salvation.

Because for the first time in what might be forever, I think I’m actually excited to see what happens next.

Chapter Fifteen

Ryder

“It’s not a date, Claire,” I say, though the butterflies in my stomach disagree with that statement.

“Sounds an awful lot like a date to me,” my sister touts on the other end of the phone. “If you’re planning on bringing him back here after dinner. Sounds like someone’s expecting something.”

“It’s not like that, I just—”

I mean, she’s not wrong. Well, partly. I do want something to happen, I won’t lie. After what happened yesterday in the elevator, our midnight conversation, and today’s flirty texts… and the fact Kane asked to get dinner with me tonight…

If it walks like a duck and smells like a duck…

Except, I get the feeling if Kane wanted this to be a date, he would have said something. Which makes me think this isn’t .

But then he got all flirty and told me if I behave and be a good boy, then I might get a reward, and after his insistence I wait yesterday…

I’m pretty sure he is at least thinking about it, even if it is only to torment me. I get the feeling Kane likes a little bit of torture. In a good way.

In the best way…

“I’m not saying I’m going to ask him to come in, but—”

Claire sighs. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. If you’re feeling it, you don’t want your sister and her girlfriend to cramp your style.”

“Please, Claire?” I plead. “I will never ask you another favor again.”

Claire sighs dramatically and I know she’s only doing it to annoy me on purpose, make me sweat. But there’s still a part of me that worries she’ll say no. After all, I am bringing a stranger over to our house. But true to the sweetheart she is, she sweetly purrs, “Okay. But you are going to make it to me. And Tori.”

I sigh, but truthfully, I knew that it was coming.

“Okay,” I say carefully. “Thanks, Claire.” I say the words genuinely, needing her to understand, and for once, I think she does.

“You must really like this guy,” she says softly.

“I do,” I say. “I know we’re still sort of getting to know each other, but yeah… I like what I do know. I want to know more. I just—”

“What is it?”

I carefully empty the espresso bin into the trash.