Page 81 of A Shot at Love
Ky hadn’t moved. He’d dropped his hands in his pants pockets as soon as Rick sprinted into the kitchen, and maintained a nonthreatening stance. But Gemma could see the checked tension in his shoulders, the way his breathing accelerated, and knew if provoked, he’d fight back.
She faced Rick, placed a restraining hand on his chest. “Don’t,” she said. “Please.”
His heated glare shot to her, swiped across her face, searching. The subtle lines on his forehead deepened. “Cleo?”
“It’s okay. Really,” she told him. “Everything is okay.” Only when she stretched up and kissed his cheek did he relent.
“You smell like a locker room,” she told him, punching him in the abdomen. He didn’t even flinch. “Go have a shower. Go. Breakfast will be ready when you’re done.”
His eyes softened, the lids falling to half-open. “Promise you won’t burn it?”
Gemma dropped her chin and glared at him. “Beggars and being choosey. Ever heard of it?”
He threw his hands up in surrender. “Just asking.”
“Just saying,” she shot back.
He grinned at her. When he shifted to stare at Ky, he dropped it.
Without another word, Rick went up the stairs.
When he was out of earshot, Gemma sighed.
“He’s very protective of you,” Ky said. “And he loves you very much.”
Gemma turned around to face him, embarrassed and unsure, two things she never was. She shrugged and stared down at the floor.
Ky stepped toward her and wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “Look at me.”
She did. The expression on his face was guarded, his eyes narrowed, his brow pulled low as he peered at her. On a deep breath, he said, “I can’t believe I’m asking you this, but,” he squeezed her arms, “I need to know. Are you having any regrets about last night?”
Gemma bit the corner of her bottom lip as she stared up at him. “Are you?”
She held her breath until he answered. Which was immediately and accompanied by his head shaking left to right.
“None.” He smiled at her then. “Abso-friggin-lutely none.”
His grin was infectious. She could live off it if she had to. “Ditto,” she told him.
“Good to know.” His lips softened as he drew her closer. When they covered her mouth in a sweet, gentle reminder of what they’d shared a tiny crack split along Gemma’s protected heart, allowing the notion of possibilities and future happiness to weave its way in.
Why she wasn’t scared out of her shoes at the thought was a mystery, but a mystery best left to figure out at another time.
“Now let me restart breakfast.” She pulled away from him. “And no distractions this time,” she added, shaking her finger at him.
His response was to grab her finger, then her whole hand and place a kiss to her palm.
That little crack widened.
*
Rick came back down, showered and dressed just as Gemma pulled the last piece of toast from the griddle pan.
“Well, it smells better in here than it did a few minutes ago,” he said, pouring himself a mug of coffee from the pot Ky had made.
Gemma glared at him.
“Oh, hey, I forgot.” He shot from the room and out the front door after disarming the security alarm. Ky filled his plate with toast.
“Here,” Gemma said. She sprinkled a dash of cinnamon and then powdered sugar over them, a dusty white cloud gusting up from the plate. “Secret ingredients.”
Ky grabbed her free hand and brought it to his mouth. He was rewarded when her eyes turned dewy and her lips lifted at the corners. He swore she sighed, but the sound was drowned out by Rick’s intentional throat clearing.
“Excuse me.” The sarcasm in his tone sounded terse and rude.
Gemma laughed. “Why? What did you do?” she asked, and then, on a squeal of delight ran to him and grabbed something from his arms.
“I left that in the car last night by mistake,” he said.
When she threw her arms around him and kissed him soundly and loudly on the mouth, saying, “Thank you, Jesus!” Ky’s stomach clenched.
Jealous. Damn it, he was jealous.
He had no reason to be because he knew the kiss was innocent and bestowed in appreciation, but never the less, a quick, hot and resounding shot of possession bulleted through his gut, shooting his blood pressure up into the red zone.
