King Maker (King Maker 3)

My stomach was in knots, but I didn’t decline.

“Sure,” I said, along with a chorus of agreement.

“Will you help me?” she asked me.

It wouldn’t have been polite to refuse, so I followed her into the kitchen.

She busied herself getting water in a kettle while she spoke. “My son has never talked to me about a girl before even though I know he’s had plenty. When he called to tell me about you, I was so excited. I’m getting pretty old and worry about him.”

At that moment, I was grateful I hadn’t had a drink. I would have choked.

She turned to look at me. “And here you are. My son’s girlfriend.”

“We’re not together,” a voice said behind me and his mother and I turned as one.

Kalen stood not too far behind us, seemingly taking up the entire space. His impassive expression seemed to rattle us both as his mother turned back to grab the kettle.

“My mistake,” she said before handing the pot past me to her son. “Put it on, will yer?” she said to him. To me, she said, “You can have a seat, lass.”

As directed, I went back to the table. All the seats were claimed save three. Turner stood beside one and neither of the other two options were next to him. I sat in the only one that wasn’t at the ends of the table. I glanced at Turner who sat catty-cornered to me just as the tea arrived. I didn’t know how to feel when Kalen sat at the end of the table nearest to me as dinner was served. I did my best to ignore the heat that felt combustible every time he was near.

To my relief, the adorable Gabe stole the show as he regaled everyone with his adventures in New York.

“—And I rode in a carriage… and one day we went to the zoo and saw the lions,” he said with big eyes as he spoke non-stop. Kalen’s mom nodded and looked properly amazed during his tale. “Through the window in my room, I can see the sky more than the street.”

The way he spoke reminded me how awestruck I’d been when I’d left the community area for the first time. New York had seemed so big. Yet it had felt so small when I’d left Kalen in his office for what felt like years ago.

“And what was your favorite: the zoo or the museums?” Kalen’s mom asked.

Gabe pinched his chin as if in deep thought before giving her the biggest smile. “Both.”

Everyone laughed and I might have too if Kalen’s knee hadn’t brushed against my leg at that moment. The fact that I wore jeans didn’t matter. It was still electric and made all the hairs on my arms stand on end.

In a moment of weakness, I gave in to the magnetic need to glance his way. And damn, if he wasn’t staring straight at me. I swallowed, unable to turn away from the gravity that pulled us together.

“Bailey.”

I snapped my head in the direction of the voice because Turner didn’t often call me by my full name. That was when I noticed everyone staring in my direction and my cheeks heated.

“Yes,” I said automatically.

“You’ve been to Central Park Zoo, right?” he asked.

“No.” When he looked confused, I felt the need to explain why I’d hadn’t heard him.

Only how could I say I’d been too busy staring at Kalen? One glance back at him revealed his arrogant smirk. I felt heat spread down my neck and over my body. This time it wasn’t filled with lust but embarrassment.

Immediately, I shifted my focus back to my food as Gabe broke the awkward silence.

“You should go. The elephants…”

And he was off to the races again. I wanted to hug the boy. Instead, I tried to ignore the egotistical man, as his knee hadn’t moved an inch from my leg. I feared if I did, it would be obvious what was or wasn’t going on under the table.

Swallowing was difficult as I tried to choke down what was really a delicious meal as the pressure of Kalen’s body against mine didn’t let up.

I’d never been so grateful when Ainsley announced that she was leaving and not for what she said. For taking away any lingering curiosity as to what was or wasn’t going on between Kalen and me.

“Thanks for the wonderful meal, Aunt Isla, but I should really get home.”

If I’d thought the silence was palpable for me getting caught staring at Kalen, this was ten times worse. Isla, Griffin, and Kalen traded weary glances, until Isla made a show of a big smile.

“It was so good to see you. Make sure to call if you need anything,” Isla said.

“Anything,” Kalen reiterated.

Ainsley glanced at Griffin. “I was hoping Griffin would drive me.”

He only barely glanced at Kalen before saying. “Sure thing. I should be going anyway.” He pushed back his chair and got to his feet. Isla did too, hugging both before waving them off.