Toasty (Cozy 2)

“Don’t!” Both Pippa and I shout as Timber lunges for Kace. Bruce is there grabbing Timber’s arm, but he stops on his own. My heart races because I’m afraid Kace is going to drop me.

“She’s—” I know Pippa is about to tell him that I’m pregnant so I cut her off.

“Fine!” I shoot my sister a glare just as she puts a hand over her mouth to stop herself. “I’m fine.”

“Put her down,” Timber demands.

“It’s fine, I’ll be right back. I need to talk to him,” I reassure both Timber and my sister. It’s sweet that he’s being protective, but I should talk to Kace and get this over with.

“She’s not coming back. At least not tonight.” My face flushes because it’s clear what he thinks we’re going to be doing.

“Myra?” Pippa looks to me for an answer.

“I’ll see you when I get back.” I squeeze Kace’s shoulder and he reluctantly puts me on my feet.

She rushes over and hugs me as she whispers in my ear. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I need to do this,” I admit.

She kisses my cheek. “I’m here if you need me.”

“You have a honeymoon to get to,” I remind her. “You better come back sunkissed.”

Kace’s hand locks around my wrist. “You’ve said your goodbyes.” He starts to pull me from the room and I’m having déjà vu from six weeks ago.

“Fine,” I snip, moving away with him. “Just remember you’re not my boss anymore.”

“That’s what you think,” he says, so low I almost don’t catch it. But by the look in his eyes, he’s not playing around.

Chapter 5

Kace

“Thank you for bringing my lady to the car for me.” Bruce’s smug voice turns my attention away from Myra.

He’s leaning against a limo with his arms crossed over his chest and a smile on his face. I move Myra behind me like I’m going to block her and then he’ll forget she’s here.

“Fuck off,” I tell him, because I’m tired of playing games.

“Cousin, there’s no need to be like that. Remember our arrangement?”

My jaw aches from how hard I’m clenching my teeth and I ball my fists up at my side.

“What arrangement?” Myra asks as she comes around me.

“It’s nothing.” My words are quick and it’s like I’m trying to erase what Bruce is saying.

“Kace agreed to be my plus one tonight in exchange for you leaving with me.” He smiles brightly as he takes a step forward.

“That wasn’t the deal.” Again I try to move in front of Myra, but he shakes his head.

“I said that I would tell you where she was and in exchange we agreed I could have her.” Bruce is so close to laughing I want to put my hands around his neck.

“Is that true?” Myra takes several steps away from me and I want to reach out and grab her. She looks to Bruce as he nods, and then back to me. “I’m not some kind of toy to be passed between the two of you.”

“I know,” I rush to say, but I don’t know how to get the words to come out right. “I was desperate.”

“So desperate to fuck me that you’d pass me to your cousin?” The look of hurt in her eyes tears at my heart.

“No, it’s not like that.”

Bruce walks closer to Myra and she doesn’t back away from him. “Let’s go for a drive, Myra. I think the night air will do you good.”

“Let me explain.” I walk toward her and she takes a step back, putting her closer to Bruce. “Please, Myra, I didn’t know where you were.”

She shakes her head and her eyes are red like she’s on the verge of tears. “You planned this? I thought…I thought.” She blinks a few times and turns around to face Bruce. “Can you get me out of here? I don’t want my sister to see me like this.”

“You’re not going with him.” I reach out to take her arm but she pulls it away.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore, Kace.” The way she says my name is like a knife in my chest. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but I know that when I’m close to you I can’t think straight. Maybe it’s good that I get out of here and you go home.”

“I’m not leaving without you.” I plant my feet as if to show her that I’m not moving.

“Pippa and Timber are leaving in a few minutes for their honeymoon. I’m not going to be here arguing with you when they walk out.” She shakes her head. “What we did shouldn’t have happened.”

“It wasn’t a mistake,” I growl, and she shakes her head.

“That’s not what I’m saying.” Her voice is so sharp and I don’t understand why. “I shouldn’t have given myself to someone who never appreciated me. I can’t change what happened but I won’t let it happen again.”