Heartbreaker (Unbreakable #1)(42)

She brought two bottles over, dropped one in front of me, then stabbed two forks into a couple of random containers. The Styrofoam soup cup already had a spoon sticking out of it.

“So…you’re not avoiding me.” I grabbed the nearest fork, then bit a sweet and sour pork chunk off of it.

“Oh, I am.” She leaned over, surveying the cartons, then forked up some almond chicken.

I chewed, then swallowed. “You suck at it.”

“Apparently.” She dug into a different carton, popped another forkful into her mouth.

“Why?” I knew what had pushed her, just didn’t understand it.

“I don’t do well with…commitment.”

“Hence the one-night stands.”

She pointed her fork at me with a nod. “He catches on quick.”

“But why? Who hurt you?” It was the only explanation.

“Not talkin’ about it.” She laid her fork down, lifted the spoon from its cup, blew on the steaming liquid’s surface, then slurped it down. She followed with a couple more spoonfuls before moving on to another container, another forkful.

She didn’t look up from the food. Silent again.

“Okay.” I had experience with protective walls with Logan. You didn’t push too hard with emotional shit. You waited until they were ready.

“What about you?”

“Me?” I glanced up from digging into the nearest container to find her staring intently at me.

“Why no girlfriend?” She scooped up a forkful of shrimp fried rice into her mouth.

I grabbed a spring roll, dipped into the mustard then the sweet and sour before taking a bite. “It’s…”

“Complicated,” she completed. “I remember.”

“Yeah. Lot to do with Logan.”

“Hey. No need to explain.”

Good. Because the reasons had begun to fade. And things had gotten a whole lot more complicated. All to do with the girl sitting in front of me.

“So, which is it?” I arched a brow at her.

The corner of her mouth quirked up. “Which Chinese dish?”

I nodded, then I stuffed a spoonful of beef and broccoli into my mouth.

“I dunnooo…” She surveyed the spread. “You sure you got one of everything?”

Blinking, I stared from box to box. “Moo goo gai pan. Egg foo yong. Egg drop soup. Sweet and sour pork. Chicken dumplings.”

She twirled her fork into the shrimp lo mein. “Sure you didn’t miss anything?”

“Okay. I didn’t get everything. But I got the most common dishes. I figured you weren’t a chow mein girl. And anything with lobster sauce seemed like overkill.”

With an amused expression, she stuffed the fork-load of lo mein noodles into her mouth. Not a timid little bite—a huge mouthful of food.

After she chewed, swallowed, then took a long draw of her beer, she dropped her fork and pushed her hands against the edge of the table before settling back in her chair.

“Well?” I arched my brows, stabbing my fork into the fried rice container.

She swept another glance across the Chinese takeout buffet. “Undecided.”

“Fair enough.” Wasn’t why I’d come tonight. “You got a place to play music?”

Her face scrunched into an adorable confused expression. Then she got up and began folding closed the few cartons that had leftovers. I stood, then cradled the boxes in my hands before helping her load them into the refrigerator. The shelves inside were neatly organized, glass containers of food with plastic lids stacked on every shelf.

“You know, a music plugin?” I pulled my phone from my back pocket, then held it up, shaking it back and forth.

“Oh.” Her eyes widened slightly.

Okay. She was still spooked.

“Listen, about the other night, I—”

“No. I’m good. Let’s not make a big deal out of it.”

aka: I don’t want to talk about it.

Tough shit.

She reached for my phone, but I pulled it back at the last second.

Unable to stop her forward momentum, she crashed against my chest. Her breaths quickened as her hands spread wide. Then she slowly glanced up.

Fear shone in her eyes. Desire too.

I brushed a damp lock from in front of her eyes, then tucked it behind her ear. Damn, she was beautiful. No makeup, hair messy, cheeks pinked, and looking at me like she wanted me—but was terrified to go after what she wanted.

“It was a big deal. And I’m sorry.” I’d crossed an unmarked line. I knew that now.

She sucked in a hard breath, tears welling in her eyes. Then she scrunched her brows, blinked several times, and swiped the phone out of my hand while she pushed out of my reach.

“Thanks,” she said softly as she took backward steps away from me. “And apology accepted.”

She smiled, holding up my stolen phone as if she’d won her prize, had escaped my grasp.

I twisted my lips into a smirk as I watched her back away.

Go ahead, Kiki. Run.

When I really catch you…I’m never letting go.





Kiki…

Darren stared at me with heat in his gaze. His breaths slowed, intensified.

I backed up, caught too deep in a danger zone I hadn’t seen coming.