Heartbreaker (Unbreakable #1)(72)

It was sizable. The planter section where Kiki sat had herbs growing in a bright patch where sunlight streamed through neighboring buildings, but the foot-and-a-half tall brick planter bordered the whole enclosure. The patio floor had missing bricks in many sections, but in between, the ground was level. Dark green tufts of grass and moss sprouted here and there. The maple branches overhead had new leaves pushing out.

My attention swung back to Kiki right as she turned toward me. Her eyes widened then a huge smile brightened her face. My heart thumped hard at seeing her light up, just for me.

I worked one of the cups free from its holder, then offered it up as she yanked her earbuds down by their cords. “Darren!”

“Thought I’d bring you some liquid fuel.”

Her basket clattered onto the bricks before I finished my sentence. She rushed over and practically crashed onto my lap. Her coffee cup barely landed on the table with a clunk before I wrapped my arms around her.

“Whoooa.” She gripped my shoulders as we teetered on the back legs of the chair. The metal groaned out a low creak under our weight.

I spread my legs wider, preparing to lunge up with her in my arms if needed.

A second passed.

Another.

We didn’t topple.

Warm minty breath fanned between our mouths; her lush parted lips were less than an inch from mine. Her chest heaved from her excited sprint, bared exquisitely by her low-cut pale blue sundress.

“What’s with the gardening?” I wanted to kiss her. Bad. But the crackling tension, the anticipation between wanting and doing, made the drawn-out wait worthwhile.

“I was collecting parsley and chives. Thought I’d make us breakfast.”

When she glanced at her abandoned basket and tensed her legs to move, I grabbed her hip, stilling her.

She turned back toward me, touched the tip of her nose to mine, then smiled. “Or we could do breakfast right here.” Her lips hovered over mine again, teasing.

I growled and nipped her lower lip. Then I opened wider, kissing her more deeply. I loved her taste, a blend between mint and coffee. “You already brewed a pot?”

“You look surprised.” She suppressed a smile.

“It’s before noon.”

She shoved lightly on my shoulder. “I’m in training. The best runs happen in the morning.”

Gripping her hips harder, I positioned her right over my growing hard-on.

With a tiny gasp, she shifted her hand down between our legs, pressing firmly on the denim. Then she blinked on a heavy swallow. “Oh, my.”

I groaned low as her hand skated over my rigid length then found and squeezed the tip. I dropped my head into the crook of her shoulder. “The best everything happens in the morning.”

All of a sudden, a monumental idea hit me. My head popped up and I narrowed my eyes, assessing her patio space. Keeping a tight hold of her, I twisted, taking in the bigger picture.

“What’s the matter?” Her brow wrinkled in confusion.

Understandable. Since my excited mood-shift had nothing to do with the fact that sexy-as-hell Kiki sat on my lap.

And shocking—that so little blood left in my brain allowed me to connect obvious dots.

“This space.” I glanced at the roofline.

“My courtyard?”

“Invitation Only.” Thoughts raced faster than I could formulate words. I held on to her waist as I stood, then stepped away from her, pacing out the open area.

“Is this word association?” She planted her hands on her hips. “Belgian waffle.”

“No.” I shook my head. Then her reply registered in my sluggish brain. “Hungry?”

“Starved.” She bit her lower lip.

“You need to have a party.”

“What?” She grunted a disbelieving noise, then walked across the pavers before resting the back of her hand on my forehead. “You feeling okay? I’m about to be evicted. You throw a party when you move in, not when you’re being tossed out.”

I grasped her wrist, kissed her palm, then spun her around, tucking her against me. “Look at this amazing space. You already have artwork displayed: the walls of your outside maze. Invitation Only works like a well-oiled machine already. Use your sisters, your brother…me.”

She glanced up at me with a dubious look.

I ignored it. “Our band will fit over there.” I nodded toward a curve in the nearest maze wall. “Connect lights up there.” I pointed to the top edge of the roof. “Maybe drape them down to connect to the fence.”

“No, Darren.” She shook her head, pushing out of my hold. “I don’t want any handouts.”

“It’s not a handout. It’s a party.”

When she kept shaking her head and wrapped her arms around her middle, I glared at her, waiting until she stopped negating the damn idea.

“You ever have a housewarming party?”

She gave me another, smaller headshake. Good. She liked saying no? I’d work with that.

“Do you dislike parties?”

Another headshake, only this time her lips firmed into a line. She crossed her arms tighter and lowered her brows. Like she knew she was losing a battle, but wasn’t going down easy.

Her face pinked in anger. Her chest heaved with shallow breaths. “I don’t feel like partying.”