Bad Engagement (Billionaire's Club #10) - Elise Faber Page 0,42

couldn’t just take all the time, she needed to give, to care. She just promised herself that she wouldn’t use it as a way to keep her distance.

She would care for Jaime because he was lovely and sweet and it made her happy to see the soft way he looked at her when he’d stolen a scoop of raw dough—and the faux wounded expression when she’d smacked his hand, warning him off because the raw eggs and uncooked flour, and then he’d teased her into a “dangerous” kiss.

And she didn’t protest when he’d cleaned the bowl and utensils she’d used to prep the dough because he had already stolen way too many hot circles of deliciousness off the baking sheets after they were baked and before they were fully cooled. He’d laughed when she’d teased and said there was no way he was going to keep his abs flat if he kept that up.

“I think you’ll still like me even with a keg,” he’d said, stealing a kiss that tasted of dark chocolate and brown sugar.

Because that much was true, she’d kissed him back, slow and deep and—

Had stolen the rest of his cookie. Which had gained her another teasing kiss, another bite of the treat, and plenty of laughter, soothing the tears in her heart, but instead of blocking them off with steel or barring the entrance to the door that had cracked, Kate had resisted the urge to retreat.

She’d stayed open.

And had received another yummy mouthful for her trouble.

And that was something she couldn’t say around Heidi for fear of dirty-mindedness teasing.

Aw, who was she kidding? Just thinking about it two days later still made her giggle.

Anyway. Moving on.

So, after they’d finished with their Cookie Battle Royale, they’d watched a movie, cuddled on the couch, and he’d said goodbye with a sweet kiss that had left her wanting more.

Monday had been crazy for them both.

She had the usual weekend catch up and he had back-to-back clients, but Kate had pushed herself a bit, too. She’d called him after a particularly trying meeting with a client, let him tease her into a lighter mood with promises of more carbs and kissing and a way to work off the “keg.”

Not keeping him at a distance.

Plus, there was little fucking hope of that now. He’d seen the blubbering. He’d listened when she’d explained. He’d . . . stayed.

And after the cheer up call, she’d sent him lunch.

A salad he’d mentioned he liked from Molly’s—which proved that the man had good taste and might keep his abs yet.

She wasn’t entirely vain, didn’t begin to think that her body was anything close to perfect. She’d just . . . like to trace those lovely squares once.

Okay, once with her fingers.

And once with her tongue. Maybe twice.

“Focus,” she murmured, waving to her sister and Dave as she bounced little Lacy on her shoulder. She had been pleasantly surprised that Ann had called and asked if Kate was still up for watching Lacy so she and Dave could go to dinner.

Of course, she’d said yes, but paired with that affirmative was the realization that perhaps the taking care of everyone and everything around them, sometimes to the detriment of themselves, was a McLeod female trait. Their mom had certainly never taken time for herself. Her whole life had been her work and family, and more often than not, her work had bled over into family—interns staying at their crowded house when their air conditioning went out in the middle of a heatwave, a visiting colleague coming for dinner, endless piles of paperwork stacked on her dresser and nightstand to be completed after the kids went to bed.

Kate’s dad worked hard and loved them all.

But she didn’t think he comprehended the extra burden her mom carried. Or maybe . . . it was part missing the signs and part those barriers that hid that heavy load.

“Damn,” she murmured, waving until they were out of sight before slipping inside and closing the door behind her. This being aware of and trying to ferret out understanding of her emotions wasn’t for the faint of heart.

Luckily for her sister, it seemed that Dave was beginning to understand that extra weight Ann was shouldering.

And she was beginning to be able to communicate her needs.

Who said McLeods couldn’t learn?

Grinning, Kate thought of Ann tugging Dave’s hand when he’d lingered, clearly already missing Lacy, and saying they needed to go because she wanted to be able to have an adult conversation with