“No, please don't do that, okay? Emma keeps offering too. I'm a grown woman, and I can sort out my shit… mostly. Anyway, the diner isn’t in a great area. It's in Hegewisch."
"That’s where you went the evening you were mugged?"
"Almost mugged," I corrected. "And yes. I honestly don't want to go there by myself again, so I was wondering if you could come with me."
"Of course I can, babe. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me."
"You had a lot on your mind with the games."
"Kendra, I will always have games. That doesn't mean you can’t share everything that goes on in your life."
"I don't want to distract you," I said quietly.
"You're part of my life, not a distraction." He pulled me into his lap, caressing my jaw. "I don’t have a game tomorrow, just training. Let's go pick up your checks."
"Okay. That sounds good. So, you love me, huh?" I asked, shimmying in his lap.
He clasped my thigh, moving his hand upward on my waist, pressing his fingers into my sweater possessively. "Yes I fucking do.”
I smiled from ear to ear, lacing my hands around his neck. “I love hearing it. Just a hint: you can say it all night long, and I won’t tire of it.”
“Good. That was my plan.”
CHAPTER 27
KENDRA
When I wokeup the next morning, Tyler wasn't next to me, so I went in search of him throughout the condo. I was an early riser, but Tyler even more so. He wasn’t anywhere.
Going back to the bedroom, I checked my phone, and, indeed, he'd messaged me.
Tyler: Morning, beautiful. I'm at the gym on the top floor. I'll be back at 8:00 with breakfast.
Kendra: Okay. I just woke up.
I showered quickly, dressed, and made a coffee. I didn't have my laptop with me, but I did have my iPad in my purse as usual, so I could work on some emails. I didn't have any phone calls scheduled today, but I did have a hell of a list of to-dos.
I got so lost in answering emails that I didn't even realize when the hour went by, and I was startled when Tyler came in.
"Morning, Kendra," he said with that sexy voice of his, holding up a take-out bag.
"What's in there?"
"Breakfast."
I snatched the bag away from him, taking out donuts and cinnamon rolls. "Oh, look. You even have my favorite cinnamon roll. How did you manage that?"
"As I said, I have my ways."
He looked gorgeous, and he seemed to have already showered at the gym. He was wearing a black T-shirt with short sleeves, and it molded to his muscles in an absolutely delicious way.
"I don't know what's more tempting, you or breakfast," I said.
He laughed, cocking a brow. "I'm competing with breakfast?"
"Oh yeah."
I took a bite of the donut, not even bothering to put it on a plate, and moaned. "Oh my God. This is delicious. And just so you know, you're losing. I love you, but you’re losing this competition."
