Kai stopped rubbing his hair. “Jessie? What are you doing here?”
The surprise in his voice returned Jessie’s awareness back to the situation, or more accurately, the lack of feeling in her fingers. Peeking up at his enchanting sea-green eyes, she squeaked, “Help.”
He finally seemed to notice that she was filled to the brim with grocery bags. “Oh, sorry.”
Swinging the door wide open, he started grabbing things from her. Jessie sighed with relief when the pressure released, and the blood started circulating again. She hated making trips, and really hadn’t thought that carrying that many bags would be so challenging. As Kai took the remainder of them, Jessie was a little surprised to find that she was breathing heavily. Kai set the bags on the counter, and Jessie studied his bare back as she shut the door. Leaning against the closed wood, she started imagining her fingers trailing over that intriguing black ink again. Funny, she’d never much cared for tattoos…until she’d seen his. Now she couldn’t seem to get enough of it.
Kai twisted to look at her. “You bought all this, for me?” His expression shifted into one of adorable confusion. Jessie was too preoccupied with her fantasy to answer his question though, and his face turned quizzical. “Jessie?” he quietly said, taking a step toward her. Jessie’s eyes flashed down to his open jeans, and straightening, she stared at the ceiling. She couldn’t let herself think that way.
Deciding to try humor again, she told him, “Yeah, well, I noticed your fridge last night. It reminded me of when my dad used to travel all over the place when I was a kid.” Her eyes tentatively lowered to his body. He’d buttoned his jeans and draped the towel over his shoulder, hiding himself from her. While she appreciated the gesture, she had to sigh at the loss. “Whenever I talked to him, he’d say he was having a five-star meal.” Kai cocked an eyebrow at her, and she laughed. “That was our code for cereal.” Kai grinned, and she smiled in return. Stepping toward him, she indicated the slew of bags. “I figured if you were anything like most men, you were probably living off Lucky Charms.”
Kai gave her an adorable pout, then opened a cupboard next to the sink. In it, was a box of Lucky Charms. Shaking his head, he moved the box aside. Jessie laughed at what was hiding behind the box of cereal. “I also have a can of Spam,” he said, his voice on the edge of laughter.
Jessie made a disgusted face. “Spam?”
Leaning against the counter, Kai folded his arms across his chest. “Don’t knock it. I could make you a Spam sandwich that would have you turning your back on every other sandwich in the world.”
He lifted the corner of just one lip at her. It was startlingly attractive, and Jessie had to exhale very slowly. Damn. “Well, I would have to see that to believe it.”
His lips curved into a full grin. “Deal.”
She helped him put the food away, and a small thrill of delight shot through her whenever he said he loved something. More than once he asked her how she knew exactly what he liked. It thrilled her, and it saddened her. They were so compatible. The very last thing he pulled out was the pineapple. His expression odd, he quietly said, “You bought me a pineapple?”
Jessie couldn’t tell if he found her addition humorous or not. Maybe she’d crossed a line and offended him? “Um…yeah.” Feeling foolish for her obviously ethnic choice, she flushed. “Sorry, kind of…cliché, isn’t it?”
Setting it down, he put a hand over hers on the counter. His was warm from the shower, soft. “No, it’s very nice.” His eyes got a faraway look for a second. “Reminds me of home.” Returning his eyes to hers, he smiled warmly again. “Thank you, Jessie. For everything.”
He whispered that last part in a low, sultry voice, and Jessie found herself inching toward him. Not breaking eye contact, she placed a hand on his chest, just under the towel still draped over his shoulder. Jessie felt his muscles stiffen, watched his lips part. Hers did, too. She knew she shouldn’t touch him like that—it was too intimate, too close—but she felt drawn to him; she couldn’t stop herself. Her fingers curled, lightly grazing his skin. She felt tears of frustration stinging her eyes as their gazes locked. She wanted to be close to him, and she couldn’t. It was killing her.
Kai noticed her tears. One of his hands cupped her cheek, while the other removed her fingers from his chest. “It will get easier,” he whispered. Seemingly torn, he stared at her for long seconds before finally giving her a light peck on the forehead. Jessie briefly closed her eyes, savoring the connection even as her stomach twisted. “I should finish getting dressed,” he mumbled. And then he left her alone in the kitchen, staring at the spiky fruit on the counter. Stupid pineapple.