Fair.
Unfortunately.
His gaze stays locked on mine.
Steady.
Focused.
For once, not teasing.
And suddenly I'm remembering the dance.
Joel Jonas.
The way my stomach dropped when he cornered me, grabbed at me like I was something he could just take.
The way Kai appeared out of nowhere.
The way he looked absolutely furious on my behalf.
The memory warms something inside me.
Something dangerous.
“Kai...” I start.
His eyes soften.
Just a little.
“We're gonna get this done, Firecracker.”
The certainty in his voice shouldn't comfort me.
It absolutely shouldn't.
Yet somehow it does.
“How?”
The grin returns.
Uh-oh.
I know that grin.
That grin means trouble.
“Glad you asked.”
“I don’t know that I am.”
“You don't even know what I'm gonna say.”
“I absolutely do.”
“Do you?”