18. Kael

18

KAEL

Declan calls, and I curse myself for almost kissing his sister. The sister I'm supposed to protect.

Paige steps ascend the basement stairs as I look at my phone, feeling flushed from the workout and Paige's nearness.

"Kael." Declan's voice sounds tinny and thin on the line because the basement has bad reception. "I've news about Murphy."

I stiffen. "What kind of news?"

"Word on the street is he's going after the Burke girls," Declan growls. "So, I need you to watch Paige like a hawk."

"I'm already watching her like a hawk."

"Yeah, but don't let her out of your sight. Murphy's planning something big. Everyone in his crew is talking about it. I thought about asking Paige to come back home?—"

"She's comfortable here," I state. "And I'll keep her safe, Declan, I promise you that."

Declan hums. "Well, extend the offer to her anyway. See what she says."

"All right. But I'm not going to force her."

Declan pauses. "Is everything all right, Kael?"

"Why do you keep asking me that?" I groan through gritted teeth.

"Because you sound... off. I can't put my finger on it."

I roll my shoulders around. "I'm fine. Just tired."

"You can have a break after this."

"You promise?"

Declan snorts. "I guess we'll just see what comes." He pauses again. "I want to thank you for all of this."

"Anything for the Burkes, Declan. You're like family to me. Paige, too."

"Like a little, annoying sister?"

I squeeze my eyes shut. There's nothing sisterly about Paige as far as I'm concerned. At all. Guilt rushes through me. "Something like that."

If he had any idea how much I want his sister, he wouldn't be thanking me. He'd be kicking my ass. Hell, he might even shoot me.

What am I saying? He'd definitely shoot me.

"I trust you to do the right thing, Kael. Keep her safe."

"Will do."

Thankfully, Declan hangs up the phone.

I feel like a real asshole, being close to his sister like that.

After my phone call with Declan, I head to the shower, knowing I'm sweaty, but needing the time and the chance to be alone.

After getting my head back on my shoulders, I make my way to the kitchen to cook dinner. I figure she's hungry, so I scour her fridge for supplies.

She's got a couple of ribeye steaks in the fridge, and my mouth waters when I see them. I love a bloody steak.

There's also a bag of potatoes and some frozen broccoli, and that'll do for sides .

I bake the potatoes first, rolling them in olive oil and kosher salt before wrapping them in tinfoil and popping them in the oven.

While that's cooking, I prepare the broccoli and put the steaks in a hot pan with a generous helping of garlic herb butter which I baste the steaks in.

I prepare them both rare, just as I like them, and I hope Paige does, too.

She comes down the stairs when I'm almost done, sniffing the air.

"What is that? It smells like heaven."

"I said I'd cook you dinner."

"I didn't know you'd cook a gourmet meal." She sits at the kitchen table.

I bring her over a plate. "I hope you don't mind your steak rare."

"The rarer, the better." She licks her lips.

Trying not to look at her pink pouty mouth, I clear my throat and sit down with my plate, amazed at how Paige is digging into her dinner.

"You like it?"

"It's marvelous," she mumbles with her mouth full. "I can never make anything taste this good."

I chuckle. "Not much of a cook?"

She shakes her head. "Gray gave me those rib eyes. I don't even know how to cook them."

I stare at her. "Steak is so easy to cook, though."

She shrugs. "I never learned how."

I huff out a breath. "I'll have to teach you, sometime."

"Or I can just keep taking you down, and you'll cook for me." She shrugs, and I smirk at her.

"You got lucky."

"Hmm, is that so? "

"Mmhm, shaking that ass around, putting your hands on my chest. You knew what you were doing."

Paige looks up at me, grinning wickedly. "Worked, didn't it?"

I burst out laughing. "I guess you're right. Still doesn't mean you can do it again, though."

"We'll see."

"I guess we will."

There's a comfortable silence while we finish eating.

I suppose I need to tell Paige the new information, even though I bet Declan wouldn't want me to. He likes to keep her in the dark, but I don't like that at all.

Paige is a grown woman, and I respect her, want her to be prepared.

"I need to talk to you."

Paige raises an eyebrow, frowning. "Is something wrong?"

"Not yet. But Murphy's planning an attack, and the information is that he's targeting the Burke girls."

Paige's eyes widen. "Lara too?"

I nod. "That's the word on the street."

"What are we going to do?"

"We're going to stay right here until Declan and Patrick handle this." I don't want her to get any ideas about going off on her own.

She hums. "I don't like just being a sitting duck."

"You're not a sitting duck. I'm protecting you. And I'm going to protect you until this thing is all over."

"Fucker."

I frown.

"Not you." She waves her hand. "Murphy."

I laugh. "You can say that again."

"So, what now? I'm confined to my house?"

"Pretty much." I feel slightly guilty. I know it's hard to be cooped up all the time. Hell, I'm losing my mind, and it's only been a few weeks.

I look over at her, at her wide green eyes, and I want to lean over and take her hand, comfort her. I can tell she's thinking about her attack.

"It's going to be okay."

Paige looks up at me with a plastered on, practiced smile. "I know."

"It really is, Paige. I'm going to watch out for you. No one will touch you as long as I'm around."

She nods, her eyes unwavering on mine. "I trust you, Kael."

Those words make my heart flip around in my chest.

Uh oh.

Am I starting to feel things for her that aren't just physical?

Nah. It's just because we've been so close for so long. I can't help being attracted to her, but I have to keep my distance.

Paige stands to take the plates to the kitchen.

"I'll wash the dishes."

She snorts. "I can do my own dishes."

I hold up my hands. "Well, don't let me stop you, princess."

She glares at me, but there's no heat in it. She places the dishes in the sink, and I watch her as she's washing them.

She's just wearing a huge T-shirt that goes to her knees, and it swallows her up, falling off one shoulder. I wonder if she has any idea how gorgeous she is.

She looks so small, looks like I could just grab her and take her to my room and have my way with her.

God, I wish I could .

I stand up, stretching, and Paige looks away. I grin, knowing that she's affected.

"What are you going to do now?" Her eyes meet mine again.

I shrug. "Watch television until I fall asleep."

Paige looks at me for a moment before speaking. "Can I join?"

I stare at her. "You want to watch television with me?"

"Yeah. It gets boring up in my room by myself."

"Okay, but I get to pick the show."

She smiles and heads to the living room, and I take a deep breath.

I will sit far away from her. It'll be fine.

I put on my favorite horror anthology television show, and I almost immediately realize it's a bad choice.

Paige jumps and shrieks, hiding her eyes at the jumpscares and practically jumping into my lap.

I chuckle, but then grunt when she sits on my lap, watching television with wide eyes.

I put my arms around her waist, my chin on her shoulder, and we watch for a while.

It's nice, being close to her like this. It's like we're getting closer and closer, and god knows she's off limits. But my body can't seem to get the memo, and I'm fighting an erection as she wiggles in my lap.

I clamp down on her waist with my forearm. "Be still."

"But it's scary ," she whines, and I laugh at her.

"You're such a baby."

"I'm not a baby, I just don't like being startled—Ahh!"

She buries her face in my neck when there's a big horror scene, and she breathes in.

Goosebumps prickle along my skin, and the hair at the nape of my neck stands up .

I can't take it anymore.

I pick her up and put her next to me, clearing my throat and standing up.

She pouts up at me.

"Bathroom break," I mutter, and hurry to the bathroom.

When I lock the door behind me, I stare at myself in the mirror, cursing in Gaelic that my grandfather taught me.

"What the hell are you doing, Kael?"

But my reflection has no answer. My face just stares back at me.

I groan and then open the door, and Paige is in the living room with the movie paused.

"You took forever, and it was scary."

"I thought you loved scary movies."

"How did you know that?"

I turn away so she doesn't see the heat burning my face. "I remember some things from when you were younger."

"I thought you hated me."

I scoff. "I hated everyone when I was younger."

Paige laughs softly. "Come back and sit down."

I shouldn't . Tell her no.

"Okay," is what comes out of my mouth.

You fecking idiot.

I sit down next to her, and she yelps at the next scary scene, grabbing my arm.

I grit my teeth as her breasts press against my arm.

This is going to be the longest movie ever.

"You're going to protect me, right?"

Suddenly, the gravity of the situation seems to hit her. This is not an easy war. Hasn't been from the start, but things are escalating. At least now Paige knows what's waiting for her out there. The stakes. The risk.

"Of course. "

She nods, and then lies her head on my shoulder.

Before I know it, Paige has gone silent.

Thank god.

But this is almost worse. She's not talking. Somehow, the sound of her breathing, the slight whistle her nose makes—it's cute. It makes my heart feel funny.

I smile at her, and then it turns into a frown.

I stand up suddenly, and she nearly falls over, having been braced against my shoulder.

"I'm going to bed."

She opens her mouth as if to protest but, in the end, she just nods.

I head to my room, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling.

I do not have feelings for Paige Burke.

I absolutely don't.

I've never had feelings for any woman, and I don't plan to start with my best friend's baby sister.

I refuse to.