Page 14 of Broken By Her Mate
He chuckled as he tugged it off. “Never tell anyone you saw me in it.”
“I don’t know… Big, bad Tolliver Sterling in a floral apron is pretty newsworthy,” she teased as she rounded to counter to remedy the disaster he created.
Tolliver leaned against the counter as he watched Laila move around with familiarity and ease. She was in her element, and he remembered how much he used to like watching her in the kitchen. “Would you really ruin my tough guy rep, Laila?”
She smirked at him over her shoulder. “I won’t… for a price.”
The way his eyes moved over her made her hot and bothered. His green orbs smoldered, practically lighting her on fire. “Hmmm… bribery… I never thought you had it in you.”
A mischievous grin lifted Laila’s lips. She was enjoying their banter way too much. “I’m not above a little extortion if it means getting my way.”
Tolliver chuckled. “Is that so? Name your price, Thomas.”
She nibbled on her lower lip as she turned to face him. Tolliver’s eyes narrowed on her. He might not have seen her for years, but he knew when she was anxious about something. “Laila…” he promoted. However, there was a hint of warning in his tone. “I’m curious. Let’s hear how outrageous your request is.”
She rolled her eyes. “It isn’t outrageous. I just want to get out of this house.”
“Absolutely not.”
She scoffed at the finality in his voice. “Tolliver, you can’t keep me locked up here forever.”
“I’m not planning to.”
“I want to go to Cedar Ridge to check on the bakery.”
“Cora says everything is fine.”
Laila huffed. “I want to see for myself. I also want to check on my apartment.”
“I’ll send someone to check it out.”
Her jaw tightened with frustration. “I need clothes. I’m tired of walking around in your t-shirts and boxers.” She threwher arms out and looked down at Tolliver’s clothes, which were too big for her.
His gaze swept over her and lingered on her chest, where her nipples were slightly visible through the white material. “You look fine to me,” he drawled before peeling his eyes off her chest and putting them back on her face. The tiniest smirk lifted the corners of his lips when he noticed her flushed cheeks.
“I am this close—” she held her thumb and index finger close together “—to murdering you with this spatula,” she hissed as she held up the weapon.
He only smirked harder. “I don’t remember you being this combative.”
“I don’t remember you being this much of an asshole. You need to let me out of this prison. I’m going crazy.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Laila. This is hardly a prison.”
“It is when I’m trapped here with you!”
Laila’s words resonated in the silence that hung between them. Tolliver’s expression tightened as her words settled in. The teasing glint in his eyes vanished, and the lighthearted tone from their banter evaporated. Something like hurt flickered in his eyes for a moment, but Laila wasn’t sure because it was gone in an instant.
When he spoke, his voice was quieter. “I know you hate me, and I get it. But I’m only trying to keep you safe.”
Laila felt terrible about her outburst. “Tolliver, I don’t…” She sighed. “I’m just… we’ve been cooped up here for days.”
“If it’s that unbearable being around me…” He hesitated and sighed. “I can get someone else to stay with you. Someone you’d rather be around. I’m not trying to make this harder than it already is.”
Laila’s heart squeezed in her chest, her anger suddenly cooling.
“No,” she said quickly, her voice softening. “I don’t want to stay with a stranger.” She fidgeted with the spatula she still held. “I just… I’m not used to this… not working. I didn’t mean…” She trailed off, her arms dropping to her sides as she took a breath. “I don’t hate you, Tolliver.”
He lifted a skeptical eyebrow.