Dangerous Beauty: Part Four: Beautifully Broken by Michelle Hardin Page B

too.
    He resisted kissing her, and instead whispered, “Thank you,” then distanced himself from her just a bit, and he watched her eyes fall in disappointment—as they always did after they would share moments like these that went absolutely nowhere—and adjusted the plate in her lap.
    She never pushed him in situations like these, never commented, and Kyle always figured it was her way of not pushing him to explain his feelings before he was ready. He appreciated her for that.
    Picking up the plate on her lap, she sighed. “Well, you have definitely earned this plate of bliss, Kyle Valente.”
    Kyle chuckled. “A plate of bliss, is it?”
    She nodded, smiling brightly. “Mmmhmm. Yes, sir, it is.” She handed him the large plate. “Taste it, taste it!”
    He laughed, finding her excitement both adorable and amusing. “You’re cute.”
    She shrugged. “Although I much prefer irresistibly sexy thick , I’ll take cute since I’m looking a hot mess right now.”
    “Mmm,” Kyle moaned, teasingly reaching forward and giving her side a gentle pinch. “You are very, very sexy, Ms. Pierce.”
    Squealing, she smacked his hand away from her. “Uh, uh, Kyle,” she giggled. “Don’t flirt. You have a girlfriend, remember? Ahh!” she screamed through laughter when Kyle took the plate from her lap, and using his free arm, he pulled her over to the couch, tickling her sides.
    “Kyle, stop! We’re going to wake up Sofia!”
    Kyle had mercy on her, kissed her forehead, and pinned her closely to his side. He sat the large plate of food on his lap, looking down at it. “Well at least there’d be enough food here for her if she wakes up,” he chuckled, noting how big of a portion she’d saved him. “I don’t think I can eat all this alone, sweetheart.”
    Reanna snorted. “You won’t be, doofus.” With a sly smile, she leaned forward, grabbing another fork from the decorative tray. “I saved you that much ’cause you’re sharing with me, duh …” She rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, and she sunk her fork into the food on their plate.
    Kyle laughed, watching as she took the first bite and let out the sexiest moan.
    “Damn this is good,” she boasted. “So good. Eat it.”
    She then proceeded to feed him a bite after every bite she took. Kyle always wondered why she even bothered bringing him a fork. Every time they ate together, it always ended up like this anyway; with her saving enough food for the both of them, then feeding him, as she ate some herself, and discussed random subjects. They laughed, ate, and laughed some more until they finished, and fell asleep on the couch wrapped in each other’s arms.
    When the sunshine eventually woke him up, he spent what little time he’d had left with her, holding her, gazing at her as she slept.
    The feelings he had for her were getting stronger … the pull. He could feel them and he couldn’t control, nor stop them like he’d been hoping he could. Especially now, with her lying on his chest the way she was. The words he dared never say were right there, on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t say them to her. He wanted to more than ever, but he just … couldn’t. And he despised himself for it.
    He was going to lose her one day.
    She would move on. That was just a sad, but inevitable fact that Kyle had to admit to himself … And on that day, when she’d inevitably leave him and Sofia to start a life, a family, he’d be forced to ask himself the question he’d never wanted to ask …
    What the hell am I going to do without her?

Chapter 4: Reanna Pierce
    “All right, everybody, let’s move!
    The array of crew members rushed to complete their tasks while Reanna stood, tapping her foot, impatiently waiting to begin the photo shoot. It had been hours, and they were now five minutes behind schedule. With thirty crew members on staff, one set, and only five models to get ready, Reanna was finding it difficult to excuse their tardiness