Page 19 of Summer Heatwave
Less than three minutes later, they had cleared the whole house and met back in the open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room.It was a nice place.Now that the lights were on, he took note of all the kitchen appliances sitting on her counters.
“You cook?”He asked before she could say anything.
“Why do you think I work out so hard?I love to eat.My mama is Italian and taught me everything I know.”Her eyes wandered to the wet bar.“Can I offer you a nightcap?”
He was ready to say no and leave her because she was now safe.When her hand shook as she reached for the bottle, he grabbed it from her and poured two fingers of whiskey.
“Here.Take a healthy dose.You need it.”He put the glass in her hand, and they held together until she managed to get it to her mouth and gulp.Taking the tumbler from her, he set it back on the bar.Her whole body began to shake.
Mike pulled her into his arms and simply held her.
“I hate fucking adrenaline.I feel so out of control as though I’m weak.”She reached toward the glass, but Mike grabbed it first, helping her bring it to her mouth.
“You’ve been through a lot tonight.”He rubbed her back as she slowly got her body under control.“Drink some more.This will help.”
Kam finished the last of the amber liquid and glanced at the still-open bottle on the wet bar.Taking a step back, he let her move away from him as he put the highball glass in the small sink on the wet bar.
“Let me take a look at your eyes one more time.”And then he promised himself he’d leave.
She thrust her face toward him with huge eyes.“See, I’m fine.”She covered one eye at a time with her hand.Both pupils were the same size and reacted normally when robbed of light.
“I just want to check you over.I slammed you pretty hard on the asphalt.”When she said nothing and simply rolled her eyes, he took that as consent.Gently, he ran his fingers through her hair at the back of her head checking for swelling or tenderness.When she winced, he spun her around so he could take a good look.
He could see redness, but it didn’t look as though the skin had broken.She had dirt in her hair but no blood.“You’re going to want to be careful when you wash this part of your hair.There’s some dirt buried deep in your scalp.”
“Thanks.”She glanced toward the foyer.“Thank you for everything you did tonight.You were such a good sport during class.I really enjoyed supper, and even though I’m going to be bruised in the morning, I appreciate you jerking me out of the way of that drunk in the big Chevy.”
“I don’t believe for one minute that the driver was drunk.He came across the parking lot without headlights, then gunned the engine when we stepped apart.”Mike couldn’t stop himself.He closed the distance between them and pulled her to his chest, holding her there with both arms wrapped around her.“Kam, please be careful.”
He was aware of adrenaline leaving his body and knew exactly what would happen next.After a close call like they had both just experienced, the body seeks to reproduce.If he didn’t leave now, they’d end up having sex on the closest flat surface.Tomorrow, they would both regret it.
Mike kissed her temple then stepped back, releasing her.“Try to get some sleep.I’ll see you Tuesday night.”
Chapter9
“About time you got here, girlfriend.”Emilee cocked her head to one side as Kam slithered her way through the Drunken Pig to the table filled with her best friends.
“At least your face looks better,” Audra noted.
“It should.It’s been nearly a month.”Kam headed to the empty chair with the dark beer waiting in front of it.God bless my friends!
“Okay, what’s his name?”Noellyn asked just as soon as Kam sat down.
“What’s whose name?”Kam of course knew exactly who she was talking about.
“Tall, dark hair, damn good looking, with a body to lick and nip.”Noellyn seemed to surprise the other two women at the table.
“Is he a twin?Please tell me he has a brother who looks exactly like him.”Emilee licked her lips.“I have no idea who the hell you’re talking about but I need to meet him.”
“Don’t you dare keep secrets from us,” Audra chastised.“Spill.”
Instead of speaking, Kam picked up her beer and drank half of it.She needed to catch up with her friends who were already a round ahead of her.
“Noellyn, you’ve obviously seen this mystery man in Kam’s life.”Audra stared across the table at the innocent-looking security analyst.“Talk.”
“I was finally able to catch one of Kam’s classes last Tuesday night,” Noellyn glanced at Kam.“Hell of a workout, thank you very much.Is it sadistic that I enjoy throwing men bigger than me to the ground?”She didn’t wait for an answer, simply returned her gaze to Audra and Emilee.“I was hoping that we could go out for a drink or something afterward, but it seems Kam already had a date for supper.I can only hope she was eating him.He looked scrumptious.”
“Quit hiding behind that mug of beer and give us all the deets.”Audra leaned in.“Don’t you dare skimp on the sex.I haven’t been laid in two weeks.”
