Page 15 of Last First Time
His nostrils flare and he snorts. “I’ll get you a new truck instead. How about that?”
I pat the steering wheel. “Don’t listen to him, girl. He’s nothing but a mean drunk who can’t help showing his ass today.”
He wilts into a puddle of cackling again.
“Reed, same rules apply for drunken pee accidents in my vehicle. Knock it off.”
His giggling fit softens into occasional hiccupping chuckles. “Kar, what am I going to do? My whole political career ended today.”
“Hey, hey. It’s not like that. Everyone in Valentine knows you and knows how hard you work.” I sigh. I’m not really up to consoling him when I feel so down about having to move, but after all the times he’s been a good friend to me, I could be a good friend to him tonight.
The truck rocks to a stop in front of his house. “Worst case scenario, you can always come with me to wherever I end up. I’d give you a job, and you could be my own personal tavern wench.”
He straightens up. “What did you say, Kar?”
I shake my head, unwilling to meet his eyes. “Tavern wench. I think it would look good on you.”
He gives me one of those looks. “The other part. What did you mean about wherever you end up?”
“I’ve been pouring over the books, but I can’t change the numbers. I’m going to have to pull up and move the business somewhere else. We saw everything that was in my price range, and none of it is even a vague possibility.”
“But you love Valentine. And I don’t want you to leave.” His voice is low and rough. It makes the backs of my eyes ache with the possibility of tears.
“I can’t fix this, Reed. I don’t see any way out of not having a good place to move my business. The buyer for the building wants to open a childcare center, and there’s no way they’re going to let me lease this space for my bar.”
He nods slowly. “I can’t see that happening, no.” He runs his sexy fingers through his hair again, in the way he does when he’s aggravated and thinking too hard.
“Most moms I know would kill for a drink in order to carry them through until bedtime, but I can’t imagine that business model carrying much weight with the new building owner.”
He giggles again, my drunken, messy Kade. “Shots and Tots.”
I cackle. “With a name like that, I think people would expect potatoes. You know, like the tater tot thing fromNapoleon Dynamite.”
Reed leans forward. “Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills. Nunchuck skills, bowhunting skills, bend-her-over-the-desk-and-spank-her skills.”
I snort. “That is not how the line goes, you pervert.”
“It’s how our story goes though, and that’s worth talking about. Inside, with our clothes off.” He straightens up and flashes a smile at me.
“You’re drunk. I bet you couldn’t do anything with me even if you wanted to.” I pat his thigh, feeling his muscles bunch and shift under my touch.
“Come inside with me, and I’ll show you how not drunk I am.”
“Great sales pitch there, Casanova. Next you’re going to tell me it’s going to be so good that you’ll make me forget all about moving.” I roll my eyes so hard it actually hurts a little bit, but alsocome on.
“Well, it is officially millionaire dick,” he croons.
“Get out of my car, you waste of space. Use your powers for good instead of evil tomorrow, and try to show up with the same girl more than once or twice the next time you’re getting your picture taken.”
“Wait.” He sits up straight, looking like he’s trying to solve a math problem. “That’s it.”
“Darn right that’s it. Let’s get you inside and tucked into bed.” I huff out a breath, but get out of the truck and open up the passenger door. Kade oozes out of the passenger side and somehow manages not to fall on his gorgeous face.
“You should buy some sort of servant to help carry you around if this is going to be a thing. You’re too big and heavy for me to lug home every night.”
“Well maybe you should buy your building and keep your bar right where it is. And then I can sleep there at night, so you don’t have to lug me around like this, wimpy girl.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and stands up as straight as he can. He suddenly seems much more sober than I would have guessed.
“I am not a wimpy girl. You’re a giant. A heavy giant weighing me down with your muscles.” I wriggle my shoulders. “Okay, let’s do this.” I reach an arm out for him.
