Page 71 of Fighting For You
Probably.
So. No. She looked beautiful. And intelligent.
And unfortunately, somehow a little… off.
“I brought this wine,” she said, holding out a decent-looking pinot noir before I could say anything, then stepped inside.
“Thank you. Come in,” I deadpanned, since she was already more than halfway down the entry hall as I closed the door.
I watched her stop and take in the living room, then the kitchen to the right, where I’d done everything but the last few steps for our dinner. On the island countertop sat a bowl of tortilla chips and a few little dipping bowlscontaining salsa, guacamole, queso, and a spicy chipotle ranch.
She whipped around after a beat. “This is… how is this so perfect? Your cabin was the perfect cabin and now this?”
Her gaze swept over the food again, then rose to meet mine with what looked like accusation.
“I’m… sorry?”
She huffed out a laugh, then spotted my giant beast of a cat slinking toward her. “And the perfect kitty boy, too, huh?” she said in that voice that was just a touch sweeter than the usual smokey siren song I savored.
Though I couldn’t complain about her sweettalking my cat, nor could I regret that he seemed to love her madly already.
Join the club.
Because it didn’t seem particularly respectful to enjoy the view of her very fine curves in those pants as she bent to pet Bones, I moved to the kitchen and, for lack of anything else to do, washed my hands. A minute or two later, she joined me, a serious expression taking over the one of peace she’d had moments ago.
“Kurt found me during my shift and wanted to talk.” She spat the last word, clearly indicating how she felt about the matter.
My gut clenched right as a fire started in my head. “Are you okay? What did he say?”
Can I punch him now? Can I beat him to a bloody pulp to teach him one of so many lessons he missed?
She eased the faucet on and pumped soap onto her hands, then scrubbed.
“He said he’s sorry. He shouldn’t have left me.” A humorless laugh escaped as she rinsed the bubbles away. “And then he said he’s been such a jerk because he didn’texpect seeing me to hurt so much, and hereallydidn’t expect to see me with someone who’d betrayed him.”
She turned slowly, drying her hands on the towel resting next to the sink where I’d just left it. Her eyes practically burned through me when she met mine, effectively echoing the flame of anger rising higher as her words sank in.
“Betrayed him.” My mouth spoke without thought, like I needed to hear it before I could fully make sense of it.
Nodding, she reached for me, her fingers gripping my shirt. “I set him straight.”
She was so intense, and yet the upset and sadness I’d sensed at the door had melted into something different now. Almost like she wanted me to know she’d defended herselfandme.
“He didn’t deserve a chance to talk to you and throw his BS around like he’s ever actually been sorry.” My hands came to cup her face. “If he ever felt sorry, it was for himself.”
“I know. I told him he should think twice before taking any jobs in Silverton again.”
A smile pulled at my lips. “Left him with a threat, eh? I like your style, Korbel.”
She pursed her lips, staying a grin. “It was pretty mild, but I think he got the hint I wasn’t about to sign up for any more heart to hearts.”
I wanted to hug her, then kiss her, then lay her down and worship her until the sun came up. But just because we’d kissed before didn’t mean I was welcome to do it now, especially with the twinge of knowing telling me the resolution here wasn’t this easy.
My fingers dragged along her scalp, hoping to providea little comfort and connection. I needed it, and it felt like maybe she did, too.
She blinked hard a few times and her eyes glazed with tears. She might as well have ripped out my heart because a front-row seat to this was more brutal than I’d ever imagined. I’d seen her furious—I’d provoked such a response from her time and time again. And I’d seen her angry and tired and fed up. I’d seen her delirious and exhausted and ill… but this was new.
A need to make this right roared through me. I’d search the world to find a solution here. I’d raze cities to stop her tears—to fix this.
