Page 7 of Bray
“I can–”
“You’re not walking by yourself across this parking lot,” I told her. In fact, I practically growled it. Clearly, she’d taken care of herself for far too long. She’d lived with her grandmother growing up, but the older woman had died over a year ago. Kitten didn’t have any other family that I knew of, which meant she had no expectation of anyone helping her out. She’d said,Play along. Please, Bray.
She’d had to beg me to help her because I’d been afamiliar face in the crowd. Now, she didn’t expect me to walk her to her vehicle. At midnight.
She looked around a little bewildered. Hopefully, it was because of the kiss. “I… I don’t have my keys. Or my purse.”
Fuck, she was right. Giving her legs a little push, I had her swing into the passenger seat. “Sit here. I’ll go get them.”
“But–”
I shut the door and clicked the locks before she could protest more.
I checked in with Kyle directly, told him what I put in the text and that Kitten quit. There was no way in hell my girl was working in this place ever again. He understood, or at least understood the look in my eye and the seriousness of my tone, then directed me to the back to get Kitten’s things.
I was outside and to my truck quick enough and handed her the small bag.
“Thanks,” she sighed.
Grabbing her hips, I helped her down, then took her hand and walked her to her truck. I liked the feel of her palm against mine. While she was fairly tall for a woman, I had many inches on her being six-three. But those curves… fuck. I wanted to do more than lace my fingers with hers.
After she pulled out her keys and unlocked thevehicle, I opened the driver’s door for her. She climbed in, tossed her bag on the other seat. The truck had seen better days and I worried that it was safe. Minimal airbags, only two-wheel drive. I’d have my brother Shep, who was a mechanic, check it out and make sure it was safe until I got her something more suited for Montana… and my girl.
I wanted to kick my own ass for letting her deal with all this on her own.
I had one hand on the open door as I leaned down. “I’ll follow you home.”
“I don’t want to be a bother, Bray,” she countered quickly, shaking her head. “You’ve done enough and your friends are waiting for you.”
“I wasn’t asking.” I gave her a look because she was not a bother. Besides, since I carried Kitten out over my shoulder, Ace and Cody sure as fuck weren’t expecting me back.
“I’ll follow you to your driveway.” Her house on the Camden ranch was set back from the road, but I’d see her taillights the whole way, then the house lights when she went inside. I’d compromise that much. I didn’t want to leave her. I wanted to take her to her bed and show her all the ways we were perfect for each other and she was mine.
But she’d had enough for tonight. I wasn’t claiming her like this. “Call me if you need me. Promise.”
Her forehead crinkled with confusion. “Call you? I don’t think that man’s going to–”
“For whatever,” I said, cutting her off. “You call me.”
She studied me, probably wondering if I was actually serious, but was smart enough to know I wasn’t going to back down on this. “Okay.”
“Good girl.”
5
KATIE
“What a jerk!”Lainey said, hands on hips, pissed for me.
She was standing in front of my closet scoping out my clothes. As if something cute and worthy for a night out to pick up men was in there.
I’d been telling her about what happened with the drunk guy at work from the night before. I hadn’t mentioned Bray. Okay, I mentioned that he’d been there and punched the guy, but not the part where I’d climbed in his lap and kissed him. Or that he’d carried me over his shoulder out of the place.
I spent all night in bed tossing and turning,realizing I could’ve just asked Bray to pretend to be my boyfriend without the need to maul him. If the situation was reversed–which was a very unlikely scenario–he’d be arrested for assault if he just started making out with me. All through my morning chores of mucking stalls, mixing each animal’s custom feed, and all the other million and one things that were needed to take care of eight horses, I thought of Bray.
How I responded to him calling megood girl.
He’d been surprised to see me, then even more surprised that I’d climbed him like a tree and then put my tongue in his mouth. Stunned!
