Page 220 of Remorseless
Kaia set his phone aside. “J’s is a little above my pay grade,” he confessed. “But if it makes you happy, I’ll find a way to give it to you.”
“That’s so sweet. Truly.”
He hadn’t noticed her spying. Meaning, he hadn’t realized she knew he might not be able to pay. So what exactly did he intend at the end of the night?
Rebel couldn’t stress aboutthenwhen there wasnow. Momma had advised her to ask questions about Kaia’s pursuits. She’d advised against pretending she liked something or ignoring his interests and then demanding he pay attention to all of hers.
“Good relationships don’t work like that, Reb,” she’d said.
Drawing in a deep breath to calm herself, Rebel decided to take charge. He seemed as nervous as her. Hers manifested in gibberish, his in silence.
“What do you like to do?”
His eyes lit up in a way that made her blush. “I like to kiss. I’d love to kiss you.” He tilted his head toward her, his gaze sweeping over her. “Do you like SpongeBob?”
“A little,” she answered, wondering what a cartoon sponge with a stupid friend had to do with kissing.
“On our next date, how about we spend the evening at my place watching SpongeBob in between kissing?”
“You want to go out with me again?” she whispered, ignoring the voices rising around her. They blurred in her head, just as the low hum of conversation had all evening.
Leaning, Kaia slid his hand under the table and grabbed hers. “I want to see you every chance I can, babe. Spend hours next to you. Make you forget about all the other guys…” He squeezed her hand and shook his head. “Never mind. I should thank them for teaching you.”
Rebel searched her mind for who she could ask for a quick course on kissing. Her first thought was her usual one—Diesel. On the other hand, he’d freak out.
Maybe Momma?
“Relax, babe,” Kaia said, his voice strong and sure. “I’ll figure it out.”
D. Elliot walked up to the table, his mouth turned down. He looked even unhappier, circling the table, inspecting every angle and finally stopping at Kaia’s side.
Sighing, Kaia released her hand and settled both of his on the table, clasping them together.
“I was coming to see if you needed more water?” the waiter asked.
Rebel looked at their empty water glasses. “Waterwould be nice.”
He grinned. “Be right back.” Turning, he raised a phone to his ear and walked off.
Kaia gave D. Elliot’s retreating form a thoughtful look before smiling at Rebel again.
Feeling so shy and uncertain wasn’t something Rebel experienced on a regular basis. She’d always had confidence. Not only because her parents praisedher and allowed her to fall and get up on her own once or twice before they’d rush in and help her.
Her confidence was inherent.
Unlike the boys thinking because she was Outlaw’s daughter, she didn’t face the consequences of her bad temper,shebelieved her nervousness with Kaia was theprimaryeffect of who her father was. Not only her father but her brothers. They rarely allowed her to communicate with boys outside her family or the kids of the bikers.
Her brothers and cousins were relatives, and the sons of the bikers knew to keep a respectful distance or have their fathers face the wrath of Outlaw.
But Kaia, who she really liked, asked her out despite knowing CJ.
D. Elliot returned and filled their water glasses, then walked away again.
“If you can’t afford J’s, how’d you end up at Ridge Moore?”
The moment she asked the question, she regretted it. It was insulting. “Uh—”
Kaia smiled. “Do you know what a beautiful red rose you are when you blush?”
