Page 16 of Kid
“I’m pretty sure there is no mishearingI don’t want you.Trust me.” Kid sighed. “I’ve been rejected by enough women to know what I heard and what it feels like.”
“She said it in those words?”
“Yup.” I shrugged. “So, thanks for trying, but you need to focus on Chelsea and that baby who’ll be here soon.”
“I’m not letting this go.” Demon muttered. “There’s something there. I know it.”
“Really?” I chewed into my bottom lip remembering the Nella who invited me to her burlesque show. Seeing her that way did something to me. It angered me other men were there, seeing her like that. It bothered me she hadn’t saved that part of her for my eyes only. There wasn’t any nudity, but I could see the sensuality in her, the curves of her body beneath soft silk.
I exhaled loudly. “Look, I’ll find someone. Nella, isn’t it and there’s no shame in that.”
“Kid, why don’t you sit her down and have a conversation?” Demon asked.
“I tried that. No means no, right?” I patted Demon’s shoulders. “If she wants me, she’s going to have to put on her big girl panties and claim me. My woman needs to be strong, and demand what she wants.”
“You’re going to lose her.”
“If I do, it wasn’t meant to be.”
“You don’t believe that?” Demon asked. “Do you?”
My doorbell rang.
“What is this? Grand CentralfuckingStation?” I stormed to the front door and yanked it open to find Nella standing there. It was raining now, and she was soaked.
Strange—I hadn’t even realized it had been raining.
“Nella.”
I reached out and took her hand.
Demon met us in the hall, worry written all over his face.
“I’m going to leave you two alone.”
“Demon, it’s raining.” I told him. “At least wait until it dies down a little.”
“It’s okay.” Demon kissed the side of my head. “Nella, you okay?”’
“I’m good.” She smiled. “I wanted to talk to Kid—um, alone. Please? And don’t tell Chelsea about this. She’ll only worry, and I don’t want that for her right now.”
Demon gave me a meaningful look before leaving us alone. Immediately, I led her into the bathroom. I left her there, grabbed one of my shirts and carried it back to her.
“You can change into this.” I told her. “I’m sorry. I don’t have any female anything in this house.”
She nodded and I walked out and closed the door behind me. I wondered why she was there, why she ventured out into a storm to see me. Maybe she didn’t mean to come to my place but somehow wound up here.
I put the kettle on, found a mug and dropped a peppermint bag into it. By the time she cleared her throat behind me, the kettle was whistling. I poured water into the mug and set it on the counter.
“Sit, please.” I motioned to the stool behind the mug.
She said nothing, even after she’d taken a couple sips.
“Hungry?”
Nella didn’t speak.
I turned to look at her. She stared at me, tears in her eyes.
