A Little Harmless Addiction(57)

“I said I don’t wanna be here.”

That was Kai. Or at least it sounded like Kai. A very drunk Kai. On the way to the door she saw Evan tugging Kai out of his truck.

“I don’t care. I said you’re staying here.”

With amazing ease, Evan stood Kai against the truck and then leaned down to pick him up over his shoulder. He walked with purpose to the front of her house. What the hell happened?

She went to the door and opened it just as Evan walked up the stairs.

“Well, there you are. Cute as a bug,” Evan said.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I said I don’t want to be here,” Kai said, then he burped.

“Shut up,” Evan said good-naturedly as he continued toward her. She had no choice but to let him through the door.

Kai lifted his head, his lips in a snarl. When he saw her, it dissolved into a drunken smile. “Hey, Jocelyn. Your eyes are really green tonight.”

Evan chuckled as he continued on to her bedroom. She didn’t follow them, but heard Evan murmur something to Kai and then he came back out.

“Lord, he weighs a ton.”

The tea pot went off and she hurried to the kitchen. “Why the hell are you bringing him to me?”

He shrugged. “You caused it. I figured you should have to clean up after him.”

She poured the steaming water over her tea. “And just what the hell do you mean by that?”

“Are you going to offer me any?”

“No.”

“Mean woman.”

“Evan.”

“Oh, well, you broke his heart.”

Pain stabbed at her chest and she tried to regain her composure before Evan saw it. She was unsuccessful.

“Hey, don’t get too upset. I know you’re both hurting.” He took her mug and set it on the counter. Like the big brother he had always played in her life, he pulled her into his arms and rocked her. “I just couldn’t leave him in Rough ’n Ready or he would have had a fight. And I figured it was best to bring him here instead of bail him out of jail.”

Her heart sank. He had already been out looking for another woman. Dammit. So she messed up, but was that any reason to abandon her? She had thought he might blow off some steam, but to run out the first night and look for a woman?

Evan pulled back and said, “And I know how your head is working. No, he wasn’t there for women. He never went there except when Keisha was there working as a waitress. He was there probably to make sure he didn’t do something stupid. He doesn’t play, and you have to know that.”

She nodded.

“Now, make him cry and take pictures. I would appreciate it if you would post them on Facebook. He deserves it.”

She sniffed. “How do you know?”

Evan chuckled. “As my lovely wife told me earlier, it is always the man’s fault. But be gentle. He is head over heels in love with you, or at least he smells that way. Who knew the boy could drink that much whiskey?”

He kissed her nose then she walked him to the door.

“May is relieved he’s here. I was sent out as the search party when he turned off his cell phone.”

She nodded. “Thanks, I think. Although I’m not sure what to do with him.”

“Let him sleep it off. He’ll pay enough in the morning. Night, sugar.”

He kissed her cheek then jogged down the stairs. A moment later, she watched his taillights disappear into the night. She closed the door and locked it, then picked up her tea on the way back to her room. For a long time, she stood by the doorway and looked at him. He was a mess, his shirt halfway up his torso, exposing that lean washboard stomach. He had his arms flung wide as if calling a touchdown. She wandered closer and then squatted beside his side of the bed.

His eyes popped open. “Hey, Jocelyn. Come on to bed.” The tone of his voice told her that he had other things on his mind than sleeping.

“Not sure that’s a good idea.”

He frowned as his eyes drifted closed. “But I love you, you crazy woman.” Then he started snoring.

It would have been comical if she hadn’t felt her heart almost fall out of her chest onto the floor. Did he really mean it? There were times when he looked at her that she thought he might. But it could be the alcohol talking. Men said really stupid things when they were drinking. Hell, people did. Still, there were times when he pulled her close and the look in his eyes told her he felt at least something more than lust.

The memory of his accusations that afternoon came back to her. He had been in pain. They both had, but she could feel his as strongly as hers. He did love her. She kept seeing the pain in his eyes as he asked her about Greg. But it wasn’t just that. The way he had loved her after she told him about Greg should have told her then.