“I heard you were back, but I didn’t realize—” The guy stops mid-sentence, and for the first time, he seems to see me.
Like, really see me.
There’s something familiar about him. His eyes are dark in the night, but I don’t fail to notice he’s the same height as Kellan.
Even the same build, as far as I can tell.
I can see the resemblance.
“Ava, this is my brother. Ryder, Ava. She’s from NYC,” Kellan says coolly. His hand grabs my ass possessively, like he has a claim on me.
“Well, hello, Ava,” Ryder says. “I’m glad you guys were enjoying my back yard. I like my guests to come more often.”
My face flushes with mortification.
I don’t know what the fuck he meant by that about, but I’m pretty sure he isn’t talking about regular invitations to a barbecue party.
Kellan laughs. “The lady definitely will. I’ll make sure of that. Thanks for not arresting us.”
My head snaps in his direction?
Is that supposed to be a joke?
I take in his wink, and the penny drops.
Oh, my fricking God.
His brother has to be a cop.
“My dear brother’s the deputy,” Kellan explains.
The fricking deputy? The one everyone seems to be missing.
“What are brothers for?” Ryder laughs.
I swat at Kellan’s hand on my ass, the slap so hard the sound reverberates in the night.
“I’m going home,” I mutter and rattle at the gate.
“Let me—” Kellan starts.
“No. I’ll find my way back. Thanks.” I shake my head and shoot him a deadly look, even though he probably can’t see it in the darkness. “It was nice meeting you…”
“Ryder.” He stretches out his hand, and I take it.
“Sorry about the—” My voice chokes.
I rush past him, head held high, trying my hardest not to look back.
It’s the walk of shame.
I might have lost any sense of decency, but I still have my dignity, right?
Right?
CHAPTER TWENTY
After returning to the bar, I make up some bullshit excuse, and Kellan drives both Mandy and me home—the silence in the car deafening in its intensity. I barely mumble something about a headache before dashing for my bedroom and barricading myself inside for the rest of the night.
Holy shit!
I can’t believe I let Kellan compromise me like that. Sure, I had the orgasm of my life, but…
What. The. Fuck?
In his brother’s back yard?
With his brother barely a few steps away?
Knowing his brother’s the deputy?
The bastard knew Ryder would be back any time. He knew Ryder could hear us.
Why the fuck would he take me there to have his wicked ways with me?
Because I’m another conquest for his panty collection. That’s what I am. I can’t even pretend that I don’t know it. Like I can’t pretend I didn’t hear Sharon’s warning.
And I even asked him for it.
That’s probably the worst part.
Practically panted his name and begged him to take me…
In his brother’s fucking yard.
He likes to brag about his conquests, or why else would everyone know about his damn business?
This episode is definitely a new low since meeting Kellan Boyd.
Stripping off my clothes, I leave them in a puddle at my feet and step into the shower, furiously washing away the memories of Kellan’s mouth on me. I lather tons of shower gel into my skin and let the hot water burn my body in the hope that Kellan’s image will disappear from my mind.
But he’s all I can think about.
My body’s aching for his touch. Even though I just had a release, I want more of it.
I want all of him.
I switch off the water and step out of the shower. Wrapping a fluffy towel around me, I head back to my bedroom.
My mind is made up.
Even though I can’t leave until the car’s been repaired, I will stay away from him, even if that involves living like a vampire, AKA sleeping through the day and only venturing out at night.
It shouldn’t be too hard a task.
The rap at the door jerks me out of my thoughts. My heart stops—hoping, praying, then hating the thought—that it’s Kellan.
It’s probably Mandy anyway. I can’t deal with her questions right now, not in the least because it’s all her fault. She wanted me to go on this trip.
If it weren’t for her and her stupid plan to see Mile High, I would never have Kellan seen again. I would never have been stuck here. I would never have been so embarrassed.
Another rap, this time a little louder.
Ignoring the urgency it seems to convey, I put on a T-shirt and pair of shorts, and slip beneath the covers, then turn off the lights.
He or she’ll get the message.
I’ll make sure of it.