“My pleasure.” I couldn't keep the smile out of my voice.
“For the ride I mean,” said a flustered Kait, taking off the helmet.
“If you think that ride was good, you should try me without the bike.” I teased, but I wasn't joking. I didn't have any reservations about getting into Kait's panties. In fact, I had dreamt of that since the first day I moved into her house all those years ago.
That was so long ago, now. No other woman had captivated me as fully as Kait. All the women I'd met paled in comparison in every way that mattered.
“I figured you would've outgrown me by now.” Kait shook her head in disbelief. “It's like you never left.”
“I've always wanted you, Ness. That's not something I can ever shake.”
Kait snorted at hearing the nickname. When we were just kids she was so convinced that the Lock Ness Monster was real that I started calling her Ness or Nessy. She used to get beet red and punch me, but after a while for whatever reason it just stuck. The meaning evolved, and went from a tease to a term of endearment. But it was strictly our thing. One of my classmates heard me call her that and tried to taunt her with it once.
Once.
I blackened both of his eyes and bought myself two weeks suspension. It was worth it. I would always protect her any way I could. No one else ever called her that again. Except me.
“It didn't matter what you wanted.” Kait sighed, her expression darkened. “You left anyways.”
“You have to let me explain.”
“I don't have to do anything. Those days are over.” I could see that look in her eyes. She always hid behind those walls, saying things that she didn't feel. If she wasn't willing to give me a chance, she'd never have gotten on my bike.
“One drink.” I'd seen this play out before and I refused to repeat that mistake. I couldn't let her slip through my fingers again. Never again.
“I gotta go. They're all expecting me.” Kait left the helmet on my seat and walked away.
I grabbed her hand, stopping her. Never again.
“Afterward, when you're done here.” I ran my thumb over the back of her hand. “It won't make it right, but you deserve the truth.” Kait didn't pull away. “Please, Ness.”
The silence was crushing, but I wasn't holding on to her with much firmness. At any point she could leave. If she did, I wouldn't blame her. I'd just go back to my hotel, grab my stuff and leave this place.
I wasn't born in Springfield, I didn't even finish high school here. I did spend almost all of my teens here, but aside from a few friends there was nothing remarkable about this town. To me it was just one of the many places I was moved to against my will.
The only reason I ever gave this place a passing thought was because of the woman who stood before me. The beautiful, English, Scottish woman that always haunted my brightest and darkest moments.
Kait was well worth the trouble I'd stir up here.
“Midnight. One drink.” Her hand finally slipped from mine. “Don't be late.”
“Wouldn't dream of it.”
I watched as she carefully made her way through the open wooden fence and out toward the other guests. I blew the air from my lungs and ran a hand over my face. My heart was slamming against my ribcage. Fucking hell that was close. It would have destroyed me if she said no. I wanted to watch her walk to the lit pond where the rest of the wedding party had gathered for pictures, but cars were pulling in behind me.
I wasn't blocking the road or anything, but the last thing I needed was to be recognized. I put on the helmet I let Kait wear. I only wore it in states where it was the law. This wasn't one of those states, but it would protect my identity for a little while longer.
Whatever scent she was wearing still lingered in the helmet. I bowed my head for a moment and absorbed as much of it as I could. Something about the fragrance was so damn familiar...
Just give me one night, I bargained to whomever might hear my prayers. I started up my bike and sped out of there. One night with her then the town can tar and feather me for all I care.
Chapter 5
Kait
“I'm sorry, are we boring you?” Mariela stopped dancing long enough to plant both hands on the table in front of me.
“What,” I looked up from my phone. I was enjoying myself, but the time crawled by. Like a buzzing fly trapped in my skull, thoughts of Mal and that drink later were driving me crazy. “No, of course not!
“Then why have you been checking your phone every thirty seconds for the past three hours?” Mariela cocked her head and eyed me skeptically.
Mariela was a tiny thing, even shorter than me, with smooth olive skin, bright eyes and black hair. She looked absolutely radiant in that Latin inspired wedding dress. It was a mermaid fit to just above the knee, below that was a split ruffled design that showed off her perfect legs and allowed her to dance unhindered. She loved to dance and occasionally she would drag me along, but I could never keep up.