“I look like a skunk.”
I make my way around the counter.
“Kenny, the city kitty.” I pull her in by the fingers. “Lucky for you, I’m into older women.”
Her lips quiver like she might lose it, so I do the only thing I can think of to make the two of us feel better. I cover her mouth with mine and splurge on a kiss that drives me deeper into the insanity Kenny has me wrapped in.
On New Year’s Eve, Ackerman House gyrates to raucous, loud hip-hop music that manages to pulsate through every cavity in my body. Swear to God, I’m about to find the volume control and turn it down about six notches, which probably highlights the fact that at the tender age of twenty-four, I’m too old for this shit.
Mercifully, the music dies down, and the next song belts out something a little smoother that my eardrums might approve of once they stop bleeding.
“So which one?” Kenny steps in front of me while eyeing a group of football players. Two of them are engaged in a mock fistfight that has them socking one another, hard as possible.
Tonight’s lesson involves approaching potential hookups. Not that Kenny will be hooking up with the goofs running around this place. My lesson is specifically designed to keep her integrity intact.
Kenny went all out in the looks department tonight with her sky-high heels and a black miniskirt that shows off her luscious limbs. I don’t think I can take much more of her walking around the house half-dressed, her wet hair, her braless mornings. If she doesn’t give in soon, I’ll fall on my knees and beg her to have her way with me. She’s got me shaking just walking past her in the hall. We’ve done the movie and the dinner thing, twice. I think it’s time to up the ante, lie down and see if she bites. God, I hope she bites.
“Okay, see those two guys?” I point just past the jocks.
“The cute one with the football, and the buffed-out guy in a wife beater?” She licks her well-glossed lips.
“Nope.” I redirect her to the lanky pair with their pants riding high on their waists. “We’re going to start with those two. I want you to get at least six different numbers tonight. That should help you break out of your shell.” And keep her woman parts safe from assholes that have an unnatural obsession with pigskin and wife beaters.
She struts around to my other side, and her hourglass figure weakens my defenses. Her hair still holds the strong scent of solution from Mom trying to correct the blunder her former employee proliferated. Gone is the grey. Kenny’s hair sort of morphed to a dark chestnut with highlights. Mom is damn lucky Kenny doesn’t sue for emotional damages. She wore a hoodie three days straight.
“Those two?” She balks. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive,” I whisper. “Now, get a move on, young grasshopper. I’ll watch from the sidelines.” I nod over to the super geeks in the corner until she ventures off in that direction.
A tangle of bodies filter between us, and I can’t help but notice Kenny is turning heads. Before I know it, an entire herd of vulture-like, horny-as-hell, jocks surround her. Great.
“How’s the virgin?” Cal shoulders up to me and hands me a beer.
“She’s in the room ass-wipe,” I reprimand, cracking it open and taking a sip. “And things are progressing slowly. I haven’t scared her off yet, if that’s what you mean.”
“That’s not what has me worried. It’s the fact she hasn’t scared you off yet. What’s going on? It’s New Year’s fucking Eve, and you’re overseeing a vestal of innocence while other guys hit on her? I’m beginning to think you’ve lost your touch. Take her to task in the bedroom or boot her out the door. If you don’t do her, I might just have to intervene and do her for you.”
“Right. I’m leaving you now.” I head toward Kenny to help her navigate the sheer number of drooling idiots who have amassed around her like zombies in some B-rated horror flick.
“Hey!” A pair of familiar arms wraps themselves around me. I glance down to find a brunette with her eyes half-closed, already wasted into tomorrow.
“Donna.” I think.
“Amber.” She flashes a toothy grin.
Or that. “Look, I’m…” I glance over at Kenny and her band of aspiring bedmates, as she waves from across the room. She glances at the pale limb secured around my waist, and a hurt look flashes across her face. Kenny flips her hair and pretends not to notice as she turns her attention back to the “cute” jock.
Shit. They’re flocking to her, smiling like idiots, wearing their hard-ons right on their sleeves.