Thoughtful(132)

Kiera sighed as she noticed the rain splattering on the sidewalk through the closing front door. She didn’t like being in the rain, so I knew she wouldn’t want to walk home. I wasn’t sure what she was going to do about her predicament. She glanced my way, but didn’t make a move toward me. No, instead, she shocked the living hell out of me by approaching my bassist. I couldn’t stop the grin that spread over my face. Really? You’d rather ride home with Griffin than me?

This should be interesting.

Kiera went for the casual approach. “Hi, Griffin.”

It immediately put Griffin on guard. Their relationship wasn’t exactly cordial. “Yeah? What do you want?” He smiled in a way that clearly said he was positive Kiera was about to ask if she could go down on him.

Kiera grimaced, but managed to remain polite. “I was hoping maybe you could give me a ride home?”

I barely contained my snigger. Oh God. You couldn’t ask Griffin something like that and not expect him to take it in the dirtiest way possible. Griffin’s brain had a permanent residence in the gutter. “Well, Kiera…I never thought you’d ask,” he cooed as he undressed her with his eyes. “I’d love to give you a ride…all the way home.”

And there it was. Typical Griffin answer. Kiera smiled with tight lips. “I literally meant a car ride to my house, Griffin.”

Fuck, my stomach was going to cramp from holding in the laughter. Why did she have to be so damn adorable? Griffin didn’t find her nearly as amusing. “No sex?” he asked, disappointed.

Kiera shook her head so hard, I thought she might give herself whiplash. “No.” I could almost hear her brain adding Ewwwwwww! It brightened my spirits some. Here, at least, was one man I would never have to worry about.

Offended, Griffin sniffed. “Well then…no. Get your no-sex ride with Kyle.”

I couldn’t stop the laugh then. Yeah…no sex. Kiera glanced my way again, then looked around the bar like she was searching for an escape. I approached her while she debated what to do. My heart started beating harder with every step. Even when I was hurt by her, she affected me.

“Would you like me to give you a ride?” I asked. I meant more with that simple question than she really understood. Choose me.

She viciously shook her head, crossed her arms over her chest, and fled out the front doors. I guess I had my answer. She left in such a hurry, she forgot her jacket and her bag. Was I so awful to her that she had to run from me? I debated hurrying after her like some lovesick idiot, but what good would that do but get me soaking wet too? I couldn’t let her walk all the way home though; it wasn’t safe. And it was raining. She hated rain. I didn’t want her to suffer through it because of me. Damn it. I was going to have to collect her, and she probably wasn’t going to like that.

Sighing, I headed to the back room to get her stuff. Might as well get this over with.

By the time I was in my car and heading after Kiera, the rain was really starting to come down. I frowned as I searched the streets for her. She couldn’t walk home in this. She’d catch her death. Hopefully she hadn’t made it too far. God, I hoped she was all right.

Luckily, I spotted her right away; she was only about a block from the bar. She looked like she was freezing as she clutched her arms to her chest, and she was already soaked. Was she really going to walk all the way home in this? Now she was just being ridiculous. She could ignore me in the car; at least she’d be dry. Why the hell was she so mad at me?

Pulling over to the curb, I kept pace with her on the sidewalk. Disbelieving her stubbornness, I leaned over and rolled down the window. “Get in the car, Kiera.”

She impaled me with her eyes. “No, Kellan.”

Gritting my jaw, I looked up. Lord, grant me patience to deal with this clearly unhinged woman. Looking back at her, I, as calmly as I could, said, “It’s pouring. Get in the car.”

“No.”

God. She was going to be difficult about this then. Well, I could be just as difficult if necessary. There was no way in hell I was leaving her out here all alone. “I’m just going to follow you like this all the way home.” Go ahead, Kiera, call my bluff. ’Cause I’m not bluffing.

She seemed to realize that. With a huff, she stopped. “Go home, Kellan. I’ll be fine.”

I stopped the car and leaned on the steering wheel. Was she seriously going to be so pigheaded that she would risk her life to avoid me? This wasn’t exactly the best part of town. “You’re not walking all the way home by yourself. It’s not safe.”

Rolling her eyes, she started walking again. “I’ll be fine,” she repeated.