Manaconda(51)

Hunter carried me over to the head table and set me gently into a chair.

“Miss. Oh, my goodness. I don’t even know what to say.” A waitress came over with a roll of paper towels and an apron.

“Little late for that,” I said with a laugh. I felt the hysteria building. I tried to tamp it down, but it effervesced like the champagne display scattered over the floor.

She tried to dab me with the paper towels but there was no way to blot this level of chocolate.

“Just put me out back and hose me down. It’d be easier.” I hiccuped out a laugh.

Hunter’s lips twitched. “Let me get you home.”

“I called for a car.” I brushed my nose with the back of my hand. Even that was streaked with chocolate.

“I’m not sure the service would let you in.”

“I tip well, dammit.” There were so many people surrounding me. I felt the hiccups coming faster.

Hunter tucked my hair out of my face. “Okay, everyone. Let’s just give her a second, all right? Back up. Just look at me, sweetheart.”

I hated to ask, but embarrassment at this level negated pride. My eyes burned. “Can you just get me out of here?”

He handed me my purse and scooped me up again. “Let’s get out of here.”





21





Hunter





She covered her eyes as we got to the doorway. Luckily I was pretty sure she didn’t notice the cameras that had been working over time during the accident, but there was no denying them outside.

I tucked her closer to my chest. “Just a few more minutes. The valet went to get my car.”

She nodded and sniffled.

I wasn’t sure what to do with a helpless Kenny. Not what I was used to in the least. She kept rubbing at her nose and wouldn’t look up. God help me if she was actually crying.

A waiter sprinted out to the lobby with a table cloth. “This might help get her home.”

“Perfect. Thanks, man.”

The lanky kid nodded. “Sure thing.”

I rushed through the turnstile front door when I heard my Mustang.

“How do you even fit in there?” she said with a watery laugh.

“For a ’71 Mustang, I bend.”

“I’ll get chocolate everywhere.”

I set her down, opened the door, then snapped out the table cloth. “See?” I settled it over the leather seat. “Perfect. Now, get in Kenny.”

She looked up at me. “So, I’m Kenny again?”

I sighed. “You’re always going to be Kenny. Now, get in the car before you harden like a chocolate bunny.”

“There’s chocolate in places I don’t even want to think about.”

“Then let’s get you home and cleaned up.”

She nodded and ducked her head to sit on the bucket seat. She twisted to get her legs in. Even streaked in chocolate they were amazing.

Before I could shut the door, she looked up at me. “What about Corey?”

“She’ll find her way home.”

“Isn’t she your date?”

Corey was amazing, and I was pretty sure she was trying to get me to fix her up with Patrick, but Kenny didn’t need to know that. “She understands. We came in separate cars, too.”

“Oh.”

“Can I close the door now?”

She dropped her hands on her lap. “Yes.”

“All aboard the chocolate express,” I said and closed the door.

When I came around she was scrunched down in the seat. “But your seatbelt on, Kenny.”

“Chocolate.” As if that meant anything.

“Seatbelt.”

She sighed and reached over her shoulder. She tucked the tablecloth around her shoulders.

I sighed and reached over to snap it into place. “That’s what a detailing place is for.”

I pulled out into traffic, then down Willshire Boulevard. “Where am I headed?”

For the next twenty minutes there was no conversation save for directions. Kenny seemed to be withdrawing into herself, the closer we got to her house.

Finally, I pulled around the figure eight cul de sac development that she called home. Her house was small and Spanish styled with a clay roof.

I pulled into her driveway. She unlatched her belt, but wouldn’t look at me as she opened her door. “Thanks.”

I got out after her. “That’s it?”

She tipped her chin up to meet my gaze. “I appreciate you taking me home.” Dusk had come and gone and the night sky was flush with stars. A security light broke up the darkness, and she had the table cloth draped over her shoulders like a cape.

I clenched my fists.

“What do you want me to say, Hunter? You were the one that was all about us giving things a try then you went after one of your best friends in a jealous rage over your ex-fiancée.”