All of a sudden we heard a low voice behind us. “Rachel.”
We turned to see Miles behind us and an audible gasp fell from Rachel’s lips. Miles looked from Rachel’s face down to our entwined hands, and just like that, our secret bubble of happiness was ruined.
His eyebrows rose to his hairline. “Are you two . . . ?”
I dropped her hand and felt frustration well up in my chest.
“Of course not,” I said, leaving out the words asswipe. “I’m just looking out for her, like a good friend would.”
There was deeper meaning in those words, and Miles understood it immediately. He flinched as if I’d slapped him.
“Okay, dude, no harm,” he said, holding up his hands as if in surrender. “You’ve always been a great friend to Rachel.”
Rachel snapped out of her surprise and seemed to finally find her voice as her eyes warily scanned the crowd. “So . . . who are you here with?”
She was afraid that someone else had seen us, and now my gaze searched the area as well.
And that’s when I saw her, the same blond from the casino standing between two parked cars off to the side. Shit. Just what Rachel needed tonight.
I noticed how Rachel squared her shoulders and waited on Miles’s response. Miles turned and stepped a couple of feet forward, awkwardly grabbing for the blond’s hand. “I want to introduce you to someone, babe.”
The blond stepped into his embrace, and he wound a secure arm around her shoulder. She had trouble meeting Rachel’s eyes. “This is my . . . girlfriend, Melanie.”
My eyes shot to Rachel, wondering if she’d need me to have her back, but she stood strong and resolute. And then she stretched out her hand. “Melanie, nice to meet you. I’m Rachel.”
Melanie’s face brightened in relief. After all, she knew who Rachel was and what a fuck up Miles had been. “You, too.”
For the first time in ever, I felt a bit of admiration for Miles. At least he had the balls to admit he’d made a mistake. To try to move past what an idiot he’d been.
I’d been a dumbass all these years, as well.
We all fuck up in some way or another. The point was to own up to it and move on. And I could tell that was what Miles had been trying to do.
“Hi, Melanie. I’m Kai.” I moved closer to Rachel and placed my fingers at the small of her back, no longer caring what Miles thought. “Did you guys enjoy the show?”
Miles’s face broke out into a grin. It was probably the first time we’d ever shared sincere pleasantries with each other. “Yeah, it was cool. But now we’re beat and headed home.”
“We are, too,” Rachel said, and then turned as if to continue walking to my car. Like she didn’t want to stay another moment to make small talk with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. And I didn’t blame her.
With a small wave she said, “Drive safe, Miles.”
She and Miles shared one last lingering gaze. Almost like a normal good-bye between friends.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Kai
Rachel laced her arm through mine and said, “So, where were we?”
She seemed lighter somehow. As if seeing Miles had been a good thing, after all.
She smiled and tugged me along through the puddles. The hike to our car looked like it went on for miles, and the parking lot was filled with mud and potholes. I offered her a ride on my back. and we jog-walked the rest of the way to the virtually empty auxiliary section.
As we neared the car, I felt her lips skim across the back of my neck, setting my nerve endings on fire. Letting out a growl, I swung her around into my arms, and then pinned her against the passenger door. My forehead rested again hers and I stared into her eyes for minutes, hours, days before nipping at her bottom lip.
“Kai.” She sighed and then tugged my head toward her until our lips met. Her mouth was warm and wet, and when the tip of her tongue flitted out to meet mine, I felt a spark of electricity.
I flattened my body against hers and practically devoured her lips. We were making out like horny teenagers, out in the open, in a wide expanse of space, and it felt so damn good.
As if we were unrestricted. I was free to show her how much I wanted her. And she was free to return the favor. Even though this was just physical for her. Even though our time was limited. I’d take it. If only to experience this sort of exquisite moment.
She broke away to catch her breath. “The way you kiss me . . . you . . . you turn me on so much.”
“Tell me about it,” I mumbled. I kissed her neck and then ground my hips into hers. “Can’t you tell how insane you make me?”
“Yes.” Her breath was a hard gust against my hair. “And I love it.”