The next afternoon, on the way home from Whitby Falls, Rhett was ready to crawl out of his skin. He’d spent all day with Detective Anderson in the Whitby Falls PD, doing the hard and long detective work that, in the end, usually solved cases. Sadly, nothing had jumped out at Rhett as trouble within the biker gangs in the area. Dalton had recognized the guy in the photograph, and Rhett’s instincts told him to stay there. Bikers knew bikers. While Rhett doubted this was the Red Dragons, he felt that tug in his gut that there was a connection to Dalton. But that connection didn’t lie in Whitby Falls. He found no restlessness within the streets of the city that spoke of trouble. The past month had been full of petty crimes, domestic disputes, and a few minor crimes within the Red Dragons, but nothing that stood out as dangerous or serious.
Frustration cut through him as he drove down the snow-covered two-lane country road heading back toward Stoney Creek. He took the roads slow and easy but wanted to do the exact opposite. He wanted to get to Kinsley. Last night she’d touched on something inside him that still shook him this morning.
Rhett didn’t do shaken.
And with his frustration building over the case, as well as this edginess she brought out, he couldn’t stand it any longer.
Only ten minutes away from town now, he hit the phone button on his steering wheel. His Bluetooth kicked in. “Call Boone,” he said.
The phone rang twice. “Knight,” Boone answered.
“Any updates?” Rhett asked.
“Tattoo recognition is still running,” Boone reported through the car’s speakers. While tattoo recognition software was in the works, it was still in its infancy, and Rhett doubted they’d find anything there. He kept the thought quiet as Boone added, “Asher’s making some calls within two hundred call radiuses to see if any arrests have been made with a similar tattoo, but nothing yet on that front.”
“Nothing else?”
“Nope,” Boone said, sounding as frustrated as Rhett felt. “Nothing on your end?”
“Negative,” Rhett said. “I’ll be back at the station in forty-five.”
“I’ll be here.” The phone line went dead.
When Rhett finally rolled into town and stopped at the stoplight, his gut twisted, his chest impossibly tight. He bounced a knee, tapping his thumb against the steering wheel to the beat of the music playing on the radio, but nothing helped. What he needed to do was shed the restlessness burning through him to center himself again. He considered calling Theo, who Rhett knew would come no matter what he had going on, because that’s what they did for each other. When the adrenaline rose, once Rhett gave up counting on Jack Daniel’s to calm himself, they got into the ring to discharge the excess energy. Though today, Rhett’s agitation wasn’t only about the job or about settling back into civilian life. It had to do with why he could barely sleep last night. Kinsley, and the shit she was making him feel. And instead of driving himself crazy, he decided to do something about it.
He pulled over to park in the first spot he found and got out, locking the doors behind him with a loud beep. The bright sun warmed him as he walked along Main Street, a stark contrast to the brisk air. He shoved his hands into his pockets and kept his head down, not wanting to see or speak to anyone. Only one person was on his mind now.
A handful of minutes later, he found that woman sitting at her desk in her small office. She wore a big cozy-looking cream sweater and dark gray leggings, and just the sight of her hardened his cock to steel. The bar had been busy when he walked in, but the people out there were none of his concern.
Kinsley slowly turned, surprise in her eyes. “Oh, hey. I wasn’t expecting—”
He turned back to the door and locked it. “You have to understand something,” he said, facing her again. Uncontrollable heat slammed into him in her presence. He did well to stay away from anything that made him feel too much, but she’d crossed that line last night, and he couldn’t uncross it. “I get edgy.”
Her chest rose and fell quickly with heavy breaths as she stood from her chair. “Okay,” she said slowly.
He took a step toward her. “I usually manage that restlessness by sparring with Theo.” Then another step, needing to get closer, to breathe the same air she did. “That’s not how I want to manage it anymore. At least, not all the time, and certainly not today.”
She visibly swallowed, her cheeks flushing. “Okay,” she repeated.
He stopped, his boots right in line with her feet. The heat poured off her, and he wanted to absorb it. Every little bit until he only made them burn hotter. He slowly raised his hand and stroked her cheek, finally threading his fingers into her hair. “Because I’ve realized there is something more potent than my restlessness.”
“What’s that?” she whispered, her lips parting, ready for his kiss.
He dropped his mouth close to hers. “How fucking much I want you.” He slid a hand across her lower back and yanked her closer. “The way you feel.” He dropped his head into her neck and slid his nose up her warm skin, feeling a hard shudder run through her. “How it draws me in.” He nipped at her flesh and she pressed herself closer, running her hands up his biceps. He leaned away, tucking his thumbs to angle her chin up. “And the way you taste…it’s so fucking good. All day you’ve been in my head. I want you. Right now.”
“Too much talking. Not enough kissing,” she said huskily.
He didn’t need to hear more. He sealed his mouth across hers, maneuvering her until her back bumped against the wall. Rough, hot, quick, he needed her now. She held on to his shoulders as he opened his jeans, exposing his hardened length. Her leggings were soon down, one still halfway up her leg, the other all the way off. He didn’t hesitate, and by the looks of her hooded eyes, he knew she didn’t want him to. He grabbed her ass cheek with one hand, his cock with the other, and entered her. Slowly, relishing how she squeezed him, he pushed inside her, feeling the drag of her hot flesh against him, until he was seated in deep.
She moaned his name, and he pulled back once, letting her adjust to him. Christ, she was ready. Wet and silky and warm, and everything he needed. He worked her in slow strokes, feeling her completely, as her body tightened around him like she didn’t want to let him go.
His heart thundered in his ears, the adrenaline pumping through his veins, calling for him to unleash himself, the edginess controlling him. He needed that gone. Urgency took over, shifting him from a pursuit of her pleasure, to only a raw need taking over. He hooked her leg onto his arm. Pinning her between his body and the wall, he stared right into her gorgeous sparkling eyes as he pumped his hips. Hard. And fast, careful not to go too deep. Over and over again, until he breathed harshly, sweat trailing down the side of his face. Her eyes went wide with the pleasure until they clamped shut. Her chin angled up and her breath cut off, the moan she nearly gave only coming out in a puff of air. He nearly went cross-eyed with the pleasure, and he grew harder with every thrust as skin slapped against skin. His breathing was rough, and there was nothing sweet about how he touched her. This was something primal, something that came from deep in his chest, a part that needed her to be the reason he felt better. And as her mouth fell open in a perfect O, and her moan finally spilled from her mouth, she began clenching him like a vise. He growled, thrusting harder, his muscles burning in delight at being fueled.
And two thrusts later, she broke apart around him, and he followed her in a hot rush and a hard shudder, releasing something deeply haunted in his soul.
* * *
The day had come and gone, and still Kinsley rode the high that Rhett had sent her on earlier. She’d always wondered what it would be like to be on the receiving end of Rhett’s affection. Now she had that answer and she liked it. Scratch that, she wanted all of it…all the time. Sure, Rhett wasn’t one for long romantic walks by the beach. She doubted he’d ever say, “I love you,” but he brought passion and intensity, and those were certainly things she’d never had in her life before.
What she didn’t like was her current situation. “This is depressing as shit,” she said to their inner circle, minus Rhett, while she sat at one of the tall tables at Merlots. The classy nightclub was on the other side of Main Street, the only other bar in town. Luckily, they had different crowds, so the competition between the two had never been a big deal. Which was good, since Kinsley really liked the owner, Bernie.
Boone snorted, sitting across from her, a beer set in front of him. “You only hate this because you’re our designated driver tonight.”
“No, I hate this because the only time I should be at a bar sober is when I’m working,” she countered, then glared at her glass of water before taking a sip. “You all never wanted to come here whenever I’ve asked you before, and now you do it when I’m pregnant so I can’t drink my face off and dance like an idiot.” Eighties music filled the space, and Kinsley craved to be right there with the gyrating crowd, only she needed a couple of glasses of wines to bring out her spectacular moves.
Boone arched a brow. “You can still dance like an idiot. I’ve seen you. You’re good at it.”
She gave him a rude gesture, which had him laughing.
Peyton nudged his shoulder with hers. “Stop bugging her.” She gave Kinsley a sweet smile. “We thought you could use a night out, away from the bar. And sadly, this town lacks anywhere else to go. Unless you’re up for some midnight bingo?”
Kinsley barked out a laugh. “Please, God, never let me go there.” She returned a soft smile back at her ever-so-sweet sister-in-law. “And you’re right. I could use a night out. Thank you.” Even though she could tell that what Peyton had said was only a half truth. They all wanted to drink and dance, but they were trying not to make Kinsley feel bad about it.
From her spot next to Kinsley, Remy asked Boone, “How’s the case going anyway? You guys getting anywhere?”
Boone’s mouth flattened into a thin line. “It’s slow going.”
“You’ll find them,” Peyton encouraged him, sliding her arm through his. “You guys always do.”
Boone’s eyes darkened when he looked at Kinsley. She’d seen it before, and she knew why Rhett had been so wound up earlier. The case was stalling. Even Dad looked frustrated when he stopped by the bar a couple of hours after Rhett had arrived and made her day immensely better.
A thought that had lingered on her mind all day suddenly sprang up again. “What if it’s nothing,” she said, swirling the straw in her glass.
On the other side of Boone, Asher’s brows shot up. “Care to explain how it could be nothing when they demolished your place?”
Kinsley considered the same thought that kept repeating in her mind then she shrugged. “Nothing has happened since that night. Maybe it really was the Red Dragons, and they were pissed that Rhett got all hard ass with them. They made their point of payback, and now they’re done.”
Neither Boone nor Asher looked convinced.
Boone finally said, “It’s something to consider, but I’d bet my money that something more is going on there.”
Asher nodded in agreement.
Remy said, “Well, I, for one, am crossing my fingers that it was a one-time thing and you can put this behind you.” Something caught her gaze over Kinsley’s shoulder and all the warmth vanished from her expression.
Before Kinsley could turn around, strong arms wrapped around her and Rhett leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Hey,” he said just to her. Then he gave everyone around the table a quick look before he added, “Be right back. Let me grab a beer.”
He strode off to the bar, and Peyton said, “Okay, that happened, didn’t it? Rhett just kissed you on the cheek, right?” When no one answered her, Peyton went on. “Did I imagine that?”
Even Kinsley wondered if she’d imagined that. She finally blinked, following Rhett with her gaze as he made his way toward the bar.
“You’re not imagining anything,” Boone said. Was that a bit of pride in his eyes? “That happened.”
Remy looked the exact opposite. She crossed her arms and scowled. “Are you guys together now?”
“Remy.” Asher elbowed her gently.
Her frown only deepened.
Every other face but hers was lit up. Kinsley rolled her eyes. “Do we need to talk about it?”
“Nope,” Boone said.
“He’s such a liar,” Peyton said, reaching for her chocolate martini. “He totally wants to talk about it.”
“It’s not our business,” Asher said sternly to Remy, who still hadn’t taken her eyes off Kinsley.
“What’s not your business?” Rhett asked, sidling up to the table with a beer in his hand and a fresh glass of water with lemon.
“Thanks,” Kinsley said, smiling at him as she took the beverage. She studied him, looking for any of the intensity she’d seen earlier, but it just wasn’t there. He seemed…calm…settled.
Remy’s voice snapped like the end of a whip, answering his earlier question. “If you and Kinsley are dating now.”
“Ah, I see,” said Rhett, grabbing the stool next to Kinsley and then pulling her in between his legs. He rested one foot on the bottom of her stool.
If Remy really did have magical abilities, Rhett would be set on fire by now. Kinsley reached for the straw in her glass and sucked back the biggest sip of water of her life, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her.
“Well,” Remy growled. “Are you going to answer me?”
Rhett gulped his beer then set the bottle down on the table. “Asher’s right, it’s none of your business.”
The air felt charged with electricity, like right before a thunderstorm. A thunderstorm that was going to suddenly produce lightning that could kill you. And that lightning was aimed right at Rhett.
Boone finally broke the silence. “Did you catch that fight last night?”
“That finishing blow was spectacular,” Rhett commented.
And just like that, the personal conversation was over, thanks to her big brother. She glanced up at Boone and he gave her a quick wink before continuing his conversation with Rhett and Asher over the upcoming Mixed Martial Arts fight next weekend.
Kinsley exhaled the breath she’d been holding. She leaned back against Rhett, and he snagged an arm around her waist and pulled her closer against him. Everything felt good and right, and yet, there was a tingle in the back of her mind telling her this was too easy. She pushed that thought aside.
Rhett was making a statement here tonight. What that statement actually meant, only time would tell. But Kinsley wanted to let things unfold how they were meant to. Rhett was there, present, and that, for right now, was more than she had expected.
Remy’s tension wafted off her. To ease her best friend’s worries, Kinsley reached for her hand under the table and Remy squeezed back. They had been friends since they were ankle biters, and she knew Remy was worried. Very worried. “I know it’s hard to understand,” Kinsley said softly, keeping the conversation private. “But I’m okay with how things are.”
“Yeah, you keep saying that,” Remy grumbled.
Yet Remy still didn’t believe her. Not that Kinsley could blame her. For as long as Kinsley could remember, she’d wanted the engagement ring, the wedding, the happily-ever-after. Being with Rhett meant she’d get none of those things. But life wasn’t all sunshine and roses, and she wanted Rhett. Always had.
Before she could think more on it, an ice cream sundae was suddenly placed in front of her. “Oh, dear God, I am in love with whoever got me this!”
Rhett’s soft chuckle brushed across her cheek. “It’s not fair that we get to drink, and you don’t. I figured this was second best.”
“Oh, my, my,” Kinsley purred, her mouth watering. She turned to him slightly and grinned. First, a mind-blowing orgasm earlier, then a thoughtful glass of water, and now ice cream. Who was this guy? “Thank you.”
He gave her a firm nod and a genuine smile.
The ice cream only made Remy’s frown deepen. And she never frowned at ice cream.
“I gave ya the works, Kinsley,” Bernie said, his brown eyes creasing, creating more wrinkles. Bernie was an average-looking guy. Average height. Average weight. But his personality was anything but average. Warm and charismatic, when he spoke, people listened. Bernie had owned Merlots for as long as Kinsley could remember, even though his son, Joshua, now ran the show. “Thought it was a good way to congratulate you and Rhett on the baby.”
Mary Jane’s gossip had obviously gotten around town. “Thanks, Bernie,” she said. “How’s Eleanor doing?” His wife had gone through chemotherapy for breast cancer last year.
“She’s in remission,” he replied with a glowing smile. “She’s happy to be back working at the library.”
“So glad to hear that, Bernie,” Boone interjected. “Please tell her we all say hello and that we’re so thrilled to hear she’s feeling well.”
“Will do.” Bernie handed Kinsley napkins before offering spoons to Remy and Peyton. “Knew better than to come with ice cream and not make it big enough for all of you.”
“Yum,” Peyton said, taking her spoon. “Thank you.”
As Remy took the spoon from Bernie, Rhett asked, “The bar’s looking really good. Did you do some renovations?”
Bernie nodded. “Josh wanted to modernize the place a bit last month, so we had some work done.” He scanned his club, then glanced back at Rhett and gave a shrug. “Not quite what I would want, but the customers like it.”
Kinsley heard every word Bernie said, but she was stuck on what Rhett had said. He knew this place intimately, which told her that he came here a lot…to find women to warm his bed. She glanced up at Remy, and her friend’s earlier irritation turned into hot anger, burning there in her eyes.
The guys continued to talk to Bernie, but Kinsley put her focus on the ice cream and dug in. Rhett had a past; one she could live with. His present and future were all that mattered now.
* * *
An hour later, Rhett’s stomach was heavy from his beer as he headed up to the bar to pay his tab. Kinsley looked tired, and he felt exhaustion roll through him too. Next to him was a pretty brunette that kept making eyes at him. She was exactly the type of woman he’d have taken home before. She wanted one night with the bad boy, and Rhett was that guy. Or he had been. Now he wasn’t exactly sure what he was, other than the guy trying not to fuck up.
He settled his tab with the bartender quickly, thinking to himself that tonight had gone better than expected. He knew he’d rock the boat and make a statement when he kissed Kinsley in public, but he figured why prolong the secrecy? They were having a child together, and things were heating up between them, more than cooling down. Why hide that fact? Whether that would blow up in his face, only time would tell.
When he placed his debit card back into his wallet, from behind him, Remy snapped, “What in the hell are you doing?”
He glanced over his shoulder. Typically, she was sunny and bright, but now she glared daggers at him. “Paying my tab. Is that all right?”
Her eyes slowly narrowed into slits. She took his arm and he allowed her to pull him around the bar to the hallway where the bathrooms were located.
She placed her hands on her hips. “No, nothing you’re doing is all right. Asher told me to stay out of this, but I never thought you’d do this.”
Rhett arched an eyebrow. “What exactly am I doing?”
“Pretending that you’re actually going to make this work with Kinsley.”
All through the last hour, he’d caught Remy giving him a glare promising death. He couldn’t fault her for it. Kinsley and Remy were as close as sisters. They had each other’s backs through thick and thin, and Rhett knew if the roles were reversed, Kinsley would be up in Asher’s face. Rhett had a past, and he was well aware that he walked on shaky ground now. “Who says I’m pretending?”
Her brows shot up and she gave a dry laugh. “Seriously, you’re actually going to fucking go there. You knew since high school that Kinsley had a thing for you. You knew when you came back that what she felt for you was even stronger. And you did nothing. You didn’t even give her the time of day or notice her.”
Remy had it all wrong. He had fought not to notice Kinsley. He had stayed away to protect her. But he simply didn’t feel it necessary to explain that to Remy. “If there’s something you’re trying to say, Remy, then get to it.”
She pointed a polished black fingernail at him. “I keep hearing that this is none of my business. Maybe it isn’t, but Kinsley isn’t just my best friend, she’s like the other half of my soul. She’s good and deserves every good thing in life.”
“I never said she didn’t,” he countered, frowning now.
Remy held his stare in a way he’d never seen before from her. Firm. Unyielding. She continued like he hadn’t even spoken. “She deserves a man who wants her with everything that’s inside him. She deserves for someone to love all the parts of her that make her so amazing.” Remy drew in a long deep breath, her nostrils flaring. “If you cannot be that man, then don’t make promises.”
Rhett paused. He looked around, seeing two women laughing as they walked by, obviously thinking he and Remy were in a lovers’ spat. He turned back to Remy and softened his voice, hoping that would calm her down. “I haven’t promised Kinsley anything.”
Remy snorted and poked his chest. “Which is exactly the fucking problem, you idiot.”
At that, Rhett raised his eyebrows. He couldn’t recall ever hearing Remy curse like that before. Or calling anyone a bad name. Damn. He’d really pissed her off.
Her voice only tightened as she went on, snarling at him, ignoring everyone walking around them. “Kinsley deserves a guy to promise her everything and to give her the whole goddamn world. She’ll want you, even if you cannot give her that. She’ll take any little piece of you that you give her, because for some unknown reason she loves you.”
She loves you…Rhett’s chest tightened, and the room spun a little. “Am I really that terrible of a person, Remy?” he asked in his own defense.
“As a friend, no,” she said, and some of the heat left her eyes. “You’re wonderful. We all love you. I love you. But you’re not the guy who wants marriage, who wants to wake up Sunday mornings in the arms of his wife.”
She wasn’t wrong—Rhett couldn’t imagine that. Walking down the aisle, promising anyone forever. He’d never lived with a woman. He wasn’t even sure how that would work. Where would they live? Her house? His? It seemed easier to keep separate houses…separate lives. He liked his space. Needed it. “I understand that you’re worried about her, Remy,” he said again, softly but not weakly, “but Kinsley seems perfectly fine and happy with how things are going right now.”
“Of course she is,” Remy countered. “She wants you so bad that anything is better than nothing at all.”
Rhett’s chest took a direct hit at that. He knew what sacrifice meant. He hadn’t wanted that for Kinsley, and yet now, he couldn’t seem to stay away.
Something must’ve crossed his face because Remy stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “No one will say it to you because they’re all secretly hoping that this thing between you and Kinsley works out. Hell, if I thought it could, I wouldn’t say a damn thing either.”
He’d been running from this truth, but it was there, always on his mind too. “You think we’re doomed to fail?”
“I think you could have it all. Have the life that she, and you, deserve, but not like this.” She snapped her fingers. “You want this, Rhett? Truly want this? Then do the one thing you never do.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Which is?”
“Work at it. Truly. Work out your shit and figure out what’s going on in here.” She tapped his chest. Hard. “Then, after that, marry her.”
The thought was so absurd, he burst out laughing. “Remy,” he finally said. “We’ve only been seeing each other for a week.”
“So what?” Remy countered. “You’ve known her your entire life, and she’s wanted you pretty much for that entire time.” Remy took a step and closed the distance between them. Under her scrutiny, his heart began to race, sweat building on his flesh. “She deserves your commitment. Totally in. One hundred percent.”
Rhett gave her an incredulous look. “She wouldn’t say yes, even if I asked.”
“Maybe not,” Remy said with a shrug. “But at least you’ll have shown her that you’re serious. That this isn’t just you going with the flow, taking what you want, and having fun. Because soon this is going to get serious. Very serious. You’re having a baby together.”
His back went ramrod straight. “I’m quite aware of the serious nature of things, Remy.”
Her brows shot up. “Are you? Really? Because one day, that little baby is going to grow up and be a kid and ask you, ‘Daddy, why aren’t you and Mommy married?’ And what answer will you give?”
He glanced away, taking in what she’d said. He’d expected Boone to have this conversation with him, but he was actually more supportive than Remy. He waited for a couple of women to enter the bathroom before he said, “You’re talking years ahead. Things are good right now. We’re taking this day by day, slowly.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and dipped his chin, looking into her eyes. “I know you’re worried about Kinsley. I know that my track record doesn’t bode well to ease those worries, but this is Kinsley’s show. The moment she’s not happy, things will change, and I’ll do what I can to ensure that I don’t hurt her.” He gave her an honest smile. “You’re a good friend to corner me and give it to me straight, but hurting her is the very last thing I want to do.”
Remy considered him for a good long moment then sighed and stepped back. “All right, I can live with that.” She began to turn away but then stopped and looked back at him. “Just so we’re clear, if you do hurt her, I’ll hex you.”
He laughed, shaking his head at her. “You know I don’t believe in that magic shit.”
“Yeah, well, hurt her, and kiss your erections goodbye, buddy.” She spun on her heels and marched away as if she meant every single word.
Rhett frowned after her. She couldn’t…she wouldn’t…
Her grin back at him declared she most certainly would.