I smirk at her and wrap my arm around her waist to keep her from falling. “Baby, if you think rubbing that gorgeous body against me is going to get your purse faster, you’re mistaken.”
She realizes she isn’t going to get it and shoves my arm off her as she takes a step back, crossing her arms over her chest. Her pink lips are in a tight line, and her chest is heaving with angry breaths. Her makeup is dark across her eyes, and she’s hot as fuck.
I wait for her eyes to meet mine. “Please. Just listen, okay.”
She’s so fucking pretty, it hurts, but her eyes are like lasers cutting through my skin.
“Go ahead, agent dickhead.” She puts the tips of her fingers over her mouth. “Oops, I mean, Abbot.”
Taking a deep breath, I’m not surprised by the extra dose of sass. She’s mouthy when she’s sober.
“I’m sorry, Kinley. I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”
Finally standing still, she watches me like she is waiting for me to say more. Her eyebrows move up her forehead, and she sarcastically holds her hands out to her sides while staring at me. “Is thatALLyou’re sorry for?”
My mind races through that day, and I try to remember what else I could have done as I lower her clutch to my side. I take a step closer to her so my nose is just inches from hers, and lower my voice. “Are you angry with me for touching you? If I remember correctly, you were enjoying yourself, and I asked you if you wanted me to stop.”
I’ve got to admit, it pisses me off if she wants an apology for that. I asked her to tell me to stop.
Her eyebrows pull together, and she seems to get even angrier. I can’t tell if the flush on her cheeks is from anger or embarrassment. I wasn’t trying to embarrass her.
“Fine, you’re sorry. Can I go now?” She tries to grab her clutch from my side but only succeeds in almost losing her balance. I have to grab her arms again to keep her upright.
“You shouldn’t be here like this, you’re putting yourself in danger.” My hands are still around her arms, making sure she doesn’t fall.
She slaps at my hands with her palms like she’s slapping at a fly, and I have to suppress the amused smile that is trying to stretch over my face. Sober, mouthy Kinley I thoroughly enjoy, but drunk mouthy Kinley is cute as fuck.
“What do you care if I’m in danger? You’re a jerk and a liar, and I don’t want to have anything to do with you.” Her focus is still on slapping my hands. “I was stupid to think you were different.”
Her words are slurring a bit - proof that I got here just in time.
And they fucking sting, too.
Refusing to let go of her arms, I put a lid on the anger at the accusation. “I’ve never lied to you, Kinley. When did I lie to you?”
She stills, and when she looks up at me, hurt is blending with the anger in her eyes, squeezing my chest. I don’t know what she is so riled up about, but seeing her hurting is killing me.
Her gaze moves over my face, and her eyes are losing focus. She lifts her hand and affectionately slides two fingers over my beard, down my jaw. “I didn’t think you’d bench me, I thought you were different. I kinda hoped you’d look at me like that.”
My heart pinches because I know the alcohol is making her vulnerable right now, even though she is talking drunk speak. It’s something she wouldn’t do if she were sober.
As much as I want to find out what she just said means, I need to find out what shethinks I lied about.
Cupping her cheek, I try to keep her focused and bend to her eye level. “Kinley, baby, you’re not making sense. What did I lie about?”
Her focus locks on my eyes as she thinks about something, her hazel orbs swimming with flecks of gold. She blinks as anger and betrayal twist her face, and she lifts her arms to try to twist out of my grip.
Her eyes shine with tears she’s desperately trying to hold back. “If you thought it wouldn’t fucking hurt when you sent him to my house, Rhys, you’re a bigger asshole than I thought.”
Whoa! What the fuck!
The hair on my neck stands up as the heat of rage travels up my spine. I try to keep my voice calm and soft. Even though my anger is boiling beneath the surface, I keep my eyes locked on hers. “Who was at your house, baby?”
She tries to pull her face away and wriggle out of my grasp, but I know if I let go of her, she’ll go down in those heels. She wrinkles her nose like she smells something bad. “Stop calling me baby, you don’t get to call me baby again.”
Securing my grip and waiting until she calms down again, I lift my brows trying to keep my anger hidden. “Kinley, who was at your house?”
Her face crumbles, and she huffs like she’s exhausted as she looks to the side. “A douchebag with pretty hair.” Her eyes slide angrily back to mine, rimmed with tears. “Did you really think I would go anywhere with him? You promised I wouldn’t have to deal with him. I thought I could trust you.” Her voice is small, and her chin quivers a little with her last few words, and it nearly crushes me.
