“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that, let’s take a poll. Everyone, who thinks Rooster’s a dumbass and should get on his bike and ride.” I raised my hands in the air. “There, two against one.”
“Everyone who thinks Kate is even more beautiful now than she was the last time he saw her.” Rooster raised both of his hands, and I took the opportunity to punch him in the solar plexus, doubling him over with a grunt. “Jesus,” he said, catching his breath. “I thought Hatch said we keep our hands to ourselves in this club.”
“No, he said we don’t abuse our women,” I corrected. “Although, that rule might apply here, considering you’re a colossal pussy who shrinks and runs away at the sign of danger.” I cocked my head. “A bit like a chicken.”
“First of all, I reject your characterization of pussies. That’s an insult to women and I’ve always found you to be fierce in times of battle, and second, I don’t care to hear your anti-poultry rhetoric. My kind has a hard enough time staying out of the crosshairs of Colonel Sanders. And third, I mean it, you really do look beautiful, Kate.”
I forced myself not to fall into the trap of what he was saying. Because the thing about Beckham ‘Rooster’ Cahill, was he was always good with his words. He had a voice like butter, he never said anything he didn’t mean, and he didn’t lie. That was the bitch about all of this. He’d told me he was leaving, he’d told me why, and he’d promised he’d come back. He just hadn’t done any of it on my timetable.
“So, what’s the verdict, beautiful? Am I staying?”
“You still haven’t told me why you stayed away so long.”
“Yes I did.”
I threw my hands in the air. “No, you didn’t.”
“If I’d come back you—”
“Wouldn’t have achieved everything I achieved,” I cut him off. “That’s a copout and you know it.”
“It’s gonna take a lot longer than five minutes to fill you in on that part,” he admitted. “But I’m willing to give you everything if you’re willing to hear me out.”
I took a deep breath, trying to ward off another crying jag. “Why the hell did Sundance force you, of all people, to come?”
“Oh, he didn’t.” He gave me a cocky grin. “I volunteered.”
“Of course you did.”
“The bottom line is, Hatch needs me here more than Sundance needs me in Colorado rightnow.”
“That’s a low blow, Kam.” I scowled. “Adickish,low blow.”
“It’s the truth, honey. Not tryin’ to be a dick.”
“Would you stop with the honey, baby, beautiful shit?” I hissed. “And no fucking calling me KitKat.”
He raised an eyebrow as he continued to stare at me.“Old habits die hard, Kate.”
“You have been gone way too long to have any habits when it comes to me, Rooster.”
A bang on the door had me jumping slightly and I yelled out, “I’m still alive.”
Razor peeked his head in. “Your five minutes are up.”
“Fuck off,” Rooster growled.
“Not the way to go here,” I warned, then focused back on Razor. “I’ll be out in a bit, buddy. I’m okay.”
“You sure?” Razor asked.
“I’m sure.”
He closed the door again and Rooster cocked his head. “What the fuck’s up with that?”
“None of your business.”
“Bab—I mean, Kate, are you and Razor—”
