The girl arrived with the machine. He removed a black card from his wallet and held it out. “Ten thousand dollars.”
“What?” Mrs. Watts froze at his quiet words, appearing shocked out of her sweet mind, then her brain kicked back into gear because she took the card from Jack and completed the transaction. Usually, any large donation went directly to the treasurer of the event. Until now.
With a nod at a beaming Mrs. Watts, Jack put his card and wallet away and grabbed my hand. As I snatched my backpack, he hauled me away from the booth amidst groans from the guys who didn’t know what had happened.
14
Jack
The angerthat had consumed me from the moment I saw those damn idiots pawing Ray burned a hole in my stomach like acid as I evaded the crowds surging our way. More, I knew now why she’d palmed me off on her sister for a damn henna tatt.
Yeah, my actions could have brought notice if the media circus were around, but I didn’t give a shit if the family came down on me. This was for charity, as Ray took joy in reminding me.
I needed a damn drink.
Near the rowdy wine bar, I slowed down. “Find a seat,” I told her in a hard voice, and headed for the counter. With Ray’s sweet tooth, I got her a white wine spritzer and a merlot for myself.
She’d taken a seat under one of the umbrellas as I returned with our drinks, the table littered with glass and snack wrappers. A girl hurried over to clean up the mess.
After she left, I set the drink in front of Ray and sat down. She clasped the stem of the frosty glass, heaved a deep sigh, then lifted her wary gaze to mine. “Jack, look, I didn’t tell you about the kissing booth because I knew how you’d react.”
“Yet, you did it.” I lowered my glass to the table. “It’s not something I’m just going to stand by and let happen. Watching hundreds of horny teenagers, their fathers—their grandfathers—putting their mouths on you!”
“It’s for charity,” she burst out. “I won’t sit back and not help, and I hate that I can’t work the dunk tank or do anything strenuous right now with this stupid wound—I can’t believe you’d spend that kind of money for kisses!”
“Ray,” I ground out, “I don’t want bought kisses from you. That was a donation for the Stroke Foundation.” She stared at me as if I’d come out of left field and blindsided her, which frustrated me. “I would have done it, regardless. But I’m damn glad you’re no longer working that booth.”
Her brow scrunched and she licked her lower lip. I desperately wanted to kiss her again. Instead, she offered them to others.
My mood slipping low, I glared at my merlot. “You win—”
“Of course, I win,” she retorted.
I was going to say I’d back off about the kissing booth, but at the goading words, my irritation rose. “You shouldn’t have said that, Bug.”
She smirked and took another sip of her drink, lifting one shoulder in a careless shrug. “I shouldn’t say a lot of things…”
Fuck this. Since I had already broken most of my damn rules when it came to Ray, I reached across the table, grasped her nape and dragged her close, and kissed her tormenting mouth. A startled gasp escaped her. I deepened the kiss, tasting the wine as I sucked her tongue and her piercing. To my shock, her lips moved beneath mine and she kissed me back.
This girl, who let everyone and their pets into her life, except me, had finally allowed me in.
A fierce streak of elation flooded me. But I broke the kiss, and she blinked in confusion as I jerked to my feet. I wanted her so fucking badly that my gut twisted. As Ray set her wine glass down, I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me. “C’mon.”
“Wait, wait—” She stumbled after me, backpack in her hand. “Where are we going?”
If I told her, she’d find a way to stop me. Hell, I was so done with this cat and mouse game.
Several minutes later, we halted beside my car in the jam-packed street. I unlocked the doors. “Are your parents home?”
Her eyes widened, and she bit her lip again. Yup, she knew.
“Why?”
“So I can check your wound,” I muttered. “What do you think, Ray?” My gaze held hers. Even if it would be giving her a chance to walk away, and it was the last thing I wanted, I said, “If you don’t want this—want me—just say it.”
She swallowed, shifting her attention to the crowded street, then back at me. “No, they won’t be back until later.”
I had my answer.
