“I overheard my father and the sheriff talking at Thanksgiving, discussing how to destroy the club.”
Killian’s jaw ticks.
“As soon as Collins came into the clubhouse I knew it was my father’s doing so I said the drugs were mine. My father wouldn’t want it coming out that I’d been arrested for possessing drugs, it would’ve caused a scandal. It would’ve tainted his precious reputation if it went public, so he’d have no choice but to let me go. He was the one behind Allie being suspended and I know he’s not gonna stop any time soon. I don’t know why he has such a huge stick up his ass where the club’s concerned, but I’m not gonna stand by and watch him try to destroy you.”
His eyes linger on me, flicking between both of mine with an unreadable expression.
“What?” I ask, my cheeks heating under his gaze.
A soft smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. “Just when I think I’ve got you all figured out, butterfly, you go and do something that surprises me.”
There’s no point in denying this pull I have towards him anymore and before I can talk myself out of it, I’m leaning forward, but instead of meeting his mouth, he angles his faceaway at the last minute and my lips connect with his bearded cheek.
I rear back. A hot flush of humiliation sears my skin, spreading up my neck and setting my cheeks alight.
I go to speak, but words fail me. I slam my mouth shut, trying to process what’s just happened.
“Wow. Um… Okay…” I clear my throat, not sure where to look, all I know is that there’s no way I can look him in the eye afterthat. “I’m uh, I’m gonna go.” I’m on the move before the last word has even left my mouth and he doesn’t try to stop me. He doesn’t call my name or even come after me.
Why does that hurt so much?
“Kaia?” Fi calls my name as I hurry past her, bursting through the door without a backwards glance.
My feet are moving so fast I’m practically running home. It’s cold as shit out tonight and I’m not wearing a coat, the ice-cold air prickling against my heated cheeks, humiliation burning through me.
Why the hell did I do that?
I force back the wave of tears threatening to spill over. I must’ve read it wrong. Killian’s not interested in me and I’ve just gone and ruined it.
When I finally make it home, my fingers are numb and my nose is so cold it could snap clean off. I slip inside and hurry through the house before I’m forced to face either of my parents. I lock myself in my room, crashing face down onto my bed and bury myself in my sheets, wishing a hole would open up in the middle of mattress and swallow me up.
My mind returns to what just happened and a whole newwave of mortification hits me head-on like a freight train.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed in my life. I’d rather be forced to strip naked and run through the centre of town for everyone to see than feel the embarrassment of being rejected like that. Even then I might be able to hold onto a shred of dignity.
But who am I kidding? He’s Killian fucking Hunt, he’s not interested in girls like me, why would he be?
But he let me ride on his bike,a little voice inside my head tells me and I have to remind myself to stop reading into things that mean nothing.
And the truth is, I mean nothing to Killian Hunt.
Nothing.
How did I get it so wrong?
21
The pen in my hand glides across my tablet as I add some shading to the design I’m drawing. A client asked me to design a dragon breathing out flowers instead of fire and I was all too happy to accept. The past couple of days I’ve been pulling over twelve-hour days and then spending my nights in my studio, designing my clients’ tattoos.
I’m drowning in work, because I want it that way. It gives me an excuse to avoid the clubhouse and the thousand questions that will no doubt be waiting for me. I’m avoiding the bar because I’m a coward as well as an asshole and avoiding going home to an empty house where I’ll sit aloneand think abouther.
But apparently work isn’t enough to distract me tonight. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see isher.
The confusion.
The hurt.
Thehumiliation.
