For me.
CHAPTER 6
Axe
Goddamn it all to hell.
Dear God, Kenzie was all grown up. Her green eyes had always been mesmerizing, the shade of the most perfect emerald always catching me off guard. They were even more expressive than they’d been, accenting the fact she wore her emotions on her sleeve.
Anger brought darkness, the shade drifting into a deep moss.
Joy allowed gold flecks, although I’d yet to see any concept of happiness today.
Sadness brought dullness, which is what I’d captured earlier. Not only because I’d been her savior.
I took long strides from the room, cursing under my breath as I did. What in the hell did I think I was doing, bringing her into my private space? Her! Of all people I could have rescued. Of allthe times to have a guest in my house when all I wanted was to fucking be alone. Why did God hate me so much?
One look in her eyes and I’d been yanked back in time, wishing as I’d done at least two dozen times that I could fix what had gone wrong. Only time had obviously been even more of an enemy than I’d realized. I could tell that by the look of hatred in her eyes.
When she’d had the same look all those years ago, I’d wanted to smack the hell out of the asshole who’d hurt her. There’d been plenty of those, guys far too old for her pawing at her, treating her like she was a piece of meat. I’d had to intervene more than once, although most times she hadn’t realized I’d saved her from some dude with octopus hands and only one thought in his mind.
Yeah, I’d been her protector.
Until I hadn’t been, failing in my duties.
I stormed into the kitchen where I’d been nursing a drink. It was about time to guzzle it. With a laugh, I yanked the glass off the counter, fighting images swarming though my mind. Of her.
Her.
Just thinking her name was troublesome. Almost kissing her? Not only a bad idea but a disloyal one. Why was I still honoring some stupid pledge made as kids? That made no sense, especially since Wade and I weren’t exactly on speaking terms.
Still. But goddamn, she was so damn beautiful, adulthood turning her into even more of a gorgeous creature. She’d never known how stunning she’d been at eighteen, always callingherself an ugly duckling. Complaining about never being asked on a date.
Little did she know I was partially to blame.
Fuck. I raked my hand through my hair before grabbing the bottle of whiskey. I’d forgone my usual beer for something stronger. And why? Because I’d seen her naked.
Her beautiful, luscious body. Shit. Shit. Shit.
When I’d poured almost a full glass, I closed my eyes while bringing the rim to my lips. Inhaling the scent, I hoped it would drive away the sweet scent of the soap she’d used lingering in my nostrils. While an improvement from river water, the shift in fragrance was a terrible reminder of eight years before.
Why was it that I could still remember the light jasmine scent of whatever perfume she’d used as a teenager? I’d never forget the sinful visions the fresh fragrance produced. Filthy, not just shameful. I’d known better then and I did now but when you added on the factor of seeing her voluptuous body? I was already fucked up from her being inside my house.
She needed to get the hell out. Now.
Only that wasn’t possible.
I was stuck with her for at least twenty-four hours. The weather radio had mentioned the rain should stop any time. That was only the beginning of being able to clear and repair the road. Sure, I could go up and over the mountain to the other side, but that would take a couple of days. Might as well wait it out.
With her in my house.
I took a hearty swig, holding the liquid in my mouth before swallowing. If I’d hoped for a burn on the back of my throat, I was sorely disappointed. I’d grabbed the good bottle, the one reserved for company.
Not that I usually had any and lately, never. I didn’t want anyone here. Not a fucking person. This was my private space and I’d allowed her to invade it.
“Kenzie.”
In finally whispering her name, the angst from the past returned. So did the guilt for wanting her. She had been deemed officially off limits on the day I’d become best friends with her brother.
