When Kat emerged from the house awhilelater, I locked eyes with her to carefully assess her mood. She met my gaze andI knew I needed to take care of my friend.
“Babe, I’mgonnago home with Kat,” I told Cole quietly in his ear, still perched on his knee.
“What?” he asked.
“She’s not having a good night,” Iexplained, not wanting to go into the details. “We look out for each other. Asmuch fun as I’m having and as much as I’d love to stay, Igottatake care of my girl,” I said, kissing him when he turned his face to look upinto mine.
“Take her to my place,” he instructed.“I’ll stay here a while longer, give you time to talk with your girl. But thenI end the day with you in my bed,” his deep voice rumbled in my ear. “Put herup in the guest room.”
“You sure?” I asked surprised andpleased by the suggestion.
He nodded. “Hank is trailing you to myplace,” he added, referring to one of the many new Knights I’d met thatevening.
“It’s a few blocks,” I protested.
He leveled me with a look and Isighed. “Okay, fine,” I relented before I kissed him again and arose from hislap. I did need to be careful these days.
I headed straight for Kat, took herhand, and led her out of the house without a word. Once we were on the street,I put an arm around her and started walking. I knew Hank was behind us, but hekept his distance and it almost felt like we were alone.
“We’re going to Cole’s,” I explained.“He has a guest room and he’ll give us some time.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, and my heartbroke for how crestfallen she seemed.
We walked silently for a while as Ilet her collect her thoughts. “What happened?” I asked finally.
“Nothing new since I talked to youearlier--he basically didn’t acknowledge me all night,” she sighed, and I couldhear the quaver in her voice. “It was so embarrassing,” she groaned. “I feellike such an idiot! I thought with how great the other night was and with himinviting me tonight that something was happening between us. God, I sound likesuch a cliché,” she groaned again.
“You’re not an idiot or a cliché,sweetie,” I assured her as we neared Cole’s place. “I would have thought thesame thing. It sounds like maybe he’s just a bit clueless and closed off,” I added.
“I just felt so exposed all night,vulnerable. And you know how I hate that.”
“I do,” I agreed, using the key Colehad given me to let us into his place. I waved briefly to Hank to let him knowwe were okay.
“Nice place,” she said distractedly aswe put our purses down.
I grabbed us two beers from the fridgeand we sat on the couch. “Yeah,” I agreed, looking around in appreciation. Heclearly took care of his home, kept it neat for a bachelor.
“So what are you going to do?” I askedher quietly as she slouched on the couch and put her feet up on the coffeetable.
“Nothing to be done except to assume thatI was just another one-night stand and that I won’t hear from him again. I’llbe damned if I’mgonnareachout to him,” she said with a grimace.
“Good for you.”
“I just really liked him, you know?”she practically whispered. “I know you warned me, but I haven’t felt thatexcited about a guy in a long time. He was different than what I usually go for,but I liked it. I liked him.”
“I know,” I replied sympathetically asher phone dinged.
“What the fuck?” she asked, her browsknitted when she looked at the text and then showed it to me.
“Where’d you go?” It read from Sal.
I couldn’t help but laugh, but I bitmy lip when she glared at me. “Clearly clueless sweetie,” I laughed again.
“God, is he serious?” she exclaimed. “Iwas at his house forfourhours. Hebarely talked to me, but then twenty minutes after I leave he wants to knowwhere I went! He’s probably just bummed he’s not getting any tonight,” sheglowered.
“Maybe, maybe not.” I shrugged. “Howare you going to play it?” I wondered, genuinely curious.
She bit her lip thinking for a minutebefore typing out a response and showing it to me.
