Chapter 16 – Kira
KIRA
M y tongue is enjoying the caress of West’s and his lips are soft and delicious against mine.
The endorphins of the good news he just gave me only heighten the sensations making me feel tingly all over, of course including my nether regions.
He smells fresh and clean with a manly musk and a splash of gasoline.
And though we’ve taken things way past this point before - twice - I realize how amazing it is just kissing him.
Before, I didn’t stop to take it in as that bastard bitch in my panties was in control but now she’s sitting down there pleasantly confused.
Holy fuck, West is a good kisser. And his arms…
oh my god that was the first time anyone has ever calmed me down with a hug.
When it comes to thanking him for what he is doing for me, a kiss is pretty pathetic when you think about it.
“I’m sorry,” I say breathlessly, trying to break away but his hands come up to my face and pull me back into the earth-trembling kiss.
He’s actually been pretty touchy feely with me since the start, no matter who’s around and before my mind can wander to what the rest of the town must think of it, I decide I don’t care.
I like the way he is with me and if he doesn’t care who sees, neither do I .
West slowly draws his face away, his lips lingering on mine until the last second before placing one last gentle peck.
I let out a dreamy sigh from both the kiss and the weight that’s lifted.
“You know, I don’t know what I’m going to try next for work, but, you don’t know the stress you’ve taken away with this,” I marvel up at him. “Whatever I end up doing I can just focus on helping pay my way.”
His brows stitch together as he sways in place. “Well yeah, but there won’t be a huge hurry once I’m done. The profits will definitely sustain you for a good while, especially here .”
“What are you talking about?” It’s my turn to look confused.
“The profits from whatever the Rolls goes for. That will help you big time.”
“Um no, they will help you ,” I counter. “You’re doing all the work. I just unwittingly delivered the damn thing to you. Believe me, absolving me of the repair expenses is more than enough.” I try to glare at him with I mean it in my eyes but it only makes him chuckle.
“We wouldn’t even have this opportunity if it wasn’t for you,” he reminds me. “And just getting to do this will go in my personal record book, which is enough for me.”
“Well aren’t we stubborn?” I plant my hands on my hips.
“Yes, we are, Princess” he mimics my position.
“You know, it’s not even going to happen if you don’t get your ass out of here and get started,” I squawk, getting indignant. “Get to work!” I point in the direction of his shop, trying so hard to look fearsome and menacing but corners of my mouth are winning the upwards fight.
Fortunately, the sex well of a mechanic humors me, leaning in to give me one more parting kiss.
When he pulls back, the sunlight glints against something on his neck.
“What is that?” I step forward and reach to touch it.
“What?” West looks confused as I touch his neck and my finger comes away with a speck of something shiny and pink stuck to it.
“Is this…glitter?” I look up at him.
He examines my fingertip a moment before a look of realization comes over his face.
“Fucking Hunt!” He curses, his voice giving off a rolling thunder-like quality.
“Oh,” I falter. “Are you and Hunt into some kind of -,”
“No! That infantile pantload just decided to prank me with a glitter bomb in my tool chest this morning,” he gripes.
“Oh,” I sigh and it turns into a light laugh. “Well your frustration and indignance is kind of hot.”
And there’s that sexy smirk of his again.
“I should get to work,” he imparts, traces of regret in his voice, just as I hear tires screeching from somewhere behind me.
He flicks a quick glance over my shoulder and the eye rolly smirk tells me it’s my geriatric chauffeur.
“I’ll call you later,” he mutters, giving me one last kiss, and holy shit, squeezing my ass before turning to walk away.
The rest of the day, West and I engage in a text war over who’s keeping the money. It was his brilliant idea, and he’s done just short of everything. It’s definitely his.
He keeps firing back that I need it more and that I am the bringer of what I am now thinking of as the infernal car.
We go on and on throughout the afternoon as I try to make myself useful around Casa de Agnes, cleaning up and making her afternoon highball.
It’s after I sit through two episodes of MacGyver with her - 80s television is truly the best!
How have I never seen such genius? - that I realize I haven’t heard from him in a while and check my messages.
My last retort sits there unread. Huh. Oh well, maybe he finally got the message. Good for him.
My phone remains silent as afternoon bleeds into early evening and I try not to be that girl who waits by the phone. I’m trying to be independent after all.
I’m saved, however, from contemplating how to make a box of macaroni and cheese without burning the house down when the doorbell rings.
I whip open the door and scream when I see who’s on the other side of it. Toby screams right back and I jump into his arms and he spins me around the porch. When he sets me down, I notice two suitcases beside the door.
“Is that all my clothes? I told you to ship them. You didn’t have to bring them!” When I look back to him, I realize he’s smiling just a little too big.
“No, - yes,” he stammers. “I mean, part if it is the clothes you asked for and the other case is my shit because… surprise! I thought I’d come stay with you for a little while!”
“Oh my god, I’m so happy,” I throw myself into his arms again, and though he’s squeezing me back, I feel him stiffen a little. Something is off.
“Toby?” I step back, looking at him cautiously because that smile is freaking me out. It’s his, Shit’s about to hit the fan and I’m trying and failing miserably to keep it cool look. He finally loses the fight and his eyes squeeze closed as he drops his head back.
“Jeffery got a job offer in London!” He sobs, but quickly takes a breath and tries to get ahold of himself. “I’m good,” he insists, straightening his spine and swiping at his eyes.
“Ohhh Tobe,” I walk into him and wrap my arms around him. “I’m so sorry honey. That’s so hard.”
“I offered to go with him, but he said the relationship was too new and that me tagging along would be too much pressure,” he wails again, falling against me.
“Men are the worst,” Agnes declares from the doorway, a hand on her hip and the other holding her near empty glass of libations. “Come stay with Granny for a while and you’ll be over that doucheface in no time,” she instructs.
“Oh Agnes,” his voice drops to a low baritone, thick with emotion as he walks over to her folding her in his man-ish arms.
“Yeah, yeah,” she gives his arm a pat before turning. “Follow me.”
Toby and I gather up all the bags and dutifully follow her inside.
“It’s not like you to surprise people,” I say to Toby as I set one of his suitcases at the base of the stairs.
“I texted you, boo,” he lets out a flustered sigh. “It’s not like you to not respond within fifteen seconds.”
“What? No you didn’t…” I turn towards the kitchen and go to swipe my phone off the counter. When I check and double check our thread I feel vindicated as I hold the screen up for him. “See? The last message is from yesterday.”
But he’s all ready to return fire and holds up his own phone for inspection. “I sent it to you and you haven’t even read it. See?” He returns with a deadpan.
My stare darts between both screens and their concrete evidence and my mind starts to enter the Matrix when I realize.
“Dad turned my phone off!” I gasp, horrified. “He had my phone disconnected! Oh my god!” I start pacing. “That son of a bitch!”
Toby holds a hand to his mouth, looking at me with worried eyes. I don’t care that my dad cut off my finances; leaving me to fend for myself. But my phone?! That’s just taking it too far!
“Okay honey, clearly we need to lean on each other right now,” Toby closes in, taking hold of my shoulders and leveling me with a we got this look.
“And whiskey!” Agnes yells from the other room.
“And whiskey,” Toby amends before slightly wincing at the concept. “Or some strong margaritas. Look, let’s go out and get you a new phone service, and then you can show me around this charming town,” he says, in business mode.
“Okay,” I nod at him, feeling reassured.
“And then we’ll get drunk.”
“Agreed.”
“I can’t believe that bitch!” Toby splutters against his handkerchief.
I pat his hand that’s tucked around my arm.
After getting my phone reinstated and resuming my text war with West, I’ve been showing Toby around Coyote Creek - well, the parts I know so far.
“I need to sow some serious oats. I need to get wasted and go home with a stranger. I need to blow money! I need…”
His footsteps falter before coming to a stop and I follow his gaze across the street.
What has him mesmerized is a small establishment across the street with the words: Hattie’s Hawt Dawgs painted in a happy red above it.
“There,” he draws out dreamily as his eyes widen enough for the anime variety. “Talk about a sign from the universe! I need to go there!”
Releasing my arm, he bustles across the street to the front door, his hips swishing like he has a motor hidden in his pants.
“Toby?” I check for cars and then dash after him.
“Why didn’t you tell me this town had a strip joint?” He demands once I catch up to him. “This is exactly what I need!”
“I didn’t know,” I pant as I look from him to the door and back up at the sign again. “I’ve never seen this place before.
And that name… Hattie, Hattie, Hattie - come on, Kira, think ! “What makes you think it’s a strip joint? In a tiny town like this?”