16. Stolen Kiss
Stolen Kiss
Fly
“Fly,” Bishop walks up to me as soon as I enter the compound. “Do you have a second?”
Yes and no. But for a brother, I’ll make one. “What’s up?”
“My son called.”
That sounds ominous. I walk over to a couch in a corner of the common room. “How is he doing?”
“About the same. But today’s call was different. He met a woman.”
What? “In rehab?” The weird places you run into women.
“Yeah, but she was a guest of another patient. Anyway, this woman is receiving what she describes as prank calls, but Deacon found them vaguely threatening.”
That’s bad. “Is he into this woman?”
“Deacon doesn’t know yet, but he thinks it’s possible. She’s kind according to him.”
What man isn’t attracted to a kind woman? “Did he get us any information to go on?”
“Just a name. Oh, and get this. She’s one of the women from the bachelorette party.”
Wow. “Those women are wild and worth fighting for.” Especially my sexy savior.
“Yeah.” Bishop nods. “What if she’s a writer too? Deacon would have a hard time protecting her.”
“We’d step up for him.”
“My son would love that as much as he’d hate it.”
I get that. The idea of another man protecting my woman, even a brother, would gall me a bit. “Get what you’ve got to the guys in the control center. If they can’t get anywhere, we’ll ask Havoc to tap the computer kid for help.”
Bishop nods. “They’re coming back today.”
“For the cake tasting. I heard.” And can’t wait to see her. “I’m going to volunteer to move tables and chairs for the setup.”
“The Cake Lady is making the food.”
Even more reason to get involved. “Hopefully she makes enough, or there will be fights.” I’ll wade in just for the fun of it.
***
We get half the tables set up inside before the women start arriving.
Part of me wants to stand outside and pull her aside immediately. The other part says to play it cool. Wait for her to come to you.
Waiting isn’t one of my strong suits, at least not today.
They aren’t all here in this group. Some are helping The Cake Lady, and others aren’t coming until the actual event, according to rumors.
Ledger walks in carrying a stack of flower boxes.
Does that mean they’re here?
Dahlia carries another stack in. Followed by a woman with her arms stacked so high that it’s covering her face.
Right hair color.
Right height…
It’s hard to tell with the puffy full-length coat she’s wearing if she has the right body type.
“They want four more tables and a bunch more chairs.” Integer walks by. “Wanna give me a hand with that?”
No. I want to find her. “Sure.”
When I get back with the chairs, she’s gone.
The afternoon is just getting started. You’ll find her.
***
Bear approaches with both arms full of boxes. “One of the girls in the kitchen needs help carrying some vases or something. Would you take care of it?”
“Sure.” I’ve almost given up on finding her before the event. She must be one of the ones who is just showing up for the cake tasting.
The clubhouse has several kitchens, but this one is attached to the common room and used for big events. It’s full of commercial-sized everything. Several old ladies went to town on it a few years back. “Someone need some help carrying stuff?”
“Back here.” A familiar voice echoes to me.
It’s her.
Finally.
She’s way back in the corner at one of the utility sinks, filling up vases. “If you could grab the box next to me. But careful, they’re half full of water.”
Yeah. No. The only thing I’ll be doing for the next few minutes is kissing you. “We meet again.”
The woman in front of me jumps a little before spinning around with a partially filled one in her hands. Water sloshes on her and the floor. “Um. Hello.” Her nervous smile is just as tempting as the flirty one from the other day.
“There are lots of women at the clubhouse today.” I take a step forward.
“Yeah. Dylan’s cake tasting is today.”
“That means I’m in need of protection that only you can afford me.”
“What—” Her mouth snaps shut, and her eyes widen.
A smile spreads across my face as a blush runs up hers. I take the vase from her fingers and set it on the stainless-steel countertop next to her. Then my hand goes to her waist, slowly at first, giving her time to say no or pull back. “Did you think about me?”
“More than I should have.”
Fair. “You were all I thought about the last few days.” I pull her close to me.
She leans forward and stops. “You do know it only takes one kiss to protect you. Just like it only takes one to tell if you’re a toad or a prince.”
“And which am I?”
“Neither. You’re Fly.” She lifts her arms up, wrapping them around my neck like she’s getting ready to settle in for a kiss.
Which is fair, since I plan on doing the same. “And what are you?”
She tilts her head to the side.
“What’s your name? What do people call you?”
“Does it matter?”
Yes. Yes. It does. “Why would you say that?”
“Whatever this is…it’s not going to last. I’m going to leave town in a little over a week. All this can be is a few stolen kisses and some nice memories.”
“You’re blunt.” It’s not like I didn’t realize she would leave, but all I thought about was getting back to this point.
“I’m being practical.”
Am I ready to think past a simple flirtation? “So am I. I’m going to see if the last kiss was a mirage or a prequel. Depending on the answer, I plan on repeating it as often as possible.”
“Just as long as you know there’s no future.”
There never is. “Understood.”
“Well, since you’re not the prince and I’m not the princess, you can call me Sheri.”
“Are you a sweet wine?”
“Rarely.” Sheri threads her fingers into my hair and pulls my head down.
There’s no need for any other words. My lips find hers, and passion flares between us hotter than it did the last time.
“Sheridan!” a woman shouts. “Do you need some help?”
Sheri pulls back. “No. I’ll be done in a second.”
There’s no way I’ll be done that fast.
A kiss like that deserves to be savored. “Don’t go,” I whisper against her lips.
“There’s work to be done.”
I hate those words.