Chapter 4
Hey Mack,” I call out, wiping my hands on a rag as I head to the office, where Mack is talking with Veronica, who works the reception desk and handles all the customers. Mack hired her when he opened Rebel Autos, and she’s stayed ever since. “Got a minute?”
Mack holds up a finger as he finishes talking to Veronica. She has him sign something, and I watch as henods and says something to her before he turns to me.
“Wes. What can I help you with?”
“You mind if I head out early today? I need to get a new shirt.”
“How you doing on that car you’ve been working on?”
“Nearly finished. Maybe another hour left to go on it.” I know it’ll probably take me less time than this, but I’d rather finish early than late.
“Sure. You finish that, then take off.” Mack nods. “Why are you getting dressed up? You gotta date?”
I shake my head at Mack but can’t help smiling. “Thanks, boss. I’m headed to the memorial showcase at the VA Center tonight. I’m bringing my buddy Slade’s daughter. I want to make an effort to look presentable, you know?”
“Understood.” Mack takes a long look at me but doesn’t say anything.
He’s a smart man, and I’d bet he understands what I mean. Ever since he hired me, he knows I’ve been a very “take me as I am” kind of man, which I am. I’m not in the habit of dressing up or pretending to be a man I’m not, just to please other people. I want to make the effort with Kira because I want to be the kind of man she’d take a chance on, even though there’s no reason she’d want an older, war-battered geezer like me.
I return to the fuel injection system of the car I’m working on, determined to finish with enough time so I don’t have to rush at the store. I don’t enjoy clothes shopping, but I’m committed to being there for Kira tonight. I always liked her as a kid because she was smart and saw through my bad jokes. If I’m going to do right by Slade and by her, I’m going to make the effort.
“Hey, man,” Kid says, sauntering up to me like he’s the king of the world. He’s a good kid, most of the time, but he’s got swagger he hasn’t earned.
I stand up and wipe my hands on a rag. “What’s up, Kid?”
He grimaces. “Man, how many times do I have to tell everyone to stop calling me Kid? My name is Quinn.”
“Kid,” Clark says, laughing. “When you stop acting like a kid, we’ll stop calling you one.”
Kid turns to Clark and glares at him, which only makes Clark laugh more. “Anyway, as I was saying, Wes. You want to go out and pick up chicks tonight? I could use a new wingman. There’s a live band, and dancing is always good for bagging a chick.”
“Kid.” There’s an unmistakable warning in Clark’s voice that makes Kid pause. “How many times do I have to tell you that playing around like some kind of small-town Casanova is not how to find a wife.”
“Who says I want a wife? I don’t even want a fucking girlfriend.” Kid’s voice is a sharp bark. “I like a good time – I’m not looking for a long time. Besides, who do you think you are to be doling out dating advice? It’s not like you’ve gotten laid this century. You don’t even look at women.”
Clark walks over and stands real close to Kid. All the guys here get along, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get in each other’s faces now and then.
“Just because I have higher standards than you doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy women or eventually want to be married. I just haven’t met a worthy woman yet.” Clark lifts his chin in the air, and even I can see the conflict in what he’s saying. He has a habit of holding everything close to him and never talking about anything personal.
“Now, now, ladies,” I tease, trying to defuse the situation, but they both turn and glare at me. “Appreciate the offer, Kid, but I have plans tonight.”
“Oooh,” he teases. “You got a hot date?”
I smile but keep my mouth closed. No way am I talking about Kira unless something gets off the ground between us, but I’m still not telling any of these yokels the details about her if I do.
“I have plans. All I’m saying.”
* * *
I pullup and park in front of Kira’s small apartment building. The front lawn is well-kept, and it’s in a decent part of town, but it’s not fancy. She deserves better than this.
I find her name on the intercom directory and tap the buzzer twice. Standing out here and waiting for her, it’s hard not to feel like a teenage boy waiting for his date and hoping he’ll get a kiss at the end of the night.
The intercom scratches and Kira’s voice calls out, “Be right there!”
There’s an ache inside me, wanting to know what her home looks like. But I remind myself she’s Slade’s little girl, and thinking of her as anything else is off-limits. Yet tell that to my fucking cock whenever she’s close to me. I can’t control how it reacts to her, and if I’m honest, I don’t want to.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand she’s trying to hide from her emotions and that going to the memorial tonight will be a big step for her. She mostly kept it together when I picked her up from school on Thursday, but it’s clear she’s barely holding on. Hell, I’m still trying to pretend Slade is going to come rolling in with some crazy story about how that IED didn’t blow him to kingdom come, and we’ll drink whiskey and beer until the nightmare of thinking he was gone is erased.
But I know that’s a pipe dream.
I rub my hands on my pressed jeans, fighting the nerves that make me feel off balance. Since I mustered out, I haven’t wanted to commit to anything or anyone. But I promised Slade to look after his little girl, and I’m not going to go back on my word.
When Kira comes down and opens the door, I forget how to breathe.
“You look good, Kira.” That’s the understatement of the century.
The dress she’s wearing makes me regret wearing snug jeans. My cock hardens at the sight of her dress hugging her curves. I can’t help staring at how her boobs jiggle as she walks. Jesus fucking Christ. How am I supposed to not fantasize about undressing and kissing every inch of her gorgeously thick body?
I cough, trying to clear my head of how she looks naked and whether she’s ticklish around her waist. How do I tell my best friend’s daughter that even though she’s grieving, she’s radiant and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen? Slade would kill me if he knew I was fantasizing about slowly unbuttoning her dress and lavishing kisses and caresses over every inch of her curvy body.
“I’ll be honest with you, Wes.” Kira turns to me, her big blue eyes meeting mine with an intensity that makes me hold my breath. “I’m not sure about this. The memorial sounds fine. It’s just…even though it’s been a while now, it’s still fresh. Whenever someone tries to talk to me about my dad, it’s a crapshoot whether I’ll break down in tears or not.”
I push my hands into the pockets of my jeans because I sure as hell need something to do with them that isn’t pulling Kira close and memorizing the curves of her body with my tongue. “Look, if you need to go, just say the word. I’ve got your six – and that’s never going to change. Your dad made me promise to look after you, and I will, doesn’t matter how large or small the situation. You understand?”
The sound of Kira’s jagged breathing stirs a protective instinct in me so deep and powerful it takes every bit of restraint I possess not to pull her into my arms and hold her until she calms down.
“Thank you. I mean it, Wes.” A small smile lights up Kira’s face for the first time since she’s seen me, and I know I’d do anything for her.
“Here you go,” I say, handing her what I now consider her helmet.
She slides it on her head, then carefully gathers the bottom of her dress and gets on the back of my bike.
“Sorry,” I say. “If I’d thought twice, I’d have borrowed a truck from one of the guys at the shop.”
“Oh, it’s okay. Don’t worry about me.”
I rev the engine and smile as she wraps her arms around my torso and presses her luscious tits against my back. Fuck. I could get used to having her in my life.
But Kira probably sees me as some older guy her dad knew and who’s trying to be nice to her because she lost her dad, and we were friends.
When I got back stateside, I didn’t know the purpose of my life or if I even wanted there to be a purpose.
Now, I know that Kira is my purpose. Tonight and forever.