Chapter Six #2
There was her answer. She hated knowing the man who was carrying her after watching her puke had been with a woman like Macy. Gorgeous, striking, and she didn’t smell like vomit.
“I’d ask for an intro but your fair maiden is looking a little too fair.”
Bogs passed the woman. “Kenzie, this is my neighbor to the left, Macy, and her beast, Fritz. Gotta watch him, he’s ferocious.” Bogs chuckled.
Kenzie glanced over her shoulder, giving half a smile and a slight wave. Macy grinned and wiggled her fingers. He walked through the garden path in silence. She knew what she smelled like and opening her mouth was not an option.
The complex was situated like a resort. She could see from the lighted path, a pool up ahead. He turned right and a few steps into a patio area with sliders.
“Gonna put ya down.” When she felt the ground under her feet, she leveled herself and stepped away from him. She glanced around at the surroundings. It wasn’t a spectacular view but he had two chairs separated by a small table and potted plant on its last leg sat in the corner.
“C’mon in.”
She walked through the door with her arms folded. She stepped just inside as he slid the door closed.
“Can I use your bathroom?”
“Yeah, sure.” He walked through the living room and into the entry hall. Then reached in through the doorway and the small room illuminated in a bright light.
When he stepped away, she walked in, unable to bring herself to look up and thank him. The door closed behind her. She walked over to the sink and slowly lifted her head. Holy shit!
She was pretty sure this was the worst she’d ever looked in all her twenty-four years.
Her hair, which was usually one of her best assets, was a stringy mess.
Her make-up from six hours ago, looked as though it had melted onto her face.
Her eyes were bloodshot and her nose was bright red.
She looked exactly the same as she felt.
She was living a nightmare and had the starring role.
****
She had been in the bathroom for a while.
He considered checking on her, even walking down the small hall to the foyer, but stopped at the stairs.
After everything she went through tonight, she needed a little time to get herself together.
And clean herself up. He reached for his shirt and took a whiff then stepped back as if he could get away from the stench. Puke had a distinct scent.
She’d probably be in the bathroom for a little longer.
He climbed the steps, making his way down the hall to his bedroom.
His shirt was completely off before he made it into the room.
He tossed it in the overflowing hamper. Fuck, he missed laundry day.
He scanned his room seeing the mess scattered throughout.
He was a self-proclaimed slob. He hadn’t quite rid himself of the college dorm life. Not even six years later.
For some odd reason, the sight of his room in disarray had him regretting not hiring a cleaning crew. His sister, Roxanne, had suggested he hire professional help. He refused. Damn, he hated when that little shit was right. With one last look around, he made his decision.
Kenzie would stay in the guest room. It wasn’t fancy but at least she would be able to see the floor.
He still wasn’t completely sure how her staying with him was going to go down. He was pretty confident he’d scared her enough that she wouldn’t be insisting on going back to her place, but the option of running out on her own had him concerned.
His foot hit the main floor and he glanced down the hall to the bathroom.
The door was open and the light was off.
Kenzie was walking with her head hung low.
The whole scene had to be embarrassing. It wasn’t the first time a girl had puked in front of him and then he was left to take care of her.
However, it was a first that he didn’t actually mind.
“You good?”
She jerked her head up. She must have washed her face because all remnants of smeared make-up were gone.
Her eyes were still swollen and red but beyond that she looked beautiful.
He never understood the need for make-up on a girl that looked like Kenzie.
A natural beauty like her was just wasting her time.
Her mouth tightened into a straight line and her cheeks heated. Yeah, definitely embarrassed. She scanned his bare chest.
“Yes.” She cleared her throat and averted her eyes. “Sorry about that. I just, um…” She gazed up at him. “It’s been a lot today.”
Bogs smiled. “That’s one way to put it.” He passed by her, heading into the kitchen. She was feeling like shit already, he wasn’t about to make it a big deal and stare at her like she was some kind of circus freak on display.
“I’d offer ya food but I’m thinking that’s the last thing you want. Drink?”
Her soft footsteps padded through the kitchen behind him. “Water, please.”
The kitchen was small with a sitting area at the end of the room.
He heard the chair scrape the floor. He grabbed a glass from the cabinet and walked to the fridge.
As he filled her glass, he could feel her eyes on him.
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t tighten his chest and flex his muscles.
If she was going to look, he might as well give her a show.
He may not have the build of T or Stone, but he worked out four times a week.
“You need an aspirin?” When he didn’t get a response, he looked over.
She was staring at his chest. Her gaze stuck on his pecs with a look that was very familiar to him.
Hunger. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she licked her lips, the way she was checking him out.
Her gaze dropped to the waist of his jeans and then slowly lowered.
He was getting his own arousal from her staring at him that way.
His dick stirred and began to harden. As much as he liked her eyes on him, any longer and he’d be sporting full wood in record time.
“Pretty girl? Eyes up here.”
Catching a girl off guard was nothing new for Bogs.
He was a natural born tease, too. But from the blush staining her cheeks and the surprise in her eyes, getting caught was definitely new territory for Kenzie.
This girl was too cute. If not for their current situation, he had no doubt, she’d be more than willing to warm his bed for a night or two.
“Aspirin?” He cocked one brow and smirked as he walked over her handing her the glass. Her finger grazed over his pinky and her blush deepened.
“N-no…” She took a large swig from the glass. Her eyes were everywhere but on him. He liked that. It took a lot of effort on her part to not make eye contact but she was trying. And failing. He stood in front of her and watched her glance up quickly before looking away.
“So, here’s the deal.” He walked away and leaned against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. “We’ll get ya settled for the night. Then tomorrow, I’ll meet up with the guys and figure out our next move with this whole Dante situation.”
“When do you think I can go home?”
Bogs shrugged and gave her an honest answer. “Gotta see how bad you girls fucked up tonight. When I know the extent of the havoc you caused, I can better assess the outcome.”
“Do you think he’ll find her?” It was cryptic but Bogs knew exactly who the he and her was that Kenzie was referring to.
“Trent will find her.”
“And um…what’s he going to do with her?”
A better man would have probably tried to calm her nerves. Trent wouldn’t hurt any woman, not even a psycho like Taylor, but he wasn’t about to tell Kenzie that. A little fear on her part might help them locate her friend.
He rid his tone of all humor. “I’m gonna give you some advice, Kenzie. You need to stop worrying about your friend’s situation and starting thinking about your own. Your girl fucked up tonight. That’s not just gonna go away. You are in a world of shit right now.”
“Oh.” She glanced around the room in silence leaving him to wonder if she was going to try and sneak a call to Taylor sometime during the night. Or worse? Make a run for it.
“Just so we’re clear. The house has an alarm. You try and leave? It’ll blast like a motherfucker. As for the phone? I got them all traced. Any call you make can be tracked.”
Her brows raised to her hairline. “Why are you telling me this?”
Bogs brought his hands to the counter and pushed off to a standing position. He learned a few intimidating tactics from T. Standing over someone had a way of making them feel small and squirm. Kenzie sunk in her seat as he moved forward, stopping only a foot away.
“Because the last thing I need after tonight, is to go chasing your sweet ass all over town.”
There it was again, the blush. Fuck, this girl was cute.
“C’mon, you look like you’re ready to drop.” He didn’t wait for her to follow, he knew she would.
They walked up the stairs and he made a right at the top of the hallway.
He would set her up in his guest room. The condo had two bedrooms, both with bathrooms. He used the spare as his bedroom and set up in office in the master.
It made sense since he spent most of his time working.
He had taken Stone’s old queen mattress when he moved it to his house and used it as a spare.
He rarely had guests but the bed served as a sleeping ground when he was on call.
He entered the room, flicking on the light.
He pointed to the open door inside. “Bathroom is through there. Check the drawers, I think I got an extra toothbrush.” He walked over to the bed.
It actually looked really good. Tons of throw pillows, that skirt thing that covered the box spring matched the grey and blue comforter.
It was Roxanne’s brainchild, redecorating his office.
He pulled down the sheets halfway. He hadn’t used the bed in a while but he decided to take a quick peek to make sure they looked clean.
“We’re sharing a bed?” Kenzie stood frozen in the doorway wide eyed.
A better man, a gentleman, would have calmed her fears right away. Bogs was not that man. He smoothed his hand over the sheets and lowered his eyelids. “It’s big enough for both of us, don’t ya think?” He slowly rose up and tilted his head. “You wanna share a bed?”
The look of fear and uncertainty was almost more than he could handle. It was taking all he had to not laugh at the way she was nervously shifting. Her heart must have been pounding because he could see her shirt rise and fall rapidly over her left breast.
She opened her mouth then snapped it shut. It was almost cruel how much he enjoyed watching her squirm.
“Uh…n-no.”
Bogs lips spread in a wide smile. “Are you sure? ‘Cause you kinda hesitated.”
“Yes.” She nodded.
Bogs chuckled. “Yes, you want me to share your bed or yes, you’re sure?”
He knew he was confusing her but she was too irresistible to watch stutter and stammer nervously. She straightened her shoulders. “I’m not sharing a bed with you.”
He kept his gaze locked on her. There was nothing more he’d rather do than get her into his bed.
He’d even settle for his spare. He stalked forward but refrained from smiling.
He smiled a lot, it made him appear boyish.
He knew it, he’d been told a million times by women right before they threw themselves at him.
But he wasn’t looking for Kenzie to be like all other women.
He reached the door, only a foot away from her.
“You sure?” His voice lowered in a husky gravel tone. “I’m an excellent cuddler.”
There it was again. Hesitation. Her pink tongue poked out and crossed over her pouty bottom lip.
That move sent an arousal straight to his cock.
There was nothing coy about the vibe she was sending him.
This attraction wasn’t one-sided, she wanted him.
Any other time, he’d act on it. He’d take the lead and they’d be naked in less than a minute.
But not with her. If he was going to get her underneath him, he was going to make sure the time was right.
He lifted his eyebrows, waiting on her answer. He had no doubt she’d say no but he still held out slight hope she’d give into what he knew they were both feeling.
“I’m sure.”
Bogs stared down at her. The corner of his lip curled.
Bullshit! He shrugged and winked. “Well, if you’re sure then I guess I’ll just head down to my bed.
” He leaned in, closing in over her ear.
Her breath hitched and he smiled. “Alone,” he whispered.
“Night, pretty girl.” He walked through the door and headed downstairs to lock up and set the alarm.
Kenzie might not be physically in his bed tonight but she’d be there. When he closed his eyes, there she’d be.