Chapter 16Dressed to Kill… His Ego – Kerry
Chapter 16
Dressed to Kill…
His Ego – Kerry
I can’t believe we went there full-on touching and rubbing and dry humping the shit out of each other like we were back in high school, but we did!
And now…
I think he regrets it.
Well, I don’t think.
I know .
Ugh, this sucks!
For once, my dream wasn’t a dream; it was a replay.
I went to sleep on cloud nine and woke up with emotional back pain the moment I read the note on the kitchen counter.
I was so excited to start my day with the sound of Vic’s voice through the kitchen camera.
I couldn’t wait to smile at his sarcastic greeting, which is really his subtly odd yet sexy way of flirting, but instead, I was met with a note.
Ms.
Kind,
What happened last night can NEVER happen again.
Yep, he regrets it.
So much so that he’s barely spoken to me today.
Actually, scratch that—he’s spoken to me exactly once .
And if you can call that speaking, then I should be the next Nobel Peace Prize winner for restraint, because I didn’t cuss his ass out immediately .
“I’m just calling to chat with the girls.”
Not even a hello.
Just straight to business.
“Oh, okay. They’re right here. Ari aced her math exam and—”
“Ms. Kind, please. I’d much rather speak to them.”
Rude.
Harsh.
Hurtful .
And the way he said Ms.
Kind , like I was a stranger, like last night was a fever dream he was desperate to forget, sent a hot ache through my chest.
It made me feel how I used to feel years ago.
Shameful.
Disgusting.
Unworthy.
Why do I keep doing this?
Why do I keep caring about men who are either too cruel to care about anyone but themselves or too emotionally inept to care about me the way I deserve?
I need to stop this before it breaks me.
I need to protect myself.
Because Lord knows that though I’m stronger than I used to be, it’s too damn easy to slip back into old patterns disguised as something new.
Too damn easy to mistake chemistry for care.
Too damn easy to let a man’s hot-and-cold emotions dictate how I feel about myself.
Too damn easy to lose myself again.
If Victor Grimes wants to act like last night was a mistake, then I’ll make damn sure he never gets the chance to make it again.
“That’s right, girl! Fuck his head up with this sexy dress you’re wearing! That man doesn’t even deserve to look your way.” Serena says while curling my hair.
Kiera chimes in.
“Heck, yeah! You should definitely quit, Kerry. I could’ve sworn Vic was a great guy after the Beach Bum Day Parade, but hell no! Not anymore. He practically took your virginity last night and ghosted you!”
Serena and Kiera burst into laughter, but I just roll my eyes, shaking my head at their dramatics.
“I was not a virgin,” I huff, shifting in my seat as Serena twists another section of my hair around the curling iron.
“Girl, you might as well have been!” Serena tuts, adjusting a curl.
“Cory ain’t never made your ass come! And the way you described it? The shaking, the moaning, the out-of-body experience? With barely a touch? That man snatched your soul and then had the audacity to regret it? Oh, hell no.”
Kiera tuts, pointing at me with her wine glass.
“Exactly. That’s why you’re about to step out looking like this . Give him something to regret for real.”
I smirk at my reflection, smoothing down the sleek, fitted dress hugging every curve in all the right places.
It’s deep red, and I look bold, confident, and irresistible .
The off-the-shoulder neckline teases my bare skin, while the sculpted rosettes along the hem add just the right amount of drama.
The girls put the final touches on my hair and makeup, like I’m about to step onto a runway instead of having a faux date slash business dinner with Vic .
A few minutes later, I hear a rumbling entrance through the front door.
“Grandma’s here!” Ms.
Vicky belts out, her voice booming through the house.
“Vicky’s here? I thought Hud was coming.” I shrug.
Before I can even react, Serena perks up.
“Hudson? Isn’t that the brother you were telling us about?”
I nod absently, barely paying attention, too busy bracing myself.
Kiera throws her hands in the air.
“There’s the answer to Vic’s games. Make him jealous.”
Serena snickers.
“That’ll be the ultimate get back for how he treated you.”
I firmly shake my head.
“Heck no! I’m not messy, okay? The Grimes brothers have their fair share of drama already, and I am not about to get in the middle of it. I wanna keep my job. So, my sole focus is on Syd and Ari.”
My girls relent, finally dropping the topic when we exit my room to mingle with the Grimes family.
Syd and Ari are already wrapped up in their grandmother’s arms, but the moment they spot me, their eyes immediately fix on me.
Ari gasps, her little hands flying to her mouth.
“Oh my gosh, Ms. Kind. You look so pretty for your date with Daddy!”
I nearly choke on air, her cuteness causing everyone to giggle but also completely catching me off guard.
“Oh, Ari, it isn’t a date,” I manage, clearing my throat, willing my face to cool.
“I’m just accompanying your dad to a business dinner.”
Syd, as sassy as ever, plants a hand on her hip and levels me with a knowing look.
“That doesn’t look like a business dress.”
Serena cackles, and I open my mouth to defend myself because how dare this child be so accurate but before I can, Ms.
Vicky steps in, eyes twinkling as she pulls me into a tight hug.
“What they’re saying is you look stunning, Kerry.”
I exhale, smiling against her shoulder.
At least someone is on my side.
“Oh, Kerry!” Ms.
Vicky whispers.
“There’s someone I want you to meet at the restaurant tonight.” She says cryptically.
“Uh, who, exactly?”
She hugs me again and whispers against my ear.
“I ran the background check, not Vic. I don’t know what happened that night, but I have discernment, and I want to help make things right. I told you working here will be good for you. I’ve been making a lot of friends in this town. I’m on your side, Kerry.”
The mention of my record brings me back to the reality that I’m somewhat living a lie, but I’m also trapped under my ex-husband’s hold.
Nevertheless, my attention diverts, along with everyone else’s eyes, when Victor Fucking Grimes emerges from around the corner.
My blood boils, a high-temperature mix of disdain and desire, clashing so fiercely it leaves me breathless.
He’s every bit of handsome and every bit of a fool.
He’s dressed in sharp, fitted black pants and a collared red shirt that clings to him like skin, outlining every defined muscle, every inch of strength and control he exudes without even trying.
He oozes wealth, class, and natural dominance—an intoxicating combination that makes my knees damn near buckle.
And the worst part?
He knows.
He knows exactly what he does to me.
Knows my body remembers his.
Knows my breath hitches the second our eyes lock.
He knows I’m still haunted by last night—by his touch, his mouth, the way he unraveled me with nothing but his hands and a whisper.
And he dares to look at me like this .
Like he’s sorry.
Like he regrets walking away, like his body aches to mold into mine again, to pick up where we left off, to claim what he knows is still his for the taking.
But the second he opens his mouth, my mind sobers.
The haze of lust and longing clears.
And I remember his transgressions against my heart, the way he discarded me this morning like I was nothing but a mistake to be forgotten.
Negating our surroundings, he comes to me with his heart at the forefront.
“You look—”
I raise my hand.
“I know.”
He reaches out.
“I’m really sorry.”
“I know that too.” I sharply cut him off.
My chill ices out the natural heat between us, snuffing out whatever slow-burning ember he thought he could reignite.
Though our family and friends attempt to fill the silence, laughing, chatting, and keeping things light, we remain locked in a quiet standoff.
His hands flex at his sides like he wants to pull me into his embrace and fix what he broke .
But I won’t let him.
Not this time.
So, I step back, square my shoulders, and hold my chin high.
“It’s time for us to complete number four on our syllabus: fool the public. You’re great at fooling people. Now, let’s do this.” I say, turning my back to him without a second glance.
During the car ride to the restaurant, we sit at opposite ends of the row, where an invisible wall of petty and principle keeps us apart.
I turn away from Vic, staring out the window, determined not to acknowledge his existence.
But I can feel his eyes on me.
Cold.
Burning.
Frustrated.
Gary immediately notices the tension, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror with amusement.
“Is everything okay, Mr. Grimes? You look like you’ve lost a friend.” He smirks, oh so entertained.
Before Vic can respond, I spin around, arms folded so tight I might cut off my own circulation.
“Oh no, Gary. Don’t you dare sympathize with him! He sure did lose a friend, and it’s all his wishy-washy fault.”
Gary chuckles but wisely keeps his eyes on the road.
Vic exhales heavily, dragging a hand down his face before turning toward me.
“Kerry—”
“No.” I cut him off again because, quite frankly, I’m on a roll.
“You don’t get to Kerry me right now. You get Ms. Kind at best, and even that’s generous.”
Still determined to make up for his ideocracy, he leans in, his voice low and measured.
“I felt terrible this morning, not because of last night, but because I took advantage of you. I’m your boss, and that power dynamic—” He says, so sincere, so full of remorse.
But I snap.
“Boy, I am a grown-ass, 35-year-old woman. You did not take advantage of me. I enjoyed every damn bit of what you made me feel. And the fact that you think I was too weak to make my own decision to finally experience a long-overdue orgasm is just plain insulting!”
Gary wheezes from the front seat, and I swear I feel the car slightly swerve.
Vic groans, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Kerry, that’s not—”
“No, I’m talking right now. Let me be clear, I didn’t wake up this morning crying into my pillow like some damsel in distress. You wanna know what I did do?” I pause for dramatic effect.
“I stretched.”
Vic blinks again.
“You…stretched? ”
“Yup. Because I run after two precious girls all day long, and by the end of the day, my back is in pain, but this morning, it felt incredible for the first time all summer. Hell, I might even send you a thank you card.”
Gary snorts.
Vic exhales sharply, shaking his head before running a hand over his low fade, and when he looks back at me, his expression changes.
Less guarded, more raw.
“You’re right,” he admits softly.
“I don’t think you’re weak at all.” His gaze dips, and his fingers flex.
“In fact, it’s your power that scares me.”
Catching me off guard, I tilt my head and study him.
“My power?”
His jaw clenches before he finally admits, “The power you have over me scares the shit out of me.”
My anger still simmers, but underneath it, something else crackles – a desire so thick and undeniable.
I narrow my eyes at him.
Then I turn back toward the window, tossing over my shoulder, “Good, you should be scared. Now sit there and marinate in your fear.”
With that, Gary laughs, and we sit in silence until we arrive to put on a show for the whole town to see.