13 #3
He put PB on her feet, lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe his face, and then leaned in for a soft smooch. “Get used to it,
baby. PB is a lovebug.”
“When she’s not being protective?”
“It’s a great quality in a dog, even in one so small.” He kissed her again. “It’s been a hell of a day, and I have a lot to
tell you, so how about we head in?” With his arm around her back, he led her along.
“I have a few things to tell you, too.” She started with how Glenda had climbed the fence, wrapping up with what a wonderful
neighbor she turned out to be.
“I wish I’d seen that.” Inside, he insisted on making them both sandwiches for dinner, and she insisted on sitting at the
table again. “I’m glad you’ll have someone nearby, just in case anything happens.”
“Not that I’ll rely on a seventy-five-year-old woman.”
“Hey, she’s close enough to lend a hand until I can get here—or Tanner, Callie, or Addie.”
“Addie’s only a few years younger than Glenda.”
He paused with a pickle chip almost to his mouth. “Damn, that’s right.” The reminder turned him solemn. “I forget—or maybe
I just don’t like to think about her getting older.”
“She always seems younger because she’s so active. Other than her feet hurting at Callie’s wedding, she never complains.”
“Compared to Liz, who complains a lot.”
“Usually at me.”
He grinned with her. “Now I better understand, but at the wedding, it was making me nuts how she kept nitpicking at you.”
“It’s her way of giving me attention, I think.” Since her accident, she’d reevaluated many things. “She’s been so different
lately. Really thoughtful.”
“She loves you,” Kam said simply. “She looked ready to lose it when she saw all your bruises.”
Yes, she had. “Unlike Addie, she’s not great at coddling, so she offers to bring me makeup to cover the bruises, or a stylist
to fix my hair.” It amused her to see Kam’s frown. He looked as fierce as PB. “She also picked out comfortable clothes for
me, and you know she’s offered me everything from a recliner to a new car.”
“The car,” he said, shaking his head. “Can’t believe you turned that down.”
Glory wrinkled her nose. “Leased through the company, so it’d basically be hers, and I know she’d pick something classic in
black.”
“I take it that’s not your style?”
“Mostly I just want to handle it myself. I have insurance; the car was totaled. It’ll be fun—once I’m ready—to go car shopping.”
That’d be well over a month from now, but still. “I hope you’ll go with me,” she added.
“I’d love to.”
Did that mean he was thinking long-term, too? Before she made her grand confession, she wanted to understand what had kept
him away. Glory ate one last potato chip, drank the rest of her lemonade, and met his gaze. “Now that we’ve covered all the
small talk, you said you had things to tell me?”
“I do, but I’m going to make it brief, okay? Once I put these dishes away, I need a long shower, and then, lady, I want to
cuddle on the couch with you.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Then I’ll start with Kirby and finish up with Shara.” He told her how he’d seen Liam and Kirby talking, how he’d known something
was wrong, and about the confession Kirby had made.
Once he got started, Glory could only listen in dismay. Good God, she’d brought so much trouble to this wonderful little town,
all because she’d accepted a few dates with Mike.
He said, “I felt pretty certain you’d understand.”
“Poor Kirby.” Yes, she understood. Mike was even viler than she’d realized. “Will you and Tanner be able to help him?”
With a slow smile, Kam stared at her. “Somehow, I knew . . .” He left his seat and came around to her chair, bending to kiss
her forehead, her temple, the side of her neck. “You always lead with your heart, don’t you?”
Right now, her heart was pounding. “You haven’t gotten to the part about Shara, yet.”
“I was so pissed at her earlier, but now, here with you . . .” He sighed. “Shara is in it up to her neck.” Pulling out the
chair right beside her and taking her hand, Kam went through the mess blow by blow.
If she’d thought things were complicated with Kirby, Shara’s involvement was worse.
Glenda had suggested she should tell Kam how she felt, but how could she do that now? There was far too much going on without
her also throwing out declarations of love.
His fingertips touched her chin and guided her face around so he could see her eyes. “Babe, we’re going to handle this, okay?”
What could she do but nod?
“You don’t look like you believe me.”
“I’m worried. I feel terrible for Kirby, and I feel bad for Shara—even though she tried to steal you away.”
Kam’s smile went crooked. “Her attempts were doomed to failure. I’m still here with you.”
Because she was a mess, and he was the kind of man who always wanted to help? Or because he loved her a little, too?
“You’re looking at me funny.” Kam stole a soft kiss. “You know Shara is just a friend now, right?”
A friend who wanted to sleep with him, but she trusted Kam. Shara, not so much. How could anyone resist him? Even now, with
numerous aches and a heavy dose of worry, she wanted him. Pretty sure she’d always want him.
Lightly, Kam eased her hair behind her shoulders. “I want you to get in the habit of opening up to me. Can you do that?”
“Maybe.”
“So tell me what you’re thinking, and then I can reassure you.”
Fine. He wanted the truth? She notched her chin higher. “I look at you and pornos play in my head.”
After a second of surprise, that slow sexy smile of his widened. “Have you ever seen a porno?”
“Only one.” Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she gave him the truth, anyway. “Callie found some racy stuff and showed me. We
huddled together and watched the whole thing.”
“The whole thing?” His brows lifted. “How long was it?”
In a hushed whisper, she admitted, “Three minutes.” It still embarrassed her to remember how silent she and Callie had been
while viewing it.
“Three whole minutes?” he mocked in a scandalized whisper. Then with a snicker, “Did you enjoy it?”
“No.” Her lips twitched. “But when it ended, we laughed like loons.”
He chuckled just hearing about it. That woke PB and she immediately raced over to him, her tail swinging, her soft ears bouncing.
Glory watched jealously as Kam lifted the dog to his lap, stroked her back, and gave her a kiss on top of her head. She’d
been right to have her dog come home. Everyone who met PB loved her.
“Maybe we can watch one together sometime.”
“One what?”
“Porno.”
Eyes flaring, Glory felt a new wave of heat crawl up her neck. “No.”
“Then maybe, once you’re up for it, I’ll just show you a few things I’ve seen.”
Now that had promise. In fact, her heart pumped a little harder.
And suddenly, without giving her mouth permission, before her thoughts could even weigh in, she heard herself state, “I love
you, Kam.”
They stared at each other, his eyes widening, hers holding steady despite her misgivings.
Painful seconds ticked by before he whispered, “Say it again.”
Surprised satisfaction, maybe a hint of desperate disbelief showed on his face, but no alarm or uneasiness. In fact, his green
eyes now looked incandescent with heated emotion.
Throat dry and pulse racing, Glory said, “I love you. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you, and I know it’s not what you
want, but—”
The press of his mouth on hers cut off her explanation.
Then she got a swipe of PB’s tongue.
Laughing, Kam apologized and set the dog back on the floor with a few pets and an apologetic, “Sorry, girl, but this is serious
stuff. Let’s get you a quick treat, okay?”
PB turned an excited circle, then followed Kam when he went into the kitchen.
Glory sat there, very unsure of herself, listening to Kam’s low murmur to the dog until he got her settled. She heard his steady footsteps returning. Should she take it back? Apologize for blurting it out like that?
With a glowing smile, Kam returned. For a moment, he just looked at her, his expression pleasantly bemused. “Let’s get you
comfortable.”
“I’m fine,” she objected. More than physical comfort, she needed to know how he felt about her declaration.
“Easy now.” Continuing to smile at her, he helped her to her feet, kissed her again, and then got her moving. “I have a million
things to say. I just need to collect my thoughts. No, Glory, don’t frown.” Another kiss, and then one more.
Soon as his lips left her, she stated, “I’ll frown if I want to.”
“Sure you will.” This time, he kissed her temple. “That’s okay.”
Did he have to look so pleased with himself? If it wasn’t bound to hurt her, she’d have elbowed him. Hard. “I’m going to the
bathroom. You have five minutes to . . . do whatever it is you need to do.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be ready.” The smile brightened to a grin. In fact, he gave a short laugh. “Need any help?”
Shooting him a deadly glare didn’t faze him. Having no idea what to make of that, she slowly made her way down the hall. “I’m
going to brush my teeth, too, then yes, you can help me change into my sleep shirt.” Irked by his smug happiness, she added,
“It’s been a long day. I might just turn in early.”
Kam stood there in the hallway, watching her. Right before she would have shut the bathroom door, he said, “Glory?”
She looked at him.
“I want to do this right.” Running a hand over the top of his head, he laughed again. “Just give me a few minutes, okay?”
Do what right? Reject her? Leave her? Confess his own love? “Sure. Take all the time you need.” She closed the door with a resounding
click, but she still heard his laugh. He sounded happy, damn it, and she had no idea what it meant.
Laughter wasn’t the reaction she’d expected. But then, everything with Kam had been different. Unique. Special.
She sure hoped he made good use of those minutes.