Chapter 10
Brittani
Iglanced at my watch, hating to break up this spell, but I needed to. Work was calling me and I needed to get ready. I also needed a moment to collect myself because I hadn’t told anyone about my past. And yet, it just came out with this man.
And sad to say, that worried me.
Because if I could be so open and honest about a huge secret like that, it meant I could let this man in and that gave him the power to hurt me. I was also terrified because I think my heart was already diving headfirst into something that wasn’t safe. Into something that was a soft landing.
Honestly, I was worried that it was going to crash into a million pieces and it would suck a whole lot more to recover from this than my ex.
“Gotta jet?” he asked and I nodded.
“She’s off today so I have to go open up. Mail doesn’t stop, you know. Thanks for last night Keith. It was nice to see that side of you.”
“My pleasure. We’ll have to do it again.”’
“Of course.”
I gathered up my clothes, slipping them on. I turned as he jumped out of bed, still naked, not sure why I was all of a sudden embarrassed. We had already slept together a few times and I’ve seen this body. But I gave him the privacy he needed and then went downstairs.
A few minutes later, he came down, grabbed the keys to his truck, and tore off down the street.
In the rearview mirror, I saw Tim’s car coming down the street and let out a quiet breath.
So far, no one knew about us and I wasn’t sure what he wanted people to know or not know.
That wasn’t something I could approach at this moment.
Minutes later, he dropped me off at my house. I grinned as the dogs started going crazy. I opened my door, waiting a beat before turning to him. This was awkward as hell because I had no clue what to say or do.
Instead, Keith leaned over, grabbed the back of my neck and hauled me close to kiss me.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he whispered against my lips and I just nodded, knowing I couldn’t trust my voice.
Still in a daze, I climbed out of the truck and made my way into the house, hoping a longer shower would snap me out of whatever I was in.
Six hours later, I was still in a daze. Not that I couldn’t work, but I was still just not quite focusing. Too many thoughts were racing in my head and I didn’t like it.
Finally, I closed up shop, grateful to be locking up. I turned, pausing on the steps as I looked at the man who was leaning against his truck, a smile on his face.
“The shop is covered. Thought you might like to join me for a drink and dinner.”
“Yeah, I skipped dinner, so that sounds good.” I pocketed the keys then walked to him, a smile on my face.
He grabbed me by the waist and then hauled me to him for a kiss, making my head spin. I’m sure plenty saw us and I had no doubt the rumor mill would be going crazy soon enough.
I touched my lips when he finally released me and his smile at my reaction damn near took my breath away. It was not fair
He didn’t play fair.
With another grin, he helped me in the truck and drove us the whole three minutes to the bar and grill, helping me out again.
We walked into the building, his hand on my back and I felt like the whole place had just gone quiet. And why not?
No one saw Keith with a girl.
And no one saw me with a guy.
“Well, shit, this is awkward.”
“They’re staring at your hotness,” I told him, making my way to a corner table. He chuckled the whole way through the crowd made me feel far too giddy.
“Burger and beer?”
“No,” I answered, shaking my head. “But I’ll take a burger and a pina colada.”
He made a face and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“No getting drunk tomorrow, I have an all day shift tomorrow.”
I watched as he placed the order for us and then rested my arms on the table, looking at him.
“What?”
“Why did you bring me out, Keith?”
“To talk. To enjoy your company. To figure out a way to get back into your pants.”
“Know how to wine and dine a lady.” I sat back as the drinks came, taking a sip. “Speak, since you said to talk. Only way you’re going to get into my pants again.”
“You confessed about your past; guess it was time to share mine. I don’t do relationships.”
I covered up the slice of pain at his words. I mean, I didn’t do it either, but it still kind of stung to know that this would be nothing more than a fling. Because what I felt went beyond that, even though I was fighting it the best I knew how.
“I gathered. Why is that?”
“I’m a jerk, can’t you tell?”
“Sure, doesn’t mean you were born that way. In my experience, if people are jerks, it’s because they had a reason to be.”
“You weren’t one, Brittani, and you could have been.”
I swirled my straw around the drink as I nodded.
“True, but I choose not to be. So, why are you the way you are?”
He took a swig of his beer before setting it down, almost as if he had to figure out what to say. Which, I guess, would be his case given he didn’t do a lot of talking or confiding.
“I don’t believe in love. I think it’s a notion that people say but don’t really mean.
Not that it’s silly, it’s not, but I don’t think true love is real.
I’ve seen far too many relationships fall apart to believe in it.
I guess that’s made me jaded about relationships. Also has left a chip on my shoulder.”
“Huh, but not yours. Someone you saw in a relationship, but it didn’t work. Who?”
“My parents. When I was younger, rather than splitting up a ‘happy home’ they had an open marriage. That was my first view of true love.”
My jaw dropped.
I know it wasn’t right, but I just didn’t know what else to say or think. Or do.
“Don’t get me wrong, they were discreet, had to be in a place like this. But they were comfortable with that. Not too many people in the family know, but it left a horrible taste for me. Sure, I had aunts and uncles who were happy and together, but it wasn’t my normal.
“I vowed that relationships just weren’t going to happen for me. I didn’t want to find someone and have them ask me to have other partners. So, yeah, it left a pretty big chip on my shoulder.”
“Keith…that’s pretty huge. Okay, I guess that gives you a right to be dickish every now and then.”
He smiled again as he took a sip of his beer and I almost swooned. It was dangerous how sexy he was like this. Laid back, drinking, smiling, and not a complete asshole. Maybe I was wearing off on him a little?
Actually, I kind of hoped I was. Because even though neither of us did relationships, I was kind of wishing this might travel that way.