by Penny Wylder
“That’s good news. So let's go get him.”
“What? No, I can't do that.”
“Why not?”
“As much as I'd love to, my dad would never go for it. He doesn't allow pets in his rentals. You know that.”
“So? Who's going to tell him?”
“I'm trying to do this right, Kent, and that means following his rules, especially the ones he has set for his properties. I really don't want to mess this up.”
Kent smiles, taking a small step toward me and running his thumb across my bottom lip. “Rules are meant to be broken, Perri. I think we've proven that already.” He nods, and pulls his keys from his pocket, tossing them up in the air and catching them. “Let's go. Point me in the right direction.”
I stand quietly, trying to decide what side of this dangerous line I want to land on. I can do what I want. It’s my choice if I want to break the rules and ignore the fences my father's placed around me. I can choose to risk everything I've been working for. Everything that I’d been hoping for.
Or I can be his good soldier. Follow the orders and hope eventually he’ll reward me with a little respect and some responsibility.
“You coming?” he asks as he pulls open my door for me.
“Yeah,” I say, dropping into the seat.
Kent climbs in next to me and starts the car. He sits quietly as we drive out of the parking lot. I'm looking out the window, trying to understand what Kent's doing, what I'm feeling, and where the hell this is going.
“So are you going to give me the address? Your kitten is waiting for you.” he says.
I'm torn, and I feel like I’m being shred to pieces inside. The feelings this man drives into my body are incredible, it's like nothing I've ever felt before. But the fear of ruining this opportunity with my father is fighting back. I know right from wrong, I know the expectations placed at my feet. How can I just abandon my plans? Abandon my strategy for finally getting a foothold in my dad’s company and earning his trust.
But I also know what I want, and it's sitting right beside me. It’s light and easy. It makes me feel good. Sitting beside Kent, I don’t feel like I have anything to prove.
The weight of his hand falls on mine, and he braids our fingers together. Flicking my eyes in his direction, he squeezes my hand again, and smiles as he keeps staring out the windshield. I give him the address to the vet’s office.
“So,” he says, “what do you think about Poseidon?”
“Poseidon?”
“Yeah, for the cat. It’s the perfect name for a cat you found by the sea.”
What is going on here? This is so confusing!
“Kent, look, I'm not sure what you're trying to do, but it needs to stop.”
“What I'm trying to do?” he repeats it as a question and half laughs as he says it. “I'm trying to help you, that's what I'm doing.”
“I think you're trying to get me fired. I think you’re trying to screw up my chance to work for my dad.”
He chuckles as he releases my hand and turns the wheel. “We're here.”
Looking out the window, we're at the veterinary clinic. “No, Kent, I can't—”
Cutting me off, he says, “If he finds out, I'll tell him the cat is mine.” His eyes connect with mine and he opens his lids wide. “It won't fall back on you at all, I won't let it. You have nothing to lose.”
“You would do that?”
“Why not? What's going to happen? He makes me move out? Come on, Perri, there are worse things in life than your father getting pissed.”
He isn't worried at all about any repercussions. I admire that about him. His fearlessness is hot as hell. There's something about a man who isn't afraid to take control, a man who does what feels good in the moment.
Kent climbs out, and I reluctantly follow his lead. I'm hesitant, but also really excited. This kitten stole my heart the second I found him, I'm not sure how I'm going to leave without him when I lay eyes on his sweet face again.
He waits for me at the front of the car and reaches for my hand. I take his without a second thought. I love the way my hand feels in his. It sends a rush of electricity zipping up my arm and through my chest.
He flicks his eyes down the second our hands touch, and I think he feels it too. There's a moment, a single second where his eyes are boring into mine, and I just know the same shock hit his system.
Kent's lips thin, and I watch him inhale a slow, deep breath. Lifting my hand to his mouth, he kisses the back of my palm and starts to walk.
We go into the building, and the vet tech brings out the kitten. Instantly I smile as he places him in my arms. The tiny little fur ball looks up and meows at me. His voice is so soft and high pitched it fills my heart.
“Aw,” I say, drawing out the word as I scratch him on the head.
“He is really cute,” Kent says, reaching over and scratching him too.
“He really is, isn't he?”
“We'll take him,” he says to the vet tech.
“Kent, wait, we really should—”
“Take him home,” he says, cutting me off. Winking, he pulls out his wallet. “How much is the total bill?” He walks up to the desk and pays before I have a minute to protest.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say. “They already had my card on file, and I’m not even sure this is a good idea.”
“Do you want the cat?”
“Yeah, I want the cat, but—”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes, I'm happy, I'm very happy, but I—”
“That's all I want. I want to see you happy.” He tucks his wallet back in his pocket and kisses me on the forehead. “Seeing you happy means the world to me. So please consider this a gift.”
As I settle in the front seat with the warm little kitten in my lap, I feel it. Total happiness. “Thank you, Kent,” I say as he gets behind the wheel. “I love him.”
We drive back to the house talking about the kitten, and marveling over his tiny little paws and sweet orange coat. The closer we get to the house the cloudier the sky becomes, and as we pull into the driveway, the sky is super dark over the water. I hear low rumbles of thunder in the distance.
“We're really supposed to get hit hard with this storm,” I say, heading to look out the glass doors as we get inside. “I hope we don't have to evacuate.”
I can see from here that the waves are huge, building into white caps as they topple over and spill onto the beach. The wind is beginning to whip the palm trees back and forth as the thick and heavy clouds roll in.
Kent comes up behind me and lowers a glass of wine down in front of my face. “I guess we'll have to find something to do if we lose power.” He winks and stands next to me. “How's Poseidon?”
“No, that's not his name. That reminds of a grumpy, old God, not a cute little kitten.”
“All right, what are you thinking?” he asks, sipping from his glass.
“Blaze.”
“Blaze?” he asks, talking into his glass.
“Yeah, he looks like a Blaze, with his orange fur and dark red stripes, it fits him perfectly.” Moving to the couch, I lay him down on the pillow. He curls into a half ball, then stretches his arms up over his head as he falls asleep.
“Blaze it is.” He tips his glass, saluting the small kitten. His phone rings, and my heart sinks. Kent pulls it out and looks at the screen. “Sorry, I’ve got to take this.” He gives me an awkward half grin and steps out on the back patio.
Sliding the glass doors closed behind him, I watch him as he walks further away and peeks back at me over his shoulder.
I don't like this. I don't like these secret conversations. There's no reason for it, unless he. . .
Has another girlfriend. . . No, he’s not cheating.
We've spent every day together since he moved in, it's not another woman.
So what is it?
Tapping my finger against the glass, my brain struggles to come up with a solid reason.
&nb
sp; Holy shit. It hits me like a ton of bricks. He's probably reporting all of this back to my father.
It all makes sense. His insisting that I do things I shouldn't. Enticing me to break the rules. He's manipulating me to give my father reasons to fire me.
How could I be so blind? I'm so stupid!
“Here comes the rain,” he says as he comes back inside. A huge gust of wind almost blows in behind him, making the curtains fly out, and some loose papers scatter across the floor.
The rain is coming down in sheets, and thunder is booming closer and more often, each one louder than the last. Walking to his side, we both stare out as the rain pounds the back patio and causes ripples in the pool. The tide is rising, and the waves seem to be crashing even closer to the house.
My body jolts as a giant bolt of lightning crackles across the sky. Kent laughs. “Don't worry. I'll keep you safe from the storm.”
I smile, but my smile is less happy and more sarcastic. “Oh yeah, is that right?” I know there's a tone to my voice, and I don't really care. “Keep me safe the same way you're trying to take me down?”
I caught him. I figured him out. His little game is over.
Kent flicks his eyes in my direction and raises a brow. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Don't pretend like you don't know. I know what you're doing, I can see it clear as day now. I was so damn stupid, I really was.”
“Perri, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about right now.” He tries to reach for my hand, but I pull away quickly. “What has gotten into you?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.
“Me?” I ask, laughing loudly as I roll my eyes. “What has gotten into me?” Leaning forward, I point up at his face. “Don't act like you're innocent. I know what you've been doing, and I'll never forgive you for it.”
“Perri, I honestly have no idea what you think I’ve done.” His brows dip in, lips turning down. “Can you just tell me what you mean? Talk to me.”
“You still want to stand here and act like you don't know? As if you and my father didn't hatch this little plan together? Everything that's happened, all of this,” I snap, flipping my finger between us, “it was a god damn show.”
“What?” he balks, setting his glass down on the coffee table, and attempting to grab both of my wrists. “Per—”
“Don't touch me,” I demand, throwing up both my arms and taking a long step back. “You make me sick. You seduced me, you led me on, you let me believe you actually cared about me. . .” Pausing, I shake my head. “I thought you actually liked me, but all you wanted to do was get me in the palm of your hand to manipulate me.”
“I do like you.” His voice deepens as his expression hardens. “Why would you ever think I faked all of this just to set you up? For what?”
“Who just called you?”
“It was only a business call, that's it.”
“Business call, yeah, right. And what about at the grocery store? Was that business too?”
“Perri, I don't—”
“Was it my father?” I snap, not letting him finish.
“What? No.” He shakes his head, his eyes huge.
“Bullshit, Kent. I need you to be honest with me. Who called you tonight? It had to be someone you didn't want me to hear you talking with. So, who the hell was it?”
“Perri, come on, this is crazy.” Kent laughs nervously as he rakes a hand through his hair. “You're being paranoid.”
“No, Kent, crazy is me thinking any of this was real.” My nails drag through my hair, pulling it tight against my scalp.
“It is real, Perri, that's what I'm trying to tell you.”
“Then tell me who called you. Was it my father?”
“Perri—”
“Forget it,” I say, waving the white flag. I don't want his answer anymore. “I'm not sticking around for this shit. I won't put myself through this if you're not willing to be honest with me.” Tears stream down my cheeks, falling to the floor. I'm not even trying to stop them, because I don't care. Let him see what he's making me feel because I don't think he even cares at this point. “You're such a dick.”
“You're reading this all wrong, Perri. I don't know what else you want me to say.”
“Don't worry, you said plenty already without saying a word. I don't need anything else from you.” Crossing my arms protectively around my chest, my pupils turn to pinpricks. “I can't believe I fell for this to begin with. I really am stupid.”
“What kind of person do you think I am, Perri? Do you think I'm doing this to hurt you? What you're saying isn't fair, and it's not right. I just need you to trust me when I say the phone calls were nothing.”
“Trust you? How do you expect me to build trust with you when you can't even tell me the truth? You build trust by being honest, and obviously you have an issue with being honest. You hurt me, Kent. I thought we were growing toward something, but I guess I was wrong.”
“I'm not this person you're making me out to be, Perri. I'm not an asshole! I don't know why you're trying to make me out to be some bad guy. What is it you see in me exactly?”
“You know what I see?” I ask, taking a firm step forward. “I see a damn coward. I see a man who wants to act tough, who talks about honesty, but doesn't even know the meaning of the word. I see a liar.” Gritting my teeth, the words seethe out of my mouth.
“Well, want to know what I see. . .” he says, throwing a finger in my face. “I see a weak, little girl who's still afraid of her daddy.” He matches me with a step of his own. “Why don't you decide something for yourself for once, and not rely on the nod of approval from your father? Stand up for yourself, you're an adult, so act like an adult. Stop letting him walk all over you. Grow up!”
The tears fall faster and faster as my body erupts in anger. I'm shaking. My hands are vibrating, my breathing is quick gasps of air. I want to jump on him and tear his throat out.
Who the hell does he think he is?
I'm not here to be belittled by someone. I didn't come here to have him make me feel small and unimportant. This isn't about my father, this is about us. A relationship that I thought was turning into something just to watch it blow up in my face today.
“You have no right to talk to me this way.”
“I'm sorry, but I have every right to defend myself, especially if you're going to be accusing me of this shit!”
“Accusing you? You had two phone calls, two! But you won't tell me who it was.” Holding up two fingers, I bare my teeth. “Then you run off and hide like the coward you are!”
“Why does that matter?” Kent's jaw clicks as he rocks it back and forth. “Did you ever stop to think that maybe it's none of your business? Can you just open your eyes and see that I'm not doing anything wrong? I'm a grown man, Perri. I won't do this childish back and forth game with you. I don't have time for this shit.”
“You know what? You're right. I don't have time for this shit either.” My lips purse up tight as the tears fall easily and freely. “You're not the man I thought you were. I fell for the man you were pretending to be, not this person I'm seeing right now.”
“Fine, if you feel that way, then go, get the hell out of here!” he yells loudly, his baritone voice making the walls vibrate. “Get the hell out then, Perri! Why are you still standing here at all?”
My heart breaks into a million tiny pieces. I ache everywhere. My head, my chest, my stomach, I've never felt so much pain.
“Fine, I'll leave.”
“Good, go.”
Storming past him, I tear open the sliding glass doors and yell, “Screw you!”
I'm not going to take this from him. He's the back stabber, he's the one keeping secrets, not me, I'm not the one doing that. It's insane.
I slept with the enemy.
Tearing off down through the sand, I walk with no real destination in mind. All I want is to be as far away from that man as possible. He pissed me off, and I want to slug him.
And
yet, he's sexy as hell, with all the right moves, the right touch, the right everything.
No! He's an asshole!
But it doesn't matter how much I might want to forget all about him, and all of the hot sex, and the sweet moments we shared; because I know it won't work.
Kent has somehow found his way into every pore, vein, and muscle of my body. I can feel him everywhere, all over me.
My feet make dents in the sand as I pound my way down the beach. The wind is ripping across the water, and the waves are crashing like a damn earthquake as they slam against the sand.
I keep going, with no destination, no plan, and no clue as to what I'm doing. I'm running on emotions alone. And anger. But I'm not going back, I don't want to see him or his stupid face again.
He betrayed me. He betrayed me just to help my father prove he's right. I don't even need him to tell me to know it's the truth.
I'm done playing these damn games with both of them.
8
Kent
Looking out into the darkness, I see the waves exploding against the beach. But I don't see her. I thought she would have been back by now, but she isn't.
I'm starting to worry. She left about an hour ago, and I just assumed she was going for a quick walk to cool off. Except she never came back, and she's not answering my calls.
Standing on the back patio, the wind blows my hair into my eyes, so I have to shove it away to see. The storm is here, the sky is angry as it rains hard, and the wind screams across the water. My stomach is in my throat as I step off the patio and onto the sand, looking side to side.
Where the hell is she?
I can barely see straight as my heart starts to race. This is all my fault. I did this. I sent her out into a tropical storm, and for what? Because I'm a damn fool? Because I'm too stubborn to just tell her the truth?
