Not only was she an opportunist, but she was a cheating, lying bitch. She’d use him until there was nothing left, then leave him in ashes.
Just like she’d done with me.
He didn’t deserve that. No one did, least of all one of my best friends. And for fuck’s sake, bro code, man.
“Because he deserved it. He deserves an absolute beating. One that you would normally hand out with me.” I cleared my throat, and glanced at Remy. “Hypothetically.”
Remy tucked his thumb into his belt. “I’d beat his ass.”
“Right? Thank you.”
“Do not encourage him,” Kenny muttered.
Remy shrugged. “I clocked out twenty minutes ago. I’m just here for the entertainment at this point.”
Kenny let out a disgusted sigh.
Wyatt’s stony face finally broke. “Look man, I know. It’s not an ideal situation for any of us, but you’re going after him with no information.”
I frowned. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“No.”
“Then what the fuck?”
“I give my friends the benefit of the doubt. Same as I would with you. Bats isn’t the kind of guy to poach, even an ex. He’s a crazy motherfucker, but he’s never been disloyal.” He tapped his temple. “If you’d just think for one goddamn minute, you’d know. Jesus, Vic makes you absolutely insane.”
I clamped my hand on the back of Wyatt’s neck and steered his gaze to the pair in the corner. Vic’s face was buried in Bats’s chest. “I’m supposed to be cool with that?”
He knocked my hand away. “Why do you care so much?” he shot back.
“Excellent question,” Kennedy said softly. She nodded toward the front door. “I need to go talk to Indie.”
I hooked my finger around her pinkie. “Kenny…”
She shook me off. “Not now, Hunter.”
I tipped my head back. “And I was having such a nice Monday.”
“Dude, Mondays always suck.” Remy moved his hand to his baton. “I should probably take this out and beat you with it.”
I took a step back. “Why?”
“Because you’re railing about that princess over there, when you have a slice of perfect perfection right there.”
“This isn’t about Kenny.”
“Coulda fooled me. Seems like everything out of your mouth right now sounds like a jealous asshole.”
Was he on drugs? “No. It’s about protecting my friend.”
“Impartial witness here? Not what it looks like to me. And if that woman gave me even a hint of a green light, I’d be all over her, but evidently she’s interested in you for whatever reason.”
I clenched my fists.
“I wouldn’t,” Remy said with a big shit-eating grin. “Actually, I should tell you to take a swing. One, I can arrest you, and two, Ken would be pissed as hell and very accommodating to me in all ways.”
I took a step forward and Wyatt slapped his arm across the front of my chest. “He’s proving a point, and you are pulling every asshole card in the deck tonight.”
Jealousy was a new emotion for me. Even with all the bullshit that Vic pulled, I’d never been envious of any man she had to work with or speak to. Kenny even breathed on the cop and I was ready to get in a fight like a hothead.
I’d gotten all that drama shit out of my system in my early twenties.
Why the hell was it my default setting right now?
Remy grinned. “I’m not gonna deny that I had a thing for Kennedy. Any man with a pulse is going to look at her with more than coffee and conversation on his mind. She doesn’t look at me that way. I got over it. Simple as that.”
My shoulders relaxed.
“It was fun to get you riled up though.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I wasn’t worried.”
Remy snorted, glanced at Wyatt and grinned again. “Yeah, all right.”
Wyatt nodded. “Asshole card.”
“Fuck,” I muttered.
Remy punched my shoulder. “I’m heading out. Think you two can behave yourselves? I can only pull one favor a week, even for Ken.”
I had to resist the urge to fist my hands under my arms. She gave me such shit for calling her Kenny and this guy got to call her Ken? What the hell?
“We’ll be fine.”
“Good. Now, for the real reason I’m still standing here. As entertaining as you guys are, the only thing I care about is that woman. Hang on.”
I clenched my jaw, but resisted the urge to swing.
“We met when I was moonlighting as security for one of her clients. But here’s the thing. She’s good people. I don’t care what kind of cloud of sex you both are wearing. That’s your business.”
“Damn right it is.”
Remy’s face went blank. “But when the haze clears, just remember—if you hurt her, there isn’t a hole deep enough for you to hide in. I’ll kill you.”
Wyatt and I both went still.
Remy laughed and slapped my arm again. “Just kidding. I’ll just put a bogus warrant out on your ass.”
My eyebrows shot up.
“Man, you gotta relax. I’m only kidding. So serious in here.” He saluted us both. “Take care and stay out of trouble.”
“Did you have the feeling that maybe he wasn’t kidding?” I asked Wyatt.
“I’m fairly certain you’d end up handcuffed under the Santa Monica pier during high tide.”
I gave him a side-eye. “That’s specific.”
“Maybe a little.”
My attention zeroed in on Indie headed our way. “Oh, here we go.”
“Shit,” Wyatt said under his breath.
“One night. Can I just have one night’s peace?”
I winced. “Sorry, Indie, but—”
“No. I don’t need to hear it. You work it out with Reed. Pronto. I don’t want to know how it happens. I don’t care if it’s bare knuckles in the gym, just make sure there aren’t any more goddamn cameras involved!”
“Right.” I looked over my shoulder, but thankfully, the fans who had been hanging around after the show had been herded out sometime between my conversation with Kenny and my threat via Remy.
The cop was smart. No witnesses.
Indie pointed at Wyatt. “And you put a leash on this one.”
“I’m not his mother.”
Indie put her hands on her hips, her straw hat tipped back as she looked up at him. “Guess what? Neither am I.”
“I don’t need another mother.”
“Good. Oh, and you need to call yours. Because she caught this latest stunt on Entertainment Tonight.” She patted my chest. “Nice job.”
“Ah, fuck.” I dug out my phone. It was on silent, but sure enough there were three voicemails waiting for me. Each one labeled mom.
“Can someone help me?” Keys shouted.
Wyatt sighed as Keys righted two of his high hats. He headed to the stage, then turned around, walking backwards. “You owe me a new kick drum, asshole.”
“Yeah, yeah. Put it on my account at Smith’s.”
“Don’t think I won’t.”
“Oh, I know you will, you cheap motherfucker.” I started to follow him when I noticed Bats was gone, as well as Vic—and so was Kenny. “Dammit.”
“Where are you going?” Indie called after me.
“I gotta catch Kenny.”
“She’s gone.”
I stopped. “What do you mean gone?”
“I mean vamoose. Remy walked her to her car.”
“I bet he did,” I muttered. I headed for the exit again.
“There’s a mess here that you caused!” Indie shouted.
I stopped at the door and turned back, then met Wyatt’s gaze. He interpreted my wordless question and shook his head. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, just go.”
No way was I sticking around to see if he changed his mind. “Thanks!”
3
Kennedy
I blotted my face at the si
nk, wiping away the last of my makeup. Sammy was sitting on my vanity bench, his head between his paws.
“Don’t give me that look.”
He gave a great sigh that ended in a little whine.
“I’m home now. I didn’t leave you that long.” I ruffled his ears and gave him a thorough scratch before kissing his forehead. I swapped out my dress for an ancient sweatshirt and pair of boxer shorts.
Sammy followed me out of the bathroom, through my bedroom, living room, and to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and stared. Leftovers, a brick of cheese, and a bottle of wine.
“This sucks.”
Sammy whined again.
I grabbed the cheese and the bottle of Shiraz. Damn Carter for being so efficient. Groceries were beyond his scope, but he always managed to provide the wine.
I brought the bottle to the kitchen island and opened it, then poured it into a huge glass and took a swig. I broke off a hunk of the cheese and flipped a piece to my dog and munched on the other half. I didn’t even bother with a knife.
That was the level that I’d sunk to.
I took another gulp of the wine and wandered into the living room. I curled into the corner of my couch and Sammy jumped up next to me, dropping his head into my lap. “So, are we back to Supernatural on Netflix?”
He looked up at me with his big brown eyes.
“Dean therapy? Or should we go with Damon?”
Sammy barked.
I turned on the television, clicked off the light, and opened Netflix on my smart TV menu. “Yeah, fuck romance. Let’s go for murder.”
Halfway through the Bloody Mary episode, the damn doorbell rang. I was scrunched down, pillow up to my chin, second glass of wine flowing through my veins. Sammy leaped off the couch, back fur up as he spazzed out at the door.
Not too many people came to my house unannounced, and I sure as shit wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. “Go away. I don’t want any Girl Scout cookies.”
“Come on, Kenny. Open the door.”
“I especially don’t want any of your cookies.” I turned up the volume. Sammy kept barking and his namesake was blaring out of my surround sound speakers.
“I just want to talk for a second.”
I didn’t answer him. Because I knew that I was weak and would listen to him sweet talk me about the entire situation and then my boxers would fall off because I missed his face. I missed his skin. I missed his heavy arm over me in the deep, dark part of the night.
I had enough wine in me, minus any real food beyond a very small hunk of cheese, thank you very much, that I would definitely do something stupid.
Even though I was hurt way more than I should be about his reaction to another woman. I didn’t have any hold over him. And each of us had a past, but the way he talked about Victoria—the way he reacted about anything having to do with her?
Nope.
It made my stomach hurt. And I didn’t need any of that in my life.
I was doing just fine before he fed me that stupid pasta and lured me in with a sexy dimple. I was a strong, independent woman who didn’t need that kind of drama.
Orgasms were all well and fine—okay, so they were pretty fabulous, but I’d lived without them before Hunter. I could officially put one-night-stand on my bucket list, too. One and done, the rest was too much trouble.
Sammy whined and laid in front of the door.
Had Hunter left?
I pressed pause and stood up. Hunter slapped his palm against the door then another thud. Was that his head?
“Hunter?”
“Still here. What the hell are you watching?”
“None of your business.”
“Can I just talk to you for a second? Then I’ll go if you want.”
I stood in front of the door. “No, I want you to go now. I’m in my pajamas.” I pressed my palm to the cool surface. “I’m tired, and I’ve heard enough excuses for one day. Actually, enough forever.”
He sighed. “I get it. I fucked up. I more than fucked up, but I can’t make it up to you if I have to shout through your door.”
“What, so you can kiss me and distract me?”
“We can talk.”
I pressed my forehead to the door beside my hand. “Yeah, that’s what we do.”
“It’s not just sex, dammit. You know that.”
I swung the door open. “No, I don’t. It’s only been a week, and all we do is have sex or I clean up after a disaster. These are not the building blocks of a good relationship.”
He reached for me, and I stepped back. Sammy yipped and scampered out from under me. I stumbled and Hunter wrapped his arms around me before I could fall on my ass.
“Careful, Kenny.” He pulled me in closer and pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry.”
I knew it. Just had to be in the room. I could already feel all my girl parts fluttering and flooding. His fingers skimmed under my sweatshirt and up my back.
He smelled so good and was so warm. And I’d had just enough wine. Did I mention I missed his skin? No one had ever touched me like Hunter. Gentle in ways I didn’t really understand, or know how to react to.
Greed and want always superseded the soft and sweet where he was concerned. I couldn’t just enjoy, I was always racing to feel more.
His fingers traced my sides and ribcage in little circles as he made his way forward. I groaned as he teased the heavy curve of my breasts, dragging the backs of his knuckles over my nipples. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“For what?”
He brushed his thumb over my nipple. “For whatever it was I did.”
I pushed him away. My skin was alive, but no match for the crackle of anger that resurfaced. “That was not the right answer.”
He reached for me again. “I was a jerk. I started shit with Bats again.”
“Yes, you did. But do you realize why I’m pissed?”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Tell me and I can fix it.”
“And that’s why I’m pissed.” How could he not know just what a jackass he was?
“You don’t make any sense.”
“And why did you have to hit Reed?”
“Because he’s going to ruin everything.”
“Ruin what?” I didn’t understand why he was so off the deep end about Vic. There had to be something more there. He had to feel something more for her. And I wouldn’t come in second to anyone. Ever.
I watched my mother do that for years. Come second.
Every single time.
Sammy whined and crawled his way across the hardwood floor to Hunter. He crouched down and rubbed his ears. “It’s okay, boy. We’re not really fighting.”
“Yes, we are.” I snapped my fingers at Sammy and he immediately came to my side. He practically vibrated beside me because he wanted to go back to Hunter, but he stayed right where he was supposed to.
At least one man in my life followed directions.
“It’s not about you, or about us.” He rubbed his hands down his thighs before standing up once more. “It wasn’t one of my finer moments, but I’m worried about Bats. Vic is bad news. She’s a user, and a master manipulator. I don’t want to see him go down the same road I did.”
I clutched my fingers together under the cuffs of my sweatshirt. “Or is it that you don’t want him to be with her?”
“Of course, I don’t want him with her.”
I pressed my lips together. Of course he didn’t. Because he really wanted her. It was obvious to everyone—and Victoria was playing it up. And I looked like a jerk.
He stepped toward me and I put my hands up. “No way.”
“Would you go out with your best friend’s ex?”
“No, of course not.” I tucked each arm into the other sleeve until they were banded across my midriff.
“Then you see my point.”
“Obviously you have some unresolved issues with Victoria.”
His eyebrows snapped together. “No, she’s a gold-dig
ging, fame-starved, cheating bitch.”
“That’s his problem, not yours.”
“What?” His brows snapped down.
I lifted my chin. “From where I’m standing, it sounds more like you’re jealous.”
“Are you nuts?”
I hugged myself tighter. “Obviously.” I swallowed down the lump in my throat.
“Kenny, I didn’t mean that.” He stepped forward.
“No.”
Sammy whined, but there was an underlying growl to it.
Hunter laced his fingers behind his head, his shoulders huge and so stiff. “I’m not interested in anyone except you. Period. You gotta believe that.”
“How am I supposed to believe that when every time that woman is involved you act like a lunatic?” He opened his mouth and I shook my head. “No. I don’t want to be with someone like that.”
His gray eyes were so lost.
Did he really not see it?
“It’s okay, Hunter. I get it. You have history with her. You almost married her. It’s just obvious you either still want her, or you’re not over her.”
“How can you say that after this week?”
I was pretty sure everything inside me was going to break apart. And that was just a week with him. There was no way I could survive if I got in any deeper. I swallowed down the tears that wanted to come.
Damn wine. It made everything so much bigger. Hunter made everything feel so big. Too big.
“It was just chemistry. Forced proximity.” I was grasping, I knew I was. Because I did want to reach out and let him hold me. I knew it was more. I knew it could be everything.
“No. I know what chemistry is. That’s not all that’s between us.”
“Then why does Victoria blow up in our faces every time she’s around? You literally go off the deep end and get arrested. The only reason you’re not in lockup again is because of Remy.”
“Remy who has a thing for you,” he shouted back.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
“So, you know he does?”
“We’re just friends. We’ve always just been friends. That’s the difference. Remy may have wanted to be more than friends, but I didn’t. And he accepted that. We’re much better friends.”
Manaconda 2: The Second Coming: A Rock Star Romantic Comedy Series Page 2
