Road to Victory (Dogs of Fire Book 5) (10 page)

BOOK: Road to Victory (Dogs of Fire Book 5)
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“Yeah?”

“Yes! God, I’m not incompetent. I might pay someone to do it for me, but I know how, and do it when I’m here!”

“Kim,” he whispered, trying not to laugh.

Her face reddened and she squared her shoulders. “Just get out of the way, Knight. I’ll take care of it.”

“I’ll do it. Where’s the tack room?”

“In the back.”

He started toward it, but she pulled him back.

“What are you really doing here, Aidan?”

Knight felt his jeans get tight. They always did when she spoke his real name. Didn’t happen often, but when it did, he felt it all the way to his dick. “Lookin’ at a horse.”

“Really?” She rolled her eyes. “Want a big ol’ quarter horse who won’t give you grief?”

“Not to buy, sugar.” He chuckled. “Doc wanted me to check out a mare who’d gone lame. I graduate in three weeks and it was my last intern assignment.”

“Oh. Well, it’s none of my business. Um, thanks for taking care of Fozzie. Sorry for swearing at you.” She forced a smile. “I should get him sorted.”

“Hey,” he said, sliding his hand to her neck. “Let me clean the stall first.” She blinked back tears and Knight cocked his head. “You okay?”

She shook her head and did a face plant into his chest. She didn’t speak, she didn’t move, other than her body shaking uncontrollably as she silently cried. Knight stood still, his hand still at her neck, his thumb stroking her pulse as he waited for her to work out whatever she needed to work out.

After a few minutes, her body relaxed and he gave her neck a squeeze. “This got somethin’ to do with that man who was here earlier? Who is he?” he asked.

She shook her head as she stepped back, breaking their connection but still not meeting his eyes. “Sorry I... um, I really should get going. I have to work tonight.”

“Kim?”

Her eyes flew to his, then away just as quickly.

“Hey,” he pressed. “Look at me.”

She did, but her expression was guarded again. “It’s cool, Knight. Thanks for your help. I’ll take care of the stall.”

He studied her for a second, but decided to let her have her secrets... for the moment. “
I’ll
take care of the stall, sugar.”

“Okay.”

Knight made quick work of the stall, threw down some shavings, and Kim guided Fozzie back inside. After giving him a flake of alfalfa, she stepped out of his stall and glanced warily at Knight.

“We’re goin’ out,” he said.

“We are?”

“Yeah.”

“When?”

“Now. You and I are gonna talk. Done with this cat and mouse shit, Kim. It’s time we have a come to Jesus meeting.”

“I have to work later and right now I’m a mess, Knight.”

“Don’t give a shit. You don’t get to run anymore. It’s you and me, babe, and it’s now.”

She threw her hands up in the air. “There
is
no you and me.”

Knight wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, covering her mouth with his, the intention to prove the connection between them. What happened instead felt like a total and complete punch to his gut. Fuck, he was totally gone for her.

Kim looped her hands around his neck and opened her mouth for him, her tongue sliding against his as she wove her fingers into his hair. Her body melted into his and it took all the strength in the world not to fuck her against the barn wall. When she let out a quiet “mew,” he forced himself to break the kiss. If he didn’t, he’d fuck her on the floor of the barn. “Shit.”

She dropped her cheek to his chest. “I... ah... wasn’t expecting that.”

“Me neither.” He sighed, giving her a gentle squeeze. “Where are we going?”

“I can’t, Aidan,” she whispered.

“Yeah, sugar, you can. We can go back to your place or out, don’t matter to me, but we’re gonna talk.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m done waiting.”

“For what?”

“For you.”

She shoved away from him. “Excuse me?”

He grinned which seemed to piss her off, which in turn, fuckin’ turned him on. “I don’t stutter.”

“Ohmigod, you’re delusional,” she declared, and walked away. He followed. She made it to her car and hit the key fob before turning to face him. “I have to work tonight.”

“What time?”

“Ten.”

He checked his watch. It was almost noon. “Your place, then.”

She bit her lip and studied him. “This isn’t a good idea.”

“Gonna happen, babe. Wrap your head around it.”

“The one I have up my ass?” She crossed her arms. “Not a whole lotta room up there, Knight.”

He smiled, sliding his hand to her neck. “Maybe that was a little harsh on my part... I just needed you to relax a bit and see something from a different point of view.”

She stiffened. “So, speaking to me like some low-brow bitch was your way of getting me to relax?”

“Sugar, you’re not chasing me away and you’re not running, so lean in.”

“This will
never
work.”

“We’re gonna make it work,” he said.

“You’re like a fetus, Knight... it’s impossible.”

He couldn’t help his laugh as he leaned forward and kissed her again. “Fuck me, Kimmie, you’re adorable.”

“I wasn’t trying to be adorable.”

“I’m on my bike.” He nodded toward his Harley parked two down from her car. “I’ll follow you.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, Knight.”

He grinned. “You love it.”

Kim shook her head and climbed into her car, pulling slowly away from the barn.

 

 

Kim

I
PULLED INTO my garage and drove down to my parking space. There was a guest spot open directly across from mine and I silently cursed the parking gods for not making the lot totally full so Knight would have to leave.

The roar of Knight’s Harley echoed in the cavernous space, and I shivered. Damn it if I wasn’t wet just by the sight of him in my rearview mirror on that stupid bike. Shit!

I turned off my car and dropped my head to the steering wheel, hoping if I didn’t look up, he’d disappear. Unfortunately, an annoying knock came at my window and when I looked at him, he was grinning like an idiot. I grabbed my keys and climbed out of the car.

“Pop your trunk,” he said. I did and he grabbed my stuff, throwing it over a shoulder before closing the trunk again. “After you, sugar.”

I fought back the desire to stomp my foot and walked as calmly as I could to the elevator bay. We rode in silence up to my floor and Knight walked toward the back of my home once we entered my apartment.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Laundry room. Can’t mess up your floors.” He grinned and headed toward my laundry room.

He knew how I felt about my home. Knew I took care of the things that meant something to me, both inanimate and live, and now he existed in my space like he belonged there. This both excited and scared me. I sighed and followed him, leaning against the doorframe, watching him drop the bags on the washer. “I need to take shower.”

“Want some company?” he asked, a sexy grin on his face.


Not
happening.” I rolled my eyes. “Are you really staying?”

“I’m really staying.”

“Fine. There’s beer in the fridge, so help yourself.” Without waiting for a response, I headed to my room.

I took my time in the shower like I usually did, but I decided not to blow out my hair, choosing to let it dry naturally. I would pull it back for my shift anyway, so despite my vanity and the fact that the man of my dreams was somewhere in my apartment, he was going to see me ugly. I dragged on a pair of sweats and an oversized sweatshirt and headed to the living room.

Knight stood at my kitchen island, a loaf of bread and various other items to make sandwiches in front of him, and smiled over at me. “You hungry?”

My stomach rumbled and I laid my hands over it with a nod.

“No tomatoes, right?” he asked.

“Huh?”

He grabbed a slice of bread. “You like everything except tomatoes.”

“How did you know that?”

“Sugar,” he said with a chuckle.

I sighed. “Not a big fan of mayo either.”

“Do you see mayo on the counter?”

“Well, no,” I conceded, and he grinned.

“What I don’t get, is if you don’t like mayo, why do you have it?”

“Dani loves it.”

“Ah, makes sense.”

“And I have tomatoes—”

“Because you like tomatoes in pretty much everything else,” he finished.

I took a seat at the island. “Aidan, how the hell do you know this?”

“I know you, Kim.”

“Not
that
well.”

“You don’t think?”

He slid a sandwich toward me and I shook my head. “I don’t get you.”

“I’m not that complicated.” He grinned and leaned against the island. “And even though you are to most people, you’re not to me.”

Okay, that was seriously sweet, although perhaps a bit on the stalker side.

I took a bite of my sandwich and chewed. Wow, it was really good. I could tell he knew what I was thinking by the annoying smirk on his face. I swallowed and raised an eyebrow in challenge. “If I’m such an open book to you, then why don’t you tell me something most people don’t know about me?”

“You’re the most loyal person I know, but you hate the word ‘loyal.’”

I forced myself not to react. He was
totally
right. My mom used to tell me that loyalty was paramount, even when she was screwing people over.

“You’re the most selfless woman I know, but your mother still calls you selfish.”

I gasped, then slapped my hand over my mouth.

“More?” he asked.

I shook my head. “How do you know
any
of this?”

“Because I know you, Kim.”

“You’re guessing.”

He set his sandwich down and moved around the island, turning my stool to face him. “Sugar, I know you.” Knight cupped my cheek. “We’ve been doin’ this dance for over a year, but even before that, I knew you. I clocked you the second you walked in with Dani that first time—”

“Walked in where? The honky-tonk?”

“Huh-uh,” he countered. “It was before that... when you and Dani came to
Blush
.”

“You were there?” I asked.

“Yeah, I was.” He stroked my cheek and I found myself leaning into his hand. “Pissed that Mack got you first, but saw you the second you walked in.”

“He didn’t actually get me.”

Knight smiled. “I know that now, but back then, I couldn’t touch you.”

The stupid Dogs of Fire bro code.

“What changed?” I asked.

“Mack married Darien.”

“He didn’t get me
long
before Dare.”

“Yeah, but you were off-limits.” He stepped away from me and grabbed his beer. “Well, until the night you were hurt... then we came to an understanding.”

“Mack has no say over anything regarding my life.”

“It’s cute that you think that.” He took a swig of his beer as he leaned against the island. “Club rules, babe.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know, your rules are kind of stupid.”

He shrugged. “Kinda good for me to hear that, sugar.”

“Um, no, that doesn’t mean anything regarding us, Knight. It’s more of a general observation.”

He dropped his head back and laughed. “Okay, Kimmie. Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

I decided I’d rather finish my sandwich than volley words with him, so I took another bite. I was hungry and he was smart, so I knew that if I attempted to engage, I’d more than likely starve and he’d win.

Knight helped me clean up after we finished our food, and then he took my hand and led me to the sofa, pulling me down beside him. He wrapped an arm around me, effectively locking me against him, his arm like a vice. “Who was that man?”

“What man?”

“Kim, this is gonna go better if you don’t try to fuck around, yeah?”

I sighed. “My uncle.”

“Ah, right the senator. I knew I recognized him,” he said. “Why are you afraid of him?”

“I’m not,” I lied.

He smacked my leg gently with the hand wrapped around my thigh. “Sugar.”

“I’m not telling you that, Aidan.”

“Yeah, babe you are.”

I moved to stand, but he held me where I was. My efforts were futile, the man was six-foot-six and stronger than even his height would suggest, but I still tried.

“Kim. Settle,” he demanded.

“I’m settled.”

He sighed. “Tell me why you’re afraid of your uncle.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line and pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around my legs.

“Sugar, this is a safe space. You can tell me anything.”

I shook my head. I was
not
going down this road with him.

“I’m not leavin’ ’til you tell me.”

“Well, you’re gonna be here a while then, and you’re not moving in, Knight.”

He gave me a gentle squeeze. “I am if you stay silent.”

“You’re impossible.”

“I haven’t even begun to be impossible, sugar.”

I scowled at him and shook my head.

He stared me down. “Got all day, Kim.”

“Well, I don’t. I have a shift tonight.”

“You better get to it, then.”

I huffed. “This is none of your business.”

BOOK: Road to Victory (Dogs of Fire Book 5)
12.87Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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