Her nervous, longing demeanor turned into liquid fire as she jerked her hand out of his. “How dare you tell me what to do. You told me we were finished, and now you’re creeping around my bushes spying on me? How fuckin’ pathetic!”
Jerry gripped her arm and shook her. “Watch your goddamned mouth. I’m not spying on you. I just wanted to talk to you. I don’t like the way you’re talking to me. You’re fuckin’ out of line, woman.”
She shoved him back. “I’m not your woman, and I can speak to you any damned way I want. You gave up any claim you may have had on me, so you back the fuck off. And stop telling me what I can and can’t do with another man.” Her chest rose up and down as she breathed heavily.
He glared at her. “You got a mouth on you. I can tell you’re Banger’s daughter.”
“And don’t you fucking forget it.” Kylie tossed her head back, sprinted up the walkway, then went inside the house and shut the door. Her body shook from both anger and arousal. Feeling Jerry’s closeness and his hand on hers made the spot between her legs throb. She missed him so much and wanted him to fill her up, take her over the edge, and consume her. She hated that her body and mind weren’t on the same page; the hurt he bestowed on her told her he was a grade-A jerk, but her body craved him like an addict.
“Everything okay?” Ricky’s hushed voice echoed in the foyer.
Slowly, she exhaled. “Yeah.”
“Do you have something with him?”
Hanging her head, heavy with thoughts of Jerry, she said in a low voice, “No. I don’t.” Silence shrouded them then Kylie sighed. “I’m so tired. I’ll see you in the morning.”
As she lay in her bed, watching the ribbons of moonlight seeping through her slatted blinds, she lifted her hand and smelled Jerry’s scent, still on her skin. She’d never have him again. What had happened? She’d been on an all-time high one minute then crushed down the next. She’d let him into her life, and only someone on the inside could have shattered her heart as he’d done with just a few words. Wiping her wet cheeks, she hugged the pillow close to her, wishing it were Jerry.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kylie waited outsideAxe’s apartment for a long time until he came out, heading toward his Harley. He whirled around when he heard her call his name. “Hey, Kylie.” His eyebrows rose. “Whatcha doing here?”
“I know my dad has you following me. I spotted you at the mall. I’ll say you’re good because I didn’t notice you until the day before.”
Axe stared at her, stone-faced.
“Since you’ve been on my ass, you must know Jerry and I had a thing for a bit. And that’s why I’m here. I don’t want you telling my dad that I spent many nights at Jerry’s apartment.”
“Kylie, you know I can’t do that.”
“Hear me out. It was in the past. Jerry and I aren’t seeing each other anymore, so what’ll be gained from telling my dad about it? I’m asking you as a friend not to do it. There’s no reason to upset my dad.”
Axe blew out a long breath. “Fuck. I can’t lie if he asks me.”
“I’m not asking you to lie. I’m asking you to omit that part of your report. Please?”
He groaned and rubbed his hand on his chest. “Fuck. Okay, I won’t say anything, but if he asks me about you and Jerry, I gotta tell him the truth. Fuck, Kylie, he’s my president. You know how that goes. You’ve been around this your whole life. You’re asking too much from me.”
“I know, and that’s why I’m not asking you to lie. Just don’t bring it up first.”
He nodded slowly. “Okay, but if he asks me, I’m telling him what I’ve seen. You better be prepared for that.”
“I can deal with that. Thanks. I owe you big time.” Kylie shifted her weight from side to side.
“So, you and Jerry are really done? I’m surprised. I thought you two were really into each other. Fuck, he’s been talking about you for years.”
“Well, I guess we got it out of our system. Fantasies are usually better than the real thing. I gotta go. Thanks again.” She sauntered away and slid into her car. Axe started his Harley and took off. Kylie felt calmer knowing her dad may never find out, but a sudden onslaught of loneliness captured her. Ricky had left that morning, and the last thing she wanted to do at that moment was go home. She took out her phone and called Margo, and the two friends made arrangements to meet up in an hour.
As she sat in The French Bistro waiting for Margo, she opened her e-mails, her pulse racing when she saw one from the non-profit wildlife rescue. She opened it and adrenaline shot through her when she read they were interested in setting up an interview with her. They’d asked her to pick some of the available dates they’d listed, so she hurriedly typed back her response, choosing an interview date for the upcoming Friday. When she clicked “send,” she crossed her fingers.
About fifteen minutes later, Margo came in and Kylie told her about the interview. She and Margo had been friends since she could walk. They’d lived in the same neighborhood and had shared all the joys and pains of growing up. They’d attended all the same schools, and when Kylie had left for college, the two girls had cried until Banger told them if they didn’t stop, either Kylie would stay home or Margo would go to college. Her father’s gruff voice and bewilderment at dealing with the two teenagers had made them laugh, and soon their tears of lament had turned to ones of merriment.
Margo never had an interest in studying beyond high school, so she took a job at the local shipping and packaging company. She seemed happy with working and partying.
“You doing okay?”
“Not really, but I’m forcing myself to get over him. I think it’s harder because I’ve been crushing on him for quite a while. I was always insecure about screwing him. He’s definitely used to way more experienced women than me.”
