Glory wanted her respect, and instead, she’d been bustedmaking out on her front stoop like a horny teenager, for crying out loud. She’d really like to sink into the ground and disappear.
Since that wouldn’t happen, she needed to calm down.
“Give her some room.” Pushing Kam aside, Addie eyed her critically and with some relief. “Better now?”
Better, when she now had the undivided attention of both Addie and Kam? No, but she could fake it with the best of them. She hoped. “I’m sorry we disturbed you.” A quick scowl at Kam put the blame on him. After all, he was the one who’d started the kissing, but then she had no illusions about him trying to be perfect.
“Nonsense. I wasn’t asleep yet. I was just in bed reading, unwinding, and enjoying being barefoot.” She smiled. “How in the world you young girls wear those shoes I’ll never know. Give me sneakers, flip-flops, or work boots any day.”
See? Addie always knew how to put her at ease. Wrinkling her nose, Glory said, “I’m used to them, I guess.”
“But don’t you enjoy wiggling your toes now and then? Maybe when you’re not working?”
Okay, seriously, she didn’t want to discuss her toes. “I wanted to go to my own place, but Kam had Mr. Fellows bring us here.”
Kam, who still had his arm around her, as ifthatwas normal, filled in the details: “We both had flat tires. Dan brought us here. I was going to take your car, but I’d have left you a note, letting you know I’d have it back early.”
So that had been his plan? He could have told her that. But wait. Why would he not have it back until early? Once he dropped her off, where did he plan to go?
Back to see Natalie?
Addie opened the door wider. “Come on in, and I’ll get my keys.”
“You two go on,” Glory said. “I’ll wait out here with Blu.”
Kam gave her a look, whistled, and Blu bounded into the house. “Now we can all step inside.”
His hand at the small of her back urged her in first. Now that Addie had mentioned shoes, Glory felt the ache in her arches. She didn’t want to do any more walking than necessary, but more than that, she didn’t want to complain.
As soon as she got home, though, she planned to strip off her clothes, take a nice long bath, and then sleep for hours.
Well, hell.
Kam saw the broken window the second he pulled into the driveway at Glory’s new home. Since she was staring out the side window, doing her best to ignore him—which, he had to admit, she did well—she hadn’t yet noticed.
He put the car in Park. “Glory—”
“Thanks for the ride.” In a sudden rush, she unfastened her seat belt and picked up her purse. “I really appreciate it.” She flashed him the briefest smile possible and opened her door before Kam caught her arm.
With a theatrical groan, she flopped back into her seat and asked, “Now what?”
Given that Mike might’ve had something to do with the vandalism, he shouldn’t have been amused, but it was obvious she wanted to get away from him, so Kam couldn’t help grinning. “All that, huh?”
“Yes, all that. You’re being weird. And kissy. I don’t understand it.”
“Kissy?” His humor expanded.
“You know what I mean. For a man who only doesn’tdislike me, there’s no reason for kissing.”
“I bet you can’t say that again.” She’d jumbled that odd sentence together so that few people would understand. He’dgotten her drift, though. “I like you fine—and you liked me kissing you.” Would she admit it?
“Yeah, so? It’s been a weird day, but it won’t happen again.”
Softly, he said, “Damn, girl, that sounds like a challenge.”
“It’s not!” She pulled her arm free and practically leaped from the car.
Sighing, Kam got out and followed her. “I can’t just drop you off.”
