Without noticing him, Glory said to the dude, “No, you’re not.”
“You’re alone,” the guy crooned. “I’m alone.”
“I told you I’m not alone.”
With a smug smile, he asked, “Then, babe, where is he?”
“I’m not your babe, and he’s delayed, but he’ll be here any minute.”
“Right. He’s hanging out in the empty event hall?” He moved closer.
Pointing, Glory said, “His car is right there.”
The jerk shrugged. “But he’s notwithyou.” He reached for her, and she jumped back, almost stumbling.
Kam debated on how to handle things: Stomp the guy into the ground, which was currently his preference, or try to use some tact.
“Come on, Glory. Don’t be like that. I’m the only one here for you, your car is out of commission, and it’s late.”
Out of commission? Kam looked at her car—and saw flattires. Two of them, both the rears. Worse, he looked at his SUV and saw flats on it as well. “What the hell?”
Glory whirled to face him.“Kam.”
“Sorry, babe.” He relished saying that and was relieved when Glory didn’t snap at him as she had the other guy. “I got held up.” In a few long strides, he was at her side. Surprising her, he slipped his arm around her and drew her close for a soft kiss.
She did a great impression of a frozen pole, but he didn’t mind. He still savored the press of his mouth on hers. Two seconds, three. Damn, he wouldn’t mind doing that all night, turning his head for a better fit, teasing her stiff lips apart... but it’d probably be better if he got it together before she slugged him, especially since her pushy Romeo still stood there.
Keeping her snug against him, he nodded at her car. “What happened?”
“I—we—um...”
Clearly, he’d thrown her for a loop. A good thing, considering how many times she’d left him floundering.
Satisfied with her response, he gave her a little hug and a quicker kiss to her temple.
Finally finding her voice, she said, “Maybe we drove over something?”
Yeah, right. Kam cut his attention to the intrusive guy. He was tall, trim, dressed in casual clothes, and had obviously hoped to stake a claim on Glory.Not happening, bud.
“If that was so, Callie’s parents would have had flats, too.” They’d all taken the same route. “And how the hell are the flats only in back? If we drove over something, the front tires would have—”
“Hey, I’m Mike.” The guy pushed forward, hand extended.
Kam had to release Glory to accept the handshake, but as he did so, he stepped slightly in front of her like a shield. “Hey,Mike.” The handshake, at least, was congenial enough. “I take it you two are friends?”
Affection softened Mike’s smile as he looked at Glory. “We’ve been dating a while.”
“No, we haven’t,” Glory said quickly, her voice a little too high. “It was three dates. Only three.”
“Babe, come on.” Looking at her over Kam’s shoulder, Mike affected cool forbearance. In an aside to Kam, his voice low as if that might keep Glory from hearing even though she was right behind him, he confided, “We had a little disagreement. Guess she’s still riled.”
Mouth firming, Glory quickly moved away. Not closer to Kam, but away from Mike. As if the other guy wasn’t there, she said to Kam, “We should get going.”
Mike grinned and shook his head as if amused. “Guess I took too long to call. You know how it is.”
“I’m not sure I do.” Kam didn’t know what was happening, but he didn’t like it. Men who hassled women went instantly on the list of things he despised, right up there with child neglect and animal abuse. Never, under any circumstances, would he take part in such a thing.
It would make him too much like his parents, a fate he would never accept. Past accusations and his tainted bloodline was something he’d deny to his dying day.
