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He glanced at my full beer and nodded. “Let me get you another.” I moved out of the way, letting him get to work on the keg. While his back was turned, I dropped my cup and pushed through the crowd back toward my car.
Stumbling through the field, my heels sunk into the soil. “Cher!” Kyle’s voice called from the crowd. I kicked off my heels and sped up as I made my way through the wild grass barefoot. “Oh, there you are! Cher, wait up!”
I made it to my car just as Kyle reached out and tapped my shoulder, spilling beer down my arm. I spun around and found him double fisting two cups. “Where are you going? I thought we were going to have a little fun?”
I shook my head and scrambled to come up with an excuse. “Sorry, I’m not feeling great.”
“It’s that jerk of a boss of mine, isn’t it,” Kyle said. “I saw how upset you were when you got here.” He took a step closer, leaning in as I pressed my back against my car trying to get away. “What did he do? Did he try to kiss you or something? Dirty old pig.”
“No,” I said. “It was nothing like that.” I tried to inch away from him, but Kyle only smirked as he leaned closer and pressed his groin against mine.
“Good,” he said. “Because I know you want me, and I want you, so let’s do this.” He tossed both cups to the side and reached up grabbing my face as he planted a slobbery kiss on my lips.
“Eww, Kyle, no,” I said pressing both hands against his chest and pushing him back. “Please just leave me alone.”
“Awe, come on,” he groaned, leaning in a second time. “I know you want it.”
“She said, no,” Gavin’s voice came from behind Kyle. Before the latter could respond, Gavin pulled him off me and spun him around. “Now take off and leave Cher alone.” He pushed Kyle away and turned toward me.
“Fuck you, Gavin,” Kyle said. “You think you’re so great, you and you’re stupid flower shop.”
Kyle lunged at Gavin from behind, so fast I didn’t have time to warn him. But before he reached us, Gavin spun around and one-punched Kyle, right in the middle of the face. I gasped, covering my mouth with both hands as Kyle fell backward.
“My nose!” he screamed, scrambling to get up. “You asshole, you broke my fucking nose!”
“Get out of here,” Gavin said, stepping toward him. Kyle scrambled like a crab until he got back to his feet and ran back to the crowd. “Fuck you, Gavin!” he yelled back in our direction.
Gavin turned toward me, holding an arm out. “You, okay?” His brows were pushed together as he stepped in my direction.
I nodded, looking down at his hand, the one that had punched Kyle. I took it between mine and rolled it over, revealing his knuckles. “Are you okay? You’re the one who punched someone.” I ran a thumb over his knuckles as he winced.
“I’ll be fine.” He sidled up next to me, both of us leaning against my car, his hand still between mine. “You really need to stop putting yourself in these awkward situations.” I smiled. How many times had Gavin watched me flirt with yet another loser? And how many times had he wished that guy was him? He continued, “Listen, I heard you stopped by.”
I dropped his hand, remembering the woman at his door. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I should have called, or something.”
“No, I’m sorry,” he said, stepping in front of me. “That was Mary, one of my employees.”
“I didn’t know you guys lived together,” I said, stepping away and focusing on my purse. Where were my keys? I needed to get out of here and away from Gavin.
“I think you’ve got it all wrong” he began.
“Or, dating, or whatever it is,” I said. Bingo! I pulled my keys out and unlocked my car. “Listen, Gavin, I really appreciate your help tonight, but I should get going.”
“All right then,” he said, stepping away from my car. As I opened the door I willed myself to not look at his face. Stay strong, Cher. “But,” he added, “you should know that Mary and I have never dated—never will. She was just watching my place for me while I was away with you. I thought the least I could do was let them stay for supper as a thank you.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” I said, grabbing the door of my car and meeting his gaze. My pulse quickened at the look of hope on his face. Laughter burst out, as I leaned my forehead on the back of my hand. “I feel like such an idiot.”
“Can we start over?” he asked. “Maybe let me take you back to my place for an apology?”
“What about Mary and her daughter?”
“They’ve gone home,” he said. “I promise it’s just going to be you and me.” He stepped forward and pulled me into his arms. “And I’m going to show you what a real man does with a woman as beautiful of y
ou.”
SEVEN
Back at Gavin’s place, he gave me a tour of his townhouse. It was a three level, with two bathrooms, a den, and one loft bedroom. I noted that there was no sign of a female touch anywhere. What a relief.
