Page 98 of The More the Merrier

“No more walking, bratting, or otherwise exerting yourself. You’re going to wind up really hurt. The last place either of us needs to be tonight is the Harmony Grove emergency department.”

“Bratting is not a physical activity,” she muttered.

“Sometimes it is,” I retorted before stepping around her and kneeling until we were eye-level. “Did you hurt yourself again?”

“Just leave.” Kendall crawled around me and headed toward the living room, but I was closer to her than she realized. I caught her with my hand in her ponytail. I didn’t tug, but she couldn’t get away. Kendall glanced over her shoulder, shooting daggers my way. I ignored her expression and kept my hold. “Let go.”

Repositioning my hand, I slid my fingers flush against her scalp, letting her feel the weight of it. “I will as soon as you answer me.”

“The only thing I’ve really hurt tonight is my pride.” She swallowed hard. “I didn’t expect to get into this with you.”

“We don’t have to get into anything tonight, but I still want an answer.”

“No, Dalton. I didn’t hurt myself.” Her eyes blazed with heat, but we were not in any sort of position to throw ourselves into a physical connection. “I am truly sorry about causing your plans to get disrupted tonight.”

“You don’t have to apologize. Let me help you to bed.”

“Then I’ll want you to stay.”

Being a medic, I punished myself from the sheer number of hours and physical toll my career took on my body. No longer was I going to sit idly by watching those around me find themselves in amazing relationships and deny myself the pleasure.

Something must have flickered across my face, something that Kendall had seen before, because she immediately tried to untangle her ponytail from my fingers. Whatever was going to happen next from my actions would be my problem to resolve. I tugged her toward me, and she had no choice but to scoot herself closer until she was pressed against my chest. I was pretty certain Kendall had a Little side since my Daddy senses were in overdrive. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was internally screaming for attention.

“I’m off work for the next three days, darling. I can sleep here.” Her breathing increased steadily as she stared at me, and she licked her lips.Fuck. She’d likely spin our time together in an entirely different way tomorrow morning. However, I couldn’t worry about that. No, we’d been dancing around each other like two awkward sugar plum fairies for weeks. I wanted to hang out with her more, but something always interrupted us.

Crushing my mouth to hers, I kissed her passionately. I could taste the alcohol, something sweet and salty on her tongue, and it was the harsh reminder I needed. It was not the time to be making out with her, no matter how badly the two of us wanted it. I broke our kiss and let go of her hair. She seemed upset, reading into my actions as a negative response instead of a practical one.

“You can help me to bed, Dalton, but then you should go.”

Getting to my feet, I pulled her to stand, then scooped her against my chest. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Whatever.” She huffed, keeping her head down.

“With your tone, that word sounded a lot like ‘fuck you’. Clarify your intention or don’t use it around me.”

“You heard me correctly, Dalton.”

“You’re so lucky you’re not sober, Kendall.”

She let out a shuddering breath and then slyly shot a glance at me. Meeting her gaze, I raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not a tiny twig like Tiana, so I’m not used to people carrying me around.”

Her cousin wasn’t a twig either, in height or anything else. But in a group where most, if not all, of the men were six feet or taller and super muscled from their various physically demanding careers, I understood the comparison.

“I can carry more than double my weight, prancer. No more disparaging remarks about yourself.” I held her closer to me. “Don’t you want to be on the good list this year?”

“It’s not in the cards for me, and I don’t want to talk anymore.”

I didn’t want to leave on a bad note, but she continued on.

“My key is in the planter on the right side of the door in a slim pocket.” She gestured toward the front of her house.

“Do you want me to hang out after the fair?” I had a feeling I already knew the answer, but I offered. I wouldn’t leave her guessing and second guessing our interactions.

“Nah, it’s fine.” She wiggled out of my arms, sliding down the front of my body before limping into her bedroom. “Goodnight.”

I would not allow her to go to sleep angry. We’d been friends for far too long to let her be upset over nothing. I probably should have left, but the look in her eyes when I’d entered Grant’s office gutted me. There was something bigger going on with her.

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