Page 15 of No One But You

“Well maybe you need to edit that to-do list. How long has it been since you stopped seeing Patrick? Time to move on to bigger and better things.” Summer put her arm around my shoulder. “And Kai is much bigger and much better.”

I shook my head, but I’d be blind if I couldn’t see she was right. I needed to move on. It’d been months since I had been with Patrick. We weren’t ever a big thing. When you grew up in a small town like Orlinda Valley, you tended to know everyone, and Patrick was on the newer side. At least he didn’t go to high school with us. He came to town to work for the police department and became friends with Bryson through Trevor.

But Kai. He was sexy in a reckless, not Kora sort of way. “Maybe. But he isn’t my type.”

“Really? Maybe you need to change your guy type. If hot guys with gorgeous eyes who don’t hesitate to stop and help stranded women on the side of the road aren’t your type, what is your type?”

Hmm. Good question. I dated a couple guys in high school, Trevor for one, but high school didn’t really count. I had one serious boyfriend in college, but that relationship only lasted a year, then just dates for formals. I dated Patrick for eight months; we were more friends than anything else. He was funny, focused, and ended up wanting more than I did which caught me off guard.

I shrugged. “Seems like I don’t have a type. Every guy I’ve ever dated was a friend first before we dated. I guess my type will be someone I’m attracted to. Luckily all the guy friends I have are taken or married, so I don’t need to worry about it right now.”

“Yep. I guess you’re right, but you can’t get married if you don’t date, and you’re not getting any younger.”

“Oh, please. I’m not interested in marriage. Anyway, why don’t you take your own advice?”

“Please. There’s no one in Orlinda Valley who can handle me. Not even that handsome, hot hunk. You, on the other hand, are perfect wife material.”

I rolled my eyes. Summer was too much. “Again, I’m not interested in marriage. I’d just like a guy to date occasionally so I’m not always a third wheel.”

“If you’re a third wheel, what’s that make me?”

“A colorful spoke.” I smirked.

Summer pushed me playfully and opened the door. “Gotta come clean. I met Kai at the salon when he stopped in about the addition.” Summer linked her arm through mine and weaved us through the crowd.

“Seriously? And you didn’t say anything? I thought you were acting weird.”

“What, weirder than normal?”

“Exactly.”

Summer laughed, then nudged me. “Looks like you may need to get used to H cubed. Looks like he’s making friends.”

“H cubed?” I tilted my head and raised a brow, then followed her gaze. I stopped abruptly and caused Summer to stumble. The crystal-blue-eyed-beer-klutz slash tire-knight-in-shining-armor, Kai, was still at our table and as I stood frozen to the spot, he turned his head and the corner of his mouth ticked up.

Chapter 6

Kai

I pulled my gaze slowly down Kora’s body, then back up as she approached the table. The sweater she was now wearing was slightly see-through, and I could make out a dark bra under it. My eyes stayed there for a beat and my crotch pulsed in response. I forced my eyes to continue their way up her body. She had sexy curves and was fit, yet not skinny. She was perfectly proportioned. I liked what I saw, and my gaze caught hers. Those deep brown eyes sucked me in, and I struggled to pull away. Even when they narrowed, like me still being here was not a happy surprise, my pull toward her was impossible to ignore.

Summer gave her a nudge.

“Sorry about making a mess,” I said when she was next to me, the only place left around the tight high-top table.

A flash of irritation slid over her features, and she tilted her head to the side.

“Looks like you found something to wear,” I continued.

“Yeah. I did.” She slid onto the stool next to Darlene and turned her back to me.

Who could blame her? I did just douse her with beer, even though I was helpful earlier, but she did think I came across as rude. I shrugged. Women. You can’t live with them, and . . . well, you can’t live with them. That’s why I was thirty-one and still single.

Darlene looked between me and Kora. “Do y’all know each other?”

“Yeah,” I answered and took a pull from my beer. “I helped her change her tire this morning.”

Darlene choked on her margarita.

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