Page 35 of No One But You

“And that’s why we watched you kiss goodbye in his truck.”

“Just saying bye. It’s what you do after a date.”

“That lasted all night and gave you a couple orgasms I hope.” Her eyes went up with anticipation.

I tipped my head back and forth, and my face lit up like Nashville on the Fourth of July. I couldn’t help it. Thinking of Kai and our night together made me feel things I hadn’t felt in a long time, and I liked it. A lot.

Darlene let out a squeal. “I knew it!” She wrapped me in a death squeeze. “You deserve a good night of fun and amazing sex with a super-hot guy. I’m so happy for you.” She rocked us back and forth, then stopped abruptly and held my arms in a death grip. “It was fun and amazing sex, right?” Darlene’s eyes were wide with concern.

I laughed. How could I not? Her eyes were wide with shock and fear like the world would end if I told her anything but what she expected to hear. Thankfully, I didn’t have to disappoint her. “Yeah, you could say we had fun. But the sex wasn’t amazing.”

Her eyes bulged wide, and her mouth dropped. “You can’t be serious.”

“Sorry, I am.” I waited until I thought she might keel over. “It wasn’t amazing. It was fucking life changing, emotionally fulfilling, hot, and dirty.” I stopped and shrugged. “I can’t think of any other adjectives that are fitting.”

Darlene’s squeal got the attention of the goats. “Thank God. You deserve it.” The goats bleated in return.

“Gee, thanks, Mom. But you’re not wrong. I do.” His naked body flashed in my mind; my mouth watered and my insides tingled.

“I can’t wait to see you together tonight. How exciting.”

“It’s not like that. Last night was a one-night thing.” We didn’t discuss anything more. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. What if he thought it was just a one-night thing?

“Right. We’ll see.” She turned her attention to her son. “Come on, James. Time to go.”

“Yeah, we will. I’ll see you around five thirty. We can eat before the competition starts at six.” I hugged them both.

“Yep. Sounds good.” Darlene answered as she helped James into his car seat.

I waved as Darlene pulled away, then walked toward the house. Crystal eyes popped into my mind and my stomach rolled. I hoped I would be able to play it cool tonight. I didn’t want to seem like that woman who, just because she had amazing sex with a hot guy, has to stick on him like Velcro.

Nope, that’s not me. Last night wasn’t the first time I had a one-night stand, and they weren’t a big deal. This one wasn’t a big deal either.

My stomach rolled again, then flipped like it was going downhill on a roller coaster. I froze and stared down the driveway but was focused on nothing.

What if he thought that’s all it had been—a one-night stand? What if he acted like what happened last night wasn’t a big deal?

What if he thought it was just sex?

I wiped my hands on my jeans, and my chest tightened. Dammit.

I blinked quickly to keep the tears at bay. I don’t want last night to be just a one-night stand. I like Kai. I watched clouds float by. Where did these feelings even come from? How did he go from irritating the hell out of me to rocking my world?

Hell—I didn’t even know his last name.

Well, there’s one goal for tonight.

Chapter 13

Kai

I pulled in front of Jerry’s Pub and noticed a black Rogue in the parking lot that looked a lot like Kora’s. My mouth ticked up. I can’t lie. It would make my night to be with her again. I spent the day painting and dodging the questions and comments thrown at me from the “Book Club gossips”—as Kora called them. Tonya tried her best to get information from me. She even used the tactic that Kora was her niece, and it was her job to keep tabs on her. But I held my tongue and gave them nothing. I’ll be damned if I give them fuel for their gossip channel.

All afternoon, my mind kept recreating last night. How our bodies rocked perfectly in tune. The little moans she made. How beautiful she was in the moment. The memories were so vivid that my crotch kept getting in my way. I needed a cold shower before I left, and if I kept thinking this way, I’d need to take a minute before getting out of the truck, or I may not be able to take responsibility for my actions, and sex in a bathroom at the pub was not on my to-do list.

If I was being totally honest with myself, Kora had been on my mind since the moment I met her on the side of the road. I was immediately attracted to her spunk, her personality, her beauty.

And that mouth. Damn, that mouth. The words that came out of it—and the talent she had with it . . .

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