Page 62 of Fast and Dirty

I lift a shoulder as I secure my arms around her because I seriously don’t know how to explain it. “I’ve watched you make a life for yourself in this town, and I’ve loved every minute of it - how you’ve taken what you wanted according to your own rules. By getting to know the people here and appreciating them for who they are. By being so eager to learn new things. Finding out who you really are on your own and going after what you want. And you did it all through kindness, not stepping on a single person.”

“Well,” she interrupts as her eyes dart skeptically to the side. “Except maybe Preston.”

“A single person who didn’t deserve to be taken down a notch,” I amend.

“I love you too,” her fingertips feather over the light layer of scruff I’ve grown lately.

“Why me?” I return, turning her words back to her.

“Because you held me up while I did all that,” she explains simply and it makes perfect sense.

“So what do you think?” I ask. “After the festival? And when you give it your woman’s touch, Hunt will lay off me for it looking like a barren bachelor pad.”

She nods thoughtfully, a shadow of impish mirth dancing in her eyes.

“No way… let’s really drive him crazy. I think we should make a giant Jenga tower out of pizza boxes. Ooh! Or we could send him an email pretending to be Martha Stewart telling him he wouldn’t know interior decorating if it kicked him in the balls!”

My dick practically lunges at the opening of my jeans.

“Good God are you ever perfect for me,” I practically growl affectionately.

“What do you say we celebrate by going upstairs?” She suggests, her voice getting breathy. “Before that thing in your pants Hulks out.”

“No idea how perfect,” I reiterate before I scoop her up and book it up the stairs.

24

KIRA

“Ican’t get over how many people showed up,” Hattie lets go of her cocktail to reach out and give my arm a loving pat. “So many of these people are from out of town and I’ve had several people sign up for doggy baths and trims before they leave tomorrow!” She clenches her body with excitement, her grin dazzling in the bistro lights that are strung between the tents.

“It really is beautiful Kira,” Mack agrees, appreciatively, before sipping on her straw. All of us are nursing a cocktail Agnes thought up for the festival and it’s really not bad. Of course it’s called the Apple Bottom, but no one seems to mind the play on words. “It feels like a warm town welcome, almost.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” I glance around at all the festivities. For me, it has felt like one big, long, tiring welcome, and it couldn’t be more perfect.

“Alright Ms. Mckenzie,” Toby strolls up, rubbing his hands together like he’s about to get up to something. “Where’s that little cutie, so I can take her for the night?”

“She’s over there with West,” Mack gestures over by the tent where Luna is painting faces for kids. She’s giving Aria a black and purple kitty face with glittery whiskers. “But Toby, areyou sure you want to babysit?” she bends an eyebrow, looking uncertain. “She can be really hard to get to go to bed at night.”

Toby waves a hand. “Don’t sweat it!” He insists. “I’ve fallen hard and fast for Hendrix and now I just need to test his skills with the kiddos. Glad I don’t have ovaries or I bet they’d be exploding tonight,” his eager tone makes Hattie spit out her drink while mine goes down the wrong tube, making me choke.

“Please take video of Hendrix when he starts to lose his mind,” Hattie requests and Toby responds with a finger gun before quickly turning to me.

“Oh by the way, next weekend I’m dragging Hendrix to Chicago with me. Okay, see ya! Bye!” He tries to tear off but I’m quick to grab the collar of his flamingo pink polo.

“Wait a minute! Why are you going to Chicago?”

“Uh…because it’s where I’m from, duh! And I want to take my boyfriend to meet my family and shove him in their homophobic faces!” He scoffs like I’m the asshole here.

“And it’s also my parents’ end-of-summer save the poor people snooty ass fundraiser,” I remind him of the annual event my parents throw to make themselves look altruistic while they and their prissy friends wander around an ballroom with Swarovski chandeliers rammed up their asses.

“I know, that’s what’s going to make it so great!” Toby’s devious grin is borderline sewer clown as he giggle excitedly. “I’m going to embarrass the shee-it out of my family and it’s going to be glorious.”

“Good thing I’m disowned.” I sigh as my friend goes skipping off.

West

“I like how you think,”Cheyenne applauds me as I jump out of the tow truck and walk around to release the winch.

---