Page 51 of Fumbled Love

“Of course I am.” She looked down at the charm bracelet. I couldn’t tell if she wore it because she loved it or simply because I gave it to her. “The only time I take it off is when I shower.”

Maybe it was a little bit of both.

After finishing our dinner, Kinley went to take a shower and change.

I was standing at the sink, rinsing off a dish when a knock sounded at the door. The building she lived in didn’t have security, and it made me uncomfortable knowing she was always here alone.

Whoever it was, was getting impatient because they knocked harder.

I walked over and swung open the door. A dude who looked like he could pass for a Ken doll stood on the other side. “Can I help you?”

He sized me up, which was humorous because I had fifty pounds of muscle on him and, if my guess was accurate, a foot in height.

“Where’s Kinley?” he asked with a hard edge to his voice that I didn’t like.

I frowned. Whoever this guy was, he wasn’t making a great first impression.

Kinley came strolling out of her bedroom. “Who is at the door?” My eyes caught on the thin top she wore with her nipples poking out. “Oh, hi Chad.” She adjusted the towel on her head and smiled.

So, this was the friend? He looked exactly as I pictured him too—blond hair, blue eyes, thin, and dressed like he just walked out of Brooks Brothers.

He stuffed his hand in the front pockets of his pleated Dockers. “What’s going on, Kin? Who is this guy?”

Kin? What a dumb nickname.

“I’m sorry.” She moved to stand between us. “This is Maverick, my…”

“Boyfriend.” I held one hand out and hooked the other around her waist.

Kinley’s eyes shot to mine as I moved her in closer. We hadn’t talked about what we were, but it was past time we had a label.

Her little buddy pressed his lips together as if he were trying to hold back on asking a million questions. He rocked back on his heels, trying to hide his disappointment. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone?”

The hurt in his voice didn’t go unnoticed. Friend, my ass. The way he looked at her had me on edge. It seemed that this visit came at the perfect time. I knew she wasn’t ready to announce our relationship to the world, but he was her friend, right? And when I went back to Georgia, I wanted this guy to know she belonged to me.

Kinley seemed to snap out of whatever trance she was in. “Yeah, it’s new.” She shot me a dirty look. Guess she didn’t like being pissed on. “I was going to tell you. I’ve just been so busy with work, trying to make up for the time I took off, I haven’t had a minute to spare.”

The guy glared down at my hand resting on her hip. He looked like he wanted to break every one of my fingers. “I guess this explains why we haven’t talked since I took you to my company’s Christmas party.”

My body went stiff, and I focused on holding on to my restraint. “Yeah, that’s my fault,” I said. “She flew to Atlanta and spent the week with me during the holidays. Now I’m here to return the favor,” I explained, leaving out our doctor’s appointment tomorrow.

I wasn’t sure if she had told him about the baby yet, but I was smart enough not to bring it up.

The guy furrowed his brows and snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute. You’re Maverick Cross. I didn’t put two and two together until you just said that.”

“Are you a fan?”

Kinley snorted. “No, the only sport he watches is golf.” They both shared a little laugh, like it was an inside joke. I didn’t like that. She stepped back and walked toward the door like she was about to close it. “Maverick and I were just about to watch a movie. Would you like to join us?”

Oh, hell no.

“Kinley.” I stepped in her direction. “I’m sure he has other things to do.” My eyes met hers from across the room. “Your friend doesn’t want to sit here and be a third wheel. Let him go out and have some fun, am I right, man?”

He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. “Yeah, text me when you’re free. We can either grab dinner one night during the week or do something next weekend.”

I was seriously considering calling Julian and telling him to find a way to trade me to New York.

“That would be great.” She kept her eyes on me.

---