sigh. Obviously this is not something he’s
going to let go of easily. “I met a girl who dances there. She told
me what it was like, that no one takes their clothes off. At least
not many of them, and that we can be creative with our routines as
long as they’re sexy. I liked the idea of being able to dance the
way I want to, to wear what I feel comfortable in. So, she put in a
good word with the manager, he let me audition and hired me on the
spot. End of story.”
“I knew I liked that guy,” Reese mumbles,
sending me a wink that curls my toes. Silently, I curse each tiny
digit for not being stronger. “What are you thinking when you do
that?”
“Do what?”
“Pucker your lips and frown like that. I
noticed you doing it yesterday at Malcolm’s.”
His question takes me by surprise, giving way
to me answering more honestly than I should. “I don’t know about
yesterday, but I was just cursing my toes.”
“For what?”
I don’t answer, but I feel my cheeks sting in
embarrassment.
You walked right into that one, dumb
ass!
“So is this how it’s going to be for three
months?”
I turn to give him my full attention and my
most serious expression. “Yes. It is.”
“You know it doesn’t have to be.”
“Oh, yes it does.”
“Why?”
“I told you I’m not interested in anything
but you getting me an audition with Altman. I’ll hold up my end of
the bargain, but that doesn’t include answering your
questions.”
“Why are you being like this?”
This irritates me, so I slap my hands down on
my thighs. “Because we had our shot, Reese, and it didn’t work out.
End of story. This…this…arrangement is only temporary. It’s serving
a purpose for both of us. Nothing more.”
He doesn’t say anything for a few minutes.
His face is set in a pensive expression. He’s not angry or
offended, just thoughtful.
“I’ll change your mind, Kennedy. One way or
the other.”
My stomach twists into a knot. I can only
imagine how persuasive Reese can be. But still, I don’t give in. I
can’t. “You might as well save your energy. It won’t work.”
After a long pause, he speaks again. “You
were right,” he says enigmatically.
“About what?”
Reese gives me his brightest smile. “I have
changed.”
When he doesn’t continue, I ask, “What’s that
supposed to mean?”
There’s still a sexy, devastating curve to
his lips. “You’ll see.”
I let the silence stretch between us, mainly
because arguing with Reese is turning out to be a lesson in
futility.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN- Reese
I drive onto the tarmac of the private
airstrip that I use for the jet I timeshare. A guy from the service
is waiting beside the extended steps of the craft. I know that he’s
from the service I use because he’s dressed entirely in white. From
his button-up shirt and blazer to his sharply-creased slacks and
spotless shoes, everything is white.
When I pull to a stop near him, he moves to
open the door for Kennedy. After she’s on her feet, he scrambles
around to my side. I step out and hand him my keys along with a
folded bill. He takes them with a silent nod and I reach for
Kennedy. I put my hand on the small of her back and lead her to the
retractable stairs. I feel her flinch at my touch, but she doesn’t
move away. I suppress a smile. I know she still reacts to me. I
don’t have to feel it beneath my fingertips to know it. But damn,
how I want to.
As the attendant loads our bags from the
trunk into the luggage compartment of the jet, Kennedy and I make
our way into the main cabin area. Hemi, Sloane and Sig are already
on board. I’m not surprised when Kennedy takes one of the empty
chairs rather than sitting on the other empty couch. It’s the only
way she can ensure that I don’t sit beside her. Close enough to
touch. And that’s fine with me. The time is coming when she won’t
be able to so easily avoid me. And, although I’m not a patient man,
for this, I can wait. For her, I
going to let go of easily. “I met a girl who dances there. She told
me what it was like, that no one takes their clothes off. At least
not many of them, and that we can be creative with our routines as
long as they’re sexy. I liked the idea of being able to dance the
way I want to, to wear what I feel comfortable in. So, she put in a
good word with the manager, he let me audition and hired me on the
spot. End of story.”
“I knew I liked that guy,” Reese mumbles,
sending me a wink that curls my toes. Silently, I curse each tiny
digit for not being stronger. “What are you thinking when you do
that?”
“Do what?”
“Pucker your lips and frown like that. I
noticed you doing it yesterday at Malcolm’s.”
His question takes me by surprise, giving way
to me answering more honestly than I should. “I don’t know about
yesterday, but I was just cursing my toes.”
“For what?”
I don’t answer, but I feel my cheeks sting in
embarrassment.
You walked right into that one, dumb
ass!
“So is this how it’s going to be for three
months?”
I turn to give him my full attention and my
most serious expression. “Yes. It is.”
“You know it doesn’t have to be.”
“Oh, yes it does.”
“Why?”
“I told you I’m not interested in anything
but you getting me an audition with Altman. I’ll hold up my end of
the bargain, but that doesn’t include answering your
questions.”
“Why are you being like this?”
This irritates me, so I slap my hands down on
my thighs. “Because we had our shot, Reese, and it didn’t work out.
End of story. This…this…arrangement is only temporary. It’s serving
a purpose for both of us. Nothing more.”
He doesn’t say anything for a few minutes.
His face is set in a pensive expression. He’s not angry or
offended, just thoughtful.
“I’ll change your mind, Kennedy. One way or
the other.”
My stomach twists into a knot. I can only
imagine how persuasive Reese can be. But still, I don’t give in. I
can’t. “You might as well save your energy. It won’t work.”
After a long pause, he speaks again. “You
were right,” he says enigmatically.
“About what?”
Reese gives me his brightest smile. “I have
changed.”
When he doesn’t continue, I ask, “What’s that
supposed to mean?”
There’s still a sexy, devastating curve to
his lips. “You’ll see.”
I let the silence stretch between us, mainly
because arguing with Reese is turning out to be a lesson in
futility.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN- Reese
I drive onto the tarmac of the private
airstrip that I use for the jet I timeshare. A guy from the service
is waiting beside the extended steps of the craft. I know that he’s
from the service I use because he’s dressed entirely in white. From
his button-up shirt and blazer to his sharply-creased slacks and
spotless shoes, everything is white.
When I pull to a stop near him, he moves to
open the door for Kennedy. After she’s on her feet, he scrambles
around to my side. I step out and hand him my keys along with a
folded bill. He takes them with a silent nod and I reach for
Kennedy. I put my hand on the small of her back and lead her to the
retractable stairs. I feel her flinch at my touch, but she doesn’t
move away. I suppress a smile. I know she still reacts to me. I
don’t have to feel it beneath my fingertips to know it. But damn,
how I want to.
As the attendant loads our bags from the
trunk into the luggage compartment of the jet, Kennedy and I make
our way into the main cabin area. Hemi, Sloane and Sig are already
on board. I’m not surprised when Kennedy takes one of the empty
chairs rather than sitting on the other empty couch. It’s the only
way she can ensure that I don’t sit beside her. Close enough to
touch. And that’s fine with me. The time is coming when she won’t
be able to so easily avoid me. And, although I’m not a patient man,
for this, I can wait. For her, I
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