more time than he had.
He had lifted his eyes to comment on it only to find the rider shucking a helmet and moving to stand toe-to-toe with him, his dislike palpable.
It was difficult to place him at first. But something about the way he moved registered as familiar. As did the way his chin lifted insolently. But it was those shrewd hazel eyes that finally clued him in. Even 36
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No Longer Mine
back when he had been nothing more than a mouthy hoodlum, this one had been a force to be reckoned with. Of course, back then Wade had worried one day Dylan Kline would end up in prison before he turned twenty.
Obviously not.
One thing hadn’t changed though. Those eyes could cut a man off at the knees from ten feet away.
There was nothing left of the sullen boy he had known. Aside from the color of his eyes, he didn’t resemble Nikki much, save for the spiky long lashes and sulky mouth. He had always been long and lean, but in the past few years he had filled out.
“Dylan,” he greeted, removing the nozzle and replacing it before screwing on the tank lid. “You’re looking well.” And strong enough and ready enough to rip my guts out.
“What are you doing here?” he snapped, his words clear and precise, none of the “gangsta” drawl left.
“I live here,” he said calmly.
“Since when?” Dylan demanded, those hazel eyes narrow.
“Since four weeks ago. I suppose your family is here now?” Two Klines in Monticello pretty much killed his hopes that Nikki was staying here in some vacation home. Damn it.
Dylan just continued to stare at him.
Probably trying to figure out how he’d like to start tearing Wade apart—start at the feet? Or at the head?
“Lived here long?” Hopefully, Dylan would see the sense in not mauling him in broad daylight. He was, relatively speaking, the calmer of the Kline brothers.
If Shawn were here blood would already be flowing.
Wade was honest enough to admit it—very little blood would have been Kline blood.
“Stay away from Nikki, buddy. She’s had enough grief in her life. She doesn’t need you to adding to it. Again,” Dylan warned, his eyes glinting with a promise. Just give me one reason , he was saying. One good reason. And then, he turned and stalked away.
Close call. It wasn’t all that long ago that Dylan would have pounded into somebody he had taken such a dislike to, without even waiting for a reason.
Wade did wonder a bit at the reversal in loyalties. There had been a time when Dylan Kline hadn’t even spared his older sister a second glance. His only loyalty had been to himself.
But then again, what did he know anymore? He hadn’t seen either of them in five years.
Still, it was weird.
Wade had never seen Dylan stand up for anybody but himself, much less bother getting into a fight over anyone. Shawn might have done it, but only because he was a natural-born brawler. He would have done it for the fun of it, not out of any loyalty or love for his sister.
Time apparently did change things.
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37
Chapter Six
Wade spent the next few days convincing himself he shouldn’t hunt her down. There was no point in it.
No point in rehashing old times. No point at all. So much time had passed and they hadn’t parted fondly.
Better to just leave things as they are , he told himself as he went to bed Tuesday night.
Wednesday morning he woke with the sole intention of tracking her down. He had to at least talk to her, if only this one time.
It wasn’t hard to find out where she lived either. The beauty of being a celebrity in a small town, he supposed. Although he doubted Nikki cared for it much.
After dropping Abby off at her preschool, he headed out of town. The thirty-minute drive gave him more than enough time to question his motives. He insisted all he wanted to do was clear the air. They had been friends once upon a time, and it was only right that he try to get things on a friendly note between
He had lifted his eyes to comment on it only to find the rider shucking a helmet and moving to stand toe-to-toe with him, his dislike palpable.
It was difficult to place him at first. But something about the way he moved registered as familiar. As did the way his chin lifted insolently. But it was those shrewd hazel eyes that finally clued him in. Even 36
www.samhainpublishing.com
No Longer Mine
back when he had been nothing more than a mouthy hoodlum, this one had been a force to be reckoned with. Of course, back then Wade had worried one day Dylan Kline would end up in prison before he turned twenty.
Obviously not.
One thing hadn’t changed though. Those eyes could cut a man off at the knees from ten feet away.
There was nothing left of the sullen boy he had known. Aside from the color of his eyes, he didn’t resemble Nikki much, save for the spiky long lashes and sulky mouth. He had always been long and lean, but in the past few years he had filled out.
“Dylan,” he greeted, removing the nozzle and replacing it before screwing on the tank lid. “You’re looking well.” And strong enough and ready enough to rip my guts out.
“What are you doing here?” he snapped, his words clear and precise, none of the “gangsta” drawl left.
“I live here,” he said calmly.
“Since when?” Dylan demanded, those hazel eyes narrow.
“Since four weeks ago. I suppose your family is here now?” Two Klines in Monticello pretty much killed his hopes that Nikki was staying here in some vacation home. Damn it.
Dylan just continued to stare at him.
Probably trying to figure out how he’d like to start tearing Wade apart—start at the feet? Or at the head?
“Lived here long?” Hopefully, Dylan would see the sense in not mauling him in broad daylight. He was, relatively speaking, the calmer of the Kline brothers.
If Shawn were here blood would already be flowing.
Wade was honest enough to admit it—very little blood would have been Kline blood.
“Stay away from Nikki, buddy. She’s had enough grief in her life. She doesn’t need you to adding to it. Again,” Dylan warned, his eyes glinting with a promise. Just give me one reason , he was saying. One good reason. And then, he turned and stalked away.
Close call. It wasn’t all that long ago that Dylan would have pounded into somebody he had taken such a dislike to, without even waiting for a reason.
Wade did wonder a bit at the reversal in loyalties. There had been a time when Dylan Kline hadn’t even spared his older sister a second glance. His only loyalty had been to himself.
But then again, what did he know anymore? He hadn’t seen either of them in five years.
Still, it was weird.
Wade had never seen Dylan stand up for anybody but himself, much less bother getting into a fight over anyone. Shawn might have done it, but only because he was a natural-born brawler. He would have done it for the fun of it, not out of any loyalty or love for his sister.
Time apparently did change things.
www.samhainpublishing.com
37
Chapter Six
Wade spent the next few days convincing himself he shouldn’t hunt her down. There was no point in it.
No point in rehashing old times. No point at all. So much time had passed and they hadn’t parted fondly.
Better to just leave things as they are , he told himself as he went to bed Tuesday night.
Wednesday morning he woke with the sole intention of tracking her down. He had to at least talk to her, if only this one time.
It wasn’t hard to find out where she lived either. The beauty of being a celebrity in a small town, he supposed. Although he doubted Nikki cared for it much.
After dropping Abby off at her preschool, he headed out of town. The thirty-minute drive gave him more than enough time to question his motives. He insisted all he wanted to do was clear the air. They had been friends once upon a time, and it was only right that he try to get things on a friendly note between
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