“Thanks for coming,” she finally said to Rhett after Benji strode away. “I tried Boone and Asher, but no one answered their phone.”
Rhett shoved his hands into his pockets. “It’s fine.”
The way she flinched at his dry voice made him hate himself even more. But that was minuscule compared to the emotion in her eyes. “Were you at the station?” she asked, grabbing her purse from underneath the bar.
He shook his head and let his silence be the answer. He’d done everything he could for the last two months to try to forget about how good Kinsley smelled, felt, how incredible she tasted. He’d failed miserably to forget her, but even though he wanted to, he couldn’t find it in himself to be with anyone else.
“Oh.” She cringed, obviously assuming he’d been with someone else tonight.
He hadn’t, but he let her believe that since it was far better than the hurt he’d give her if he let her in. If he let anyone in. And Benji’s thoughtfulness toward Kinsley only cemented Rhett’s choice to keep his distance.
“Well, sorry I dragged you away.” She barely gave him another look as she hurried into her winter jacket, and matching scarf and winter beanie, and walked out the front door.
Rhett cursed. He rushed after her, the door slamming shut behind him as the brisk winter wind bit his face. Tension sank deep into Rhett’s muscles as he sidled up to her.
She glanced over at him. “What are you doing?”
“Walking you home.”
“Don’t bother,” she snapped. “Your date is waiting for you.”
Whatever punch she threw at him, he’d take it. A thousand times. As long as it kept her safe. “Your brother will kill me if I don’t walk you home after Dalton’s appearance,” Rhett countered.
“Fine,” she grumbled. “Whatever.”
Silence fell between them that was as cold as the bitter air. Stoney Creek’s Main Street was the height of excitement for the small town known for its fresh seafood and gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean. The sun had long ago set, the cool east wind cutting through the town as Rhett shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. Christmas was still a month away, but the townsfolk had already begun decorating with wreaths on their shop doors and twinkling lights on their signs. The beams of the streetlights caught any snowflakes fluttering to the ground to melt away.
They strolled past Black Cat’s Cauldron, Remy’s magic shop, walking beneath the wooden sign. The lights were on in the storefront, showing off jars and candles and a broomstick, along with a stuffed cat animal. By the time they passed by Peyton’s lingerie shop, Uptown Girl, Rhett began counting the minutes until he could get away from Kinsley. He liked being near her. Too much. It felt too…good.
Ten minutes. That’s all he needed to keep this silence going and keep things as casual as possible before he had her home and safe.
Obviously, Kinsley had other ideas. “I’ve been calling you.”
“I know.” He’d been dodging her ever since they came home from the tropics.
He felt her stare on him, but he kept looking straight ahead, hurrying his steps.
Of course, she didn’t let him off easy. “Is there a reason why you’re not returning my calls, or are you just really milking this asshole vibe?”
“You know why I’m not indulging this,” he said. Damn, why couldn’t her house be closer?
“So that’s your plan then?” she asked, quickly catching up to him. “Just ignoring me until I go away?”
He glanced at her and found that she was scowling at him. Good. Scowling was better than when she looked at him with those sweet eyes that ruined him. “I’m not ignoring you,” he told her. “I’m stopping whatever you think may or may not be there between us.”
She froze right there on the sidewalk, as the cold air bit Rhett’s skin.
A beat passed.
Then, “You’re honestly unbelievable,” she said with a dry snort. She brushed past him and snapped, “Don’t give yourself that much credit, West. You’re not as memorable as you think you are. I haven’t thought about that night once.”
“Liar,” he mumbled beneath his breath, staring after her. She was all fire blazing down the street, leaving a path of flames behind her. He shouldn’t indulge this, but he couldn’t help himself. “If I’m so forgettable, then why call?”
“I had to talk to you.” She turned down her street and moved quickly toward her two-story house on the corner.
The charming yellow brick house had once belonged to her grandparents. When they passed, they left the house to Kinsley’s father, who then gave it to Boone and Kinsley. Boone eventually moved out, leaving it to Kinsley.
She reached the front porch with black pedestal posts that Rhett had helped paint last year. Before she got to the door, he called out, “Then talk now.” He felt like a dick. He was a dick.