He looked away. Was the Italian Stallion actually embarrassed?
“I like you, Kath. I have for a few years now.”
She jerked her head around. “You’re playing me.”
“I’m not. I swear. I just kissed you, didn’t I?”
She longed to believe him, longed for this to somehow be real, but the image of him and his friends jeering seared into her mind. She swallowed her nausea.
“It’s probably some bet with your jock butthole buddies. See you long it takes you to
get the nerd to fall for you, right? Well, it’s not going to happen, Brett. I guarantee it.”
“Hey.” He stood and gripped her elbow. “I don’t kiss anyone I don’t want to kiss, you got that?”
“Shouldn’t you be kissing your girlfriend?”
He smiled a lazy smile. “She’s not here.”
“Ha. And I am, is that it? Any port in a storm?”
“No.” He raked his fingers through his gorgeous black hair. “You’re twisting it all around, damn it.”
“Twisting what around? There’s nothing to twist around, because there’s nothing between us. So go back to your butthole buddies and tell them you got the nerd queen to kiss you. Collect your twenty bucks, or whatever it is you won, and have a big laugh at my expense.”
“Kath, it’s not like that. There’s no bet. I swear.”
“Right. I’m supposed to believe you, the Italian Stallion, wanted to kiss me, Kathryn Zurakowsky, the Pollock, the nerd, the ugly duckling.”
“Who’s turned into a beautiful swan.”
“And what if I hadn’t?”
“If you hadn’t what?”
“Turned into a beautiful swan? Would you want to kiss me then?”
“I don’t know. Would you want to kiss me if I wasn’t good looking?”
Well, he had her there, and that pissed her off. Her blood boiled. “Who said I wanted to kiss you?”
He laughed that time. Damn him.
“For someone who didn’t want to kiss me, you gave a good impression of enjoying it.”
She had enjoyed it. It had been heaven. But she had never kissed before. It would probably be that great with anyone.
“Maybe I’m just a good kisser.”
“Ha. Right. If I had a dollar I’d bet you’d never been kissed before.”
“Get out.” Kathryn pulled him to his feet. “Get out. I’ve had enough of you. You can find yourself another tutor, too. I don’t need to deal with you. Go kiss your girlfriend—remember her? Or kiss some butt-ugly old lady for all I care. Now get out of here before I call the cops!”
His lips came down on hers again.
Chapter Six
“Wow, Kath.” Brett buttoned his pants as Kathryn replaced her bra and blouse. “Wow.”