Hard Hit (IceCats 3)

“We’ve waited this long,” she whispers. “We can wait a bit longer.”

“How much longer?” I ask, stroking her jaw.

“Long enough to pay the bill and get out of here?” Celeste lets out a big yawn. “Someone is tired.”

I nod. “I’m not.”

She gives me a very devilish grin. Her eyes are dark, playful, and full of all the things I want and need. “Nor am I.”

I may be reading into that, but I’m pretty sure that means she’s coming home with me, and if that’s not the case, I may throw a fit like Celeste does.

But of course, my three hemorrhoids are here to ruin the moment.

“Well, this escalated quickly,” Owen says.

D’Artagnan nods. “Agreed.”

Evan holds up his hand. “Can we get the check?”

Chapter Ten

Kirby

* * *

After gathering Celeste’s things and paying my tab, I walk out with Jaylin toward the parking lot. The boys headed out pretty quickly, and I was thankful for that. I want to be alone with her. Talk to her, just her and me…and Celeste.

“Sorry if it was weird in there.”

She scoffs. “I had a horrible date that turned into a great night with you and Celeste and the guys. I had a wonderful time.”

I side-eye her. “The guys are a lot to handle.”

She laughs. “They are, but they’re sweet.”

“Yeah,” I agree softly as we walk in the night air. “So, that guy?”

“Just a guy I hooked up with randomly. But not anymore.”

I nod. “I’m sorry he wasn’t good to you.”

“Eh, I seem to be caught up on one guy, so I keep going out with assholes.” My lips curl when she flashes me a wide, beaming smile. “I’m talking about you.”

I grin. Man, she doesn’t even know what’s about to hit her. A whole lot of Kirby charm. I glance over at her as she does the same, and our eyes meet. In the moonlight, her skin glows and is incredible. Her hair is wild, curls everywhere, and I want to tangle my fingers in them. I still can’t believe she’s feeling me. I’m relieved, but it’s almost too good to be true.

“I didn’t think you liked me anymore,” I say, with no clue how those words came into existence. I know I didn’t choose them. They just came out, and I guess my “charm” means me being a complete loser. If she didn’t like me before I said that, she sure as hell doesn’t now.

Her lips tip upward as she eyes me. “What gave you that impression?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. When I saw you at the law office, you seemed standoffish. And then that email that was very straightforward. Kind, but no clues into you feeling me.”

She scoffs. “I don’t think I ever stopped feeling you,” she admits, meeting my gaze. “I didn’t mean to give that impression, but I didn’t know where your head was at. I didn’t want to be in the way of all the things you have going on.”

I nod. “But what if I want you in the way?”

She looks away shyly. “Then I wouldn’t protest.”

When she comes to a stop beside a badass red Lexus convertible, I’m not surprised. She’s a walking billboard for success, and I love it. She leans against her car, eyeing me as I sway side to side to keep Celeste asleep. Jaylin plays with her keys, and I can’t help but stare, though I know she’s waiting for an answer. I clear my throat to buy myself some time before I say, “Well, Counselor, I’ll be really honest and admit that I want you in all the ways.”

She grins. “I figured that out after you kissed me.”

I step toward her, wishing my child weren’t between us, but it’s my life, and if she doesn’t like that, she needs to tell me. “I want to kiss you again.”

She licks her lips, sending my body into a frenzy. “What’s stopping you?”

Man, is she sexy. “I don’t know if you’re okay with me being a dad.”

Her brows come in, confusion deep in those dark-brown eyes. “I love that you’re a dad. You’re a great one.”

A grin pulls at my lips as my eyes search hers, looking for the lie. I’m so used to being lied to by women that I expect her to do the same. But she isn’t like my ex or even my mom—she’s Jaylin. “I’m sorry that we didn’t get to explore this before, and while it sucks, I don’t regret Celeste.”

She nods. “I know. She’s perfect.”

“But I do regret something.”

Her lashes kiss her cheeks before she meets my gaze. “Do you?”

“Yeah, and this is me being really straightforward.”

She cocks her head with a smile. “Okay?”

“So, there is no question how I feel or what I want.”

“Which is smart since we’ve apparently spent the last month still feeling each other and not doing anything about it.”