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I swayed forward, placing my hands on his chest to hold me steady. He shuddered at my touch and I wondered why. Did I repulse him?
His eyes darkened, his pupils dilated, and …
Oh my God. Hewasgoing to kiss me!
His hand slid up the side of my cheek and cupped the back of my neck, tugging me closer. I sunk into him willingly. We froze, taking each other in. The whisper of space between us, the air charged, like the moment before a thunderstorm. I opened my mouth to say something, and—a car horn blared. We jumped apart and my senses returned.
Killian stepped away, the spell broken. “Come on,” he said, his voice gruff. “Let’s get you home.”
“But—I need to get my car from the parking lot,” I reminded him, forcing myself back to the present.
He grumbled his protest.
“Killian, I’ll need my car tomorrow.”
“Max will pick you up,” he snapped, grabbing my hand securely and tugging me towards his car. As my feet shuffled forward, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this almost-kiss had changed us.
“No,” I yanked my arm. I was tired and I didn’t feel like just giving in to him. And I wouldn’t admit out loud that his sudden change in behavior hurt my feelings.
Now that the event was over, I just wanted to crawl into my bed and sleep.
And forget about tonight. All of it.
“Don’t fight me on this.” He let go and walked a few steps ahead of me, then turned around, clearly expecting me to follow. “Please?”
I stopped short. Tonight had been hard for me in so many ways, and his high-handedness mixed with the simple-but-politepleasewas rubbing me the wrong way. And now my temper—the old foe that Killian could always bring out—was resurfacing.
“Tink—” That deep, growly, stubborn voice returned.
Killian was a force. He’d steamroll me until I agreed. But it had been a long time since I relied on him, and for some reason, I didn’t want to right now, not with him being angry at me. And while the car situation was small, I had no intention of conceding. Not after what he’d just put me through and the mind-game he’d just pulled on the sidewalk.
“If you won’t take me to my car, I’ll order an Uber to go get it.” I pulled my phone out of my purse.
“Damnit, Tink!”
I matched his glare with one of my own, willing it to be just as fierce.
He stomped away, then turned back to me. “Fine.” He threw up his hands. “I’ll take you to your car, but then youwillcall me when you get home so I know you’re safe.”
“Yes, Dad,” I sassed.
He grunted but didn’t snap back.
I wasn’t sure why I was needling him. Or why I wanted to get under his skin. Well, maybe I did. His see-saw behavior was just as draining as the speed dating.
He opened the back passenger door for me and I slid in. I buckled my seatbelt and edged towards the door until my side was pressed against it and I was as far from him as possible. I needed to stay the course.
My feelings were all mixed up because of Killian’s unexpected reappearance in my life.
That was all.
I was grateful for his help.
Nothing more.
Chapter Fourteen
KILLIAN