Page 67 of Be Mine, Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 3)

Rylie rolled her eyes.

Kelly studied Chris as he weaved a little. “Are you going to make it to the car or do I have to carry you on my back?”

“Ha, that I’d like to see.” Chris pulled his keys from his pocket and handed them to her. “I’d be okay if Dustin hadn’t insisted on a shots-off. He got me drunk.”

“Hey!” Dustin said. “I didn’t know you were a lightweight.”

“Come on, party animal,” Kelly said. “We’ll get you home and tucked into bed.”

He slid his hand over her hair, surprising her.

“Why are you so good to me?” he asked.

So many reasons flashed through her head, but she didn’t want to say any of them out loud in the middle of a crowded bar.

Instead, she played it safe, but spoke the truth. “You’ve always been there for me. Figured I’d return the favor.”

“And I appreciate it.” He leaned closer and spoke in a loud whisper. “I’ve seen Rylie drive and I don’t trust her with my truck.”

“Hey, I heard that,” Rylie said.

“Sorry, but it’s true.” Chris reached out and took one of Kelly’s long curls between his fingers. “I like your new look.”

Kelly’s heart beat picked up speed. “Thanks.”

“Liked your old one too, though.”

Rylie must have seen her annoyance, because she broke in. “Well, let’s get them home before they decide to do some Journey.”

“Journey sucks!” Dustin yelled.

“Shhh, are you trying to get us killed?” Rylie said.

They all walked out the door laughing, and down the steps. Kelly gave Rylie a hug goodnight when they stopped at her car. Then, Kelly laughed as she watched Dustin climb into the passenger seat, and pull Rylie in after him.

“Stop it, you perv!” Rylie cried, her voice thick with laughter.

Kelly didn’t hear Dustin’s response, but it would probably have shocked her. They reached Chris’s truck and she unlocked the doors so he could climb in.

She got into the driver’s seat, and after putting on her seat belt, started the truck up.

“Thanks for driving me home,” he said.

“You’re welcome.” She backed out of the parking spot and pulled out into the road, her heart hammering. They were alone for the first time since everything went down, and even though he was drunk, it was still nerve wracking.

“So, you went to book club? You weren’t out with Hank the Tank?”

Kelly laughed. “Um, yes I was at book club and no, no plans with Hank. And I don’t think you should call him that. He might kick your ass.”

Chris snorted. “What, you think he’d be mad? I don’t care. I could take that pussy. He has to use a stuntman in his movies.”

A giggle climbed up her throat. “And you do a lot of action movies, so you don’t need one for your own action sequences?”

“No, smartass, I’m just saying that I could handle him in a fistfight.”

She turned to stare at him briefly, her jaw hanging open. “Why would you hit Hank?”

“I almost hit him today.”