Page 20 of Blood (A Killer’s Love #4)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Samantha

Men, I hate them. No, I hate him .

I glare at Kaleb as he holds the diner door open for Shelby, then waits for a couple to leave before entering himself. A few of the women in the diner turn and watch him. Why does he have to be so polite and charming? No, not charming. He’s arrogant and annoying, I amend, watching him wink at Judy.

“Hi, baby,” he greets me, leaning down to kiss my right cheek.

I pull back before he can make contact.

Has he lost his fucking mind?

The look I give him asks as much. He stays bent toward me; his right hand braced on the back of my booth, his left on the table.

Annoyance washes over his features, but it fades a second later, his usual smile replacing it.

“Scooch over,” he orders, his body invading my space even more.

Shuffling over, I glare at Shelby.

“Who can say no to that face?” she asks, motioning across the table to Kaleb.

I roll my eyes.

“I’ve been trying to talk to you,” Kaleb says quietly, his body turned toward me, our knees touching.

I feel it as if his hand was resting there. The thought just makes me madder. “I haven’t had my phone on me.”

“All week?”

I shrug, looking away. Anywhere but at him.

The diner’s owner comes to the table before I can sulk anymore.

“I thought you were out of town again,” Judy says, looking at Kaleb.

“He was,” I mutter dryly.

“And now I’m not.” He smiles cheerfully.

Judy looks between everyone at the table. “You want the usual order?”

“I’m suddenly not hungry.” I shake my head.

Kaleb tuts. “You need to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” I snap.

Why does he make me so mad?

This past week has been quiet and peaceful. Boring and sad. Lonely. The fact that I missed the asshole raises my temperature more than sitting next to him does.

Kaleb leans his head back on the booth and groans. A rush of images floods my brain. What we did that night. The way he gripped my hips, the grunts he made.

I feel my face flush, heat searing through me. My chest feels tight.

I fucked him.

I had sex with Kaleb.

Guilt, disgust, embarrassment, and shame consume me. But it’s what I don’t feel that tips me over the edge. Regret.

“Samantha,” Kaleb whispers. His hand feels heavy and intrusive on my thigh, and even though it’s under the table, I feel exposed.

Do they know?

I spin my head, looking around, but the only people staring are Kaleb, Shelby, and poor Judy. The older woman probably thinks I’ve lost my damn mind.

“Move,” I practically shout, shoving Kaleb in the side.

“Sam,” he tries, but I’m done. I need to leave. “Samantha,” he says again in a tone I recognize as my last warning.

Stop now, or I’ll have a red ass.

If I wasn’t in the middle of a breakdown, I’d listen, but I am, so instead, I shuffle toward the end of the bench, pushing my body against his.

The fucker barely moves. I hate him more.

“Sorry about that.” Kaleb smiles at Judy like I’m not making a scene. He reaches for his wallet.

Judy waves him off when he tries to pass her two fifties.

“For today and last week,” he explains.

Closing my eyes, I count to ten and take a deep breath. I feel a buildup behind my eyelids, and I need to get out of here before they come.

“You had three orders of waffles.”

“I hear that granddaughter of yours is having braces fitted next month.” I feel him shrug.

“Sooner,” Judy chats. “She’s not looking forward to it, a little self-conscious.”

“She’s at that age. They’ll be off before she knows it.”

I hear Judy agree before someone calls out from another table.

“I owe you a meal, Shelbs.”

“It’s okay,” my best friend replies, her voice wavering. Even she thinks I’ve lost it.

I feel her eyes on me. What is she thinking? A few days after Kaleb left last week, I panicked and told her everything. She sat and listened. Never judged, at least not out loud. She even made sure I got home safe after I drank a bottle of wine alone.

But I haven’t seen her since. She’s been busy. Or she thinks you’re a freak who fucked her own brother.

He’s not my brother!

The first tear makes its escape.

Kaleb’s hand slides along my lower back to my right hip, where it stays.

“Come on,” he urges softly, encouraging me out of the booth after him.

My body shivers at the touch, igniting. My heart pounds in my chest, matching the pulse in my clit.

Another tear spills.

Kaleb keeps his hand anchored, leading me out to the parking lot.

“My car’s over here.”

His words are a mental slap, and I stagger away from him.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I shake my head.

“I lied.” I sniffle. “Earlier,” I explain, wiping the back of my hand under my nose.

My voice is thick with tears. “I had my phone, and I just didn’t want to talk to you.

Ignoring thirty calls should have been a clue,” I say, my voice raising.

“Stop calling, and stop texting. Leave me the fuck alone, Kaleb.”

I hate myself, and he should hate me too.