Page 29 of Husband to Go
“Exactly,” she gestures. “I can do a total of jack shit with all the ‘we’ll sees’ you’ve been giving me. Tanner,” her voice gets a lot more serious all of a sudden. “Do you understand what’s going on?”
“I do,” I say, arching an eyebrow at her. “Trust me, I get it.”
She looks into my eyes, that brown gaze searching.
“But do youreally? Do you know what’s at stake for me? Veronica is my mother, andyouare her fiancé. I don’t want to be caught in the middle of this because, at the end of the day, I don’t want to get hurt.”
“I’m not trying to hurt you.”
She huffs and crosses her arms over her generous chest.
“That’s not good enough, Tanner. That’s an empty promise.”
She’s mad and making to turn away from me, but I don’t want her to walk out of my life. How I got to this point, I don’t know, but the instinct to stop her is strong because Kylie has managed to get herself deep into my brain. It feels like insanity. I’ve never been so invested in a woman before, and yet, there could be no one more inappropriate.
Moving on impulse, I grab onto her arm, my big palm enclosing her small wrist. She looks back at me, eyes wide and questioning. I don’t say anything, instead pulling her close. Her hand goes to my chest, fingers digging into my shirt.
Before she can move away, I bring my mouth down on hers. The moment our lips touch, the noise from the club fades away, and it’s just me and Kylie. A surprised noise comes from her throat before she relaxes in my arms, and I slip my tongue between her lips. She’s plush, heavenly and so goddamn responsive. She mewls a bit into my mouth and I deepen the kiss.
But then her hands push me away, shoving against my broad chest. She wriggles out of my arms and puts some space between us.
“What are you doing?” she gasps with shock, eyes wide. It’s not surprising. I almost can’t believe I did this myself.
“I’m …,” I start, but trail off.
“People are going to see! We’re at your bachelor party. My mom is over there,” she points, “and you’re just, just –,” she gets all frustrated, her face going red.
“Kylie.”
“No! This is too much. I can’t get caught up in all of this again.”
That doesn’t bother me in the least.
“Let them see.”
She looks at me with confusion. Her head tilts, eyes going wide again.
“I don’t understand.”
I shrug, heaving my broad shoulders.
“Forget everyone else. Forget being afraid of getting caught. What doyouwant?”
“What do you mean, what do I want?”
I pin her with my blue gaze.
“Look, I know I’ve been a little insensitive with this whole thing, but things are what they are, and I don’t want you to run away.”
Oh shit. My feelings are starting to come out, and that’s not what I want. Quickly, I try to cover.
“Listen, if you’re worried about privacy, I’m going to go to the hallway at the back of the club. No one’s there. If you want to keep talking, meet me there in about ten minutes. No one will notice. These fools are too busy having fun,” I say, gesturing to the half-naked, gyrating people around us. Frankly, the disco ball and flashing lights are so distracting that I doubt anyone can even see.
“I don’t know,” she hedges, biting her lip. Kylie clearly doesn’t trust me and I don’t blame her as I’ve given her no reason to. That’s something I want to change.
“Just let me explain myself. Give me a chance. We’ll talk once we’re alone.”
She looks at me with caution.