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“Yeah, but you didn’t kiss me.”

Exhaling a sigh, I shrug. “I kissed you back.”

“I know.”

“And didn’t you get something better than a kiss from me?” My gaze goes to the couch and then back to his face.

He catches my hands in his and puts them against his chest. “Sex with you is never anything but fantastic. I’d trade a lot of things, most things in fact, for that. But it’s not a replacement for being kissed by you.”

A lump wedges itself in my throat, and my fingernail scratches his t-shirt where it lies over his heart. “Is there a little piece of the boy I knew left inside you?”

“Must be,” he whispers.

“Then this kiss is for him.” Slanting my mouth against Trick’s, my tongue slides in and caresses his.

His hands tighten their grip on mine, but otherwise he doesn’t move.

I lean in, making the kiss last, and I feel it in my chest, where my heart beats and where the best memories are buried.

When his phone rings, he ignores it. It’s not until I finally break the kiss that he opens his eyes. Exhaling against his lips, I whisper, “Of anyone, you’re my favorite person to kiss.”

“Likewise.”

His phone begins ringing again, vibrating in his pocket.

“I guess you should answer.” Stepping back, I look around, wondering whether I should give him some privacy.

He swipes the screen and raises it to his ear. “Yeah?” Listening a moment, his expression hardens. “Have him sit in my booth. I’ll be down in a minute.” Lowering the phone, Trick’s thumb taps the screen to end the call.

“Problem?”

“Nah. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

I go to the couch and sit, but I’m not planning to wait long. Things with him are pretty much careening out of control. My resolve where Trick’s concerned is shaky, and he always seems to exploit that, steamrolling my objections whenever it suits him. I wasn’t supposed to be coming to Coynston to spend the weekend with him. Monet’s fragile and needs support. The best thing for me and my family will be if I spend the night at my parents’ house.

Trick’s disappeared down the stairs, and I let a few moments pass before I follow him. Rounding the corner and entering the main part of the bar, I glance in his booth and see Trick talking to Jack Murphy from the poker game. There are a couple of other men, handsome and closer to Trick’s age, in the booth with them.

Trick’s talking, but he stops when I pass. Before I reach the front door, an arm comes around me, corralling me back against a muscular body.

“What do you think you’re doing?” His voice has that hard-edged dominance from earlier.

Looking over my shoulder, I give him a small smile. “I’m needed at home, so it’s time for me to go.”

He frowns. “All right. Let’s get you home.” Lacing his fingers through mine, he takes the lead.

When we reach the front door, he opens it and looks around outside. Then he draws me out with him.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I’ll ride with you to your parents’ place, and one of my guys will pick me up from there. Once you’re in the house you’ll stay there ‘til morning, Laurelyn. We’re clear on that, right?”

“Yes. I don’t plan to go back out tonight. But what about your meeting with Jack Murphy and those other men?”

“If Murphy wants to talk to me, he’ll wait ‘til I get back. Otherwise he can fuck off back to Boston.”

“Are you sure though that you want to drive all the way to the hill? You can just walk me to my car and once I’m locked inside—”

“No, I’m going.” His eyes aren’t on me when he says this; they’re scanning the parking lot and the surrounding streets.