Nailed (5 page)

River explained the whole thing about the deal with Rapture.

“Oh, wow. Yeah, that is a tough one. I don’t know how you can turn something like that down.” Tia stared at River. “If you want, I’ll go with you when you meet him.”

*   *   *

The rest of the afternoon whizzed by for River, with a constant flow of customers. Luckily, she got more than five people to sign up for the text program, so Louise gave her no more grief. By four o’clock when she went off shift, she was exhausted. She said good-bye to Tia, then just headed to the food court for something to eat, too tired to face making something at home.

“Hey, you’re not having dinner with your boyfriend?”

She glanced up from her tray of food to see the guy who’d hit on her in the store the other day standing beside her in line. Her heart started to pound.

“Not tonight.”

“Well, instead of eating that crap, why not join me for dinner? We could go out for Italian.”

“No, thank you.” Her hands balled into fists in her lap.

Some guys just didn’t get the message.

He scowled. “You really are a bitch.”

She stared at his back as he strode away, trying to calm her breathing. She’d learned to hold her ground, but confrontations like that always triggered memories of her mother’s male friends. They would leer at her and … sometimes more …

A shiver rippled through her, but she pushed away the memories.

She ripped open the catsup package and squeezed out a red puddle onto her cheeseburger wrapper, then dipped in a fry.

Kane had never filled her with apprehension like most men did. That one incident … she’d been reacting to the situation, not him.

Go figure. The one man she’d let her guard down with had done the most damage.

First year of college—Spring semester

River walked out of the chemistry exam drained. She was a good student, but she found exams intimidating and stressful. It was seven p.m. and all she wanted to do was go back to her room and crash.

Then she saw Kane walking toward her.

“Hi. How did you do?” he asked.

She nodded. “Okay, I think. Thanks.” She kept walking.

He fell into stride beside her. “I wanted to talk to you about last night. I wanted to say I’m sorry again.”

“Thanks.” She kept walking, hoping he’d get the hint and move on.

“I was really hoping you’d come to the party with me tonight.”

“I told you last night—”

“I know you did, but you were mad, and I understand why, but I was hoping you would change your mind.” He took her hand and drew her to a stop. “Look, I’m not a bad guy. Won’t you give me another chance?”

Then he gave her that heart-stopping smile of his. She couldn’t help but stare into his indigo eyes and was struck by the sincerity she saw there.

She shook her head. “I’m really tired…”

“That’s probably just low blood sugar. You’ll have a slice of pizza at the party and be as good as new.” His smile broadened. “Really. You’re not going to let me go there without a date, are you? Think of my reputation.”

She couldn’t help smiling. She knew as well as he did that no one would care if he had a date or not. Even if bringing a date was important, which it wasn’t, he could get any girl he wanted. Anytime.

But for some reason, right now he wanted her.

“Okay, maybe I’ll go for an hour or so.”

“Great.” Then he linked his hand with hers, sending her heart into delightful palpitations.

She walked with him to his car.

“If we’ll be drinking, shouldn’t we take the bus?” she asked.

“The party’s near my place, so I’ll drive to my apartment and we can walk from there.”

Once they reached his apartment, they walked a couple of blocks through a nice neighborhood to an old but impressive brick house with a large yard, and loud music blaring from inside. She could barely believe students lived in this neighborhood, but then Kane’s friends all came from money.

They went inside and clearly the party had been going on for a while. Kane led her to the kitchen and sure enough, there were boxes of pizza on the counter. She was starving, since she hadn’t wanted to eat much before the exam. He gave her a large slice on a paper plate and she took a big bite while he grabbed her a vodka cooler and poured it over ice.

She sipped as she watched all the people around them. She recognized a lot of the faces, though they weren’t people she’d ever talked to. A lot of people glanced their way, staring at her as if she didn’t belong … and surprised to see her with Kane. But Kane didn’t seem to notice.

“Hey, Will.” Kane waved to his friend, a tall, sandy-haired guy in a black T-shirt sporting a depiction of an Escher painting. The one with the stairway without end. He glanced their way and smiled, then walked toward them.

“Will, this is River.” Kane said.

“Hi. We’re in the same computer-science class,” Will said.

Unlike the stereotypical computer nerd, who was a small, geeky guy with glasses, Will was broad-shouldered, very muscular, and quite handsome. And his insightful hazel eyes seemed to see right into her soul.

He took her hand and shook it. The warmth of his fingers around hers was … nice.

“That’s right,” she said, a bit timidly. She was surprised he’d noticed her. And she was a little taken aback at his warmth and genuine smile.

“I was telling River that you and I plan to start a business together after graduation,” Kane said.

“Yeah, if I can ever actually graduate.”

“You two go back a long way?” she asked.

“Actually, no,” Will said. “We met here in September, but hit it off. Kane’s not usually the type of guy I hang with. Too stuck up.”

“Thanks, man.”

Will laughed. “But I put up with him.”

“Yeah, anyway. This guy’s brilliant when it comes to anything to do with technology.”

“So why are you worried about graduating?” she asked Will.

“He’s not worried so much as having scheduling issues. His minor is Japanese and the classes are only offered as a full-year credit, but that doesn’t tie in with his co-op placement, which is every four months starting in second year.”

“You speak Japanese?”

“No, but I want to. So much of our culture is affected by manga, anime, video games developed in Japan—”

“Oh, God, don’t get him started.”

“Hey, Kane … Will … what the fuck?” Three guys ambled in their direction, the one talking clearly drunk. “There are chicks crawling all over the place … and I mean falling-down-drunk crawling. What are you boys doing out here when there are woman to get laid?”

“Ya mean to lay,” one of his buddies said. “Or get laid by.” Then he started laughing as if he’d told a hilarious joke.

“Hank, I’m with someone,” Kane said.

Hank, the one who’d spoken first, frowned and gazed in River’s direction.

“What? You’re with the pink-haired freak?”

Chapter Four

River’s chest constricted and she wanted to crawl under the table. At the same time, she noticed anger flare in Kane’s eyes and he leaned forward slightly, as if ready to surge to his feet.

“Hey, Hank,” Will interjected. “Why don’t you guys show me where the keg is? I just got here.”

Hank, whose face had gone pale, dragged his uncertain gaze from Kane’s ferocious stare.

“Yeah, sure, man. It’s out on the deck.” Hank and his two friends headed across the kitchen toward the door leading outside.

“Nice meeting you, River,” Will said with a warm smile, shaking her hand again. Then he turned and followed the others.

“Sorry about those jerks,” Kane said. “I would have slugged him, but it wouldn’t be a fair fight in his condition. And I don’t think you’re the type to be impressed by violence.”

“True.” But a part of her wished he’d done something to stand up for her.

As they finished their pizza, she felt all the more conspicuous. People came and went, passing through the kitchen to the deck to get refills from the keg and it seemed everyone glanced their way. At the pink-haired freak with popular Kane. A trio of girls passed by, giggling and glancing at her.

She started to fidget, wishing she was anywhere but here.

“Finished?” Kane asked.

She nodded and he took her hand and led her through the crowded kitchen into the living room. People were everywhere, chatting, dancing, laughing. River wasn’t used to parties and found it loud and overwhelming. Kane must have sensed her discomfort because he led her down a hallway, then opened a door. Inside was a pool table and an air hockey table. Four guys were playing air hockey, but the pool table was free.

Kane picked up two pool cues from the rack on the wall and handed her one.

“Do you play?” he asked.

“No, I’ve never really had the chance.”

He placed the white ball on the table and took the first shot, dispersing the balls. He took her hand and drew her to the side of the table near the white ball, then positioned himself behind her, telling her how best to take the shot. Then his arms came around her so he could help her line it up. But the heady scent of his aftershave filled her nostrils, and the warmth of his body so close, and the feel of his arms entwining with hers, made her knees weak. He helped her take the shot, keeping her steady. She sank one ball.

He helped her with the next few shots, until she got the hang of it, but she found herself longing for him to back her up against the table and lift her onto it, then step between her thighs and …

Oh, God, why was she thinking like that? She’d never … ever … She drew in a breath as he moved away after her shot.

The thought of being with a man, after the leering creeps who had been with her mother … after the time one of them cornered River and started touching her in ways that made her sick with revulsion … She’d just never wanted to. But with Kane … Oh, God, with him she could imagine letting go. Opening to him. Letting the flame of desire he’d ignited inside her flare to a blazing maelstrom.

He won the first game and the second, too, but she was improving. Other people had come in to play so they handed off their cues and walked into the hallway.

“You did great,” Kane said, holding her hand as they walked through the house. “In no time you’ll be pool shark.”

She laughed. “Not likely. Especially since this is the last time I’ll probably be near a pool table for quite a while.”

He stopped and turned her to him. “There’s a pool table in my apartment building.” He smiled. “We could play whenever you like.”

She gazed into his deep blue eyes. Was he really saying that…? He expected to keep seeing her?

Then he leaned in and kissed her. His arms slid around her waist and he drew her close to his warm body, his lips moving softly on hers. All the noise … all the people … dissolved away. All that was real to her were his lips moving on hers. His body pressed tight to hers.

Then their lips parted and he smiled. “Why don’t we go outside and get some fresh air?”

She trailed after him, clinging tightly to his hand as he led her through the swarm of people until they reached a patio door. There was a big deck that wrapped around the house. She could hear a lot of people around the corner, off the kitchen where the keg was. He led her down the steps to the yard. It was a clear night and in the moonlight she noticed the lovely gardens.

“Hey, Kane.” A few girls were sitting on a bench with plastic cups in their hands.

He waved, but led her toward the back gate, which was open. They stepped through to a lovely park beyond.

He smiled. “It’s a little quieter here.”

She nodded, delighted to be alone with him. They walked along the moonlit path, then he drew her to the side, under a large tree, and gently backed her against the trunk. He gazed down at her, his eyes glittering, and stroked her hair behind her ear. The brush of his fingers sent tremors through her and she longed to feel his lips on hers again.

He leaned in and she tilted her face up, anticipating his kiss. Their lips met and her pulse quickened. Her hands slid up his chest to his broad shoulders and around his neck. His mouth moved on hers in a gentle persuasion, then his tongue glided inside, stroking. His solid body pressed her against the bark of the tree and she leaned into him more, wanting this closeness. Loving the feel of his strong arms around her.

When their lips parted, he smiled, his eyes twinkling. He started to lean in for another kiss when they heard voices. His lips brushed hers again but she was nervous, knowing if others had walked into the park, they’d see her and Kane.

“Hey, Winters, gettin’ lucky?” said one guy.

She cringed, clinging to Kane as she peered around him at the three guys walking toward them.

“Yeah, but it can’t be much of a challenge,” said a different guy. “A freak like her is probably hard up.”

Oh, God. Her cheeks flushed and shame consumed her. How stupid she’d been to believe that she could ever have anything real with someone like Kane. He released her and turned around.

“Why don’t you guys get lost?”

She ducked around the tree and strode across the park while Kane was distracted by the three guys. She didn’t hear anything they said over the pounding in her ears. All she knew was that she had to get away from here right now. Away from them.

And away from Kane.

“Hey, River.” Kane was racing after her.

She felt a hand grasp her arm and she tore it away.

Kane caught up and strode along beside her.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his words etched with concern.

Then she realized tears were flowing from her eyes and she dashed them away, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

“Ah, damn. River, please stop.”

This time when he wrapped his hand around her arm, she didn’t pull away, but she didn’t turn toward him, keeping her head down so he wouldn’t see her red eyes.

“Those guys are jerks. I’m sorry what they said hurt you.”

“Why are you spending time with someone like me?” Her words came out thin and coarse.

“What do you mean someone like you? I find you—”

She raised her head and glared at him, her anxiety turning to anger.