Her Kind of Man (9 page)

T
he smell of bacon wafted to Kent's nose. “I'll call you back, Roc,” he said, ending the call. He'd spent the last twenty minutes talking to Morgan on the phone. His brother agreed with the girls that he should wait before charging down to Cleveland. At the same time, Morgan said he was down for whatever Kent needed.

Even though it wasn't what he wanted, he'd decided to give it a few days at least. It had been less than twenty-four hours since Allina had left Isaac. The situation might blow over after a few days, once Isaac realized Allina wasn't coming back to him. Then they could put this behind them once and for all. But if the minister decided to step up his threats, nobody would be able to stop Kent from getting to Isaac.

He walked toward the kitchen, taking in the smell. It had been a while since someone had cooked in his house, as he preferred to order in or mooch off his family. While he could prepare a few easy dishes, he didn't enjoy cooking by any means. But he loved to eat, and Allina could throw down in the kitchen.

As he rounded the corner, he caught a glimpse of Allina bobbing her head and flipping the thick-cut bacon he'd purchased at the store earlier.

“Smells good,” he said.

She let out a yelp of surprise, whirling around, fork in hand. “You scared me. I guess my mind was on the task at hand.”

He peeked into the pot of buttery grits. “You're going all out.”

“I made you coffee, too.”

Damn, she's good
. Kent wasn't used to this. Having a woman in his home, cooking in his kitchen—something about it felt right. “How did you know I needed some?”

She grinned at him and he felt the corners of his mouth turn up into a smile.
God, she's beautiful
. From her toes, painted with a soft pink polish, to those damn yoga pants. Even that plain white T-shirt looked amazing on her. What he especially loved was her hair, wild and free.

“I figured caffeine was in order. You left so fast earlier.” She leaned against the countertop. “I know you're upset and you have every right to be. You're a fixer. You like to
handle
things.”

They both stood there for a moment. The silence between them made the crackling sound of the pork frying seem to echo in the room. She'd called him a fixer, like he was a male Olivia Pope. Really he just wanted her to be okay. His desire was to handle things for her, chase her fears away.

“You were right. I'll wait. It doesn't make any sense to go down there and confront him right now. The only thing that will do is tip him off to your location, and we don't want to do that.”

“More importantly, I don't want to have to worry about you,” Allina added, before she turned around and transferred the crispy bacon from the pan to a plate on the counter. “Breakfast is ready.”

A few minutes later, they were seated across from each other at his small table. The silence from earlier had returned and neither of them spoke as they ate their food. The only sound in the room was the clink of silverware against their plates. Throughout the years he'd known Allina, silence was rarely uncomfortable for them. They'd spent hours doing nothing together, just enjoying each other's presence. No words had to be spoken. Now the lack of conversation did nothing but amplify his thoughts—about the situation, but mostly about her.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, he said, “I thought maybe we could go to the store and pick you up a few more things later. I have to work at the Ice Box tonight, and if you're up to it, I'd like you to come with me.”

The thought of leaving Allina alone when she was so vulnerable made his stomach clench with tension. He'd feel better if she was with him, where he could keep an eye on her.

After they'd opened their bar, the group had decided to make sure at least one of the owners was present during the weekend. They had competent management on staff, but Syd had suggested it would benefit them in the long run if they remained hands-on. It was his turn.

“I'd like that,” she said. “I don't want to stay here by myself.”

He instantly relaxed. “Good. Do you have a specific store you want to go to?”

She placed a hand on top of his. “Kent, you don't have to keep buying me things. I have money. My father gave me a check.”

“I don't mind. The bank won't open until Monday morning.” He flipped his hand over and squeezed hers. “Besides, what are you going to do for clothes? The bank may put a hold on the check, preventing you from accessing the funds for a while. You can't walk around in the same outfit every day. I have the money, so why not let me do that for you?”

It was refreshing to do for someone who didn't expect it. Most of the women he met were focused on what he was going to do for them, all the while glossing over what they could offer him. In his opinion, the worst type of woman was one who thought that because she looked good, he owed her the world. Looks faded fast and so did his attention.

She dropped her gaze. “I appreciate it, I really do. Thank you again. I'll pay you back as soon as possible.”

“Okay, but there's no rush. I'm not going anywhere.”

Allina got up and carried her dishes over to the sink. She turned on the faucet and filled up the basin with water. “I'm going to clean up and get ready to go to the store.”

He finished up his plate and joined her at the sink. Not thinking, he dropped his mug into the dishwater, splashing the soapy water on Allina. She screeched and stumbled back. He reached for her, sensing she was getting ready to fall. Instead of preventing her fall, she ended up pulling him with her and they both landed on the floor, her on her back and him on his side.

“Ouch,” she groaned from her where she lay on the tile. “That hurt.” She wiped her face and pushed her hair back, leaving a few suds on her face.

He chuckled. “That was…clumsy.”

She laughed then. “It was crazy. How did I fall? There was no water on the floor.” She pointed at him. “It was your fault.”

He grabbed her finger. “It was not my fault you can't stay on your feet.”

She flicked some remaining soap on him. It was a running joke with their crew. Syd was dramatic, Cali had no filter, and Allina was clumsy as hell. It didn't matter where they were or what they were doing, Allina always seemed to get hurt.

Before he knew it, they were both laughing in earnest. She turned to him. “I needed this.”

He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Glad I could help. I've never met anyone who is more accident-prone than you.”

She grinned, her eyes gleaming. “Hey. Don't say that.”

He stood up and held out a hand to her. When she placed her tiny palm in his, he pulled her to her feet.

Brushing off her clothes, she murmured, “My body is already sore from that run. Now my back is throbbing.”

“Maybe you should go lie down for a little bit before we go to the store,” he suggested. “I have a heating pad somewhere if you need it.”

She waved him off. “I'm good.” Peering up at him, she smiled again. A wide grin. “I need to keep moving.”

Kent observed her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dancing and he found himself inching closer to her. A piece of her hair was stuck to her forehead and he pushed it to the back.

“I must look crazy,” she said, smoothing a hand over her hair.

One of the things Kent found so attractive about Allina was her sultry, deep voice. She talked like she was singing a lullaby. It was low, even, and sexy as hell. And what made it even better was she had no idea it could have an effect on a man.

As if he had no power or control to stop himself, he leaned closer. She peered up at him and froze. Instead of retreating, she stayed where she was, her eyes on his. The air changed in that instant. He brushed her cheek with his thumb and she gasped. Their noses were almost touching. He knew he should step back, walk away, but he couldn't. His body had a mind of its own.

His nose bumped into hers. Her breath still smelled like the honey from her tea. It was warm against his skin. He wanted to kiss her, more in that moment than ever before. Then her lips brushed against his. It wasn't a full-on kiss, but enough to make him want more. He framed her face with his hands and kissed the corner of her mouth, enjoying her sharp intake of breath. She squeezed his biceps, her nails digging into the sensitive skin.

“Kent,” she whispered. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Do you want me to?” he asked, unable to keep his eyes off her mouth. It was amazing how one simple touch had opened up the box that labeled them “very close friends.” He imagined how it would feel to really taste her, to feel her tongue against his, to touch her the way he wanted.

But then where would that leave them? Confused and awkward around each other? Allina wasn't just any woman. He couldn't do her first and ask the hard questions later, because she deserved better than that. They had never really talked about sex with each other before, but knowing her the way he did, he figured she was careful about who and what she did. Being with her, or even kissing her, was a game changer.
But, damn-it, I want to
.

Sighing, he stepped back. He scratched his head. “I'm sorry. This isn't right. We better get going.”

Then he left her standing there in the kitchen.

The car ride was silent and Allina was getting antsy. It had been hours since they'd almost kissed in the kitchen. Things hadn't been the same since. He still took her to the store and bought her more than enough clothing, as well as other things she needed. But their ease with each other had been disrupted and replaced with stolen glances and forced space between them. The conversation consisted of trivial, surface talk—about weird people in the mall, the basketball game that he wanted to watch, and food.

“Do you mind if we go straight to the Ice Box?” he asked softly. “I want to be there before happy hour.”

She gripped the sides of her legs. “I don't mind. I can chill out in a booth and sketch while you're working.” Among the things he'd purchased was a sketch pad. She rarely went anywhere without one. Over the years, she'd filled many and kept them safely locked away in a chest at her parent's house. She'd used them to design gowns, but they also served as a journal. In her haste to get out of Cleveland, she'd left her current one behind in the suitcase at the church.

It was the little things that Kent did, things that she hadn't even thought of, that made him so irresistible. Just the fact that he'd thought to replace her sketch pad and even get her a purse big enough to hold it made her love him even more.

“Sounds like a plan.”

What possessed me to try to kiss him
? Even now, she couldn't believe she'd made the first move.
I broke us
. Covering her face, she wondered if Syd was home. Maybe he could drop her off over there. At least then she wouldn't have to be in the same room, watching him flirt shamelessly with the female patrons or smile at the petite waitresses.

Admittedly, Allina didn't have much experience with men, but it felt like Kent wanted her. The way he looked at her, touched her, made her dizzy.
And brazen, apparently.
But look where that had ended—with her standing alone in the kitchen. The fact that he'd walked out and left her standing there still stung.

“Allina?” he said, his voice low. “I think we should talk about what happened earlier.”

Did she want to hear that it was a mistake? A lapse in judgment on his part? It would crush her and she'd been through enough. She couldn't take any more rejection from him.

“No, we shouldn't,” she blurted out.

He frowned and shot her a quick glance. “I think that—”

“Kent,” she said. “It's fine. No big deal.”
Yeah, right
. She rolled her eyes. “Besides, nothing happened. Let's just forget it.”

Only she couldn't forget it. Just that little interaction was ingrained in her memory. It was tangible, not a simple dream or fantasy. She'd actually felt his breath against her skin, his hands caressing her. Since he'd walked away from her, she hoped her attempt at blowing it off would keep him from saying anything else about it.

She shifted so that he couldn't see her face. She stared outside, tried to focus on the cars and the buildings.

“Lina,” he said after a few moments. “I realize that things are awkward. That's the last thing I want.”

“You made it that way,” she murmured.

“What?”

“Well, you did stop talking to me, and you left me standing there looking like a fool.”

“To who? There was nobody there.”

She felt the car slow, then stop at a light. “It doesn't matter. You almost kissed me and…you walked away. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” They pulled into the parking lot at the bar, and he stopped the car. “Can you please turn around and look at me?”

She held her chin up high. “I don't need to. You've made it perfectly clear, more than once, that there can never be anything more between us than what is. My bad for assuming things might have changed.”

“Wait a minute. Wasn't it
you
who was on her way down the aisle yesterday?”

Ouch
. “You don't have to keep bringing that up,” she hissed. “I'm very aware of my predicament, thank you very much.”

He exhaled. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that.” She opened her mouth, but he held a hand up. “But you're on the rebound from a serious relationship—no matter how it ended.”

As much as she hated to admit it, he had a point. If she hadn't walked into the church when she had, she would already be married and on her honeymoon. In her defense, though, what she felt for Kent had never changed. She just thought it was a lost cause. Obviously, she was right. She'd practically put a sign on her face that said “kiss me” and he didn't bite.