The Devil You Know - K.B. Winters Page 0,42
on the balcony. At my obvious discomfort she laughed. “Guess so.”
“Yeah. It’s almost as good as the one I pulled from you.”
It was my turn to enjoy Kat’s reaction, which included red cheeks and blue eyes that darkened with desire at the memory.
“That was impressive,” she admitted. “But so long ago I barely remember it.”
“Just say the word and I’m happy to remind you.” We were both playing with fire, but lately, it seemed as if Kat had forgotten that fact.
She leaned back, a knowing smile on her face as she folded her arms and notched her chin up slightly.
“Word.”
At my stunned expression, she finished off the last of her fries, licked her fingers and slid from the booth. “Just what I thought, you’re all talk, Manning.”
Kat Ashby was an irresistible challenge, one I found harder and harder to ignore. Especially when she threw down the gauntlet like she just had and walked away with that swing in her hips.
“Man you got it bad with a capital B.” Leander stood beside me, snickering like the kid he was, but he wasn’t wrong.
“It’s complicated,” I growled at him even though my anger wasn’t directed at the kid.
“Naw, man, it ain’t. What’s complicated is watching your girl be happy with someone else ‘cause you’re too much of a nutsac go to for her.”
I chuckled. “A nutsac?”
“Yeah, a nutsac.” The kid shrugged. “Pearly said pussies are stronger than a nutsac, and if I didn’t believe her, she had some birthing videos I could watch.” The kid shuddered visibly. “Gettin’ kicked in the nuts hurts, and I don’t even wanna imagine a baby coming out of my dickhole, so nutsac.”
He pointed to where Kat stood chatting with Pearly as she paid the tab. “Don’t be a nutsac, man.”
I must be losing my mind if I was even thinking about taking advice from a high school kid with a crush on my girl.
Not your girl if you keep pushing her away.
Good point. I stood with a determined smile and went to Kat. It was time to shit or get off the pot.
***
“You’ve got some colorful friends, Kitty Kat.” And it only made the woman more likable if that was even fucking possible.
She laughed. “Leander and Pearly, sure, but Rodrigo is as normal as they come.” Her smile for the bistro workers was pure affection, as if she were talking about one of her brothers. “He’s a lot like Emmett, actually.”
“Because of the military thing?” The sun was shining bright and hot outside so I blasted the cool air and maneuvered out of the tight parking area.
“Some, sure. I mean they both carry themselves like they were professional, government-trained bad asses. But they both have this quiet strength that just makes you feel like you can trust them.”
“Is that why you offered so much money to send Emmett food?” I appreciated that she thought of my brother as one of her own, but the woman was a horrible negotiator.
“Yes and no. Emmett’s been down since the fight, and he won’t admit it. I figured some greasy food and someone to talk to might do him some good.”
I felt her gaze on my face as we drove through Glitz back toward the casino. “What are you thinking?”
That I want to find the nearest private spot and bury myself deep inside your sweet little cunt. “That your secret is safe with me, Kat.”
Her dark brows dipped low. “What secret? I don’t have secrets.”
“Sure you do. I won’t tell anyone that you’re actually a fuckin’ marshmallow. Not the big bad girl the world thinks you are.”
She was a lot nicer than she let on and I could see exactly why Madison trusted her.
“Take that back right now, Terry or…else.”
“Or else, what?” Dammit, I told myself, no more flirting with Kat until I decided she was worth risking everything.
“Or else…stop! Look!” I slammed on the brakes and stared at her.
“I’m driving, Kat.”
She let out a low, guttural growl and leaned in close so she could grab my chin in her hand and turn as she saw fit.
“Look. Over there. It’s fucking Ravager, now go!”
I saw him as soon as she swiveled my head and I backed the car up slightly, ignoring all driving laws to make a sharp left.
“Bossy.”
“Are you kidding me? That fucker is lucky if I don’t cram these red-bottomed shoes up his big dumb ass!” Her gaze never left the big man. “Who is that he’s talking to?”
Before the car could come to a complete stop, Kat