I have the satisfaction of seeing Brad’s shell-shocked, almost panicked face. It seems like an extreme reaction, though, especially for a chaste kiss. But who knows what goes on in that man’s mind?
“This isn’t over, Tiger.”
Is he for real? “Yeah, it is.”
Of course we’re over.
We have been for years.
Seventeen
Cash
“Cash?”
“Huh?”
“I asked what’s next?”
We’re moving down the front steps of City Hall. The bright Texas sun heats my skin. But the inferno burning me to ash is because of the woman tucked under my arm.
One foot in front of the other.
One foot in front of the other.
One foot in front of the other.
That’s been my mantra since my lips touched Tiger’s. I’m so off balance that I’m having to concentrate in order to perform basic tasks. It’s ridiculous that a closed-mouth kiss would fulfill all my teenage fantasies. Hell, it fulfilled all my grown man fantasies too. “Um … you tell me how much you need, and I’ll contact my accountant.”
“Just like that?”
I don’t feel bad about the cocky smirk that pulls at my lips. The ability to fund this project is the reward for years of punishment to my body. “Just like that.”
“That’s incredible.”
“Oh, wait. Today’s Friday?”
“Yeah.”
“Then it might be Monday or Tuesday before we can get it all settled. That still works, right?”
“Yes.” She slips out from under my arm. She’s all business now. Gone is the soft female I kissed just a few minutes ago, and in her place is a determined badass woman. “So, I should be able to take it to Miss Clayton early next week.”
“Miss Clayton?”
“Elva Clayton. She owns the land that the rec center sits on. Some of the money is to pay the lease on the land for the next year.”
“I knew the rec center was named after J.B. Clayton, but I didn’t realize the family still owns the land.”
She takes another step away from me, putting more distance between us. “Yes, Elva made the donation of money back in the eighties and requested that it be named after her late father, but she kept possession of the land.”
I slip my sunglasses on to hide my disappointment and annoyance that she so seamlessly switched gears. It’s like we never kissed. And why wouldn’t she behave like that? It was all an act anyway. Plus, at the end of the day, she’s still Tiger Lyons, and I’m still that King boy from Ryder East.
No, damn it. I’m not that same inferior kid anymore. I’m Cash Fucking King, and I can have any woman I want.
“Well …” She glances around like she wants to make a getaway. “That was great. Thank you. But I better get back to work.”
That is, any woman except this one, apparently. I jingle my keys. “I’m your ride … remember?”
“You’re busy.” Her teeth press into her bottom lip. She’s going to chew the thing off if she’s not careful. “I’m sure I can get Maggie to give me a ride back to the house.”
Wow, she really wants to get away from me. Good thing I have a healthy ego, or this woman would have me scheduling an appointment with a therapist immediately. Her insistence on being rid of me only makes me want to mess with her more. “Nope. My schedule is wide open.”
She digs around in her purse and pulls out her phone. “Nonsense.”
A red Corvette whips into a parking spot directly in front of us. The passenger window lowers, and Duke yells, “King, you slacker! Drop and give me twenty.”
I lead Tiger to my best friend’s car. “Slacker, huh? We’ll see who kicks whose ass later.”
Duke unfolds his big body from the ’vette. I swear I don’t know how he fits in there. He’s as big as me, if not bigger. “I think we both know how that’s going to turn out.” Long strides bring him around the front of the car toward us. He extends his hand to Tiger. “John Wayne. My friends call me Duke.”
“Oh, I know who you are.” Tiger giggles like she can’t control her vocal cords.
What the hell?
Duke cocks his head and his brows hike over eyes full of mischief. “Do you now?”
Another fucking giggle slips from the former beauty queen’s mouth, and she’s still holding his hand. “Tiger Lyons.”
“Awesome name.” He breaks the contact, thank God. “How have we both lived in Ryder and never met, Miss Tiger?”
A bright, pink flush passes over the woman’s cheeks. “Oh, you wouldn’t remember me. You were a senior when I was a freshman. But I knew