“We are going out. I already told you,” he finally answered. “With a friend of mine.”
Kinsley didn’t say anything immediately as Jarred turned down a street, his jaw clenched tightly. He was on edge, concerned about his growing feelings for Kinsley and the fact that this farce of an engagement was no longer just a farce. At least not for him. “You’ll like Turner,” he added. “He’s not a bad fellow.”
“Jarred,” she said softly, looking over at him with concern on her face. “Why are you doing this? Is this about this morning? We should probably talk about—”
Christ, he could still taste her, sweet and spicy. Jarred cleared his throat, wishing he had an answer to just fire back at her. Hell, he wasn’t sure why he was going to these lengths. So, he went with what he considered as the truth. “I want to spend time with you. Is that a crime?”
She didn’t say anything as he pulled into the parking lot and shut off the engine, climbing out before he lost his nerve and took her home. He rounded the back of the car as Kinsley was climbing out, pinning her against the car with his body before she could take a step forward. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise as he reached out, cupping her cheek with his hand. “I’m sorry,” he said roughly. “I shouldn’t be an ass.” The day’s events, the meetings with his parents, still had him on edge and he was taking it out on the one person that had stood up for him today.
She wet her lips, giving him a small smile. “Well your day didn’t start out very well.”
“Actually, it started freaking fantastic.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “I could taste you all day, spicy on my tongue,” he said softly, his thumb stroking her soft cheek. “Thank you for what you said to my father this morning.” God, he wanted to kiss her again so badly. She had done something that no one else had ever done for him, not even Susan.
“It’s the truth,” she answered. “Why can’t you see that?”
Surprised, Jarred looked at her. “What?” he asked, a sudden pain in his chest appearing out of nowhere.
Kinsley shrugged. “I mean, you can be that person Jarred. I believe you already are, to tell you the truth, but you just have to show it.”
Shaken, Jarred stepped back, releasing her so that she wouldn’t see the way her words had affected him. She had so much faith in him and it was frightening. “How did you know about the cars and the sketches?”
“Jarred.” Her voice shook. “I saw them in your flat that first night we met. They were really good.”
Jarred turned to see Turner approaching, a petite redhead with glasses on his arm. “Bugger off. I didn’t think you were ever going to get here,” Turner said as he reached them. “Ms. Wells. It’s a pleasure.”
“Kinsley, please,” Kinsley replied, sticking out her hand. “You must be Turner.”
“This is Mary,” Turner said, a grin on his face as he introduced his date, who was looking at them both curiously. “We, ah, work together.”
“I’m the broad that keeps him in check,” Mary supplied, laughing as she shook both of their hands. “Mary Blisser. Nice to meet you both.”c Jarred liked her immediately. Turner looked so fucking happy that Jarred felt that his friend was going to burst open at any moment. Did he look that way around Kinsley? Bloody hell.
“Well, shall we get our bowl on then?” Turner was saying, referring to the bowling alley behind them. Jarred’s plan wasn’t his normal nightly fare but something fun, that he hadn’t done in quite a while.
“I love bowling,” Kinsley answered, looking up at Jarred. He took in her smiling expression and wanted to kiss the hell out of her right then and there. Screw Turner. Susan had never looked at him like that. She would have wrinkled her nose, complained about everything in bloody London if he’d dragged her to something like this. Jarred forced a tight smile, reaching down to grab her hand instead. He needed to touch her, to assure himself that this was very real and not just some weird dream. “Well, let’s not wait any longer then.”
16
She was having fun. The realization hit her as she threw the ball down the lane, watching as it knocked down a few pins before turning around to give Jarred a high five. Jarred had loosened up as well, her earlier concerns that something was really wrong now in the back of her mind. He grabbed her around the waist and spun her around, making her laugh aloud. She liked this Jarred.
“Stop,” she said, lightly hitting his shoulder so that he would put her down. He grinned and kissed her forehead before doing so, grabbing his ball to set up for his turn. Kinsley had noted that tonight he’d been more touchy feely than ever, like he was really wanting to do it. After all, she was sure that Turner knew the truth about their arrangement. She sat down next to Turner, finding Jarred’s friend very likeable. He was the complete opposite of Jarred and Kinsley was really surprised that they were friends.
“So you think he will get another gutter ball?” Turner said as they watched Jarred wait for the lane to be cleared of pins. “Jarred is horrid at bowling.”
“It shows,” she giggled, looking up at Jarred’s score. It was truly dreadful.
“You know, I think he loves you,” Turner said softly as Jarred started his approach to the lane. “You make him happy.”
Kinsley’s throat seemed to close up then, unable to find the words to refute that claim. She wanted to be the one to make him happy. Jarred deserved happiness. “I—I,” she started. Turner chuckled, laying a hand on her arm briefly.
“Don’t worry, he doesn’t know it yet, but he will. Just … He’s my best mate, the only person I trust in this miserable world. Please don’t hurt him.”
“I won’t,” Kinsley said softly, watching as Jarred rolled the ball down the lane before walking back toward them, a frown on his handsome face. She didn’t want to hurt him. Jarred had been hurt enough in his life. She wanted to be that person that made it all better for him.
“Hey you got two pins,” Turner announced as Mary came up to stand beside his chair. “That’s got to be a record.”
“Bugger off,” Jarred muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I never liked this damn game anyway.”
“You only don’t like it because you are horrid at it,” Turner laughed, looking at Kinsley. “Maybe you should teach him a thing or two. You’re pretty good at this bowling thing.”
Kinsley blushed as she looked up at the scores, seeing that she was in the lead. She and Rachel had bowled as kids, spending Friday nights wasting their time in a place just like this.
“As long as they’re private lessons,” Jarred announced, giving her a wink. “Then I don’t mind.”
Private. Kinsley wanted to be with him privately, again. Feeling his tongue on her heated folds. She wanted to explore his body, make him grin and laugh more and lose those shadows in his eyes. Never in her life had she wanted anyone as much as she wanted Jarred right now. The thought was terrifying.
They finished the game and turned in their equipment, walking out into the crisp night air. Kinsley walked close to Jarred, her arm brushing against his as they made their way to the car. “Let’s go to the club,” Mary announced, her arm around Turner’s waist. “I want to dance.”