Jasper grinned at my position and I grinned at his.
“Don’t mind us, we’re uh, just getting back from our date,” Jasper gushed.
“Mmm-hmm.” I nodded. “I can see that. Your legs broken?”
Jas smiled wide and waggled his brows. “Too tired to walk. You know how it is. Riding on the back of that bike and all.”
“Brother, what are you doing here?” Lincoln asked, allowing Jasper to slide down his body but kept him close when his feet touched down.
“Walking Isa to her door,” he responded deftly.
“Yeah, I can see that with you sitting with her in your lap and her skirt around her waist. Cute purple panties, Izzy. Though I prefer something more in the boxer brief variety myself.” Lincoln ran his nose down Jasper’s ear and neck.
I shoved my skirt back down around my legs, covering myself, heat flushing my cheeks and neck.
My friend shivered then boldly announced, “And what about commando?”
Lincoln stood stalk still. “You telling me there’s nothing under those skinny jeans?” he grumbled low in his throat.
Oh, boy. This was about to get heated.
Jasper smirked at me then turned to the man who still had his arms wrapped around him. “Guess you’re gonna have to find out now, aren’t you?” He spun around and sashayed toward his apartment door.
I watched as Lincoln’s hands clenched into fists and he stood still, breathing deeply. It was obvious he was trying to rein in his control. I found it wildly interesting and couldn’t wait to quiz Jasper about it later.
Oddly, Lincoln lifted up his arm and looked at his wrist. “Brother, it’s eleven fifteen.” He tapped on the face of his watch with a finger before heading up the stairs after Jasper.
Kyson jerked up and I stumbled off his lap rather inelegantly.
“Shit, Isa baby, I gotta go.” His tone was off the charts worried.
I frowned. “What? Again with this? Why?”
He shook his head. “Told you we needed to talk, but now I don’t have the time. I’m late as it is.” He cupped the nape of my neck, tugged me forward and laid a hard and fast kiss to my lips. “Babe, had the best time. Plan to have more of it.”
“But... I don’t understand.” My mouth continued to move but no words came out. I was truly speechless.
“Honey, I can’t explain right now, but you’ll understand soon. We’ll talk tomorrow. See you in the morning, yeah?” His gaze held mine and I nodded my head as my shoulders slumped.
“Sure thing. Whatever works, Kyson. Go. You’re late,” I stated flatly.
He sighed deeply, turned on his kick-ass motorcycle boots and left me standing there. Usually, he’d walk me up to my place and make sure I locked the door before he left. Obviously, there was something happening that was making him late. For what? I didn’t know. I sure as hell planned on finding out tomorrow.
No more secrets.
No more bailing on our dates when he had me all hot and bothered.
No more. I’d had it. Tomorrow, for better or worse, I was sitting him down and getting to the heart of whatever it was he was hiding.
* * *
Unfortunately, tomorrow came with the delivery of the big appliances. A huge truck pulled up in front of the building in the center of the road right at six in the morning instead of 2:00 p.m. when they were supposed to arrive. Thankfully, Lincoln had stayed the night with Jasper and was Johnny-on-the-spot to handle the team and get all the equipment in place.
Much to my irritation, Kyson was nowhere to be found.
For the next few hours Jasper, Lincoln, the three guys from the delivery company and I painstakingly dragged in each piece. Then we had to ensure that the wiring, exhausts, electrical connections, heating and cooling units were all a go. The silver lining was that we’d already stripped and tiled the entire space where the equipment would go so we wouldn’t have to move it all again.
By noon Kyson walked in with a white bag and a drink carrier, looking distractedly handsome. A frown marred his features, and his eyes were dead-set on Lincoln. Me, I was still reeling from last night. I desperately wanted him to look at me so I could skewer him with my laser glare and demand to have our talk, as well as find out where the hell he’d been this morning.
When he entered the kitchen area he looked around then his frown turned upside down. “Excellent. They arrived early. I was worried they’d be late, and it would put off the grand opening.”
I put my hands on my hips and Jasper wiped sweat from his brow. “Dude, why are you not on the floor on your knees groveling after the crap you pulled last night,” he demanded on my behalf.
Kyson jerked his head back as though Jasper slapped him.
“Pretty boy, don’t get involved. You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lincoln warned.
Jasper circled his head and glared at Kyson. “I know my girl went to bed alone. I know my girl didn’t get a wink of sleep as shown by the ugly blue-and-purple smudges under her eyes, which I also know was because hunk-a-licious left her ass hanging in the breeze. A-gain! Then you prance in here looking all hot and brooding while we’ve been to hell and back getting this equipment in here.”
“Jasper, stop. Kyson, I need to speak to you,” I requested.
“What’s this about you not sleeping and me groveling, babe?” His words came as a warning not as a question. “I’ve been on a job since first light. A job where one of my best guys fell off a seventeen-foot scaffolding and broke his back, several of his ribs and his pelvis. My phone stopped working sometime in the night and I couldn’t call any of you. I had to borrow a phone just to call the goddamned ambulance and Frank’s wife!”
“Fuck!” Lincoln cursed.
Kyson didn’t stop. “So excuse me if I wasn’t here to deal with your appliance delivery. But I knew you had Lincoln, not to mention the men who were sent to deliver and help install the items.” He tossed the bag on the beat-up counter we’d yet to remove and set the drinks down more softly, yet liquid still splashed out and onto the counter. “Picked up lunch after I spent the last few hours in the hospital consoling Frank’s wife and kids.” He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. “You know what, I don’t need this shit. Not today. Not ever,” he sneered and stormed to the back door. He shoved it open so hard I heard the jarring thunk of it hit the brick wall on the outside before it slammed shut.
“Kyson!” I called out and started after him.
Lincoln stopped me with a hand around my biceps. He shook his head. “I’ll go. When he’s like this, his temper can be bad. He’ll lash out and say shit he doesn’t mean.”