“This is kidnapping! I’ll have you arrested!” she screams at me, and I pull my hand away from my nose, not fucking surprised at all to see blood on my palm.
Thank God the Turners don’t live far. “This is called making sure you don’t kill anyone. You want to go out? Fine, drive into a fucking pond. But you won’t take anyone else with you.”
She huffs and crosses her arms, slamming her back against my seat. “I hope your face hurts like a bitch.”
I don’t respond, partially because I don’t want to give her the satisfaction, but also because it’s taking all my concentration to not drive us into a ditch. On my way out of town, I pass by the large sign I spent all morning putting up, but this time, I don’t feel the pride I did earlier. Now I’m just pissed off.
Pissed that she’s taking up my time.
Pissed that she ruined my lunch.
And pissed that even through my pain, she smells so fucking good. Her delicate floral perfume fills the cab of my truck as we drive, so I roll down my window, determined to get it the hell out. It does me zero good though because all the wind does is blow more of her perfume in my face and send wisps of blonde hair around her face like a halo.
A hellion with the face of an angel. Isn’t that an apt description?
The Turner’s place spans nearly twenty acres on the outskirts of town. The large two-story sits at the end of their asphalt drive, and as we get closer, I see her dad standing on the porch, arms folded over his chest. Seems Moe was able to get ahold of the Turner patriarch.
Beside me, Kleo stiffens, all party girl from earlier erased in an instant with one look at her father. I’d feel bad for her, but she did it to herself and nearly broke my fucking nose in the process.
I put my truck in park and climb out. Kleo stays where she is, and I wonder if I’m going to have to haul her out of it like I did at Moe’s. As I’m about to walk around to her side, she flings the door open and slams it shut, stalking past us and into the large house.
Al turns to me, sighing and running a hand over the back of his neck. “Thanks for bringing her home.”
“No problem.” I pull my handkerchief out of my pocket and wipe my nose.
“You okay?”
“Headbutted by Kleo while trying to keep her from escaping my truck and driving here,” I tell him honestly.
“Dammit, I’m sorry. Why don’t you come in and get some ice.”
“Nah, It’s feeling better. I’ll just take some meds when I get back to the camp.”
“You sure?”
“Not a problem.” Besides, the initial sting is already subsiding, and there’s no way in hell I want to be anywhere near Kleo.
He glances back at the house, a haunted look in his gaze when it returns to me. “How are things at the Camp?”
“Good. Headed out there now to finish putting together the welcome binders.” I don’t ask him about what Kleo being home means for me. After seeing the ghosted look on his face, I’m not sure he can take much more at the moment. “When the counselors show up, I’ll have everything ready for the team-building.”
“Great, thanks for running it. You do an awesome job.” His tone is soft, almost as though he’s not fully in the conversation. Not that I can blame him, and it doesn’t make his words mean any less.
“Thanks for giving me the chance.” Reaching into my pocket, I withdraw Kleo’s keys and hand them to him. “It’s parked in front of Moe’s.”
He shakes his head angrily and pockets the keys. “Thanks again.”
“No problem. Have a good day, sir.” I head back to my truck and climb in. Reaching over, I roll down the passenger side window so I can hopefully air the rest of her perfume out.
5
Dean
From the outside, Moe’s looks exactly like it did when I left to drive Kleo home. However, as soon as I step inside, I’m greeted with streamers hanging from every possible place and huge bouquets of both balloons and bright, colorful blooms spilling out of glass vases on the bartop.
Moe is there, along with his wife, both busily plating appetizers. Having changed out of his usual uniform and into dress clothes, he looks like a completely different person. I grin. “Nice monkey suit,” I say, setting a wrapped box on a table near the door labeled ‘gifts.’
Moe rolls his eyes. “Pretty sure a monkey suit is a tux, and this is a far cry from a tux.”
“Oh hush, you look wonderful,” Daisy scolds. “And you, that sign you put up for your mom is beautiful.”
I grin. “You saw it?”
“I’m pretty sure anyone who came into town today saw it. Simon going to drive her by it?” she asks and turns to me. “Dean! What happened to your face?”
Moe chuckles, having already heard it firsthand from me when I came in to pay my tab after dropping her off. “He got his ass kicked by Princess Turner.”
Daisy’s eyes widen. “Kleo’s in town?”
“I’m surprised Moe didn’t tell you.” I throw him under the bus as payback for laughing his ass off at me earlier.
“Moe!” She smacks him on the arm, causing him to laugh even harder.
“You should have seen it. He threw her right over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She was so pissed.”
“No wonder she kicked your ass,” Daisy says with a grin.
“First of all, she did not kick my ass. She headbutted me on accident when I wouldn’t let her out of my truck. And second, I wasn’t about to let her leave here and act like an asshole by driving drunk. I’m just glad I didn’t end up with a black eye.”
“Good man,” Daisy says with a slight nod. Sighing, she continues plating my mom’s favorite—pigs in a blanket. “I just wish she could get things together. She’s been such a mess since—”
Moe clears his throat. “When’s your mom supposed to be here?” he interrupts.
I check my watch. “Should be passing by the new sign right now. Ever since when?”
Before she can answer, the door opens, and five of my mom’s closest friends walk in with their spouses. I take a minute to greet them, thanking them all for coming. The door opens again, and Judson walks in with Barbara and Al beside him. To my complete and utter dismay, in saunters Kleo wearing a gorgeous black dress that falls to her knees. Blonde hair up in a bun, she’s a complete vision. A nuisance masquerading as a beautiful woman.
She storms past me, shoulder slamming into my arm, and I stay still, not wanting her to know just how off guard she’s managed to knock me. “Hey, guys, thanks for coming,” I greet, shaking Judson’s hand then Al’s. Barbara leans in to kiss me on the cheek before heading toward the back to talk to Daisy.
Al follows, leaving Judson and me standing alone. “So, I hear you had a run-in with my sister earlier.”
Groaning, I nod. The last damn thing I want to talk about right now is Kleo. “She’s just fucking delightful,” I reply dryly, and Judson throws his head back and laughs, clasping me on the shoulder.
“While she is to me, we all know she’s a far cry from delightful toward you. Or anyone who throws her over their shoulder for that matter. I’m actually surprised you didn’t end up with a black eye.”