Infatuated (7 page)

A
s promised, Kale picked me up the next day and drove me to pick up my cell phone. He waited until we were driving away from the phone place before saying, “So what’s the story behind the phone? My number cursed or something?”

“No story. It fell off the bed and I stepped on it,” I said. It wasn’t a lie…exactly. It had fallen off the bed, and I did step on it. I only left out the minor detail of what caused me to throw it to the bed and fall off, thus getting stepped on.

“The lying thing again, huh?”

“Are you wearing a lie detector or something? Am I?”

He shrugged. “You have a tell, I told you. That sexy eyebrow thing.”

How the hell did you get rid of a tell you didn’t know you had? “Just some prank calls, or maybe wrong numbers.”

His jaw twitched and the hand on the steering wheel tightened. “And the phone?”

“The result of getting pissed,” I said, watching as he tried forcing his hands to relax when he saw me looking. “I threw it to the bed, it fell off, and I forgot about it until I stepped on it yesterday morning.”

“This happened the other night?”

“Yeah. A few minutes after you left.”

“You didn’t think it was me?” His voice sounded strained.

“Calling? At first, yeah. I thought it was a joke, or maybe a bad connection, something. But after the first time? No. I didn’t think you’d do that.”

“Do what?” His jaw clenched.

I looked away. “You know. The usual prank call heavy-breathing thing.”

His head bobbed. He glanced at me with a smile that was clearly forced. “Remind me not to piss you off, okay?”

“I will.” I waited a beat. “And for the record, I’m not the only bad liar.”

“What? I haven’t said anything
to
lie about.”

“Verbally, no. Physically? That’s another story. I’m not the only one with tells, either. You’re pissed, though I don’t think it’s just about the calls.”

“You should have told me about them, Ally. Hell, you should have thought it was me.”

“Why? To both of those things.”

“Because you said you got the calls right after I left? You’d just met me, so your first thought should have been that it was me doing it. It should have stayed there.”

“You’re mad because I didn’t seriously think you’d prank call me?”

“Yes. No.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe,” he said irritably.

“You’re a weird one, Kale. For one, you didn’t have my number—you gave me yours. It took me a second to think remember that. And secondly, you didn’t seem like the type to do that sort of thing, even if you’d had it.”

He shot me another look. “Was it him, then? That Earl guy.”

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t have given him my number.”

“What about Laura? She gave me your work schedule with no questions asked.”

“No. Laura wouldn’t do that.” Would she? “I’ll ask her.”

He nodded stiffly. “Good. You can call her, if you want. I’d feel better knowing, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, maybe.” Except I didn’t think I would feel better. Either she’d given my number to Earl, someone she knew I didn’t like, or he or someone else had gotten it.
You’re being paranoid, Ally. They’re called prank calls for a reason, because they’re pranks.

“Ally?”

“What? Oh, yeah.” I picked up my phone and dialed Laura’s number. She picked up after the second ring, laughing.

“It’s Ally.”

“Hey, girl. What’cha need?”

“Just a quick question. Did you give Earl my number?” I tried to keep my tone neutral but wasn’t sure I’d managed it.

“Is this because I told the cutie from the bar your favorite flower? I saw you kissing him in the bar, so I thought—”

“No, no. That’s fine. He—Kale—is fine. You can tell him what he wants to know.” I shot him a look and saw him grin. “Within reason,” I added, making him frown. “But you didn’t give my number out to anyone?”

“No. You okay?”

I gave her a quick rundown of the prank calls. “Just don’t give it to anyone, okay?”

“Sure, no problem. Oh! Wait. Your mom called me earlier. She said she couldn’t get a hold of you.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll give her a call.” I disconnected. “She didn’t give it to anyone.”

“You don’t think she could be lying?”

I shook my head. “If you think I’m a bad liar, you’d think she’s even worse. Do you mind if I check my messages, though? She said my mom called. I just want to make sure everything’s okay.”

“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.”

I called my voicemail, surprised when it said I had five messages. The first two were hang-ups. The third was my mom, just asking about my classes and if I’d met anyone (a weekly habit of hers). My stomach sank when I listened to the fourth. Breathing again. I started to hang up when I heard, “Mine.”

My sharp breath had Kale glancing at me. “What is it? Your mom okay?”

I nodded and the phone dropped from my suddenly-cold fingers.

“Then what is it?” When I didn’t answer, he took the phone from my lap. He said nothing for a minute, then swore violently.

“Just a prank,” I said, more to myself than him. “It’s just a prank. Some idiot kid calling random numbers until he gets through.” I gave a bitter laugh as nausea swam in my stomach. “I’m sorry, Kale. I don’t think I’m up to—”

“I’ll take you home.”

I sat quietly while he drove, closing my eyes and leaning back against the headrest. My temples throbbed.
Just pranks.
I repeated the words again. Earl didn’t have my number. Even if he did, watching me didn’t mean he was the caller. He wasn’t exactly sly about the staring. Wouldn’t he be my first suspect? He wouldn’t call me. They were random pranks and I was being an idiot about it.

It didn’t ease my stomach at all.

“Do you mind if I make a stop real fast? It’s on the way,” Kale asked a few minutes later.

“Of course not.”

“Thanks.” He pulled into the parking lot of Wal-Mart a few minutes later. “I’ll be right back.” He left the keys in the engine but locked the door when he got out.

I watched him stroll toward the door. He glanced over his shoulder before he went inside and smiled at me. Ten minutes later, he came back out carrying a plastic bag.

“Fast shopper,” I commented.

“Knew what I wanted.”

I almost asked what was in the bag, but it wasn’t my business, so I just sat quietly again until we reached my apartment. “Thanks, Kale,” I said as I got out. “Sorry about today. I appreciate you taking me to get my phone.” Even if I did want to break it again. Bash it into a thousand pieces and set it on fire. And if I hadn’t just spent fifty getting it repaired, I probably would have.
Hell, I still might
, I thought.

“Do you mind if I come in for a minute and grab a drink?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll be right there.” He shot me a dazzling smile. “I just want to enjoy the view.”

I didn’t buy that for his excuse, but I let it go. “Just let yourself in.”

I walked to my door, feeling like a little old lady. I looked at everything—the street, the bar, the other apartments. What I was looking for…I couldn’t say. I let myself in, shut the door behind me, then went to the sink for a glass of water. I stared out the window, watching cars go by.

“Ally?”

Dropping the glass in the sink, I clutched my chest and spun around. “Shit.”

“Hey.” He took the last step to me and gathered me in his arms. “I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you heard me come in.”

I shook my head against his chest. “God, I’m such a spaz. Freaking out over Earl and now prank calls.”

“You’re not a spaz.” He brushed the hair from my face. “You’re entitled to be worried, prank calls or not.”

“I don’t even want to think about it. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of feeling like this.”

He ran a hand down my back. “Like what?”

“Scared. Alone.”

He leaned down and brushed a kiss across my lips.

I barely had time to close my eyes before he backed away. “What was that for?”

“Something else to think about.”

“Oh. In that case…” My arm went around his neck and I pulled his head down for another kiss.

He bent down, lifted me off my feet, and wrapped my legs around his waist. He kissed me again, hard and fast. “Something else to feel.”

I let myself sink into him, into the kiss as he carried me across the room to the couch. He sat down, with me in his lap, and his hands roamed over my legs before skimming up my sides. One of his hands closed over my breast as his mouth took mine again and my gasp died on his lips. His tongue darted in and out of my mouth. Sliding his hand under my shirt, he kneaded my breast again. He lifted his head a fraction, breathing heavy. “I didn’t plan this, so if I go too far, just say something, okay?”

I nodded. I wanted to feel anything but scared. I wanted to feel Kale. Leaning forward, I pressed my mouth against his. He unclasped my bra and then his hand was back on my breast, kneading, stroking. His thumb rubbed circles over my nipple. Heat built around me.

His other hand went to my ass. He squeezed, and when I moaned, he kissed along my neck. “So you’re an ass girl,” he whispered against my ear.

I grinned. “Maybe.”

When he cupped my ass again, I let out another moan and felt him smile against my cheek. “Thank God.”

“I thought you were an equal opportunity Ally-man?” I said, breathless. I ran my hands over his shoulders and down his sides.

“I was.” He squeezed my ass again, hard, with both hands. His eyes were dark and heavy. “Until I got my hands on you.”

One hand stayed at my ass, and the other went back to my breast. He cupped it and squeezed my ass in a rhythmic motion. His mouth went to mine again and his tongue darted inside, dancing along mine. Magic. That’s what his kisses felt like. Magic. Powerful.

He tore his mouth away long enough to slide my shirt over my head. It disappeared over the couch somewhere. “Feel,” he said again, squeezing my breast. Eyes locked with mine, his lips moved down my chin, neck, and collarbone. I ran my hands through his hair. He pulled me closer until his mouth, warm and hot, settled over one of my breasts. His tongue flicked over my nipple while his thumb circled the other.

My heart pound in my chest. I thought of only him, felt only him. I ran my fingers under his shirt, caressing his chest. It was even better than I pictured it. Smooth and hard and hot. I yanked his shirt over his head, greedy to get my mouth on him, and leaned back to kiss along his chest. He shivered under my touch.

With a growl, he twisted around so I was laying back on the couch and he was on top of me. His mouth and hands never stopped moving. He had his hand under my ass again and each time he squeezed it, he pulled me closer and ground against me. Pressure built inside me and I attacked his mouth again, kissing him fast and hard. It wasn’t enough. I wrapped my legs around him tighter and arched up to meet him. The groan he let out was like music to my ears, empowering me, urging me.

“Your rules,” he breathed harshly.

“My rules,” I repeated, staring into his eyes. The blue was bright, the green fierce.

He took a deep breath and released it slowly. His eyes stayed locked on mine as he squeezed my breast again, slower now, more gently, while still grabbing my ass. His hand inched down my stomach and played at the waist of my jeans. I felt his fingers move inside, just teasing.

And then I frowned when I felt something at my hip. “Either you’re really happy to see me, or your pants are vibrating.”

He lowered his head to mine, breath ragged. When he lifted his head, his eyes were dark and heavy. “Both. Definitely both.” His gaze traveled to my chest and he licked his lips. “God, I hate technology.”

I grinned at him and reached for my bra as he sat up and dug into his pocket. He pulled my phone out instead of his and my smile immediately fell.

He caught my hand in his and kissed it when I tried reaching for the phone, and then he answered it himself. “Yeah?” Whatever he heard or didn’t hear made him unhappy, because his hand tightened around mine. His eyes flashed dangerously. In two seconds, he was on his feet, pacing toward the kitchen. He had his back to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but I heard the strain in his voice when he said, “Wrong number, buddy.” The phone went back in his pocket.

I grabbed my shirt and covered myself with it. “Who was it? What’d they say?”

He didn’t turn back or respond immediately. When he did, his face was hard though he tried hiding it with a smile. “Nothing.”

“’Nothing’ doesn’t have you pissed off, and neither does a wrong number. It wasn’t one, was it?”

He came back to the couch and sat beside me. “No, it wasn’t.”

“What’d they say? Tell me.”

“He said ‘mine’ again.”

I sighed. “So the same as before.”

His headshake was barely noticeable. “Not exactly. He said ‘mine’, and then he said your name.”

I nodded. “Oh, okay.” I blinked slowly, as if in a daze, and stared ahead. “I guess that rules out a prank caller.” My pitch was high.

“Not necessarily. It could be someone you know. A pissed off ex, maybe?”

I shook my head. “I’ve only been here a few months and I haven’t gone on any dates.” I’d been focused on school.

“Could be just some jerk from the bar. You take your phone in with you, right? It’s possible you left it behind and someone saw the number and just wants to harass you.”

He made the suggestions easily, but he didn’t sound convinced of them.

And I wished one of us was convinced of it, because I wasn’t either.

CHAPTER 6