“I’m sure she is. She’s good for Carson. He needs a woman like her to balance out his wildness. Carolyn seems to understand the kind of man he is.”
“That she does. And she’s marrying him anyway.”
Cal fought a frown.
“Are you as wild as your twin, Calvin McKay?”
“Why? You lookin’ for that?”
Kimi’s answering smile hit the mark between sweet and sly.
That grin did funny things to him. He needed to feel that smile against his lips. “What are your plans while you’re here?”
“None besides getting my sister married off. Even after only bein’ here a few hours I’m happy me’n my aunt leave the day after the wedding.”
“Why? Aren’t you glad to be home?”
Kimi shook her head and sadness filled her eyes. “Wyoming doesn’t feel like home.”
“But Montana does?”
“No. I’d rather be there than here, though.”
“Why? Isn’t your school like a nunnery?”
“Yeah. But I know what to expect there. I know what to expect when I’m living with my aunt. Here…I walk on eggshells from the moment I step into the house. And it’ll make me sound like a brat, but I hate that when I’m here, I’m supposed to just keep my mouth shut and do as I’m told.”
Cal watched as she finished her ice cream, wishing they could get back to the easy way they’d started out. After she wiped her mouth, he reached for her hand. “Since Carson already broke the rules by fallin’ for a West, it probably won’t be as big a deal if I take you out while you’re here.”
“You’d knock on the front door, look my dad in the eye and tell him you’re there for me?”
“Yep.”
“While that is bold as brass, and I appreciate you bein’ willing to get the shit kicked out of you, that can’t happen, Calvin.”
The breathy way she drew out his name was sexy as all get-out. It nearly escaped his notice that she’d said…no. His eyes narrowed. “You turnin’ me down, darlin’?”
She placed her small hand over the top of his and traced the rough edges of his knuckles. “Good lord. Look at how big your hands are.” Then she trailed her fingers over the back of his hand and up his forearm. “How do you get such ropy muscles?”
Since she’d touched him first, Cal cupped her cheek with his other hand, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. “Answer the question, Kimi.”
Looking completely flustered, she said, “Can you repeat it?”
“Will you go out with me?”
“I suppose… But you can’t pick me up at my parents’ house.”
While he waited for further explanation, he feathered his thumb across her cheekbone. “Why not?”
“Carolyn is an adult so there’s nothin’ my folks could’ve done about her dating a McKay. I, on the other hand, am not of legal age, so they can keep me from seein’ you.” She smirked. “If they find out about it.”
“So you’re sayin’…?”
“I’ll go out with you, but only if we can meet someplace.”
Cal wasn’t the type to sneak around. But as he looked at her, touched her, he knew he’d break all the rules for the chance to spend time with her. “I’ll agree, if you’re sure there’s no other way.”
Kimi’s gaze roamed over his face. Whatever she saw made her smile and Cal felt like he’d passed a test. “There isn’t any other option. So how about if we plan on doing something after the wedding? I’ll have my mom’s car and none of my family will question what I’m doin’ on that day once the reception is done.”
“Sounds like a date.” He slid his hand down and outlined her lips with the pad of his thumb. “Fair warning, darlin’. I’m gonna have my mouth all over yours as soon as we’re alone.”
Her breath caught.
He murmured, “You ever been kissed?”
“Yes. Lots of times.”
Jealousy speared his gut. “By school boys,” he scoffed.
“So?” She attempted to retreat.
But Cal held steady, his gaze firmly focused on that pouty mouth of hers. “So get ready to understand the difference between havin’ a boy kiss you and havin’ a man devour you,” he said with a gruff edge.
On the next pass of his thumb across the center of her lower lip, Kimi opened her mouth and sank her teeth into the knuckle below his thumbnail. Then she pulled his hand away from her face and returned it to the table. She leaned in. “Fair warning, darlin’,” she mimicked, “I’m gonna expect a kiss that blows my hair back.”