Page 80 of Tricked in October
“I think we are.”
“Good.” A dip in her belly caused her to lower her voice. “Because I need something from you that would be super inappropriate to ask for if you hadn’t wanted to make a go at this.”
Their seat reached the bottom and the bar across their lap unlatched. They stepped off and weaved through the spectators. She leaned into him whispering, “A lot of somethings.”
“Sure. What is it?”
She took his hand, yanking him away from the crowd and rising to tiptoe when they were semi-alone. “I need those talented hands and lips on every square inch of my body,” she whispered.
He choked.
She snorted a laugh.
“After all these years, how can you still surprise me?” He pressed his forehead against hers, his eye contact steady.
Kelsey traced a fingertip along his chiseled jawline. “Oh, just you wait. You have no idea all the ways I can surprise you, Davis Vance.” Anticipation wriggled through her just thinking about the next chance she and Davis could be alone.
* * *
Kelsey’s rendezvouswith Davis was interrupted. It was her fault for being optimistic. She should’ve expected the intrusion, nothing ever went as planned in her life. Especially now that she was a single mother, bar owner, and the daughter of the town’s biggest drunk.
But as the saying goes, the show must go on. She couldn’t dwell on the ruined plans. Not when she had an important meeting.
After dropping her kids off at the O’Henrys, Kelsey drove her minivan in the direction of the bank. As the rain pelted the windshield and the wipers swished, she cranked the radio up. The sound of Khalid’s voice saturated the inside of the minivan and sent her skin buzzing.
It was difficult to not think of Davis. But at the same time, it was difficulttothink of him. There was so much riding on this appointment at the bank today. If she got approved for a loan, maybe then she could think of her future. And what it might look like to have Davis in it.
But if the appointment didn’t go in her favor, how could she think of her future with any positivity? O’Henry’s Bar and Grill wasn’t only a part of Ricky, it was a part of her. Who would she be without it? She didn’t know and she didn’t want to find out.
Before stepping inside the bank, Kelsey shook the rain from her umbrella and closed it. As she gazed around inside the small branch, seeing faces she recognized, people she knew, her stomach sank. Maybe she should’ve drove into Denver. Gone into a bigger bank, one where Benny Benson didn’t work, the guy who used to be known as bad-breath-Benny. There was too much history with these folks.
But maybe that would work in her favor. Maybe they’d sympathize with her and grant her the loan, no questions asked, no financial documentation. Yeah, right.
She approached the information desk where a gal Kelsey had known since grade school sat. When Sue-Ellen spotted her, she instantly rearranged her expression into an over exaggerated sad face.
“Oh, sweetie, how are you?” Sue-Ellen asked.
Kelsey was over the sympathy. She wanted everyone to go back to treating her normally. Not as if she were the most pathetic person in town.
“Fine, thanks. I have a meeting with Benny at noon.”
“Let me go see if he’s ready for you.” Sue-Ellen rose but leaned in close, her long, golden locks draping. “And I just have to say, you’re so brave being out and about. Look at you go.”
Kelsey lifted her brows. “And what exactly are you referring to?”
“You know?” she whispered, glancing over her shoulders. “After Garrett slept with you and then insisted it wasn’t him that it was actually Davis.” She shook her head solemnly.
“That’s not exactly fact, Sue-Ellen, so maybe you should stop spreading rumors and just do your job.”
Sue-Ellen straightened, crossing her arms, and narrowing her eyes. “Maybe you should set the rumors straight then.”
And that was it. Kelsey was done. It wasn’t in her nature to take crap from anyone. She stood abruptly. “It’s not my job to educate you on adult relationships, Sue-Ellen. Why don’t you do everyone a favor and mind your own business.” She spun around and rushed down the short hallway in search of Benny’s office.
When she found him, it wasn’t so much an office but a personal space with cubicle walls with glass windows in the top of them, not even a door. However, his name was engraved on a metal plate situated on top of his desk. It read: Benjamin Benson. The professionalism caused a giggle to work its way through. She couldn’t help it. To her, he would always be bad-breath-Benny.
“Kelsey.” Benny stood, adjusting his tie at the knot, a phone pressed to his ear.
She had to admit, he’d grown into a decent looking guy. Close shaven and hair kept short, if you liked that sort of squeaky-clean look. She did not. She preferred her men scruffy, hairy, a little bit messy and unkempt, with a hint of naughtiness below the surface itching to break free.
