Page 22 of Tricked in October
Holding her closer, he felt a longing to take away her pain, her worry. It caused him to feel reckless. He just wanted to help her. Any way he could. She’d not only suffered a great loss over the last year, but she had a tremendous amount on her plate.
Without overthinking it, he rubbed his chin against the top of her head, caught the hint of lavender from her hair. Kelsey’s fingers went to the nape of his neck and intertwined with his hair. An instant craving shot through his veins, zinging south and his eyes closed. He attempted to shut off his brain, not wanting to think about how this was Kelsey touching him. Rather, he focused on how desperate he was to take away her hurt.
She repositioned her head and suddenly he felt her heated breath radiating on his neck setting a fire to his skin. He moved his hands down her back, gliding even further, until they nearly reached a place they’d never gone before—a place of no return. Once they went there, there would be no turning back.
Was this going to happen?
The office door swung open, a loud bang sounding against the wood. Their attention jerked in the direction, their hands falling away from one another.
Standing in the open doorway was Rita, Kelsey’s mom. She had a hand on the door handle while the other clutched a purse. There was amusement plastered on her facial features as she let out a loud cackle, before clamping her mouth shut with her palm.
“Well, isn’t this rich.” She sneered, her body swaying as she let go of the handle.
“Mama? What are you doing here?” Kelsey rushed to her mom’s side, throwing an arm around her to hoist her up.
Davis hurried to Rita’s other side.
“What do you think I’m doing, love bug? This is a bar. I came to get a drink.”
Kelsey rolled her eyes and Davis’s gut pinched. He helped her get Rita to the couch.
“You know you can’t drink here, Mama,” Kelsey said.
“Why not? That’s not fair,” she slurred.
“Life’s not fair. Remember? You taught me that.”
Rita laid back on the sofa, pushing her dark hair out of her face and curling into a ball. “You’re a smart aleck, you know that?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kelsey muttered.
“Don’t think I didn’t see what y’all were doing. I’m watching you, Mr. Vance.” Rita narrowed her eyes and made the signal that she’d be watching him.
He smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
She put her finger to her lips. “Shh, just don’t tell Davis. I think my daughters always had a crush on him.”
Davis’s lip twitched.
“Mama,” Kelsey gasped. “ThisisDavis.”
Rita looked confused, her brows knitting together and her lips scrunching.
“Why don’t you get some rest, Mama. I’ll take you home when I’m off work.”
Rita’s lips drooped and she clasped Kelsey’s hand. “I’m sorry, love bug.”
“It’s fine.”
“No. You have enough to worry about. I shouldn’t be adding to your burdens.” Tears welled up in her eyes and her lip quivered. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
Kelsey sighed, but said, “You’re not a burden, Mama.”
“I’m gonna get help, I swear. For you. And the kids.”
Kelsey brushed her mom’s hair out of her face. “Why don’t you rest. We’ll figure out tomorrow, tomorrow.”
Rita’s eyes drifted closed.
