9. Skylar

Chapter 9

Skylar

"I'm going to see you soon, Kyla. You owe me a kiss."

"I do?" I laugh. I can feel Torin breathing down my neck. He's standing right behind me, but I ignore him. He's being a dick. I'm not sure why I thought he had changed when he showed up at the club, but stupid little me thought he had.

"Don't you remember your sweet sixteen birthday party? BB and I were playing ball, and you promised the winner your first kiss."

"I do remember that. Although, if I remember correctly, my brother came in and put an end to that game before either of you could collect the prize."

"True, but I won fair and square. I never did get my kiss, either."

"Poor baby," I giggle.

"You have no idea, Kyla, how much I wanted to be the man to have the first taste of those pretty rose lips of yours."

"I'm afraid that ship has long sailed away, Carlos."

"True, but you never know, I just might be your last," he boldly announces.

"I don't remember you flirting this much before," I answer, truly more than surprised.

"Maybe it has never meant so much before," he counters.

"They're calling for bad thunderstorms. You need to go. I'll be telling Breaker what kind of moves you're trying to put on his little sister too," Joker interrupts. My anger is sparked again when he calls me Mattie's little sister. I'm starting to think I've wasted my life on dreams of having him.

"I don't really give a damn, Joker. I've already warned Breaker what I wanted. He asked me to wait until she was older. You did just turn twenty a few months ago, right, Kyla?"

"Yeah …"

"I figure that's more than old enough to live your own life. Though, I have to confess to you, I was ready to come talk to you when you turned eighteen."

"Why didn't you?" I ask, confused. While we're talking, I don't miss the way Torin steps extremely close to me, shifting so he's behind me and my body is grazing against his. I ignore the shiver that runs through me. It isn't because I fear him. No, it's because he's jealous and I know it. If he thinks I won't use that against him, he's wrong. I'm sick of the way he's treated me over the years. The urge to make him suffer and maybe even crawl if he ever makes up his mind to come after me, is just too huge to resist.

"Your father asked me to wait until you were settled at school. Two years, he said."

"My dad?" I gasp.

Carlos grins. "I was going to wait until our clubs annual barbecue next month."

"You're awful young to be deciding on one woman and to hold that decision for four years," Joker drawls, seemingly mocking Carlos. I get the distinct impression he doesn't believe him. I can't say I do either, but I still feel anger rising in me at his words.

"Didn't say I haven't played around. I imagine Kyla has, too. I just know the kind of woman I want wearing my patch, and that's right in front of me. That's why, I'm going to tell you now, if you want me to stay with you, I'll make sure Breaker sends Joker on and I'll watch over you."

"I'm not going anywhere," Torin growls. "Breaker sent me here to watch over his sister, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'd say that speaks volumes if he knows how you feel about her and specifically didn't ask you to watch over her."

My stupid heart registers that he doesn't call me Mattie's little sister this time. Apparently, I have no brain cells around Torin. I shake my head at my own stupidity. "You two knock it off," I mutter. "I don't suppose I could convince both of you to head back to Kentucky?"

"Nope," Carlos laughs.

"Not happening," Torin responds with a quiet growl.

I sigh. "Then, you go back Carlos," I say, even as I call myself a fool a hundred times over. It's clear Torin will keep pushing me away. It would probably be smarter to spend time with Carlos. The only problem is, I don't really want to. I want Torin and until I get that man out of my system—if I ever can—I can't be fair to Carlos. Carlos is a good-looking man. He's all tall, with blond hair, bronze colored skin and sexy like his dad. He also has his mom's personality—which makes him easy going. He used to make all the girls melt when he would speak in Spanish. I won't lie and say it didn't make me weak, too. I see the disappointment on his face, and I hate it. I don't want to hurt him. What really spurs me on, though, is Torin's cocky laughter behind me. I despise that even more. Who the hell does he think he is?

I walk closer to Carlos and smile at him. "You know if something happened to your mom, sister, or Aunt Katie, you would feel horrible. Go take care of your family. The barbecue isn't too far away. If we're both still single …" I leave the rest unsaid and ignore Torin's muttering behind me.

"Trust me, Kyla. I'll be single," he says with a deadly smirk and an added sparkle in his dark chocolate eyes.

I giggle like the kid that Torin always accuses me of being. I can't help it. Carlos is being too damn cute. Plus, it's nice to have a guy chasing me for a change. Torin being the way he has been with me, really is hard on my self-confidence and other things. Listening to Carlos tell me he not only wants me, but he's also cleared the way with my family—something I would have thought wasn't even possible—feels good. Before I can question myself, I lean over and place a kiss on his cheek. I pull away to find him smiling at me.

"Drive carefully, Carlos," I tell him.

"Oh, I will, baby. I will," he purrs.

He gets on his bike and, with a wink, starts it up and takes off. He's not even out of eyesight when Torin spins me around. "What the fuck was that?"

"Huh?" It's not a stellar response, but when faced with the absolute fury that is visible on Torin's face, it's the best I can do.

"You were flirting with that asshole. What the fuck was that about, Peaches?"

My heart stutters as he again uses the nickname that I haven't heard in two years until tonight. I don't know why it affects me the way it does, but when he calls me Peaches, my knees literally get weak. Torin has his hand wrapped around my wrist and his hold is tight and painful. I try to jerk it out of his grip, but it's useless. I don't have a doubt there will be bruises where his hand is.

"He was flirting, too. It felt good to be wanted by a man for a change. You can stop giving me crap about it. Where and who I flirt with are none of your concern, Torin. You've pushed me away for three years. If anything, you should be glad I've started looking at other men."

"That asshole is not a man. He's a kid playing at being a man."

"I doubt that. He wouldn't have gotten past my brother or dad if that was the case."

"I'm not convinced he did. I think the fucker was lying."

"I doubt that. Still, feel free to ask them yourself."

"I'm going to," he snaps.

It takes all I have not to laugh at him. "Well, goody for you. Listen, I hate to cut this short, but unless you're going to make good on your vow to take my V-card, I need to leave. I've got shit to do."

"Oh, no. If you think I'm going to leave you alone so you can open your legs for any Tom, Dick, or Carlos you come across, you need to think again."

"Careful, Torin, it almost sounds like you're jealous," I taunt.

"Is there a problem here?" I look up to see a security guard approaching us. Perfect.

"Everything is fine," Torin bites off, not taking his eyes from my face.

"Actually, it's not. I was just leaving, but this gentleman here isn't letting me go," I answer, pulling my hand up to show that Torin was still holding onto my wrist.

"Don't toy with me, Skylar," he warns. I turn to grin at him.

"I'm not toying with you, Torin. I'm just tired of waiting for you to wake up. It's time I move on."

"Sir, let go of the girl," the guard orders.

Torin grunts but releases my wrist. I rub it, mostly because it still hurts, then I decide to just tick the man off more. "Thank you so much, officer. I needed to get back inside to my friends."

"You really shouldn't come out here alone. It can be dangerous."

"Thanks. I just needed some fresh air. I promise to be more careful in the future."

"Do you need a ride home?" he asks.

"No, I have friends inside. I'll make sure they stick close. I can ride home with one of them."

"Okay. I'll stay here with this gentleman and make sure he gets on his way while you go back inside," he says.

"Thanks officer." I turn to walk back inside and stop to frown at Torin. "I wish I could say it has been fun, but I'd be lying. The last three years have been anything but fun. Thanks for the reminder. I truly needed it," I tell him, and then I walk away.

I know it won't get rid of him, but I doubt the officer will go anywhere until he's gone. It's a small reprieve, but it's one I desperately need now. Earlier I thought he came to find me and finally claim me. Maybe I really am insane to have even thought that Torin would come to his senses. Or perhaps I'm insane because I've carried a torch for three years that I never should have lit to begin with.