Page 18 of Finding Shelter
Ry must have had some anger management classes because he let the statement stand. “From what I hear, you are too.” His gaze swept down Kash’s body, leaving no room to doubt the true reason he flagged Ledger down. Greed swam in his eyes.
Kash’s mood swung wildly from enjoying watching Ledger make Ry squirm to ready to kill someone. “You have a schedule to keep.” Kash kept the statement formal-sounding and directed solely at Ledger.
Relief touched his features at the out. He checked the time on his phone. “Damn. You’re right.” Ledger’s gazeflickered toward Ry. “Sorry to keep things short, but I have to get moving.”
Ry looked desperate to keep Ledger from getting away. “Okay. Yeah. We should catch up soon. It’s been a long time.”
Ledger nodded and gave an awkward wave as Kash steered him in the opposite direction. Kash didn’t feel Ledger relax until they were out of Ry’s sight.
“Thank you for that. I know you could’ve handled that a dozen other ways. But I’ve had all the drama I care to spare with Ry. Nowadays, I prefer not to see his face at all.”
“It’s all good. We’re supposed to be having a fun day. Not a going to jail day.”
Ledger’s sexy chuckle washed away any bad juju left behind by Ry’s presence. “We should go get some real food to wash the taste of flavorless fried food from our mouths.”
“Sounds good to me. Figure out where we’re going before we reach the car, so I’ll know which way to fight traffic.”
Ledger huffed. “Already? Are we really going to toss the grenade back and forth on where to eat this soon in our relationship?”
“I don’t even know what that means.”
Ledger’s gaze flashed with irritation. “Your giant, goofy smile says otherwise.”
Kash paused, forcing the crowd to go around them like a boulder in the river. “I’m smiling because you make me deliriously happy.”
Ledger lookedas if he melted. “Same.”
For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Kash cleared his throat. “What’s the name of that cafe with the frozen mugs?”
“Marge’s?”
Kash nodded and started guiding Ledger toward the SUV again. “That’s the place. Are they good?”
“Yeah. I just don’t come this way often.”
“Let’s go there.”
Ledger stepped closer. “Sounds great. Sorry I got irritated. I didn’t expect this day to take a terrible turn.”
“Don’t apologize. The last thing I wanted to do today was see Ry again.”
Ledger took his arm and squeezed. “I was talking about the cookie. Seeing Rymeans less than nothing to me. I ended up with you. He ended up with no hair. Why should I be bitter?”
A loud laugh popped from Kash that made heads turn. He tried swallowing the sound. “Oh my god. I didn’t even notice that. I was too busy trying to figure out what the hell was going on with his face.”
Their laughter didn’t stop until they were back inside the SUV. While they waited for the air to really get going in the California heat, they stared at each other. It felt like a thousand words were exchanged in the silence. Fate had really shown out when it put them together. Kash had never seen anythingmore beautiful.
They had a great day. When they got home, Ledger wasn’t the least bit surprised when his phone rang. His only shock was that it was Valon and not Ry. He wasn’t blind to how Ry had looked at him, and yuck.
Ledger damn near juggled his phone trying to answer as quickly as possible. It was rare as hell for Valon to call him first.
“Hello?”
“You’ll never guesswho called me?”
Ledger knew, but he loved the way Valon sounded, as if he had the hottest of teas to spill. “Who?”
“Ry. Actually, this is the second time in the last few weeks. I fully expected he wanted money. Nope. He’s obsessed with your being with Kash.”
