“So, you decided to grow pot as a way of getting back at your father.”
“No, I...” She let out a breath, then shrugged again. “Maybe a little. I really did want to find a way to grow it to help people. Like Braylon, for example. He spent years suffering from chronic pain, and marijuana was the only thing that seemed to help him, but he couldn’t get it living here. Now he can, and I’ve seen for myself how much it’s helped him, but there’s still this piece of me that likes that my father doesn’t know what I’m doing. So, yeah. I guess, in some small way, I did do all this as a way to get back at him.”
“I get It. I really do. It had to have been tough to see what you did, especially as a kid, but you gotta know that what a man does for a living isn’t the be-all and end-all of his existence, Kiersten. It’s just a job.”
“Yeah, but what he’s doing is more than just some job, Country,” she argued.
“He’s still your father. He’s still the man who did whatever he had to do to give you the life he thought you deserved.”
“I know, and I appreciate that, but I would’ve rather he stayed the man I always thought he was.”
“I’m sure he’d say the same about you.”
She cut her eyes towards the dark sky. “I’m sure he would.”
“So, Billy really doesn’t have a clue about your operation here? He thinks you’re just off at college doing your thing?”
“Yep.”
“Damn.” I shook my head. “He’s gonna blow a fucking gasket when he finds out.”
“I have no intention of him ever finding out.” Before I could tell her that she was crazy if she thought a man like Billy wouldn’t figure out what she was up to, Kiersten stood and brushed off her pants. “Mind if we change the subject?”
“No, I’m good with that.” I watched as she walked over and started tossing the empty cans and bottles into the trash. I had the feeling she was a little bothered by our conversation and hoped that a change of subject might ease her mind. “What about Satan’s Fury? How’d you tie up with them?”
I got up and went over to help her with the trash as she said, “That was all Braylon. He and Shadow were in the military together, so he reached out to him, and the rest is history.”
“They’re good guys. You did good getting them on board.”
“Yeah, well, it wasn’t easy. Gus is a lot like Viper. They’re both pretty intimidating.”
“Only because they have to be.”
“I guess.” After she tossed the last bottle in the trash, she turned to me and said, “It’s late, and we have a big day tomorrow. I better call it a night.”
“Okay.” I smiled as I stepped over to her. “I’ll walk you back to your place.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.”
A warm smile crossed her face as she gave me a nod. Neither of us spoke as we made our way across the dark, grassy field and up to her doorstep. Kiersten looked up at me with those beautiful doe eyes and asked, “You want to come in?”
“Yes, but it’s not a good idea.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re probably right.” A look of disappointment flashed through her eyes as she said, “Maybe some other time.”
“Maybe.”
Those doe eyes remained locked on mine—tempting me, drawing me in like a fucking moth to a flame. I knew what she wanted. Hell, I wanted the same fucking thing, and the temptation was only growing more intense as we stood there staring back at one another. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter how much I wanted to kiss her. I couldn’t do a damn thing until I’d discussed the situation with Viper. Unable to force myself to leave, I motioned my head towards the door and said, “Go inside, Kiersten.”
“Is that what you really want?”
“Don’t ask me that.”
“It’s a legitimate question, Country.”
“It’s not a question I can answer.”
Not willing to give it up, she crossed her arms and asked, “Why not?”
“Because it doesn’t matter what I want.” I motioned my hand between us. “This can’t happen.”
“I didn’t ask if it could or couldn’t happen. I asked what you wanted.”
“Say goodnight, Kiersten.”
She studied me for a moment, then opened her door and stepped inside. She turned back to me with one last soul-searching stare, then whispered, “Goodnight, Country.”
As soon as she closed the door, I stepped down from her porch and walked back over to the sitting area to look for Rafe. Every step I took was harder than the last. I didn’t want to leave Kiersten. I wanted to grab her up, carry her back into the house, and spend the entire night tangled in her arms. My only consolation was the fact that I’d be seeing her again later that night. I’d have those soft, warm lips on mine once again—even if it was only in my dreams.