“You sent the cops,” he says and then spits into the sand close to my foot.
The part about the cops surprises me. In fact, I can’t figure out what surprises me more. The cops finally getting around to investigating or Brad being able to find me on his lunch hour to grouse about it. I wish he were in jail, it’s where he belongs.
“So?” I ask. “That’s what happens when you steal somebody else’s money. I’ll tell you what. If you give me back every penny, I’ll call them off.” I wouldn’t, but I figure he’s probably spent it already anyway. I just want to see his reaction.
His face turns another two shades of red and sweat drips down his face. “Bitch! You know that money’s not around anymore. You might as well just forget about it if you know what’s good for you.”
“That money? It wasn’t that money, Brad. It was my money. It was all the money I had, and none of it belonged to you. You selfish, thieving, asshole,” I say. Then I realize what a waste of time all of this is. I decide to walk past him and keep my lunch date at the Beaky with my friends. He’s not worth it. “I hope they throw you in jail.”
He takes an aggressive step forward and knocks the oversized hat off of my head.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chase
I stand in between the asshole and Kaylee. I’m thinner than the asshole, but definitely taller and stronger. “I don’t know who you are, asshole, but you need to leave.” I take a step forward to intimidate him, and my words are a snarl.
The guy sneers up at me, holding his ground. His face is beet red, and he already looks like he’s going to have a coronary. “Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m with Kaylee,” I answer. “And it’s none of your fucking business who I am.”
The asshole has the audacity to take a step forward. I feel my fists clench.
“Well, my business with Kaylee is none of your business. So you can get lost.” He pokes a meaty, sweaty finger up into my chest.
That’s a big mistake. I’m already coiled like an enraged snake, ready to strike. The minute his finger connects with my chest, something inside me just snaps. I swing my fist and connect with his face, releasing all my pent-up rage.
I hear the satisfying thud sound of my fist connecting with his face. Then the guy’s head snaps back, and he stumbles backward, falling onto his ass in the sand.
I’ll be the first to admit I hit him a lot harder than I meant to. But still, the last thing I expected him to do is sit there in the sand looking like he’s going to cry.
That’s what he does, though. I step forward to glare down at him. My hand throbs with pain, but I’m more than ready for round two. In truth, I want to keep going. I have a lot more aggression to get out on him if he’s game.
But he just sits there like a coward. “Hey, asshole, got anything else to say to Kaylee?” I bare my teeth at him, daring him to make a move. “Not so tough when you’re not pushing women, are you?”
He looks up at me and I see fear in his eyes. That only makes my body tense up more. He’s going to have a shiner on his eye and I’m fairly sure I jammed my hand, but I’m ready for anything.
He makes eye contact with me and then shakes his head and spits on the ground. “Careful, Kaylee,” he says, not daring to take his eyes off of me. “Some guys are more dangerous than others.”
Then he gets up and turns to stagger back in the direction of the resort parking lot. That’s when I realize I’m holding my breath for a round-two that isn’t going to happen.
I exhale as he runs away. Then I check on Kaylee. She’s standing there as white as a ghost. She bends down and picks up her hat.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she says softly.
“I know,” I say, as I shake out my right fist which is still stinging.
She takes a step closer and studies my face. “How did it feel? I always wanted to do that. Punch him right in the face. I might have done it myself if you hadn’t beat me to it.”
“I’m not going to lie to you, it felt great,” I say, smiling. “Look at you and I. House hunting, paddle boarding, igloo coolers, state-of-the-art surveillance, and brawling on the beach. It’s been a big day.”
“Huh,” she says. “You’re right, it has. Thanks, Chase.” She crossed the distance between us and gets up on her tippy toes. She tilts her head back and kisses me deeply on the lips. All of my anger melts away with that kiss. I realize I would fight that guy all over again for her. I’d fight a hundred guys for her.
Then, without a word, she turns to go meet her friends. I watch her walk away, until she’s almost to the Beaky Tiki.
Then and only then do I go back to the cheap drugstore folding lounge chair so I can listen to the rest of the recording.
Standing up for Kaylee felt so good. If I’m being honest, I have wanted to punch guys all weekend long for watching her walk by. Not that I can blame them, but I still felt it building. Jealousy? Me? I have never been jealous in my life. And this isn’t even a real relationship. I keep telling myself that, but my body doesn’t believe me. Something about Kaylee makes me crazy.
Chapter Forty
Kaylee
I get to the table at the Tiki and give hugs to Angie and Fi, who seem to be arriving earlier and earlier every time we meet now. Either that or I am developing a habit of being late,
