Read Online Love Me ~ Without Regret by Renee Kennedy - Free Book Online Page A

was going on back there between you and Kane?” She pushes away, but she’s still only inches away. I can feel her breath, and it’s making me hard. I want her here and now.
    “Like Kane said, we were joking around. You know how guys are. Always pulling jokes on each other.” I smile at her.
    “I don’t believe that crap for one second, but I’ll let it go for now. Do you promise not to let it continue between y’all?”
    She stands tapping her foot with her hands on her hips. She lifts both eyebrows high, pursing her lips then sighs, “I guess I need to find Kane, he’s giving me a lift home.” She adjusts her purse on her arm.
    I’m not sure how she’s going to take this. I cross my arms and bring one hand up to rub my chin. “I told him he could go ahead and leave, I’d take you home.”
    “What? Did you set this all up? Was all of that over Kane taking me home?”
    She has her hands back on those perfect hips.
    “No, Lizzie, I offered to do it since I didn’t know how long we’d be talking.”
    “You’re trying to control who I see, Clay.”
    “Wrong again. I was just trying to be nice. What’s wrong with a guy being nice these days?” I throw up my hands. “Man, I can’t figure out why girls always go for the guys that treat them like shit. If you’re ready to leave, I’ll take you home. ”
    She walks past me to the door. “Are you coming?”
    Lizzie doesn’t even turn around, but keeps walking.
     

four
    Lizzie
    I walk out of the office and the only person in our group still around is Levi.  I head over to the bar to say my goodbyes. He is such a sweetheart, a cuddly teddy bear. I just want to squeeze him. He is the perfect bartender, a great listener.
    “Levi, I’m leaving and I came to give you a good-bye hug! When will you volunteer again?” I stand on the footrest of the bar stool then lean over and give him a big squeeze.
    He plops some peanuts in front of me. I take a few of them and pop them in my mouth.
    “Not until next Saturday, what about you?” He leans on the bar in front of me.
    “Tomorrow, if I don’t kick Clay’s ass first.” I shake my head. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about him.
    “What’s he done to you, Doll?” Levi gives me a caring smile, reaches over, and gives my hand a gentle rub with his thumb.
    “Nothing really. We want different things from each other. Well, there’s that and he doesn’t want any of the guys in the band to be my friend. Or I guess any of his friends. You better watch out, Levi. He will be warning you off next.”
    “That doesn’t even sound like Clay. I mean I know he’s interested in you. He called dibs, but in a very manly way.” Levi chuckles.
    “What doesn’t sound like me?” Clay sits beside me and kisses my cheek. He narrows his eyes at Levi.
    “Hey, I was taking up for you, dude.”
    Clay laughs. “I know, Levi, and you’re alright.” They fist bump and Clay turns to me, “You ready?”
    “Yep, take me home.” I stand from my bar stool and Clay gets up and takes my hand. He is persistent. He thinks he can break me down with all of these sweet gestures. I’ve got news for him. I never fall for that shit.
    I’ve just got to work all of this to my advantage. It’s time to make Clay my bitch. Game on, Clay. He can use all of his moves to change my mind about relationships, but he’ll figure out, eventually I’m not cut out for them. But, Lord have mercy on my soul, he can’t keep on kissing me. I lose all of my common sense when he kisses the hell right out of me.
    Clay opens the door for me and the cold air hits me in the face like a bitch slap. Wearing these shorts isn’t doing me any favors right now. My teeth chatter. “Where did you park?”
    “Are you cold, Lizzie? Here, let me warm you up a little.”
    He walks behind me, wrapping his arms around me. He is so sweet. Too bad I don’t do sweet. I need to keep reminding myself of that fact. He did surprise me with that demanding bit in