Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail

Brady cracked a grin and shook his head.

Deputy Doug fought back a snort of laughter. Viola reared her head back, thought for a moment, and then crossed the room to stand toe to toe with Kidrick. She stood an inch shorter and ferocious despite the fifty-year age difference. "You might've sent my daughter away twenty years ago, but you will not speak one word to my granddaughter or I will fulfill my promise, Frank."

Shivers and confusion went down my back.

Kid narrowed his eyes, confused too for a split second before he realized she wasn't talking to him. She wasn't even looking at him. He slowly turned, noticed the locked gazes between his father and Viola, and then stepped out of the way. It was at that moment that I felt someone take hold of my elbow. I jumped, but Brady watched Viola and the elder Kidrick. Disoriented at the sudden cautiousness in him, I touched his chest in wonderment. I didn't know what was going on, but I knew he was fearful for some reason.

"Let's go," Brady murmured in my ear and led me away. No one noticed our departure except for Deputy Doug, who looked relieved. I glanced back a last time before the door shut behind us and my last view was of the silent standoff. My grandmother was brazen and Frank had a blank expression on his face with the promise of danger underneath his surface.

"What was all that about?" And why hadn't he gotten charged?

The usual cockiness was gone as Brady ran a tired hand through his flat hair. "I don't know, not really."

I narrowed my eyes and got inside the car. "What do you mean that you don't know? You know something, don't you? Josh told me that your fight with Kid isn't really about me. Is that true?"

Brady shifted the car in reverse and pulled into traffic. "I don't really know. The thing with Kid and me is stupid and some of it's about you, but some of it's not. I can't…I can't tell you. I'm sorry, but I can't."

"Brady."

"Rayna."

"Tell me."

"No, Rayray. Not this time. At least…not yet."

Hearing the determination in his voice, I leaned back against the seat. "Why weren't charges pressed? That makes no sense. What you did to Kid…you were like a gorilla, Brady."

He snorted and turned into Nellie's parking lot. "Who'd you get that from? That douche who kissed you?"

"How'd you know that?"

The cockiness flared back to his face as he flashed a smile and parked. "No one else would call me a gorilla. They know better."

I followed him out of the car. "You mean they know you think sometimes before you start pounding fists? It sounds like a gorilla to me."

Brady was on the sidewalk, but turned around. I stopped just short of slamming into him, but he caught my elbows and held me in front of me. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence and a thorough perusal, he asked, "Are you pissed at me?"

Was I? During the party, the fight, and then the police station showdown, I hadn't had time to think about it. Now that I was away, I realized I was pissed. "You're darn right I'm mad. I just spent the night at a party where I got drunk, cried, thought we shouldn't be friends, and then watched you beat Kid up. That's not even adding all the stuff at the police station. You did this. You…you upheavaled my night. I wanted to stay in. I wanted to be boring. I like being boring, Brady"

"Okay! Seriously. Stop shouting. Holy cow, Rayray."

I hadn't realized I'd been shouting, but after I thought about it—I had every right to shout. "I feel like I don't know what's going on anymore. Nothing feels normal anymore."

I looked away. I didn't want him to see the tears in my eyes, but Brady caught my chin and pulled me back. With a hand under my chin, he tilted my head up and my eyes met his. He asked in a somber voice, "You don't think we should be friends? Because I really want to kiss you right now."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I held a hand against his chest. "You can't kiss me."

Brady frowned. "Why?"

"Because I don't know what's going on. I don't know if this means something or not."

"What are you talking about? Of course it means something."

"Does it?" I frowned up at him. He looked beautiful. Shadows graced his cheekbones, giving him a thoughtful look. And the seriousness in his eyes allowed him a haunting presence. I felt my heart skip a beat. "I don't know what anything means right now."

Brady stepped away from me. "What are you talking about?"

Did I know? "I don't know, Brady. I just don't know."

"Well, what are you talking about?"