She only hoped the zing of electricity killed the rebellious cells that might be mounting an attack in her body. She had only a few more days before she found out if a new battle would be waged for her life. In that short time, Cat was determined to live her life to its fullest. And that started with following this man, who made her feel so alive, through the air and over the trees.
Maybe if her T cells, those killer cells that were her first line of defense against cancer, saw what they were fighting for, they’d fight harder. Maybe they’d fight harder if they saw that this was the life she could have. Standing up in the treetops with a man that made her heart race.
"Don't forget to open your eyes," West said, his grin wide and infectious. "You’ll want to see this."
West released the brake. He stepped off the platform and went sailing into the air. He let out a battle cry of pure happiness that would echo in Cat’s ears until the end of her days. More than anything she wanted to be the cause of West’s happiness.
"Your turn," said the instructor.
Cat’s heart beat erratically now that West was out of her sight. All her bravery dissipated into the thin air. The ice invaded her. She could no longer feel her feet or her fingers.
“Cat?” West shouted from the trees. "You coming?”
That did it. Wherever he was, Cat wanted to get back to him. West and his warmth.
She took a deep breath. Pushing past the lightheadedness, and the sudden fatigue, Cat removed her hand from the brake. Then, stepping off the platform, she took a leap of faith.
The air slapped her in the face. The rush of the current snapped her back to her senses. She was soaring through the air. Without wings. Just like driving her car, she couldn’t remember where the brake was.
She sailed through the air faster and faster. Her body swayed. She was losing control.
She had so little control over her own life. If it wasn't the cancer kicking her butt, then it was the chemotherapy turning her insides out, or the doctors and nurses telling her which end was up and when, or her parents trying to bring normalcy by playing pretend in an unfair world.
For a moment, Cat panicked. The world flew by her, and she had no say about how fast she went or when she could get off. She wanted to get off this ride, but there was no exit ramp. She was completely out of control.
No, that wasn't true. West had told her where the brake was. He’d put her hand on it. All she needed to do was squeeze. And so she did.
And just like that, she slowed down.
“Are you looking, Cat? Make sure you keep your eyes open.”
Hearing West’s voice brought back some of the calm. Cat peeled one eyelid open. And then another.
The sky was blue. The few clouds present moved lazily as she sped along. The leaves on the trees were at the height of their fall colors. Browns, oranges, reds, and greens danced before her as she sailed over their stage below.
It was beautiful. It was magical. She was flying. She was soaring. And she was in control.
The power zinged through her as she held the brake in the palm of her hand. She slowed down, taking the last few seconds to enjoy the view. To enjoy the freedom before it was all over.
The platform came into sight. So did West. His gaze was narrowed on her, searching her face. He must have found what he was looking for because he smiled at her.
Part of her wanted to slow down more, to prolong the moment of West York smiling at her. The other part of her simply wanted to get to him faster. Here in the trees, untouchable, with a controller in her hand, and that man waiting for her to come to him. This is how she wanted to live the rest of her life.
She squeezed the brake. Her feet touched the platform. She came to a stop. But it wasn’t the end of her journey. Stepping into West’s open arms, Cat knew it was the beginning of everything.
"You did it," he said as he brought her into a hug.
"I did."
"How do you feel?"
"Alive."
West pulled back and gave Cat another smile. Cat grinned so hard she felt like her lips would split further along her face. A giggle escaped her mouth, and along with her light trickle of laughter came West’s deep chuckle.
They stood together, in a light embrace. The ropes that bound them to the zip line tangled. Neither moved to unhook themselves.
West’s gaze dipped to her lips as her giggles turned into a contented sigh. Cat’s hand rested on his chest as though she could cradle his heart in her hands. She felt his heart rate race at the touch of her fingertips. She saw his nostrils flare as she licked at her bottom lip. Another inch closer, and she'd have her first kiss.
"Want to go again?" said the instructor.
West dropped his hands from around Cat. He cleared his throat and then reached up to unhook himself from the rope. "I think that's enough of a rush for the day."
12
West
West reached forward to turn the heat on in the car. Even though the afternoon sun shone through the windshield, he was losing feeling in his fingertips as they held a death grip on the steering wheel. Unfortunately, the blast of hot air from the vents did not help matters. In fact, heating things up had likely made things worse.
He did not have the hots for Cat. It had to be the altitude from the zip lining. It had to be the adrenalin from the adventure. Maybe the harness had pinched a nerve?
Whatever the case, West needed to pick up the pace, cool things down, and get them both back to town. There was nothing like putting a beast back in its cage to remind him who he was and what he could and could not have. And Cat was definitely someone who was not for the likes of him.
West knew Cat had found out some of his history. But clearly, she hadn’t heard all the rumors if she was still socializing with him. Or perhaps she had and was hoping to sully her reputation by associating with him?
He typically kept his distance from that type of woman. But Cat didn’t strike him as a user. She seemed to genuinely want his company. And all he could do was think about kissing her.
Which would be wrong on so many levels. Starting with the level that the girl was clearly an innocent. West didn’t trifle with innocent girls. Not even when he was an innocent himself. The only women who had ever been interested in him were the types who were up to no good themselves.
“I appreciate all you’ve done for me these last couple of days.”
“What?” said West. He dared a sidelong glance at Cat. “Nearly get you arrested, ticketed, and dead?”
Another woman would have made a clear and open invitation. Another woman might’ve unbuttoned the top of her shirt. Another woman might’ve reached over and demanded a kiss from him while they sped down the highway.
Not Cat.
Instead of being curled toward the passenger side window like she’d been on their drive up, her body was angled toward him. She’d tucked her feet under her, rested her cheek on her hands, and was gazing over at him. This was worse than bad.
“You made me see what it’s like to be alive,” she said.
West tried to turn his attention back to the road, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her smile was guileless. The light in her eyes was honest. He bet if he leaned over and tasted her lips, it would be like a sugar rush from cotton candy.
He felt the car listing to the right as he leaned over. Thankfully, Cat was the one who turned away. Her bright eyes went wide. She threw her hands on the dash and squealed.
“Look, West! It’s a county fair. Can we go? Please? I’ve never been to one.”
West slumped back into the driver’s seat, thankful at the change of topic. But also incredulous at her admission. “You’ve never been to the county fair?”
“Too many germs.”
Cat’s nose was pressed to the side window. She looked less like a wanton woman in need of a good kiss, and more like an impressionable little girl in need of one of the oversized stuffed animals that could only be won on the fairgrounds. But first, he needed to unde
rstand why her family had never partaken in the sticky, smelly, cash grab that was a favorite American pastime.
“Are your parents a pair of hypochondriacs or something?”
Cat jerked back from the window. Gone was the wide-eyed wonder. In its place was a mixture of guilt and shame. “You could say that. I was raised on a strict diet.”
“No school. Not much recreation.” West ticked off the pieces of evidence he knew about her. “Were you raised in a cult?”
“No.” Her voice was indignant. The frown on her face was more adorable than aggressive. “They were just overprotective. You know how parents are.”
West didn’t answer. He did not know how parents were. The two he’d been saddled with hadn’t been good role models at all.
“But I’m grown now.”
As she said the words West got the impression of a little Cat in pigtails declaring she was all grown up.
“I’m breaking free of their rules and restrictions. I don’t want anyone else telling me what I can do, or can’t do, or who to be.”
He understood the feeling. All his life, he’d been told who he was because of his last name and who his family was. He’d never gotten to be who he wanted to be. He wasn’t truly sure he knew who that was.
“Can we go?” Cat turned to him. Eyes big. Lips pouting.
He should say no. He should get her back to where she belonged. He needed to return to where he belonged. Dinck would be out of school soon. He tried not to leave her home alone. But she had Girl Scouts this afternoon, and one of the neighbors would bring her home. If he played this right, he’d get home minutes before the drop-off.
“Yes,” he said. “I’ll take you.”
With a turn of the wheel, they were on the county fairgrounds. West parked the car. Then went around the other side to let her out.
Cat took his hand and stepped out of the passenger side. West meant to let her go, but she turned her soft hand in his, twining their fingers together. He’d never felt anything so soft.
He should keep hold of her as they meandered through the crowds anyway. It was her first time here, so he should keep her close. For her protection.
The carnival games were just inside the gate. The gamekeepers shouted at passersby to step up and try their luck. It was more like, step up and hand me your wallet to play one of their rigged, overpriced games.
“I’ve always wanted to play one of those games where you throw a dart and win a stuffed animal,” said Cat.
“Yeah?” said West. “Step back, little lady.”
West stepped up to the booth. Twelve darts and twenty bucks later, and he hadn’t hit a single balloon. He dug into his pocket, knowing full well that he didn’t have the money to spare. But the last thing he wanted was to disappoint Cat.
“Can I try?” asked Cat.
West decided to indulge her. But only with one set of darts. Once she failed, they would move on.
Cat hit three in a row.
The gamekeeper was the first to get over his surprise. He pulled the darts from their mark and turned to offer her a prize. Cat was presented with a bear that was as heavy as she was.
“I told you,” she said as they walked away from the booth with the bear between them. “I spent a lot of time indoors. Darts is an indoor game. So, I got really good at it. Oh, West, all of these lights are so beautiful in the dark.”
West looked up at the sky and noticed for the first time that the sun had set. Dinck would be coming home within the hour. He’d need to get back soon.
“Oooh, a Ferris wheel. I’ve never been on one before.”
West looked at the woman before him. The stars, the lights, they had nothing on that twinkle in Cat’s eyes.
“Come on,” he heard himself say.
The fall night was getting cool, but the two of them were warm as they lifted up into the sky.
“Cat?”
“Yeah, West?”
“What else is on that list of yours?”
Cat shook her head, looking away. “You’ll laugh at me.”
West reached out. He took her chin with his fingertips. He felt the roughness of his fingertips on the softness of her chin. But he did not take his hand away from her.
“Have I ever laughed at you?” he asked.
Cat swallowed. West couldn’t keep his eyes off the smoothness of her throat. That simple movement made him want to lean in and nibble at the skin just under her chin.
“A kiss.”
His hand let go of her chin as though her words had burned him. Had she read the desires in his wicked mind? Was she calling him out on his devilish thoughts?
“That’s something on my list,” she continued. “I want to have my first kiss.”
“You’ve never been kissed?”
Instead of answering, Cat’s gaze dipped to West’s lips. Even if his mind hadn’t been fending off thoughts of kissing her all afternoon, he would still know that look meant a girl wanted to be kissed. The mood was right. They were rising into the sky where no one would see. It was the perfect setting.
He only wished he was the perfect guy.
“I know it doesn’t seem like a lot to you,” she said, her soft words brushing over his rough exterior. “But you’ve given me so much today. I’ve lived more in the last ten hours than I have in the last twenty years. You might not think you’re a hero. But you’re my hero.”
And then she smiled that smile at him. That smile that made him feel ten feet tall. That smile that made him want to be the man she dreamed that he was. That smile that made him believe he could be that man.
West leaned in. He could taste the sweetness of her breath on her exhale. It would be all he’d get. His phone rang, cutting the moment.
Looking down at the number, West knew he couldn’t ignore it. He also knew he couldn’t hide the conversation from her, being as they were at the top of the ride. He turned away from Cat and pressed talk.
“West?” came the small voice of Dinck. “I’m scared. Where are you?”
In the background, West could hear his father shouting. Then a smash. He should be there with her. He was meant to protect her. But he was up in the clouds. He had to get his feet back on the ground, now.
13
Cat
Cat’s fingers wrapped around her seatbelt as the nighttime scenery whizzed past them. They were definitely exceeding the speed limit now. Luckily, this time Sheriff St. Clair was nowhere in sight.
The tension in West’s fingertips was hard to miss as he gripped the steering wheel. She wanted to reach over and cover his hand with hers. But she didn’t.
They’d been so close on the Ferris wheel. So close in proximity. So close to kissing. Before the phone call had interrupted them.
West hadn’t said who was on the other end of the line. Instead, he’d ended the call after making hasty assurances that he was coming. Then he’d shouted down at the operator to let them off immediately.
The ground had come up at them so quickly. Then they were off, racing through the crowd of people at the fair. The stuffed bear forgotten. Cat had lost her breath as West tugged her along, then ushered her in the car and strapped her in, leaving Cat feeling dizzy and nauseous.
He answered no questions as they peeled out of the parking lot. She wished they were flying again. They were flying, but on the road, doing seventy-five in a forty.
“West?”
“I’m going to pull up to the curb and hop out. Can you drive yourself home without getting into an accident? Or should I call you a cab?”
Cat swallowed down the bile in her throat, determined not to throw up at the harshness of his tone. “I can drive home.”
He glanced at her. It was the first time he’d looked at her since they’d rushed out of the fair and into her car. “I’ll call you a cab.”
West pulled up to the curb in his neighborhood. He threw the car in park. Even with the windows rolled up, Cat could hear a man shouting and cursing. Neighbors were peering out from screen
doors and blinders. But no one came outside.
“Stay in the car,” West said as he stepped out of the driver’s side door.
A little girl ran out of the house where West had parked. In her hands were two bottles of beer. One was half empty. The other sloshed down the girl’s legs as she ran, right into West’s waiting arms. West scooped the child into his chest and squeezed.
“I took it from him.” The little girl’s voice quaked even though there was steel to it. “But he got really angry.”
“You little brat.” A man shouted as he came tumbling out of the house. He wore a dirty undershirt and smudged jeans that were too big for him. His feet were bare as he stepped onto the pavement.
West set the girl on the ground and stepped in front of her. “I got it, Dinck.”
The man stopped when he saw West. His steps were listing, his words slurred. “I wasn’t going to hurt her. I was just trying to talk to her. Come here, my little Buttercup.”
“You’re drunk,” said West.
“I just had one,” slurred the old man.
“That’s one too many. You said you were going clean.” West’s fists were balled, but he didn’t take a step towards the man. He simply kept himself between the man and the little girl.
“I am,” said the man, who Cat hated to assume was West’s father. “I was. I just needed to take the edge off. It was just one beer. Not anything else.”
Behind West, Buttercup—or was it Dinck?—poured out the remaining liquid from the bottles.
“No,” shouted West’s father. The old man grabbed for the little girl again.
West scooped the little girl up and out of his father’s reach. But not in time. Mr. York got a hand on the little girl’s arm. She yanked her thin body away from the old man but wound up being the rope in the tug of war. She was ripped from West’s arms just as the old man lost his grip. She fell to the ground with a whimper. West lifted his head, his gaze filled with rage as he tackled his father to the ground.
Cat couldn’t stand it any longer. She hopped out of the car. She went to the little girl on the ground. The little girl jerked from Cat’s touch.
Loving the Bad Boy Page 6