Chapter Ten

“Rules?” Aimee stared at her over breakfast, obviously just as confused about Mitch’s non-traditional relationship as Karla. “What kind of rules do you make that allows you to cheat on your boyfriend?”

Karla stabbed at her eggs as she shrugged. “He says it’s not cheating as long as we both know it’s happening. That’s one of the rules. If we want to screw someone else, we have to tell the other one. Then, it’s not sneaking around; it’s just sex.”

Aimee stared at her, holding her coffee in front of her with both hands. Karla knew her traditional sister was having a hard time with everything Karla just told her. Karla struggled with it as well, if she was honest with herself, at least in understanding it, and she was the wildest of the twins. “He does know you, right? I mean, Karla Harper obeying the rules never worked before, not even for our parents, so why does he think he will be different or his rules any easier?”

Karla shrugged. “I’m not really sure, to be honest, but he swears he can prove that it will.”

Aimee gave a snort of derision. “And did you say challenge accepted? I mean, he does know that telling you that is like dangling the carrot in front of a horse, right? The first thing you’re going to do is go out and break his rules, just to prove you can.”

“Did you just compare me to a horse?”

“You know what I mean. Go with it.”

Karla took another bite of her eggs, pondering Aimee’s words. It sounded like something she would do, break a rule just to prove that no one controlled her. Yet even though she spent the past couple of weeks fighting Mitch on every front, she had to admit, what he said was worth hearing. She didn’t believe for a moment that he could give her all he promised, because she knew she was her own worst enemy, sabotaging every relationship she had been in. Still, she needed to find out, needed to prove to him—to herself—that her path in life was already set, that she was meant for the occasional fling, but that was as far as she could travel in any commitment. She didn’t know how Mitch planned on proving to her he was actually different, but she was willing to give him the opportunity to show her, even if grudgingly.

Karla sighed. “He does know it, actually. I think he’s even counting on it, as weird as that sounds.”

“He wants you to fail? Isn’t that counterproductive to even getting in a relationship in the first place?”

Karla shrugged. “If I fail and he sticks around, then he proves he’s not like other men. Who knows, maybe he gets off on it and I’m his source for kink.”

Aimee shook her head just as a knock came at the door. “Pretty mental kink, if you ask me,” she said, as she slid from her seat and headed for the door. Opening it, she let Clint into the apartment, kissing him as he paused a moment before coming all the way inside.

“You about ready?” he asked. Peering into the kitchen area of their small condo, he noticed Karla sitting at the table and waved. “Morning, Karla.”

Karla waved as she sipped her coffee. After running her tongue over her lips, wiping away the excess, she asked, “Something wrong with your car again?”

Aimee grabbed her purse, slinging the strap over her shoulder. “No. Clint is meeting with Ginny about what to do with Bonnie. Looks like the witch isn’t going to just go away, so we need to see what we can do legally. Abigail deserves better than a mother who ran out on her.”

Karla couldn’t help but smile at her sister’s bluntness and determination. “I agree.” Karla turned to Clint, who stood by the door, waiting on Aimee. “Good luck. I hope Ginny can help you. If anyone can, it’s her.”

“Thanks,” Clint said. “Luck is one thing I could use an abundance of right now.”

Aimee walked over and kissed her sister on the top of the head. “This conversation isn’t over. I want to know more about these rules.”

Karla gave a snort of laughter. “You and me, both.”

She watched as the two of them left, leaving her with the breakfast clean up as usual. She supposed it was only fair, since Aimee usually did the cooking, but still, Karla hated washing dishes. Of course, the only thing she could cook was bacon, so Aimee cooking was more self-preservation than generosity.

Might as well get to it. She pushed herself from the table, her mind once again on Mitch’s rules. She agreed with him last night before even knowing what he truly meant. She wasn’t sure exactly what made her give in to him last night—or rather, this morning. Something about the way he described his ideas intrigued her enough to surrender to what he asked of her. Yet could she do it? She never really got along well with rules. Aimee was right; Karla saw rules as challenges to overcome, hurdles to leap in order to get to what she wanted, even if what was on the other side wasn’t what she truly desired. She didn’t care for boxes. They felt more like cages, prisons to keep you from enjoying life and being who you were born to be, regardless of what others said.

She turned on the faucet, letting the water heat up as she scraped the plates into the trash. Why am I even considering this? As she stacked the dishes in the sink, the hot water splashing off to the sides, she already knew the answer to the question. It was just another challenge. Yet, it was a challenge with Mitch, and for some reason, she just could not stop thinking about him and his powerful hands against her body or his warm lips meshed against hers. He was more than just a cute guy to look at and crave; he snuck in under her radar and touched her heart. She hated that. It threw her off her game, made her feel when she hated feeling anything. Feelings always caused her to get hurt and humiliated. At least, that had always been her experience. She was tired of always being hurt when she attempted to feel something for someone, to risk loving and giving her heart. That was the entire reason she stayed away from issues of the heart. It was always easier to deal with sex when you left emotions out of it. Sex, at least, left her satisfied. The heart never did.

Once she finished with the dishes, she was tempted to just crawl back into bed. She even went back to her room and stripped down, determined to do just that. However, her mind would not be silent. She went to Mitch last night, just as he predicted she would, and asked him about his intentions. She did not want to go crawling back again begging for more. Yet, after tossing and turning in the bed for almost a half hour, she couldn’t take it any longer and tossed the quilt off her naked body in frustration. God, he’s pissing me off!

She surrendered to her mind’s constant nagging and headed for the shower. She needed to know more. A lot more.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Mitch! Mitch, are you back here somewhere?”

Mitch grabbed the part he needed off the back shelf and headed for the front of his shop and the male voice that called out to him. Brad Pennington stood there, hands in his pockets, searching the bay area of Mitch’s shop for his friend. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be out showing properties or something?” Mitch walked over, handing the rotor he carried to Lloyd before walking over to his workbench and turning back to Brad, leaning against the bench, arms over his chest. Mitch hadn’t talked to his friend since the other morning in Karla’s condo. It actually surprised him that the man even came to his shop.

Brad shrugged. “I was just in the area showing some houses over in the Bay Lakes area and thought I’d swing by and say hey.”

Mitch gave him a skeptical look. “Just to say hey, huh?”

Brad shrugged, sliding his hands into his back pockets. “Lame, huh? Actually, I wanted to apologize. I feel like I keep stepping in the middle of something between you and Karla. I didn’t realize the two of you were so into each other. First her antics at the restaurant a couple of weeks ago, and then Wednesday morning you’re in her condo waiting for her to come out of her room. If I had known you two were together, I wouldn’t have accepted her invite back to her place.”

Poor Brad, Mitch thought, he had no idea what he stepped into when he went out with Karla. Mitch couldn’t blame him. At first glance, Karla Harper was a real catch. Fun, outgoing, uninhibited. Brad was pretty much an upfront kind of guy and that became a problem. What you see is what you get with him. With Karla, you never knew what you would get, which is one of the things that attracted Mitch to her. “Don’t sweat it, we’re square. You had no idea what Karla planned, and, truth be told, there was no relationship. To be honest, I’m actually the one who overstepped his bounds. I didn’t realize the two of you became so serious or I wouldn’t have accepted her advances.”

Brad leaned up against the car on the hydraulic lift Mitch worked on, his ankles crossed. “If we were that serious, she wouldn’t have been making advances on you. I think she just used me to get to you if you want the truth.” He shrugged. “What’s done is done, though, right? I take it by your appearance the other morning that there is something going on between the two of you now, though. Or, at least, you want there to be?”

Mitch cocked his head as his brows bunched in confusion. “Are you still hoping to go out with her? Even with everything she’s done?”

Brad glanced around the shop. “I haven’t heard from Karla since last Wednesday morning. Hell, I hadn’t heard from her before that until I wandered into Sand Dune. Of course, I haven’t tried reaching out to her, either.”

Mitch turned his head a little to the side. “But do you want to reach out to her?” He wondered if that was the real reason for this visit. Brad wanted to see if the path was clear for his pursuit without crossing paths with a friend. “After what she did to you, you’d still go out with her? Knowing that she’s been seeing me and who knows who else?”

Brad ran a hand over his bald head, his expression one of doubt. “To be honest, I’m not sure. I mean, we only went out a couple of times, and she did go a little crazy there at the end, but something about her just… I think I’d be willing to give her another shot. If the two of you aren’t in a relationship, that is.” He said the last sentence pretty quickly, as if trying to make sure not to upset Mitch. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re setting yourself up for heartbreak, but if you want to reach out to her, I say go for it. I’ll be honest with you, though. She and I have still been talking, even hung out a few times and are considering going deeper, but don’t let that stop you. Karla is a wild card. As long as you know that going in, then you’re good.”

Brad narrowed his eyes as he stared at his friend. “You’re going deeper, and yet, you’re telling me to call her?”

Mitch shrugged. “She’s a big girl. She can make her own choices. If she decides she wants to be with you, I’ll back off. But, if she just wants to fool around some, well, I’m okay with that as well.”

“Isn’t that kind of… I don’t know… Weird?”

Mitch shrugged, noticing Lloyd had the rotor mounted, and reached for the brake pads on the bench behind him. “You know me. I enjoy weird. Besides, you may just be what I need in order to prove something to Karla. I say go for it and see what happens. She surprises me every day. She might surprise you.” He started for the car and work. “What will it hurt? Obviously, you’re still thinking about her, or you wouldn’t be here, so… Give her a call.”

Lloyd glanced up at Brad. “I’d call her if I were you. Woman looks damn good in shorts.” He pointed to Mitch. “Beats staring at his ugly mug all day.”

Brad didn’t comment as he moved out of Mitch’s way, folding his arms across his chest as he shook his head. “I just think it’s weird.”

Mitch handed the brake pads to Lloyd. “Ugly mug, huh? There goes your pay raise.” Then he turned and grinned at Brad. “Weird can be fun at times. Haven’t you ever dated two girls at once or shared a lady between friends?”

“No, actually, I haven’t. I usually leave my friends’ girlfriends alone. Are you saying you have?”

Mitch chuckled, continuing to watch Lloyd work on the brakes as he talked. “Not without anyone’s knowledge or permission, of course, but yes, I’ve done it all.” He shrugged. “Sex is sex. Once you get that settled in your head, then everything else is safe.”

Brad shook his head. “I don’t know. It still sounds pretty out there.”

“Oh, it’s out there, I agree, but it’s hot as hell, too. Give her a call. I’d be curious to see how it goes. And don’t worry about me. I’m the one who told you to do it, remember?”

Brad stood there, silently watching Mitch work, and Mitch just knew all kinds of crazy thoughts went through the man’s head. Brad really wasn’t a player, not even a low-key player. He only set his eyes on one woman at a time and would stick to that woman until she grew tired of him. Karla played him and hard, and somehow that drew Brad in even more. Mitch was curious to see how both, Karla and Brad, played this out. It would definitely be the first test of her rules.

Not knowing what else to say, Brad finally said goodbye and took off. Mitch watched as his friend left, not sure whether he would have the balls to reach out to Karla or not but hoping he would. Karla needed to know that Mitch meant what he said, and Brad was a safe person to start with, if he could keep his heart out of the game, that is. One thing was for sure; it would be fun to watch.

“You think he’ll do it?” Lloyd stood beside him, wiping his hands on his rag as he watched Brad leave.

“Who knows? Brad’s one of those rare breeds who likes to play in the gutter during his fantasy time, but still wants the white picket fence. Karla’s not good for his heart, just his ego.”

Lloyd grinned. “She’d be good for my ego,” he said with a chuckle.

“She’d put you in traction,” Mitch laughed, squatting down to put the tire back on the car.

“Tell me it would be worth it.”

“Oh, it’s definitely worth it.”