Crashing Into Me (Crashing Into Me #1)

by R. L. Jackson

  “Kayden…that’s…we can’t…slow down,” she stammered, “We’ve only known each other a few weeks.”

  “I know all I need to. And it’s not as if I’m a complete stranger. You and my sister have been best friends forever,” he replied.

  That reminded her again that she still hadn’t called or texted Paula at all, but now she was afraid of the thought.

  He approached her slowly, and she backed up instinctively.

  “I know you’re caring, bright and strong-willed,” he reached an arm around her back and pulled her into him. He pressed his forehead to hers as he always did, his eyelashes tickling hers and kissed her.

  “You’re brave, beautiful, thoughtful,” he continued, his kisses getting more intense. “And I’m in love with you,” he said looking into her eyes. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think clearly and definitely couldn’t believe what was happening.

  “Oh Kayden, so am I but…” she searched his eyes as hers filled with tears. He wiped one that escaped her face with his thumb.

  “But what?” he asked so soft and so sweet, she almost died inside.

  He looked so sure of himself, more confident than she’d ever seen him before. What if he was actually telling the truth, she thought, as she was pretty sure she had fallen for him way longer than she wanted to admit to herself.

  “I don’t know what’s happening,” she said, with tears running freely down her face.

  “Shh...,” he hugged her and continued, “What’s happening is, for the first time, in a long time, I feel free. Being with you, it’s like someone opened the shades of a dark room and let the light in. I can breathe again. I feel like I have a purpose and I want to spend the rest of my life thanking you for that.”

  “I wish I was as confident as you,” she said searching his face, wondering if she could trust another man the way she had in the past. She really wanted to with him and he was making a very compelling argument.

  “You showed me compassion when I least deserved it. You call me on my shit when I need it, and by simply being the most considerate and thoughtful woman, I’ve ever laid eyes on. The thought of losing you in a few weeks scares me worse than anything else right now. That’s how I know it’s you.”

  He leaned in and kissed her again and she didn’t resist. His words floored her as she never dreamed she could have that kind of impact on anyone. She kissed him back as he slowly pulled her robe down around her shoulders and it hit the floor. They made love in front of the fireplace as if their lives depended on it.

  ***

  After a day spent cooking, watching movies and making more earth shattering love, Lana woke in bed laying on his chest. She thought about everything that had happened since she arrived in town a few short weeks ago and how her life was suddenly spinning out of control in every good way imaginable. She had literally ran into someone she couldn’t stand the sight of, but now couldn’t imagine not being with him every minute of the day. Kayden was sound asleep and the moon was full in the night sky, the light spilling through the panoramic windows and filling the room. She had a lot to think about as she hadn’t said no to his wild proposal, but she never said yes to it either.

  She had to tell him what had happened with Rachel and there was no faking through that no matter how much she wished it. There just never seemed to be a good time to bring it up the entire day. Also, there was the matter of that Kim girl texting his phone and so many questions that she needed answered in order for her to agree to uproot her life and move to Hamby, let alone marry him.

  What if this was just a phase she was going through—or worse, what if she was just a phase for him? Already having her heart demolished once and by someone half the man Kayden was, if he did it too, she would be undone for sure. He stirred a little and squeezed his eyes closed then they opened lazily and slow. Small slits showed only a peak of color, but the moonlight illuminated them like emeralds. It amazed her how many different colors his eyes could manifest at different times of the day.

  He smiled as he gazed at her but didn’t say anything. They didn’t need to speak. They had a way of conveying lots of communication with simple glances or lingering stares. He wanted her to be his wife and she was unsure of her future, let alone his. She scooted closer to him and planted a small kiss on his lips.

  “What was that for?” he murmured sleepily.

  “Because I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you,” she replied.

  “But you won’t marry me.”

  “I didn’t say that,” she replied.

  “You never said yes either,” he deadpanned.

  “I need to talk to you about something,” she said shifting her weight onto her elbow.

  “What is it?” he asked yawning.

  Perhaps this wasn’t the right time, she thought. Maybe I should just make something up and leave it alone. As she looked over at him, his hair disheveled, and adorable, she couldn’t wait anymore. He had to know what was going on and be prepared for what was coming. She sat up in the bed and turned on the small lamp on the bedside table. He sat up, more intent, worry creeping into his face. Lana wrung her hands, not sure of how to say the words or of what his reaction would be.

  “What is it, baby?” he took her hands enveloping them in both of his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

  Finally, she took a breath and prepared herself. It’s now or never, she thought. As she opened her mouth, the doorbell chime started ringing throughout the house. It startled her because she’d never heard it before and also because it was well after midnight.

  “Who the hell is that?” he asked and jumped out of bed.

  Kayden headed for the bedroom door and her heart sank. The police were here to take him away and I’m too late. Idiot, she chastised in her thoughts.

  She jumped out of bed and ran in front of him, blocking the door and the doorbell sounded again.

  “What's going on Lan?” he shortened her name for the first time since she'd known him and she liked it.

  “Yes.” She replied.

  “What?” he asked confused.

  “I’ll marry you,” she said, the words falling from her mouth before she could think. Lana resolved to not tell him she knew about Rachel at that point.

  She would just be there for him and explain it all as best she could later. Regardless of how he took it, there wasn’t much more that could be done. She was out of time. They both were. Kayden grabbed her and hugged her planting kisses all over her face. The doorbell sounded for the third time and caused her heart to skip a beat.

  “You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet, you know that?” he asked.

  Lana smiled at him weakly and grabbed him again stealing another kiss, sure that it would be the last for a while.

  “Let’s see who’s at the door,” he said holding her hand and leaving the room. They walked down the stairs, passed the kitchen and Kayden flipped on the foyer light. They stood hand in hand at the front door when Lana turned her head to the windows across the house. The snow had stopped falling but it was at least five feet out there. Someone really needed to get there and she knew it was the police. She wiped away a silent tear as the bell rang again. Kayden looked through the peep hole and his head dropped.

  “Shit,” he turned and looked at her worried.

  Lana stood in silence, and didn’t know what to say. He opened the door slowly, and standing on the porch, through mounds of recently dug up snow was an older woman, a young blonde and a police officer.

  “Hey mom,” Kayden said.

  Lana’s eyes grew wide as his mother stalked past him and stopped in front of her.

  “Mom?” Lana repeated in shock.

  Lana was only wearing a thin nightgown and folded her arms over her chest in a failed attempt to cover her see through material.

  “Well,” Maureen started as she eyed Lana in dismay, “I see nothing’s changed one bit.”

  She took off her coat and handed it to him like he was a servant and
he placed it on the coat rack. She was dressed in Chanel from head to toe, typical of what you’d see in old family money. A snobbish and trite cliché. The blonde walked through the door next, dressed in jeans so tight, she was sure to contract a yeast infection by morning, Lana thought.

  “What in the hell are you doing here?” Kayden asked angrily. She smiled at him, turned her nose up at Lana, and returned her attention to him.

  “I’m happy to see you too Kay,” she replied, then followed Maureen into the living room, shooting darts through her eyes at Lana.

  Captain Jackson walked in and nodded to Kayden and Lana and followed after Maureen and Kim.

  As Kayden closed the door to the house. He mouthed the words “I’m so sorry.” She felt raw and intruded upon by the brat pack that just waltz into their space without invitation or warning.

  “Who’s the blonde?” she asked, her arms still folded across her chest.

  “My ex Kim and trust me, I have no idea what she’s doing here.” Kayden stalked into the living room still in his boxers towards the group as Lana slowly made her way into the kitchen hoping she could make it upstairs to put more clothes on.

  “What’s going on Mother? I figured you would make an appearance but why is she with you?”

  “Please put some clothes on dear. There are some pressing matters we need to discuss,” she replied, like she was the queen of England.

  He turned around and started for the stairs that Lana was almost halfway up. She caught Kim looking at him in his boxers and didn’t like it. When he made it next to her he wrapped an arm around her waist and she kissed him on the shoulder as they walked up the stairs together.

  Kim’s smile faded quickly when she saw the affection between the two of them and looked over at Maureen.

  “Not to worry, I’m sure that’ll be over and done with once we leave here in the morning,” she replied. Kim relaxed in the couch a little, but still didn’t’ like what she saw.

  Lana and Kayden walked into her room and closed the door behind them.

  “I’m so sorry Lan, I had no idea she was coming,” he said turning her around to face him.

  “I know Kayden,” she replied raising her eyebrow to him. She grabbed his hand and sat him on the edge of her bed.

  “Listen, I meant what I said. It’s crazy and wild and we might both be crazy, but I’ve spent my entire life playing it safe for far too long. I will marry you, but what I was trying to tell you earlier wasn’t about that.”

  “Then what is it?” he asked, searching her eyes.

  “It’s Rachel.”

  Kayden’s face went from frustrated by the drama downstairs, to instantly blank. He wasn’t breathing, he wasn’t moving and it was as if he’d turned into a statue before her eyes.

  “The other day when you yelled at me for going to see her in the storm, I didn’t have a chance to tell you everything. Things have just happened so fast,” she said talking a mile a minute. He put his hand over hers.

  “How bad is it?”

  She looked up at him, her eyes full of tears. And he dropped his head.

  “I’m so sorry. The receptionist wouldn’t let me go up to see her. She said she wasn’t in the room any longer—”

  “Shh,” he cut her off, and stood from the bed, walking to the window. Suddenly his eyes were full of tears and he ran his hands through his hair. It was something she’d recognized as a stress signal in him. He’d done it on the highway, at the diner, and the first night by the fireplace. She wished there was something she could do, but was drawing a blank.

  “Kayden, I didn’t know how to tell you. I wanted to so much the last few days but you’ve been so happy and inspired, I didn’t want to ruin that for you. It was selfish of me and I’m sorry.”

  He turned to her now, his face now the one full of tears and she leapt from the bed and ran across the room to him. He held onto her almost too tight and she let him as he cried softly on her shoulder.

  “It’s my fault. I’m the one who keeps ruining people’s lives,” he said, wracked in emotion. She hugged him even tighter.

  “Don’t say that. Don’t you think like that.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he pulled away from her, “I deserve whatever happens to me this time.”

  Lana’s face went stern and serious. She held his hand up to her chest over her heart and used her other one to tilt his face to hers, his messy hair in his face.

  “You’re my heart now and the only thing you deserve is someone who is going to stand by your side. You’ve opened my eyes to more than you could ever know. This doesn’t change anything between us,” she said, and couldn’t hold back her own tears anymore.

  “I’m here and will be here for you regardless, you can bet your last dollar on that.”

  He smiled, and some of the light returned to his eyes as he pulled her close to him again.

  “You sure you want to marry me now?”

  “Yes today, yes tomorrow and yes to the rest of my life.”

  10

  They walked hand in hand downstairs to face the mini mob waiting in the living room for them. Someone, Maureen more than likely, had taken it upon themselves to light the fireplace. Lana sat on the love-seat with Kayden and Kim and Heathcliff looked at Maureen as if awaiting instruction. She took her time to study Lana for a long minute, then her eyes flicked to her son.

  “This is a family matter. Why is she here?”

  “She’s more family than Kim is and she has a name,” Kayden replied defiantly.

  “Yes, I’m Lana. Lana McKenzie,” she chimed and held her hand out to shake Maureen’s.

  Maureen looked at her hand then back to her face and over to Kayden. Lana dropped her hand down when suddenly Heathcliff grabbed it, shaking way too hard.

  “Yes Ms. McKenzie, thank you for all your help with Ms. Brown. It was courageous of you to step in there like that,” he leaned back on the couch releasing the death grip. Kim rolled her eyes and kept her attention on Kayden, who hadn’t even looked in her direction.

  “Fine,” Maureen replied to Kayden, “I’ll bottom line it for you then.”

  She stood from the couch and walked the perimeter of the living room, like a shark circling its prey. She was ready to attack him and Lana couldn’t help but feel disgust at a parent who wanted to torment their own child.

  “The Rachel woman has died unfortunately,” she continued and sauntered slowly in front of the fireplace where she lingered a moment. “Fortunately for you, she had no family or next of kin that could press charges. Now the state could, but it’s highly unlikely that would happen based solely on our family’s reputation in this town.”

  Lana and Kayden looked at each other the same time. She couldn’t believe it. Yes, she was still devastated by the loss of Rachel but this was actually good news for him. She felt a weight lift from her chest and couldn’t help the beaming smile on her face.

  “That’s good news then,” Kayden replied.

  “I’m not finished yet,” she said and continued her slow circling theater act. “I’m nearing the time of retirement as you well know and I’ve lost the passion I once had for realty. I’m here to hand you the keys to the kingdom,” she turned to him and his face lit up. He grabbed Lana’s face and kissed her. Kim stood up from the couch hyperventilating, angry and red faced.

  “I can’t stand this anymore,” she yelled, her hands on her hips standing over them both.

  “Please Kimberly let me handle this,” Maureen shot her a stern look and Kim sat back down, her eyes never leaving Lana and Lana’s never leaving hers. Lana was not about to give the bitch the satisfaction of intimidation.

  “What’s this got to do with Kim anyway?” Kayden stood and faced his mother. His body towered over Lana, a mass of muscle and strength. From that angle he looked like one of those Greek God statues that you’d see in a museum.

  “The only way I hand over the family business, is if you agree to my terms.”

  “Which are?” he d
emanded.

  “That you be married.”

  He smiled but Lana didn’t. She realized all too well what Kim was doing there now and it hit her like a ton of bricks. It was an arranged marriage!

  “You will marry Kim, receive your currently withheld inheritance and by default half your brothers. The remainder of which will go to Paula. Then and only then will you take over Capshaw Realty as CEO,” she replied proudly, her face stern and unmoving.

  “I don’t love her. Hell, I don’t even like her!” He boomed and looked at Lana, whose face was filled with anguish.

  “Love has nothing to do with it.” Maureen looked at Lana and smiled. “See dear, this is why you were better left upstairs.”

  “Mother!” he yelled, so loud the entire town must have heard. “I’m not marrying Kim, are you serious? Who in the hell do you think you are? You don’t get to plan my life!”

  “As if you’ve done so great on your own thus far? Need I remind you in front of your little friend here, what I’ve had to do for you?” She continued walking around the living room her heels clicking like a metronome during piano lessons.

  “Street-racing, accidents, DUI’s…the death of your brother,” she yelled, “Your father was so stressed and heartbroken, it sent his health spiraling and that’s what killed him! Your irresponsibility has cost this family enough and you will do whatever is necessary to fix it. End of story!”

  Lana felt herself rise from the couch, anger coursing through her veins, seeing only red.

  “He doesn’t need reminding Mrs. Capshaw, because he lives it every single day of his life!”

  She didn’t even realize she was now standing face to face with her. It was as if she'd stepped out of her own body and was watching someone else altogether. She continued.

  “Perhaps the reason for his behavior is because you’ve used it as a tool to control him while you look down your nose at him. This isn’t parenting, he’s an adult and you should be ashamed for treating him like a child and then using his misfortune as an excuse for you behaving like a shitty mother!”