Unexpected Consequences

by Mia Catherine

  “Kelsey? Okay, that’s it. I’m coming over. You don’t sound well.”

  “No! Don’t do that!” She paused to quiet her voice. “I’m fine.”

  “You are acting awfully strange, Kels.”

  “I’m fine, okay? In fact I have plans today, so I won’t be here if you come over. I’m leaving soon.” It wasn’t a total lie, she really didn’t know if they were going to be home or not. If they did decide to stay in, she certainly wasn’t planning on answering the door, and since they had left her car at the bar last night, her sister would never suspect she was hiding.

  Kelsey wasn’t accustomed to telling little white lies to her family, but she wasn’t interested in the inevitable lecture that would come once they learnt how she had met a strange guy in a bar less than twenty-four hours prior and not only had sex with him, but allowed him to spend the night in her apartment. With two cops in the family, she’d be read the riot act about safety and the dangers of going off with strangers as if she was a five-year-old, and she just wasn’t in the mood this time. Her gut had told her she was safe with Nick, and she’d been right.

  “Where are you going?” Krissy asked, suspiciously.

  “Krissy, look, I’m running late. I have to go. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  “Kelsey Catherine Braden, what has gotten into you?”

  “What? Krissy, when did you turn into Mom? I don’t have to report to you and, frankly, I’m a bit irritated by your third degree, okay?”

  “This isn’t like you, Kelsey.”

  “Well, maybe this is the new me. I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

  “But, Kels…”

  “Goodbye, Krissy,” she said before pressing the end call button on her phone. She inhaled deeply and slowly released her breath, allowing the frustration to leave with it.

  “Trouble with your family, Bright Eyes?”

  She turned with a jump to see Nick standing in the doorway with a towel wrapped around his waist, his skin still glistening from the shower.” Oh, jeez. You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. Is everything okay with your sister?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she said, unable to tear her eyes away from his incredible body. “It’s fine.”

  “What did she want?”

  Kelsey reviewed the brief conversation with a giggle. “You know what? I don’t know.”

  “You want to call her back?”

  “No,” she said as she approached him. She rubbed her hands along his wet chest and smiled when the faint smell of lilac drifted from his body. “I’m not interested in my sister right now.”

  “Oh yeah?” he whispered. “What are you interested in, baby?” He leant down for a kiss.

  “Food.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’m starving,” she said with a smile.

  He laughed and nodded his head. “Yeah, I could eat. So, tell you what. How about I run and get us something. I have to go out anyway.”

  “Where do you have to go?”

  “I just have to pick up some clean clothes. I don’t want to spend the day with you smelling like that smoky bar room.”

  “Well, I think I can help you with that.” She hurried to the closet. Tossing a few items aside, she pulled out a moving box and plopped it on the bed. He peered over her shoulder as she ripped the tape from the lid. “I think you can find something in here that should work.”

  He opened the flaps, revealing an assortment of men’s clothing. Looking at her with a raised eyebrow, he stammered before speaking. “Um, Kelsey, what are you doing with a box of men’s clothing?”

  She laughed. She had to admit, it was pretty strange for a single woman who lived alone to have a box full of men’s clothes. “They’re my brother’s. I told you he and his wife used to live here and they haven’t quite moved all their stuff yet. I’m guessing they should fit you. You guys are close to the same size.”

  “I don’t know. It’s bad enough I’m fuc… I mean, sleeping with the guy’s sister. Now I’m gonna take his clothes, too?”

  “Well, you don’t have to wear them. If you have to leave me to change, I’ll understand.” Kelsey tilted her head down and looked up at him through her eyelashes. It was a look that had worked with the men in her family for most of her life, and when his expression softened, she knew it worked on him just as well.

  “No, it’s okay.” He started thumbing through the items in the box. “Looks like he and I have the same taste in clothes, anyway.”

  She smiled in relief. She wasn’t sure why she was nervous. Perhaps she was afraid if he left, he wouldn’t return. “I’m afraid there isn’t any…um…underwear, though.”

  He caught her off guard when he leant down for a quick, but heated kiss. “Don’t you remember? I don’t wear any.”

  She had to catch her breath. The combination of his kiss, his tone of voice, and his half-naked body were becoming too much for her. Perhaps spending the day in bed isn’t such a bad idea.

  “You have any food in the kitchen, Bright Eyes?”

  “Yes,” she said as she cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. What this man can do with just a kiss. “I have food.”

  “Okay. You get dressed and I’ll go downstairs and fix us some breakfast.” He pulled a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt from the box

  “You can cook?”

  “Yeah. I’ve been known to whip up a dish or two. You sound shocked.”

  “I guess you’re full of surprises, too.” The air was thick as she gazed into his eyes. There was something powerful between them, she couldn’t deny that.

  He suddenly looked away and slipped on the jeans. “Tell me something, baby.”

  “What do you want to know?” She moved closer and her voice began to take on a sultry tone.

  “What’s that?”

  She looked to where he pointed and somehow found the words to answer. “That leads to the roof. I’ve got a nice space up there with a patio table and a couple chairs. Since the rest of the area is abandoned, I have complete privacy. It’s like my own little oasis.”

  “I was wondering where the third door led.” He zipped up and slid his arms into the sleeves of the shirt, leaving it unbuttoned, and handed her the towel he had removed from his waist. “And if I let you kiss me right now, we’ll never make it out of the room, so I had to change the subject. Now, you take a relaxing shower, and I’ll make you a good breakfast. How does that sound?”

  Kelsey was briefly disappointed when he turned away, but with a rumble of her stomach, she admitted he was right. “Sounds really good, actually. I hope you’re a good cook.”

  “One way to find out.” He walked towards the staircase, fishing his cell phone from the pocket of his discarded jeans on the way. ”Take your time. I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready.”

  As his foot hit the bottom step, he switched on his cell phone, sighing at the beep signalling a new voicemail. He punched the speed dial button and waited for the message, knowing full well who it was before the number had even finished dialling.

  “My priorities are straight, you son of a bitch,” he mumbled as he quickly deleted the message. He began sending a text, but then decided to call instead. He wanted to make it clear he wasn’t to be disturbed. Today, Kelsey was his priority.

  “Yeah, it’s me.” He was unconcerned about being overheard with the shower running upstairs. “What the hell do you want now?”

  “You said you were going to contact him,” the gravelly voice responded.

  “You want me to do it at ten a.m.? Damn it, be real, dude. I call him now and I raise all kinds of suspicions. It’s been years since we’ve spoken. I can’t be too anxious.”

  “I don’t want you to lose focus because of a piece of ass. You have a job to do.”

  “Back off, man,” he said, gritting his teeth. The mere thought of these people knowing about Kelsey made him uneasy. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “I don’t trust you, Jensen.”

&
nbsp; “Feeling’s mutual. I’ll call you once I make contact. Until then, back off.” He disconnected the call and shoved the phone angrily in his pocket, but relaxed more with every step towards the kitchen. Cooking had always proven therapeutic, and now it could help clear his head.

  He opened the cabinet door in search of what he needed, but deep down he knew he’d already found it. He’d known her for less than a day, but he knew. Like it or not, everything in his life was changing.

  Chapter Seven

  Nick was just finishing their breakfast when he saw Kelsey out of the corner of his eye. She steadily descended the spiral staircase, but slowed as she reached the bottom step. Unsure as to the cause of her hesitation, he continued dishing food on their plates, giving no indication that he’d seen her.

  After a moment, she continued walking, but didn’t say a word as she approached the opposite side of the breakfast bar.

  She looked incredible in her form-fitting jeans and yellow top. The spaghetti straps complemented her sculpted shoulders perfectly, and the lacy yellow trim along the bottom highlighted her tiny waist. What drew his eye the most were the delicate rippled cups that lifted and accentuated her breasts. She was a vision, but he couldn’t ignore her constant fidgeting.

  “Wow, baby. You look incredible.” He didn’t hide his interest, giving her body a very slow once-over.

  “Thanks,” she said as she lowered her head. She tugged the lacy bottom, then crossed and uncrossed her arms. “Can I help?”

  He was struggling for control—again. This woman does something to me. “Damn, baby. You make me want to drag you back up to that bedroom and have my way with you.”

  “You wouldn’t have to drag me.”

  He noticed just a hint of surprise in her expression. It was obvious now, despite her insistence to the contrary, that she wasn’t used to acting this way. He didn’t want her putting on a show for him. He wanted the real Kelsey.

  “Why don’t we eat our breakfast first, Bright Eyes? We don’t want you starving now, do we?”

  “It does smell good.” She grabbed the pot of coffee and two cups while he carried their plates to the table. “I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”

  “Dig in,” he said while tucking his napkin in the collar of his shirt. He poured them each some coffee before taking a bite of his food.

  “Oh, man. This is awesome. My eggs never turn out like this.”

  “It’s magic.” He watched her, hardly touching his food, as she ate her breakfast enthusiastically.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” she asked just before biting into a piece of toast.

  “I was just wondering…”

  “What?”

  “Who’s the real Kelsey?”

  She dabbed her napkin against her lips as her eyebrows knitted together. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, the woman who first approached me last night was sexy and confident—and hot as hell. But since then I’ve seen another side of you. There are times that you seem, I don’t know, almost…shy.”

  “Why…why do you say that?”

  “Well, take this outfit,” he said as he pointed to her top. “That’s not something you would normally wear. Is it?”

  “It’s nothing special.” She pressed her hands to the table and rose from her seat. “I’ll go change.”

  “No.” He covered her hand, pinning it in place. “Sit, please.”

  She sat, but snatched her hand from his and crossed her arms in front of her chest, as if hiding herself from him.

  “Kelsey, there’s nothing wrong with what you’re wearing. I think you look beautiful. It doesn’t expose too much, but it shows off your incredible body. It’s sexy.”

  He watched as her cheeks took on a rosy glow. “There. That’s what I’m talking about.” He pointed to her flushed face. “That embarrasses you, doesn’t it?”

  “I’m just not used to being complimented like that.”

  “That’s because you don’t normally dress like that, do you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She stood to take her empty dishes to the kitchen.

  “I just want to get to know you and I feel like you’re hiding the real Kelsey. Who is she?” He followed closely behind her, not allowing her to run from the conversation.

  She mumbled something, but, with her back to him, he couldn’t make it out.

  “What did you say?”

  “I said I don’t know!” She tossed the dishes in the sink and turned to face him.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know?” She was obviously struggling with her words. “Come here. Let’s talk.”

  He took her hand and led her towards the couch. She sat beside him, keeping her eyes on the ground the whole time.

  “Talk to me, Bright Eyes, please?” He lifted her chin to look into her eyes.

  “I don’t want…”

  “You don’t want what?”

  “I don’t want to scare you away.”

  “Baby, a nuclear bomb couldn’t scare me away from you. Tell me.”

  “The truth is I don’t know. I don’t know who I am…who I’m supposed to be.”

  “Well, if I asked your brothers or your sister who you were, what would they say?”

  She scoffed. “Nothing that was true.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He watched as she glanced from one spot to the next, a look of contemplation on her face. “You know, all my life, it seems there was someone telling me what to do, what not to do, what to think, what not to think. I thought I got away from it when I moved to Cleveland, but the insecurity followed me there. I used to blame it on my overprotective family, but I realised it was all me. I was in this protective shell and I just didn’t know how to get out of it.”

  She released a heavy sigh before continuing. “I wanted to cut loose a little, you know? Take a chance and act spontaneously. I was never one to do that, and I wanted to just let myself go. So I went to that bar last night.”

  “And you hit on me,” he said, suddenly feeling confused. Did I take advantage of someone who was vulnerable? Or, was she using me to escape from a version of herself that she was less than happy with?

  “No, that’s not why I approached you. I may’ve gone out looking for excitement, but once I got there, I totally chickened out. I sat at the end of the bar for an hour before you even got there. In fact, I was just about to leave when I saw you walk in. I stayed in the shadows for a long time, just watching. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” Her shy smile returned.

  “It took me a while, but I managed to summon enough courage to talk to you. I’ve been playing pool with my brothers most of my life, so I figured I could challenge you to a game and we could go from there.”

  “And after we left the bar?” he asked, wanting to know her motivations. If she’s with me for the wrong reasons, I can’t continue taking advantage of her insecurity.

  “I can’t explain that,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “Something just took over and I couldn’t control myself. When I leaned against you on that bike…”

  Her sultry tone of voice returned as she began to speak of their romp on his motorcycle. “I can’t say I’m sorry about that.”

  He could feel himself begin to harden. It was becoming difficult to focus on her words, but this conversation was far too important to allow it to be overcome with sex.

  “So, to answer your question, I don’t really know who I am. I know I’m not the quiet, shy girl who hid in the corner, but…”

  “But you’re not the sex kitten you tried to be?”

  “Disappointed?”

  “Disappointed? Are you kidding, Kelsey?” He intertwined his fingers with hers. “I knew that. I could see the insecurity in your eyes.”

  “You could?”

  “Well, not right away. If I had, I may not have taken you the way I did out in that forest.”

  “That’s exactly why I didn’t want you to know. I knew what I was doing. I may
not have done it if I’d thought it through, but that’s exactly what I needed at this point in my life. I’m tired of always weighing the consequences and closing myself off. I’ve never felt this way before, and it was all because I decided to take a chance.”

  His heart pounded as he listened to her speak. He had something special with this woman, and although he wasn’t sure he was ready for it, he had no intentions of letting it go. But, apparently, she wasn’t finished with her confessions.

  “The birth control pills,” she said, dropping her head. “I take them for medical purposes. Guess they came in handy, huh?”

  “Medical purposes? Are you okay?”

  “I have a history of cysts. They can be painful, so the pills help to control them. You were right about me. I’ve never brought a strange guy home before, and I have never slept with a guy without being in a relationship. I’m not that kind of girl.”

  “Baby, first of all, you are no girl. You are a woman—a very beautiful, sexy woman. The fact that you don’t know that only adds to your appeal. I knew early on that you were more girl next door than you wanted me to know.” He lifted her chin with his finger when she attempted to look away. “But I also knew you were an adult and perfectly aware of what you were doing.”

  She sat a little straighter and he saw her confidence return. “You wanna know what I think, Kelsey? I don’t think you need to decide between wallflower and sex kitten. I think the real you is somewhere in between. You just need to find her.”

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

  “Okay. I’ve got an idea. Tell me something you’ve always wanted to do, but have never done.”

  “I did it last night.” She smiled widely before nipping her bottom lip between her teeth.

  He groaned and gave her a sneer. Damn, she’s sexy. Control yourself, Jensen. “Come on, there must be something you’ve always wanted to do.”

  “Well, there is one thing… Oh, but I couldn’t.”

  “What? Tell me, come on.” He was anxious to see her really cut loose. There was an incredible freedom that came from letting yourself go, and she’d only experienced a small part of it. He wanted to see her come to life.