Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series)

by Rivi Jacks

  “Hi,” I say softly, feeling shy.

  “Hey, Sofe,” Sawyer says. I smile at him and wonder what he thinks about me being here. I look back at Lucas.

  He watches me intently. His lips are slow to lift at the corners in that sensual smile of his. It’s so seductive my breath catches. He looks good. Damn good. He hasn’t shaved this morning, and his dark handsomeness is intensified. “Good morning.” His gaze slides over me again.

  Sawyer crosses to the coffee pot and fills the cup Max hands him.

  Lucas moves to my side. “You found your clothes.”

  I smile shyly. “I did. Thank you... for everything.”

  “You’re welcome.” He leans close, speaking in a low voice. “But I very much prefer you in my T-shirt.”

  My gaze flies to his, and I give him a strangled laugh. He chuckles and steps back, shrugging out of his coat. My mouth goes dry. He has on a white thermal shirt, the stretchy fabric outlining his upper body. As he steps to the coffeepot, my eyes follow him. He leans against the counter and takes a sip of coffee, watching me.

  Sawyer suddenly swears. “Damn! This coffee is strong enough you could walk on it.” I giggle and catch Lucas’ smile. “Are you still planning on the meeting today?”

  Lucas looks up at the wall clock. “Yes, I think we’d better.” He glances at Max. I stand, and his gaze flashes back to me. The intensity in his eyes is unnerving. I glance down quickly. How can he cause these feelings in me with just a look? I take a deep breath. I need to steer clear of him. Turning to Sawyer, I ask, “Can you take me home?”

  “Yeah, I need to go clean up.”

  “Thank you... for your hospitality,” I say, my gaze going first to Lucas.

  He frowns slightly. “You’re welcome, Sofie.” He escorts us to the front door. The back of my neck tingles, telling me he’s close behind me.

  I glance back at him from the bottom of the steps. “Bye. I’ll... see you at the meeting.”

  “Soon,” he responds. He stands on his porch, watching us drive away.

  Thank goodness Sawyer doesn’t ask any questions about my overnight stay.

  The phone is ringing as I unlock the front door. I figure it’s Diane or Emma Rae, and I’m caught off guard when Nick’s deep voice says my name. We so need caller ID.

  “I need to come over and talk to you, Sofie.”

  What? “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He conveyed enough last night. Besides, I don’t want him coming here.

  “Please, Sofie.”

  “No, Nick. I just got home, and I need to get ready for the meeting.”

  “Can you get there early? It’s imperative that I speak with you.” What the hell does he want? “Please, Sofie, just a few minutes.”

  I sigh. “I’m riding with Diane. I’ll call her, but we’ll only be a few minutes early.” I wonder if I need my head examined.

  “Sofie, let me pick you up.”

  “So your girlfriend can freak out again? No, thanks.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  Yeah, right.

  Nick’s truck is already in the community building’s parking area when we arrive, and Diane pulls her car right in beside his truck. She and Emma Rae head inside to help set up, and I see her glance back as they walk across the parking lot.

  I lean against Diane’s car and Nick rolls down the passenger window. “Get in.”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Sofie, it’s cold out there.”

  “Nick, if you want to talk to me, talk. You sit in your truck. I’m good here.”

  He gives an exasperated sigh. I’m not trying to be a bitch. I just have absolutely nothing to say to the man, and once again, I wonder why I agreed to meet him.

  He gets out and leans against the side of the truck, across from me. “You look beautiful.” I frown at him. “Okay, okay,” he laughs. He scans the parking lot before bringing his gaze back to me. “I’m leaving town.”

  Good.

  He continues. “I’m going to contact some people who can help with the Kihn.”

  I don’t know what he wants me to say. A car pulls into the lot with another one right behind it.

  “I’m hoping a little time apart will be good for us, and we can work things out when I get back.”

  I gape at him. “Nick…” I pause as more cars pull in, and I wave to a couple of people. I turn back to him. “There is no us.”

  “Sofie, I’m sorry you’re upset...”

  “You aren’t listening to me.” I’m beginning to get angry. What is this crap?

  “What do I need to do to make it right between us?” He pushes away from his truck and steps closer.

  At that moment, it occurs to me that I’m vulnerable. We’re a good little distance from the community building, with few people in the parking lot. I don’t think Nick would hurt me, but he is making me uncomfortable. “Nick, there is—no—us.”

  He opens the truck door, and the sudden change in his body language puts me on alert. When I see his eyes, I just know what he is about to do.

  I turn, but Nick is quicker, grabbing me around the waist. I get a partial scream out before he covers my mouth and lifts me off my feet. He tries to force me into the truck cab, and I hear him grunt as I claw his arm. I reach up behind me, trying to get to his face. I practically fall into the truck as he releases me. I scramble across the seat to open the driver’s door, but it won’t open. I turn back to kick at him, but there’s no Nick.

  As I come to my senses, I hear voices and recognize one of them as Lucas’. When he looks inside the truck cab from the opened passenger door, I can’t describe his expression—but it’s not good. I watch as one side of his mouth lifts, and he holds out his hand to me. I slide across, elated to see him.

  As he takes my hand and helps me out of the truck, he grins. “Sofie, you certainly can get yourself into a lot of trouble.”

  I frown, tossing him a not-so-friendly glare that causes him to laugh softly. He still hasn’t shaved, and the look seriously appeals to me. Why does the man have to be so freakin’ hot?

  He continues to hold my hand, and his nearness makes it hard to think. “Do you still want to go to the meeting?” he asks. I give a slow blink. Did he ask me a question? He grins again. “Maybe you’d rather I take you home,” he murmurs. I think he means his home.

  His cockiness helps me come to my senses. I snatch my hand away, turning quickly toward Max. He has Nick lying across the hood of Diane’s car face down with Nick’s arm jerked up behind his back. I step closer to Nick and Max. “Can you… let him up please?” Max glances at Lucas before yanking Nick around.

  I don’t hesitate. I hit Nick right in the jaw, the way Jake and Sawyer taught me. I rotate my fist just before connecting, giving my punch some torque. I catch him off guard and knock his head back, which gives me immense satisfaction, except—I think I kill my hand in the process. Pain radiates up my arm, but the shock on Nick’s face helps the hurt.

  I turn to leave and throw back over my shoulder, “I’m going in now.”

  I find Diane and Emma Rae near the front, where they’ve saved me a seat on the end. Jake stands at the front of the room by the podium. He raises his eyebrows, and I ignore him.

  I guess they’re waiting to start until Lucas arrives, which happens a few minutes later. As Max and Lucas move toward the front, I hear the door open again. Diane looks back and whispers, “Bobbi.”

  Lucas goes to the kitchen area. When he returns, he squats beside me and hands me an ice pack. I peer into his eyes, my breath catching at the heat there. “Keep this on your hand,” he orders.

  “Okay,” I whisper.

  I feel people’s eyes on us as Lucas stands, moving back to stand by Max. From the corner of my eye, I see Diane staring at me. Emma Rae, on Diane’s other side, leans forward to check me out too.

  “Who’d you punch?” Emma Rae asks, whispering for once.

  “Bobbi?” Diane whispers.

  “No. Nick,” I wh
isper back, still looking straight ahead.

  The meeting is short. We mainly talk about the training schedule, which will start tomorrow. Afterward, Diane, Emma Rae, and I sit with Jake, Sawyer, and Sam, waiting for everyone to clear out. No one says a word, but there are several glances our way. Lucas and Max wait with us too.

  “What’s going on?” Jake exclaims after Sam shuts the doors behind the last person.

  I take a deep breath. I’m not sure how he’ll take this latest drama.

  “Nick tried to kidnap Sofie,” Lucas calmly states.

  “What?” the others exclaim as one.

  “Sofie? What happened?” Jake asks again.

  I scowl at him, my temper showing. “Lucas just told you!”

  “Nick wouldn’t do that,” he scoffs. At my narrowed gaze, he adds, “Not to you.”

  I stand. My voice is calm; I know all this will hurt him since Nick is his best friend. “Nick called and convinced me to talk to him for a few minutes before the meeting. He said he was leaving town. He grabbed me and was trying to get me into his truck when Lucas and Max came to my rescue.” I notice the distress in Jake’s eyes, and I want to comfort him, make this easier in some way.

  “He had a rope on the floorboard,” Max informs. “And some duct tape.”

  This just makes me mad all over again. “He talked about us working things out. He—he’s delusional, Jake. He thinks we’re going to get back together!”

  “What happened to your hand?” Jake asks, gruffly. I don’t say anything, not wanting to upset him further.

  “She punched Nick,” Max says. I may be wrong, but he almost sounds… pleased. When I glance toward Max, I catch Lucas’ grin.

  Sawyer responds with a not-so-polite word as he heads toward the door with Sam right behind him.

  “He’s gone,” Lucas announces.

  “Gone?” Sawyer growls.

  “I sent him to finish what I’d previously instructed him to do,” Lucas answers.

  I turn to Diane and Emma Rae. “Are y’all ready to go?”

  “Sofie, let’s add more ice to that bag first,” Lucas states firmly.

  “I’ll help her,” Jake utters. “Thanks.” I go to the kitchen with Jake as he refills the ice bag. He holds my hand, gently moving my fingers and watching my face. “Hurt?”

  “Like a bitch!” I reply.

  I hear Lucas’ quiet laughter. Jake chuckles too. The others watch Jake and me through the large, pass-through window in the wall between the kitchen and the main room.

  Sawyer asks, “Sofie, did you do it right?”

  Lucas laughs out loud, and I spy Max’s grin.

  On the way home, Diane and Emma Rae grill me.

  “Sofie, there’s been more action around here since you came home,” Emma Rae comments.

  “Thanks,” I say, sarcastically.

  Diane giggles. Jake is livid when he arrives home. He’s called Nick, and I know their friendship might not survive. He also voices his opinion about Ben not finding out about my near kidnapping. I wholeheartedly agree.

  Climbing into bed at a decent hour feels good, and right before I drift off to sleep, the phone rings. I fumble, trying to locate it in the dark.

  “Sofie.” My heart rate escalates. I like the way he says my name, deep and a little breathless. “How is your hand?”

  “I’m continuing the ice, and I popped a Tylenol.”

  “I’m not sure you can participate in training tomorrow, but I still want you there.”

  When I don’t say anything, out of irritation at him for being so bossy, Lucas gives a soft laugh, which honestly sends shivers down my spine and goose bumps across my skin.

  “I should have brought you home with me,” he murmurs. Memories from the night before come rushing back. I bite my lip and squirm down in the bed. “If only to keep you out of trouble.” I can hear the laughter in his voice.

  “Good night,” I grouch. As I roll over to hang up, I hear him laugh, and I think he says, “Soon, slugger.”

  The next morning dawns cold and sunny. My hand is in fair shape. Getting the ice on it right away helped. I know I’m lucky I didn’t break it.

  I have a good feeling as I drive off to work. I think—it’s going to be a good day. That just goes to show you optimism can sometimes turn around and bite you in the ass.

  Bobbi meets me as I walk into Murphy’s. She’s positively spewing venom. “You bitch! Playing your whoring games! Jerking Nick around and causing trouble between him and Lucas!”

  I glance around. Everyone in the dining room and the store area has stopped what they’re doing to listen to Bobbi’s tirade.

  Emma Rae comes to the front. “Shut up, Bobbi!”

  “Bobbi, let’s go to the back and talk about this,” I suggest in what I think is a reasonable voice. Murphy won’t appreciate a scene in front of customers.

  “Why, because you’re afraid everyone here will find out what a whore you are? Nick broke up with you because you screwed around on him.”

  “Shut up, Bobbi!” Emma Rae tells her again.

  “You played him last night. Calling, having him meet you, and when the guy you’re screwin’ now caught you, you turned everything around and let Nick take the fall.”

  “Bobbi, you stupid bitch!” Emma Rae practically shouts. “Nick tried to kidnap Sofie!”

  “You’re as much of a liar as she is,” Bobbi spits out.

  “Bobbi,” I say calmly, “I don’t know what Nick told you but—”

  “He didn’t tell me anything. I saw everything!”

  Okay. I am pissed now, and I don’t care whether I show it. “You didn’t think of trying to stop him? Did you even consider going for help when Nick grabbed me and tried to force me into his truck?”

  “What did you do, Bobbi?” Emma Rae asks her. “Did you stand and watch lover boy try to kidnap Sofie?”

  Bobbi glances around. Every person in Murphy’s waits for her answer.

  “Bobbi,” Murphy says quietly after coming out of his office.

  “It’s your fault!” Bobbi yells, pointing at me. “You’re the reason all these horrible things are happening! Those monsters came here because of you!”

  “Bobbi, come back here now!” Murphy orders, his voice stern and not so quiet.

  I turn around, wanting to go right back out the door. Lucas stands there, and he’s heard everything. He also witnesses the panic in my eyes. “Emma Rae,” he says, “Sofie’s going out for some fresh air.”

  “That’s a good idea.” I notice her concern.

  Lucas firmly takes my arm and leads me around the building to his Hummer. He opens the passenger-side door. “Get in,” he orders firmly. I take immediate issue with his tone. “I said, get in.” His voice holds a deadly calm, and I glimpse his hard eyes. I don’t understand why he’s mad, but I can’t handle another scene, so I climb in. He shuts the door before stepping around to the other side.

  I look at him as he climbs in and closes the door. “Why are you mad?” I ask softly.

  He faces me. “I’m not mad—I’m frustrated as hell. I want to help you, and you won’t let me.”

  We sit for several minutes in silence. I keep replaying what just happened inside Murphy’s.

  “I’ve been patient with you, Sofie.” I flinch when he speaks. His voice is hard. “But I think you’d better tell me what you know—now.”

  I’m on the verge of tears. What if it is my fault the Kihn are here? When Bobbi said that, she didn’t realize how often I’ve had the same fears. Why did they pick my dreams to invade?

  “Damn it, Sofie!” Lucas brings his fist down on the steering wheel, making me jump. That does it. The floodgates open. The last person I want to cry in front of is Lucas Santiago.

  He sighs before reaching over and pulling me to his lap. That stops my crying. I have a flashback to the night of Dawn and Eli’s party. Lucas pulled me onto his lap that night too. I’d done my best not to think too much about the connection we shared that night. I
say connection because I know, without a doubt, he also felt what passed between us. When I struggle to pull away, he holds me tighter.

  “Relax,” he orders, cuddling me against his chest. And I do. I’m glad the windows are a dark tint. I think he kisses the top of my head. “Sofie, I thought I showed you, you could trust me.” For some reason, this makes me cry again. “Shhh. You don’t have to tell me now, but you are going to—soon.”

  He reaches into the console and pulls out some tissues. I blow my nose—embarrassing while sitting on his lap—and wipe my eyes. He discreetly looks out his window.

  “You know you can trust me,” he murmurs when I’m finished. He strokes the side of my face with his knuckles and then gently takes my hurt hand. “I’ve had you in my bed twice and didn’t touch you, which wasn’t easy, I might add.”

  “Ha, ha,” I mumble as I move back to my seat. I remove my ponytail tie and comb my hair with the fingers of my good hand, conscious of him watching me. Lucas reaches over and flips the visor down so I have a mirror. “Thanks,” I say softly. I pull my hair back up and smooth the skin around my eyes. I’m glad I’m not wearing eye makeup. The raccoon look is not good on me.

  I close the visor. “I’ve got to go back in.” I pull the door handle and he quickly reaches over, stopping me.

  “Don’t forget, I want you at training this evening even though you can’t participate. The other women need to see you there since this is their first time, and they’ll be nervous.”

  I answer without looking at him. “Yes, sir! May I go now?”

  He continues to hold my arm. “Yes, you may,” he says at last, with laughter in his voice.

  I feel his eyes on me as I walk back.

  By the time I get home, my hand is throbbing. I pop a Tylenol and tie an ice bag around it with a dishtowel, hoping it will stay while I fix supper. Thankfully, Jake calls from town to find out what kind of pizza I want.