She could come to him if she wanted.
Kade didn’t believe she would.
He went to the shooting range and was frustrated by the lack of change. He eyed the target for what seemed like an eternity as he planned the first shot. The other five followed in quick succession. At least his aim was still good: three in the forehead and three in the heart of the paper target. Each trio of holes were so close that the bullets might have passed through the same one. Kade turned to find his captain watching in silence.
“You’re hesitating,” that man said.
Kade nodded. “I have another appointment with Psych on Wednesday, sir.”
“I’ll bet it feels like forever between aiming and taking that first shot.”
“It does, sir.”
“It’s not nearly as long of a delay as that. It’s not ideal, but it’s not as bad as you think it is. Why don’t you come back and do some time on the desk? Getting back in the rhythm might keep you from overthinking this.”
“Okay.” Truth be told, Kade was glad to have something concrete to do.
“I’ll add you to shift rotation for Thursday. Okay?”
“Great. Thank you, sir.” The older man’s confidence fed Kade’s own, and helped him to believe that, professionally, things were coming together.
Too bad his personal life bit the wall.
He’d get past this, though, and that might make all the difference.
Reyna was a whole other thing and worse, it was an issue he couldn’t resolve himself.
Reyna was delivering cupcakes to the lodge on Thursday when Lexi appeared in the doorway. “Ha!” she said, her eyes shining. “You thought you could escape the inquisition!”
Reyna handed her a tray of cupcakes. “Hardly. The only reason I didn’t answer the phone was that I was decorating cupcakes.”
“And the second time?”
“I was in the bathroom.”
“The third?”
Reyna paused and turned to look at her friend. “I thought it would be better to talk to you in person.”
“You’re right. I want to see all the hints of things you aren’t telling me.”
“Business first.” Reyna took another tray and kicked the back door of the truck closed. They went into the kitchen of the lodge and Gabe checked the cupcakes against the order. He admired the new lemon cream ones, signed off on the delivery, then got the check for Reyna’s last bill. Lexi was practically bouncing with curiosity beside Reyna the whole time.
“I’ve had phones that didn’t vibrate as well as you,” Reyna complained.
“Only phones?” Lexi said and they laughed together as Lexi dragged Reyna into the deserted restaurant. She gave Reyna a poke toward a chair. “Kade Sullivan. You don’t need a vibrator when you’ve got him naked in your shop.”
Ah, so she had heard Mrs. Foster’s story, too.
“He wasn’t naked.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
“He’d been naked, but he was wearing a towel by then.” Reyna knew she was blushing. “He was making coffee.”
“Energy for a second round,” Lexi concluded with a wise nod. “Or a third?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes! This is the most interesting thing that’s happened around here in months, and you didn’t even tell me you were doing him.”
“I only did him twice.”
Lexi looked skeptical. “Sure.”
“Two different occasions. Multiple times.”
“Aha.” Lexi leaned across the table. “And when’s the next time?”
“There isn’t going to be one.”
“He bought you dinner here, took you home, and now you say you’re done? Not nice, Reyna.”
“I said we were done before that.”
“Then you did him again?” Lexi lifted a brow. “The man is getting mixed messages.”
“No, he isn’t,” Reyna said firmly. “I said no relationship.”
“Two occasions is a relationship.”
“No, it isn’t! I said that was it and he invited me to dinner to argue his side.”
“He wants a relationship.”
“He did. I told him why it wouldn’t work.”
“Did he believe you?”
Reyna had to pause. “I don’t think so.”
“But he’s gone to Portland. When’s he coming back to Honey Hill?”
“I don’t know. Maybe never.”
Lexi studied her in silence. “And you’re good with this?”
“It was a fling not a thing.”
“When are you going to Portland?”
“Not soon.”
Lexi shook her head in mock despair. “So, let me get this straight. You seduce the hottest guy that Honey Hill has seen in years on two separate occasions, with multiple orgasms. You tell him that’s it but he wants more. You have dinner with him, let him explain, then you explain, then when he still wants to see you again, you send him away?”
“Pretty much, yes. I didn’t want to be the one to break his heart.”
Lexi exhaled. “Because that’s the inevitable result of a third occasion? I call bullshit, Reyna.”
“Look, you don’t understand. You don’t know where I’ve been and what I’ve done.”
“I’ve guessed a lot of it.”
“You can’t have, but never mind that. Kade is nice. Kade is looking for a serious relationship, a forever kind of thing, and I know I can’t do that.”
“Did he say that?”
“Not exactly. He wanted to get together again.”
“And so you declined.”
“Because it was a fling, a quickie, not a date or a relationship or the start of one.” Reyna heard her voice rise. “It was just sex!”
“If it was just sex, you wouldn’t have gone back for more,” Lexi insisted. “If it was just sex, you wouldn’t look like you hadn’t slept all week.”
Reyna fell silent. Apparently, the concealer hadn’t hidden the dark circles. “I’m just feeling off. It has nothing to do with him.”
“Right.” Lexi pushed to her feet. “Want to know what I think?”
“Not particularly.”
That didn’t stop Lexi. “I think you’re out of your fucking mind.” Reyna would have protested but Lexi held up a finger. “And I think you’re running scared. Whatever happened to you in the past doesn’t have to color your future, but you let it. You give the past power by always waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if Kade’s different? What if there is no pending doom? What if you chose to live instead of mark time, surviving from day to day?”
“I don’t mark time! I have my business...”
“You insist on controlling every little thing, Reyna. That’s managing, not living. It’s good for your business, but it sucks for the rest of your life. You’re alone and you’ll stay alone, and that’s one thing if you never meet a person who could give you more, but you have and you’re throwing that chance away.”
“You don’t know if it will work.”
“No one does, Reyna!” Lexi shouted. “But you have that chance, and if you don’t take it, if you insist on being safe in your little world where you pull all the switches, then you aren’t half the person I think you are.” She leaned on the table, her expression earnest. “You inspire me, Reyna. I know something shitty happened to you and you had to start all over again. It blows me away that you did it so well and so quickly, never mind that you look so awesome doing it.” She shook her head and smiled. “I could hate you, really easily.”
Reyna found herself smiling in return.
“But I don’t. I like you. And that means I want you to have every good thing. If Kade is one of those things, I want you to have him, too.” Lexi sat down and studied her. “But mostly I want you to believe that you deserve to have every good thing.”
Reyna felt her tears rise and dropped her gaze. “I deserve good things,” she said but heard the lack of conviction in her voice.
“Then w
hy’d you send Kade away?”
“Because he doesn’t deserve what I’d give him.”
Lexi shook her head. “He thinks otherwise. He’s old enough to think for himself and to take his own chances. Why not meet him halfway?”
“It might not work. It probably won’t work.”
“Since when did anything real come with a guarantee?”
Reyna held Lexi’s gaze, unconvinced.
“You didn’t know your cupcake business was going to succeed.”
“I chose every variable to maximize the chances of it doing so.”
“Okay, so do the same with Kade. What do you have to do to maximize the chances of you two staying together?”
Reyna stared down at her lap. The implication that she was a chicken didn’t sit well. She didn’t think that Lexi was right but she knew that Kade wanted to see her again. She wanted to see him again and she halfway thought that was because he was thinking about her and she could feel it. Her butterfly tattoo had been warm all week long, reminding her of Kade’s words and Kade’s touch and keeping her awake all night every night.
What if she changed his mind?
She’d do as he asked and show him all of her truth. That would send him running.
“There’s this burlesque class next Friday night in Portland,” she said, her decision made. “You want to go with me? We could stay at my studio overnight.”
“Love to but I’m working,” Lexi said. Reyna knew her smile meant that she’d guessed incorrectly about Reyna’s plan to go to Portland. “Spencer is coming back this weekend and it sounds like things are going to get busy.” She paused. “Besides, wouldn’t I be in the way?”
Reyna shook her head. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Promise me that you’ll try,” Lexi said, pointing a finger at Reyna.
Reyna smiled. “I’ll try.”
“Good. I could ask for a schedule change, but I don’t believe for a minute that you really need any moral support.” Lexi’s smile turned wicked. “And I don’t want to cramp your style.”
Friday night it would be.
Chapter Seven
Kade felt good after his first week back on duty. It was routine but not boring. He was serving the community, even on the desk, and he didn’t mind talking to kids about lost puppies or teenagers about their stolen bikes. He gave directions to tourists and took reports of fender-benders and, as his captain had suggested, got back into the rhythm of work again. He didn’t think so much about his shooting.
But he did think about Reyna.
The only thing his life needed to be completely right was a call from her. Almost two weeks after their dinner, he was reconciling himself to the likelihood that he’d never hear from her again.
He was heading out of the station on Friday night when his cell phone rang. It was almost midnight and he was tired, but in a good way.
It was Reyna.
Kade exhaled, stopped beside his bike and told himself not to make too much of it. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Her voice was warm, a little husky, and with one word, she had him. “What are you doing?”
“Just finished a shift.”
“You’re back at work, then?”
“I’m working a desk, easing back into it.”
“That sounds sensible.”
“Yes, cops do sensible.” She laughed lightly and he wished he could see her. When she didn’t say anything more, he cleared his throat. “What are you doing?”
“I just finished a class here in Portland. Maybe that’s why I’m not tired. I thought I’d see if you wanted to get together.”
“Have a drink, you mean.”
“Not exactly.” She paused and he wondered if she was embarrassed. It seemed unlikely to him. “It was a burlesque class. I wondered if you wanted to see my new moves.”
Heat shot through Kade at the suggestion. “In a bar?”
She laughed. “In private.” He heard her take a breath. “My studio?”
Kade hesitated for a moment. He wanted to see Reyna and he knew he’d love to see her new moves, but he wanted more than sex. He suspected that meant not letting her make all the decisions. “My place,” he countered and heard her catch her breath.
“I don’t know where it is.” She spoke quickly and he knew she was nervous.
“I can give you the address and meet you there,” he suggested. “Or I could meet you wherever you are and you could follow me there.”
“Or you could just meet me at my studio,” she countered. “I don’t see any reason to drive all over the city.” The very fact that she was arguing with him about it meant she did see the reason, as far as Kade was concerned.
“Did I find another rule?” he asked lightly.
She inhaled sharply. “If it isn’t one, it should be.”
“Maybe you could bend it, just for me.”
There was silence on the line.
She liked bikes, Kade remembered.
“Tell you what,” he said. “I’ll meet you at your studio and we’ll take the bike back to my place. You can drive. If you like it, we can go for a ride down the coast first. That’ll bend one of my rules about always being the driver.”
His suggestion surprised her and he knew it. She was silent for at least a full minute, then he heard her inhale. “I’m not sure.”
Kade took a chance. “Then I’m busy. I like the idea of that ride down the coast. Thanks for calling. It was good to hear your voice again.”
“No! Wait!” Reyna’s agitation crackled through the phone. He was asking her to leave her safe zone, to be in his place instead of her own, and to have no vehicle. It was a lot, but on the other hand, he thought it was time she took a chance.
On him.
He’d given her no reason to distrust him, no matter what had happened in her past. If she came to his place and it was good—and Kade couldn’t imagine why it wouldn’t be—their relationship would take a huge step forward.
And he was a bit concerned about letting anyone else drive his bike.
“Okay,” she said in a rush. “I’ll meet you at the studio. Fifteen minutes?”
“Closer to thirty. I need to go home to pick up a second helmet.”
The laughter was in her tone again when she replied. “I guess it would be a bad idea for you to break the law.”
“A very bad idea,” Kade agreed, then dropped his voice. “It’ll be good, Reyna. Trust me.”
“I do,” she said, sounding a bit shaky. “It’s just kind of a new thing.”
“I know. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
“Okay,” she said softly but didn’t end the call.
“I’m really glad to hear your voice,” he said, sensing she needed reassurance. “And I’m really looking forward to seeing you.”
“Okay,” she said with more confidence. “I’ll see you soon.”
She ended the call and Kade put his phone away with satisfaction. This was the night that everything would change.
He was ready.
Reyna was more nervous than she’d been in years. She knew in her heart that she’d be safe with Kade, but her past experience made her edgy. She really liked managing all of the variables and having her contingency plans. She got back to her studio in record time and parked the truck in the garage, then went upstairs.
She’d borrowed the fan from the burlesque class, but she didn’t want to play games anymore. Kade wanted to test her, and she knew it was time for her to test him, too. She stripped off her clothes and removed all of her make-up, even taking off her nail polish. Then she had a quick shower and washed her hair, getting all the product out of it. She blew it dry, not styling it but leaving it to hang loose over her shoulders. She tugged on a white stretch lace camisole and matching panties, then a blue Henley and jeans. Her reflection looked like that of a different woman, one she hadn’t sent out into the world for a long time.
She waved at the reflection, saying hello to an old friend.
Bef
ore she could question her choice, she grabbed her jacket, tugged on her boots and locked the door behind herself. She’d just stepped into the alley behind her garage when she heard the bike engine.
Kade was right on time.
She braced herself for his reaction when he stopped the bike beside her, halfway thinking he’d change his mind right then and there. There was a streetlight at the end of the alley and there had to be enough light for him to see the change in her appearance. He turned off the engine and parked the bike, then got off it and took the extra helmet off the back. He tipped up his visor on the way to her, offering the second helmet, then stopped cold.
Reyna’s gut clenched.
“Well, hello,” he said softly, that smile slowly claiming his lips.
She opened her mouth to explain, but found his gloved fingertip on her lips.
He leaned closer, his dark eyes glowing and dropped his voice to a whisper. “You’re beautiful, and don’t ever imagine otherwise.” Then he kissed her, a slow sweet kiss that heated her blood to boiling and left her knees weak. She melted against him, realizing just how much she’d missed his touch, and he deepened his kiss, letting her taste his own relief.
“You have freckles,” he said when they finally parted.
Reyna grimaced. “I hate them.”
“I love them.” He flicked a fingertip across her cheek. “They’re so cute.”
“I don’t want to be cute,” she said, finding it hard to be annoyed with him. She felt flustered and knew she was blushing. It wasn’t fair that he was so good at challenging her expectations. “I want to be glamorous.”
“You’re both.” He gave her an intent look. “You have your motorcycle license, right?”
“Right here, officer.” Reyna pulled out her wallet and showed it to him. He handed her the helmet and she put it on.
“It’s not because of my job,” he said, sparing a glance at the bike. “It’s because I’ve never let anyone else drive it before.”
Reyna smiled, realizing that he was nervous. “I promise not to crash it.”
“Good. Good plan.” Reyna climbed on and was glad of Kade behind her. He was taller and could steady the bike better. He was wrapped around, his thighs against hers, which wasn’t the only thing that put her mind right in the gutter. He oriented her quickly, and she worked through the gears twice, just to get the feel of them. Then she started the bike, he kicked off the stand, and they were off.
Spring Fever Page 13
