Running Into Love - The Complete Box Set

by Annalisa Nicole

  Once inside my apartment, I forget all about the car. I grab everything for the pot roast and put it all together. I jump in the shower and get ready for the hike. I get a call from Willow asking if I can dogsit for the night. Her, Asher, and Abbey, want to go to their beach house and don’t want to take Lucy. It all works out perfect because Kyle and I intend to stay in for the evening anyway. I tell her my plans and tell her to let herself in if I’m not home yet from my hike with Kyle.

  I spend about an hour returning work emails, and I’m just getting everything wrapped up, when Kyle buzzes up. I buzz him in and open the door slightly for him. I grab my hiking gear as Kyle softly knocks on the door.

  “Amelia?” he calls.

  “Come on in. I’m ready to go. We’re going to dog sit tonight,” I tell him.

  “Dogsit, for whose dog?” he asks confused.

  “Asher and Willow’s little Yorkshire Terrier, Lucy. She’s such a cutie. You’ll just love her,” I say, as I grab my backpack, then kiss him on the lips.

  We walk out hand in hand and I lock the door behind us. It’s about a fifty-mile drive to Mt. Rainer, but it’s well worth it. We stop on the way at this cute train car restaurant called, Mt. Rainer Railroad Train Co., we ate our lunch in an actual train car. It was way cool. We pick one of the shorter trails that should only take us a few hours to complete, round trip. The surroundings and scenery are just breathtaking. I love being out in nature and breathing in the fresh mountain air. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend my Saturday if you asked me to.

  Kyle

  The hike was amazing. The scenery was beautiful. The company was even better. Spending time with Amelia just keeps getting better and better. We both seem to love the same things, we seem to complete each other. We make it back to her apartment rather late, but she assures me that dinner will be just fine. She unlocks the door and a little brown dog jumps up and down on her pant legs.

  “Hey Lucy girl, how’s my pretty girl?” Amelia says happily, bending down to pick her up.

  The dog licks her all over her face and Amelia giggles.

  Her apartment smells amazing. If the pot roast tastes half as good as it smells, I will be in heaven. Amelia walks over to the coffee table and picks up a note. She looks at it confused. She flips it over to look at the other side, and then flips it back again.

  “That’s a strange thing for Willow to say,” she says, then carries it to the trash and throws it away.

  “What’s strange, what was that?” I ask her.

  “It’s a typed note from Willow, but it doesn’t make any sense. It says, ‘mistakes are often stepping stones to others misfortune.’ I’m sure it’s something philosophical about Roger. I think it’s a riddle or something, but I’m terrible at solving them.”

  “That is strange,” I tell her.

  She moves around her kitchen, digs out a large pot, then fills it with water.

  “Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask her, walking into her kitchen.

  “No, I’m only making some egg noodles for the pot roast, it won’t take me that long. Would you like a glass of wine?”

  “Sure, I’ll open it for us.”

  I open a bottle of red she has on the counter and pour us each a glass. In less than twenty minutes, she has two bowls of steaming pot roast placed at the breakfast bar. She sits next to me and eyes me while I take the first bite. My eyeballs roll in the back of my head, oh my, this is good. This is the best meal I think I’ve ever had.

  “This truly is to die for pot roast. It just melts in your mouth,” I tell her while licking my lips.

  She looks pleased and digs into her own meal. Spending a night in with my girl, after an amazing hike, with good food and good wine, does a body good. I can definitely see myself easily spending the rest of my life with Amelia. She gets up and takes our dishes to the sink. I follow close behind and stand behind her at the sink. She pauses and sighs. It didn’t sound like a good sigh either.

  “Is everything alright?” I ask concerned.

  “Yes, it is, but I did want to talk to you about something,” she says and turns slightly to look me in the eyes.

  “You can tell me anything, you know that,” I assure her.

  “First, I want to ask you if you’d like to stay tonight.”

  “I was hoping you’d ask, but I didn’t want to pressure you.”

  “The second thing is a little harder to say,” she says, almost in a whisper.

  I turn her all the way around and wrap my arms around her. I need her to feel safe and comfortable with me at all times.

  “You can tell me anything, Amelia. I’ll never judge you, I’ve told you that and I mean it.”

  “Alright, here it goes. You’re already aware that I have issues with, well you know? I wanted to tell you that I don’t want you to feel obligated to have to do that every time. I like being with you and I want you to know that’s enough for me,” she says, then looks down at her feet.

  I lift her chin up to look her in her eyes.

  “First, let me say again that you do not have issues. It’s completely one hundred percent natural. I know Willow’s told you the same thing. Second, it is not an obligation. I don’t feel like I have to do it. I want to do it. I like to do it. Going down on you, to me, is as much of a turn on as it is for you. A real man sees to the needs of his woman. I love seeing to your needs. I almost feel guilty about it because it’s something I enjoy probably even a little more than you. So you get that out of your head right now. To a man, watching your woman lose all control and come in your mouth is a huge turn on.”

  She has such a look of shock on her face. I know I drove my point home. She turns back around and finishes the dishes. I still have her locked in and I turn her back around to face me again.

  “We’re straight on this, right?” I ask her in all seriousness.

  “Yes, all clear,” she says, then wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight.

  We decide to take Lucy for a walk before calling it a night. It’s late summer and the weather is still beautiful. We start to walk down the street and Amelia looks over her shoulder. She looks back at me to see if I notice her looking for something and of course I do. She smiles at me and takes my hand.

  “What was that all about?” I ask her.

  “Um . . . nothing,” she says.

  “That didn’t look like nothing,” I reply.

  “It’s just me. I’ve been so paranoid lately, I don’t know why.”

  “You’re paranoid about what exactly?” I ask concerned.

  “See that silver car down the street, across from my building?” she says, points across the street.

  I turn to look, but I don’t see a silver car anywhere.

  “I don’t see it, no,” I tell her.

  “I swear it was just there. I’ve seen the same silver car hanging around lately,” she says, looking down the street confused.

  “If you see it again, show it to me. OK?”

  “OK,” she says and squeezes my hand.

  We walk around the block and let Lucy do her business. Back at the front of her building, I can see she’s trying to hide that she’s looking around for the silver car again.

  We take the elevator to her floor and she visibly relaxes. Good, I guess seeing Roger made her a little paranoid, I’m sure that’s all it is. Once inside the apartment she locks the door. I spin her around, bend over, then stick my shoulder against her waist and lift her up and on my shoulder. She lets out a squeal and kicks her feet as Lucy barks.

  “Put me down, you caveman,” she screams, then pounds my back with her hands playfully.

  “Not on your life, woman,” I say and give her a bounce on my shoulder, making her shriek again.

  I walk her down the hall, into her bedroom and flip her off my shoulder onto her bed with a bounce. Once on the bed, I climb on top of her pinning her to the bed. She smiles huge at me, I take that smile in a full on hot and heavy kiss. She sighs in my mout
h and deepens the kiss with her tongue. Damn, she’s a good kisser. Her hands are wild on my back and she pulls my shirt up and off over my head. I smile down at her, then kiss down her neck. I unzip her pants and slowly pull them off her legs. She sits up and kisses me again. While she’s sitting up, I take off her shirt and bra.

  “God, Amelia, you’re so beautiful.”

  She reaches for my pants and pulls them down my hips. I wiggle out of them and haul her up the bed. I start at her lips again and kiss down her jaw line to just below her ear. That’s a hot spot for her and it drives her wild. She has her hands in my hair and says my name.

  “Kyle,” she says in a breathy whisper.

  “I’m right here, honey.”

  I kiss down her body and place her foot on my shoulder. Ever so softly I trace her with my tongue. Inserting two fingers she moans and her leg starts to shake. There is nothing wrong with this woman, she lights up like a Christmas tree. She props herself up on her elbows and watches me love her with my mouth. She’s breathing heavy, moaning softly and I feel as her insides clench around my fingers. I quickly grab a condom and put it on. I need to get inside her before she comes down from her orgasm. I enter her quickly and she screams my name.

  “That’s right, honey, it’s all for you,” I say and thrust into her hard, in and out.

  “Oh my God, Kyle, don’t stop.”

  I reach between us and finger that sensitive spot that sends her over the edge. She clenches me tight for a second orgasm, which throws me into my own. We’re both breathing hard and I look into her eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes search mine back and I’m overcome with emotions.

  “I think I’m quickly falling in love with you,” I tell her honestly, hoping she feels the same way.

  She places her hand on my face and searches my eyes once more. I know she sees the depths of my love.

  “I’m well past falling,” she says with a smile.

  We both get cleaned up and ready for bed. Lucy jumps up and curls in a tight ball between the two of us, at our feet, with a loud sigh.

  Chapter 10

  Amelia

  Sunday morning I wake up wrapped up in all things Kyle. He’s warm and all mine. He looks so sexy with his hair messed up and the sheet laying around his hips. I gently slip out of his hold and put on a pair yoga pants and a t-shirt.

  “Come on, Lucy, let’s go for a walk before breakfast. Let’s let the good doctor sleep in this morning,” I say and pat my leg softly, then Lucy jumps off the bed.

  I grab her leash, then we walk out of the building into the warm sunshine. I take a cautious look around and don’t see the silver car. With a sense of relief, we walk around the block. Still no sign of the car or the feeling of being watched, we head back up to my apartment. I make Lucy her breakfast and put on a pot of coffee. I’m just about to make us an omelet when Kyle steps out of my bedroom in only his boxer briefs. Holy hell is he hot.

  “Good morning, honey. Why didn’t you wake me? I was lonely in bed without you,” he says, walks up to me and wraps me in his warm arms.

  “I thought I’d take Lucy for a walk, then make us breakfast in bed,” I say, kiss him in the center of his chest, then look up at those amazing chocolate brown eyes.

  “That sounds good. Can I help?”

  “Sure, you can cut up some fruit if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all,” he says, then gets out a knife and a cutting board.

  The meal is pulled together in no time, then we take everything back to my bedroom and sit in bed. Lucy jumps up, curls in a tight ball, and goes back to sleep. We spend a better part of the morning just lounging around the apartment. We don’t have to be to my parent’s house until five. It’s nice not to have to rush around and be anywhere all morning. Kyle jumps in the shower, and I head into the kitchen to throw together some homemade chocolate chip pudding cookies to take to my parent’s house. They’re another one of my specialties and a family favorite recipe. Kyle comes out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist.

  “What smells so good in here?” he asks.

  “I thought I’d make some cookies to take to my mom and dad’s for dinner. We should leave around four-thirty if that’s OK with you.”

  “I’d like to stop off at my house for a few minutes to change clothes first.”

  “Sure, it’s on the way, it’s not a problem at all.”

  I finish up the cookies and Kyle may, or may not have, eaten at least a dozen before I even had the last batch out of the oven. I jump in the shower and quickly get ready. I grab Lucy and the cookies and we’re out the door by four. We get to Kyle’s and I stay outside with Lucy while Kyle changes clothes.

  The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I turn around to see that silver car driving down the street. I give Lucy a gentle tug and run inside the house. Kyle must still be in his room, I don’t want to worry him with my paranoid thoughts, so I try to calm myself down by taking deep breaths. I think it may be time to talk to the police, but I’m not sure if there’s anything they can do.

  Kyle soon comes out wearing a pair of slacks and a polo shirt. He kisses me on the cheek and grabs his shoes. We make it to my parent’s house right on time.

  We walk in my parent’s house, hand in hand, and all eyes are on the two of us. My mom has an all knowing smile. Asher walks up to Kyle and shakes his hand with a smile.

  “Kyle, this is my mom, Samantha and this is my dad, Samuel,” I say, introducing them.

  He shakes my dad’s hand and my dad claps him on the shoulder with a smile too. Uh oh, I think Asher may have said a few things to my dad about what happened in the restaurant. I sure hope he didn’t tell him everything.

  “These are my older brothers, Aiden and Adrian. And this is my baby sister, Ava,” I say, then give her a hug.

  Everyone gets acquainted and greets Kyle with welcome arms. Lucy trots off and starts kissing baby Abbey all over her face.

  “Lucy, knock that off,” Willow says and shoos her away.

  Everyone gathers at the table and I have to say, this is what peace is all about. My family all sitting around the table and the man I know I’m in love with, fitting in with everyone so well. Everyone is sitting around the table laughing and having a good time. I don’t know what comes over me, but a single tear slips down my cheek. Kyle doesn’t miss a thing and reaches for my hand under the table with a squeeze. I quickly wipe it away with the back of my other hand and look around the table to make sure no one else saw.

  “Are you alright?” Kyle whispers in my ear.

  “I’m more that alright. I’m just so happy,” I assure him.

  We finish up dinner and the women gather in the kitchen to clean up. The men bring in all the dishes and set them on the island. Asher walks up next to me and places his hand on my shoulder.

  “Don’t think I didn’t see that at the dinner table. He makes you happy, doesn’t he?” he asks.

  “He does. I never knew that this is what a real relationship is supposed to feel like. I just feel so overwhelmed by it all,” I tell him with a smile.

  “I know the feeling, sis. It’s a good place to be,” he says with a smile, then joins the rest of the men in the family room.

  We have everything cleaned up in no time, Ava puts on a pot of coffee and I arrange the cookies on a platter. We carry everything into the family room and set it on the coffee table.

  Willow checks on Abbey, who is peacefully sleeping in her car seat on the floor, then sits on Asher’s lap. Kyle reaches for my hand and sits me next to him on the couch. My parents are sharing an overstuffed lazy boy chair. Everyone digs into the cookies and they’re gone in no time.

  We say our goodbyes and my parents invite Kyle to dinner next Sunday. He opens the driver’s side door for me to get in, then he gets into the passenger seat.

  “I have a meeting at six in the morning tomorrow,” he tells me.

  “I should probably get myself into the office early tomorrow too.”

  �
�I’d love to stay the night with you again tonight, but I need to get a few things done around the house,” he says with a frown.

  “I understand. It’s not the end of the world. I’d love to stay with you too, but I have work I need to catch up on at home before I go into the office,” I say, pat his hand, then start the car.

  We’re both disappointed to not spend the night together again, but we both lead busy lives and I can’t expect that he’d drop everything to be with me twenty-four seven. I drop him off at his house, but not before we make out in my car like love sick teenagers.

  “If I can, I’d like to stop by before I go to the hospital to say good morning,” he says.

  “I’d like that. I should be up and ready before you need to be at the hospital.”

  “Alright then, I’ll see you bright and early. I’ll bring you an espresso and a donut. How does that sound?”

  “You only have to bring yourself, but the espresso is definitely the cherry on top.”

  I kiss him one more time, then he gets out of the car. He walks up his sidewalk, then turns around and blows me a kiss before he goes inside. What a dork. I get home and flip off my shoes, pull out my laptop, log in to work and get some things done before I go to bed.

  Crawling in bed, I think about the past week with Kyle. Things are moving so fast and I have no plans on stopping them either. He seems to feel the same way about me and I couldn’t be happier. Soon I’m fast asleep with all the good thoughts of Kyle swirling around in my dreams.

  My alarm goes off at four the next morning and I groan. I get myself up and in the shower. Maybe one espresso before Kyle gets here will hold me over.

  Just as I finish my espresso the door buzzes. I glance at the clock, hmm he’s really early. It’s only a quarter after five. I buzz the door and crack it open for him. I head into the kitchen to put my cup in the dishwasher, when I hear him come up behind me. I smile hoping for a kiss on the back of my neck. I love when he brushes my hair to the side and places a warm, soft kiss on my neck. When he doesn’t kiss me, I turn around and see that the man in my kitchen is not Kyle. I’ve never seen this man before in my life.