by Vicki Green
“I thought we were eating at the table?” I question but not really caring what the answer is. Right now, I’m not even in the mood to eat food. He gives me his sexy grin then leaves me. I follow him with my eyes, watching him pick up the place settings, except for the plates, bringing them over and setting them on the coffee table. He walks back and gets the flowers, setting them there as well. He returns to the kitchen, filling our plates with spaghetti and garlic bread then adds them to the setting. I can’t help but let out a small laugh. “Why didn’t you just set this all up here in the first place? I’ve missed you.”
He kneels down beside me, his sexy grin still adorning his gorgeous face. “Changed my mind.” He takes my hand, bringing it up to his mouth and kissing the top. His eyes widen. “Oh! I forgot something.” He leaps up and runs to the kitchen, returning with two wine glasses and a bottle of wine, sitting down again and pouring some in each glass. “Now. That’s better.” He hands me a glass, clinking his with mine, and I take a sip.
“Mmmm,” I moan as the taste sweeps over my tongue and down my throat. Tangy. A little fruity. “That’s really good.” Suddenly, he seems different. That sexy grin turns down a bit. I smile, trying to lighten things up. “Are you trying to butter me up?” My smile fades when his eyes snap to mine. Telltale sign that something’s most definitely up. I set my glass down, putting my hands in my lap. They start fidgeting immediately. “What? Did something else happen? Did someone get hurt?”
He reaches up, pushing my lower lip down with his fingers until I release the inside of my cheek I was gnawing on. “No. No one’s been hurt. I guess that’s why I did what I did today, to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
My eyebrows raise. “What did you do?” I whisper.
He stares straight into my eyes, his never wavering. “Kane and I went to see Dean Weston today.” I breathe a sigh of relief. He takes my hand, rubbing his thumb over my skin. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just wasn’t sure how’d you react, I guess.”
“Anymore, I just want everyone to be safe. So, what did Dean say?”
He looks down, watching his thumb move across my hand. “Well, he said there’s no real evidence, yet.” He looks back up into my eyes, his long dark lashes fanning out above them. Every girl would be jealous with envy for those. “He said he would keep an eye on him. Problem is they don’t have anyone to stick with him and watch him all the time. He said to call or text him if anything happens and of course to dial 911 if it’s an emergency and he can’t be reached.” I press my lips together, my brows lower with frustration. I had a feeling if we went to the police, that’s what would happened. “Hey,” he whispers as his hand cups my face. I look up into his softened eyes, full of love and caring. “It’s gonna be okay. If you’re out you need to make sure to have your phone. There’s GPS tracking in there. I set yours up on my phone and mine on yours. I’ll show you after we eat. Okay? Kane has both of ours too.” I nod, not knowing if I can eat. But my stomach has other plans and growls. He laughs, my mood changing quickly. “Come on. Apparently someone needs food.” I relent, knowing I need to eat something. I think most of my food intake today was coffee. After eating the first bite, I close my eyes with the delicious taste. I had no idea he could cook this good.
We don’t clean up after we’re done. Instead, we undress each other, wanting to take advantage of the romantic ambience. We make love on our old blanket, the smell of the beach still embedded. We lie in each other’s arms until I look up and see he’s fast asleep. I carefully get up and walk to our bedroom, grab a blanket from the foot of the bed then return to my position, and cover us up. I bury my head into his chest and close my eyes. Best night ever!
The next morning I fix a nice breakfast. It’s the least I could do after all he did last night. Even though it’s Saturday, he and Kane are going over to the construction site because missing the last couple of days has put them behind. I have no idea how Kane’s gonna manage with only one hand but he’s pretty resourceful. I busy myself with cleaning up our mess, taking my shower and then I find by noon I’m bored stiff. I power on my laptop, hoping to find a job, when a knock sounds on the door. My heart races. Shit, Taren. You’re being silly. Why would he come over here and in broad daylight? I stand, setting my laptop on the coffee table and walk to the door, stopping short. Because he knows Brock’s at work? I answer myself.
“Taren!” I jump at another knock and Irish’s voice.
Sheesh, Taren. Get a grip, I mumble to myself and laugh at my behavior.
I open the door and Irish walks past me. I close it and turn around watching her sit down in the recliner, pushing up the foot rest and plopping her feet there. “Took you long enough.” Her eyes look at me and she frowns. “You look really pale. Are you okay?” I walk over and sit on the couch, letting out a big breath. I jump again when my phone vibrates in my pocket. After pulling it out I see a text from Kane.
Kane: If Irish is there tell her to answer her damn phone! Thx
I answer him that I will, finding it odd, then turn to her. “Um, Kane wants you to answer your damn phone.” I tilt my head and look at her questioningly.
She scrunches up her face. “He can bite me.” She grabs the TV remote from the end table and turns it on.
“What the hell, Irish? Why don’t you want to talk to him?” She ignores me at first then shuts off the TV slamming the remote down on the table. I bend over, leaning my arms on my legs. “What’s up, Bestie?”
“He just makes me crazy. A different woman every night. He gets hurt because he thought he was meeting a woman. Don’t you see? He’d do anything for a woman as long as he can get some. Ugh! This! This is why I don’t date! Men are the scum of the earth!” She leans her head back, hitting her fists against the arms of the chair. Suddenly, it all makes sense. Now, I know why she doesn’t ever date. Oh, my God!
“Holy shit! You like him!” I yell. My eyes are wide, and I’m screeching inside.
She turns her head as her eyebrows lower. “Uh, yeah. I like him. We’ve known each other all our lives. You know this, Taren,” she says sarcastically.
I straighten up and smile. “No. I mean, you like him, like him.” Her mouth opens then closes, continuing like she’s a fish trying to get air. I lean back, crossing my legs, and laugh. “Wow! You do! You really like him!” I slump back on the couch. “So, that’s why you haven’t dated anyone. You don’t want to take the chance that maybe he’d have feelings for you in that way and you’re hoping he’ll calm his wild ways and you’ll be there waiting.”
Her feet press against the foot rest, slamming it back into place as she sits up. Her eyes are staring daggers at me, and I laugh harder. “I do not! You wench! Why would you even think that?” She leans back again and stares at the TV. “Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard leave your mouth and I’ve heard plenty of things leave there.” Her eyes shift to mine then back to the TV. I just stare at her with my smile plastered on my face. She raises her arms then slaps her hands down on her jean covered legs. “OKAY! Okay, are you happy?” I knew it! “So I like him, like him. Who wouldn’t? Have you seen him with his shirt off?” I start giggling. “And he’s just so nice, caring, strong, and have you seen him with his shirt off? Okay, so he has some wild women ways right now but that’s not gonna last forever. Right?” Her eyes widen as she turns towards me, and then she seems to deflate. “Is it?”
I burst out, laughing even harder. I never thought I’d see the day. Irish really likes Kane. Wow! Okay, I gotta admit. Kane is rugged, muscular in all the right places, works hard and works out even harder but damn, he’s such a womanizer. I finally settle myself down, my breathing out of control with laughing so hard and my sides hurt. I get serious and tilt my head, looking into her eyes. “Why don’t you just tell him?”
She jumps up, my eyes following her as she paces the floor, her arms flailing around wildly as she rants. “Are you fucking kidding? He doesn’t like me that way and probably never will. It will ruin ou
r friendship because he’ll think I’m a lovesick twit! Kane’s too much a man and even more a big womanizer. He’s young and out to live life his way!” She stops and looks at me and gets serious. “I’m not sure he’ll ever change but I am sure he would never think of me more than a sister.” She walks over and slams herself down into the chair, sighing loudly while her head bounces off the head rest.
I never thought I’d see the day, but I don’t know what to tell her, how to console her. She’s right. Kane’s out to have sex with all the women who come up to him or that he can find. I’ve never understood why he’s that way. Doesn’t he ever want to find “the woman” and settle down or is that what he’s trying to do, in his own way? “Irish.” Her eyes shift to me. “Maybe it’s supposed to be this way. Maybe Kane’s not the right one for you. Have you thought of that? You’ve spent so much time hoping for something that’s maybe never gonna happen, wasting precious time, when there’s someone out there that’s right for you.”
She turns in the chair, her legs curling up around her. “How do you shut off feelings you’ve had since you were young. Look at you and Brock. Could you just stop feeling what you’re feeling for him and look for someone else?” Damn. She’s got a point.
“No one said it would be easy. But honey, without looking at all, how would you ever know?” I try to sound reasonable, but I know what she means. If I couldn’t have Brock, I’d be forever alone. There’s no one that could ever take his place in my heart.
She closes her eyes briefly and sighs again, looking down at her fingers, picking on some invisible thing on the arm rest. “I know you’re right.” She looks up at me, sadness written on her face. “I guess I’ve always known but it’s so hard. I look at other guys and it’s just not the same, ya know? Besides, most of the guys I see, women just put out and they just go with it. I’m not sure there are any guys worth it. I want a guy who’ll work for a relationship, same as I would.”
I rise and walk over, squatting down beside her. “I know, bestie. But all you do is work and it’s normally in Pops Bar. You’re not gonna find the right guy there.” I reach up and tuck a long piece of her hair that came loose from her ponytail behind her ear and smile. “You’re a beautiful woman. You have a killer body and a kind heart. Not to mention you can kick the ass of any man.” A laugh bursts from her mouth. I grab her arm. “Come on. Let’s go workout or something, your favorite thing. Sounds like you need to release some pent up energy….” She stands, and I try to hide my laugh. “Or something.”
Brock
Works been tough. With Kane only having one hand, he’s done what he can but the other guys and me end up working more, making up for him. I don’t mind. I’d do whatever’s needed when it comes to him. I keep thinking about how weird Irish has been acting around him, wondering what’s up with her. Secretly, I think she has a thing for him, but then I shake my head and just think, nah, couldn’t be. I mean, we’ve all been together since we were young. She’s almost been like “one of the guys”. She can play ball better than some men, works out every day, and has muscles that most women don’t. Oh, she’s beautiful, no doubt about that, but a rough exterior too. I must be crazy. I know Kane doesn’t think of her that way. At least I don’t think he does.
It’s close to the end of the day when a big truck pulls into the lot. Most don’t notice it but Kane and I immediately lift our heads and then look at each other. I guess we’re both on alert. He’s got his hand on his phone, probably ready to call 911 or Dean, just in case. The truck’s loud motor shuts off and a huge guy steps out of it. He’s got red hair, cut short. The same red color scruff on his face. His eyes are hazel green but the thing that I notice the most is how massive his shoulders are and how broad his chest is. Definitely works out and keeps in shape that’s for sure. I watch carefully as Kane walks over to meet him then I slowly walk closer so I can hear them, making sure this isn’t a set up or a plant.
“Caylan Dorn,” he says as he shakes Kane’s hand. “Lookin’ for work, if you got any.”
He seems nice enough, has a huge smile on his face. But I know looks can be deceiving.
“Kane Evans.” He turns his head to me, and I cross my arms over my chest, trying to look tough. “My brother, Brock.” He turns back to Caylan. “As you can see….” He lifts his casted arm. “I’m working with one hand for a while. You got experience in construction?”
“Yes, sir. Been working construction for about two years now,” he answers quickly.
“Oh? Where?” Kane asks just a fast.
“Just moved here from Kentucky. That’s why I’m needing a job,” Caylan responds without hesitation. “I have papers of recommendation.” He hands the papers to Kane.
Kane studies him and the papers, and I’m wondering if he’s as suspicious as I am. “We could use the help, especially from one that has experience.” He reaches out his hand and Caylan takes it, shaking as Kane smiles. “Welcome aboard.” He turns to me and nods. “Brock. Show Caylan what we got going on.” I nod back, my apprehension soaring. I guess he could be legit, but I just have a strange feeling about him.
Surprisingly, we end up working well together. He does know what he’s doing and is a strong guy. He can definitely lift way more than I can. Around noon, we sit down on the scaffolding and I open my sack lunch Taren made me this morning. I watch him from the corner of my eye, opening a small bag, brings out an apple and bites into it. “Uh. I got two sandwiches. Want one?” I offer.
He shakes his head and smiles. “No. But thank you. Got fruit and a couple of granola bars.” He takes another bite, looking out at the scenery in front of us.
I chuckle. “I’d die with only eating that stuff, man.” He looks at me and laughs.
“Gotta watch my weight. I have a photo shoot coming up in a month.”
My brows raise. “What? Are you a model?” I start snickering as his face grows serious.
“Actually, yes.”
My eyes widen. “Really? Wow! Kinda like a celebrity, huh?” Now he laughs, really hard.
“Nah. I just do photo shoots for some photographers for business and some authors buy them for book covers. Kinda weird, really. Never thought I’d be doing that kind of thing.” He takes another bite and looks like he’s thinking. “Strange really. I’d done my first shoot a few months ago, just for business.” He turns and looks at me. “I’m a fitness trainer. So was doing it to get some pictures to advertise with. This one photographer is pretty well known on social media and had shared some of the pictures around so some authors asked about selling them for covers. He asked me and I figured, why not?”
“Wow. That’s pretty cool. Seems you got quite a bit going for ya. Nice to have all that in your life, huh?” I ask and take a big bite of my sandwich. Hell, I don’t gotta watch my weight.
His brows lower. “Yes and no. I mean…. It’s cool and all but moving here is kinda harder than I thought. I found an apartment yesterday that’s pretty nice and now this job but I need to find a gym, see if I can get a job as a personal trainer there. But there’s so many that I wouldn’t work at. Gotta be the right one.”
I’m starting to feel more at ease with him. He really is a nice guy. “Well, you can ask Kane about a gym. He works out daily. Maybe the one he uses can use a personal trainer. It’s pretty nice.”
He smiles big. “Thanks. Appreciate it.”
I take another huge bite, chew, and swallow. “Eh, it’s nothing. Whatever I can do to help a celebrity.” We both start laughing, and he play punches my arm. Holy shit, that kinda smarted.
I’m impressed that by the end of the day he did more work than Kane and I combined. Mind you, Kane is one handed right now but Caylan did way more than one and a half men. We walk together to our trucks and invite him to come hang at the bar later. He declined saying he needed to get settled but thanked us and said another time. He did take Kane’s offer to follow him to the gym, so I get in my truck and drive home. I need a shower and spend time with my girl. Since Mimi
’s working at the bar now, Pop said I don’t need to come in every night unless it’s to have fun or if he needs help. Fine by me.
I walk in the door and my eyes immediately zone to Taren sleeping on the couch. I lean back against the door and just stare. She’s a vision. Memories wash over me of the first time I saw her. I think we were about six or seven. Even though we lived on different sides of the “tracks”, we went to the same school. I guess it was what they call a district thing. We weren’t in the same class though. I’d been playing ball with a couple of guys at recess and felt her before I saw her. I stopped with my foot on the ball, moving it back and forth, and the guys were yelling at me. I looked across the small field and there she was. It was clear that even in first grade you could see the segregation between girls and boys. She was standing with a few other girls, but I really couldn’t tell you how many. I only had eyes for her. I felt the guys hitting my arm, yelling at me to kick the ball, but I was mesmerized by her. She noticed me right away, her eyes looking at me from beneath those long lashes. A light pink graced her sweet face as the corner of her mouth lifted. I dared not approach her or speak to her. I was too nervous, yet I wanted to so badly. I stared at her and watched her every move any chance I got. A week had gone by and I’d finally decided to sit down on the ground against the brick of the school and let the warm breeze blow against my heated skin. She walked over and sat down right beside me. I didn’t know what to say, what to do. I’d been dreaming about her ever since the first moment I’d seen her and now it was like my dream came true.
“Hi,” she said quietly.
I looked at her and smiled, my heart beating so fast I thought it would choke me, making me unable to speak. “Hi,” I managed to get out.
It was on that day moving forward we became inseparable. Here I was supposed to be the guy, the strong one, but it took her coming to me that broke the ice. Thank God she was strong as well. Of course we started getting razzed from other kids immediately. Her friends at even such a young age were appalled that she would even speak to me. My friends just whooped and hollered that I was moving up in the world to have such a fine wealthy girl even look at me. It’s sad that in this world there are so many invisible lines drawn everywhere, but we stepped over this one and have been together ever since.
