“Stay with me at my house this week,” he asks. His eye color has changed once more. They are almost completely green now and absolutely beautiful.
After I don’t say anything for a few moments, he asks again, “Please . . . May, please stay with me.” Is he begging me?
“I am begging you.”
Well, there ya go.
I eye him carefully, hoping maybe his face will give something away. It doesn’t, and now I just look stupid.
“Okay,” I whisper. God, I am such a girl sometimes. Smiling a warm and comforting smile at me, he gives me a full, tight hug.
“I’m going to make these last few months up to you, Darlin’ . . . promise”
God, I love that darlin' shit.
“I’ve got to go and get my stuff from the hotel,” I say out of breath. I feel like I just ran a marathon.
“I'll follow you there; we will get your things, and then you can follow me back to my house, sound good?”
Sounds like music to my ears, I say inside my head as I open my door and get in.
Before I can shut the door, Kevin braces his hand on the roof and leans in, giving me a departing kiss in case I’m thinking about changing my mind.
“Yeah, it sounds perfect,” he answers for me and closes my door.
As I make my way back to the hotel, my phone, which usually doesn’t see much action, is now going off nonstop. I am getting calls and texts over and over and over again. Oh, so now he tries to contact me, not when he is destroying the hotel’s property, not when I am in my room alone with my thoughts. No. Only when another guy, and Kevin no less, is there to pick up the pieces and help me maybe move on does he want to talk. Typical man. He doesn’t want anything to do with a woman until he sees that someone else wants her too.
I pack up my laptop and papers. All I have to do is zip up my bag. I don’t fear that Paul will show up here. It’s only 1 a.m., and with me not being at the bar, there is no way that he can get out of there to try to stop me from leaving. I contemplate what is going on at this moment and sag down on to the bed. I have possibly one of the worst headaches I have ever had in my life.
Kevin squats down in front of me and puts his hands on my knees.
“I know you aren’t, but are you okay?” He’s concerned. It’s nice.
Kevin is a man that doesn’t assume but actually asks what he wants to know. I hit the honey pot with this one. However, that doesn’t make up for the fact that we need to have a very serious conversation later about everything.
“May? . . . Darlin’,” he asks, placing a hand on my cheek to get my attention. “You don’t have to come to my house. You can always check back in here, or you can check into a place closer to my house. We can still have this week. I already called my boss and took the week off, so I am all yours for the next six days.”
Well, I thought he was giving me a chance to back out, but then the work comment completely threw me, and I am now positive that I am going to stay for this man, who in a short drive, has completely rearranged his life to spend time with me. The thought of actually waking up next to Kevin, not having to worry about going anywhere, and just being able to enjoy each other’s company makes my heart beat a little faster. Then as that thought winds down, another one comes in, and all I can think of is what if I hadn’t gotten the phone call from Amber? What if he had kept me in the loop? Where would we be? Would I still have my friend? I have so many more questions on top of the old ones and still no answers come for any of them.
“No, I want some of the time that we lost, even if it’s only a week . . . I’ll take it.” My eyelids feel suddenly heavy.
What the hell time is it again? I look at my phone and cancel the missed calls and texts to see the time. 3 a.m.! Holy Hell, we’ve been sitting here in silence and only talking here and there for almost two hours. Shit.
“Let’s get going. I don’t want to run into Paul . . .” I stop after I say his name. Looking at Kevin, who is carrying my big bags, I continue, “Sorry.”
“No problem, in fact I don’t think I want to run into him either,” Kevin replies smoothly.
“Why don’t you want to see him? Did he say something to you at the bar?” I ask, a little panicky.
Kevin drops the bags on the floor and looks at me like I’m a psychotic.
“What?” I ask.
He walks closer, cradles my face, and brushes his thumb very lightly over my bruised cheek. I wince now because what was small has now developed into a full out black, blue, and swollen bruise.
Oh.
“If y’all are as close as you say you are, then no matter what has happened between you and him, he should’ve had your back. That bruise shouldn’t be on your face or anywhere else on your body.” He looks down at my wrist. There staring back at me is a perfect circle around my left wrist where Matt grabbed me earlier.
“I didn’t even know that was there.” I really didn’t. I bring my wrist up and turn it to see if it’s sore and to see how bad it looks. Well, it’s not pretty.
Without saying a word, Kevin takes my hand and encircles my wrist with soft kisses all the way around, so he covers it. That’s nice. I sigh heavily. That’s real nice, and there’s that shake again.
When he is done, he steps back and grabs my bags He takes my hand, laces our fingers into each other’s, kisses the back of my hand, and we walk out of my hotel room.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Walking up to the front desk is embarrassing. But Ryan, God bless him, takes it all in stride.
“Checking out, May?” and then he looks up. “HOLY HELL WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?” he asks, seriously concerned and gives Kevin the once over.
Well, not all in stride.
“It’s alright, Ryan. I just got popped at work is all,” I say, trying to calm him down.
His breathing has become faster as if someone just hit him. Only when I see him start to get back to normal do I continue. “Yes, Ryan, I would like to check out. I have been through enough in the past few months,” I turn and look at Kevin who looks back at me. “I think it’s time for me to have a vacation.” With that last part, Kevin smiles that big beautiful smile that’s just for me.
I finish looking at Kevin and turn back to Ryan, grinning myself a shit eating grin.
“You haven’t smiled like that for a few days. It’s a nice change of pace for you, if I do say so myself,” Ryan says, typing away on his computer.
“Uh, May.” Ryan leans to me a little closer. I have a message for you from Mr. Morris,” he says quietly, but Kevin still hears him.
“Oh, really?” I ask.
Ryan hands me a folded piece of paper. I look at it, read it, and then I read it again, and then again for good measure.
May,
Please don’t do this. I have been such an ass and only thinking about myself and how this is affecting me and not you. I am so sorry about tonight. I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me, and that’s exactly what happened, only you got hurt in more ways than one.
Please forgive me, and please stay with me. I can’t lose you.
I love you,
Paul
“He called just a little bit ago and told me to write that down word for word. He made me read it back to him to make sure I got everything. Passionate, May. Are you okay?” Ryan asks.
I had to blink the tears back, so I could read the rest of the note. Leave it up to Paul to resort to sympathy to try and get his way.
As I wipe my eyes, I feel Kevin’s hand on my back sliding back and forth. I fold up the note and put it in my pants pocket.
I sign my invoice and slide it back to Ryan. “Thanks Ryan . . . for everything . . .” I don’t have to say for what.
“Would you like to leave a message for anyone before you go?” Ryan asks quietly, but again Kevin still hears him.
“No, there’s nothing to say,” I inform him with an exhale. “I would like to apologize for whatever this might cost you or the hotel,” I say with a side
ways smile.
“I can handle it, May. Be happy okay? he asks.
“I’m sure as hell going to try,” I say, not looking away from Kevin.
Kevin and I walk hand in hand out of the hotel and to our cars, not seeing or talking to Paul–I have never thought that was even possible. Will he come around to buy me out of the business? Will it even work without the both of us? More and more questions, and still no answers in sight.
I haven’t even noticed the drive to Kevin’s. It isn’t even until I see Kevin out of his truck and walking back to my car that I realize we are at his house. That and it was a little bit of a drive because now I can see the sun waking up slowly in the distance. He opens my door, and I step out and stretch carefully.
“Outskirts, huh? Yeah, I would say so,” I say bringing my arms down from my stretch on to his shoulders for a hug.
“Let me get your stuff. I’m pretty sure you are sore, huh?” he asks, making his way to the trunk.
“Yeah, I am a little.” I reply after taking inventory of myself.
I walk over to the wood fence, which no doubt Kevin built by hand, and take in the view.
There are faint mountains in the distance that I can see through the morning fog. They shape into a giant semicircle around the property. Talk about a slice of heaven. I see a barn and stable a couple hundred yards out in the field and what I think are two horses walking around outside, waking up themselves. The greenest grass I have ever seen covers every inch that of my view. Along the fence beautiful purple, white, and blue wild flowers dance in the light breeze. Turning to the right, I see another beautiful sight: Kevin’s house.
Older, sturdy, beautiful, everything I thought it was going to be. It has a log cabin look to it, but it’s not quite that either, just a beautiful home on some beautiful land. I especially love the porch, which looks to go all the way around, but I can’t see the back of the house. Two rocking chairs sit on either side of a small iron table on the front porch near the front door, and I find my mind drifting.
Kevin has put my things on the porch and has made his way back over to where I am standing at the fence. He puts his arm around my shoulders and draws me into him. We stand there taking in the view, and all I’m thinking is how amazing it must be to wake up to this every morning.
“Pretty damn great isn’t it?” he asks, kissing the side of my head and taking another deep inhale of me.
“It’s amazing,” I say as I turn more into him, wrap both arms around his waist, and take an inhale of him, smiling.
After my third yawn, Kevin grabs my hand, and we head inside. Stopping to get the stuff off the porch, he playfully swats me away when I try to reach for a bag to help. I glance at my phone and cancel the texts. It’s a little after five in the morning. Totally worth it.
I open the doors for Kevin to make his way in, but again he just playfully bumps me with my own bag to go in first. I walk all the way in the entryway and stop. A gun rack by the door and muddy boots on the floor are the first things I see. To the right is the living room. It is simple, and I love it immediately. A blue sofa sits along the far wall, and to the right of it is a matching recliner. It looks very broken in. I picture Kevin coming home from work, taking off his boots, sitting right there to help unwind him from his day, and listening to the peace.
Other than that, there is a coffee table and a large area rug that about covers the living room, and I love how simple it all is. Looking further in, I see an open, flowing dining area with a table and four chairs. Beyond that, a small ledge with three bar stools sits at the opening of a large bar/kitchen counter.
I have to see the kitchen. When I walk in, my jaw drops, and I am speechless. If I could ever design my own kitchen, this is what it would look like. Stepping in further, my eyes immediately go to the eight spider burners on the stove top. What I could do with those. Granite tops cover every inch of the counters, except for the appliances, which are all stainless steel and look brand new. I spot a refrigerator, blender, toaster, coffee maker (yuck), knife set, microwave, and two deep sinks. Simple but exquisite. I know Kevin is a steak and potatoes kind of guy. Maybe I’ll surprise him with a dinner or two, or three.
I walk out of the kitchen, not wanting to leave, and continue down the hall. Kevin is standing in front of one of three doors in the hallway, waiting for me to catch up.
“This is where you will be sleeping, darlin',” he says as he opens the door, and of course waits until I am in first. I don’t think this is his bedroom. Maybe it’s the guest bedroom, and he doesn’t want to assume anything, so he is playing it on the safe side. Of course I have an idea at how Kevin was raised, and he’s not putting me in here to be safe; he’s putting me here out of respect.
You gotta respect, respect.
I smile at the thought and take in the room around me. A queen size bed sits in the middle of the far left wall with a framed photo of a beautiful chestnut horse hanging in the center of the two knobs on each side of the headboard. It’s not a painting, but an actual photograph of what I think is one of the horses that I saw out in the stable. They are beautiful animals.
A bedside table sits to the left of the bed with a small lamp and a wonderful, very familiar smelling candle sitting on top. On the right side of the bed facing the window is a homemade rocking chair complete with back and butt cushions, so you don’t get sore or splinters.
I will be sitting in that chair a lot, I think to myself.
A beautiful antique leather chest sits at the end of the bed. I run my hand over it and feel all the nicks and dings in the leather from over the years. I turn back to the window and walk over to see what kind of view I have. It’s much like the same view from the fence out front only at a different angle, but that doesn’t make it any less special. It’s still amazing.
I hear Kevin clear his throat behind me, and as I turn around, a big, big smile spreads across my face.
“Amazing,” I mouth to him. He has placed my things on and around the leather chest at the foot of the bed, and while he is situating it all, I look at the actual bed. It looks like a cloud surrounded by dark, rich wood. It’s handmade, of course, but the things that stands out the most are the colors that cover the bedspread. Every color you can imagine runs through and around each other like a dance. Now that must’ve taken a while to make. I lightly and smoothly run my hand over the patterns.
“My grams,” he says.
“It’s . . . gorgeous.” It’s all I can say. He shakes his head in agreement, smiles, and offers me his hand.
“Let me show you the rest of the house, so you can start to feel a little at home. I hope,” he says.
“It’s beautiful here and so quiet,” I say as we are walking out of the bedroom.
“I’m very blessed. I’ve got about twenty-five acres, and my dad and grandpa helped build the house.” He smiles at that, as if remembering them in some sort of bonding time as the house progressed.
We pass the second door in the hall that is across from my room and down a little, and Kevin informs me that it’s the guest bathroom.
He doesn’t stop to let me look inside, and when I slow up and my arm tenses, he simply says, “It’s nothing special . . . a shower, toilet, sink, and mirror,” and he moves on just as fast.
We arrive at the third and final door of the hallway.
“And this is my room,” he says, opening the door for me.
When I look inside, I see a flight of stairs going up. I’m not really sure what to expect because it didn’t look like there was a second story from the outside. Now my interest is peaked, and I walk slowly up the stairs. Taking it step by step, I make it to the top and stop dead in my tracks.
“Oh, my God . . . Kevin!” I say.
It is magnificent. The entire second floor is his room. The now rising sun is pouring into the room thanks to beautiful, what look like oak, French doors. I head to those first.
“May I?” I ask with my hands on each knob.
“Of course,�
� he says, smiling bigger now.
As I swing the doors open, I am hit with several things at once. First, the sun, now fully awake and covering the property and house in its morning grace. Then there is the aroma. I’m not sure what it is. It’s sweet but not overpowering. Flowers maybe, or the pine trees? The sound, or lack of, is beautiful. There is not a thing to be heard. I feel a slight breeze wrap around me and disappear, as fast as it came. The patio is simple as well. Nothing about Kevin screams high society, and that’s fine by me. Hell, that’s perfect.
There is a small table, probably big enough to hold a couple of cups and maybe a small plate or two, and there are two chairs that accompany it, perfect for two.
I turn and look at Kevin who is leaning against the doorframe, chewing the inside of his cheek, and waiting for me to give him my opinion. I do believe he is nervous I won’t like it. This doesn’t surprise me because I have talked his ear off about how much I love the beach, my home.
“Very blessed, sir,” and with that, I head back into the room with Kevin just a step or two behind me. I hear him blow out a loud and relieved exhale.
He has a giant, and I do mean giant, king-size sleigh bed, my favorite. It puts the guest bed to shame, and I’m aware that I might not to get to sleep in this beautiful bed. It makes me sad. Nothing but whites and Carolina blues cover the bed. The pillow cases, sheets, and comforter all blend well together. I was wrong before, now this looks like a cloud. I yawn again, and Kevin looks at me with raised eyebrows.
“What?” I ask, not knowing what that look means.
“You have got to be exhausted . . . How long have you been up?” he asks, moving a little closer to me.
“I’m knocking on twenty four-hours in all, but honestly, I’m whipped,” I say around another yawn.
“Well, I want to show you one more thing, and then you can change and get into bed. Come with me,” he says as he’s moving towards the corner doors. I think it might be a closet, but I don’t know.
He stands me in front of the double doors and tells me not to peek.
Need You, Need Me (The Need Series Book 1) Page 12
