A Risk Worth Taking (Book 1)

by Aleks Mitchell

  “Wow, you are way peppier than you usually are in the morning. I think Kate is being a bad influence on you.”

  Hayden rolled her eyes at her brother.

  “Anyway, I don’t know what to do about New York.”

  “I told you, I can’t tell you what to do about that Hayden. You have to decide what you want.”

  “Why not?” Hayden pouted. “You always tell me what to do.”

  “Not with this sis, sorry.”

  “I finally met someone that I really see a future with and recently I kind of enjoy working here. So, now I’m stuck!”

  “You’re not stuck. You just have options. It must really suck being you.”

  “Tell me about it,” Hayden rolled her eyes. “I just still want to see what’s out there. Even if I don’t take the job I still want to travel. Kate says she’ll be here when I get back, but what if the whole long distance thing ends up being too much for us?”

  “Here’s an idea!” Gabe said obviously. “How about you take Kate with you? You could always see what’s out there together. You don’t have to see the world alone.”

  “Do you think she’d want to?”

  “I don’t know! You’d have to ask your girlfriend that question.”

  “Ask me what?” Kate questioned as she approached the siblings at the bar.

  “Nothing really,” Hayden smiled.

  Kate smiled back as she headed toward the back room to drop off her jacket and belongings.

  “I’ll be right back!” Hayden exclaimed.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Gabe smiled knowingly.

  Hayden walked into the back room, already expecting to find Kate waiting for her. Kate was leaning against the wall behind the door. “Hey,” Hayden said.

  “Hey,” Kate smiled, pulling the woman into her arms, kissing her softly.

  As Hayden and Kate pulled apart they grinned at each other.

  “I missed you,” Hayden said.

  “Hayden, we just saw each other this morning,” Kate laughed.

  “That was like two hours ago,” Hayden said seriously. “That is way too long to be away from you. That’s practically an eternity.”

  “My girlfriend is so over dramatic.”

  “I love when you call me your girlfriend.”

  “I know,” Kate smiled, kissing the blonde.

  Hayden pulled back and eyed the brunette cautiously.

  “What is it?” Kate asked sweetly.

  “I was wondering,” Hayden started.

  “Wondering what?”

  “If you would want to come over my family’s house for dinner tonight?”

  Kate looked dumbfounded at the question.

  “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m not sure if it’s too soon. I don’t think it is. But it’s entirely up to you. I mean you already know my dad and you’ve met my mother before. It’s completely up to you.”

  “Hayden!” Kate exclaimed, getting the woman to stop rambling.

  “Yes?”

  “I didn’t know you ramble so much when you’re nervous. It’s kind of cute.”

  “Thanks,” Hayden blushed, smiling at the compliment.

  “I’d love to come over for dinner. Should I bring anything?”

  “Nope, just yourself!”

  “Okay,” Kate smiled.

  “Okay!”

  Everyone was seated around the dinner table. Kate was sitting next to Hayden. She was fitting right in. She’d actually talked more than Hayden did. Her parents definitely liked Kate. A lot more than they liked Joslyn. Then again any woman would be better than Joslyn so Kate had nothing to worry about.

  “Kate, are you allergic to anything?” Julia asked.

  “No, mam,” Kate smiled.

  “Oh, please, don’t call me mam. It makes me feel old. You can call me Julia.”

  “It’s no use honey,” David said. “I told her to call me David and she still calls me Mr. Kovacs.”

  “She has manners,” Gabe said. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “I do, but since we’re not at work, I guess I can call you David,” Kate smiled. “But, when we’re at work, it’s back to Mr. Kovacs.”

  “That’s fair enough,” David said.

  “Where are you from Kate?” Julia asked.

  “Chicago.”

  “Ooh, the windy city,” Julia said enthusiastically.

  “What made you move here?” Rachel asked in confusion.

  Hayden looked over at Kate with a smirk on her face. Her parents still had no idea about their ironic connection.

  “My mom grew up here,” Kate revealed cautiously.

  “Really?” Julia asked excitedly. “What’s her name? Maybe we know her.”

  “Elizabeth Turner,” Kate said quietly.

  David and Julia’s eyes went wide as the two shared a look. Slowly, a smirk appeared on Julia’s face.

  “Lizzie Turner is your mother?” David asked.

  “Lizzie?” Kate asked, a look of question on her face.

  “The one that got away,” Julia joked.

  “Honey,” David smiled. “That’s obviously not true.”

  “I’m just joking, David.”

  “Wait,” Gabe said. “Are you saying that Dad and Kate’s mom was a thing?”

  “That’s exactly what we’re saying, Gabriel,” Julia said.

  “Oh God!” Gabe exclaimed, eyes wide in surprise. “Kate you could have been our sister!”

  “That’s what I said!” Hayden exclaimed excitedly.

  Kate rolled her eyes at the siblings. The two obviously thought alike.

  “That’s not how it works!” Rachel said frustratingly.

  “Thank you, Rachel,” Kate said. “At least one of the Kovacs siblings understands genetics.”

  Hayden and Gabe shared a look of distaste.

  “Well, they’re rude,” Hayden said to Gabe.

  “Very,” Gabe agreed.

  “I can’t believe Lizzie is your mother,” David said.

  “I can’t believe her name was Lizzie.”

  “Your mother was really sweet, Kate,” Julia said. “How is she?”

  “She’s great! She and my dad still live in Chicago. She’s a nurse practitioner so she’s very happy.”

  “That’s fantastic,” Julia said. “Hopefully she’ll come for a visit sometime. We were all friends growing up.”

  “Don’t worry Mom,” Gabe said. “Soon you’ll end up being in-laws.” He winked at Hayden.

  Hayden’s face turned completely serious as she glared at the man. She didn’t find her brother to be the least bit amusing.

  “Alright,” David said, sensing the tension from Hayden. “Leave your sister alone.”

  Hayden had just opened her mind to being Kate’s girlfriend. She knew it would be a while before she was ready to be her wife.

  Chapter 18

  The next day Hayden took Gabe’s shift at Kove so that she could work with Kate. Their shifts together always seemed to breeze by when they were with each other. They were talking as they closed up the bar for the night.

  “Hey,” Hayden started. “I’m sorry about what Gabe said last night. That whole in-law comment.”

  “It’s fine, Hayden,” Kate smiled. “That thought doesn’t really bother me.”

  Hayden stopped tucking in the bar stools to look directly at Kate while she continued cleaning the bar. Kate could sense the woman’s surprise so she stopped cleaning and looked at the blonde.

  “I know we just started our relationship, but that is something I would want someday Hayden.”

  Kate gazed at Hayden, a look of question on her face. She tried to gauge the reaction she might get from Hayden.

  “I’d want that too someday,” Hayden finally said, smiling at the brunette.

  Kate smiled back.

  The sound of the front door opening caused both women to turn in its direction. Hayden and Kate’s smiles quickly disappeared as they came face-to-face with a masked man holding up a gun at th
em.

  “I want all of your cash, now!” the man yelled.

  Hayden and Kate stayed frozen in place. They didn’t know how to react or what to do.

  Kate finally snapped out of her trance and realized that Hayden was in front of the bar, nothing in between her and the robber.

  “Hayden,” Kate said worriedly.

  “I said now!” the man yelled as he threw a bag on the floor in front of Hayden.

  “It’s in a safe in the back,” Kate blurted out.

  The man pointed the gun directly at Kate. Kate winced as she stepped back slightly.

  Seeing the man point the gun at Kate fired something up in Hayden. She quickly snapped out of her fear induced trance and stepped in front of where the man was pointing the gun. She made sure she was covering up Kate entirely as she looked at the man carefully.

  “Hayden!” Kate warned.

  “Just leave her alone,” Hayden said. “My dad owns the bar. I know the combination to the safe. I’ll open it and you can take whatever you want.”

  The man was contemplating what Hayden said. He pointed the gun at the bag on the floor. “Pick it up and open the damn safe!”

  Hayden slowly picked up the bag and turned to steal a quick glance at Kate before heading towards the back office. The man followed after her, pointing the gun at her the entire way.

  Please just let him leave after he gets what he wants. Don’t let him hurt her.

  Kate looked at the man angrily as she watched him following her girlfriend with the gun pointed at her. If he didn’t have a gun, she would attack the man right now. She felt helpless watching the man so close to the woman she was falling in love with.

  Hayden entered the combination to the safe and started placing the cash into the bag.

  “Hurry up!” the man yelled.

  “I’m going as fast as I can!” Hayden responded. She knew she should be careful with what she said, but she was so angry. What gave this man the right to come into their bar and take something that wasn’t his to take? Above all else, he was threatening the life of her and her girlfriend. She was definitely going to call the police as soon as he left. She just hoped he would take what he wanted and left.

  Hayden handed the bag of money to the man and stared into his eyes as he snatched it from her. He looked at the bag and then at her.

  “Is that all of it? Don’t lie to me!”

  “That’s all of it!”

  “Don’t do anything stupid!” the man yelled as he turned and walked back to the front of the bar. Hayden followed after him, making sure he didn’t do anything to Kate when they crossed paths.

  Kate held her breath as the man pointed the gun at her and turned towards the entrance. She sighed in relief as the man lowered his weapon and left the bar.

  Hayden instantly took her cell phone from her pocket and called the police. She rushed towards Kate as she held the phone up to her ear.

  “Are you okay?” Kate asked frantically. “Did he hurt you?”

  “I’m fine,” Hayden said. “I swear. Are you okay?”

  “Hayden I’m fine. You were the one he was pointing the gun at.”

  “I’d like to report a robbery,” Hayden said.

  The police had already left. Hayden’s father came to the bar to deal with the situation and make sure everyone was alright. They weren’t sure if they would catch the guy, but David didn’t care. He was just glad his daughter and Kate were okay. He would definitely be upping their security system in the bar.

  Hayden and Kate were walking along the street, towards their cars.

  Kate seemed uncharacteristically quiet. Not that Hayden could blame her. They had been through a lot that night.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Hayden asked.

  “I’m fine, Hayden!” Kate snapped.

  Hayden looked taken back at the woman’s tone. She hadn’t expected her to be angry with her. She’d never heard the woman so angry.

  Kate refused to look at Hayden.

  “Wait, are you mad at me?” Hayden asked.

  “No!” Kate exclaimed, turning to face her girlfriend. “I’m furious!”

  “At me?”

  “Yes at you! How could you do that Hayden?”

  “Do what?” Hayden asked dumbfounded. She couldn’t understand why the brunette was so angry with her.

  “Stand in front of a gun like your life meant nothing!”

  “I did that to stop him from pointing the gun at you!”

  “So, what? My life matters more than yours?”

  “I didn’t say that! But, yeah if given the choice I would protect you over myself.”

  “I don’t want you to do that! I don’t want you to risk your life to save mine, Hayden!”

  “Well too bad! I’m your girlfriend, Kate. That means that if I can prevent you from getting hurt, I’m going to!”

  “Even it means risking your own life?”

  “Yes!” Hayden proclaimed loudly.

  Kate sighed as she walked away from Hayden.

  “Where are you going?” Hayden called after her.

  “Home! Don’t follow me!”

  Hayden had intended to go home for the night, but somehow she found herself outside of Kate’s apartment. She couldn’t leave things the way that they had. This was her first fight with Kate since the two became girlfriends and she hated it. She wanted to apologize to Kate and end their spat as soon as possible. What she was apologizing for, she wasn’t sure yet.

  I was protecting her. How could she be mad at me for that?

  Hayden had been standing outside of Kate’s apartment door for a good five minutes, still thinking about what best to say.

  Would she rather I didn’t protect her? I know I haven’t been someone’s girlfriend in a while, but I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to protect each other.

  Hayden went to knock on the door, but stopped with her hand hovering above the door. She was nervous that she would say the wrong thing and make things even worse between her and the brunette. Hayden lowered her hand back down.

  I get that she was scared, but can’t she understand that I was too. It’s not like I wanted to get in front of a gun. It’s just that the thought of something happening to Kate makes me sick. Losing Kate would be a nightmare. Life without her is a nightmare.

  Hayden raised her hand to the door to knock again. This time the door swung open right before she managed to make contact with it.

  Hayden looked surprised to see her girlfriend standing before her, already dressed in panties and an oversized shirt that came down just enough to cover half of her thigh. Hayden held a breath at the beauty of the brunette.

  Kate raised her eyebrows at Hayden as the two made eye contact. She shivered as cold air made its way into the apartment, causing her nipples to harden. Her shirt was thin enough that her nipples could be seen clearly.

  At the sight, Hayden could feel warmth rising between her legs. She couldn’t get enough of the beautiful brunette. She probably never would.

  “How’d you know I was here?” Hayden asked.

  “I knew you were here five minutes ago, Hayden,” Kate said, swinging the door open wider and standing aside for the blonde to gain entry.

  Hayden looked down as she walked past Kate and into the apartment. Kate closed the door behind her.

  The two women stood staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity. They were both still shaken up with what had happened earlier. It didn’t help that they had fought over it. Right now they both just wanted to be with each other.

  Hayden looked down as she spoke. “I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” Kate said, taking a step closer to the woman. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You were just trying to protect me. I overreacted.”

  A sad smile slowly appeared on Hayden’s face. “I don’t want anything to happen to you Kate. I can’t let that happen.”

  “That’s sweet that you want to protect me, but you can’t just put yoursel
f in harm’s way for me. Just like how you don’t want anything to happen to me, I don’t want anything to happen to you, Hayden.”

  “I can’t help it, Kate. Obviously I don’t go looking for danger, but I can’t just stand by and do nothing when the life of someone I truly care about is being threatened.” Hayden looked down as a look of realization appeared on her face. It wasn’t just the protective nature that Hayden was feeling when she stepped in between Kate and the robber. It was something far stronger.

  I can’t let anything happen to Kate because…because I love her. No but that’s silly. People don’t fall in love in a couple of weeks. That only happens in movies, not in real life.

  “What is it Hayden?”

  We could have died tonight. We could have died and she would never know the truth about how much I feel for her.

  “Kate, when he pointed that gun at you I snapped. All I could think about was how much it would hurt if I lost you.” Hayden looked away nervously. She wasn’t sure how Kate would react to her true feelings. But there was only one way to find out. A tear fell down Hayden’s cheek. She was overcome by the sheer thought of what Kate truly meant to her.

  “Hey, what is it?” Kate asked caringly as she touched Hayden’s shoulder in support.

  “We could have died and you would have never known how much you mean to me. What I truly feel for you.”

  Kate looked back at Hayden with a reassuring smile. She had an idea of what Hayden was trying to say. She knew it would be hard for the woman to admit out loud. It was a huge step for Hayden.

  “What do you truly feel for me?” Kate asked gently.

  “I love you, Kate,” Hayden smiled.

  Kate slowly grinned at the blonde. She reached forward and took Hayden’s face in her hands, crashing her lips into hers.

  Kate slid Hayden’s jacket off of her and quickly moved on to removing her shirt. The brunette walked forward, pushing Hayden towards the bedroom. As soon as they entered the bedroom, Kate pushed Hayden back onto the bed.

  Kate smiled down at the woman as she removed Hayden’s shoes and unbuttoned her skinny jeans, peeling them from her legs.

  Before getting on top of Hayden, Kate raised her shirt above her head and threw it to the side. She slid her panties off and brought her attention back to her girlfriend.