by Aliyah Burke
The child climbed up on the pillow near the boy and continued to read, even after the boy was retrieved by a woman he assumed to be the mother. He moved closer when Kassidy began picking up. Libby lifted her head but remained where she was beside the girl.
“Hello, Kassidy.”
Her jerk was slight but there. However, there was nothing but a smile on her face when she turned to face him, her gray eyes soft and welcoming.
“Justice. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you and see if you are free for dinner.”
Her gaze flicked to the dipped head of the young child before returning to him. Then she shook hers. “I’m sorry. I can’t, not tonight.”
Leaning against a bookcase beside her he asked in a low tone, “Date?”
She narrowed her gaze and for a few moments they remained locked in the stare.
“I’m ready to go, Kassidy.” A small voice broke the tension-filled stare.
Justice glanced down. Unbelievably large brown eyes stared up at him, the picture of innocence.
“Get your coat on and we’ll go.”
“’Kay.”
“A date? If that’s what you want to call babysitting.” She sighed heavily. “I have to go, Justice.”
“We’re baking cookies,” the child interjected, her coat on.
“Yes, we are,” Kassidy agreed dropping to a knee to zip up the purple jacket. “Sari, this is a good friend of mine, Justice. Justice, meet Sari Jacobs.”
He reached for the outstretched hand and bowed over it, getting an endearing laugh in response. This is the child who answered her phone that day. Daughter to Arlen. He wasn’t sure that made him feel any better.
“Nice to meet you, Sari.”
“Are you baking cookies with us? Baking cookies is good when it rains.”
He looked to Kassidy for help but her expression told him it was all up to him. “I would love to bake cookies with two beautiful women.”
“Goodie! Can you draw dragon shapes?”
Kassidy’s laugh warmed him and he missed her response. He followed them out into the rain and on to Kassidy’s. Soon the house was filled with childish laughter, Disney music, and the smell of baking cookies. It wasn’t until Sari was laid down for a nap that he had a moment alone with Kassidy. She stood by the piano staring out at the pounding rain. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She relaxed into him with ease. They stood like that for quite a while.
“Who is Arlen to you?”
Her body stiffened slightly. Whoever he was, the subject seemed touchy to her. Minutes passed with the thunder and rain being the only sound between them. He didn’t press despite the craving to know. She took a deep breath and he knew he was finally going to get his answer.
“Arlen, Lana, and I grew up together. Right after high school, Arlen and Lana got married. Four years ago they had Sari, my goddaughter.” Tremors moved through her. “Five months ago, Lana was killed in a hit-n-run. Arlen’s like a brother to me and it kills me to see him hurting so much. I try to help him, but he’s stubborn. Today I took Sari so maybe he could allow himself to grieve.”
“I’m so sorry.” He recalled hearing about the incident on the news.
“You thought there was something between myself and Arlen.”
It wasn’t a question but a whispered statement.
“I wasn’t sure,” he confessed.
Kassidy turned in his arms so they were face to face. He could see disappointment in the depths of her eyes.
“I don’t know what kind of woman you’re used to dealing with, Justice, but I’m not like that. Nor will I be involved in a relationship with a man who’s insecure with my male friends. I’ve already been in one of those and refuse to do so again.”
There was no anger in her tone; her voice was modulated and controlled. She stepped away from him and he felt the loss deep within. The gleam in her eyes told him she wanted to say more but instead she headed from the piano back to the kitchen.
Way to go, jackass, he berated himself.
Pursing his lips, he followed. He paused in the entrance; Kassidy had her back to him and he could see her putting cooled cookies on platters.
“I’m sorry, Kassidy.”
She stiffened before glancing over her shoulder. There was no hostility in her gaze. No pain. No anger. In fact there was nothing. He found himself faced with blank gray slates. He didn’t like that in the slightest.
As quick as she looked at him, she turned away. Running his hand over his mouth, he strode across the space to pause behind her.
“I was jealous. Jealous of how y’all looked together, how he watched you, and touched you.”
“Okay.”
Her hands never stopped moving, nor did she face him. There was still no emotion in her tone.
Gently but firmly he turned her to him. “That’s it? Nothing else to say?” He was used to confrontational women. Ones who yelled, screamed, and threw things. Kassidy was nothing like that. It was a big change.
“No. I said my piece. You said yours. What else is there?”
His brow furrowed. “You’re not mad at me?”
“Would you prefer I was?”
Would he? “No, I just…I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say, Justice. Life’s too short to hold onto some things. It’s over as far as I’m concerned.”
Uncertainty bloomed. “It’s over?”
“Yeah.” She went back to the cookies and carried them to the table, eyes focused on him. “Arlen is my friend. You know that and I’m telling you there’s nothing between us other than platonic friendship. You either accept it or not. Either way, it’s not a subject up for discussion.”
He waved that away and held her gaze. “So the ‘it’s over’ pertains to the discussion, not us?”
Emotions swirled in her eyes and they widened. Finally! Some emotion.
“Oh. I didn’t mean we were over. I meant the Arlen jealousy thing. I don’t want to end it with you, but I’ll not give up my friends.”
He grinned and prowled closer to her. “I like those words from your mouth. I don’t want you to feel like you have to give up your friends for me.” When he’d backed her up to the counter, he shifted his gaze from her gray orbs to her lips. “How about a kiss to make up?”
A groan threatened when she moistened her lips with her tongue.
“Sari.”
“Is sleeping.” He pressed closer, tracing the shell of her ear with his fingertip. “Say yes, beautiful.”
“Yes,” she gasped when he lightly nipped the pulse on the side of her neck. Her fingers dug into his sides.
He needed no more encouragement and kissed her. Her taste exploded along his tongue and he found himself rubbing against her core. It wasn’t easy but he managed to end the exchange. Her smoky eyes stared back at him, lips parted and swollen.
Did I say I’d fallen in love yet?
With a smoldering look, he stepped back and allowed some space between them. His control wavered when she licked her lips as if seeking more of his taste.
“I… I… need to go wake Sari up. Can you pull some apples and carrots out of the fridge for me?” Kassidy bolted before he could say a word.
When she passed into view, tucked securely in her left hand was Sari’s right. The child still looked sleepy, but there lingered growing excitement. After a snack of carrots and apples, they went to work decorating the cooled cookies.
He and Sari continued to frost, then while Kassidy began dinner, they switched over to coloring on paper. From where he sat at the table, he continued to steal peeks at the effortless way Kassidy moved. In an instant, he pictured her there with their children around. A deep longing roared to life inside him, almost blinding him with its intensity.
“Does your chest hurt?” Sari asked.
“I’m fine. No need to worry, little one.” He lowered his hand, not even realizing he’d been rubbing it.
“My
daddy’s a doctor. He can fix anything.”
Arlen’s a doctor? Giving Sari a smile he said, “I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.” He pointed to the picture she had drawn on her paper. “Are you done with your dragon?”
“You knew it was a dragon?” she questioned.
With a brief wink at Kassidy, he nodded. “Of course, it’s a wonderful dragon.”
Her sigh was deprecating. “Not finished. Dragons need fire but… I don’t know how to do it.”
“Would you like me to help you? I could give him some for you.”
“Please.”
Her voice so sweet and hopeful it made him want a little girl of his own. The doorbell rang and he barely looked up when Kassidy said she’d be right back. He wanted the flames to be the best any dragon had ever had.
“Daddy!” Sari squealed.
Justice glanced up to see her jump into her father’s arms. There was such love and devotion in the man’s gaze. The girl in his arms meant the world to him. Not that I blame him.
He stood when Sari hurried back to the table. Kassidy made the introductions and after they shook hands, he went back to finishing up the fire. Sari knelt on the chair beside him, her hand on his shoulder.
“I like the fire. Are we done?” she asked.
“Almost.” He flashed a grin at Arlen. “I think it needs some orange in it too.”
“Ohh yeah. Some on the ground too.”
“I agree.” As he worked with Sari, he listened offhandedly to Arlen and Kassidy chat while they finished the meal. Kassidy looked radiant to him, her smile infectious, and her laugh contagious.
“Okay, you two,” Kassidy said. “Time to clear the table for dinner.”
Justice slid the completed picture to Sari, whose gasp of pleasure made him feel on top of the world. She kissed his cheek, then ran to show her dad. Justice removed the drawing items from the smooth wood top.
“You’re pretty good with kids,” Kassidy’s velvet timbre murmured as she set a stack of plates down before him and wiped off the table.
He slid an arm around her waist and whispered back, “Glad you think so.” Then he focused on setting the table. It was one of the most fun dinners he’d had in a long time. Sari kept them all entertained with stories. By the end of the meal, he had really begun to like Arlen, as well and had invited them for a ride on his boat.
* * * *
Kassidy stood next to Justice and waved as Arlen and Sari drove away in the rainy night. Back inside, she sighed and shut the door.
“You okay?”
“Just worried about Arlen. I offered to keep Sari for the night, but I don’t think he’s ready to take that step yet. He can’t stand for her to be out of his sight for long. I think he sleeps in the rocker in her room.”
Not that she blamed him for it. Sari is his last tie to Lana. His wife had been taken from him at night and he’d been unable to work on her since it was his wife. Something he’d never forgiven himself for.
“He’s lucky to have a friend like you, Kassidy.”
She relaxed into Justice’s embrace, her cheek pressed along the hard planes of his torso. The cotton from his shirt was soft and comforting.
“We’re both lucky. He’s an amazing friend as well. I just wish there was more I could do for him.”
“He knows you’re there for him and Sari. That means the world to him. He’ll come to you when he’s ready.”
“Thanks for putting up with Sari. I know she can be very demanding.”
He brushed his lips along the curve of her neck. “Sari is utterly adorable.”
“You know you can take back having her on your boat.”
“Nonsense,” he said immediately. “I’m looking forward to it.”
She let it go and enjoyed being held by him. The thunder and lightning split the sky with impressive force. Normally loud thunder and close lightning scared her. But not here. Not now. Not when she was with the man holding her.
“Question for you, beautiful.”
“Hmmm?” How was it when he said that one word she felt like he meant it?
“What are you doing on Sunday?”
“Nothing other than church planned. Why?”
“My mom and grandpa would love for you to come to brunch.”
A brief moment of panic filled her but it faded just as quick as it had arrived. “Sunday for brunch?”
His hands skimmed over the curve of her butt. “Yes.”
“What can I bring?”
“Just yourself, beautiful.”
“No. I have to bring them something.” An act that had been instilled in her from childhood.
He put enough distance between them to see her face. His thumbs stroked the corners of her mouth. “Okay. My mom loves chocolate. My grandpa,” he paused, “I have no idea.”
She smiled as an idea hit her. “I know what to bring for him.” I hope he likes it.
“You know you don’t have to get him, either of them, anything, right, Kassidy?”
“Let me do this, Justice. Please, I’ll feel better.”
He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the couch. When she sat tucked against him, she closed her eyes and allowed the rhythmic lub-dub of his heart to soothe away any remaining hesitation she might have. When she woke, his strong arms held her exhausted and naked body tight to his. With a contented yawn, she curled up closer to him.
After a full workweek passed, that Saturday night Kassidy gathered and wrapped the gifts for Justice’s mom and grandpa. Justice had duty and couldn’t leave the base so she didn’t get to see him that day. She missed him; it had become familiar and normal to spend free time in his presence.
That night she enjoyed a fun dinner with Lucy and Ethan that helped keep her mind off the fact she wouldn’t see Justice later in the evening. When she made it home she got some housework done, showered, and went to bed.
Her dreams were anything but pleasant, and when her alarm went off she felt exhausted. Head pounding, she got Libby and left for an early service just to make sure she would be on time for brunch. She was grateful the rain, at least, had ceased for however long. By eleven she had begun to feel better. There was no need to vomit and the pounding in her head had diminished. Her nerves didn’t seem fit to take a holiday though. The knot in her belly expanded immensely as she waited for Justice to arrive at her door.
Although expected, the sound of her doorbell chiming through the house made her jump and almost spill her tea in her lap. Crap. Pull it together, Kas. It’s just a meal.
Justice perched against the doorframe, his physique relaxed and casually attired. A perpetual sexy half grin graced his face.
“Hello, beautiful.”
She smiled shyly, stepping back to allow him entrance. He wore a dark green polo and khakis. She licked her lips and struggled to say hi.
How can one man rob me of all sense?
“Hello, Justice. How are you?”
“Better now.” He pressed a light yet extremely potent kiss to her mouth.
“Do we need to go now or would you care for a drink?”
He pushed the door shut and stalked her until the wall at her back prevented her from moving farther. His gaze smoldered and bore into hers. Her breath caught as he positioned his arms on either side of her head and lowered his face. A hair’s breadth away from her mouth, eyes still scorching hot and holding hers, he exhaled gently, the warm air flowing along her hypersensitive lips.
“A drink would be lovely, Kassidy.”
Justice backed away with a simple display of coiled grace, his gaze no less hungry. She swallowed hard before slipping away into the kitchen. The presence from him followed her and kept her wrapped in its comforting warmth. Their fingers brushed at the glass exchange and her belly knotted all over for an entirely different reason than nerves.
Her stare was riveted to his throat as he downed the crisp, cool liquid. She tried to focus on something else, but she couldn’t. Her fingers curved into her palms in order to
keep herself from reaching out. She longed to touch. Craved to. To skim her hands over his skin, to feel the pulse of his strong heartbeat beneath her tongue. To taste him.
“Keep staring at me like that, Kassidy, and we’ll be late.” His words were raspy and rough.
Her gaze flashed to his and found raw lust there. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t apologize.” He reached around and placed the glass in the sink. “I want to kiss you so bad, beautiful. So bad.” Yes! Her heart cried. “But I can’t, I don’t have that much control.” His Adam’s Apple bobbed with his swallow. “Let’s go.”
A few more highly charged moments of staring at one another and she edged by him. “I’m ready,” she informed him without looking back.
After she said goodbye to Libs, Kassidy followed him out the door and down to his shiny, red Corvette. She hesitated. A gorgeous boat and an awesome car. Her fingers tightened on the string handles of the gift bags.
“Kassidy?”
Alex had nice things, too. Very nice things. And he got his in a way that was far from being legal. Walls began to shoot up around her heart even while her brain opted for a much more rational explanation.
“Kassidy? Are you okay?”
The light touch of his hands on her shoulders got her focused. “I’m fine, sorry. Lost in thought for a minute there.”
Justice’s expression spoke of his disbelief but thankfully he said nothing. Merely slid a hand to the back of her neck and down to the base of her spine before guiding her to his car. The ride was done with no words between them. The rap on his stereo, the only noise in there. She stared at the two bags on her lap. Simple crème-hued bags.
Please let this go well.
The urge to sneeze hit her hard and she couldn’t stop. Once, twice, three times, and more. Eyes watering and short of breath, Kassidy finally regained control. Taking a tissue from her purse she dabbed at the corner of her eyes and noticed they were stopped in a gas station parking lot.
“Kassidy, look at me.” His order filled the car. The now silent car.
“Why are we stopped at a gas station?” she questioned even as she did as he’d requested. Crumpling the Kleenex, she kept it in her balled fist. Her breathing began to slow and her heart calmed down.
