It had been one of the sweetest, most caring things anyone, especially a man, had ever done for her. And then he did it again two days later when she had a last minute appointment she couldn’t say no to. Arriving home that night was just as beautiful as the first time he’d cooked. She knew standing at the doorway of her kitchen and watching the way he was not only with his niece but with her daughter, she would never take him or the things he did for her for granted.
But from the conversation she had heard and the tension that had filled his office, she was almost sure her rainbow-filled, happy cloud was about to burst.
Maybe they needed to take a step back? Maybe she brought too much into his life. He did have a stressful job, and if the stack of papers on his desk said anything, it was that he had not been focused on his job during the last week. He’d been busy with her and Meg. The town needed him and he needed the small town. He liked what he did. What he did was important.
She should call him and put a stop to things between them. Maybe a break to cool things down, get their heads on straight, and go from there. The thought made her heart ache.
She liked her rainbow-filled, happy cloud.
Looking at her phone in her hand, she picked it up, typed out a text, and stared at it. Her thumbs hovering over ‘send’ then moving to ‘delete’. Pressing her lips together, she scrolled through her contacts list until she reached his number and without a second to think it over, she called. She couldn’t text him like some silly, little girl. She was a grown woman, goddamn it. On top of that, she couldn’t jump to conclusions either; she had to talk things out with him.
“Hey.” His low rumble made the ache in her heart a little deeper.
“Hey,” she whispered back.
“I was about to call you, but wasn’t sure if you’d be up.”
“I’m up.”
“Good, because I’m two minutes from your place.”
“What?” She sat up straight on her couch.
“I’m on my way, babe.”
“But… you had to work late.”
“I did, now I’m all caught up.” She bit her lip.
“You’ve been at work since seven this morning.”
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know, Key,” he rumbled, the smile in his voice giving her hope.
“Aren’t you tired?” she asked.
“Do you not want me looming over your doorstep?” he sarcastically asked her. She rolled her eyes.
“Of course I do. I like your kind of looming, I just…”
“Look, Key, I think we both know we need to talk, baby.” And just like that hope turned into dread. Shit. Was this where he would come over, because he was a good man and wanted to tell her face-to-face it wasn’t her, it was him? Or that he had his career to focus on right now? So she did what any red-blooded woman would do, she mentally prepared.
“We do.”
“Is that why you were calling?” he asked. He was right, though she was only going to ask if he actually felt the way Josh had been saying.
“Yes.” No point in lying. “I just…”
“I’m out front, come out.”
“Go out?” she asked, looking down at what she was wearing.
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you come in?” she asked, then it hit her. He didn’t even want to come into her house. She closed her eyes. He was ending it. Really and truly.
“Come out here, Keira.” She stood and walked toward the door, but stopped when she glanced at herself in the mirror, unable to stop the sigh that escaped her lips. Her hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head, and she wore an oversized black hoodie and grey yoga pants, topped with the fact she was in her nerd glasses. At least she was ready for the gallon of ice cream she would probably consume the moment he left. Maybe she would whip up a tray of brownies to go with the ice cream.
Barefoot, she stepped out to the porch and saw his truck in her drive. Her heart a little sad at the possibility of not seeing it there again. When he slipped out of it, all she could think was how unlucky it was, for her at least, that he looked damn good in his police uniform.
She walked out into the darkness as her garage light flickered on, and realized it needed a new lightbulb, since the one that was on only shedding a dim light over them.
With her arms crossed protectively over her chest, she stopped about five feet away from him. Which made him raise an eyebrow. In the last week, any time he’d come over, she always went straight to his arms. There had been no awkward ‘what do we do now moments’ after the batting cages. They had dove in headfirst. Somehow beautifully in sync. Until now.
“Hey.” She gave him a stiff nod and saw his lips twitch, but she ignored it.
“Come here, Key,” he rumbled. Her feet wanted to take her to him, close enough she’d feel the constant heat that seemed to radiate off his body, but she couldn’t let herself.
“You said we needed to talk,” she reminded him instead of following his order.
“Come here,” he repeated, and she shook her head.
“No.”
“Key, I’m fucking tired. Come here,” he huffed. It made her worried heart go mad. Who did he think he was, coming over here to break up with her or put things on ice, and he was cussing about being tired?
“If you’re fucking tired, you could have just called. You could have taken care of this from the comfort of your bed instead of making this into a show. It’s cold out here, Rex.”
“Key.” His tone was an obvious warning, but she didn’t care. She was pissed. She knew she should try to temper it down, but she was a natural redhead who lost her shit way too quickly. Who did he think he was anyhow? Why did men always feel so entitled? Who fed those egos as a child, because she would love to hit them upside the head!
“There is nothing stopping you from walking the…” she started to say, but stopped talking. The words froze from coming out of her mouth when he dashed toward her, closing the space between them in a blink of an eye, and grabbing her by surprise.
His arms immediately went to her waist, and he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his narrow waist. He walked them back toward his truck, not stopping till he got to the bed of it. Then he somehow opened the back, turned, and hopped on, all without letting her out of his arms, only to leave her straddling his body.
“Now, this is better,” he simply said. She frowned. Was he nuts?
“Rex?” She liked saying his name. His warm gaze met hers.
“Kiss me,” he ordered. Her frown turned into a scowl.
“What are you doing?” she asked, slightly breathy as she tried to hold on to the anger, but he felt too damn good below her. “Rex, you said we needed to talk.”
“After you kiss me,” he responded, and she wondered if this was some sort of weird last kiss thing. She’d heard of some men even giving good-bye gifts when they broke up with a woman, and she hoped he hadn’t done anything like that, because she was sure she would throw it at his head.
“Rex!” she huffed into the chilly night air, and this time, his lips tipped up and he gave her a damn smile that showed off his sexy dimple.
“Fine,” he rolled his eyes playfully. “I’ll kiss you then.”
“Wha…” that was all she could mutter, because he did just that. He kissed her hard and passionately. When she felt one of his huge hands at the back of her messy top bun, neither of her hands could resist holding on to his face. She loved his hands.
Pressing her front as tightly to his as she possibly could, she loved how good he felt. How strong and steady and safe. Yet with his own brand of danger. He tasted like coffee and mint and Rex. She loved kissing him, and at that thought, her mind and heart synced. Like a lightbulb lighting in her head, she knew she was screwed.
She was in love with him. How could she stupidly fall in love in a week? Was that even possible? Lust? Yes. But love? Real, deep, “I want to wake up next to you for the rest of my days” kind of love? Only she would do som
ething like this. She’d fallen in a way that she felt in the dead center of her entire being.
And he was going to break it off.
She broke the kiss, her hands still on his face, almost as if trying to remember and etch the feeling to memory.
“I overheard you and Josh,” she told him. No need to draw things out. Her body still melted into his, even though she knew it was coming. Bad news. She just needed a little more of his touch, she told herself.
“He’s an idiot.”
“I understand…wait, what?” she asked, feeling like her head was spinning. She’d been so certain he would end things. Just like that, hope flickered.
“Josh is more than an idiot, he’s a moron.”
“But…”
“He likes being single. We’ve been friends for a long time, babe.”
“Then he would know if you were playing house and…”
“And he likes being single. He has his reasons; they’re his own. Not mine. Certainly not mine to share.” He caressed her face, and she moved into his touch. “I like being here. I’m a grown man. I know I have responsibilities to the city, but I also have them to myself. I made the call to leave work on time or early to head here. Life is about choices, and we keep going like we are, I’d rather have to bust my ass one night than be late or miss dinner with you, Meg, and Kate, if she’s here.”
“We liked having you.” She smiled at him shyly. His fingertips moved from her face to tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear.
“I need you to trust me, Key. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“We’ve only started this between us. For you to make those kinds of promises, honey…” she whispered, leaning in and kissing him softly, taking in the way he closed his eyes to feel her lips against his.
“I don’t give a shit, Key.” She opened her eyes and frowned before he clarified, “I’m forty-three, babe. I know the kind of man I am. I know what I want out of life and I know what I need to do to get the things I want.”
“And you want us?” she stupidly asked without thinking. He smiled at her, kissing the tip of her chilly nose.
“There already is an ‘us’. You, Meg, me, and Katie joining when she can. I can’t read the future, but I like what we have. It’s only been a week, but in Vegas that one night with you… the time away, not being able to shake you. I knew you were important and I was kicking my own ass for having missed a chance.”
“I’m here now,” she pointed out. Liking the smile he gave her.
“And I thank God you are,” he whispered against her lips, licking her bottom lip.
“Did you eat?” she whispered, her eyes trained on his, and shivered as his eyes twinkled wickedly. She laughed, smacking him on the shoulder.
“You know what I mean,” she scolded him playfully, his chuckles floating in the air around them.
“Yeah. Dinner was great, thank you.” She smiled, trying not to let her eyes go watery at the relief she was feeling. They were okay, she thought. I’m in love with him. And she was surprised it wasn’t as scary as she might have thought it would be.
“Want to come in?”
“Nope,” he answered quickly, his eyes on her as if somehow reading her thoughts.
“No?”
“No. I want to sit right here under the stars with my girl in my arms while she tells me why the fuck she thought I was going to end shit with her.”
“I did not think…” she started to lie, but then sighed. She felt the need to put herself out there for some crazy reason, but in a safe way.
“I like you, Rex. I only heard bits and pieces. Then telling anyone, but especially a woman, that ‘we need to talk’ without expecting her to think the worst is wishful thinking, babe,” she clarified haughtily and felt his body start to shake before his chuckles filled her ears. She couldn’t help but smile back.
“I’m sorry I freaked out thinking you wanted an out,” she said softly and honestly. She was usually levelheaded, but something about him, all the things he made her feel, stirred her up and made her a little crazy. His eyes warmed, moving from her face to her mouth, then they met her gaze head-on.
“I’m falling hard for you, Key.” Her heart fluttered. Before she could respond, he kissed her then pulled away, his soft lips hovering over hers. “How about we make out under the stars?” She smiled so big at the idea it hurt her face.
“It’s a little cold,” she remarked, only to give him a little attitude that he seemed to enjoy.
“I’ll keep you warm,” he growled playfully, and she laughed right before his lips crashed over hers and did just what he’d said.
They made out under the stars, in the bed of his truck, cloaked by darkness. And even though the temperature had dropped, he never let her feel cold.
Chapter Thirteen
Rex
He had the next two days off and was looking forward to them. He was taking Keira, Meg, and his niece up the coast to go camping. Walking out of the diner with his daily cup of coffee, he looked toward the salon and stopped in his tracks, jealousy prickling his nerves at the sight.
Keira was outside of the salon, talking to a man he had never met nor seen before. His tan, olive skin and peppered, grey hair made the guy look distinguished rather than old. He was taller than Rex by about an inch, but he could see the guy was built, even if he was a little thicker in the gut, all while wearing an expensive suit.
His blood warmed up the moment he watched the asshole step in close and tuck Key’s hair behind her ear. She shook her head, and that’s when he realized his girl, his woman, was pissed. More than pissed, she was straight up livid if he was reading her body language right. All his protective instincts kicked in.
He walked over to them quickly. Her eyes met his, and he saw relief in them. If she hadn’t looked as angry as she did, he would have let himself feel silly about getting jealous. “Key, everything okay?” he asked calmly, taking a sip of his coffee while his free hand went to his duty belt, glad to be in full uniform.
“Oh, hello, Officer?” The dick’s voice was low as he looked toward his nametag.
“Police Chief Malone, actually.” He stepped between Keira and the asshole in the expensive suit and with too much cologne, and when he looked right at the man’s face, he knew exactly who he was.
So he put his hand over her shoulder, leaning in to kiss the side of her face, and didn’t miss the confused look the guy tried to cover up as her took in Rex and Keira together. “Baby, everything okay?” he asked her. Her body was tense, and he heard her take a deep breath.
“Rex, this is my ex-husband, Sam. Sam, this is Rex…” he cut her off, knowing she might get irritated with him, but he had to make a point with Sam.
“Her man.”
“Her man?” Surprise was evident in Sam’s face. Rex bit away the smile that threatened.
“Umm…” she started to try to talk, but he had to step in and let this asshole know she had moved on and was taken.
“Yep.”
“She’s only been in town for a minute,” Sam clarified for no reason. That’s when Rex let him have it.
“What can I say, Sam, my man,” he shrugged. “I’m a lucky bastard.” He grinned cockily, then turned from looking at his face and kissed her forehead. He was surprised when she melted into his body rather than fighting his nearness.
The dick’s eyes moved his eyes from Rex and onto Keira. “You have a man?”
“Sam…”
“Kiki, you didn’t tell me you were seeing anyone.”
“Since you and I are divorced, you’re newly married and expecting twins with your new wife, I didn’t see it as a necessary thing to do,” she pointed out. Rex flat out smiled. Fuck, he loved her kind of attitude.
“It sure as hell is necessary to tell me about the slew of men you bring in and out of our daughter’s life.”
“Slew of men?” she gasped. Rex knew she was about to blow a gasket.
“Look, man, gotta warn you, she’s great. Fuck,
man. The things she can do with her mouth,” Sam spoke, looking right at Rex, “but she gets bored easily.” Rex did all he could to contain himself, reminding himself it wouldn’t do anyone any good to punch the asshole in public while in full uniform.
“You dick!” she yelled, her fury gleaming off of her. “You’re the one who couldn’t keep his pants zipped up!” his little redheaded firecracker shouted.
“Look, man, why are you here? Like you said, Key and Megan have been here for a bit. I sure as shit haven’t seen you around. I spend a shit load of time with both of them, and I sure as hell know you haven’t been blowing up your kid’s phone to talk to her. Fuck, man, no disrespect, but I almost started to think you didn’t exist.”
“I want to see my daughter,” he huffed, and Key rolled her eyes.
“And I told you, you should have called. We have plans this weekend.”
“And I told you I need to hang out with her, so I don’t get stuck having to give you even more fucking money. The amount you conned out of me for child support is already a whack.” Rex’s body stiffened at the dick’s words.
“What’d you say?” Rex asked, his voice lower than usual.
“Look, man, you can have the frigid bitch, I don’t give a shit. She’s a fucking pain in the ass. Enjoy her mouth while it lasts, but I …” Rex couldn’t contain himself any longer, couldn’t pull himself back. He took a quick step forward. Thankfully, the ass saw it and took one back immediately. Rex guessed that it was a good thing Sam wasn’t a complete idiot.
“If you ever talk about her like that again, you don’t wanna know what I’ll do to you, man.”
“Keira, you need to control your pit bull here,” the ass wipe snapped, trying to look at Key over Rex’s shoulder, so he stepped in even further.
“You don’t talk…” he started, but Keira spoke up.
Lucky For You (Never Too Late Book 3) Page 7
