by Rhian Cahill
West glanced up at his best friend. “Nothing. Shaye’s over there. They’re getting drunk because Shaye quit her job today.” West looked back down and hit reply just as another text came in.
Wasted! :)
He laughed as he fired back a response. Shouldn’t have had that second glass. ;)
Lifting his head, West met his best friend’s narrowed gaze once more. “I finally convinced Kels to take the job today.” Zac and Coop both knew what he was talking about. Hell, their whole group would know, he’d been talking about trying to get Kels to work for him for months.
“She agreed?” Coop shook his head. “Never thought I’d hear that.”
“Tell me you haven’t touched her,” Zac demanded.
Coop shot forward in his seat as beer sprayed out his mouth and rolled down his chin. “What?” he choked out while wiping his jaw with the back of his hand.
Zac stared West down, but West held his gaze and didn’t answer either way.
“You and Kelsey?” Coop’s words held curiosity, not censure.
“West.”
“What, Zac? What do you want me to say? Of course I’ve touched her. She’s my friend.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”
West scrubbed a hand down his face and blew out a breath. He could lie or he could hedge or he could just tell his two best friends the truth. His phone vibrated in his hand and he glanced down.
Second bottle did it.
He couldn’t hold back his laughter, which of course only got him another dirty look from Zac.
“What’s she saying?” Coop asked.
“That she’s wasted.”
“So she’s had two glasses then,” Coop said with a grin, and Zac couldn’t help but laugh even if he tried to cover it by coughing. Everyone knew how much of a light-weight Kels was.
West was relieved to see Zac loosen up on the whole Kelsey thing for a second. Lord knows, he was going to blow a gasket when West came clean about his intentions.
“When did Shaye quit?” Coop asked.
“This afternoon. Don’t know the details, but I did see a couple of messages she sent Kels this afternoon that hinted at things being worse at work.” On Friday night, he’d wanted to find Shaye’s boss and slam the man’s head through a wall when she’d told them what had been going on, but after today, West thought putting the guy’s head through a wall might not be enough.
“Anyone know where we can find the guy?” Coop’s words were laced with a steel edge that had West and Zac staring in his direction. “What?”
West lifted one brow. “Shaye?”
Coop relaxed back against the couch and brought his beer to his mouth. He took his time taking a sip before answering. “Problem?”
West looked at Zac who was shaking his head, a scowl on his face. Turning back to Coop he said, “Nope. Not from me. Just surprised.”
“Been thinking on it for a while. Trying to gage whether it’s worth pursuing or not. But after the conversation Friday night, and my gut reaction to it, I’ve figured out I’d be stupid not to.” Coop pulled his phone from his pocket. “Let’s see if I can get some drunk texts too.”
West watched his friends. Coop appeared relaxed, but Zac’s body held a tautness that told him revealing anything about his intentions regarding Kelsey might cause some friction that West wasn’t interested in dealing with right now. Coop’s unexpected revelation about his feelings for Shaye should take some of the sting out of his own admission, but with Zac’s next words, West knew he’d have to keep his mouth shut unless he wanted a fight with one of his best friends.
“What is it with you guys wanting to fuck with the group?” Zac shook his head, his forehead wrinkled. “It wasn’t bad enough when things went south with Bry and Kelsey?”
“Bad?” Coop lifted his gaze from his phone to look at his twin. “What the hell are you talking about? Those two should never have gotten married in the first place, and you know it. Their friendship is just as strong now as it was when they were sleeping together, Zac.”
“Coop’s right,” West added in a calm voice despite the less-than-calm emotions churning his insides at the thought of Kels and Bry together. “There wasn’t any drama when they split, which says a lot about their marriage.”
Zac frowned.
“Theirs was never really an overly passionate relationship,” West said as razor-sharp jealousy sliced at his insides and threatened to spew from his chest on a growl.
“And don’t forget Kelsey moved out before anyone knew about the split. Shit, I don’t remember them ever having a fight,” Coop added.
West had known. He’d known because he’d helped her move some of her things. Of course, he hadn’t said a word to anyone. Kels had wanted it kept quiet until after she’d filed the divorce papers and, as was West’s usual MO when it came to Kelsey, he’d done whatever she asked.
West’s phone buzzed. I don’t feel so good. “Uh oh, Kels isn’t going to last much longer.”
Coop’s phone went off and he burst out laughing when he read the text.
“What?” Zac asked as he got out of his chair and headed towards his brother. “Show me.”
“You sure you want to see what we’re saying, little brother?” Coop teased.
“Two minutes, for fuck’s sake.”
“Yeah, but those two minutes put you a whole day behind me.” Coop grinned. The long-standing taunt got the usual reaction from Zac.
“Give me the phone.” Zac lunged at Coop and the two of them wrestled on the couch until they rolled to the floor at West’s feet.
Zac finally yanked the phone from Coop’s hand. He scanned the screen quickly. “Jesus. Are you for real?”
West leaned over and grabbed Zac’s wrist to keep the phone still so he could see the exchange between Coop and Shaye.
So my buddy is getting some text messages from your drunk friend. Wanna play too?
I’ll play with you anytime, stud. ;-)
“Holy shit!” West said.
Coop grinned. “Yeah. I think I’m going to see if she needs a ride home.”
Zac tossed the phone at his brother as he climbed to his feet. “You two are sick.”
“What the fuck is up your arse, Zac?” Coop sat up.
“Nothing.” Zac bent to retrieve his keys and phone from the floor beside his chair. “I’m outta here. Catch you dickheads later.”
Before either of them spoke, Zac was gone. West turned to Coop. “What’s going on with him?”
“Hell if I know. I was planning to ask you. He’s been weird for a while now. Ever since he helped Cassie out with that party a few months back.” Coop shook his head. “And before you ask, neither Cassie nor Dan can remember anything happening that night. I already asked. Maybe something’s going on at work?”
“Hmm…” West had an inkling of what might be going on with Zac, but he didn’t want to bring it up with Coop yet. He’d have a chat with Dan next time he saw him and double-check his suspicions. “Enough about grumpy. Are you really going to play with Shaye?”
“Don’t see why I shouldn’t, in spite of Zac’s objection.”
“You’re not worried about what it’ll do to the group dynamic if things go south?” West asked. It was something he’d considered when contemplating him and Kelsey. Although at this point he’d decided he didn’t care how the group was affected.
“If I went into every relationship thinking it was going to end, it wouldn’t be worth bothering, would it?” Coop shrugged. “Besides, I’m not about to let something that could be great pass me by just because it might upset some of my friends.”
“Guess you have to weigh up whether the possible outcome is worth the risk.”
“Oh, she’s worth it.” Coop grinned as he began poking at his phone again. “Now if you’ll excu
se me, I’m going to offer my services as a designated driver.”
“Is that the only service you’re offering?”
Coop laughed. “I’m game for anything with Shaye.”
West stood up as Coop’s phone beeped. “She say yes?”
“Sure did.”
“Do me a favour? Check on Kels when you pick Shaye up. Make sure she isn’t going to be sleeping in her own vomit.”
“What do I look like? Your slave boy?” Coop pulled his keys from his pocket. “If you’re that worried, head over there and check on her yourself.”
West frowned. He wasn’t sure going around to Kelsey’s was a good idea, but he wanted to make sure she was all right. If she wasn’t lying about the two bottles of wine, she was going to be one sorry woman come morning unless she flushed her system with water now. A couple of aspirin wouldn’t hurt either. “Just send me a text telling me how trashed she is.”
“Fine. But avoiding her isn’t going to fix your problem,” Coop said as he pulled West’s front door open.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Man up, West.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t give me that shit. You might never mention it and think you’ve managed to keep your feelings for Kelsey secret, but you’re forgetting who you’re talking to. I know you. I remember the crush you had on her back in school.”
“That was then.” West tried to brush it off.
“Yeah, and this is now, and she’s no longer trapped in a passionless marriage with one of our closest friends.” Coop clapped his hand on West’s shoulder. “Don’t let what Zac says, or what anyone else, especially Bry, might think stop you from going after what you really want. She’s worth the risk.”
With those parting words, Coop left him standing in his foyer, wondering if his friend was the only one who’d seen through his facade to the deeper emotions for Kelsey lurking beneath. Zac had certainly picked up on it, but then out of the two Moreland twins, West and Zac were closest, so that was to be expected. Sighing, he reached over and flipped the deadlock before heading back into the lounge room and picking up his empty bottle. He’d dumped it in the trash and put away the leftover food before his phone buzzed with the text he was waiting for.
She’s already driving the porcelain bus. Get your arse round here now. We’ll wait until you’re here before we leave.
“Shit!”
It didn’t matter how much he thought he should stay away from Kels right now, there was no way he was going to let her suffer alone. Figuring he’d be spending the night at her house, West threw a change of clothes and his toiletries in a bag before racing out the door.
Kelsey’s stomach hurt. Her head hurt. Even her butt hurt where she was sitting on the cold tile floor. And her mouth tasted like shit. Not that she knew what shit actually tasted like, but she thought it was probably close to the ghastly flavour coating her tongue and teeth.
“Oh God,” she moaned as another wave of nausea squeezed her belly, only she’d already emptied out her stomach. That included the lining. Or at least that’s what it felt like.
“Here, put this on your forehead.”
West.
“Go away.” Kelsey wasn’t sure if he understood her. Her tongue kept sticking to the roof of her mouth and her lips were so dry it felt as though they’d shrunk three sizes. Do lips come in sizes?
“I’m sure you’d like that, but it’s not happening.”
Her head spun when West scooped her up off the bathroom floor and carried her from the room. “Where…?” She couldn’t manage the rest of the sentence. Her brain was too busy impersonating a merry-go-round on speed.
“Easy, there.”
“Dizzy.”
“Keep still and it won’t be so bad.”
He placed her on her bed. She knew it was her bed because she could smell the scented candle she had sitting on her bedside table and the softness of her mattress cradled her hurting body. “Damn Shaye.”
West chuckled. “Yeah, well, you should have known better than to try to keep up with her.”
“She needed me.”
“I don’t think she needed you to make yourself sick.” He slid his hand under head and lifted. “Here. Try to get some of this down.”
Cool glass was pressed against her lips. She opened her mouth and took a few sips, but her coordination wasn’t the best and some of the water spilled over her lips and down her chin.
“Slow down.” West pulled the drink away and eased her back against the pillow.
His warmth disappeared and Kelsey reached out blindly. “Don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He wiped her face. “Do you want anything else?”
“You.”
“I’m right here.”
“’Kay.” His fingers brushed the hair from her face and she moved into his touch. “Feels nice,” she murmured.
“Mmm.”
“Don’t stop.” Kelsey snuggled into the bedding. “Don’t ever stop.”
Her stomach continued to churn and her head was all floaty, but the soothing rhythm of West’s gentle strokes across her temple soon had her drifting in and out of sleep.
Kelsey wasn’t sure what disturbed her, but she knew exactly what it was that catapulted her out of sleep. There was someone in bed with her. And not just any someone. West. She’d know his scent anywhere, and it was definitely him she was currently wrapped around like white on rice. Oh my God. What had she done? She remembered coming home to find Shaye already into the first bottle of wine. Then they’d opened a second…
Damn. She couldn’t remember beyond that. Gingerly, Kelsey tried to untangle her legs from his, but she’d managed to get herself well and truly pinned by one of his legs. They were lying on their sides, her face smashed up against his chest. At least he had a shirt on. And if she was right, they both had pants on too.
“Stop freaking out and go back to sleep.”
Kelsey jolted at the sound of West’s voice.
“Unless you need to go to the bathroom or want a drink stay right where you are.”
“But—”
“Not listening.” He tightened his arms around her. “Go back to sleep.”
She lay there with thoughts bouncing around her head. When had West come over? And when the hell had they climbed into bed together? Why had they gotten into bed if they still had their clothes on? Kelsey could only think of one reason to crawl into bed with West, and it wasn’t to sleep.
“Kels, quit worrying this to death. You were drunk. I held your hair out of the toilet and made sure you got to bed, at which point you ask me to stay. I did. End of story. Now go back to sleep. We have to be up in a few hours.”
“I can’t remember what happened after Shaye opened the second bottle.” Kelsey hated admitting her lack of memory, but she knew West would be honest with her regardless of how bad the truth was, and she really, really needed to know what had led up to him being in her bed.
“Nothing happened, if that’s what you’re worrying about.” West slid his hand up her spine and cupped her nape, moving his thumb and fingers in circles on either side of her neck. “I’d never take advantage of you like that.”
She sighed. Of course he wouldn’t. Worst luck. If he did, she wouldn’t have to worry about making the decision to go there again. It wouldn’t be her fault.
West chuckled. “You don’t really want me to make it that easy for you, do you?”
“W-what?”
“I know you. You’re thinking if I took advantage of your drunken state to get you naked underneath me you wouldn’t have to take responsibility for your actions.” He tangled his fingers in her hair, massaged the back of her head with hypnotic pressure. “When you find yourself under me again—and make no mistake, you will sometime soon—you’ll know exactly what you’re doing. And
you’ll remember every damn second of it.”
“Oh.”
Chapter Five
West leaned against the counter and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger. They were dry and gritty from too little sleep. It was barely ten a.m. and he was ready to crawl back into bed, and for once he wasn’t thinking about Kelsey being under him in it. He’d had her there last night. All soft and malleable and smelling like a brewery. He smiled. If she ever found out some of the things she’d said in her drunken stupor, she’d die of embarrassment.
Good thing he’d been the only one around and had no intention of telling anyone what her loose tongue had revealed. She’d mumbled plenty while she’d drifted off to sleep. From how good it felt when he touched her to how good he smelled. How much she’d missed him. Which seemed weird when they’d never lost touch. And, of course, the big one. She loved him. West didn’t think he could hold her to that confession, but he was going to take the thrill that had coursed through him at her words and run with it.
He’d give anything to hear those words pass her sexy lips while she was stone-cold sober. He figured he’d be waiting a while though. The phone at his hip rang and he unhooked it from his belt to see who was calling now. It had been a morning of one thing after another. That was why he was working in his back-up kitchen at Are You Game? He wanted to avoid people at all costs this morning. Didn’t help that he’d rather not have come to work at all, especially when he’d had to crawl out of bed where the woman of his dreams was sleeping beside him.
Seeing Kelsey’s face and name illuminated on his screen sent a flurry of emotions through him. A little excitement, a bit of relief and a good dose of anxiety tangled together to have him staring at the device through five rings. Fear of her hanging up or the call switching over to voicemail had him sliding his finger across the screen to answer.
“Hey.”
“You lied,” Kelsey groaned.
West chuckled. She sounded horrible, and if he didn’t know it was self-inflicted misery, he’d be more sympathetic. “About?”
“I’m not feeling any better than when you left this morning.”
