“It was a perfect day. My dad had a way of making every day that way.”
“You’re lucky,” I said wistfully.
“What about you? Why do you call your father Auggie?”
I ignored the tour guide, who was animatedly telling all of us how we could audition to be an extra on the show. No thanks, I would much rather watch it. And talk to Kane. “It’s not as good of a story as yours.” I looked into his eyes, which seemed to see right through me and still wanted to know me. “Naomi, my first stepmother—the only mother I’ve ever known—believes it’s because after my momma died, he couldn’t bear the thought of loving anyone as much as he loved her, so he put up barriers, even for me. Calling him Dad would remind him of my momma. Or so the story goes.” I stared down at my lap, hardly believing I had opened up to him like that. I’d never told anyone the real reason why. I’d always told people it was just the way we did things.
Kane gently tipped my chin up with his finger and drew my gaze back to him. There was no judgment in his eyes, only concern. “Don’t you dare be embarrassed by that. That’s on him. Not you.”
It’s like Kane could see into my heart. I wondered sometimes if Auggie would be different around a daughter he could be proud of. A shining star like Ophelia. Naomi, of course, disagreed. Unlike me, she didn’t believe he collected stepchildren in hopes of scoring a better kid than me. She said he did it because deep down he wanted more children but couldn’t bear the thought that another one of his wives would get postpartum depression and, well . . . do what my mother did. Naomi believed that Auggie took care of other people’s children because he saw it as his penance. It was one of the big reasons Naomi had left him. She’d wanted to have children with him.
“Auggie, as you know, is not the warmest of men.”
“How about Naomi?”
I smiled serenely. “She is his opposite in every way.”
“You’re still close to her, then?”
“Very.”
“Do you mind me asking about her?”
“I’m surprised you don’t know about her.”
He squeezed my hand. “Did you ever hear of Fight Club?”
I leaned in conspiratorially. “Maybe, but you know the first rule.”
He barked out a laugh. “Good, you know your movie trivia. Did you also know most of your stepmothers have a club? And the first rule is that the first two wives are never to be talked about.”
My eyes popped. “They have a club?” What is it called? The Future Ex-Wives Club?
“You didn’t hear that from me.” He winked.
“So, are you a paid informant for this club?”
He swiped my bangs. “No. I was thinking of starting my own club. A fan club.”
I bit my lip. “Oh yeah? Who are you a fan of?” I asked coyly.
“You might know her,” he whispered in my ear, sending tingles down my spine. “She’s a hot premed student.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know anyone fitting that description.”
“What a shame. I hope you get acquainted with her soon.”
I wanted to know her more than anyone did, even more than the man sitting next to me, who had awoken in me every base need a woman could have. I now understood how all my stepsisters could obsess over boys and men constantly.
Our conversation about Naomi had to wait, as we stopped at our first destination—some abandoned old warehouses. It was funny how less creepy they looked in the light of day and without all the scary music playing in the background. And, you know, no real zombies. Though Michael gave us all a demonstration on how to walk like a zombie. He expected all of us to try it. Normally, it would be something I would be embarrassed to do in front of someone like Kane. Except Kane wasn’t like someone like Kane. He never laughed at me, only with me. He gave me the freedom to be ridiculous in front of him. And believe me, I looked ridiculous doing an impression of a zombie. He, on the other hand, made me want to tell him he could eat my brains any day. Especially when he grabbed me and drew me into an embrace. My head rested on his taut chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. His strong arms made me feel secure in a way I had never known.
Kane whispered in my ear, “I read that hugs are highly underrated.”
“I agree,” I said, hardly able to catch my breath, I was so overcome by him. I hoped I never recovered.
A Secret Behind the Eyes
The tour allowed time for us to walk around the site on our own. As fun as the tour was, I was happy to spend some alone time with Kane. He took my hand like it was second nature as we strolled around the abandoned warehouses and streets. Seeing the location in person made me appreciate how much Hollywood had to do to make it seem like one of my favorite shows was truly shot in an apocalyptic world.
“We didn’t get to finish our discussion about Naomi.” Kane didn’t beat around the bush.
“Why are you so interested in Naomi? She and my father divorced a long time ago.”
He swung our arms between us. “Because I can tell she’s important to you and to your father.”
I kicked a pebble in front of me. “I suppose that is a poorly kept secret. It’s not your mother, if that’s what you’re worried about. I think it’s that Naomi was there for my father after he lost my momma, and he can’t forget that, or won’t. And she’s the only one of his wives who didn’t want him to forget about Momma. For that, I don’t think he will ever forgive her.”
Kane stopped and tilted his head. “You are so much more mature than your age gives you credit for.”
“That’s what Naomi always says.”
“Tell me more about her.” We continued to walk in the oppressive heat. I didn’t mind though, because I was with Kane. And even though my hand was sweaty, so was his.
“She’s pretty much perfect. She always knows the right things to say. Whenever I’m with her, I know that I belong somewhere.”
The corners of Kane’s mouth lifted. “I’m glad. Everyone needs that.”
I nodded.
“How did your father and Naomi meet?”
I let out a deep breath. “Well . . . Auggie doesn’t like me to speak of it, but . . . my momma suffered from postpartum depression and took her own life right before my first birthday,” I rushed to say quietly. “She overdosed on painkillers.”
Kane stopped with his brows raised so high that his forehead crinkled into oblivion. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry; I had no idea. I was told your mother died in a tragic accident.”
“Don’t apologize. That’s the story Auggie wants told. He didn’t believe my momma would ever do such a thing. That’s where Naomi came in. She’s an independent forensic pathologist. Auggie hired her to prove the county coroner’s report wrong.”
“I take it she didn’t.”
“No. And Naomi is never wrong. She’s worked on some pretty famous cases, not only in Georgia but around the world. She’s my hero.”
Kane leaned in closer. “Interesting. Now it’s all making sense. Why you skip weddings to watch forensic pathology documentaries; the way your eyes light up when you talk about Naomi’s career; your reluctance to learn your father’s business. I think I know one of the secrets behind those gorgeous eyes of yours.”
I bit my lip.
“It’s okay, you can admit it.” He was doing his best to coax it out of me.
I began walking, tugging him along with me, trying not to spill my guts to him. Though I wanted to so badly. I needed him to know everything about me. It was a strange desire seeing as I didn’t know him that well.
Kane followed silently for a moment before he asked, “Why don’t you tell your father the truth?”
I swallowed down my reply, and we walked along in silence, his churning thoughts almost palpable.
Gently tugging on my hand, he pulled me to a stop and intently searched my eyes. “You’re worried I’ll tell him,” Kane guessed, correctly interpreting my reticence.
“Kind of,” I eeked out, barely audible.
“Scarlett.” He pulled me closer. “I can respect that. But your secret is safe with me, even though I don’t think it’s something you should keep to yourself. If you want to be a forensic pathologist, that’s what you should do.”
I leaned against one of the brick walls, taking a reprieve from the heat of the sun and Kane’s words. Kane stood in front of me, his hand above my head, leaning in as if he might kiss me. In the reflection of his sunglasses, I saw how much my eyes were screaming for him to, though it terrified me. I had never truly been kissed, but somehow, I knew if Kane kissed me, I would never want to be kissed by another.
He didn’t kiss me. Instead, he ran his finger down my cheek.
I went from being warm from the sun and the strange stirrings I was having from being so near him to feeling blistering hot.
“Why are you so afraid to be you?” His minty breath lingered between us, making me lick my lips.
I noticed his gaze turned toward my mouth. I felt even more flushed. I closed my eyes, thinking of what to say, afraid. Scared of so many things, but especially of how I was feeling now. It seemed too wonderful to last, yet I wanted it to more than anything. “Um.” I braved opening my eyes.
Kane took off his shades, allowing me to take note of how imploring his eyes could be. They unloosed my tongue.
“The only time my father sees me is when I’m doing what he wants me to do. And I’m more afraid that he’ll forget me than I am of giving up my dreams,” I struggled to say without crying. “I’m sorry. This is a date, and we should be having fun.” I meant to walk away, but Kane placed his entire body in front of me. Both of his hands now rested on either side of my head against the brick wall.
His nearness immediately scattered my worries until I could barely remember what we’d been discussing. My only thought was that I wouldn’t mind if he pushed up against me. I had no idea where that thought came from.
“This is fun,” Kane drawled.
I agreed with him silently. Words had escaped me. All that existed was him.
“Scarlett.” My name on his lips was like a lantern in the dark. I wanted to follow it wherever it went. “Don’t give up your dreams without a fight.”
His spicy scent and the heat of his body so close to mine had me thinking of some new dreams. I wondered if he would be okay with me chasing those. Chasing him. “I’ve never been good at fighting for what I want,” I admitted.
“It’s never too late to start.”
“Auggie expects me to take over Armstrong Labs one day.”
“Have you ever thought that maybe you should expect more from him?” He pushed off the wall and put some space between us. It made me wonder if I had done something wrong, but then he took my hand and led us in the direction of the waiting bus.
I thought about what he said of expecting more of Auggie. “I’d only be disappointed.”
“Aren’t you disappointed now?” he wisely asked.
“In this moment, no.”
Kane flashed me a brilliant smile. “Clever, Miss Armstrong,” he responded, sounding like a true southern gentleman.
“Tell me about you,” I deflected before he had me spilling all my guts. “What are your dreams?”
He wagged his brows. “I have several.”
“I want to know them.”
“I’ll share, but only if you promise to tell me more of yours later.”
I rubbed my chest. “Okay.”
“That sounded like it hurt.”
“It did, but I promise I’ll tell you.”
“I’m honored,” he said sincerely.
I believed him.
We got settled back into our seats on the bus. It felt good to get out of the heat, but better that I was still with Kane. I felt like we had connected. He knew things about me now that no one knew. And for some reason it made me feel lighter to share my secrets with someone.
Kane made good on his promise and told me some of his dreams.
“Career goals include: senior global manager, then a C-level position, and eventually CEO of a Fortune 500 company by the time I’m forty-five.”
“Wow. That’s ambitious.”
“Says the future CEO of a Fortune 500 company.”
“Don’t remind me,” I groaned.
“We won’t talk anymore today about your impending doom,” he teased.
“Are those all of your goals?”
“I forgot the most important one. I’m going to buy a Porsche when I reach officer level.”
That’s not what I expected. I was thinking more along the lines of family. “Well . . . uh . . . nice.”
He laughed. “I suppose that makes me sound shallow.”
“Um . . . sort of.”
He nudged me. “Call it a teen fantasy I’ve never let go of.”
“I get that, except I don’t think women care about cars as much as men do.”
“Probably not, except they do seem to fall for guys with hot cars.”
“Not me. I’ve never seen the appeal.”
He pretended to shove a knife in his heart. “That’s because you’ve never been in a Porsche 911 Carrera.” His eyes got all dreamy.
“That must be some car.”
“You’ll see. Our next date, we’re going on a test-drive.”
“Next date?” I smiled.
He tapped my nose. “I told you I would be asking you out again before this date was over.”
“But I didn’t say yes,” I teased.
His jaw dropped. “I see how it is. I bare my soul to you and then you reject me.”
I rested my hand on his muscular leg. “I don’t think career goals and buying a Porsche are your soul.”
He gave me a thoughtful look before running the back of his hand down my cheek. “You’re right, Scarlett. Someday,” he whispered, “I hope to have a beautiful wife and a house full of children. I want to be the kind of dad my father was.”
“You will be.” I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but deep within myself I knew it was true.
“I hope so.” He put his arm around me, and I snuggled into him as if I belonged by his side.
The rest of the tour was a lot of fun. I even won a prize for answering one of the trivia questions right—a The Walking Dead T-shirt. I would probably keep it for the rest of my life as a reminder that Kane Hudson took me on a date.
One of my favorite parts of the date came after the tour, while we were walking toward the restaurant. We happened to walk by a mural of a beautiful baby with the dark curly hair being tenderly held by his mother. She was dressed in a colorful and bright stunning dress, but it had nothing on the emotion the wall art invoked. I stood in awe, touching the small pieces of it I could reach. So many times I’d wondered if my mother had ever held me like this mother cradled her baby. As if she were holding the most precious gift.
Kane stood back in silence and let me take it all in.
As my fingers brushed against the brightly colored painted bricks, tears streamed down my face. “It’s so beautiful,” I whispered.
Kane placed his hand on the small of my back. “Are you all right?”
“Oh, yes. Can you feel how much this mother loves her baby? It’s so pure.” I longed to love and to be loved like that.
“It’s beautiful. You know, these kinds of murals are all over the city. They call them Living Walls.”
“Really? I had no idea.” I continued to be enamored by the mural. “It’s so strange. I’ve lived in Atlanta my entire life and I feel as if you’ve shown me more today than I ever knew existed.”
“Let’s change that this summer.” He said it so easily, but it had a powerful implication behind it.
I turned and met his gaze. “That means more than only two dates.”
His hand ran up and down my back, making my breathing stop completely. “That’s kind of the point,” he said, matter-of-factly. He was so confident.
I envied him. “You know this seems like a dream to me,” I admitted, embarrassed.
“I meant what I said about not giving up on your dreams.”
“Eventually, I will have to wake up.” Surely this thing between Kane and me couldn’t last.
“Even if that’s the case, isn’t it better to live the dream while you can?”
I stared up at the mother who held her baby as if she were holding a dream. I knew she would say it was better to live the dream, even if the dream eventually vanished. Her love for her baby would still exist. It had changed her, and she would carry that change with her for the rest of her life. It was the kind of change I ached for.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Kane’s smile spoke of how pleased he was with my answer. “Let’s make a list of every place we want to visit in Atlanta this summer,” he suggested.
“You love lists, don’t you?” I thought back to the list he had made of my best qualities. It was under my pillow. I had plans to keep it forever.
“Until you write it down, it’s only a wish. I’m a man of action,” he said with an air of seductiveness.
I wanted him to act on me. Oh, my gosh. Where were these thoughts coming from? It was like Kane had lit a fire under the pot of my hormones and they were boiling to the surface. I was ready to act too.
“Do you have a pen and paper?”
Kissing Lessons
“I can’t believe you’re dating your stepbrother!” Mindy squealed over the phone.
“Let me guess, Ophelia called you.” I cringed while setting my laptop on the floor of my office, shaking a bit. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the rumors started, but I still wasn’t prepared for them.
“Actually, it was Danielle who heard it from Tyler who heard it from Ophelia. Apparently, people at the office are talking about you. Sounds like you two get cozy in your office a lot. Please spill and go into lots of details. Kane is freakishly hot.”
Speaking of hot, my cheeks were burning. I hated that people were talking about me, especially my stepsiblings. I’d told Kane to leave the door open yesterday morning when he’d brought me a Frappuccino and a muffin. But no, he’d insisted on closing the door and eating together before he ran off to a meeting. It was sweet and wonderful, yet I knew it came with risks. Risks that Kane couldn’t care less about. He said we weren’t going to sneak around like we were ashamed. Easy for him to say—he was so self-assured. Mindy was right—he was freakishly hot, and I was freakishly awkward. He could literally have anyone he wanted. I’m sure people were questioning his sanity.
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