Dream (Rosewood Bay Series Book 4)

by Carly Phillips

  “And you’ll have mine?” she asked, laughing.

  He chuckled. “Yeah.”

  She handed over her iPhone and he input his number, sending her a message for her to look at later.

  “Ready, Mom!” Nicky’s return ended any personal conversation but Kyle had accomplished his goal.

  She’d agreed to a date. And he had a chance to win over the woman he’d always desired.

  * * *

  Andi was elbow deep in a floral arrangement, in a good mood she was reluctant to attribute to Kyle Davenport, but how could she not? She hadn’t looked at her phone until much later last night, his text causing warm flutters in her stomach.

  I waited a lifetime for this date. Let me know what night is good for you.

  He made it sound like he’d always had the desire to go out with her, even when they’d been just friends. The thought was overwhelming. She’d meant it when she said she was in no position to date. She was a full-time mom, a full-time worker, and a woman with a past that made her wary of a future with any man. Even one she ought to be able to trust. But she could go out with him and catch up. She could enjoy herself a little. She deserved at least that, didn’t she?

  She texted him back that she could see him Friday night, when Nicky went to Kane and Halley’s for an overnight. Then she began to obsess about what to wear, wondering where they were going and generally acting like a teenager going on a first date. She figured she’d ask him where they were going tonight when she picked Nicky up from his tutoring session.

  She was lost in thought when her cell phone rang. “Andi? It’s Rhonda Sharpe,” an old classmate said.

  “Rhonda, how are you?” Andi asked.

  “I’m good, thanks. But I’m calling with news. Francine Gray was brought into the hospital earlier,” Rhonda said, and Andi recalled the other woman was a social worker at the local hospital.

  Andi gripped the phone tighter. “Is she okay?”

  “I’m sorry, but she passed away. Your number was under her in-case-of-emergency contact, so I thought I should call you.”

  Shock followed by a deep sadness enveloped her at the news. She placed the scissors down and lowered herself into the nearest chair. “What happened?”

  “An aneurism,” Rhonda said. “She didn’t suffer.”

  Andi drew a deep breath and didn’t reply, relieved for Francine, yet sad at the same time.

  “Andi, are you okay?” Rhonda asked in the wake of her silence.

  “I’m just in shock. Thanks for letting me know.”

  Her hands shook and a tear dripped down her face. She’d been fond of Francine, and she saw her monthly, after all. If Billy hadn’t always been between them, a presence even once he had left town, they might have been closer. Now she was gone.

  And she had to tell her son he’d lost his grandmother.

  She washed her face and pulled herself together before leaving the store in capable hands and heading over to school to pick him up early. Although there was slim chance he’d hear the news, she didn’t want to worry that someone else might tell him what she needed to handle herself.

  The last school bell went off and she walked to the classroom. Kyle and Nicky were talking quietly, a book open between them.

  “Hi,” she said, interrupting them.

  “Hey there.” Kyle’s welcoming grin caused flutters in her stomach. Flutters that were becoming increasingly familiar each time she so much as thought of Kyle.

  “Mom! Is it time to go already?” Nicky asked, sounding disappointed.

  “Yeah, kiddo. Something’s come up.” She glanced at Kyle before turning to her son. “Can you go get your things together?”

  He picked up his book and rushed over to his backpack, hanging on a hook on the back wall.

  “Billy’s mom passed away,” she said quietly. “I wanted to take Nicky home and explain things to him before he heard it somewhere else.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sure it’s not easy.”

  She nodded. “I liked her but we weren’t close because of Billy. She couldn’t quite bring herself to see her son as a villain.” She shuddered at the thought of her ex-husband.

  As if sensing her reaction and why, Kyle reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s in your past.”

  She nodded. She hoped so, but with Francine gone, she was afraid Billy would return to claim whatever her inheritance consisted of. She grew nauseous at the thought.

  “Kyle, I’m going to have to cancel tonight,” she said, regret in her voice. “Nicky might need me.”

  “Of course.” He clasped her hand in his, squeezing for reassurance.

  His warmth trickled through her.

  “What if I picked up dinner and brought it over? Or is that too… presumptuous?” he asked.

  She thought about it and nodded. “That would be nice,” she said. “It will help break up his night.” And hers.

  She appreciated his willingness to change plans and step up to help. She didn’t know how Nicky would react to losing his grandmother. Their relationship had been strained, her wanting to talk about Billy, neither Andi nor Nicky desiring the same.

  Telling Nicky was difficult. It was his first experience with death, but he was old enough to understand his grandma was gone. He didn’t cry, which concerned her, and she was determined to keep an eye on him and make sure he was dealing with the loss and processing his feelings in a healthy way.

  “Mom? Can I go to my room?” he asked.

  She ruffled his hair and nodded. “If you need me, you know where to find me.” She’d already called Kane and Halley to cancel his visit tonight. She wanted him home in his own bed.

  “I know.” He rose from his seat.

  “Hey, Mr. Davenport is coming by with dinner,” she said, hoping the news would perk him up a bit.

  “Cool.” Shoulders still slumped, he headed for his bedroom.

  Not even the fact that his favorite teacher would be visiting had helped him smile and she understood. She let him go, knowing he both needed and deserved time alone.

  She set the table for dinner and then headed to the bedroom to freshen up before Kyle arrived. She’d had sad news and shouldn’t be focused on how she looked, but she couldn’t deny that she cared how he viewed her. He always saw her at the end of the day, rushing from work to pick up Nicky, and this was her chance to look good for him.

  She splashed cold water on her face, wiping away the evidence of her earlier tears for Francine, and reapplied her makeup. She took a quick shower, getting out of the dirt-stained jeans from work and into a fresh pair of denim, along with a mauve-colored top that outlined her curves.

  She’d come to accept the fact that something was brewing between them that she couldn’t ignore and didn’t want to. It didn’t have to make her nervous, not if he understood what she was able to share of herself going into the relationship. The thought of giving herself to another man in any capacity – be it physically or emotionally – was scary for so many reasons, but this was Kyle. If anyone wouldn’t hurt her, it was him. And he was also capable of understanding she was keeping her heart under lock and key from now on. Only she was in control of her destiny.

  But she was getting ahead of herself. All he was asking for was a date. She could take things one day at a time and enjoy him.

  That was the thought in her head when the doorbell rang and she walked over to let him inside. He carried brown bags filled with delicious-smelling food.

  “What have you got there?” she asked as she let him inside.

  “I stopped by the new Italian place in town and picked up your favorite. Well, what I remembered was your favorite. Chicken parmigiana and lasagna for Nicky. I figured I couldn’t go wrong there.”

  She grinned, pleased he remembered the food she liked best, recalling times his mother had cooked the dish just because she’d known Andi liked it and was coming for dinner. “Thank you. Come on in. I’ll put all this in the kitchen.” She
tried to take the bags from him but he insisted on carrying them into the other room.

  Placing the food on the counter, he turned to face her. His scruff had grown in over the course of the day, making him look even sexier than usual, and she squirmed in her jeans, because she couldn’t stop thinking about what the light beard would feel like rubbing against her skin.

  “How did Nicky take the news?” Kyle asked.

  She shook her head. “I’m honestly not sure. He didn’t have much to say about it. He nodded a lot, said he understood, and asked to go to his room. I figured he needed time to process. I’m hoping he’ll be more himself at dinner.”

  “Death is hard for adults to comprehend, then we have to explain it to kids. He’ll be okay because he has you. He knows you’re there for him.”

  “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

  “Why don’t you go get him and I’ll put the food out on the table.”

  But when she stopped at Nicky’s room and glanced inside, he’d fallen asleep, his Harry Potter book open beside him. He’d had a long, trying day and she decided to let him be. She tiptoed inside, moved the book, and put it on the nightstand.

  She watched for a few minutes, his chest rising and falling with the even cadence of his breathing. She smiled and walked quietly out of the room, shutting the door softly behind her.

  “Where is he?” Kyle asked as she reentered the kitchen.

  “Out like a light. I didn’t want to wake him. He can get something to eat when he wakes up. Or in the morning if he really crashes for that long.”

  “So it’s just us?” he asked in a gruff voice.

  “It is.” A smile teased the edges of her mouth. She was feeling more herself around him than she had since his return.

  She glanced at the table, open tins of food just waiting for them to eat. “Oh look! You really got everything out and ready. Thank you.”

  “Not a problem.”

  They settled into seats and she served them each a portion of the chicken and lasagna, wrapping up food for Nicky to eat later. While they ate, they talked about his year at school so far and what it was like to be home again. But after they’d cleaned up together and she made them coffee, they moved to the family room, sitting side by side on the couch.

  “So tell me about your life before you returned. Did you like living in Illinois?” she asked, lifting the mug of coffee to her lips.

  He met her gaze, a serious expression on his face. “It was good to get away. To be honest, I couldn’t be here after you cut ties. The shock, the hurt… It was all too much. I didn’t want to watch you living your life here without me in it.”

  She burned her tongue at the same time he answered, and she lowered the cup, placing it on the table in front of the sofa. At his honest words, pain lanced through her, reminding her of the time she’d actually had to do it. Let him go in order to protect him. When she’d asked the question, she hadn’t anticipated going there, but she supposed if they were really going to get past it, they’d have to talk about it sometime.

  “I had my reasons for what I did.” She bit down on her lower lip to stop the trembling. “In the beginning, Billy was the charming guy everyone saw at school. It was only later, once I’d really gotten involved with him, that he became possessive. And he hated our relationship. He was jealous of you and he never missed a chance to let me know it.”

  “Why didn’t you walk away?” he asked, jaw clenched, his disdain for her ex obvious.

  For all Billy’s earlier charm, Kyle had never been fooled. He’d seen through him from the beginning, had tried to warn her not to get involved. But when the star quarterback had turned his attention her way, she’d had stars in her eyes and was flattered someone with his popularity would be interested in her.

  “Early on, his mild jealousy was flattering. I didn’t take it all that seriously. By the time I realized what I was dealing with, I couldn’t just leave.”

  “Because you were afraid?” he asked, jaw clenched, his gaze too knowing.

  “What makes you say that?” She didn’t discuss this. With anyone.

  “Really? You’re going to play dumb with me? Even after all these years, you know you can tell me anything.” He paused. “Or maybe not considering I didn’t know a damn thing before you cut off our friendship completely.”

  She swallowed hard. “Fine. You want the truth? I ended our friendship to protect you. Because he told me if I didn’t stop talking to you, he’d hurt you, and by then I knew enough about his temper and actions to believe him.”

  The truth stopped him cold, his eyes opening wide, fists clenching at his sides. “Holy shit, Andi. And you didn’t think to tell me this? To let me help you get out of the situation before you married him?”

  She blinked, the angry tone in his voice hurtling through her, and she backed away, into the comfort and safety of the side arm of the couch. “I was pregnant by then,” she whispered.

  She’d had no choice but to go along with what he wanted. She couldn’t have made the pregnancy Kane’s problem. He’d taken care of them after their mom died, when their dad was out gambling instead of being home with his family. She’d known she had to deal with the consequences of her actions.

  “I’m sorry.” He raised his hands in a gesture of peace. “I’m just frustrated,” he said, his voice softening along with his expression. “All these years lost. All the years of me thinking you just turned your back on me.” He shook his head and relaxed his shoulders.

  “He’d have gone after you. I know it.” And she did. With everything in her being, she believed she’d done the right thing.

  He slowly eased in closer, taking his time, no sudden movements, as he picked her hand up and held it tight in his. “I could have taken care of myself. I would have taken care of you.”

  Their eyes met. Locked. Both knew they couldn’t change the past. She knew that past defined her present and future. Only she would be in charge of her destiny from here on out. No man would tell her what to do ever again. But none of that erased the desire racing between them. Wanting him didn’t mean she was giving up the part of herself she’d reclaimed. She could indulge in something temporary without worrying about permanent attachments.

  She cupped his face in her hand. “Can’t we leave the past where it belongs?”

  “If it means I can have you now, then yes.” He dipped his head, his lips coming down on hers.

  He kissed her hard, the chemistry between them incredible. His lips slid over hers, mouths parting, tongues gliding, teeth clashing, each unable to get enough. Desire hit her hard, her nipples hardening beneath her shirt, wetness pooling between her thighs.

  How long had it been since she reacted to a man? Just Kyle, and before him, she’d thought that part of her had died. She welcomed the renewal of feelings and slid her fingers into his hair, holding his head close to hers as he feasted on her mouth, his tongue doing delicious things to hers.

  “Can’t get enough,” he said as he came up for air before diving into her once more, easing her back against the arm of the sofa.

  He came down over her. Lifting her shirt, he glided his hand upward, fingertips skimming along her rib cage, his big hand cupping her breast. He slid his thumb over her nipple and she writhed beneath him, the sensations traveling straight to her core. She couldn’t remain still, arching her back and pushing her sex against the ridge of his erection, which had settled between her legs.

  Hard and rigid, his thickness ground against her most sensitive spot, causing sparks to dance behind her eyes. “Mmm.” She moaned at the intimate contact, knowing if she kept it up, she’d come, but he lifted himself off her, rolling to the side.

  “Why are you stopping?”

  “Because I need to touch you.” He unbuttoned then unzipped her jeans, easing his hand into the waistband, his fingers trailing over the wetness in her panties. Edging the jeans down enough to make room, he pushed aside the silk material and slid a hand over her soaked sex, her body tre
mbling in response to the glide of his fingers.

  She arched into him, seeking more of his touch, more of the sensations growing inside her. He slicked a finger over her clit and a wash of arousal followed, her hips rolling as she chased the feeling. He kept up the pressure until the orgasm swept through her and she soared. She would have yelled out loud except Kyle anticipated the moment and sealed his lips over hers, swallowing the sound.

  She trembled, coming down from the high of her climax, falling lax against the couch. She opened her eyes to find his intense gaze studying her face. Reaching out, she brushed a hand over the hard ridge of his erection.

  He shook his head, grasping her wrist. “That was about you.” He helped her pull up and refasten her jeans. “What happens next is about us.”

  She knew he wasn’t talking about just sex. “I want to spend more time with you. I just can’t make any promises about the future.”

  “No worries,” he assured her. “We’re on the same page. Make time for me in your life and I have what I want.”

  She blew out a relieved breath and smiled. She could handle that. She wanted him in her life again. “Okay.”

  “Okay.” He pulled her to a sitting position, a satisfied grin on his handsome face. “Now when can I see you again?” he asked, obviously pressing his advantage.

  “I’ll let you know the next time Nicky’s going to a sleepover or when my brother is watching him. He should ask for a makeup for tonight once he’s feeling better.”

  “Good.” He braced his hands on his thighs. “I hate to bring it up, but will you have to get through a funeral for your ex-mother-in-law?”

  She shook her head. “She once told me she would want a small graveside funeral. I’m not family anymore and I’m not going to put Nicky through that. Especially since there’s always a chance his father will show up.” She ran her hands over the goose bumps that had risen on the flesh on her arms at the thought, which wasn’t far from possible.

  “You aren’t alone this time, right?” He met her gaze, his stare warm and steady.

  But she’d always be alone. She’d come to accept that reality as the only way she could be in charge of her own life.