Just One Kiss: A Black Alcove Novel (The Black Alcove Series Book 1)

by Jami Wagner

  “Good morning, Ethan,” she says, taking a step back and waving her hand to gesture me inside. She blushes as she tries to hide the smile on her face.

  “Good morning,” I say, not caring about the shit-eating grin on my face, too. “These are for you.” I hold up a bouquet of colorful flowers and her hand brushes mine when she takes them. When she looks into my eyes, I have to resist the urge to grab her and kiss her. Maybe that would cure the fact my heart both races and slows down each time I see her.

  “These are beautiful.” She closes the door behind us. “What are you doing up so early?” I follow her to the kitchen where she pulls a vase from a bottom cupboard and fills it with water. I set the bag of groceries I brought with me on the island and take a seat.

  “Well, Sara mentioned that you just started housesitting a couple days ago, and I made the assumption that you probably haven’t had time to make it to the store.” I start unloading the bag. Eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, onions, and cheese fill the counter space between us. “I’m going to make you breakfast.”

  “Can you even cook?” she asks in a flirtatious tone.

  “Of course I can cook.”

  “Okay, but are you any good at it?”

  “The best,” I say, making my way around the counter to stand in front of her. She freezes and looks into my eyes as I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Why don’t you relax, do whatever it is girls do when they get ready for the day, and I’ll let you know when breakfast is ready.”

  A confused expression washes over her face and she looks away. Her lips part like she’s going to say something, but then she closes them, nodding before disappearing up the stairs.

  I hope she’s as accepting of the idea of us as she is to the idea of me cooking breakfast for her. If she is, I just might have to make this a regular morning routine.

  Chapter Ten

  Kelsey

  Ethan’s here, in my kitchen. Well — my parents’ kitchen, but he’s here for me. He’s making me breakfast and I just — let him. Confessing my feelings should go easier than I thought. I hear drawers open and close from inside the kitchen. I hope he doesn’t ask me where anything is; I don’t know my way around this house. I should probably start visiting my parents more. Especially with Ethan living so close to them. I glance at the hallway mirror on the way to my room and pause when I see my appearance. A gasp slips past my lips a lot louder than expected.

  “Is everything okay up there?” Ethan’s voice carries up the stairs. I cover my mouth with my hand and then quickly start smoothing out the frizz. Helen wasn’t kidding. My hair looks like a bird’s nest.

  “Everything’s fine,” I say when I reach my room. I grab a pair of jeans and a t-shirt on my way to the bathroom. Quickly, I brush my teeth and my hair, and then apply a light coat of makeup.

  Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I take a deep breath. It’s not a crime to be into Ethan. He’s smart, sexy, and still mysterious to me. The fact that he’s clearly still into me after all these years is something I can’t wrap my mind around.

  I haven’t been the luckiest girl when it comes to men. I was the other woman for my first kiss, and for my first love, I found not one, but two other woman in our bed. I’ve been the accomplice and the victim. The next man I date isn’t going to betray me. That alone is a huge reason why I need to take it slow with Ethan or stay away from him completely. What’s that saying – once a cheater always a cheater? Please don’t let that apply to Ethan.

  Crap. Maybe I shouldn’t tell him how I feel.

  Closing my door, I casually make my way into the kitchen to find Ethan pulling the orange juice from the fridge. The table is set for two, and there’s enough food to feed us for the next week. Us. That’s so cute.

  Crap again.

  Make up your mind, Kelsey.

  “Hey,” Ethan says, catching my gaze. “What do you have planned for today? I thought maybe we could go downtown, take a walk or something. You can show me everything I’ve missed the last seven years. Maybe we could even head out to the lake for a few hours.”

  “That sounds great. I can’t believe it’s been that long. It feels like you’ve been here the entire time.” I take a seat at the table.

  “Yeah, crazy, huh?”

  Ethan places a glass of orange juice in front of me and takes the seat next to me. He scoots his chair in and his leg brushes against mine. It sends a tingle that settles in the pit of my stomach. Every time he gets close to me, I swear my body forgets how to act normal.

  “So what’s new? Are you ready to be finished with college?” Ethan grabs a piece of toast and slathers it with grape jelly before I answer.

  “College is good, and yes, I am ready to be done with this degree.”

  I take a bite of bacon and look down at my plate. I can feel him staring at me so I wipe my mouth just to be on the safe side.

  “What’s your major?” he asks.

  “Accounting.”

  “Really? I would have figured you’d be a writer one day or make reading a career. I swear, you always had a book in your hands when I saw you.”

  This makes me laugh. “If you could get paid to be a reader, I’d have totally done that. And yes, I want to be a writer, but I don’t think my dad would be very impressed. I still plan to go to school for English, but not right now.” I say, shoving more food into my mouth before I share any more information than I need to.

  “Your dad…really? I always thought you got along. What did I miss?”

  Ethan turns his body to face me, resting one arm across the back of my chair. Something about his soft gaze and immediate interest in my relationship with my father instinctively tells me I can trust him.

  “I don’t know.” I shrug. “One day he was my best friend, the next, he was different. From that day on he chose my brother over me every time. Then when Conner left, I hoped things would get better, but they never did. I thought by choosing accounting and following in his footsteps, the dad I used to know would come back. I miss him, and I can’t imagine going the rest of my life not being close to him. Sometimes I wonder if my taking a semester off after graduating high school was the problem, but I don’t know.”

  Ethan nods slowly as if it takes him a while to process my answer. “I actually see why—”

  His phone rings in his pocket and he pulls it out, glances at it, and quickly sets it to silence. He grabs another piece of toast and stands. “I…forgot I had some things to do on my house today. Can I take a rain check on that walk?” He heads out of the kitchen, but turns to face me in the doorway. “Accounting major or not, your dad would be a fool not to come around.”

  Ethan

  I should really learn to take my own advice. My father is a fool too, if he won’t accept me for who I am. But like Kelsey said, she can’t imagine living the rest of her life butting heads with her father and neither can I. There has to be a different way to gain his approval.

  I know I made my decision and I chose Kelsey, but I still need to find a balance between her and my father. I can’t just straight up tell him I’m done or he’ll find another way to pull this off. The real me won’t let that happen. My cell buzzes inside my pocket a second time once I’m outside. It’s probably a follow up phone call to the text he just sent me.

  I’M SENDING ONE OF YOUR BROTHERS IF I DON’T HEAR FROM YOU IN THE NEXT TWENTY FOUR HOURS.

  Typical. He never asks how my day is or how I’m doing. He just gets right to the point. I’m about to answer the call when I look up to find Tyler Maron leaning against a blue Ford parked across the street in front of my house. He gives me a quick nod in greeting before pushing off the truck with his foot.

  “Hey, Tyler, it’s been a long time. How’ve you been?”

  “Ethan,” he says and pulls me in for a shoulder bump hug and slaps my back. “I heard you were back in town for a while. My dad told me where I could find you. What were you doing at Kelsey’s parents’ house?”

  I figure he knows
Kelsey’s staying there. Back when we were kids, Sara, Kelsey, Logan, and Tyler were inseparable and they always knew where to find each other.

  “Your dad told you where to find me?”

  “Yeah, he said, ‘That Connelly boy is back in town, causing trouble across from the new Brian home. Haven’t seen him in years, not since his father and Sara’s couldn’t decide who was going to take over that old bar.’”

  Tyler chuckles once he finishes his impression of his father and I join in. When the laughter fades Tyler scratches the back of his neck and looks past me.

  “Is, uh…Kelsey really watching the house for a few months?”

  “That’s what she says.”

  “Is she home now?” He looks nervous and avoids making eye contact with me. Something is up with him and I don’t like the idea of him acting like this around Kelsey. If it freaks me out, it will definitely freak her out too.

  “Ah…no. Actually, she left early this morning. I was…watering a plant.”

  Fuck.

  I sound like an idiot. Why am I lying to him? It’s not like Kelsey and I are together. She should be able to talk to any guy she wants.

  “Oh.”

  Please don’t question anything about her car in the driveway.

  “Well, that’s okay. I’m sure I’ll see her later. Are you free tonight? We should meet up for a drink if you are,” he says and jumps in his truck, shutting the door before I can reply. I wave from the sidewalk and he drives away. A lot has changed since I’ve been here and I don’t think all of it is positive. Not with Tyler anyway.

  A flicker across the street grabs my attention before I head inside. Kelsey’s eyes instantly grab mine from behind the curtain she’s peeking around. She gives me a slight nod and then disappears. Was she hiding from Tyler?

  I don’t have enough time to wonder about it before my phone rings once again. I don’t even look at the screen before I answer. There is only one person it could be.

  My father.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kelsey

  “On time again?” Sara puts her hand on my forehead. “Nope, she isn’t sick,” she says to Logan, who’s sitting next to her at the bar.

  “Hmmm.” He rubs his chin. “Could a certain new man in town have anything to do with this punctual thing you’ve got going on?”

  He chuckles slightly and Sara giggles. I swat her arm away from my face and walk around the bar to put my purse in the cubby. I can get very little past Sara. When you put her and Logan together, it’s like they are one smart-ass person with this creepy power that makes you admit anything and everything with just a look.

  “I won’t deny it. I’m happy to see Ethan again,” I say flatly. But his running off at breakfast a few days ago? Not impressive and not a good sign, considering I haven’t seen him since then.

  “I knew it!” Sara shouts, kicking her chair back as she stands and points a finger in my face. “You were into him even when we were kids. Ahhh! This is so exciting.”

  “Are you just figuring this out?” Logan asks, returning her chair upright.

  “No, I always knew. I was just waiting for her to admit it.”

  “Sure you were.” Logan joins me behind the bar. I wipe off the counters as I make my way to the sink at one end and turn on the water. I’ll let those two enjoy their moment. If they can ever figure out their own relationship, I could see many double dates in the future. A high squeal comes from their end of the bar, and I look to see that Logan is now tickling Sara from behind.

  Why would she want to leave this? Most people are happy when they talk about traveling, but there wasn’t a smile on her face when she told me she was leaving. Just a mention that her father said if she wants him to fund it, it’s now or never.

  “Okay, stop, stop. I need to talk to Kelsey about girl things and you need to finish doing that inventory count in the back.” She pushes Logan away and he grins until he’s out of sight. God, those two drive me nuts.

  “So, you and Logan?” I raise my eyebrows a few times to tease her.

  “No, I don’t think so. We need to talk about you and Ethan. Do you really think it’s a good idea?” She laces her fingers together on top of the bar and gives me a serious look.

  “What, him being the manager? I think it will work out fine. Why?”

  “No, I’m talking about the idea of you and him. Together. In a relationship. I think it’s a bad idea.”

  “Whoa.” I set the rag down, cross my arms, and lean my hip against the counter. “First, we’re not in a relationship, and second, five minutes ago I thought you were excited about this.”

  “That was best friend Sara talking. This is Boss Sara.”

  “Ohhh, I see. Well, boss, nothing has come up about dating. We’re just friends trying to catch up. That’s all.”

  Lies. All lies. I’m totally into him.

  “Well, I hope so. He called to tell me he would be working tonight after he made a huge deal last night about not working. I assume it’s because of you.”

  “Really?”

  “I trust you, Kels, but the look on your face just now doesn’t say ‘just friends’.”

  I want to prove her wrong. Instead, I spend most of the night watching the door, waiting for him to show up. When he finally does, I struggle to keep my eyes off him.

  Sara’s going to hate me if I screw this up.

  Ethan

  I should be learning everything I can about this place, but these people seem to think the only thing I know how to do is change a keg or bring them more alcohol. I grab another box of plastic cups from the storage room and head toward the bar. Logan and Kelsey are the only bartenders tonight; Beth and Abby are on the floor. I thought we’d need more people than that, but since it’s Monday and the BA closes early, a small staff is all we need.

  I’m relieved to have Logan around. There are mostly females employed here, and it’s not that I don’t enjoy it or that I’m sexist, but it can be overwhelming trying to keep them all happy. The guy I met on my first day was Lucas. He only works every other Saturday, so I don’t plan on seeing him much.

  I knock on the bar to get Logan’s attention. “I moved that keg for you. Do you need anything else?”

  If my dad were here, he would be flipping out at my offer. “Connellys don’t do favors for others; people do the favors for the Connellys” is his favorite saying.

  Funny thing is, I’m a Connelly and I like helping other people. I’m not like him.

  “No, I’m good,” Logan says and tilts his head away from the bar. “What do you think so far? Is this something you can handle?” There’s a touch of humor to his voice as he asks me this. He nods toward the corner where Abby is waiting on a group of men. They all look to be about my age and they’re all watching her every move. She laughs and the entire group does the same.

  “I guess that’s one way to make tips.”

  “You’ll get to see some pretty unique stuff around here. Especially during the school year. Last fall, some guy came in here every Friday night to sit in Beth’s section. He was a student and all so it wasn’t anything weird, but he left her at least fifty bucks every week.”

  “Really, what was he drinking?”

  “Water. He finally worked up the courage to ask her out. She said no and the guy hasn’t been back since.”

  I chuckle. “Money can’t buy everything.”

  I lean back against the wall at the end of the bar, crossing my ankles, and watch the scene in front of me. Everyone, both customers and employees, seems at ease here. Being in a bar isn’t just about drinking. This is where people come to visit, meet up, or cool down after a busy day at work. A lot goes into creating an environment like this. Does my dad know what he would be getting into? If he ever got his hands on that account number, would he take that away from these people?

  “You look like you could use a drink,” Logan says without looking back at me. He’s mixing a rum and coke in front of him and before I know it, he pours
it into a plastic cup and hands it to me. “Here, take this to the cooler and relax for a minute.”

  I reach for it. “The cooler?”

  “Yeah, it’s sort of our thing here. We can have a drink or two after a certain time, but we usually take it to the cooler to catch a break.”

  “Why?”

  “Why not? Just go.”

  I stare at him hesitantly for a minute.

  “Just do it.”

  Glancing between him and the drink, I finally give in. It’s been a long night and one drink isn’t going to hurt anyone.

  I push the door to the cooler open and step inside only to freeze when I see Kelsey standing inside with her back to me. She turns when she hears the door, setting down the cup in her hand. Her eyes dart to the matching clear cup in mine.

  “Starting this habit early, are you?”

  “Looks to be the thing,” I say. “What are you drinking?”

  “Reds,” she says, picking up her cup and finishing it. She steps for the door, but I stop her.

  “You don’t have to leave just because I’m here.”

  “I’m not. But it might look weird if someone realizes we’re both in the cooler for longer than five minutes.”

  “It hasn’t even been one minute; give me a couple more.”

  She rubs her arms and nods.

  “Sorry I ran out on you the other morning. Something came up, but it was a dick move.”

  “Yeah, a little bit. Especially since you left me with the dishes.” A hint of a smile touches her lips.

  I laugh. “I did do that, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah, didn’t you ever hear the rule you cook, you clean?”

  “I may have heard of that. I promise next time I’ll clean up my mess.”

  Our eyes lock and her face lights up. Her lips press together as she holds back a smile, but she still nods. “Okay.”

  I step toward her, because there’s no way I’m going to pass on this chance with her. My hand grazes her arms and goose bumps fill the surface, a mixture from my touch and the temperature inside the cooler. I know it’s cold in here, but all I can focus on is how Kelsey’s body feels against mine and the way her eyes shine as she looks up at me. I have been dreaming about this since the moment I came back. I lean forward and she closes her eyes. The cooler hums mute the sound of my heartbeat. Her hand rests against my cheek, and I can feel the closeness of our lips, almost touching but not quite yet, and that’s when my cousin decides she wants to join us.