“Got you back safe and sound.”
“Thanks,” I rasped, my thoughts heavy. God, I wanted to take a chance with the man in front of me.
“I’ll follow you home, make sure you get there okay.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he said, and I knew there would be no arguing with him, just like me waiting in the car for him to get the door for me.
“I do, too,” I blurted, and he tilted his head, obviously confused by what I meant. “I mean, yes. if you wanna, umm, you know? Umm, I’ll keep the secret.”
Oh god! I was a moron.
I couldn’t get myself to look at him. Instead, I gazed down toward the floor. My heart beat rampantly in my chest. What was I doing? Why was I such a klutz with this man when it mattered? Where was the woman who had shared all about herself? Was Lena more right about my ex than I had realized?
“Kenzie,” he called out my name, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Hmm?” I asked, looking at my shoes.
“Sweet thing, look at me,” he demanded, and I did. His hand cupped my face. “You giving me a chance?”
“I’m a hot mess,” I warned.
“I don’t think you’re a mess,” he said softly, and I leaned into his touch. “But you are hot.” His hand curled around my side, pulling me closer to his body.
“That’s sweet, Chase, but I’m serious. It’s not just me, it’s—”
“Do you really think I don’t know that?”
“I just… I don’t know what to think.”
“Then let me enlighten you. I want all of it. As long as you give me a chance, I want a part of whatever you wanna include me in.”
“It’s a lot.”
“I’m a grown man, sweet thing.”
“I know that.” I frowned. “And I don’t mean this in an ugly way, but…”
“But what, babe?”
“You’re single. It’s just you. You’re used to it being just you.”
“I might not have been married, sweet thing, but I have family, and I’ve dated. I know all about responsibilities and priorities. And I’m just saying, Kenzie, the life I lead, I have more than enough room for anything and everything you might want to add to it.”
“What does that mean?”
“We can take this as slow or as fast as you want. I’m not going anywhere. I know what I want.”
“As long as it’s a secret?” I found myself asking, but I needed to know. The way he was talking about things, about us, was more than a fling.
“School’s out in two weeks. I honestly don’t care who knows,” he shared, and I melted further into his body.
“You’re kinda scarily honest.”
“And you’re just honestly beautiful,” he said into the darkness, leaning his head closer to mine. “Give me a chance.”
“Okay,” I agreed. When he slid the length of his nose against mine, my eyes fluttered closed and my heart beat like a drum.
“Tell me I can kiss you.”
“You can—” Not another word slipped out because he rendered me speechless the moment his lips touched mine.
They were firm but coaxing.
As he took my lips with his, nipping the bottom of mine, my hands wrapped around his neck as I stood on the tips of my toes to get closer. His hands tightened on my lower back, pressing me against him, and I didn’t miss the hard length poking at my belly.
A small moan escaped my throat. He swallowed it up as he kissed me like he wasn’t in a rush and obviously in control. Everything around us faded away until we were breathless and panting for so much more.
CHAPTER SIX
Kenzie
“WAIT, HE KISSED YOU?”
“Well—”
“And you are just telling me now?”
“Lee, you were asleep and—”
“I thought you were cutting and stapling shit in his classroom, not making out in the parking lot! You wake your sister up when that shit happens,” she cried dramatically as I sat down across from her with my morning coffee. I had just got home from dropping the boys off and had a little time before I had to get to work.
“Well, I didn’t know the rules. Now that I know, I’ll make sure to keep you in the loop,” I reassured her without rolling my eyes even though I had been tempted to wake her up and tell her everything.
After we’d finally pulled away from the most passionate kiss I had ever been a part of, he had sweetly leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes pinned on mine, and before I knew it, I was pinned against his truck, the chill in the air blocked from the way his body was mashed up against mine. The second round of making out was exquisite, and I was more than ready to sneak back into his truck and the backseat like a complete slut. Unfortunately, he pulled away with a groan.
“I want more, sweet thing. You have no fucking idea.” I was about to tell him to take it when he kissed me lightly again. “But I don’t want to start by fucking shit up.” His voice was deliciously hoarse.
“Fucking shit up?” I asked breathlessly.
“Taking exactly what I want on our first date.”
“This was our first date?”
“I kinda had to trick you into it, but yeah, this was the first of many dates.”
“Wow.”
“I don’t wanna make you feel rushed, and I don’t want you to ever feel bulldozed by me.”
“Oh my god!” Lee squealed like a crazy person as I sipped my coffee, snapping me out of the memory of the night before. “So?”
“So, what?”
“So, how was it? Oh no! Please tell me Mr. Tucker was a great kisser. I don’t think my heart could handle it. If he was lame, that means the other stuff is going to be lame, and that would just be heartbreaking. He looks like he would be able to handle his own, and a lame kisser would just be like false advert—”
“Other stuff?” I asked. I should have known better as she wagged her eyebrows up and down comically.
“Yeah! Other stuff,” she giggled, and I shook my head, my lips twitching.
“Don’t worry. No false advertising there. He was…” My voice tapered off. I could almost still feel his lips against mine, the taste of his mouth. Mint and coffee. “A really great kisser.” I sighed and knew I was swooning, but I couldn’t help it.
“A. Really. Great. Kisser?” Her eyes widened before she squealed, making me jump, and stood up from the kitchen table as she started doing a weird dance of sorts around my kitchen. “Kenzie’s gonna get some! Kenzie’s gonna get some!”
“Oh, my god! Lena, stop!”
“Uh uh! Nope! We celebrate greatness, Kens! This is too good! Or wait, that’s what you’re gonna be saying soon!” she teased, and I laughed out loud.
“You are too much.”
“You love me, though!”
“Being my sister, I don’t think I have much of a choice,” I muttered half-heartedly, and she laughed.
“Okay, okay, okay…” She sat back down. “So, what else happened? Are you guys going out again?”
“Well, I… I’m not sure. He talked about serious stuff, but…”
“But what?”
“At the end of the night, he walked me to my car, kissed my forehead, and followed me home to make sure I got home safe.”
“Wow.”
“And when I got to the front door, he waved and left.” I shrugged.
“Okay.”
“He didn’t ask for my number. He didn’t make plans,” I pointed out.
“But you said he didn’t give a shit who knew about the two of you.”
“He did, but that was before the kiss.”
“So? He followed you home to make sure you got home okay. A man doesn’t do that if he isn’t interested.”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe he already has your number?”
“How?” I asked and watched her think.
“Oh!” Her eyes widened. “Jack’s emergency info! Maybe that’s how he has it.”
“I don’t know. That’s all turned into the front office at the beginning of the year. We’ll see. Either way, it sucks because it’s my long day and not my day to pick up the boys.”
“I got them.”
“Okay, and please don’t be weird, Lee, and say anything to him.”
“I wouldn’t.” She shook her head, munching on her toast. “I give you a hard time, but I wouldn’t interfere.”
“Thanks. I better get ready for work.”
“Anything special you want for dinner?”
“Whatever you make I’ll eat,” I said over my shoulder as I walked toward my room, my head still in the clouds over the night before and the feeling of his lips faintly alive on mine.
_________________________
I’m thinking about you. The text message read on my phone during my break, and I smiled.
Who is this? I asked even though I had an idea. I didn’t want to get my hopes up.
Your favorite teacher. I giggled at his response.
Mmm… Well, hello, Mr. Tucker.
You having a good day? he asked, and I smiled. How long had it been since a man was genuinely interested in how my day was going?
Yeah. You?
Slow.
Why is that?
Because I want to see you again. Busy tonight?
How did you get my number? I asked, taking a bite of the sandwich I had brought to work for lunch.
Your sister. So? Tonight?
I won’t be off work and home ‘til 9 p.m.
Okay. See you then. I stared at my phone.
There was no way he was coming to my house, right?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Chase
HE WATCHED HER SMALL SEDAN SCREECH into the driveway of her house, and his heart picked up a notch. He had been dying to see her, hold her, touch her all damn day, and now she was finally within reach. The way her car sounded made him frown. That noise couldn’t be good.
Stepping out of the car, he wondered how difficult it would be to talk her into letting him look at her car to see what was making it screech that way and how he could fix it.
“Hey! You’re here.” She smiled as she walked over to him, obviously not concerned about her car. The closer she approached, the calmer his heart felt. In jeans and a gray t-shirt she looked like a damn co-ed with her hair thrown up into a messy bun. When she was within reach, he grabbed for her, his hand on her hip pulling her in.
“Hi,” she whispered, beaming up at him. He felt like a lucky son of a bitch being able to touch her and hold her like this.
“Long day?” he asked when he noted she looked tired, though her eyes were happy to see him.
“Are you saying I look like shit?”
“Not at all.” He pressed closer to show her how the way she looked made him feel. Her eyes widened and filled with lust. “I just want to gauge out how much time I can get with you before you’re completely dead on your feet.”
“I’m tired, but I’m suddenly getting my second wind,” she answered brilliantly, and he leaned his head down to kiss her. She tasted like chocolaty goodness and Kenzie. His hands moved to the back of her head, controlling the kiss, and he loved the way she gave into him. The way her mouth moved in sync with his like they had been kissing a lifetime. The way her body fit in his arms as if she were made for him.
“Hey, Kens, don’t get mad!” he faintly heard said behind him. “Oh shit!” a female voice squeaked, and he felt Kens’ body freeze in his arms.
“Shit.”
“Kenzie?” he asked, not taking his eyes off her.
“I’m really sorry for whatever inappropriate thing my sister might say in the next couple of seconds,” she hilariously said against his lips before pulling away and out of his arms. He didn’t miss the way he immediately missed her being near.
“What—”
“Oh, please, what could I possibly say about you sucking face with Mr. Tucker?” her sister said, and he turned, but not before grabbing hold of his girl’s hand and entwining their fingers together.
“Lee!”
“Hello, Mr. Tucker, fancy seeing you here.”
“Hi, Lena,” he answered, his own lips quirking upward at the face Kens sister made when she caught sight of them holding hands. He had done it purposefully. He was staking a claim even if Kenzie was oblivious to it. By the way her sister was looking at him, his actions had not gone over her sister’s head.
“So, what are your intentions with my sister?” Lena asked. He coughed down his laughter.
“Oh, my god, Lee! Stop.”
“What? It’s a legit question.” Watching the two women interact was better than a TV show.
“Wait. Why would I be mad?”
“What?”
“You came out here, yelling at me not to be mad. Why would I be mad?” Kens asked, and he watched Lee’s face fall and cringe.
“Oh shit! Crap! I need your help! The pipe in the guest bathroom is squirting water again, and the shut-off valve is stuck again.” Lena winced.
“Damn it.” And just like that, one moment she was next to him, and the next his sweet thing had her gorgeous ass in gear and was running toward the house.
“So, you just going to stand there? Or are you going to help?” Lee asked, and he laughed before sprinting after his woman.
_________________________
“Here is a towel and a big sweater. I don’t think I have any pants that would fit,” she said over her shoulder before handing him the clothes in her hands. When he looked at the sweater, something ate at him.
“Do I want to know whose sweater this is?” he asked, figuring honestly was the best policy. He would rather stay wet than wear her ex’s clothes, or worse, some schmuck’s she’d found because Chase had been too chicken shit to make a move sooner.
“Mine,” she answered, tilting her head.
“This is a man’s sweater, babe.”
“No, it’s really mine, Chase. It’s just an oversized sweater I picked up to be all, you know…” She shrugged, and he scowled.
“No, I don’t.”
“Cozy. It was a cold winter,” she explained, her cheeks slightly pink. “Anyone listening might think you were jealous.”
He stood up off the edge of her bed and stalked over to her. She gained points for not stepping away. She stood there, waiting for him, wanting whatever he was going to do, and damn if that didn’t make him hot.
“You want a big sweater to feel cozy in, sweet thing, I have a closet full of them, and you officially have free reign to it,” he told her, unable to hold back his grin and the way his body reacted to the thought of her in his clothes. Soon.
“Hmm, it almost sounds like we’re going steady.”
“You bet your ass we are.” He leaned down and kissed her, then quickly pulled away. The door to her bedroom was open, and even though her boys were asleep—somehow not waking up to the commotion of the pipe and his ass getting her out of the bathroom, then quickly closing the shut-off valve before getting in there and figuring out the situation—he didn’t want to take a chance and get caught by the boys in a cinch with their mom.
“Thank you for helping tonight. I know that’s not what you came here for.” She sighed, leaning her body into his. She was exhausted, and he couldn’t blame her.
“I came to be with you, and you sat next to me and talked to me as I fixed it,” he pointed out before kissing the top of her head. “I got exactly what I wanted, baby.”
“Chase?”
“Yeah, sweet thing?”
“I don’t want you to go, but—”
“You’re tired?” he guessed and watched her take a deep breath before answering him.
“I am.”
“How about I take a shower at home, and I’ll see you tomorrow?” he suggested as lightly as he could. He didn’t want to leave, but he knew it would be for the best. When she looked up at him, his chest tightened. Clear as fucking day, he could see in her eyes that she didn’t wa
nt him to leave either.
“What if you stayed? she asked so damn softly he thought he had imagined it. He swallowed hard.
“Overnight?” he somehow asked, holding his body tightly next to her.
“Yeah.”
“I told you last night, Kens, I don’t wanna rush you.”
“You’re not. I suggested it,” she told him wide eyed, and damn, he wanted to stay.
“The boys and your sister—”
“I meant, stay like sleep-sleep, not sex sleep.” She bit her lip nervously, the apples of her cheeks a gorgeous shade of pink. “I sound so lame. Why are you here? Forget what I said. I mean, what was I thinking? I would need to sneak you out before the boys woke up, and my mattress is lumpy and—”
“Shh…” he hushed her softly. “Come here.” He led her to the bathroom that was attached to her bedroom and looked at the small shower. He was going to need to get her to his place soon. There would be no issues with fitting both of them in his shower.
“I’m gonna run you a shower, then you’ll get dressed and into bed.”
“But what about you? Your shirt is soaked and—”
“Let me take care of you.” She worried her lip. Damn, she tempted him in a primal way he wasn’t used to but was quickly starting to enjoy. He had the biggest urge to make things easier on her. He thought about her night if he hadn’t been there. She would have had to deal with the water issue alone after a ten-hour shift.
“But—”
“Shh… Come here,” he ordered once the water warmed. He pulled her tee up and over her head. She was wearing a light pink cotton bra and looked sweeter than the finest candy.
“Turn around, sweet thing.” It cost him to order her to do it. He wanted to soak in the sight of her and everything she was, but it wasn’t their moment. Yet.
Silently, she turned like he’d asked, and he slowly undid the clasp of her bra. His hands ran down the line of her spine, his fingertips lightly touching her soft skin. Suddenly, she shivered, her skin covered in gooseflesh. The way she reacted to his touch felt like winning the World Series. Unable to help himself, with his eyes closed because it would be too tempting to sneak a peek, he kissed her bare shoulder and stepped back, leaving her alone in her bathroom.
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