by Carter Ashby
Kellen gave himself a shake, trying to come to terms with this ridiculous thought. How could anyone think so little of Maya? “Mom, no. Look.” He held up his phone with a picture of Maya as she’d looked yesterday. “He did that to her, and he’s done it before.
Their smiles finished falling. Bryan, his dad, said, “That’s not possible.” At least he sounded like he had some doubt about his assertion.
Lois had absolute confidence when she said, again, “Damon would never do something like that.”
Kellen understood the desire to believe the best in their son. But still, “Let’s be realistic,” he said. “We all know he’s capable. Hell, he beat up on me all the time.”
“You were children,” Lois said. “Older brothers pick on their younger brothers. That’s just how it works.”
“Do they put them in the hospital? Knock out their teeth? Face it, Damon’s always had a violent streak.”
“No,” Lois said, shaking her head. “I don’t know what happened to Maya, but Damon didn’t do that to her. He wouldn’t. He loves her.”
Kellen had expected shock, sadness, maybe even anger. Denial? No, he hadn’t expected denial. “Mom, she wouldn’t lie. I took her to the hospital. They apparently know her by name. They’ve questioned her about abuse in the past, and she’s always lied to protect him. That’s changed. Now she’s worried for the kids’ safety and we need to help her. She’s staying with her friend, but I thought you might open up your home to her, since—“
“Let her hide here while she smears our son’s name through the mud? How dare you even suggest such a thing!”
“Mom, come on. Dad,” he said, turning to his dad, “tell her. We’ve gotta support Maya through this.”
Bryan frowned, glancing between them.
Which was when Kellen realized he didn’t know his parents nearly as well as he’d thought. “These are your grandchildren we’re talking about.”
“And they should be with their father,” Lois said. “If she sues for custody, you tell her we’re going to get him the best damn lawyer money can buy. She’s not taking those kids from him.”
The world came a little unhinged just then. His home suddenly felt like a place he wasn’t welcome. He swallowed and tried to find something to cling to, something normal and sane. “My brother beat up his wife. I’m not supporting him.” He lifted his gaze to each of theirs.
All he saw was disappointment and disgust in his mother’s expression; confusion in his father’s. He got up and left before the situation could get worse.
He drove Zoey’s car back to her house. He went to the front door and was about to knock. But then he remembered that his family was in there and he didn’t have to knock. Plus maybe Zoey would yell at him. For some reason, the prospect of getting yelled at by Zoey had become an exciting thing.
Their conversation yesterday had left a mark on him. In fact, it was like she’d taken residence in his thoughts and he couldn’t evict her. He’d tried to forget the erotic dream he’d had last night. But the images were there to stay.
He walked in to find Maya snoozing in her recliner, Addy lounging at the bar, and Zoey with flour in her hair and clothes and cookie dough up to her elbows. Her wide, blue eyes met his. She lifted her fingers to her mouth, and then sucked the cookie dough off her middle finger, slowly and with a soft, “Mmm.”
Kellen’s brain immediately ceased functioning. He licked his lips and stared as she sucked yet another finger. Maybe she would offer him some. Maybe she would let him lick cookie dough off her and then, later, just lick her.
“Your parents take the news okay?” she asked.
“I’d love some,” he answered, still hypnotized. His feet, completely on board with the goal of licking Zoey, walked him a few steps closer.
“Huh?”
“Cookie dough.”
“Oh. Well, here.” She grabbed a spoon and scooped some dough into it. “But no more. I’m making these for the kids.”
“You’re baking cookies for the kids?” He wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that this brief, maternal moment only made her more attractive to him. He took the spoon and put it back in the bowl. He gently took her wrist and held up her hand. “How did you get this much of it on your hands?”
She shrugged. “It was really stiff, so I had to work it with my hands.”
Kellen stifled a groan.
“Don’t worry, I washed them first. Why are you scowling at me?”
He’d never noticed the beautiful shape of her full mouth…probably because she was usually using that mouth to shout obscenities at him. Not now, though.
Her lips turned up. Her voice changed, lowered and softened. “You want a taste?” she asked.
He caged her against the counter with every intention of taking a taste. He’d forgotten about Addy.
“Oh, my God, what is going on? Stop. Stop it! Do you hear me?” Addy shouted frantically.
She ran to Kellen, grabbed him by the shirt, and tried to pull him away. He let her, but only a few steps.
Addy stepped in front of him and put her arms out, as though guarding him. “Release him from the tractor beam, Zoey. I’m not even kidding.”
“I’m not doing anything,” Zoey said, making a mockery of the sweetness in her own voice. Her eyes never left Kellen’s.
“He’s a nice guy,” Addy said. “Please, don’t destroy him.”
Zoey snapped out of it, then. She pressed her lips together and started gathering up dirty dishes. She turned her back to them a little too quickly. “I don’t destroy men,” she said. “They destroy themselves.”
Well, Kellen had no intention of destroying or being destroyed. He moved to help her clean up. He regretfully watched her washing her hands. He helped her gather dirty dishes into the sink, and then he grabbed a towel and started wiping down the counter.
Zoey scrubbed dishes without looking at him. “So? Your parents?”
He leaned his hip against the counter, only inches from her. “They’re struggling.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Means they’re processing.”
She dropped her hands and looked up at him. “Struggling? Processing? What’s it mean?”
He sighed. “They didn’t believe me. My dad…he’ll come to terms with it, but I think my mom’s in pretty heavy denial.”
Zoey turned off the sink, flung the dish rag into it, and dried her hands. “I’ll go talk to her.”
He laughed. “Whoa, there, tiger. No way. I think you talking to my mother in even the best of circumstances would be a disastrous event.”
“I’m going to bitch slap her with reality, Kellen. Her daughter-in-law and grandchildren need her support right now.”
“You’re not going to talk to her.”
She just laughed and shook her head. She started to head to the door, but Kellen got in front of her. “You’re not hearing me, Zoey. You’re not going. I’m putting my foot down.”
Shock first, then that wicked smile. “Putting your foot down. Mmm, I’m not sure you have the authority to do that. But I’m intrigued to see you try.”
He was on the verge of grabbing her again, but Addy, who was back at the bar, cleared her throat loudly. “Zoey, shouldn’t you get the Christmas decorations out for the kids?”
“I’ve got cookies in the oven,” Zoey replied, her eyes still on Kellen’s.
“Kellen can keep an eye on them.”
Zoey hesitated, keeping her eyes on him. “I won’t go talk to your mom,” she said.
“Damn,” he said. “I was looking forward to showing you who’s boss.”
Her face turned red and her eyes lit up. But Addy cleared her throat. Zoey huffed and stomped past him toward the garage. Addy sent him a long look before following her friend.
CHAPTER NINE
Zoey loved Addy like a sister, but for the first time ever, Zoey wished she would just go away. Kellen Bradley had been flirting with her. More than that, Kellen Bradley had been siz
ing her up like a lion about to eat its prey. It had been a long, long time since anyone had stirred her up like he just had.
She sat on the edge of a box in the garage and buried her face in her hands.
The door clicked open and shut and Addy was there. “Kellen’s our friend. You can’t—“
“He’s your friend. Not mine.”
“Whatever. You can’t do this to him.”
“I can’t flirt with him?”
“You remember what happened with Andy Crowley?”
Andy Crowley. Now that was a good memory. One of Zoey’s hotter affairs. Funny, but the hottest sex with Andy hadn’t been nearly as hot as that moment she’d just had with Kellen.
“Or Jess Landers?”
Jess had also been hot.
“You broke them. Both of them. And Terry Hale worst of all.”
Zoey had been accused of this before, enough that she was beginning to believe it was true. Andy had fled, crying, and become an alcoholic. Jess hadn’t dated since her, and that was four years ago. Terry, her most recent, was still dealing with heartache. The thing was, she didn’t know what she’d done to break them. When the relationship ended, it was usually them dumping her, or it had been for Jess and Andy.
“What’s wrong with me?” she asked. Such a pathetic question. One she’d never been brave enough to ask before. She began to wonder if there mightn’t be something she could change, because she truly didn’t want to hurt Kellen.
“You’re too hard on them.”
“How?”
“You don’t bend, Zoey. You’re a—a fucking Redwood. You just stand there, tall and solid and you refuse to give anything. These guys try, with you. You just don’t let them in.”
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Change who I am? What?”
Addy knelt in front of her and took her face in her hands. “You know how to do this, Zoey. You have two very strong relationships. With me and Maya. You know how to compromise in a relationship and how to let another person’s needs dictate your behavior. You’re doing it for Maya right now. You just seem to refuse to do that for the men in your life.”
Her frown was impeded by Addy’s hands squishing her cheeks together. Addy smiled and dropped her hands.
“I know what you’re saying,” Zoey said quietly. “But I just…don’t want to lose myself in a man. None of them worked hard enough, you have to give me that, Addy. I’d give myself to a man who could prove he’s got what it takes to stand by me. Why should I waste my time on men who can’t take the heat?”
“There’s a balance.”
“I don’t want to be consumed by a relationship.”
Addy lowered her beautiful, dark lashes and nodded. “Maya.”
“And my mom.”
“Yes. I see.” Addy sat and hugged her knees. “I think I’m afraid of that, too.”
“Professor McSexyPants?”
Addy laughed and blushed. “He’s so intense. If I ever gave in to my attraction, and if it turned out he returned my feelings, I’m not sure how I’d ever come out of it. I look at him and almost want to lose myself. It’s sick.”
Zoey propped her chin on her palm. “Men. Why must they make it so difficult to love them?”
Addy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know, but tell me this; does Kellen make you wanna lose yourself? Or do you just want to mate with him and then bite his head off?”
“Ha. Funny, Addy.”
She arched a brow at her.
Zoey sighed. “I don’t know. Something…clicked, yesterday. He’s been on my mind ever since.”
“He’s a serial monogamist. He’s long-term boyfriend material. You can’t do this to him, Zoey. Not unless you’re willing to take things to the next level. You’ll hurt him.”
All she knew was she definitely didn’t want to hurt him. Not deeply, anyway. Maybe a little light bondage in the bedroom, but definitely nothing that would leave emotional scars.
They stood and each grabbed a box of decorations. They walked back into the house toward the kitchen. Kellen was there, facing them, placing a tray of freshly baked cookies on the counter, oven-mitts on his hands and a smile on his face. “Think I got the hang of this,” he said.
“Damn,” Zoey uttered softly. She shot Addy a pleading look, silently begging her to let her have a go at the pretty man.
Addy shook her head and moved into the living room. Zoey followed, feeling like a kid who’d been told no to a piece of candy.
Kellen joined them a few minutes later. They were untangling lights for the tree. The kids came in to help. Zoey put on some Christmas music, old stuff from Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. It was about all she had, but the kids seemed happy with it.
“I would’ve been happy to pitch in for a tree, Zoey,” Kellen said, as he and Addy handed the lights around, tucking them into the branches.
“What are you saying? You don’t like our tree?”
“No, I didn’t say that. I mean, it’s a little skimpy, but—“
“It’s a Charlie Brown tree,” Sophie said. “We rescued it.”
“You know what?” he said. “That’s just what I would expect of you, sweetheart. You’re a very compassionate little girl.” He plugged in the lights and then lifted Sophie onto his hip.
“Thanks,” she said. “It’s a pretty tree, though.”
“It is. Very pretty. It has an austere sort of elegance going on.”
She giggled, and he tousled her hair.
Zoey’s mouth was watering. She didn’t know why she cared if he was good with kids. She certainly didn’t want kids anytime soon, if ever. But something about his sensitive interaction with his niece was just—mouthwatering.
He caught her eye and grinned a little bigger. She looked away to keep from jumping him. A buzzer rang in the kitchen. “Oh, cookies are done,” he said, and dashed off to get more cookies out of the oven.
“God,” Zoey groaned, “I might have to excuse myself for a little private time.”
Addy hit her with a couch pillow.
Maya woke up and inhaled deeply through her nose. “Cookies? You did it?”
Zoey grinned and shouted back to the kitchen, “Your sister-in-law wants cookies, Kellen.”
“I’m on it.”
He came back from the kitchen with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Maya. “These are chocolate chip,” he said. “And this one is Zoey’s concoction, so eat at your own risk.”
“What the he—ck,” Zoey caught herself before saying hell. These kids were killing her. “Those are candy cookies. They have peanut butter cups, M&Ms, chopped up toffee bars, and bits of caramel. They’re the best kind of cookie ever.”
“Wow,” Maya said. “Sounds good.” She bit into one, smiled, and gave her a thumbs-up.
Zoey stuck her tongue out at Kellen, who grinned good-naturedly.
“You saved the sprinkles and stuff, didn’t you Aunt Zoey?” Matthew asked. He was picking through the box of ornaments, handing them to Sophie to hang on the tree. “We need those for decorating the sugar cookies.”
“I saved them.” Being called ‘Aunt Zoey’ made her feel all warm and gooey inside. Which, in turn, made her long for Kellen all the more. Damn evolutionary instincts.
Kellen settled in on the floor next to Zoey. They sat there watching Matthew and Sophie decorate the tree. He gave her hair a tug. “You’re a mess,” he said. “Flour all over.”
She turned and grinned back at him, feeling like a fool for blushing over the attentions of Kellen Bradley. Where was her irrational hatred when she needed it?
Their gazes remained locked until Addy cleared her throat and they both looked away.
A few minutes later, he stood and stretched. “I’m headed home. You need anything, Maya?”
Maya shook her head, a blissed-out smile on her face, likely a combination of good pain meds and cookies.
Kellen headed for the door. “Zoey, can you step outside for a sec?” He didn’t wait f
or an answer.
Zoey pointedly ignored Addy as she shoved her feet in her boots and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders.
Outside, Kellen was leaning on his truck frowning down at his feet. He smiled when he saw her. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Would you maybe wanna have dinner with me tomorrow?”
Zoey’s chest squeezed. She’d dated guys. Slept with guys. But she could never remember a time when a guy had formally asked her on a date. For a moment, one joyous moment, she had ‘yes’ on the tip of her tongue, but it vanished when she realized that Addy was right.
Kellen saw it, too. He brightened for a moment and then dimmed when he realized she wasn’t going to accept.
“It’s just not a good time,” she said lamely.
He nodded, his brow furrowing for a moment. “Sure, I understand. Maybe once Maya’s all better and doesn’t need you?” There were those eyes, again. Wide and full of vulnerability.
She swallowed down a pain that was surprisingly strong. This was more than just mild regret. She’d expected to be sad in the way that she was sad when she couldn’t buy a dress that was too expensive. This sad ran far deeper. “I don’t think so, Kellen.”
His frown held confusion this time. He nodded and reached behind him for the handle of his truck. Then he let go. “May I ask why?”
She hugged her shawl tighter to her body. “I just don’t think it would work. I mean, I’ve been flirting with you, and it’s been fun, but Addy’s right. I shouldn’t do that. It just wouldn’t work between us. You understand?”
“Yeah,” he said. His breath expelled a cloud in front of him. “Yeah, I understand.”
He turned and opened his truck door, but then he froze. He looked back, just enough that she could see his perfect profile. “No, Zoey, I don’t understand. I actually think it could work really well. I’m not afraid of you if that’s what you’re worried about. And I think you wanna be with me. So…I’m willing to try it out. Just give it some thought, okay?”
He climbed in his truck, slamming the door. She watched him drive away.