by Livell James
“Kaylee, wait. Listen, I’m sorry, you're right, I did think it would be funny to make you scream, but I needed to talk to you.”
Kaylee stood there looking down at Matthias who decided to look pathetic with little puppy dog eyes and a slight pout of his lower lip. Kaylee gave up the fight. She had punched him, which he deserved, the least she could do was hear him out. She crossed her arms under her breast and tapped her foot to show him he only had so much time to say whatever it was he needed to say, so he better get on with it. The problem with that was as soon as she crossed her arms, the jerkwad started staring at her boobs, his mouth hanging open.
“Matt.” Kaylee said. When that didn’t work, she repeated it just a little louder, “Matt!” When he still seemed to be entranced by her boobs, she finally screamed, “Matthias!” She watched as he seemed to shake himself out of whatever he’d been thinking about, but he was still looking at her boobs. Yeah, it was kind of flattering, but still creepy.
“My face is up here, Matthias,” Kaylee stated drolly.
“Yeah, I know, but I think my eyes like where they’re looking, better,” Matt responded, but didn’t move his eyes one fraction of a millimeter.
“How about I explain it another way for the short bus boy? You better look up here at my face, so you can say what you want, or I will punch you again, and this time, I will make sure you can’t see out of both your eyes because they will be swollen shut. If that isn’t convincing enough, I will also be kicking you in the balls while I’m landing the punches,” Kaylee explained.
At the mention of the word balls, Matt’s eyes snapped right to hers, and he cupped himself as if she was going to do it any second. Kaylee wasn’t sure, she still might if he kept this crap up. Matt stood up and stepped away from her, another good move. He also kept his eyes on either her face or her feet.
“Fine, I wanted to talk to you about Lucas. What I said back there at the grocery store wasn’t true. So, I left and followed you here. Girl you drive like a freaking grandma, by the way.
“I do not,” Kaylee screamed, throwing her hands in the air. “Have you seen the way my grandma drives?”
“Point taken,” Matt said, shrugging his shoulders. “Anyway, Lucas pissed me off this morning, and I knew he had a thing for you. I wanted to pay him back by pissing you off, so you would stay away from him.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“And you're still playing little high school games? I mean, seriously, I’m only twenty-four, and even I wouldn’t do that shit. What did he do to piss you off, and how did you even know about me?”
“I know about you because we’re neighbors. My family lives right up the road. Shit, even you should know anyone new in this fucking little town is on everyone’s radar. Plus, Ruth and Edwin have been talking about you coming for a few weeks now.”
“You know my grandparents?”
“Yeah, like I said, we’re neighbors, plus, my brother works for them, so….”
“Yeah, I get it, stupid question. Now tell me what Lucas did to piss you off.”
“Family shit, mostly. He lied to our dad and then refused to tell me something.”
“Again, you’re twenty-seven? Not twelve?”
Matt smiled a genuine smile, and it softened him. She also wasn’t getting the angry vibe from him anymore.
“So, what changed why are you coming clean to me now?” she asked. “Why not just keep me pissed and away from Lucas? You would have won that way.”
“He made me face the truth about a few things, so I thought I would return the favor. Nothing else.”
“So, you aren’t going to tell me exactly what he said, how he lied, or what he made you see?” Matt smiled and shook his head. “Okay, then keep your secrets. I’m heading to my cabin. You want to tag along? I think Lucas is still there. Maybe you two need to talk more than I need to speak with him.”
“No, I need to get back, my family will be waiting on me for dinner.”
Kaylee punched Matt in the arm. When he rubbed it and looked at her like she was nuts, Kaylee said, “You're married with kids and you still hit on me? How dare you!”
“Huh, what are you talking about married and kids? Oh, my family, no, my Dad and a few other family members, not as in my wife and kids, but my family,” Matt explained.
“Okay, so why isn’t Lucas going to your ‘family’ dinner?” Kaylee asked.
“He wasn’t invited because he is an epic asshole most days, and I still think you should pick me over him,” Matt sneered.
“I’m not picking either of you,” Kaylee laughed. “Why do you still live with your Dad and brother?”
“Why do you live with your grandparents?” Matt barked, seemingly annoyed by her question.
She didn’t care, she was curious, and he was the one who owed her.
“I don’t. I’m staying with them until the cabin is ready. Once it is, I’ll be living there by myself.”
“Yeah, well it’s just easier to stay with the pack. That way we can all help each other out if needed.”
“But not Lucas?”
“No, not Lucas. Okay, listen, I have to go. Next time we talk, how about we keep Lucas out of it?”
“You’re the one who brought him up in the first place.”
“Whatever. Bye, Kaylee.”
“Bye, Matthias, it wasn’t as bad talking to you this time. Have fun with the family.”
When Kaylee turned around and saw her grandpa standing a little way down the trail, she couldn’t help it any more than when she saw her grandma yesterday. She ran to him, hugging him tight.
“Why have you been hiding from me?
“Kaylee, girl, I haven’t been hiding, just trying to get the cabin ready for you, hon,” her grandpa said, placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Well, it felt like you were hiding, you old coot. I didn’t get to see you at dinner last night or this morning for breakfast, and I missed you,” Kaylee said pouting.
“None of that now, sweet girl.” Her grandpa tweaked her nose and said, “How about we go down to the cabin, so you can see what’s been keeping me so busy? It’s almost ready for you to move in.”
“I would love that,” Kaylee agreed. Taking his arm, they walked to the cabin, talking and catching up. Kaylee loved both her grands, but Grandpa held a special place in her heart. When the cabin finally came into view, all Kaylee could say was, “Wow.” The cabin looked nothing like she remembered. The log walls had been pressure washed and sealed, making them shine with a beautiful orange tone.
Then there was the porch; it hadn’t been there before at all. The posts holding up it up looked like they had been made from some of the beautiful fir trees which decorated the surrounding land, just like the main house. Those too had been stained and sealed, so they shined to match the walls of the cabin. The floor and steps were painted a hunter green. White rocking chairs and a swing decorated the porch, making it even more inviting. Kaylee could see herself spending a lot of time out there.
Kaylee kept looking and was delighted by every new detail. Cedar planked the roof, but the real focal point was the front door. It was simply gorgeous with stained glass panels and carved, dark wood framing. She knew her grandpa had to have gotten it from the local antique shop. It looked like something a person would find in a luxury home, not in rural Alabama. Kaylee took a couple of minutes just to run her hand over it before opening it to explore the inside of the cabin.
The inside was tiny, but cozy. The darker beams and cedar ceiling drew her eyes like a moth to a flame. The floor plan was simple, but exactly what Kaylee had always wanted—a living room with a massive stone fireplace, kitchen with a small island, and two doors which were currently closed. She knew one held the only bathroom and the other was a closet. There was a staircase in the middle, leading to a loft space and the only bedroom.
She had always liked the cabin, but now it felt like it was hers, every improvement had been made with her in
mind. Like the two huge windows on either side of the fireplace. She might have liked the cabin, but she absolutely loved the pond, and her grandpa knew that, so he gave her the ability to see it as much as she wanted. Water had always soothed her; if she was in a panic, just looking at a body of water—lake, pond, river, creek, or ocean—would instantly put her at ease. Now, she had that right inside her new home. Turning to her grandpa, she hugged him again and started to cry.
“Thank you so much for this.”
“This place is special, Kaylee girl, just like you are. How about I leave you here for a little while, so you can get acquainted with your new home?” Grandpa said as he was walking out the door. He never was very good with her crying; she knew he would head back home to tell Grandma Ruth about it, so she could fix it. That made Kaylee smile and cry a little more.
Chapter 8
After her grandpa left, Kaylee walked around the cabin, touching things, getting a feel for the place. Her grands had done so much for her, there were little touches all over the place. Like the dark leather couch which looked so comfy and soft, she couldn’t resist sitting on it for a second to feel it against her body; she wasn’t disappointed. Kaylee could see herself lounging, watching tv, reading a book, or heck, sleeping on it under the amazing hand-knitted afghan draped across the back.
Clutching a corner of the afghan, she brought it to her nose and knew right away her grandma had made it just for her. Getting up, she tested out the leather recliner which matched the couch and was just as nice. The area rug was old, more than likely antique; she was sure it was another one of her grandpa’s touches. It had multiple earth tones and matched the cabin’s decor perfectly, as far as Kaylee was concerned; a little eclectic and a lot shabby chic, just her style. It also provided a place in front of the fireplace for her to set up camp and ward off the cold winters nights.
But it was the windows and what was behind them which kept drawing her eye. Walking closer to the window, she looked out at the pond. The water’s surface was smooth and glistening in the sun, but for the first time in her life, it wasn’t the water that soothed her, it was the man chopping wood. Kaylee didn’t need to see his face, her body knew it was Lucas. Parts of her got heavy, others turned liquid. The gargantuan butterflies dancing in her stomach and the faster beat of her heart confirmed it.
She no longer felt the need to confront him because Matt had explained what happened and why he said the things he did, so she watched, like a stalker observing her prey. Gorgeous wasn’t a strong enough word to describe him. Hell, with his shirt off, Kaylee was having problems moving her eyes away from his washboard abs and those amazing notches framing his well-defined, eight-pack and a happy trail she desperately wanted to explore.
Kaylee thought someone once told her it was called the Adonis belt and the name fit because Lucas had a body of a god; the rest of him wasn’t too bad either. Kaylee could spend hours just watching him move. The way his muscles flexed and contracted caused a few contractions within her own body.
Then there was his hair. Kaylee had never once been jealous of a man’s hair. Right now, it was in a man bun, which was super-hot, but Kaylee knew from yesterday, when it was free, his silky locks were long and lush. Her fingers twitched to get a handful, so she could pull him close for the kiss she craved.
His face, damn, it was a piece of art all on its own—bright blue eyes, supple suckable lips, and… Oh Shit, he was looking at her, smiling. Damn it, would she ever be able to look at this man without making a fool of herself? She decided it was probably best to go out there and actually say a few words instead of staring at him like some kind of creeper. Kaylee went to the back door and was greeted with the most deliciously deep voice.
“Hi, Kaylee.”
Kaylee didn’t talk, only waved like a complete dork because she was suddenly tongue-tied. He was leaning against the ax handle, looking at her like she was his next meal; Kaylee was all for it.
“So, what do you think about your cabin? Your grandparents did it up right, I think?”
Clearing her throat and swallowing the mouthful of drool, Kaylee smiled shyly, looking down at her feet and said, “Yeah, I really like it.” She was twenty-four, but just the sight of Lucas made her feel like a high school teen staring at her first crush.
Kaylee wanted to run back to the cabin and get a clue or hide her face in a pillow and scream. Why couldn’t she talk to this man? Hell, she’d spoken to his brother just fine, even yelled at him, but every time Lucas was around, she seemed to be missing brain cells.
“So, you should be ready to move in a few days. Are you excited?”
Kaylee gathered up every nerve she had and said, “I can't wait. I'm so glad it's not going to be as long as I thought. When I talked to my grands last week, they said it could take up to a month more.” Lucas laughed, and Kaylee melted. The sound did things to her even more than his voice did. It also made her want to go all girly and giggly.
“Hey, you want to take a walk around the pond with me?” Lucas asked.
Kaylee finally found her voice, and with a slight smile on her lips, her eyes peeking through her lashes, and of course, blushing like nobody’s business, Kaylee said, “Yeah sure why not.” Like his request was no big deal, something she did every day, when the truth was him wanting to spend time with her at the pond meant everything to her.
Kaylee wasn't a shy girl, but Lucas made her feel that way. Well, until her brain decided to say something really inappropriate. Lucas went to grab his shirt when Kaylee blurted out.
“Oh, you don't have to put it on because of me. I kind of like the view without it.” Kaylee wanted to kick her damn self, but Lucas saved her again, laughing it off.
“Damn, I think I’ll have to walk around half-naked more often if it gets that pretty color on your cheeks.”
“You can’t be serious. What woman wouldn’t like to look at you like this, Lucas?” Kaylee said while waving her hand in front of her face to emphasize her point. “You do know how incredibly hot you are, right? I mean just look at your abs. Hell, not just those—your pecs, that chest, your eight-pack, the tattoos. Oh, my gawd, you are every woman’s wet dream or at least a big percentage of them!” Kaylee exclaimed.
Lucas smiled, and completely serious, whispered, “I don’t want to be every woman’s wet dream, Kaylee, just one woman’s.”
Kaylee knew he was talking about her. She wanted to jump up and down, doing a happy dance to end all happy dances, but refrained and kept smiling. Her motor mouth stayed shut, for once.
“Come on, let’s go for that walk.”
When he held out his hand to her, Kaylee took it without a second thought. It seemed and felt incredibly natural to touch and be around him. About halfway around the pond, Kaylee spotted a bench. She knew her grandpa had done that too. Pulling Lucas, she didn’t stop until they made it there. Kaylee sat down, not giving Lucas any choice but to join her because she hadn’t let go of his hand, and didn’t plan to anytime soon. She stared at the water for a little while, feeling the shyness creeping back in, and could feel Lucas staring at her.
“I ran into your brother today.” The grip he had on her hand tightened, and in her peripheral vision, she could see his body straighten until he was almost rigid with tension. She ran her thumb over his hand in soothing circles, and it must have worked because he relaxed slightly.
“You met Matthias today?” Lucas groaned. “Did he say anything about me?”
“Actually, that’s what was kind of weird. He did say a bunch of shit about you, but then took it all back. He informed me you told him you fucked me, and he also clued me in on the fact you were a one and done type of guy,” Kaylee said.
“I’m going to kill him,” Lucas said through gritted teeth. Kaylee continued to move her thumb over his hand and leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Listen, Lucas, honestly, it’s okay. He said he was mad at you, but then felt bad, so he made sure I knew he’d lied. It’s not a big deal.”
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“That’s just it, Kaylee, it is a big deal, my family,” he paused, and Kaylee felt his head tip back, looking to the sky for the words he needed, then he huffed and continued, “I don’t really get along with them, and they aren’t thrilled I’m back living under the same roof.”
“What do you, I mean why do you live with them? I know my grands can’t be paying you much, but can’t you get a place of your own?” Kaylee asked. “Just looking at the cabin, I know you have amazing carpentry skills. My Grandpa Edwin wouldn’t know a screwdriver from a hammer.”
She really wanted to know. She was twenty-four and had been living on her own since she was eighteen when her mom moved back to California. She wasn’t judging him, hell, she’d moved to live in a cabin her grandparents provided, but she was still living there and paying the utilities on her own.
“It’s not about money or not having work. I have a job, two of them; it’s why I’m here, right now, and living with my family. Once the job is over, I’ll be moving on and out. I just can’t do that right now, which really sucks because the longer I stay there, the less I want to. Matt is alright, but spoiled, and my Father, that man is a right bastard on a good day,” Lucas explained.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I was an only child and my parents weren’t together. I don’t know my father, but as soon as I turned eighteen, my mother left me for greener pastures. She was never mean, maybe a little dismissive and a bit too selfish, but never mean. What other job do you have?” Kaylee asked.
“Kaylee, I’m sorry, I can’t talk about it, right now, but I promise, one day I will. Can you give me that?” Lucas asked, turning slightly making Kaylee pick up her head, so she could look him in the eyes. Before she could give him an answer, he said, “Damn you are so beautiful, Kaylee.” Lucas used his hand to brush her somewhat curly blonde hair off of her face and over her shoulder, brushing his fingertips first over her cheek, then down her neck to her shoulder, causing tingles to erupt all over Kaylee’s body.