I get the same pang of jealousy that I had before, sitting here in the middle of my brothers and their happy families. But I recognize the look on Luke’s face. I think it might be the same way mine looked the other night at Lily’s place.
Which is why I get out my phone right then and there to text her. So she kicked me out of her house after sex. So what?
Saturday. You and me. Date.
I get a response about a minute later.
Romantic, caveman.
I smile as I text her back.
I knew you’d appreciate that. Saturday night, I’m picking you up. Real proper-like.
It’s a few minutes before she responds.
You, proper? I’ll believe it when I see it.
I text her back right away.
So that’s a yes, then?
The phone buzzes a few seconds later.
That’s a yes.
After dinner and all of the congratulations and excitement, I catch Luke in the kitchen and tell him that I’m going to need his help.
“You want me to teach you to cook something impressive? This wouldn’t have anything to do with the bakery girl, would it?”
“What bakery girl?” Autumn walks in and interrupts, Olivia following close behind her.
"Mommy!" Olivia hollers.
“The girl that Killian has a crush on.”
“I don’t have a crush, shit.”
“Language,” Autumn warns.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Olivia repeats.
Autumn narrows her eyes as she looks at me.
“Oh, sh– I mean. . . darn it, she’s cursing.” I think I’m supposed to be appalled by that. Is it wrong that I want to laugh instead? Shit, this is exactly why I shouldn’t be a parent. If I hung around Lily and Chloe, Chloe would be cursing like a sailor in no time. And then I’d be dead, because Lily would murder me.
Luke snorts. “She’s repeating it because she’s heard it before.”
“It’s not going to be so funny when she’s saying it in kindergarten, boys.” Autumn glares at us as she takes Olivia’s hand and leads her toward the living room and out of the kitchen, probably to get her away from our terrible influence.
“Don’t give me any fucking grief. Just teach me a couple of bullshit recipes or something.”
Luke crosses his arms. “A couple of bullshit recipes?”
“You know. Some of that fancy shit. Nothing to do with cake. Or baked goods.”
Luke laughs. “Alright, when do you need to be a chef by?”
“Saturday.”
“Dude, that’s like two days. Seriously?”
“What? You’re an idiot savant in the kitchen. Just come up to the cabin and let me absorb your knowledge.”
“Hilarious.”
“Tell me what I need to buy and I’ll go to the store.”
“Alright, alright. This girl must be something else.”
I shrug, feigning nonchalance. “Why?”
Luke raises his eyebrows. “Because you’ve never asked me to help you go to any lengths to impress a girl.”
“I’ve only been back here for a few months, so how do you know? Maybe I was impressing the pants off tons of chicks out in Texas.”
Luke laughs. “Yeah, dude. That’s real likely.”
30
Lily
“You’re going to wear something other than that, aren’t you?” Opal stands in her doorway, her lips pursed as she surveys me from head to toe.
“Yes, Judgy McJudgerson, I’m going to change.”
Chloe looks up at Opal. “Miss Opal, mom said we could watch Cinderella if you said it was okay. Not the cartoon one, though, that’s for babies – the one with people.”
“There’s one with people?” Opal asks.
“Yeah. We brought the DVD. Do you want to watch it?”
“Of course I do. We’ll have popcorn. Will you help me make pizza first?”
“With pepperoni?”
“Are you kidding? I have all the fixings.”
I squat down to look at Chloe. “You’re going to behave for Miss Opal, right?”
“Ugh, mom, yes.”
“I’m not going to be back until a little bit later, probably after you fall asleep.”
“Miss Opal, you’re going to let me stay up late, right?”
“Of course I will. Your mom said you can stay up until ten o’clock, even.”
“Ten o’clock?” Chloe squeals, throwing her hands around my neck. “You’re the best mom ever.”
I laugh. “And all I had to do to get called the best mom ever is let you stay up until ten o’clock.”
“And have ice cream.”
“Now you’re pushing your luck. Give me a kiss. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes!” Chloe kisses me quickly on the cheek and then runs to Opal. “Let’s go make pizza! Will you let me help water the flowers on the porch with the red watering can?”
“Sure thing, kiddo. Go grab it from the mudroom.” Opal gives me a pointed look as Chloe darts inside the house. “She’ll be fine. Come get her whenever you want. Although if it’s past midnight, I’ll be asleep too, so you’ll be out of luck. It’s totally fine if she stays the night, though. The guest room is kid-proofed for when Mary and Theo come by, anyway.” Mary and Theo, Opal’s grandchildren, visit frequently. Chloe loves Mary’s half of the guestroom. It’s so posh, Chloe said after the last time she visited. There’s a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the wall.
I exhale heavily. “I don’t know. I don’t want to put you out.”
Opal rolls her eyes. “Makes no difference, picking her up at midnight or in the morning. She’ll be asleep regardless. She won’t know any differently.”
I sigh again. “I don’t know. I’d feel guilty.”
“Lord, you’ll feel guilty about anything. Go, have fun! And for goodness sake, put on some makeup.”
“Do you really think I’m going on a date looking like this?” I ask.
“What’s a date?” Chloe appears in the doorway with a watering can in hand.
“Your mom is going to dinner with a friend,” Opal explains.
“With Killian?” Chloe asks, matter-of-fact.
“What? No.” The words leave my lips automatically and I clamp my mouth shut. I can’t lie to my kid. “I mean, yes. I’m going to dinner with my friend Killian.”
Chloe shrugs. “He’s funny. Can you fill this up with water for me, Miss Opal? Do you have strawberries yet?”
“Let’s go check on the plants together and we’ll see what’s producing.” Opal looks over her shoulder at me. “Have fun. And Lily?”
“Yeah?”
“Relax a little.”
“Can I sleep in Mary’s bed?” Chloe squeals.
“I have it all made up for you,” Opal replies.
“Yay!” Chloe screams. “Mom, can I sleep here?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Please? You said I could stay the night.”
“I said I’d be back after you fell asleep.”
“I know. So I can sleep here, right?”
“You can fall asleep here,” I tell her. I’m still not certain whether I can drop her off with Opal even even if she wants to sleep over and Opal is more than happy to have her spend the night. It just seems irresponsible for me to drop her off at Opal’s house so I can spend the night with my boyfriend.
Not my boyfriend, I correct myself.
“Go, before you’re late.” Opal shoos me away.
“Bye, mom!”
“Holy…” Killian wolf-whistles under his breath. “You look hot.”
I choke back a laugh, even as heat rises to my cheeks. “Um…thanks.” Applying a little makeup and changing into a sundress and cardigan paid off, I guess.
“Or something. . .you know. . . more eloquent than hot.”
“I’ll take hot.” I don’t add the rest of what I’m thinking, which is that Killian definitely looks hot, standing on my front porch in faded jeans
and a heather grey t-shirt. Jeans and a t-shirt seem to be as much as Killian gets dressed up for anything, which is okay with me, because he looks damn fine in them.
I must be staring scratch that, I know I'm staring. In fact, there's a distinct possibility that my mouth is actually hanging open and I'm drooling as I blatantly ogle him. I can hardly be blamed for that, though, not with the way the grey in the t-shirt sets off his eyes and the way the fabric pulls across his chest.
Killian clears his throat, shaking me out of my trance. "Obviously the feeling is mutual."
Heat warms my cheeks. "Oh, shut up."
He shrugs. "I'm used to the ogling. It's not easy being this good-looking."
I roll my eyes. "Or modest."
"I never said I was modest, cupcake."
"If there's one thing you aren't, it's disingenuous."
"I hope you're not going to use your ten-dollar words all night." A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.
"Don't worry. I'll tone it down just for you."
"Much appreciated, ma'am." He slides his thumbs through belt loops on his jeans and gives me a cocky grin, sending a tingle of electricity through me that heads directly for its destination between my legs. Clearing my throat, I turn around and put the key in the door to hide the flush I'm sure is evident on my cheeks. Calling me "ma'am" in that drawl and then standing there grinning at me like that? If I don't lock the door, I'm not sure we'll actually make it out of the house tonight.
Which might not be so bad, now that I think about it. The thought of going somewhere in public with Killian effectively a public service announcement to all residents of West Bend: "Killian Saint and I are officially dating!" makes me nervous.
Screw nervous; it makes me petrified.
"You've been standing there with the key in the lock now for a good minute," Killian points out. "You didn't just fall asleep, did you?"
Taking a deep breath, I spin around and force a smile. "No. I'm fine. Are you ready?"
"Whoa, now. You look like you're about to be put in front of a firing squad."
"I do not." I smooth the dress I'm wearing and step down from the porch, averting my eyes as I pass Killian on the way to his truck. "Are you coming?"
He opens the passenger side door for me and I climb inside. Thankfully, he doesn't press the subject. At least, not until we're a couple of miles down the road and passing the turn-off to Main Street, which is where pretty much all of the restaurants in West Bend are located.
"We're not going downtown?" I ask.
Killian snorts. "I'm not that stupid, cupcake."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"If I take you downtown, the old ladies in West Bend will be planning our wedding before the week's out."
"Oh." I exhale a huge sigh.
Killian laughs. "I don't think you're supposed to be so relieved."
"Did you hear that? I didn't think I sighed that loudly."
"Trust me, I think everyone in town heard that."
I stick out my tongue at him. "Whatever."
"Your maturity is really impressive."
"I spend most of my time with a seven-year-old. I've adopted her mode of communication."
"Is Chloe at Opal's tonight?"
"Yes. So my clock expires at midnight."
"That's very princess-like of you."
"This would make you the prince in this scenario, right?"
"I don't think anyone would confuse me with Prince Charming."
"Maybe the Beast."
"Is that the same story?" Killian turns down the highway - everyone here calls it a highway even though it’s nothing more than a two-lane road heading out of town - and I mean to ask where we’re going exactly, but I don’t.
"Don't you know your fairytales?" I tease.
Killian laughs. "I think it's very safe to assume that the answer to that question is definitely fuck no."
"Except you know who the Beast was."
"A misunderstood loner living by himself in a castle? I empathize with him."
I snort. "So you fancy yourself misunderstood?"
"I have many layers. Like an onion,” he says, his tone indignant.
"You're smelly and you make people cry?"
"Tell me you haven't cried over me."
I sniff. "You're awfully full of yourself, aren't you? You think I've cried over you?"
"With frustration?"
I choke back a laugh. "Okay, I can imagine you drive lots of people to sob with frustration."
"Exactly."
"But not me,” I add.
"Not even when I put the rules up at the bakery?"
"Were you trying to make me cry?"
"Of course not. I'm just saying that you were probably pretty frustrated obviously because of your intense sexual attraction to me. Having to be around a man this intoxicatingly good-looking really had to be difficult."
"Yes, that was clearly the source of my frustration."
“It’s hard to lust after something you can’t have.”
I snort. “I’m pretty sure I could have had you any time I wanted, caveman.”
“Just so we’re clear, cupcake,” he says, glancing over at me with a grin, “you can have me anytime, anywhere.”
He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively before turning his attention back to the road.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You’re supposed to say, ‘Likewise, caveman.'”
31
Killian
There are a few minutes of laughing and bantering back and forth in the truck before Lily turns to ask if we're headed to my cabin.
"You said you didn't want to be seen in public with me."
"I did not say it like that," she protests, shaking her head. "Not exactly."
"It's alright. I'm not offended in the least that you want to keep me your dirty little secret." Lily punches me playfully in the arm. "Your boy toy."
"Stop," she says, laughing.
"Your sex slave."
"You wish you were my sex slave."
"Yes, ma'am, I do."
"You know, this is like the beginning of every bad thriller ever," she notes as we turn down Burnt Pine Road and begin the winding climb up the mountain.
"Bad thriller?" I ask. "I was hoping it was more like awesome porno."
"Very romantic," she says. "This is the part of the thriller where the girl goes to the remote mountain cabin with the questionable man and you scream at the screen, 'No, don't do it!'"
"Who are you calling questionable?"
She laughs, but she doesn't answer.
"I'm kidding. This isn't the start of a porno," I say, pausing. "Unless you want it to be, I mean."
"We'll see how the date goes."
"That sounds promising," I admit. "Just so you know, I do put out on dates."
She laughs. "Just the words I wanted to hear."
I cover her thigh with my palm, keeping myself from not sliding it further until it's between her legs the way I want to do. She shifts at my touch, squirming the way I know she does when she's turned on. It's all I can do to keep my eyes on the road and refrain from pulling over to the side to debauch her. But I'm determined to have a real date, the kind I think she wants. Something respectable, that shows her I'm not just trying to land her in bed.
I'm definitely trying to land her in bed, though. It's just that – and this is a surprise to me I think I want more from her.
"We're almost there." I put my hand back on the steering wheel and clear my throat.
"What made you pick a cabin way up here?" she asks.
I shrug. "I wanted to be alone, I guess. Didn't want to be bothered with people."
She nods. "Yet you decided to keep coming down to the bakery and bugging me."
"You didn't annoy me."
She laughs. "I definitely couldn't say the same thing about you."
"I only annoyed you because you were so hot for me. Just admit it."
"Fine. I was a little bit
hot for you."
"I knew it."
"Don't let that knowledge go to your head." I snort, and she laughs. "Don't even say it."
"I said nothing."
"You were going to ask which head I meant."
"You have a dirty mind." I make my voice as innocent-sounding as possible, when in reality my mind is as far from innocent as it can be. I force my eyes back onto the road, and definitely not on Lily and the way her long legs look in that little floral dress. Or the way her light blue button-down sweater should make her look more conservative but somehow fails to do so, making her look sultry and sexy instead and failing to disguise the way the fitted top drops low on her breasts. Her hair falls down her shoulders, one lock across the front of her chest, the tip disappearing just inside the top of her dress. I want to follow it with my fingers, then slip that cardigan off her shoulders. . .
I clear my throat, shifting in the seat to disguise the fact that I'm getting a hard-on just thinking about undressing her. I'm trying to behave myself, to show her that I'm not a complete and total Neanderthal.
I'm completely screwed.
We pull into the driveway. "Your cabin looks really nice."
I spent yesterday finishing up all my of unfinished projects and cleaning up the cabin so it would be suitable for a date -- at least, the kind of date I think a woman like Lily should have. I lined the driveway with solar lights and strung lighting over the back deck.
Luke helped me create a dinner menu today and prep all of the ingredients. That's right. A fucking dinner menu. One that doesn't include something I hunted. All right, but it does include fish I caught from the river early this morning.
Can't take the mountain out of the man entirely.
Opening the passenger side of the truck, I take Lily's hand as she steps out, my heart suddenly starting to thump faster. Shit, I'm nervous more nervous than when I showed up at her house. I'm definitely more nervous than when I was fucking her.
Why the hell am I so nervous all of a sudden?
She pauses in the middle of the driveway, looking up. "The sky is just so. . . big out here."
Killian: A West Bend Saints Romance Page 17