by Mia Kayla
I leaned over. “Don’t worry,” I said, giving her arm a consoling pat. “Someone’s going to scoop you up, take the arrow from their back pocket, and shoot you themselves, right in your fine ass.”
She smiled, but it didn’t meet her eyes. It made me wonder if she’d been burned before. She shook it off and perked up. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll just keep at what I know best.”
Sensing the sour mood in the atmosphere, I changed the subject. “So what do I do now, Miss Cupid?” I wondered how long this waiting game was going to drag on. When would the prediction become true? I was getting impatient.
“You just wait right there.” She pointed a finger at me. “I’ll be back to work on him tomorrow. It’s just a matter of time.” She got this glint of excitement in her eyes as though her mind was turning, solidifying her plans in her head. She raised one hand in the air, like she was going to take flight. “Super Cupid to the rescue.”
At that, we both laughed.
***
A knock at my door jolted me from the couch and had my heart skipping a beat, maybe two. Sarah had left an hour ago, and I was glad, because if she had met Brian, she’d ask questions I wouldn’t be able to answer.
Opening the door, I was greeted with a panty-dropping smile as he stepped in, holding a bottle of wine.
“Hiya!” I waved him in, greeting him in my usual Kendy bouncy ways. “You come bearing gifts,” I said, taking the bottle from his hands.
“Why, yes I do.” He smirked, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels. He was wearing a Cubs T-shirt, a baseball cap drawn low, and his signature dark jeans, which made his rock hard thighs look amazing.
My eyes moved to the large clock dial in my kitchen. It was eight on the dot. He never failed. As always, Brian was punctual. It was one of the many qualities I admired, especially since I was always the one running five minutes late. I called it Kendy-Standard-Time.
I placed the wine in the fridge and spun back to his charming smile. A whole bunch of awkwardness filled the air as I shifted from one foot to the other. I locked eyes with him, baby blue to crystal blue, and the next second, I angled my head downward.
I knew why he was here. He knew why he was here. It was too early to get it on, yet here he was. I sighed heavily and chewed on my bottom lip as heat moved to the tips of my ears. It seemed we had forgotten how to hang out.
Finally, he stepped forward. “Come here.”
I wrung my hands together. Nervousness bubbled to the surface, though I didn’t know why.
When I didn’t move, he inched closer and cupped the back of my head. Then he bent down and kissed me, and I melted against his soft lips as smoldering heat rushed through my entire body. I pushed my body against him, my nipples pebbling with arousal. The effect this man had on me was undeniable, instant.
Damn. What this man could do with his lips. Hands down, the best kisser I’d ever encountered. He should teach a class he was so damn good.
When I tilted my head to feel the tip of his tongue, his lips slowed down.
He lightly brushed his mouth against mine then pulled away, leaving me with a burning desire, an aching need, for another kiss.
With one thumb, he grazed my cheek tenderly. “Did you have dinner?”
I blinked a couple times, in a daze and still high from his kiss. I took a slow, level breath to calm my stammering pulse and shook my head. “No, not yet. You?”
“No,” he replied, flashing me his sweet smile. “Let’s get dinner, pretty girl.”
Our eyes locked and I drowned in his. Warm. Sweet. The deep blue reminded me of a clear ocean, one you’d like to dive into, swim in, and never come out of.
My breath caught at the loving look in his gaze. “Okay,” I said softly.
His hand traveled from my cheek to my arm, interlocking our fingers and leaving a trail of goose bumps where he touched.
I peered up at him through my lashes, shying away as the warmth spread to my cheeks. “You know you don’t have to buy me dinner to get laid. You already bought me wine.”
He chuckled and then winked, wiggling our interlocked fingers. “Don’t worry. I’m feeding you so you can work it off tonight.”
I squeezed his hand back, offering him my seductive smile as my insides tingled with anticipation. Though, I had to admit I was looking forward to our dinner date, too.
Hanging out with Brian was easy, like breathing, effortless. It didn’t feel like work being in his presence; our conversations flowed easily. I craved his attention, and he always had a way of making me feel wanted, as though he also craved my attention.
Admittedly, a part of me would be sad when this arrangement came to an end.
***
BRIAN
After dinner, I paid and led her out of the restaurant, pulling her in close as we maneuvered through the crowd.
Luckily, we were still close by and could walk back to her place. It would have taken forever to hail a cab.
A few blocks from her apartment, she jerked us to a stop in front of a post office. “Can we stop in here?”
“Sure.” I followed her inside and into a booth, where she reached for a pen in her purse, took out her checkbook, and started filling out an envelope.
“What’re you doing?” I asked, leaning against the counter. I was strangely impressed by her neat handwriting.
She smiled her golden smile. “Sending my mama money.” Her eyes lit up as she said it, like it made her happy to send her mother money. “She works hard at the diner, but I’ve been sending her more money so she can cut back on her hours.”
I cocked my head, lifting an eyebrow. “I thought she was dating the boss.”
She slapped my shoulder before taking the paper and heading into line. “It’s Mama, and my mama is not going to take one thing from that man, even though Hank is sweet as pie. She’s not taking anything from him until he puts a ring on her finger.”
She stepped into the line and the guy in front of us eyed her up and down. Of course he did. Kendy was gorgeous. There wasn’t an ounce of makeup on her, yet she was captivating. Her summer skirt lay mid-thigh, accenting her shapely legs, and her fitted white tank top was short enough that when she moved in certain angles, you could see a small span of her stomach.
When she smiled her sweet smile up at him, he returned her gesture and then he eyed me up, most likely wondering if I was the boyfriend. My lips pressed together in a tight line, my eyes telling him to face forward and carry on, which he did.
This boiling feeling inside of me was foreign. It surprised me. I’d been protective of my sisters, and maybe of my girlfriends in the past, but never jealous. Something about Kendy brought out this new side of me.
I rubbed the base of my neck as tension rose to my shoulders. It was an emotion that made no sense, especially since we weren’t officially together.
She folded the check in half and then in quarters, like she was trying to hide it in her fingers.
“You’re going to stick it in the envelope like that?”
She shrugged. “Yep. Maybe she’ll think I sent her an empty envelope for once and then bam, it drops out like a nice surprise. I’m sure she wouldn’t put stuff past me. I’ve wrapped earrings in a small box before, and placed it in multiple larger boxes. Then I gift wrapped that baby in duct tape.”
I chuckled, displaying a wide smile. She and her mother seemed to have the best relationship. I wondered if she got her happy-go-lucky personality from her, too. “Do you send her money often?” I felt like a shitty son all of a sudden. I’d thought I was good, because I’d always remembered to send birthday and anniversary cards.
“Yep. Every other week, when I get my paycheck. I started doing it when I graduated and began working. The first time, she sent the check back and wouldn’t accept it. I just about flipped on her.” Her infectious laughter rippled through the room. “She’s so used to taking care of me. It’s just a great change to take care of her.” She peered up at me wi
th pride in her eyes. “I love my mama. She’s been through a lot.” Her voice trailed off as her smile dimmed. “Being a single mom is hard . . . and I’m just happy I can finally give back.”
Behind the counter, the older attendant with a full head of grey motioned for Kendy to step forward. I stood behind her as my jaw tightened, a slew of emotions filling me. There were so many facets of Kendy’s life I didn’t know about. Her cheery exterior was a façade, holding in a young woman who’d been through her own struggles in life.
When she was finished, she strolled out the door and, once again, I followed.
She went on as we walked down the crowded street. “My father left us when I was eleven. From eleven to seventeen, I waited for him to come back. It wasn’t until that psychic told me to stop waiting that I knew he was never coming home.”
A sad smile passed over her beautiful face. “It’s hard waiting and wishing and thinking that every day I might wake up and he’d be right there beside me.” She shook her head as her chin trembled. “I hoped and prayed he’d come back, just to mend my mama, who would not stop crying. I never told her I saw the psychic, though. I didn’t have the heart. I didn’t know which was the lesser evil, breaking her heart or letting her hope with no future.”
She dropped her lashes to hide the hurt. “The next week, just like Evangeline had predicted, I saw him with his new girlfriend at a county fair, one town over. Fucking bastard. He saw me and just turned away.” She nodded once and, as she lifted her head, I sensed a glimmer of hope pass through her eyes. “That psychic was the best thing that ever happened to me. I stopped waiting for something that was never going to happen.”
As I stared at her profile, I noticed she looked lighter. Like a little bit of her shell had broken off. I reached for her hand, locking our fingers. If anything, our connection made me feel better.
A tiny smile touched her lips. “Now I’m just waiting for this last prediction to come true.”
I nodded once, slowly coming to the realization and understanding why she needed everything she’d been told to come true. “It will.” I patted her hand to reassure her. What I said was meant to comfort her, yet it had an opposite effect on me as my stomach churned at my own words.
***
KENDY
I had rushed Brian out of my apartment in the early morning, hoping I could get a little shut-eye before my twelve-hour shift.
Today, the hospital was unusually chaotic. We had already treated two gunshot wounds, both cases I’d been assigned to. When my butt finally hit the seat at the nurses’ station, my whole body collapsed against the chair. I felt like I’d been on my feet forever. All I wanted to do was soak them in some warm water and get a pedicure.
My hand moved the mouse, bringing the computer to life. Once in the system, I typed my write-up for my last case. When I spotted Dr. Klein from the corner of my eye, I perked up, looking studious.
But remembering him walking out of the bar with that chick had irked me.
I pulled all my hair to the side, flattening my unruly mane, probably crazy from the long day. My eyes flickered discretely in Dr. Klein’s direction. He looked hot as hell, which eased up the annoyance a little.
Karen, the charge nurse, wheeled out Mrs. Calley from room two-oh-one. She had been admitted for dehydration and was on observation. The woman, no younger than seventy-five, brightened when Dr. Klein raised his head.
The scene broke my mood, the corners of my mouth pulling up as it unfolded in front of me. I could tell she had a little crush on a certain doctor as she smiled big and spoke fast. Her loud voice could also be blamed on her hearing aid, but it was more likely Dr. Klein.
Get in line, Mrs. Calley, I thought humorously.
“Adeline, I see you’re doing much better,” he said, easing next to her. “Looking good now. In a few days, you’ll be back to a hundred percent. You’ll have to keep drinking liquids and stay out of the heat.”
Her wrinkly hand patted his as she peered at him. “I’m just glad it wasn’t anything more serious. I could’ve fallen again and bruised my hip. That would require a longer stay.”
He chuckled lightly. “How is that hip of yours doing?”
“Better.” She nodded. “Still a little sore after that surgery, but better.”
Observing her cheerful demeanor, I wondered if she’d ask Dr. Klein to massage it. I would. Even at the tender age of seventy-five, I was sure my personality would never change.
He patted her hand this time. “Don’t worry. Nothing a couple of Tylenols and rest won’t cure.”
Her laugh was carefree, making my smile widen at her display of affection toward my doctor. Normally, jealousy would surface, but not when the woman with a full head of grey hair looked giddy staring up at his face. The woman reminded me of my own nana, my grandmother I had loved so much.
“Thank you, doctor,” she cooed, her eyes lighting up.
“You take care and do call us if you have any concerns.” He placed her hands back on her lap and smiled sweetly before touching her shoulder and sauntering my way.
I ducked my head back to the computer, pretending to type, which ended up with random letters and a word I didn’t understand on my screen.
I sensed his presence looming above me. When I looked up, there he was in all his handsome glory. My pulse quickened in my throat, and the insides of my palms formed tiny sweat beads.
Boy, was he dreamy; even more so up close.
Inwardly, I sighed. But I composed myself and peered up. “Hi.”
He leaned into me, like he wanted to be closer, and my whole body went into overdrive. “Did you do something with your hair?” There was this sly grin on his face. He was definitely flirting, and now it was my turn to play coy as I glanced down at the keyboard.
“Well, Dr. Klein, I didn’t get it cut or anything, if that’s what you’re asking.” I flipped my hair over my other shoulder, making eye contact. “But I did curl it today.”
The side of his mouth twisted into a half smile as he took a strand of hair between his fingertips, making me die of utter happiness. “It looks great, Kendy. You should curl it more often. Oh, and from now on, you can call me James.”
He winked then walked away, and I watched his perfectly sculpted ass move down the hall. My stomach stirred, full of butterflies. Holy hottie.
If he loved curls, I’d seriously consider getting a perm.
I scanned the area, searching for anyone who had witnessed the love fest that had just happened. Then I touched my cheeks, just like the kid in Home Alone, trying to get my pulse to return to a normal rate.
It worked.
I couldn’t believe it frickin’ worked!
The scheme to make him all jealous at the bar with Brian had gotten me noticed.
No one could break my high.
With no one to share my giddiness with, I texted Brian.
Me: We did it. Our plan is working. Dr. Hot Pants loves me.
It took a few long seconds before he texted back.
Brian: How could he not?
Me: Truth
I replied and tucked my phone back in my pocket with a smile. “Now this weekend, I’ll help you with the women,” I muttered out loud.
Brian had held up his end of the deal, and it was time for me to fulfill mine.
***
BRIAN
I shouldn’t have been annoyed that Stiff had flirted with Kendy, but I was. He hadn’t made a move since her text, though, and I doubted the dick would make one at all.
Maybe I was in denial. I couldn’t tell.
She had worked three twelve-hour shifts in a row and wanted to recuperate, but we’d been texting daily. Her funny jokes and my one-liners were comic relief during the boring yet stressful workweek. Still, I missed hanging out with her in person and seeing that beautiful face of hers. I didn’t want to miss her, but shit, I did.
Tonight was going to be hysterical. She was determined to set me up. I would’ve rather stayed in with
her, but I knew her whole game plan this evening would be entertaining.
I sat on the bar stool against the kitchen island. The black granite countertops were a stark contrast to the white Sports Illustrated magazine with the model, Kate Upton, on the cover.
I heard the jingle of keys and looked up to see Trey strolling in.
With one hand, he undid his tie, and sauntered into the kitchen. “Man oh man. Daddy dearest made me work my ass off today.”
I laughed out loud, thinking how ironic it was that his father made him work harder than any of his execs or other partners.
“I feel you.” I sighed as my shoulders released the tension from the long day of customer calls.
Trey swung his suit jacket off and threw it on top of the bar stool next to me then went to sort through the pile of mail on the counter.
“One day, you’re going to be King of Manhattan like your daddy. I’m jealous, man,” I said.
He shook his head, an air of sadness in his face. “He’s got all the money in the world, but he’s lonely. Don’t be jealous.” The air in the atmosphere shifted to cold, as though I’d hit a nerve with my comment.
“You can buy company,” I joked, trying to lighten his mood.
“And I’m sure he has.” Trey reached into a drawer for the letter opener. “Anyways, what’re we doing tonight?” he asked as he tore through his first piece of mail.
“I’m meeting Kendy.”
He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t ask the question I knew he wanted to. “You headed to the bar? Mind if I tag along?” He threw me my pile of mail.
“You can hang out, but not at the after party at her place.” I smirked. “Sorry, I don’t swing that way.”
“Dumbass.” He rolled his eyes. “I can get my own.”
“We’re leaving at ten,” I told him.