Heart on Fire

by Brandy L Rivers

  “I’ve heard you’re here with Kyle. As his date.” Her eyes narrowed, her smirk cutting. “Yet he’s nowhere in sight? You do something to make him leave? And then stayed? That’s tacky, these people are his friends, not yours.”

  Cadence stepped up beside her and put an arm around Mila. “Rene, you need to check your attitude. Kyle went to the store with your brother. Besides, didn’t you come with Mitch? So why are you worried about Kyle and his date?”

  “I was hoping Mitch would take Mila home, so I could have Kyle to myself,” she answered honestly.

  Taken aback, Mila stared at Rene. “That’s ridiculous. I’m not going home with another man.”

  “Why? Because of your daughter? Or your friend? You could have your friend watch your precious little bastard, so you could go have some real fun.” Her eyes sparkled with malice.

  It took all her will not to slap Rene.

  Cadence shook her head her eyes narrowed. “You can take your shitty attitude and leave, Rene.”

  Mila took a slow breath and turned to walk away. Barb stepped up and got in Rene’s face. “What is wrong with you? You’re a mean, nasty bitch. What has Mila done to you?”

  Mila touched Barb’s shoulder. “Don’t, Barb. She’s not worth it.” She looked back to Cadence. “Really, I don’t want a scene.”

  Rene challenged, “You’re afraid you’d lose if you went up against me.”

  That wasn’t it, but commenting wouldn’t stop the debacle.

  “What’s the problem?” Kyle asked as he came around the house.

  More attention was being drawn and Mila wanted to crawl in a hole. It was better to go.

  Rene rounded on him, her hands on her hips. “You’re going to choose a slut with a bastard kid over a woman you were with for two years? Me, who you’ve known since we were kids?”

  Mila shot Barb a look of warning, then tried to slip away to get Cherish. Before she made it off the porch, Kyle wrapped his arm around her.

  He gently caught her face, forcing her gaze to his. “Don’t go, please.” He glanced back at Rene. “I left you months ago. You didn’t even want me, you wanted a puppet to bend to your will. That’s not me. I’m happy, and with someone who accepts me for me. But even if I hadn’t captured Mila’s attention, I wouldn’t come back to you.”

  Rene jabbed a finger Mila’s way. “You, you stupid bitch, you can’t give him what he needs.”

  “Mommy,” Cherish looked up at her, “Why is that woman so mean to you?”

  Mila closed her eyes, and struggled to find the words to set a good example for her daughter. After a pause, she grudgingly explained, “She’s upset, and that’s not very nice to say, honey.”

  Kyle’s brow arched as he stared at Mila in surprise.

  She gave him a pleading look. The last thing she wanted was more attention, which they were quickly gathering.

  He sighed as he knelt down to make eye contact with Cherish. “Because Rene isn’t getting her way. Sometimes, people aren’t very nice when they can’t have what they want, but your mother is right, that isn’t very nice to say.”

  Cherish frowned and looked up at the woman. “Sorry.” She didn’t sound like she was, and Mila had to fight back her smile.

  “Really? You want Miss Prim-and-Proper? One who won’t even stand up for herself?” Rene shook her head. “Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you aren’t fun anymore.” She motioned to Mitch and stomped off through the house.

  “I should go,” Mila whispered to Kyle. “I hate causing a scene.”

  “Sweetheart, you didn’t cause that. She did. And she’s leaving.”

  “Mommy, I still want to play. Can I? Please? Remember, Jenny is coming over.”

  That was right. “Yeah, okay,” Mila answered, feeling defeated.

  “Hey, Mila, don’t let her get to you.” Joe grinned as he came to stand beside them. He was one of the guys from the firehouse. “She’ll back off when she realizes she doesn’t have a chance.”

  Gavin added, “My sister doesn’t have her head on straight. We all want you here, especially Kyle.” Gavin reached out and squeezed her hand. “And I prefer you over my sister any day of the week. You make an excellent pie, and you make Kyle happy.” Then he looked at Jenny and Cherish with a grin. “Besides, I think Jenny would riot if you drag Cherish out, she likes your daughter a lot better than her aunt.” He winked.

  Mila couldn’t help smiling, “All right, all right, I won’t go. I probably shouldn’t, but I feel bad your sister is leaving because of me.”

  “She’s leaving because she’s a selfish…” he looked over to see all the kids further out in the yard and whispered, “bitch, but I keep hoping one day she’ll learn. It was Mitch who invited her. I couldn’t talk her out of coming.”

  Joe nodded and half-laughed. “I give Mitch another week before he figures out how Rene really is.”

  Everyone gave some affirmative sign before breaking off into their own conversations.

  Barb smiled at her, and went to chat with Cadence, while Kyle pulled her to a quiet corner. “Are you all right?”

  “Embarrassed,” she whispered.

  He kissed her, soft and sweet, “Don’t be, sweetheart. No one here blames you for that mess. They all like you. Besides, if Rene keeps causing a scene, I’ll do all the get-togethers at my place and make sure she knows she’s not invited.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Gavin won’t shut his sister out. You can’t expect him to.”

  “I got news for you. He tried to stonewall her from coming. He’ll pick us over Rene any day. This isn’t the first time she’s pulled something like that, and not only with me. She’s done the same thing to a couple of the guys we work with. Guys who aren’t here because they got tired of her shit.”

  “Look, let’s discuss something else. Okay?”

  “Mmm, all right.” He laid another kiss on her, getting lipstick on him.

  “Hey,” she pushed him back with a grin, and wiped the red from his mouth. “I should clean this off.” She backed toward the door. “Give me a minute.”

  Barb joined her as she went to the bathroom. “Total keeper. Don’t you dare let him go.”

  “I have a feeling he wouldn’t make it easy to walk away. He already cares about Cherish, and if I had any doubts about him, that wipes them all away. He’s everything I want and more.”

  “Good, now take care of the smudged lipstick.” She winked. “And tonight, you should go visit your man. I’ll watch Cherish after she goes to bed. I promise to call if she wakes up, but I know you only stayed up with me because you felt obligated. That or invite him over, I won’t mind.”

  “We’ll see, but Jenny is staying the night. So I can’t exactly leave.”

  Cadence snuck up on them. “Sure you can. I trust Barb, she’s a mom too. I hope she’ll come up with her girls next time.”

  “Ooh, good idea, and I’ll bring Tony too. I think the guys will all have a blast.”

  “Definitely bring the whole family,” Mila said. She turned to Cadence. “If I go over to Kyle’s, I won’t stay all night,” Mila offered quickly, still not sure she would leave in the first place.

  “If you’re that worried, have Kyle stay. I trust him with my daughter. For future reference, he’s an excellent babysitter.”

  Mila grinned. “He is pretty amazing with kids.”

  Chapter 17

  Kyle had gone home to let the girls “go to sleep.” He paced through his living room, waiting. There were a million things he wanted to say to Mila.

  It nearly gutted him when she tried to leave Gavin’s after his sister decided to be a royal bitch. Maybe it was paranoia, but he kept wondering if she would find a way to shut him out. He hoped not.

  Mila finally texted him, Come over. They’re asleep.

  Be right there.

  He didn’t waste any time, heading through the gate, and up the steps. She stood at the door, waiting with a smile.

  “Hi,” she whispered and nodded to the stairs
.

  He didn’t say a word. Instead, he took her hand and followed her to her room. Cherish and Jenny were bundled up in sleeping bags on the living room floor, Ash curled up contentedly between the girls. Barb was reading a book on the couch and waved as they passed.

  Kyle held back his chuckle until they were behind the closed door. “Now,” he whispered, as he pulled her shirt over her head, “I’ve been craving you since Thursday.” He closed the distance to brush his lips over hers. “I missed you,” he nibbled down her neck, “making love to you,” then kissed his way up to her ear to whisper, “but most of all you.”

  Opening his pants, she nodded. “I’m sorry. Until we figure this out, we can’t be with each other 24/7. First, we need to find a way to tell Cherish. I was thinking maybe tomorrow, after Barb heads to the airport. It’s best to be honest with her.”

  His heart stuttered. “I can hardly wait.” He pulled Mila into his arms, and held her. Her hands flattened on his chest, her head resting against his shoulder. “I’m going to do whatever I need to do to prove we can work.”

  “I know,” she whispered, but didn’t look at him.

  Gently pushing her back, he looked into her eyes. “Then what’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want you to feel obligated to me if we fall apart. To Cherish, sure, but not to me. I don’t want to trap you in a relationship where you aren’t happy.”

  “Are you still worried about that? Because I have news for you. I…” he took a deep breath, and dove in, “I love you, Mila. I know it’s fast, but it didn’t take much for me to fall. Tell me you believe me.”

  “I believe you believe, and I’m getting there. I need time.” She tried to step away, but Kyle banded his arms around her waist, hauling her back.

  “Hey now, we’ll take this one day at a time, and see where it goes. So I have a deal to make.”

  She tensed in his arms. “What’s that?”

  “I won’t rush you, but you don’t push me away unless you have a good damned reason to. Got it?”

  Relaxing slightly, she nodded. “Got it.” She still looked scared, and he was going to have to figure out a way to erase her fears. For now, he could help her forget her worries.

  “You still want me?”

  Her head dipped in a slow nod, eagerness burning in her eyes.

  Kyle leaned in to nuzzle her ear. “Do you still want to make love to me?”

  “Mmhmm,” she murmured.

  “Because I want you. I wanted you that night at the party. I was irresistibly drawn to you. I’ve wanted you since I heard you laughing outside my living room and heard Cherish giggle. I took one look at the two of you, and I knew I wanted to be with you. I want to see that little girl smile as much as possible.”

  He heard her intake of breath, and felt her nod. He leaned back to see tears filling her eyes.

  “Mila,” he whispered, “I love you.”

  She stared into his soul for a long moment. “Okay. I believe you. Stop trying to convince me and show me.”

  His heart sank when she didn’t say she loved him, but he knew things couldn’t be easy for her.

  Six years on her own, thinking it would only ever be her and her daughter. She wound up pregnant after some asshole let her walk away when she wouldn’t give up her dreams.

  Her mother didn’t support her decisions.

  Now she thought he might crush her. Or worse, hurt her little girl when he walked away.

  He finally found what he’d been searching for, and he wasn’t letting Mila, or Cherish, go. No way, no how. He wanted the whole package. Proving his intentions was his only goal.

  For now, he would kiss away her tears, and show her how much he needed her in every way possible.

  Kyle kissed her, as he removed the rest of her clothes, and then knelt down as he pushed her gently onto the edge of the bed.

  He spread her wide and licked at her already slick folds. “Mmm, my favorite taste in the world.”

  “Kyle,” she whispered in surprise, but he flicked his tongue over her clit as he held her open. “Oh please,” she whispered, “yes.”

  When he sucked her clit into his mouth, she grasped his scalp, her nails digging in but it drove his need higher. One finger pressed into her tight body. “You’re going to kill me,” he murmured.

  “Why?” she whispered brokenly.

  “You are so damned tight.”

  “Kegals,” she gasped, “A billion Kegals.”

  He laughed, as he worked another finger into her, scissoring, stretching, until she fell back, writhing. He licked and sucked as he filled her up, until she clenched down on him as she came, dragging a pillow over her face to muffle the sexiest sounds he’d ever heard.

  “I love the way you come,” he growled as he stood up and rolled a condom on.

  Kyle crawled over her and pushed deep, making them one. Her back arched, her breasts bouncing as he stroked in and out of her. So exquisitely his.

  “I love the way you love my body,” she moaned, as another orgasm took her, making her writhe, her legs flexing around his waist, holding him tight as she found her release.

  Once she calmed, he started moving again, determined to bring her over once more. Knowing she was right there on the edge, and he was so close, it was a miracle he hadn’t come before now. And then they did, together. She was a part of him, a part of his heart.

  A few weeks ago, if someone told him he would be falling for a woman, he would have laughed in their face. He’d had relationships, but never fell in love. He cared for women, enjoyed being with women, but this was so much more.

  When she fell still, he dealt with the condom, then picked her up to hold her in her bed, wrapping her in his embrace and kissing her forehead sweetly. “I mean it, Mila, I love you.”

  “It’s too soon. How can you be sure?” her voice trembled.

  “I’ll find a way to prove it to you. I know words aren’t enough. I’m sorry someone hurt you, made you doubt, but I will find a way to make you see.”

  “Please Kyle, give me time.”

  “All right, now sleep. I know you must be tired. You were up late last night.”

  “You’re too good to me,” she whispered, but snuggled deeper into his arms.

  Chapter 18

  The phone rang, waking her up. She glanced at the clock.

  Who the hell is calling at five? On a Sunday.

  Kyle was still there, holding her. Mila reached over and answered the phone with a groggy, “Hello?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me we have a child?” Anger radiated through the tone.

  Now she was awake, her heart thundering in her chest. “Who is this?”

  “Paul,” he snapped into the phone. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Her hands shook so bad she nearly dropped the phone as her whole world threatened to come crashing down. She hadn’t heard from him once in six years. “Because she’s not yours. I left you before I got pregnant.”

  “Your mother says she could be mine. Says she was born a month early according to you, yet was very healthy for being premature.”

  “She’s not yours. I would have told you if I even thought it was possible.” She tried to climb out of bed, but Kyle wrapped his arms around her, reminding her he was there.

  Tears leaked down her face. Kyle looked up at her, clearly concerned and pulled her closer.

  Panicked, she held her finger to her mouth. Things were going so right. Of course Paul had to go and ruin it.

  Mila swallowed hard and found her voice. “Look, we were over before I got pregnant. There was no chance I was pregnant when I left you.”

  “That’s not what your Mom says. She wants you to come home. Wants you to have a paternity test. Don’t make me force the issue. You know I can.”

  Nausea rolled through her with a wave of anger. This couldn’t be happening. He had no right.

  Forcing the anger back enough to remain civil, she calmly replied, “Fine, have the test done. I don’t care. Sh
e’s not yours.”

  “I don’t believe you. It’s all too damned convenient.”

  Convenient? How in the hell was any of it convenient?

  Mila wiped at her face. She knew without a doubt Paul couldn’t be her baby’s father. A thought occurred to her, and she gasped. “Why on Earth would you believe my mother?”

  “Someone has to. You never listened to her.”

  “Ha! And why should I? She called you for a month, trying to talk you into coming back to me when that was the last thing I wanted. After all this time, why would you do this now?”

  “I think she’s mine. The timing is right. I want the test, and I want to be in her life.”

  Her hand knotted in the blanket as she seethed. “Six years, and you think you can waltz in and take my daughter?”

  “Our daughter.”

  She barely contained the growl. “Not a chance in hell. Tell me what I need for the test. You’re paying for it though, because this is ridiculous. The timeframe is wrong, no matter what my mother says.”

  “That’s just like you, holding yourself away from me, and now you’re keeping our daughter from me.”

  Her chest heaved with every breath. She wanted to throw something. “Oh god, she’s not yours! Don’t you think I would have said something? I was never that cruel.”

  “Yes you are. You never once let me all the way in, and you never would compromise.”

  Her composure was crumbling, she was having trouble keeping the tremble from her voice. “Compromise? You didn’t want compromise. You wanted control. Look, if you really believe my daughter could be yours, send whatever I need to complete the test, but you’re going to look like an asshole when the results come back.”

  Kyle sat up, letting her go. Confusion warred with the hurt in his expression. He probably doubted everything she’d said and done, doubted his own feelings. She couldn’t blame him.

  God, why now?

  Although, in that vein, she probably should do a test with Kyle to be sure. Not that it could be anyone else, but obviously her mother and now her ex seemed to believe otherwise. Her heart ached, thudding in her chest as her hope came tumbling down.