Unexpected Gift

by Lively, R. S.

  I get lost in her. My skin buzzes and I don’t know if that is from all the drinks I had, or the beauty in my arms. I’ve never reacted like this, and amazingly, I have yet to see her face. I know it will be flawless, like the rest of her.

  I lift my gaze to the friend the blonde was dancing with, but she isn’t there. Instead, Kenna stares back at me with wide eyes. I wave at her, not wanting to be rude, and she waves back, turning around in her dance partner’s arms. His eyes cut a stare at us and smiles at the punk rock hottie in his arms.

  Damn, I guess they are hitting it off. Go, Kenna. I’ve always admired how bold she is in life, even though that damn smoking habit she has is disgusting and it needs to stop. But no matter how many times we all talk to her about it, she lights one up right in front us, just to spite us or something.

  She spins back around and walks closer to us, encroaching on our space. The man, who looks like a prep from an ivy league school, trails behind her like a puppy dog. Poor guy. He has it bad for the pretty biker chick.

  “Having fun?” she shouts over the music, but still, I can hardly hear her.

  I spin the blonde around, wrapping my arms around her. “Yeah, I’m having a great time,” I yell back. “You?”

  “Oh, I’m having so much fun and it is about to get so much better,” she says.

  “Kenna! We should get shots!” The blonde keeps her ass against my pelvis as she leans over and places her hands on Kenna’s shoulders.

  I pull her back toward my chest. “You know Kenna?”

  “Know her? She is basically my sister! How do you know Kenna?” my sexy dance partner replies.

  I glance toward Kenna and cock my head. “Mutual friend. I didn’t know Kenna was close to anyone else. Molly would flip out with best friend jealousy if she knew this!” I yell into her ear, hoping she can hear me over the music.

  “What? No. I’m—” She turns around and steps back, staring at me with eyes the size of saucers—completely horrified.

  “Molly,” we say at the same time, staring at each other. The music fades in the background and time seems to stand still at the reality of what just happened.

  I dirty danced on my best friend’s sister.

  We both turn to Kenna, who is bent over laughing and holding her stomach. Molly turns to me, running her eyes from my hair to my feet, pausing at the bulge in my pants. She starts shaking her head.

  Hell, I don’t know what to do either. I just spent the better half of the last hour dancing with a woman who ignited every cell in my body. A part of me wished my partner was Molly, but now that it is? I don’t know what to do.

  “You have got to be kidding me. You knew about this, Kenna? You didn’t do anything!” Molly screams over the noise, but it still sounds low like a whisper.

  Kenna rolls her eyes and grabs Molly and me by the wrists. She glares at the pretty boy. “Sorry, fun is over. See you around.” She drags us toward the bar, elbowing people out of her way. She pulls out a few stools, makes us sit down, then sits between us.

  She signals the bartender, who is shirtless….are you kidding me? What bartender, tends shirtless?

  “Hey, you’re back.” He puts his elbows on the counter and leans in closer to Molly. “What can I get you? You want that sex on the beach?”

  “Excuse me?” I ask, lifting a brow at Molly. My hands curled into fists on my legs, wanting to throttle the half-naked guy behind the bar. He wants Molly.

  And that is a big problem for me.

  “It’s a drink, Casanova. Hold your horses,” she says as she narrows her eyes at me with pure disinterest. It’s almost borderline hate.

  No, she doesn’t hate me. The way we dance together can never be hate. That is more. I don’t know what, but it is more.

  “Friend of yours?” he asks Molly, shaking her drink. I don’t miss how her eyes linger for a minute on his chest before looking up at his face.

  She slides her eyes toward me. “Yeah, just a friend.”

  Just a friend. I scoff internally. She knows as well as I do that we are beyond friends. I might not have a clue as to what we are, but there is no ignoring whatever this is between us. Sooner or later, it will explode, and we will crash against one another if we keep fighting it.

  “When I get off, do you want to hang out? Maybe we can go get a light bite to eat?”

  I snort at his weak attempt in asking her out. “Where’s your shirt? Are you going to take her to a strip club?”

  “Seriously, Caden?” Molly hisses.

  “Oh, this is Caden?” the bartender sounds surprised.

  I give Molly a perplexed stare, feeling a bit smug. “Talking about me, are you?”

  “Okay, I’m just going to leave this drink here and come back later.”

  “You do that, shirtless.” I snarl at the guy.

  Kenna slams her fist on the bar gaining our attention. We rip our fuming, fire-fueled gazes from one another. “The both of you need to shut up. Caden, hottie bartender only knows about you because of me, not Molly. It doesn’t give you the right to interfere with her night. If she wants to hang out with hottie bartender, then let her. You guys are moving in together only because of an arrangement her brother wanted. You guys aren’t bound to one another.”

  But we are, in some way. We are.

  “I didn’t tell either of you that you were dancing with the enemy because honestly? It is so fun to watch both of you get so bent out of shape. And over what? I don’t understand what you all have to fight about all the time. I mean is it so bad to admit that you are attracted to one another? Because let me tell you, you guys were burning a hole in the floor out there. Your dancing was so hot.”

  Fuck ya, it was. Feeling her against me was the hottest damn thing I have ever felt.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Molly snatches her purse from the bar and jumps off the stool, stomping toward the door.

  I take her drink from the bar, down it, and decide to go after her. Just what in the world had Brandon been thinking? This is a fucking mess.

  Kenna grabs my arm and shakes her head. “Don’t. Going after her will just make her angrier. She needs time to cool down.”

  “I don’t even know what she is mad about. It was just dancing.”

  Kenna huffs and salutes the bartender as he sets down a few shots of tequila. “Just dancing. How many times are you going to tell yourself that? Deja vu,” she mutters before taking shot after shot.

  “What do you mean? It was just like you and that guy were dancing out there. I mean, yeah, we probably wouldn’t have danced if we knew who we were dancing with, but still.”

  She wipes her mouth, folds her arms on the counter, and stares at me with a look that says I’m a complete idiot. “That is what I mean. Why wouldn’t you guys dance together? Listen, I don’t know what you guys have going on, but everyone has been watching it build for years. You guys act like you don’t like each other, to cover the fact that you are attracted to each other. Brandon saw it. I see it. Everyone sees it but the two of you.”

  “It wouldn’t be a good idea.”

  “So, you don’t deny it?” she asks.

  I sigh. “No, I don’t deny it. But we wouldn’t be good for each other.”

  “No, you guys make it seem like you wouldn’t be good for each other, but if you actually tried to be something other than enemies…I don’t know; maybe you guys would see what everyone else has been seeing.” She throws a handful of twenties down on the bar to cover the tab and jumps off the high stool, slamming her boots on the floor. “I’m going to look out for my girl. I know what kind of man you are. Molly deserves better than that. If you can’t give her that, stay away from her, or I’ll run you over with my Harley. Are we clear?” she sneers in my ear.

  I’ve never met a woman who was able to put the fear of god in me, but I won’t ever test Kenna. She has dangerous ties in the real world. She has the ability for me to never be found again. “We are clear, Kenna. I just plan on holding up my end of t
he bargain, okay?”

  “Damn, too bad you’re prettier than you are smart.” She slaps my shoulder and writes a number down on a napkin and whistles, making the bartender turn around and come closer. “Here is Molly’s number. The blonde that just left. She is single.” She says the last word as she glares at me.

  The man smiles and shoves the napkin in his pocket.

  “Game on, am I right?” Kenna tilts her lips in a crooked smile before turning around and walking away.

  I watch her strut out the door, pause, and light a smoke. A blur of blonde comes to her side and puts her head on Kenna’s shoulder. In a blink of an eye, they are gone, and I’m left with shirtless bartender guy. Where is Charles when I need him most?

  My phone buzzes. It’s Charles saying he got called to the hospital for an emergency surgery.

  Damn it. Just what the hell am I going to do? I run my hands through my hair and stare down the aisle of the bar, seeing a pretty brunette staring me down. She has big breasts—fake ones probably—and the old me would have been all about schmoozing her up and taking her home.

  I break eye contact before she can make anything of it. Thinking of another woman didn’t sit well with me. My cock twitches to feel Molly’s body against mine again. The smell of oranges clings to my shirt, invading my lungs. It is almost as if she is still here against me, driving my body insane with need.

  “You like her?” the guy behind the bar asks, sitting a scotch down in front of me.

  “I don’t know. She drives me mad more than half the time.” I swallow the amber liquid in one smooth gulp.

  “Can I share some advice?”

  “I don’t know if I want advice from someone who is looking to have sex with her,” I say bluntly.

  He lets out a small chuckle and pours me another glass. “I’ve bartended along time. I know when people are denying their feelings. I serve people like that every night.”

  “So.”

  “So, there are two outcomes with this situation.” He shrugs his shoulders and nods at someone who takes Molly’s seat. “I’ll be with you in just one second.” He flashes a grin.

  I stand and toss some money down to cover my drinks, lifting a brow at him and telling him to get on with it.

  “One, you guys just be together and stop all the bullshit. Or two, she finds someone else to be with that actually wants to be with her. Maybe someone like me. We would go out, laugh, and have sex, and the sex would be fucking awesome.”

  “Stop talking,” I say through clenched teeth.

  “Why? You don’t care right?”

  I straighten my spine, towering over the guy, and place my hands on the counter. I inch forward and speak low so no one else can hear me. “Let me tell you something. Don’t act like you know anything about our situation. I won’t let you talk about her like that. She is my best friend’s sister, and if that doesn’t complicate things enough… not that you deserve an answer or anything. But let me make one thing very clear. You will not talk to you, ever. Do you understand? She deserves someone who won’t ever talk about her like that. She isn’t someone’s past time. She isn’t someone that can only make you feel good for one night. And if I hear about you doing that to her, I will fucking ruin you. Do you get that?”

  His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, letting his fear break through his tough boy façade. “Yeah, I got it.”

  “Thought so.” I push myself from the bar and gave him a friendly smile. “Now, you have a good night.” I stride out of the club with a new purpose. Tomorrow starts a new era, but when it comes to an end, will I be alone? Or will Molly be there with me?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Molly

  The lake is beautiful. The water ripples from the soft breeze blowing, and the grass sways, brushing against other blades of grass. I shut my eyes, feeling peace and calm wash over me as I edit a manuscript. I love my job. I love that I am able to take my work anywhere and be happy. I never liked the idea of working for someone. I wanted to be my own boss and I am. And I make a pretty decent wage off of it.

  Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t compare to the salary of a neurosurgeon, but I still do well for myself. My shoulders sag as I let out a deep breath and glance over at Posie as she sleeps. I have her bundled up in a pink blanket with yellow roses on it. Amelia made it before she died. She always loved knitting and sewing. I brush my finger over the material. This blanket — besides a few photos, and a house full of stuff— will be the only thing left, that Posie will have to remember her mom by. And yeah, a house full of stuff sounds great, but at the end of the day, it’s just stuff. It will never be able to replicate the people the stuff belonged to.

  Sure, everyone has stories they can tell her until they are blue in the face, but that will never be enough. She will always be left wondering what her parents were like and it breaks my heart. I’ll never be able to give her what she will crave most out of life. And no one ever will. She will walk around with a hole in her heart, the space reserved for a parents’ love—it will be empty—voided.

  “I’m sorry, pretty girl.” I rock her in the car seat. When I came home today, I brought us straight here to the lake. “I’m sorry you won’t be able to know them. They were great you know. Did you know that your daddy proposed to your mommy on the playground, under an oak tree, where mommy pushed daddy off the monkey bars?” She doesn’t move or make a sound. “I know. Your mom could be vicious when she needed to be, but ever since that day, they were together. Not once did they ever break up. Not once did either of them wonder if they were supposed to be together. Well, your mom had a little hiccup on their wedding day, but it wasn’t about not wanting to be with him, she was just nervous. She looked so pretty. I’ll have to show you pictures as you get older.”

  My eyes burn with the threat of tears. “They loved you so much. I am so sorry you are stuck with me and Caden.” I rub my finger down her cheek. I turn my head and look beyond the lake. Mountains paint the distance along with a few grey clouds. It might rain. And that means, I need to go inside to make sure Posie stays dry.

  I place my laptop in my bag and throw it over my shoulder. I stand from the bench and turn around to see the beautiful, A-frame house staring back at me. Caden has been working nights all week, so all he does is sleep during the day and get up and go to work. It makes it easy to avoid him, since I am avoiding him and all.

  The night from the club haunts me. I can’t believe Kenna let me dance with him like that, knowingly. I don’t know how to face Caden because I don’t know how to tell him that I liked it. I loved dancing with him. I loved being in his arms. I felt safe and sexy. I never knew the two could go together so well, but they did, and he makes me feel it without effort.

  He tries texting, but I ignore him. Kenna blows up my phone too, but I’m ignoring her too. I’m mad at her, or I think I am, really, I’m just mad at myself for being sucked into Caden’s charm, and my best friend did nothing to stop me. She let it happen. I’m too stubborn to give in so soon. And I know that isn’t the best quality to have, but I am not ready to talk to either of them yet because I might say something I don’t mean. And in order to achieve that, I have to remove myself from the situation.

  Honestly, my insides are a mess. I keep thinking of Brandon and how I shouldn’t want Caden, and then I think about how angry I get because I like the infuriating man and I don’t want to like him.

  Yet here I am, afraid to go into my own house because if he sees me, he will corner me. And I’m not prepared for that. Call me a coward; I really don’t care. All I know, is as long as I am out here and he is in there, I don’t have to talk to him.

  “Come on, Posie. Let’s get inside and get you dinner. Do you know when you go on soft food? Because I have no idea.” I croon at her in my best baby voice. I blow a piece of hair out of my face, annoyed with the damn wind.

  I follow the pathway made by stone and wood. The long grass brushes against my ankles, and it makes me feel like something is crawling all
over me. Frogs start to croak, and crickets start to sing. All the creatures are starting to come out and speak to one another. It sounds so beautiful. Tonight will be a good night to open my window and let them sing me to sleep.

  Stepping onto the porch, I sit Posie down and whip off my cardigan, letting the cool air wrap around my body and cool me down. For such a short hike, I broke a big sweat. I place my hands on my hips and takes in deep breaths of air. “Whew, Posie. I need to start working out. Aunt Molly is out of shape. When did that happen?”

  “Maybe it happened during the week you have been ignoring me.”

  And there went the wind, right out of my sails.

  “Caden, not now, okay?”

  “If not now, when? It’s been a week. At least call Kenna. She is worried sick about you, and she won’t stop messaging me. Do you know how time-consuming it is to go through thirty texts when I take five minutes off from work? I don’t even get what you are freaking out about.”

  “We danced.”

  “Jesus, who cares. We danced. So what? It was dancing. Plenty of people do it. Don’t let it ruin the situation we have going on here.”

  “Oh, yeah. No. I know that. I’m glad we are on the same page, then.” He steps closer, and the breeze invades my lungs with his clean, pine scent. He smells so good. That smell has kept me up every night this week, waking me up from vivid, sexual dreams. That damn smell has started to haunt me, and I want to be exorcized of it.

  Strands of his wet hair dribble on his dark blue shirt. He showered. He has showered and yep, there they are, the images, like a damn camera roll showing me what he might look like naked. Since I don’t know, I have to conjure up ideas of my own, and he looks amazing naked.

  His hair would be slicked down from the water and the droplets cascade off his lips, soaking them, tempting me to quench my thirst by sucking them into my mouth. The water would travel down his chest, flowing through the valley of his abs.