“You knew I had a daughter?” she asked, pretty surprised at the fact.
“And Robbie from the diner told me.”
“Wow.”
“It’s a small town, honey. Rob’s been my friend since middle school. New, sexy resident, he was playing matchmaker. You were in there waiting for Hailey. I was at the counter and kept staring at you, thinking about how the hell to approach you.”
“Really?” She smiled, and he stroked the apples of her cheeks before tucking away a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Yep. Saw you the day you got to town. I was…”
“Across the street,” she whispered, and he nodded.
“I got a call from dispatch before I could get my ass into the diner to talk to you. But I drove around and saw a U-Haul with a red SUV and had a gut feeling it was you.”
“I don’t get it, though,” she spoke without thinking. He tilted his head.
“Get what?”
“I’m not even your type,” she blurted.
“What?” His handsome face scrunched into a scowl, and she bit her lower lip before telling him what her sister had shared.
“Josh told Jenn you date the prim and proper conservative types.”
“Josh is an idiot.” He smiled, the lines on the sides of his eyes crinkling. “But he’s also right. In his own stupid way.” Her heart sank slightly, and she tried to pull away, but he held her close, speaking against her lips.
“I should umm…” she tried to get out of his arms, but he didn’t let her.
“You could have had a neon light above your head that flashed trouble, Keira,” he told her. She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know where you could think that…”
“Tight, sexy pin-up dress, fuck-me heels that lifted and did the impossible to this perfect ass,” he shared as he cupped her bottom. “Those damn red lips of yours, and your hair…” His voice drifted off, a hand tangling into her locks, and she tilted into his touch.
“My hair?”
“Baby, your hair is fucking gorgeous. Soft and silky, my hands clenched to feel it wrapped around the palms of my hands.”
“It was Vegas,” she said, feeling exasperated.
“Yep.”
“You are supposed to dress up in Vegas,” she pointed out. He smiled at her, his eyes moving from her mouth to her eyes.
“You are.”
“And go wild.”
“And we did, baby.” He kissed her, and even though he’d been sweet boosting her ego about what he thought about her that night, she still hadn’t forgotten he had said she wasn’t his type.
“Rex…”
“I’m over forty and single, never married for a reason.”
“What?”
“I’ve never lacked female company, but I haven’t had to chase anyone either. Like I told you, I was engaged twice. First time, I was seventeen and thank God we didn’t, because she is an amazing woman, but we would have short-changed the world of the amazing work she does now. She’s a photographer who travels the world and reports on things that need the public’s attention. We were engaged for the summer before we started college and before we both left to separate schools. We knew it wasn’t going to work,” he shared. She was surprised.
“Wow. That’s sweet and kind of sad.”
“It’s life. Then twelve years ago, I met someone. She was really sweet and we got along. We dated for a year. I thought I could see it being forever, but I was wrong.”
“What happened?”
He looked at her. His jaw twitched, and he looked away. “Everyone thinks I got cold feet and walked away.”
“But that’s not the truth?” He shook his head and swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
“Things were okay between us, but kind of stagnant. I couldn’t put my finger on it…”
“What happened?”
“The day before our wedding, we were talking, running around…”
“And?”
“And we were in the car at the restaurant for our rehearsal dinner when she turned to me and blurted out she didn’t love me.”
“What?”
“She said she loved me, but not like that. She was in love… with one of her bridesmaids.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t stop the way her eyes went wide.
“We sat in silence. I was in shock, and she couldn’t believe she had finally admitted her sexual preference to someone out loud, much less to her fiancé the night before her wedding.” He surprised her by smiling and shaking his head. “She’s a great woman, just not comfortable about who she is sexually attracted to.”
“What did you do?”
“We talked. We knew we couldn’t go through with things, so we called the wedding off. People just assumed it was me who broke it off.”
“And you let them.”
“Yeah. She wasn’t ready to come out. We might live in California, but this is still small town USA. She didn’t need anyone outing her before she was ready.”
“Is she? I mean, is she out now?”
“Yep. She lives in Bakersfield with her girlfriend and they run an animal shelter.” He kissed her forehead and pulled away, looking into what felt like her soul. “I’ve been privileged to meet and date some great women, amazing even. But it wasn’t until that night in a bar I realized how bored I’d been. I haven’t been a saint, but I’m a far cry from a manwhore. You walked into that bar, and I swear it was like color was infused into my life with one look; and even though you were not the type I pursued before, I knew I had to talk to you.”
“Okay,” she blurted out, and her cheeks flamed.
“Okay?” He raised an eyebrow, and she smoothed it down.
“I have to talk to Meg, but we will see where this goes.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
“Let’s get dressed and get you home,” he ordered, kissing the tip of her nose. She giggled before hopping off and doing as she was told.
Chapter Eleven
Rex – a week later
He was frustrated, tired, and hungry. As he looked at the pile of paperwork strewed over his desk in his office, he didn’t see himself getting out of the confining space of his office any time soon. With a sigh, he ignored the stack of work he should be elbow-deep in and turned his chair to face the sole window. He stared out toward the park across the police station.
Even with the headache that was starting to pound behind his eyes at the thought of a long night, he felt content.
He was totally at peace with how his life had changed after his date with Keira at the batting cages. He realized he’d never felt that way about woman, and he fucking liked it a lot. He knew it had only been a week, but his week had flown by leaving him more than satisfied.
Between his position as chief of police for his sleepy town and her job at Honey’s—which he found out was more than just hair, she was also an esthetician—they were busy. She had started to gain numerous clients not only from within their city, but a couple in the surrounding area, and he was happy for her.
They had juggled not only their jobs, but also a couple of activities Megan had joined to meet new people. He’d liked watching Key’s girl attempt her hand at making the best of moving and becoming a part of their new community. He also liked that whatever Meg tried out for, his usually quiet and shy niece Katie did, too.
But somehow with all the activities and responsibilities, they’d made it work.
They’d shared dinners together on a daily basis, and he had cooked on two of the nights Key was stuck at work. By the time Key had arrived the first night he’d cooked, the girls and Rex had everything set and ready to go. And even though he wasn’t the best cook and cooking wasn’t something he completely enjoyed, he’d keep doing it for the way her beautiful face softened when she stepped into the house.
That look alone made the left side of his chest ping and made it feel like a gift. It also didn’t hurt the next time they were alone, she sh
owed her gratitude. And Key had been great at showing it.
He’d wondered why it had been such a big deal to her. To him, everyone had to eat and what he had done, in his book at least, hadn’t been much. So he asked her and she’d shared how her ex had never been very helpful or involved.
That’s when the bond he realized Key shared with her daughter was different. It was special. They had been a team of two long before her divorce. He also noticed Meg never mentioned her dad and she never got calls from him, at least not when he was there. He found it to be sad.
Meg was a great kid. She was pretty, smart, a hell of a volleyball player, competitive, and fucking funny. So damn funny that his niece, who was usually stone quiet, laughed a lot. It was a shame the kid’s dad didn’t get to see that.
A knock came at the door, snapping him out of his thoughts, and he turned forward.
“Chief,” Josh’s voice rumbled playfully as he stepped in, and Rex chuckled.
“Hey, man, what’s up?” he asked as he rolled back to face his desk, “Please, man. Come in and make yourself comfortable. Don’t be shy,” he dryly told his best friend, who was already sitting down across from his desk.
“Well, I think I just might.” Josh grinned.
“What’s going on?”
“That’s what I came here to find out.” Some of Josh’s usual playfulness faded away.
“What do you mean?” he frowned.
“You never miss coming over to watch the game,” Josh scowled. Rex almost laughed.
“What the fuck? You sound like you’re freaking twelve.” He chuckled softly, trying to make light of Josh’s pettiness.
“Look, man, I get it, she’s hot…”
“Josh…” he started to warn him, but his best friend was too far up his own ass to know better. Rex could feel his blood start to heat up with anger.
“No, man, I’m serious. She’s hot and sweet. I get you’re playing house and shit. I mean, Red comes with all those curves and by the stupid grin you’ve been seen having on your face throughout town this week, she has a sweeter pussy.”
“You better watch your fucking mouth, ma...” he growled, slamming his hand on his desk and leaning forward. Josh backed into his seat. Tension filled the room. Josh’s angry stare looked back at him as he tried to rein in his own anger.
“It’s like that?” Josh asked, surprised. Rex took a deep breath.
“Yes.” His voice was hoarse with anger and emotion as he tried to control it. Josh and Rex had been best friends since childhood, but he wouldn’t let Josh talk shit about Key. Nor could he kick his ass while in full uniform and in his office.
“You serious?”
“Josh.”
“You’re not the family-man type, Rex,” Josh said. Rex flinched at his friend’s words. He had wanted to be a family man, it just hadn’t happened for him.
“You sound like a jealous kid,” Rex scoffed as he shook his head.
“No, what I sound like is a concerned friend. A friend who hasn’t seen a whole bunch of you, since a certain redhead stepped into town.” Rex’s fists clenched. “I mean, I get it, Rex. Shit, her ass alone…”
“Josh, I will kick your ass for talking about her like that and I am not fucking around here,” he growled, getting tired of his friend’s disrespectful words about his woman. His woman. Fuck, he loved that, too.
“I get it.” Josh shrugged, glancing out the window then looking back at him with a shrug. “I get it. I just didn’t think it would happen.”
“She’s different,” Rex shared and watched his childhood friend roll his eyes.
“She’s trouble.”
“Not at all, man.”
“It’s only been a week and you’re threatening to kick my ass for talking about her ass, man. It is like that. She’s trouble with a capital T.”
“She’s…” the one. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but saying them aloud to Josh instead of her for the first time felt wrong.
“She’s trouble, man,” Josh repeated. Rex’s eye twitched. “Shit. She comes with a built-in family, and it doesn’t hurt Katie is besties with her kid.”
“Josh…” he sighed.
“She has you having family dinners and shit. Next thing you know, you’re going to be carpooling…”
“You’re a dumbass.”
“No, I’m a concerned citizen.”
“A concerned citizen?”
“Yeah. A concerned citizen and a concerned friend. Man, you had your hands full before her. How do you think playing house is going to affect your work?”
“It’s not…”
“That stack of work in front of you says otherwise,” Josh pointed out. Rex’s eye twitched again, and his hands fisted.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he tried to say calmly, but Josh was pushing his buttons.
“I know before her, you never let work stack up like that. I know playing house is making you edgy. It’s only been a week, Rex. Don’t you think nightly dinners and being around town with that cheesy smile and holding hands and shit is a little much, man?”
“Josh…”
“You’ve more than rushed in. You jumped off a fucking ledge… She’s fucking pretty, but she’s causing havoc on your life.” Rex opened his mouth to respond, but another knock came at the slightly open door.
“Come in.” His voice was low and agitated. He watched Key walk in wearing a sweet, black pencil skirt and sage-green sweater that brought out her gorgeous eyes, reminding him of fresh cut grass in spring. Eyes that didn’t meet him head-on.
She’d overheard.
“Hey, babe.” He stood and went over to her.
“Hey.” He hugged her, but she held her body a little too tense. “Hey, Josh.”
“Hey, Keira,” the son of a bitch said without moving from his seat. He just stared at Rex and Key like he was watching a fucking sitcom. With a cleansing breath, he looked back at her and smiled.
“What’s this?” he asked, looking at the bag in her hand, and she jumped like she had just remembered she was holding it.
“You texted you couldn’t have dinner, so I stopped by the diner before heading home and brought you food.”
“Thanks, baby,” he spoke, kissing the top of her head, still not liking the tense way she held her body in his arms.
“I, umm… I better go.” She looked at him, her eyes guarded in a way he’d never seen. He didn’t like that. Not one fucking bit.
“Stay.”
“I really can’t. I have Meg and Kate in the car. I’ll, umm…” The hesitation in her voice was scaring him. Panic started to bubble, but he tried to bite it down. “I’ll, uh, see you guys.” He went to kiss her, but she turned her head so his lips landed on her cheek.
“I’ll call you later,” he told her, and the fake smile she gave him made his stomach roll.
“Sure, whatever. Rest or, umm... you know… I, uh, better go, the girls…” She stepped back after handing him his food and waved to Josh before disappearing.
“You going to stand there looking at the empty doorway or you going to share your dinner?” Josh said. Rex turned to look at him.
“What the fuck is your problem? Why are you such a dick?” he asked, not liking the way she’d left.
“What? What did I do?” he asked, mocking innocence. Rex’s eye twitched.
“Get out, man.”
“Rex,” Josh started to playfully chuckle, but Rex shook his head.
“I have a shit load of work to do. I don’t have time for your pre-teen dramatics, Josh.”
“Come on, Rex, she didn’t hear anything.” Josh tried to sweep everything under the rug, as was his usual way of dealing with things.
“You’re an idiot, you know that?”
“Rex, I’m just worried about you. You don’t do the things you have done the past week. Fuck, you’ve been whining about this woman since Vegas. It’s not like you to jump into things the way you have…”
“You wo
nder why? You think maybe, just fucking maybe, she’s different?”
“No. I think you’re feeling your age and have some Norman Rockwell painting in your head of what your life should be like right now, and Red with her kid makes it happen with a snap of your fingers.”
“Fuck you. You have no fucking idea what you’re saying. I already warned you to watch how you talk about her, I already told you to get out. If I gotta say it again, I’ll prove it with my fists” Rex growled, his hands clenching tightly.
“She has you so tied up in knots you’re threatening to hit me! Your best friend.”
“My best friend should have my fucking back instead of whatever jealousy shit you have going on. And again, this is the last time I repeat myself about this. If you ever talk about her like that again, I swear to God, man, friend or not, I’m not going to give a shit if I’m in full uniform in the station.”
“Whatever, man, just think about what I’m saying,” Josh pushed. Rex lost it.
“OUT!” he roared, and Josh looked at him with his blue eyes and a shake of his head. Rex didn’t sit back down till his ‘friend’ stepped out of his office without looking back.
Chapter Twelve
Keira
“Night, Mom!”
“Night, babe.” She kissed her daughter’s cheek before settling into the couch in her living room.
Flipping channels on the TV, she settled in on the Food Network, not really watching. All she could do was replay the conversation she had accidently overheard. Was he playing house? Had she heard things out of context? Was she nothing but trouble for him?
They had been inseparable this last week. After talking to Megan and seeing Megan’s enthusiasm at having Rex around, she’d let herself fall into a rainbow-filled, happy cloud. Maybe she had let things move too far, too fast, but it hadn’t only been her diving into things. He had been right next to her. Calling, texting, taking her to lunch or coffee. Going for walks on her break if he was in town.
Coming home that first night she’d been stuck working late, he’d taken her by total surprise.
She had been sure she was going to have to nuke something for Megan because she didn’t have the energy for anything more after back-to-back appointments and having picked the wrong shoes to wear while on her feet all day. Instead, she’d stepped into a home filled with Rex’s voice rumbling a funny story and the girls bursting into giggles, all while the house smelled of delicious, grilled steaks.
Lucky For You (Never Too Late Book 3) Page 6