Chapter 8
EIGHT
He was having the damndest time keeping his eyes to himself.
Everything she did was maddening. The way she tipped her cup to her lips, the way those full, kissable lips pressed to the rim of the cup, the way the cool air had made her cheeks and the tip of her nose pink, the way she threw her head back and laughed, the way her straight white teeth looked as they clamped down on her bottom lip every time she failed at keeping her eyes to herself, too.
They maintained the fire-widths distance from each other at all times, but he didn’t mind, because that meant he could watch her no matter where she was.
The black jeans she wore hugged her mile long legs and cupped her fantastic ass in ways that made it hard to concentrate on what was going on around him.
He was also fighting a near constant chubby and had to keep readjusting his jeans because fuck was she gorgeous in the firelight.
Kasey took another swallow of the bourbon he’d brought with him as an engagement gift for Freeman, the rich, smoky liquor turning the slow burn in his belly into an inferno as he continued to watch Shaun.
His eyes kept skittering over to the patio door every time it would slide open as more guests arrived, waiting for the moment when that douche bag fiancé of hers would make his appearance.
His cousin Shane and his wife Cassie had joined them, her pregnant belly extending out in front of her.
He watched as Serenity, who he’d met earlier in the evening, fussed over the younger woman, forcing her to sit in one of the more comfortable chairs surrounding the fire before insisting that Levi run inside to grab an extra blanket, just in case she got cold.
The older man nodded in agreement before sauntering across the darkened lawn, returning a couple minutes later with the blanket for Cassie.
He liked Shaun and Jodi’s parents and felt very comfortable around them, though the way Levi watched him watching his daughter was a good deterrent to staring at the woman unabashedly like he wanted to.
Levi and Serenity had settled into a wooden bench swing across the fire, and the older man’s arm was draped over his wife’s shoulders, tucking her securely into his side.
His booted toe rocked them continuously, and Kasey could see where Freeman had learned a lot of his mannerisms from, as he’d spent nearly a decade with the Kendall family growing up.
The friendship between the older man and Freeman was obvious, too.
He had a better understanding of why Freeman had fought so hard against the attraction he’d felt for the eldest Kendall daughter for as long as he had.
Camaraderie like what Levi and Free had was hard to come by and he understood not wanting to betray his friend and mentor by pursuing the man’s daughter.
Glancing at the watch on his wrist, he was surprised to see it was after eleven.
The evening had flown by. Roxy excused herself into the house, along with the two women he’d been introduced to earlier, Jodi’s other bridesmaids.
The three of them made their way across the yard, giggling and chattering until the patio door slid closed behind them.
Shaun had settled herself into one of the Adirondack chairs across from him and had pulled her knees to her chest. She had tucked her feet up onto the seat and wrapped her arms around her legs.
Her chin rested on her knee as she stared into the flickering flames between them.
Her eyes looked like glittering sapphires in the low glow of the fire.
Taking another sip of his bourbon, he made his way slowly around the ring of the fire, stopping at the chair Roxy had vacated beside Shaun.
Sinking into it, he sighed heavily and leaned back against the smooth wood.
Stretching his legs out in front of him, he crossed one ankle over the other and turned his head to look at her.
She stared straight ahead into the flames, but he could see the way her breathing had kicked up a notch, and he watched as she swallowed hard.
His own heart was beating like a drum in his chest. Just being near her did things to him.
Finally, she turned her head just enough to look at him, her chin still resting on her knee, and those sapphire eyes hit him all over again. Damn was she gorgeous.
And so fucking unavailable.
He held out his cup toward her. “Want a sip?”
She glanced at his fingers wrapped around the cup and then back to his eyes. “I probably shouldn’t. I’m still supposed to drive home.”
He nodded, bringing his arm back and taking a sip of it, his eyes still on hers.
“I don’t think I’ll be driving tonight.” Then he motioned with his head over to Jodi and Free, and Shaun turned her head to look.
Free had settled himself in one of the chairs and Jodi was sitting across his lap, her head leaning against his chest, his arms wrapped around her.
They were murmuring quietly to each other, Freeman’s lips moving against her temple, and then Jodi laughed.
Kasey’s chest ached with a mixture of longing and envy.
Shaun turned her head back toward him and smiled gently, and it made his heart do double time in his chest. “They’re always like that. So gross.”
“I’m just glad to see him happy finally.
Not that he wasn’t happy in Texas,” Kasey said quietly, low enough for just her to hear.
“But we could tell something was missing for him. Roxy always knew there was someone up here that he left behind. I was clueless. I just thought he needed to get laid more.” He nodded his head toward the two in the chair again. “Sounds like she needed him, too.”
Shaun rested her cheek on her knee and nodded as she looked at him. “Her ex was a piece of shit. She’d been in love with Free for over half her life. She deserves the happiness that he gives her. And he’s so good to her. I couldn’t hope for something better for either of them.”
Glancing at her hands, he noticed her fingers were bare, that engagement ring he’d seen on her finger back on New Year's Eve not in place. His heart quickened, but he shot it down. Just because she’s not wearing it doesn’t mean shit, you jackass.
She works on cars all day. She can’t wear it without losing that finger if she gets caught in a machine. Better that she doesn’t wear it.
“What about you?” he asked, clearing his throat, unable to resist digging for information.
“What about me?” she repeated, her brows drawing over her eyes.
“Is your relationship everything that you deserve?” he asked, swiveling his head forward to stare into the flames. His heart was pounding, dreading her answer. Fucking masochist.
He watched her out of his peripheral vision and saw when she turned her face to look forward into the fire, too.
“I’m content with where my life is now,” she whispered softly.
They were silent for a few moments before she sighed and uncurled her arms from around her legs, setting her feet on the ground.
Pulling herself forward, she stood, glancing down at him before speaking to the few that still gathered around the fire, “I should probably head home.”
Jodi looked up from Free’s chest and then stood, crossing the few feet to hug Shaun. Kasey almost laughed at the height difference between the two sisters.
Serenity called over the fire, “Please let me know when you get home safely.” Jodi returned to Free, who enveloped her in his arms a moment later. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”
“I will, I promise, Mom. And no, I’m fine,” Shaun said, glancing in his direction again. “I only had two drinks. Good night, you guys.”
Kasey saw Levi sit up straighter in his seat and then that gruff voice traveled across the fire as he murmured, “Kasey can walk you to your truck, Shaun.”
“Oh, no, that’s really not necessary,” Shaun stammered, whipping her head from her dad’s face to his own and then back again like a ping-pong ball in a volley. “I don’t need an escort to go across the yard, Dad.”
“Humor me,” Levi rumbled, and Kasey took that as his cue, pushing himself to his feet. Setting down his drink on the armrest of the chair he’d just vacated, he had to fight the urge to smile when Shaun rolled her eyes and huffed out an annoyed sigh.
Shaun stomped away from the fire, her arms crossed over her middle. Kasey fell into step beside her, his long legs keeping stride with her angry ones. They were almost to the corner of the house when she stopped.
“I left my keys on the kitchen counter,” she said, glancing over at him. “You really don’t have to walk me to my car. I know my way.”
Kasey just put his hands in the front pockets of his leather jacket and raised his eyebrows, notching his chin toward the back porch that would lead into the house.
Shaun huffed again and started across the lawn, climbing the two steps onto the large back deck.
Kasey followed, trying not to grin at how annoyed she was.
He and Free had done damage to the bottle of bourbon he’d brought, and he was feeling the effects of it.
Sliding the patio door open, she entered and walked through the living room and into the kitchen, and he could hear her swipe her keys off the counter into her hand.
A moment later he heard her heels clicking on the hardwood floor as she stalked back out of the kitchen where he waited in the entryway.
He followed her to the front door, right behind her, and pulled the door closed as they exited out onto the covered front porch.
It was shrouded in inky blackness, and he knew he couldn’t let her leave without saying what was on his mind.
“Shaun, wait.”
Kasey’s fingers wrapped around the upper part of her bicep, stopping her before she could take a step down the porch stairs, and she stared down at the fingers there before raising her eyes to his.