Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
Shane
“Nice addition.” Eric nods toward the tattoo Kinsley inked on me on Monday when we spent the day together.
“Thanks. The woman is talented. That’s for sure.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face when I think about Kinsley.
Of course, my brother notices. “Judging by the cheesy smile you’re sporting, things are going good?”
“Damn good. We’re dating.”
“Good for you. And Taylor’s okay with it?”
“More than okay with it. They bonded over book boyfriends and their favorite authors and never looked back.” I chuckle. “Taylor told me straight out that she’d love for Kinsley to be in our life long-term.”
“Wait, are you considering asking her to marry you?”
I shake my head. “Kinsley’s been through a lot, and she needs for us to take things slow. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all in …”
“All in for what?”
I whip my head around and find Kinsley standing there, dressed in her workout gear with her hair up in a high ponytail and her beautiful face free from makeup.
“I’m all in with you,” I tell her, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward me so I can give her a kiss. “I was just telling my brother that you’ve moved me out of the friend zone and into the boyfriend zone.”
Kinsley snorts out a laugh. “I don’t think you were ever fully in the friend zone,” she sasses playfully, making Eric laugh.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, realizing after how dumb my question is. We’re standing in my brother’s health club, so she’s obviously here to work out.
“I signed up for the self-defense class since I don’t have any clients until after noon.”
“Well, that works out well because I’m teaching that class.” I shoot her a wink, and her creamy skin turns a gorgeous shade of pink.
“By the way,” she says to my brother, “I’m Kinsley.” She extends her hand.
“I’m Eric, this guy’s brother and the owner of this place. Well, co-owner. My wife, Katie, owns and runs it with me, but due to the risk of preeclampsia, she’s been put on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy, which is thankfully only a few weeks away.”
“Ugh, that sucks,” Kinsley says. “I was anemic while I was pregnant, and it was horrible.”
She doesn’t realize what she said, and since I haven’t told my brother her story, he doesn’t know what she’s been through. I spot the train wreck before it happens, but I’m not quick enough to prevent it.
“I didn’t know you had a baby,” he says, glancing from me to her. “How old is he or she?”
Kinsley’s eyes widen, her mistake finally hitting her, and she stumbles to figure out how to answer. I don’t want to put her business out there, but at the same time, I can’t just stand here and leave her to answer him on her own. She’s in this position because of me, because I’ve pushed for her to put herself out there.
“Kinsley—” I begin but stop when she surprises me by placing her hand on my arm and glancing up at me with a soft yet confident smile that tells me she appreciates me saving her, but she’s got this.
“Unfortunately, when I was seven months pregnant, I was in an accident and lost my baby girl,” she says.
Eric’s eyes shine with sympathy. “I’m sorry. I can’t even imagine.”
“It was hard,” she admits as she moves into my side and encircles her arm around my waist. “But your brother has been helping me move forward.”
She smiles up at me and then kisses the corner of my jaw, and I swear I fall even deeper in love with this woman.
“I’m glad he could help you,” Eric says. “Shane is a good man.” He reaches over and squeezes my shoulder. “All right, I have a private session, so I’d better head to the front, but it was nice to meet you,” he tells Kinsley. “We should all do dinner at our place one night. Katie’s heard a lot about you, and I know she’d love to meet you.” He glances back at me. “And Mom and Dad are coming home soon.”
“I’d love that,” Kinsley says. “It was great to meet you. You have a beautiful health club.”
“Thank you.”
Once Eric is gone, I pull Kinsley around the corner and into my brother’s private office, closing the door behind us.
“Do you know how fucking amazing you are?” I tell her, gently pushing her against the wall.
“What? Why?” she breathes out, her brows furrowed in confusion.
“You’re so strong,” I say, tipping her chin so she’s looking at me. “You’ve been through hell, yet you keep going, keep fighting.”
I capture her mouth with mine in a heated kiss that I’m forced to end far too quickly due to us needing to get to the women’s self-defense class I’m instructing and she’s participating in.
“Come over tonight. I don’t care how late it is. I need to see you.” It’s been almost two days since I last saw her, and I’m craving everything about her.
“I don’t know,” she says with a sly grin. “Do you think you deserve for me to come over?”
“Seriously, Sour Patch?” I scoff.
Only instead of her responding, my phone chimes in, “To confirm, you’d like to call Sour Patch.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket, confused as to what the hell Siri is going on about, and see that on my screen is the name Sour Patch. Siri—who thought I said, Siri, call Sour Patch —is trying to call her.
I press call on my phone, and a second later, Kinsley’s phone starts ringing. I glare at her, and she cracks up laughing.
“Are you telling me that I’ve had your number on my phone this entire time?”
“No, only for a little while.”
“Since when?”
She wraps her arms around my neck. “Since I knew I was falling for you.”
Fuck, this woman.
“If I didn’t have a class to teach …” I shake my head, wondering how pissed my brother would be if I bailed on the class so I could bring Kinsley back to my place and fuck her on every damn surface.
“It will have to wait,” she says, stepping away from me. “I’ve been wanting to take this class. C’mon, boyfriend. You can show me how to fend off an attacker.”
She takes my hand in hers, and I follow her to the studio where the class is being held while thinking about two things. One, I would follow this woman anywhere. And two, while I love the fact that she called me her boyfriend, I want to be so much more than that.
* * *
“Dad, you home?” Taylor calls out as she slams the front door and stops in the living room.
“You already know I’m home. My truck is in the driveway,” I point out, clicking pause on the movie Kinsley and I were watching.
It’s Thursday afternoon, and since I’m not working and I got done at the health club earlier and Kinsley’s last session ended around the same time, she rode home with me so we could watch a movie and make dinner.
My daughter rolls her eyes like the dramatic teenager she is.
“Dad,” Taylor groans. “Focus.”
Kinsley laughs, and Taylor grins at her, like she’s just noticing that she’s sitting next to me.
“Kinsley!” Taylor runs over and throws her arms around Kinsley, making Becky, who was cuddled into Kinsley’s side, move to the floor so she can go back to sleep.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Taylor says. “This is perfect!”
“That’s my daughter’s way of saying she’s about to con you into whatever idea she’s thought up,” I note, making Kinsley snort out a laugh and Taylor glare.
“I’m not conning anyone,” Taylor says, squishing herself between Kinsley and the arm of the couch. “You know how we have spring break coming up, right?”
I nod. It’s coming up soon. When Taylor was little, she would spend it with my parents, but since she’s older, she tends to just work or hang out with her friends that week.
“Mom said her photo shoot is wrapping up earlier than planned, so she’s coming into town. And we’re going to take a girls’ trip to New York City to go shopping and see the museums and stuff. She said we can even go see a Broadway show!”
Taylor’s face lights up, and I pray Jamie doesn’t fuck this trip up because I’ll be the one dealing with a brokenhearted daughter while she’s off jet-setting to her next location.
“NYU has opened their college tour dates,” she continues, “and one of them is during my spring break, so I was wondering if you could meet us in New York. Mom said she’s planning to fly out of JFK anyway, so it would save her the drive back to Brookside, and we could spend a few days in the city, exploring NYU and doing their tour. They said applications will be opening in August, and that’s only, like, five months away. Plus, this will mean I won’t miss any school.”
Her eyes go dramatically wide, and I stifle a laugh that I know she won’t appreciate.
“Oh!” she exclaims, glancing at Kinsley, her eyes softening. “The reason why I’m glad you’re here is, you have to come. Dad hates the city. He avoids it at all costs. But you said you used to live there, right? And you went to NYU. So, I need you there to show me everything.”
“Taylor …” I start, knowing the word no isn’t in Kinsley’s vocabulary when it comes to my daughter.
“I’d love to,” Kinsley says before I can finish. “I haven’t been there in forever, but, yeah, I know the city like the back of my hand. I can show you all the great hangouts and places to eat and study. And there are so many cute bookshops. Who knows? Maybe we can make a lover out of your dad.” She bumps me playfully, and I shake my head.
“Yes!” Taylor squeals. “That would be awesome! Can we, Dad? Please?”
She flutters her lashes at me, and I chuckle.
“Yeah, let me know the dates you’re going with your mom and the date of the college tour, and we’ll plan it out.”
“Yay!” Taylor throws herself across Kinsley’s lap so she can hug me. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
She clambers off the couch, her phone in her hand. “I’m going to text Mom and let her know. I have to get to work. Thank you! Love you!”
And like the tornado she is, she’s out the door as quick as she came.
“Wow,” Kinsley says with a light laugh. “She’s …”
“A lot?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Passionate. I love that. She’s outgoing and smart and so … adult. You’ve done such a good job with her,” she says, snuggling into my side. “I know you think she might be affected by her mom being gone, but because of you, she’s thriving.”
I wrap my arm around her and grab the remote to turn the movie we were watching back on. “You spending the night?” I ask.
“Actually, I think I’m going to go home.” She glances up at me apologetically. “I have no clothes, and we both work in the morning.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she should just move in here, and then the problem would be solved, but she’d probably freak out and run. So, instead, I throw the remote to the side and flip her onto her back so I’m hovering above her.
“Then, I’d better make the most of the time I have with you.”
* * *
Me
What are you wearing?
I hit Send on the text and chuckle, knowing this text is going to go one of two ways—Kinsley will either go along with it or tell me to go fuck myself. Either way, it’ll be worth whatever response she gives me because I finally have her number.
Well, technically, I’ve had her damn number for quite some time. But now, I know I have it and can text or call her anytime I want. I’ve actually known that I’ve had it for a couple of days, but since she’s been with me, this is my first time using it.
The bubbles appear and then disappear, and for a moment, I second-guess myself because what if she thinks I’m being serious and questions the man she’s been spending time with?
Shit. I really didn’t think this through.
I click on the text box, ready to backtrack, when the most breathtaking image comes through of Kinsley. She’s lying in what looks like her bed, based on her position. Her face looks freshly washed and moisturized—the way it does when she’s done using her skin care stuff when she’s at my place. She’s smiling, and her shiny lips look plump and kissable. I can’t see too far down since it’s a selfie, but she’s sporting a tank top that shows off the swells of her breasts, making my mouth water.
Fuck, I hate being away from this woman. If she were with me, I wouldn’t have to settle for a picture of her. I could hold her and touch her and kiss her all I wanted.
My text was initially meant to be flirty, but when I click to respond, my tone has changed.
Me
I miss you.
She insisted on going home to sleep at her own place because we both work in the morning, but I really wish I had pushed her to stay.
Sour Patch
I miss you, too, but I’ll see you on Sunday for the BBQ.
Me
What about Saturday?
Sour Patch
I have to work all day, and my cousin Natalia is in town. We’re going out for drinks. Hopefully, this time, it doesn’t end with me needing to be brought to the hospital. silly face emoji
I hate that I won’t see her until the barbecue, but I love that she’s going out with her cousin. She deserves to get out and have a good time.
Me
Don’t make me come over there and spank you.
It’s a joke, but when she responds, my cock doesn’t find it funny.
Sour Patch
Don’t tease me with a good time.
Me
Keep it up, and you’ll be getting a knock on your door.
Sour Patch
I know that’s not true because you hate leaving Taylor home alone when you don’t have to.
Me
I might just need to make an exception.
Sour Patch
I’m falling asleep. This sex-crazed maniac fucked me until I could barely walk earlier. If I disappear, it’s because I fell asleep.
I can’t help but grin at her message because she’s not wrong. But in my defense, Kinsley is just as insatiable as I am when it comes to sex. Before her, I didn’t understand why people put such an emphasis on sex. Not that I haven’t had my fair share of sex, and plenty of it was good. But there’s something different about being intimate with the person you love, the woman you want to spend your life with. Every time with her always feels like more.
Me
Good night, Sour Patch. Sweet dreams.
When she doesn’t respond, I laugh, knowing she’s already asleep. And then I go to sleep as well, wondering how soon is too soon to ask her to move in with me so I never have to sleep without her again.