Make Me Stay (Murdock Brothers #2)

1. Kai

Chapter 1

Kai

I couldn’t sleep in my parents’ guest room for another night.

I loved my parents dearly, but they were ready for lights out at ten in the evening.

I’d been out on my own as soon as I received that graduation certificate from high school. Indigo Valley was as sleepy as it came, and I wanted to get out and explore. I’d officially been in almost every state of the US, as well as a good deal of Canada and Mexico. Having a strong back and the ability to pick up just about any trade, I’d been able to jump around from job to job and make enough money to travel, then to rinse and repeat.

I slung my trusty rucksack over my shoulder and headed down the stairs.

“Where are you off to?” My mom frowned at my bag.

I swallowed the snarl that was bubbling up. Another reason I needed to get out of my parents’ place. I wasn’t used to answering to anyone anymore.

“I’m going to crash at Wyatt’s place. He’s helping me with the Burnette house so it’s just easier to go together.”

My mother narrowed her eyes. “You’ve barely been home a week, Kai.”

“I know, Ma.”

“We were hoping we’d get to see more of you.”

“And you will. We have weekly dinner by decree, don’t we? I can’t resist your marinated steaks, you know that.” I kissed her cheek.

“You make it sound like it’s a chore.”

I heard the hurt in her voice.

“It’s not. I promise it’s not. I missed Wyatt just as much as you guys and he stays up past nine.”

She wrinkled her nose at me. “You try starting the day at six and see how late you stay up.”

I did start my days at six, but I wasn’t going to argue with her. Working construction meant an early start, but I’d never needed much sleep. The best part of being in my twenties.

“I’ll see you on Friday. I promise.”

She sighed. “All right.” She slipped her arms around my waist and hugged me tight.

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. All of us Murdock men were above average in height. Even me—the runt of the litter, so to speak—was six feet tall. I rubbed her back with my free hand. “It’s nice being home, Ma.”

“I can feel you getting antsy, Kai.”

“Sully needs me here, so I’m here. I promised, didn’t I?”

She slipped away from me. “Yes, you did.”

“Ma. I like being home. I just miss having my own space, that’s all. I’m going to look around for a short-term rental.”

I could see that she wanted to protest. Sure, saving money staying at my old childhood place was a better idea, but I really did need my own place. Especially if I was sticking around for a bit. And Sully was filling my pockets with all the jobs he had lined up from his Thunder from Down Under moment at his girl’s house in April. Here we were just a month later, and the jobs weren’t slowing down.

In fact, I was dragging Wyatt into this latest job just because we couldn’t keep up.

“Okay. I know I can’t dissuade you, anyway.”

I laughed. “No, but you know how the Valley is. I’ll be five minutes away, no matter what.”

“Fine, fine.”

“I love you, Ma. Don’t get all sad on me. I’ll be here annoying you for food at the very least.”

“That’s true.”

I laughed and headed out the door. Trouble, my brother’s dog, was bounding around the side yard with my nephew, Danny. The kid was really coming out of his shell these days. Knowing his piece of shit mom wasn’t going to be back anytime soon definitely seemed to lighten the load on the little dude’s shoulders.

I waved to them both before climbing into my ancient truck. It had a million miles on it—okay, so it was only 227,000, but it had gotten me all over the United States without failing me yet.

I spotted my brother on the deck as I pulled out. He was hunched over his laptop with a beer beside him. Probably looking for day laborers again. Even with most of my brothers back home now, there was too much work for the four of us. Gus and Cam were still out of state, and Ripley had his own business to worry about.

Now that summer was upon us, we had more options.

Memorial Day was right around the corner. In between jobs, we were also working on the warehouse that Sully had found for our Murdock Brothers headquarters.It was literally a box, but we needed a place to keep supplies, as well as leftovers from other jobs.

And a place for Lexi Howard, our office manager, to work.

I flexed my fingers on my steering wheel and put her out of my head.

Wyatt, her big brother and my best friend, would beat my ass if he knew what kind of thoughts I’d been having about her.

I headed over to his place, brews in the passenger seat. He was only a few streets over. Wyatt had inherited his grandfather’s small bungalow and had slowly been renovating it out of the sixties’ decor.

I spotted him outside with a door across a pair of sawhorses and his sander in hand.

My best friend was as different to me as possible in this world. Dark to my blond, linebacker to my quarterback, and perpetually steady and happy to live in the Valley to my wanderlust.

“Hey!”

He looked up from sanding to me rolling into his driveway. He waved, his perpetually shadowed face splitting into a smile as he turned off the machine and flicked off his ear protectors. “What are you doing here? I thought I didn’t have to see your ugly mug until tomorrow.”

“That extra bedroom still open?” I asked as I parked.

“Maybe.”

I lifted the twelve-pack. “Now?”

“Getting warmer.” He picked up the door and went to the garage.

I rolled up my window, grabbed my stuff, and followed. Wyatt’s garage was half storage, half game room with a big screen on the back wall and a long, leather couch in front of it. His gaming system, cable, and streamer box were neatly stacked on shelves he’d built for them. That was my best friend, Mister Organized.

Just like his sister.

“Hey, Wyatt, did you want—oh, hi Kai.”

Hell. Speak of the devil. She was still wearing her work clothes, but she’d lost her shoes, showing off ruby red toenails. Her hair was down, which made my fingers itch to touch all those cloud-soft, black waves. The red stretchy shirt showed off her God given bounty, as well as the inward curve of her waist outward to her grippable hips.

I moved the half case down in front of my zipper.

This sudden attraction to Lexi was going to get me into a shit-ton of trouble.

Wyatt glanced over his shoulder as he tucked the door away. “Lex and I were just having fajitas. Want in?”

“Uh, sure. I bounced before my mom put on dinner.”

Lexi smirked. “Bet you’re enjoying mom food instead of takeout.”

“I actually can cook. She made sure all of us could make a few dishes at least.”

She crossed her arms under her breasts, and I had to force my gaze to stay on her face. Not that her face was a hardship, either. She had the biggest midnight blue eyes and a mouth that made me think many, many X-rated thoughts. “Is that so?”

“Want to have a cook-off, Lex?” I grinned.

“You’d lose.” She turned her attention to her brother. “Did you want to eat out here with the game or inside?”

“Game,” me and Wyatt both said in unison.

“Yeah, yeah. Hockey.” She disappeared back through the door.

I went to the fridge, stuffed into the corner of the garage. The ancient ice box was probably as old as the house, but it was perfect for drinks. I pushed aside some energy drinks and soda, then popped the back off the case and pushed the whole twelve pack into the fridge before I collapsed the cardboard and pitched it into the recycler. “Lex into beer?”

“Nah, she likes her frou frou wine. She’s got a bottle in the house.”

“Cool.” I grabbed two beers for us and handed him one. “You cool with me staying?”

“If Lex is. She moved in a few months ago when she broke up with Duane.”

Hell, I needed to find a place instead. I couldn’t be in the same space as Lex both at work and here. Not if I wanted to keep my hands to myself. “Duane who?”

“New addition to the Valley. He’s a fuckwit,” he muttered under his breath. “Glad she came to her senses.”

My hand tightened on the bottle. “Did he hurt her?”

“No. Just was a lazy fuck who didn’t have a job most of the time. Always expected her to do everything and pay for everything.”

“Fucker.”

“Exactly. She’s too nice for her own good.”

“You should have seen her practically swing at that Milton guy at her old job. Threatened him with a stapler.” It was hot as fuck, I almost added aloud.

“Yeah, I can’t thank your brother enough for giving her a job after that fiasco.”

“She’s saving our ass, man. No worries there.”

“And paying me more than the realtor office. So much more.” Lexi’s voice lifted with wonder and appreciation.

I set my beer down and ran over to take the big tray of fajitas from her. “This smells awesome.”

Her cheeks pinked up. “Thanks. Hope you like it hot.”

“Hotter the better.” I grinned before turning to set it on the huge coffee table. She’d left the sizzling peppers, onions, and chicken in a skillet. A trio of sour cream, guacamole, and shredded cheese bowls were arranged beside a tin foil stack of steamed soft tortilla shells. It was a nicer spread than a few taco trucks I’d frequented over the years. “This looks great.”

“Eat up. I have more inside.”

We turned on the television and scarfed food while we watched the hockey playoffs. I noticed that Lexi only ate two half stuffed fajitas.

“Is that all you’re having?”

She lifted her glass of wine. “I am compensating for the carbs in here.”

“Who the fuck cares?” I frowned.

“Losing sixty pounds required a lot of work. I’m not backsliding, thanks.”

I put down my food. “Wow. Good for you. You always looked great to me.”

Wyatt gave me an arched brow.

I cleared my throat, and a goal saved me from my stupid mouth.

This time.