12. Lexi
Chapter 12
Lexi
Memorial Day weekend was an event when it came to the people of Indigo Valley. There were tons of things going on at the park with food trucks and barbecue stations, but the real action was a few miles north at Saratoga Lake.
I tugged at the strap of my bikini. God, my boobs were way too big to be showing them off in this thing, even if they were strapped in. My cutoffs were too short, showing off way too much thigh.
“Stop fussing, you look amazing.”
I turned to my best friend who was positively glowing. “First bikini I’ve ever worn.”
“And you’re rocking it.”
I sighed. “I’m only going to this for you.”
“Stop, you love the Murdock picnics. We’ve been going forever.”
I sat down on my bed. “Yeah, well, I never slept with one of them before.”
Nicole sat next to me. “Excuse me? I’ve been babbling about Wyatt, and you have had this under wraps?”
“I didn’t want to burst your happy bubble. Things didn’t exactly end well.”
“They ended already?”
“Not sure it actually began.” I sighed. “Remember when you told me to go for it while we were drooling over them on the ladders?”
“Kind of. Wait, so you actually took my advice?”
“And then some. It was a very big mistake.”
“He sucked?” Her voice squeaked.
“Kai definitely doesn’t suck in bed. Well, not that we’ve actually been in a bed yet.”
“Okay, wait. Firstly, I need all the details.”
“We are not swapping details, especially since you’re sleeping with my brother.”
She snickered. “Fair. I’ll keep mine to a minimum, but there’s no reason I should be denied all the delicious details. That mouth alone should be illegal.”
“You have no idea.”
“Let’s go, you two!” My brother’s voice came from the kitchen. “The traffic is going to be murder.”
I stood and grabbed my coverup and towel off the end of my bed. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Nicole grabbed my arm. “We don’t have to go.”
“We do. I’ll get used to being around him. Not like he’ll be here forever.”
“Okay.” She picked up her bag full to bursting with towels, sunscreen, and snacks.
I followed her outside where Wyatt was loading a cooler into the flatbed. His face softened as soon as he spotted Nicole. She rushed ahead and I had to look away when they kissed.
I was happy for my friend, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how easy and yet somehow thrilling it was with Kai. Knowing exactly how good we could be was worse than when I’d been oblivious.
I climbed into the back of my brother’s extended cab. Thankfully, the music was blaring, and Nicole was singing along to an old Journey song with my brother’s indulgent smile. By the time we got to the lake, I’d lightened up enough to sing along to Bon Jovi.
I climbed out after them and spotted the Murdock spread. As per usual, there were tons of folding tables full of food under canopies. The lake was nearly still, which was odd for Saratoga, and the sun was blasting. Even before we got out of the parking lot, Fleetwood Mac drifted up to greet us.
Joe and Anna were ordering the Murdock boys around. Sully and Nora were uncovering food and putting out utensils, and all the while they were drifting close together, then remembering they had a job to do. Secret smiles turned to endearing grins when Sully’s son Danny flew through to con them out of a slice of watermelon.
Cash and Ripley were staking down other tents for some shade against the sun on the beach.
I followed Wyatt down who had hurried forward to help.
Nicole linked her arm around mine. “We can go off and sit on the beach. You don’t even have to be around him.”
“I don’t see him, anyway.”
I made small talk with Anna and Joe then I jumped in to help cook hot dogs and hamburgers. There were enough people around from town that I could hide in plain sight.
“Lexi.”
I stiffened at his voice.
“Lexi, turn around, please.”
“No, that’s okay. I’m good.” I started down toward the beach and he grabbed my hand.
“Lexi, can we talk?”
“Nope. I think your silence for the last few days has said it all. When are you heading out of town?” I braced for the answer. It had to be the reason he’d pulled away.
“I’m not.”
At that, I turned around. “What?”
“I’m not leaving. In fact, I was apartment hunting until I can find a house that I like.”
“Apartment?” Hope hummed under my skin. “House?”
He laughed. “Yeah, house. Maybe you want to help me with that.”
I backed up a step. “Don’t tease me, Kai.”
“I’m not.” He moved forward until there was no room between us.
I looked around. “You can’t.” I whispered.
“The hell I can’t.”
“Wyatt is right over there,” I said furiously, under my breath.
“I know.” He curled his arm around my lower back and crushed me into him.
Then I noticed his split lip. Before I could stop myself, I reached up to touch it. “What happened?”
“I told your brother I was in love with you.”
“In lo—” I couldn’t even finish that word.
No . He couldn’t be.
I tried to pull away and he only firmed his hold. “I love you, Lexi Howard. It wasn’t a long fall, either. I think I’ve known that I had feelings for you for a damn long time. I just didn’t want to face it. The minute you gave me the option to touch you, I should have known I’d never let you go.”
“Wait. You haven’t talked to me all week, and you think you can just say you love me and it’s all good?”
People started turning around as my voice rose.
“Well, I think it’s a start. More than a start. Unless you don’t love me back.” Suddenly, he looked unsure, then his chin tipped up. “If that’s so, I’ll wait.”
My fingers curled into his shirt. “You can’t say that to me.” I could feel the tears coming. “You can’t.”
“You make me want to stay, Lex.”
“You can’t put that on me.”
“It’s not.” He slipped his hands into my back pockets. “You make me want to stay in one spot. You make me want more than just my truck and a duffel bag. You know, we worked on a deck for a family this week and I looked around and thought about how I wanted one like that. I wanted a stupid pool and a yard to take care of. I wanted a place to make a home. A place for kids—and the only person I wanted that with is you.”
“Kids?” My heart tripped.
“Pretty sure I don’t need six of them, but yeah. Maybe two.”
I laughed, not sure I could keep up with this new Kai.
He grinned down at me. “So, what do you think?”
“I think I like the idea of a house and kids with you, Kai Murdock.”
“I mean, if you want kids. We can have a bunch of dogs. Even cats if that’s what you want. I just want you.”
I pressed my forehead into his chest. “How the hell am I supposed to catch up?”
He moved his arms up to wrap around my shoulders until I was tight to his body. “Well, you better give it a try. My mom is on her way down to us right now.”
“God.” I pushed him away and he moved to the side, slinging an arm around my shoulders.
“Hey, Ma.”
“Don’t hey Ma me.” Anna rushed down the hill where we stood. “Are you two together?”
He glanced at me, then to his mom. “Ask her.”
I elbowed him. “I might be in love with your son.”
“Might?” She grinned then she laced her fingers together under her chin. “Does that mean you’re staying, Kai?”
He laughed. “Definitely.” He kissed my forehead. “Even if she wouldn’t have me, I’m glad to be home. But I think she likes me.”
I slid my arm around his back. “Like might be an understatement.”
“Yeah?” He curled me into him until I pressed my cheek to his chest. “Oh, here we go.”
“What?” I saw Wyatt coming down the hill behind his mom, Nicole, in tow. I tried to slip out from under Kai’s arm, but he held me tight.
“We’re not hiding. Besides, I nearly sacrificed a molar to your brother’s sledgehammer of a fist.”
I looked up at him. “My brother?”
“Defending your honor to the end.” He snickered. “If only he knew,” he whispered.
His mom tugged me away from Kai for a hug. “I’m so glad he found you.”
I hugged her back. “Me too.”
She eased back, her dark eyes swimming. “I’ve missed having all my boys home. For that alone, I would love you.”
I laughed. “He’s talking about house hunting, pray for me.”
Anna gasped then she threw herself at Kai.
“Okay, Ma.” He rubbed her back. “Don’t scare Lex away, for God’s sake.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” She wiped away tears. “I just miss having you around.”
A commotion started up at the tented food area. Cam, looking tanned and full of himself, stood with his arms out. “Get up here, beautiful! I’m home.”
She squeezed Kai one more time then took off up the sandy hill.
“You think she loves me, Cam is the golden child,” Kai said, tugging me back against him. “There goes a quiet day at the lake.”
I pressed a hand to Kai’s chest, more relaxed than I’d been in days. “So, do you hate me?” I asked my brother.
Wyatt sighed. “Not sure what you see in this idiot, but no.”
“Thanks,” Kai said wryly.
“I’m afraid I love him. Guess we’ve got to keep him.”
Kai looked down at me, his eyes crinkling. “That’s how you tell me?”
I grabbed his hand and started toward the water. “Think we need a minute.”
Wyatt waved us off. “Yeah, yeah. Far away so I can’t see anything.”
I looked over my shoulder at Nicole with a big grin. “Save me a turkey burger from the animals.”
She laughed. “You got it.”
Kai laughed as I led him farther down the beach away from our friends and Kai’s family. When we got down to the water, I kicked off my sandals and coverup and heard him swear behind me.
“God, you’re stunning.”
I smiled. “If I didn’t love you before...”
He slipped his work-roughened hands around my lower back, sliding his fingers under the band of my shorts to skim the edge of my bikini. “I will never get enough of touching you. Every curve, every inch of soft skin.” He lowered his mouth to mine, brushing my lips softly. “Your smile, the way you take care of my family. The way you won’t settle for anything less than what you deserve.”
My eyes stung. “No one has ever said anything like that to me.”
“You deserve to hear it daily. I’ll make sure you know how much you’re appreciated. I’ll also fuck up.”
“Oh, I know you will. Because if you ever disappear again instead of talking to me, then I’ll?—”
He shut me up with a hot kiss. Enough that I forgot what I was going to say. “I won’t,” he whispered between increasingly hotter kisses. “If we have an argument, I might need to cool off, but I’ll always come back to you.”
“I can handle that.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. I could handle just about anything as long as we did it together.
When he finally pulled back enough for me to breathe, I couldn’t wipe my smile away. “Did you say house?”
He laughed and sat down on the beach, then he pulled me down in front of him. “Want to see a few of the ones I earmarked?”
I leaned back on him as he wrapped his arms around me to show me his phone.
And I let myself plan our future.