19. Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Kai
D amn, life was good. It had been a long day, and I was finally on my way back to the hair salon. They were planning on moving into the space tomorrow, so one last coat of paint, and I could call it a night.
I was exhausted but had nothing to complain about. My boss, Christian Warren, gave me an on-site promotion. I heard from Sebastian—he had been promoted too—and Susie sent me a text. She was asked to work summer school for the reading program. Everything was good, and when I added in the weekend with Kora, life seemed about perfect.
Kora and I texted occasionally throughout the day, which was new for me. I couldn’t remember the last time I anticipated talking with a woman. Kora had a lot planned this week with a field day Thursday and only teachers at school Friday. Then she wouldn’t have any excuses to not spend time with me. She’d have nothing but time all summer. Maybe I could take some time off. Go visit her father with her.
I shook my head to get these crazy thoughts to go away. But then, last night popped into my head, and my blood started pooling in my crotch. The things she did to me and the way she felt and tasted . . .
Enough. This wasn’t the time for those thoughts. I needed to get the walls painted, not hop in a cold shower as soon as I got back to the salon. Think of something else. I turned the radio up and sang at the top of my lungs to classic rock.
It was late when I pulled off the interstate and entered the Orlinda Valley city limits. Most things were closed, and even Jerry’s Pub was empty. It was Monday night. Nothing to do. I turned right into the back of the salon’s lot and was greeted by a police car. “What the hell?”
I jumped out. “Can I help you?”
The policeman held out his hand. His badge said Pierson. I shook his hand.
“Kai, correct?” Officer Pierson asked.
I was on guard. I’d never had a good rapport with the law. In my experience, they never seemed to be very helpful when I needed their services. I nodded, reserved.
“I’m Patrick. It seems as if you took my place in the cornhole tournament.”
Patrick, Bryson’s friend. my shoulders relaxed. “Yes. Patrick. I haven’t had the privilege of meeting you yet. No one mentioned you were an officer.”
“Yeah, well, one negative thing about working in a small town, you’re not taken very seriously by friends.” He hooked his fingers through his belt loops. “Anyway, we picked up an older gentleman for public intoxication and disturbing the peace, and he said he knew you.”
My brows lifted. Why would anyone say they knew me? I shook my head, totally confused. “I’ve only been here a few weeks. I don’t know why someone would say they knew me.” Then it hit me. Like a slug to the gut. He found me. I couldn’t run far enough. But it can’t be.
“Does the name Terry Lawson mean anything to you?”
Holy fuck. I closed my eyes and dipped my head . How did he find me? I puffed out a deep breath and linked my hands behind my head. Relax and breathe. “Yeah. Why?” I didn’t want to hear what Patrick had to say. There was no possible way my father followed me here. I made sure to cover my tracks. Orlinda Valley was to be my hiding place. My refuge. A place no one would find me unless I wanted them to.
“We have him down at the station. He didn’t know your number but told us your name. He knew you were here somewhere.”
I lifted my face to the sky. The stars were out in abundance. It wasn’t something I would have noticed in Atlanta, but here, where there weren’t as many lights as in a city, it was easy to see. I wished I could have enjoyed it. “What do I need to do?” I said under my breath. My shoulders already seemed heavy with the extra burden Terry always brought.
“We’d like to keep him for the night, but if you could come by the station in the morning, you could pick him up and post bail.”
“Dammit!” I breathed out hard and paced. It’s happening again. I just got a promotion and need to take time off work to deal with my father. This was not okay. “What if I don’t? What if I choose not to post bail or acknowledge his presence?”
“He’ll have to stay. Trevor’s going to press charges. He did some damage at the pub.”
“Shit. Of course, he did.” I could feel my blood pressure rising. I clenched my fists tight. I had to relax. I couldn’t let him affect me this way. I wanted nothing more than to ignore the entire situation but couldn’t. He was my father, even though he never did anything but cause my life to be a mess. “Let him sit there all day. I just got a promotion and need to be at work. I’ll get off as early as possible and be by then. I work in the city, so won’t be able to get by there tomorrow until at least seven.”
“That’s fine. His bail is one hundred and fifty dollars.”
I nodded. “Not a problem. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“No inconvenience.” Patrick stuck out his hand again, and I shook it. “It was good to finally meet the guy who replaced me in cornhole—and other places.” Patrick walked to his squad car. “Talk to ya later.”
I watched as he pulled out of the lot. My brow raised. What did that mean?
Patrick—I heard that name before—but where? It wasn’t just that he was Bryson’s original cornhole partner.
Then it hit me. Patrick and Kora dated for a while until she broke up with him.
I gritted my teeth and unlocked the back door of the salon and let myself in. I slammed the door in frustration and leaned heavily against it. “I’m not your replacement. You fucking dick.” I had to get these feelings in check. With Terry here, shit could go south quickly.
My father's here in Orlinda Valley, I just met Kora’s ex, and not under good circumstances.
I glanced across the room. Painting was just the thing I needed.
The next day ended up being a total shitshow.
My first day being in charge, and I couldn’t focus, and it was obvious. I also got snippy with Kora on the phone. It seemed as if she heard about Terry being arrested—yet another issue about a small town. I’m sure Patrick wasted no time letting her know. Nothing was confidential. She called to see if I was okay. That was it. She was concerned. I was always the one to deal with family issues and I did it alone. Never had anyone to help, and when it was offered, I never really knew what to do with it. She insisted, and I finally told her it was none of her business.
The interstate passed outside my truck windows, and my exact words came to mind. “Kora, it’s none of your fucking business. Stay out of my family issues.”
That was smart—dumbass . I sighed deeply and flipped the turn signal to merge onto the exit ramp. “Great way to mess up the one good thing you’ve ever had.”
Her voice was quiet and oozed with hurt when she said fine.
I hurt her and it sucked. But I shouldn’t be surprised. That’s the only way I knew to treat those I care about. I had learned from the best. Well, it didn’t matter at that minute. I’d have to deal with it later. I pulled into the police station. I don’t have the time to worry about it now.
I slammed the truck door, trudged heavily into the station and up to the counter.
An older lady with big red hair sat there. “Hey, sugar plum. How can I help you today?” Her voice had a strong southern twang.
I cleared my throat and glued a grin on my face. “I’m here to pay the bail for Terry Lawson.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet.
“Yep. You’re Kai, ain’t cha? The hunk doing the work over at Shear Perfection?” the big-haired woman asked.
I forced my eyes not to roll. I didn’t have time for this. “Yes, ma’am, I am. And you are . . . ?” I made eye contact and tilted my head. Hopefully, I seemed genuinely interested.
“Aww, sugar plum, how rude of me. I’m Ethel. Tonya told me all about you and that you and that sweet niece of hers, Kora, have been spending all kinds of time together.” She gave me an exaggerated wink as she continued to type on the computer in front of her. “That’ll be one hundred and fifty for bail.”
I placed the money on the counter. Ethel typed more and a receipt printed out, then she picked up the phone next to her desk. “Kai Lawson is here to pick up Terry.” Ethel agreed to whatever was said, then typed more. “Patrick will bring him up here shortly.” She typed some more, then folded her hands under her chin. “That Kora is so adorable. She’s my grandson’s teacher, and he has the biggest crush on her.”
I chuckled. Smart kid. “Well, I can tell you, she loves her job. If every teacher had that much enthusiasm, school might be a good place to be.”
“You didn’t like school much?”
“No. Not really.” A loud bang from behind a door got my attention.
“That would be Patrick and your dad.” Ethel slid some papers through another window as a scruffy and aged man appeared at the window. Patrick told him to sign and slid a ziplock bag toward him. I heard beeps, then a click, and the door next to the counter opened, and there he was.
A boulder lodged in my gut.
I shook my head, and my eyebrows lowered. Last time I saw my old man, he looked rough. Now he was just old. The sad thing was, he was only fifty-five but looked almost seventy. His skin was dehydrated and extra wrinkled like crepe paper, and his bald head had age spots. I had no resemblance to this man that I could make out, and for that I was forever grateful.
“Well, lookee here. My son tried to run, but I found him anyway.”
My eyes narrowed. What the hell was I going to do with him?
“Kai, Terry has a court date next week. We’re releasing him into your custody. Please make sure he shows up to his hearing. If he misses his court date, he’ll be found and arrested,” Patrick said.
Terry smiled. “You and me, kid. And you thought you could get away.”
“Thought nothing, Terry. Hoped.” I never called my father Dad. He wasn’t a dad. I was the one who’d done all the fatherly things. I took care of the twins and fed them dinner. Heck, I even had to take their food card and purchase groceries with it. If it wasn’t for me, they would have been placed in foster care and separated long ago.
“Don’t worry, Patrick. He’ll be there.” I turned and opened the door. “Come on.”
Terry sauntered through the door. I turned to Ethel. “Ethel it was nice to meet you.” I nodded to Patrick and followed behind Terry.
“So, I see you still have this shitty ass truck working.” Terry opened the door. “Where do you live in this Podunk town?”
A black Murano pulled into the parking lot. Shit. Not now. “Terry, hop in. I’ll be right there.” My attention was on the car as it parked, and Kora got out. I walked to her. I needed to keep her as far from Terry as possible.
“Kai, I heard . . .” She glanced toward the truck.
I caught her arm. “Hey, I need to apologize for how I spoke to you earlier. I’m surprised you’re here.”
Her expression was filled with concern. It melted my heart. What did I ever do to deserve her? Nothing. That’s exactly what. She was so far out of my league.
“Of course, I’m here.” She leaned her head toward the truck. “Is that your dad?”
I nodded. “Yep. That’s Terry. Seems like he’s going to be with me until his court hearing next week.” I shrugged. “I’m going to have to talk with Trevor. It seems that he damaged some things at the pub.” I rubbed her arm. “I’m so sorry for how I talked to you.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but I placed my hand over her lips. “It is not okay, Kora. I had no right to talk to you like that. To treat you like that. It sounded like something he”—I gestured my head toward the truck—“would’ve said to my mom.” Guilt filled my gut, and I felt bile rise to my throat.
Footsteps crunched on gravel and reached my ears. Kora and I turned. Could he not listen? I removed my hand from Kora’s arm and scrubbed it down my face. “I told you to stay in the truck.” Frustration cut into my words.
“That you did, boy, but then I’d miss meeting your friend here.” Terry stuck out his hand. “I’m Terry, Kai’s father.”
Kora hesitantly shook his hand and nodded. “I’m Kora. A . . . friend . . . of Kai’s.”
Terry glanced from Kora to me and back to Kora. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s what you are.” He gave a creepy smile. “Come on, boy. I’m starving. Buy your old man something to eat, and let’s get out of here.”
“Go back to the truck. I’ll be right there.” I gave Terry a focused and steady glare. He better listen. I didn’t want to show Kora what a tense situation was like between us.
Terry held his hands in the air and walked away. He chuckled and muttered to himself. I blew out a breath and rolled my eyes to the sky. I needed a minute to gain control. My pulse was racing, and I could punch something. I took a few steps away and focused on the quiet of the night. The crickets and the light breeze.
Finally, I was calm. “I’m sorry about that.” I was still facing away from Kora. Terry brought out everything I hated about myself, and I needed it to go away, quickly.
“Hey,” Kora placed her hand on my back and pulled me toward her. Her fingers rubbed my cheek, and a smile broke across her face. “I like it when you have day-old scruff. It’s really sexy.”
I laughed, and my shoulders lightened. I wrapped my arms around her waist. I didn’t want to give Terry a show, but being with Kora made everything better. She lit up even the worst moments, and I hoped it would stay that way because, with Terry around, there were sure to be many more bad moments. “Then I’ll keep it.”
She wrapped her hands around my neck. “Please do.” She brushed her lips against mine lightly and quickly. I wished I could take her home and lose myself in her body. Forget about the nightmare in my truck.
“So, what are you going to do about him?” she asked.
“I’m going to take him to eat, stop by the grocery and get him food for tomorrow, and take him back to the fifth wheel. There’s enough water there for a couple days, and on my way home tomorrow, I’ll fill the water barrel. I guess I need to get the water tapped sooner than I was planning.” I soaked in everything that was Kora. Her porcelain skin, dark auburn hair that fell just below her shoulder, the brown slacks she wore, with the white short-sleeve shirt tucked in. She was the hottest teacher I ever saw. “You look amazing. I wish we could play school, and I could be your misbehaving student. I’d love you to punish me right now.”
Kora’s head fell back as she rolled with laughter and swatted me. “Kai, that’s awful. I would never punish a student. I’d send them to the principal’s office.”
I shrugged and a wicked grin filled my face. “Then I guess you’ll need to play two parts. Teacher and principal.”
“Kai.” She held my face with her hands. “You’re too much.” She kissed me deeply. “Figure out what to do with him, and maybe Friday night we can attend the kick-off-to-summer night at Jerry’s Pub and end the night at my house.”
Being at Jerry’s after this week would be great. Being with Kora would make it even better. My eyes traveled down her body, and I pictured what I knew that body could do and how that soft skin tasted. I maneuvered to relieve the tightening that had occurred in my pants, and my lips tipped skyward. “Can’t wait.”
She brushed her finger over my dimple. “Good. See you Friday.”
One more quick kiss and she was on her way. The warmth that filled me when she was around dissipated immediately as soon as I climbed into the truck.
“Now I know why you’re here. Shooting a little high, ain’t ya, kid?”
I shot Terry a harsh drop-dead glare. Maybe I’ll get lucky, and he’ll shut up. I turned the key. “You smell like a cesspool. I’ll run into the grocery store. You stay in here.”