27. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Kora
I tried to wipe away the goofy smile I knew was plastered on my face but couldn’t. After our talk, my muscles relaxed again. My heart was bursting, and I was on cloud nine. It might sound corny, but there was no other way to describe it. I felt like I could accomplish anything right now. I was invincible. It was funny how a talk and a kiss from an outrageously handsome man could do that.
I watched Kai play cornhole with the guys. His face was lit up with laughter as he and Bryson high-fived their perfect throws. He was cutting up with them like he had grown up here. Like they were family. He was in his element. He and Bryson were again dominating, this time though in the backyard.
He looked more relaxed than I had seen before. Maybe it was because his past was out in the open. He wasn’t hiding anything from me, could be himself, and I was still interested. Damn was I ever.
“Someone’s happy.” Darlene said as she sat on the chaise lounge and joined me and Summer.
My eyes didn’t leave Kai, and I took a sip of wine. “Yeah. I guess you could say that.” I gave her a crooked smile.
“Well, I’m glad you worked things out with him,” Summer added. “I know I give you a lot of shit, but you really are good together.”
I exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Darlene, and we busted out laughing. It wasn't often Summer said something sweet.
Summer stood. “Whatever. See if I’m nice anymore. I gotta go.”
I wrapped Summer in a large hug. “Oh, Summer.” I squeezed her extra hard, mainly because I knew it would aggravate her. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
She smiled as she pulled away. “You deserve to be happy Kora.”
“You do too, Summer,” Darlene said as she wrapped her arms around both of us.
“Yeah, well I don’t think there’s any man who can handle me, so I’ll just need to keep you two close.”
We watched her walk toward Tonya and Kaye and give them hugs, and Darlene and I settled back into our chairs.
“I wish she’d find someone who could get underneath that harsh exterior of hers, and get to know the Summer we know and love,” Darlene said.
“One day it’ll happen. I have no doubt,” I said as I sipped my wine.
We sat enjoying the afternoon for a while and laughed at the kids playing in the sand box and watched the men across the yard.
“Maybe we finally got our wish,” Darlene said in a quiet voice.
I scrunched my brow. “About?”
“We always wanted guys who were friends and got along so we could grow old together and our kids would be like family.”
I nodded. We always did say that. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions.”
“You’re right, and with how you’re going, James will be in high school before you have any kids.”
“Okay, let’s slow your roll. I’m not going to argue. Right now, I’m just happy Kai and I are good.”
Darlene’s face lit up. “And I’m happy for you.”
The guys finished their game and joined us. Bryson had his arms full with James. “I think someone’s getting tired.”
James leaned toward Darlene, who took him and flattened out his hair with her hand. “Yeah, it looks like he’s beat.”
Bryson helped her up, and they walked together to say goodnight.
“It is getting late,” I said as I cuddled into Kai. “Do you want to come to my house? Maybe spend the night?” After watching him across the yard, and not being with him over a week, I really missed him and wanted to show him how much.
He rubbed my back, sparking goosebumps across my skin and a tingling in my groin. Just a simple touch and a look from those crystal eyes was all it took. I was putty in his hands and wanted him to mold me into anything he desired. But the look on his face stopped me in my tracks. “What’s wrong?”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. “Even though I’d love nothing more than to be with you all night, I need to go home and check on Terry. I left him washing dishes at the pub with Nico, and I want to make sure he didn’t heist any of Trevor’s liquor.”
My smile reached my eyes. “I thought things were going better?”
“They are, but I’m still concerned when he’s alone. I feel like the tables have turned and I’m the father and he’s my responsibility.”
“And that’s why Trevor brought me by.”
I turned quickly, and there was Terry. He looked good. He had shaved and cleaned up a little since the last time I saw him.
Tonya, Kaye, and Charles came over. Charles held out his hand. “I’m Charles. You must be Terry.”
“I am. Nice to meet you,” Terry replied as he returned the handshake.
“Well, Terry, come on and grab a burger and a Coke. We’re getting ready to play cards. I need a partner.” Tonya wrapped her hand around his arm and pulled him off to the patio table where the cards were set up.
It didn’t take long for laughter and joking to fill the air as the book club and men played cards. “Things look good here. I’ve gotta go check on the animals. Want to go for a walk?” I asked Kai.
“Of course.”
We walked down the path leading to my place in silence. I could hear Tonya’s and Terry’s voices above the others.
We fed the goats and got them settled for the night, then Kai grabbed my waist and turned me to him.
“Thank you for being so amazing.”
My insides fluttered as his crystal eyes ate me up. “You’re welcome,” I replied in a wispy voice. I stood on my tiptoes and brushed my lips against his in a sweet, soft kiss.
Kai, though, had other ideas and took the kiss up a couple notches—okay, a bunch of notches. It was hot enough to cause my knees to become like jelly. I placed my hand on his chest, then behind his neck, and pulled us closer still.
Percy and Jackson made a noise and placed their front hooves on my back. I tried to ignore them, but eventually, goat hooves hurt. I smiled against Kai’s lips. “I almost forgot we had an audience.”
“Not me,” replied Kai as he went in for a deeper kiss. “I was hoping for the exact response we got.”
“Trying to start something?”
“Nope.” Kai shook his head. “Just letting them know how we feel.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s not too hard to guess.” I pulled him out of the goat enclosure and latched the gate behind us. “But this would be so much nicer in my house. Maybe even in my bed.”
“Sounds great to me.”