Chapter 8
Grace
My mind was racing from everything that had happened, and everything I had just experienced with Kai.
He’d overwhelmed my senses in the best way possible, and now that I’d felt what it could be like with him, I was hooked.
I’d never felt such intoxicating desire before, and the way he’d reacted to me had set me on fire.
He’d been my best friend, and now to have this new connection with him, my head was spinning.
We’d made our way back inside, and I refused to be embarrassed at being caught or what we’d been doing. Even when Oakley had basically announced it to the entire bar.
I was a twenty-two-year-old woman, reclaiming her life. I had nothing to be ashamed of.
I walked proudly next to Kai, as he led me over to the booth with his friends and introduced me to each of them.
“Everyone, this is Grace. Gracie, this is Everett, Oliver, Tucker, Zane, Hunter, Walker and you’ve already met Oakley, unfortunately.” He pointed to each man in turn. I recognized a few and tried my best to memorize the names of the others, like Maisie’s dad, Everett.
“What do you mean, unfortunately? It was love at first sight; she loves me!” Oakley exclaimed, sloshing beer over his hand as he raised his glass. “To Grace, the only woman to ever ping our Radar!”
“Here, here.” The others hooted and hollered as they clinked glasses.
Axel brought a decadent chocolate cake to the table and set it in front of Zane.
I guess that answered who and what these guys were celebrating.
Zane was young, probably around my age, with blond hair and sweet baby-blue eyes.
He was pretty, and flushed bright red when everyone started to sing “Happy Birthday”.
Once everyone had a piece of cake, Kai walked me back over to the bar, so I could get back to work.
“I had a great time tonight,” Kai remarked as he kissed my cheek.
“So did I.” I beamed at him, feeling freer than I ever had. He gave me hope for the future and fueled a desire in my core. I really hoped we’d get to explore again soon. “Where’s your phone?”
“Huh?” The startled look on his face made me giggle.
“Oh, so you don’t want my number anymore?” I winked, and the blush that colored his cheeks endeared him to me that much more. I loved that I was able to make this big, buff military man blush.
“Of course.” He quickly handed me his phone, and I programmed my number in. Sending myself a text to ensure I had his number too, so I wouldn’t freak out at an unknown number calling or texting me.
“There you go,” I said as I passed back his phone. He grabbed my wrist and gently pulled me forward.
“I will use it often,” he warned. “I hope you’re ready for all that romance you wanted.” He placed a soft kiss on my lips, smiled and made his way back over to his friends.
I watched him go, enjoying the sight of him in those Wranglers as excitement and anticipation zipped through me at all the possibilities ahead.
It wasn’t until Saturday around lunchtime that Kath was able to interrogate me about Kai. I was waking up when she burst into my room, bouncing on my bed next to me.
“Okay, spill!” she shrieked.
“What are you talking about?” I grumbled. “I was sleeping.”
“No, you weren’t.” She chuffed, “And don’t act stupid. You and Mal! Oh my God!”
Groaning, I pulled a pillow over my head. “You heard about that,” I exclaimed, my voice muffled.
Kath grabbed the pillow and threw it aside. “Of course I heard about it. You and Mal are the hot topic all over town. Yaya and all the men were discussing it at length. Especially when you were making out during work hours at The Dusted Bull!”
“We weren’t making out,” I said indignantly.
“Old man Alan mentioned you put on quite the show.” She winked at me.
“We did not! He pecked me on the lips to say goodbye, and that was all anyone would have seen.” My face heated as I thought about all we’d done before that kiss.
“Your face tells me that is not the entire story. Spill!” Kath sat up with her back against the headboard, ready for all the gossip.
“If I’m going to tell this story, I’m gonna need some coffee.” I yawned.
With an eye-roll, she huffed. “Okay, fine. I’ll make coffee, and you get dressed, but be ready to tell me everything!” She squealed as she hurried from the room but not before she ripped the covers off my bed.
“Son of a biscuit!” I cursed as the cold air assaulted my skin. “You’re mean.”
“You love me,” she sang from the kitchen. “Now, hurry up. There’s tea to spill!”
Laughing at my wonderful friend, I hurried to shower. I was glad I had someone to talk to about Kai and everything that had happened.
Quickly drying off, I got dressed as Kath was setting coffee and muffins down on the coffee table in our cozy living room.
“Are those the infamous triple-choc muffins? You spoil me.” I grabbed a warm muffin and took a bite. I couldn’t help the moan as the chocolate melted over my tongue. “These are so good.”
“I’ll say. It’s clear how much you like them from watching you eat and moan like a porn star.
Does Mal know that you’re a slut for chocolate?
” she teased, and I blushed at her vulgar words.
It had taken a while to get used to all the free cursing and explicit language that most of my new family used.
I still couldn’t curse myself, but I no longer flinched or blushed when things were said. Except for Kath’s words now.
“Kai knows a lot more about me than anyone,” I announced.
“Kai, huh? Tell me everything!” She raised a perfectly sculpted brow at me, intrigue sparking in her eyes. “I knew there was something more between you two.”
“Kai had been my best and only friend since I was thirteen,” I started.
“You know I grew up in an extremely religious family; well, so did he. His father was our reverend and an evil man. We were both beaten by our fathers. Kai found me by the lake behind my house after a particularly fresh lesson where I was trying to clean a cut on my back, and he offered to help. I’d seen him at church and school, but he’s two years older than me, so we never really spoke before that night.
After that, we’d meet by the lake often to nurse each other’s injuries and ensure we didn’t get any infections and there were no broken bones.
From that first night, he became my confidante, and my best friend.
” My chest constricted as melancholy threatened to suffocate me.
I took a deep breath, bracing myself and hating our familial connection but needing Kath to understand how connected Kai and I truly were.
“He’s also my brother-in-law.”
“Oh, my God,” she gasped. “That’s why you ran. Oh, Grace! That is a lot to unpack. But how did you end up making out on Thursday night?”
As I rolled my eyes at her teasing, I braced myself for my first real girl talk.
“Kai came to The Dusted Bull with a bunch of guys. It was a birthday celebration for someone named Zane. One thing led to another, and he asked for my number. He mentioned he’d written to me every chance he had since he left for the military when he was eighteen, but I’d had no idea.
I never received one letter. I teased him about how romantic letter writing was and hinted that he should keep writing instead of getting my number, and we had a moment, I guess.
We almost kissed right there at the bar.
Then one of his friends interrupted, startling us, and I panicked and took off out the back.
“He made me feel things I’d never felt before.
I was hot, and my pulse was racing; I didn’t know what to do.
I’d never felt such overwhelming desire before, so I had a little freak out and Kai caught me.
With Kai, I can be stubborn and bold, so he teased me about my freak out and he caged me against the wall.
It’s like I could feel the electricity sparking between us, like it is in Kay’s romance books.
My body heated, and when he asked if he could kiss me, all I could do was say yes!
“The kiss—oh goodness—his kiss set me on fire! It was so hot.” I fanned myself, making Kath laugh.
“He told me how much he wanted me, how he’d always wanted me, and we…
ah…did stuff before his friend, Oakley, interrupted us.
We both said we wanted to explore this thing between us, so I guess we’re together now, but I don’t know. ”
Kath was staring at me, her mouth gaping open.
I tapped her chin. “You’d better close that mouth or you’ll catch flies.” A nervous giggle burst out of me at her continued silence, as a weight settled in my gut. “Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I made a mistake?”
Was I rushing things? I’d only been free for seven weeks.
Was it too soon to explore something new?
Had I made a huge mistake?
After clearing her throat, Kath took my hand.
“Oh, Grace, no. I was just shocked that you, of all people, were so bold and acted on your desire. Way to go, girl! I’m clearly rubbing off on you.
” We both laughed. “Honestly, I didn’t know you had it in you.
But if Mal makes you feel that way, then explore it all.
Enjoy everything you can. You deserve the best things after all you’ve been through, and you know I think Mal is a great guy.
But I guess you know that better than I do since you’ve known him so much longer than the rest of us.
” She paused, smirking at me. “But I have a question…”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly. Kath, ever the straight shooter, didn’t seem to have any of the same hangups as me, so I was a little worried at what her question might be.
“What exactly was this stuff you and Mal did? You can’t just gloss over the spicy details like that, you tease. Come on, I need all the deets!”
Nervous laughter bubbled out of my chest. “Kathleen! Oh, my god, I can’t.” My face caught fire as I flushed at her words.
“Aw, come on. Just a hint. How big are we talking?” She motioned with her hands about five inches apart and started to move them slowly. “Just stop me when I’ve reached the right size.”
I quickly grabbed her hands and held them down to halt her movements.
Sufferin’ succotash! This woman had no boundaries! Is this what it was like to share with a girlfriend? Did people really share all the details? I was gonna pass out from how hot my face was flaming.
“Kath, goodness gracious! I don’t know. Big, okay? But I’m yet to see it.” I glanced away, feeling flustered.
“Really?” she teased, before taking pity on me. “Okay, okay. I won’t ask again but just tell me. Was it good?”
This woman!
“Yes, it was amazing. Like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”
“Good. That’s all I need to know.” She took my hand in hers again, turning serious.
“Just be careful, okay. And don’t be afraid to speak up.
You always have a voice. If he does anything that makes you uncomfortable, tell him; he’ll listen.
If he ever hurts you, you know he’ll have to deal with me, Yaya and the whole Papadakis family,” she said, referring to my brother-in-law, Indy’s, new family.
Barking out a laugh, “I can imagine Yaya putting Kai in his place. That woman is formidable and so damn intimidating for someone so small.”
“Oh, she so is! But we love her for it,” Kath said.
“Okay, now I have a question for you.” I pursed my lips, not sure how to word it, but deciding on being direct. “Did you know Kai has a prosthetic leg?” I whispered the question, not sure why.
I doubt it was a secret with how he’d dropped his pants, but I was so curious.
What had happened to him? What had he seen and endured?
Was he okay? I guessed that was why he was out of the military, but I couldn’t comprehend all he must have gone through during his service if losing a leg was how it ended.
“Yes, I know. He doesn’t hide it. Why? It’s not a problem for you, is it?” she hedged.
“Oh, no. Of course not! I just wasn’t expecting it and didn’t know what to say. He’s been through so much. I’m just thankful he’s alive…Do you know what happened?”
“Not the specifics. Just that a mission went wrong and their team, except Hunter, was honorably discharged. When they first came back, they were all haunted and rarely left the ranch. We only saw them at the pub, the shelter or class. It’s only been in the last few months that they’ve been around more, and people have gotten to know them.
Ev, Ollie and Oak are locals; the others are all new. ”
“So, you know Oakley. He’s interesting,” I said with a chuckle.
“Oh, he is, but he’s harmless. Just a relentless flirt and a little wacky.” She gazed off into the distance.
“Have you and he, you know?” I asked.
“Me and Oak, absolutely not!” she exclaimed. “Me and Ollie, on the other hand, may have had some fun when he was on leave.”
“Oh, my goodness, Kath. You and Ollie. When was this?”
“Hmm, about five years ago. It was just a bit of fun between friends.” She shrugged, like it was no big deal, and I kind of envied her levity and candor.
She had clearly grown up surrounded by love and respect and knew so much more about the world than I did.
I’d seen the dark underbelly but hadn’t known love, comfort or care outside of my secret moments with Kai.
Wondering, not for the first time, what it would be like to be treated as an equal and have an adult respect you enough to listen to you and tell you the truth.
Someone to educate me about life and the trials that came with growing up.
I’d never had that. I’d had to find my way on my own, and it had been a fight.
Maybe I could build it with Kath, Indy and now, Kai.