Chapter 22 #2
Austin made him promise to come over tonight and spend time with them, but he hadn’t wanted to, not even a little bit.
He’d suggested Austin get some quality alone time with his friends because even after all these months, Kitt wanted nothing to do with Seth at all.
Jealousy ran thick in his heart over the guy.
It didn’t matter that he was a married man, a married straight man, with a brand-new beautiful wife or that Seth seemed overly afraid of his own shadow.
Kitt couldn’t manage to get the image out of his head of Seth and Austin walking up to Lady’s stall all those months ago.
It set his heart on fire every time he thought about it.
Most people knew of the Kelly temper, but Kitt tried to always be cool, calm, and collected.
He wanted to come off like there wasn’t much more on his mind other than work.
Those were defense mechanisms he learned years ago when dealing with his dad.
Any sort of awkwardness and Kitt would pull deep inside himself, outwardly appearing to focus on nothing but the task at hand.
His dad’s backhand had taught him to keep an eye on everything.
You never knew when the proverbial, or literal, fist might be coming out of nowhere to punch you in the gut.
Keeping your head down helped keep the attention away from you.
That fist had come out of nowhere and punched Kitt hard today, squarely in the chest.
When Kitt watched Cara with Austin this afternoon, so many of those old feelings of thinking Austin would eventually leave and return to Hollywood came rushing back.
Austin and Cara were so pretty together.
They fit with one another. Seth fit with them too.
That polished pretty world had a place for Austin.
How had Kitt let himself forget that? So, instead of going in, trying to make amends with Seth or interrupting Cara and Austin on their tour, Kitt sat outside and waited. For what, he didn’t know for sure.
“They’re so perfect, and I love the idea of you all racing them! Did you always plan that when you bought this place?” Cara asked, walking beside Austin. This time she held Austin’s hand as they walked slowly from the barn to the house.
“No, not even a little bit. I just stumbled on it, and Kitt let me get involved.” The lights were all turned off. The night was quiet. Kitt could see and hear everything said between them.
“I wasn’t sure you were as happy as Seth kept telling me, but I can see he’s right.
I’m glad for you, Austin. I can’t see how no one knows about you and Kitt, it’s so obvious,” Cara said.
It perked Kitt’s ears right up. Any worry he felt about eavesdropping just came in second to worry they were being too blatant to the people around them.
“Kitt’s better at it than me. I’d come out today in order to quit hiding.” Austin looked down at the ground as he spoke, still holding her hand.
“You’re in love.” There was a smile in the way Cara said the words.
“I’m so in love. So forever-and-ever-until-death-do-us-part in love. He’s everything to me.” Austin’s words made Kitt’s heart lurch from his chest. It was exactly how he felt. Forever and ever until death do us part…exactly like that!
“Oh, Austin, I’m so glad! You deserve that!
And, he’s hot as hell. I mean seriously, Austin, you’re good looking, but he might give you a run for your money.
I can’t wait to see you two standing next to each other!
” They were walking into the yard now. Austin had installed a gate around his backyard to fence in the swimming pool.
Some of the cows had found their way back there and stumbled into the pool.
Several fell in, and it had been a nightmare trying to get them out.
“I can’t tell if he doesn’t know how good looking he is, or if he doesn’t care, but regardless, you should see his body.
It’s as good as his face. Every single muscle’s toned.
His chest makes me lose my mind, and his ass…
I wish he’d get over here. I want him to get to know you guys.
” Austin walked up the steps and stopped, turning back toward Kitt’s house.
“Seth thought he was jealous of him,” Cara said, following Austin’s gaze, but looking all around.
“I might’ve been a little jealous.” Kitt stepped, coming up from behind.
He walked the distance separating them and Austin opened his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Kitt didn’t hesitate as he slid into the embrace.
Austin hadn’t ever said those things to him.
All the worry of the afternoon faded away after hearing what Austin just so casually said.
“Ah…you are here. Yay!” Cara said. She stepped up to join them in the embrace. “I’m so glad you came along, Kitt. You saved our boy!” She hugged Kitt tighter, making him startle and look up at Austin’s serious face.
“I tell him that all the time, Cara, but he doesn’t believe me.” Austin seemed fine with Cara right there with them. He leaned forward to kiss Kitt’s lips again. Cara stayed with them, smiling big in their faces.
“Well, you can believe me, then, Mr. Kitt Kelly! And what a great name! Where’d you get such a name?” Cara asked.
“My parents…”
They were laughing as Seth opened the back door. “Rich and Mercedes were standing watch outside the Omni waiting for us to make our move. We got past them no problem. Apparently they’re still there watching.”
“Yay! We got away from them! Rich is just creepy and Mercedes…I mean seriously, what’s wrong with his face?
Can you believe they followed us to Dallas on our honeymoon?
What did they think was gonna happen?” Cara left the circle of Kitt’s and Austin’s arms, to stand with her husband, circling her arms around him.
“I can’t believe no one’s thought to look out here,” Austin said.
“I can’t believe no one out here has said anything.” Seth’s tone was very matter of fact.
“No one’s even talking about me anymore. I’m finally off the radar. Thank God.” Austin’s breath tickled Kitt’s neck as he spoke.
“The mosquitoes are eating me up, come inside,” Seth said.
“Seth, you’re a serious pansy. Go in, we’ll be a minute.” Austin kept a tight hold on Kitt, not moving.
“How long were you here?” Austin asked as Seth shut the door behind them. Kitt answered the question with his silence.
“I meant everything I said, and I don’t want you to be nervous about it.
I’ve wanted to say it to you for so long.
I’ve just been trying to give you time. This is forever for me, and you’re so very hot…
Just one kiss…” Austin wrapped Kitt tightly in his embrace and grabbed his ass, tugging Kitt tighter against him.
Right as Austin’s lips descended, Kitt looked over to the right to see Cara and Seth standing in the window.
Cara bubbled with excitement at their kiss.
Austin’s tongue bounced off Kitt’s cheek as he realized he’d been denied.
“Get a room, you two!” Seth yelled. Austin reached up to turn Kitt’s face back to him, and thoroughly kissed him, regardless of who may be watching.