Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
I’m at your house. Can we talk? – Kate.
Marley stared down at the message on his phone. After his shitshow of a conversation with her, he’d helped his mom clean up the kitchen. Cassie and Delilah were playing with the boys in the backyard, and Pres and his dad were watching the ball game, along with Hendrix. He’d just sat down to join them when Kate’s message appeared on his phone.
I’m still at my mom’s. Is everything okay? – Marley.
I just need to see you. I can come there if you’d like? – Kate.
He took a deep breath. Either she wanted to apologize or say goodbye. Either way, they needed to be alone.
Wait there. I’m on my way. – Marley.
“I gotta go,” he said, standing up. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“You got a call out?” Pres asked. His brows knitted together. He knew that his twin worried about him when he was out on an emergency.
“No, just need to pick something up.” He hugged his brothers and his dad. Then walked over to his mom who was getting some drinks for the kids outside. “Mom, I’ll see you later. Thanks for the late lunch.”
“You’re leaving so soon?” She frowned.
“Yeah. But I’ll call you later. Love you.”
“I love you too,” she told him. “And I’d love you more if you and your brothers would stop fighting.”
“Never gonna happen,” Hendrix shouted.
His mom’s nose wrinkled.
After he waved goodbye to Cassie and the kids, he headed over to his car. He’d driven today because he was actually on call. As one of the single guys in the department, he liked to make sure he covered Sundays.
It was only a few minutes before he pulled up outside his house. It was just beyond the town square, on the road next to the fire station. And yeah, he’d chosen it for the proximity. He liked being the first to respond. He took his job seriously.
But his home had never looked this good before. Because Kate was sitting on the front stairs, her elbows resting on her knees, her chin propped in her palms. Not doing anything to hide the fact she was sitting outside his house.
“Hi,” he said softly, holding his hand out to help her up. “You could have waited in your car.”
“I don’t think I could have.” She stood, her hand in his. He didn’t want to pull it away so he used his left hand to slide his key in the door, so aware of this woman as he pushed it open and they walked inside.
“Want a drink?” he asked her.
“No thank you.” She looked around the hallway. When he’d first moved in he’d put photographs of his family on the wall in a burst of energy. “There are so many of you,” she said softly, looking at each photograph in turn.
“When your kids have kids, there’ll be a lot of you, too,” he pointed out.
“There will, won’t there?” She took a deep breath. “Can we sit down?” she asked. “I just don’t think I can do this in the hallway.”
So it was an ending then. Okay.
Actually, no, it wasn’t okay but he’d survive. It wouldn’t kill him.
He just wanted to punch something. Anything. Get rid of the pain in his chest.
She followed him to the back of his house, to the upholstered seats overlooking his backyard. It was small compared to hers. Full of flowers though, thanks to his mom who came to garden every week.
“This is beautiful,” Kate said. “Look at those roses.”
“My mom has a thing for them.” He waited as she sat down on one of the chairs, trying to keep his breath even.
But damn, he needed this pain to be done with. “If you’re ending this, can we do it fast? I’m not one for long drawn out emotions.”
“You think I’m ending things?” She frowned.
“After our conversation earlier? I’m pretty sure you are.”
She reached for his hand again. “I’m not ending things. I’m saying sorry. I’ve been so scared I’ve been pushing you away without even realizing it. And this morning…” she trailed off. “I felt so guilty I couldn’t breathe.”
“Guilty?” He frowned. “About what?”
“About Paul. I’d just spend the night in another man’s arms. I wasn’t expecting to see his picture on the wall a few hours later. I felt so bad, Marley. Like I was being judged. It is nothing to do with you, it has to do with me.”
The softness of her voice cut him to the core.
“You have his picture on your dresser,” he pointed out. “Seeing his photo on the wall shouldn’t be that much of a shock.”
“You saw that, huh?”
“I did.”
Her eyes met his. “I guess I’m used to that one. The one in his uniform, where he…” She looked at him. “Is that where he…?”
“Yes.” His voice was tight. He hated thinking about it. Hated it even more when he was sitting next to the woman he desired.
“I was blindsided. And I didn’t react well. And I’m sorry you bore the brunt of that.”
Marley shook his head. “I don’t care about seeing that. I want to see your emotions, Kate. I want to be a part of them. I miss him, too. So much I don’t know what to do with the anger I feel sometimes. I get the guilt. I get the sadness. I just want you to share them with me, not push me away.”
“You want me to talk about Paul?” she asked, her brows reflecting her confusion.
“I want you to talk to me about anything you’re feeling. I want you to be honest with me. To be real. I want you, Kate. All of you. In case you hadn’t realized that already.”
“Climbing into my bedroom gave me a little hint,” she said, a smile playing at her lips.
Christ, she was so beautiful it hurt. Memories of last night rushed through him. Of their bodies together. Of laying spent on her bed, the soft cadence of her breathing as she fell asleep. Of never wanting that feeling to end, because the cold light of day always felt like a bucket of frigid water.
He didn’t want the water. He wanted the happiness. He wanted to make her smile, not cry.
“I know this is hard for you. One of the hardest things you’ve had to do.” He took her hand in his. “You’ve been so fucking brave, Kate. Can you be brave a little longer? Let me show you how much I want this.”
Her eyes met his. “It’s not just me,” she told him. “I come in a pack. There are the kids. One teenager who has emotions so big he doesn’t know how to deal with them, so he throws them at the nearest adult on a regular basis. An eight-year-old who has taken to sleeping in his dad’s t-shirt every night because he’s afraid he’s going to forget him. And a little girl who can’t even remember her dad, so she’s looking for somebody to fill that hole. And I’m afraid they’ll get attached to you, and then you’ll walk away.”
“I’m not walking away,” he told her, his voice rough.
“You don’t know that.” She ran her tongue along her bottom lip. “That’s the thing. None of us know what will happen in the future.”
He took her face in his hands. “Kate, I will do everything that I possibly can to make sure that doesn’t happen. I love your kids. I will never hurt them. I promise you that.”
“What if we break up?”
Not gonna happen. But he knew that wasn’t what she needed to hear. And he was so very aware that to break up they needed to be together.
Were they together?
“I would protect their hearts like they were my own kids.”
A watery smile pulled at her lips.
“And I’ll protect your heart, too. I know it’s battered and bruised. Let me try to help you mend it.”
A tear rolled down her face. He wiped it away with his thumb.
“I don’t want to tell them yet,” she said. “Not until we’re sure.”
“Until you’re sure.” He smiled, brushing his lips against hers. “And that’s okay. I’ll take what you’re able to give. And I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I’m staying around. I’m here. I want you, all of you. I’ll be your friend to them, their buddy. Whatever. But to you, I want to be your boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” She was smiling wider now.
“Lover. Significant other. Whatever you want to call it.”
“I like boyfriend. It works perfectly with you climbing into my bedroom window and making out every night.”
“I’m not sure I can do that every night,” he said, leaning in to kiss her again. God, she felt good in his arms. Warmth flooded through him. “But I do have one request.”
She touched his face, her gaze steady on his. “Name it,” she said. “It’s yours.”
“I want to take you out on that date. This week. Your parents can babysit.”
Kate grinned. “You’ve got it all worked out, haven’t you?”
“Yep.” He brushed his lips against hers. “I have.”
“Okay, I need you to send me a picture of you in your dress,” Shana said a few days later, her voice echoing through the speaker of Kate’s phone as Kate drove to Marley’s house to start their date.
As Marley suggested, her parents were babysitting. And although they knew the reason why she was going out she’d told the kids she was seeing Shana. Who, of course, loved being part of the conspiracy.
“I’m driving,” Kate said, shaking her head. “You can use your imagination.”
“In my imagination it’s a fuck me dress,” Shana said. “And Marley’s going to drop at your feet like a drooling fool.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” Kate said, shaking her head as she turned the corner onto Marley’s road.
Carlton and her mom were planning on taking the kids out for dinner and had been getting ready to leave when she had. Addy and Ethan were too busy talking about whether turkey or beef made the best burgers to even notice her.
Her mom had though, taking in Kate’s cream dress, her shiny hair, and her high heels. “Oh, you look lovely.” She hugged Kate tight. “Have a wonderful time, darling.”
“By the way, do we need to have the safe sex talk?” her friend asked as Kate parked in Marley’s driveway.
“Shut up.” Kate smiled. “Who said we’re having sex?”
“You’re wearing a fuck me dress. I’d say sex is guaranteed.” Kate switched off the engine. “At least tell me you shaved.”
“Of course.” Kate rolled her eyes.
“Down there.”
Kate blinked. “It’s… tidy.” And that was all the information she intended on telling her friend. Because yes, she made sure she was ready for Marley to see her naked, if that happened. And yes, she panicked as she stared at herself naked in the bathroom mirror and saw the silvery stretch marks from having two kids and the little pooch at the bottom of her stomach that she tucked into her jeans because no matter how much she worked out it never went away.
“Anyway, he’s seen me naked,” Kate pointed out, grabbing her purse from the backseat. “I’ve got to go now. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, and don’t forget I need all the juicy details later.”
“Goodbye, Shana,” she said firmly.
“All of them!” Shana shouted out as Kate disconnected and walked up the steps to Marley’s front door.
He opened it before she could even knock. And her heart did a little loop-the-loop. The man she was so used to seeing in sweats or jeans, or thick working pants, had dressed up for her.
He was wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned at the neck. And dark gray pants that clung to his hips. As soon as she stepped inside she could smell the spiced notes of his cologne.
He took one look at her and grimaced. “Fuck,” he muttered, taking her hand and spinning her around, before marching her back down the stairs onto his broad driveway.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, frowning. “Do I look awful?”
“No.” His voice was thick. “You look beautiful. Gorgeous. I just need to have you wait outside while I grab my keys, because if you step inside my house we won’t be leaving until morning.”
Oh. She looked down at her dress. Yes, she’d chosen it specifically. It was sleeveless and made of lace, the neck a low v that revealed a hint of her cleavage. It was cut short, flaring out right above the knee, revealing her smooth legs, because yes, thank you, Shana, she had shaved.
It took him a minute to grab his keys and wallet and lock up the house. Then he turned to look at her. Damn, this man was handsome. He filled his shirt out perfectly. The sleeves were rolled up because despite the fact it was the evening, it was still balmy outside.
“I can’t tell you how good you look,” he told her. “Seriously, you blow my mind.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” She smiled at him. “I would have been happy staying in your house, by the way.”
“Don’t say that. I promised you a date. And I intend to keep my promise.”
He took her hand and led her past her own car to his truck, opening the passenger door for her. There was a little flutter in her chest. This felt so real and yet so right.
“Where are we going?” she asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“It’s a secret.” He flashed a smile at her. “We have one stop to make on the way.”
At first she thought he was driving her to Maple Cross. But he took a right off the road out of Hartson’s Creek, driving deep into the country. The sun was an orange ball in the sky as they drove through the cornfields, covering them with a bronze hue. Marley took another left, down a one-track lane, his truck lifting and falling with the divots of mud.
He pulled into a small makeshift parking lot and Kate recognized the place right away. Creek Edge Restaurant was one of the best eating establishments in the state. Famous for only serving local produce and being hard to find.
“Stay here,” he said. “I’ll be back in five.”
“Aren’t we eating here?”
He shook his head. “Nope. We’re taking some food to go.”
She vaguely remembered the restaurant was owned by Marley’s uncle and aunt, along with the farm it was attached to. Just as he promised, he was back within a couple of minutes, putting a big cooler of food in the flatbed of the truck before climbing back into the cab beside her.
“We have one more little drive then we’re done,” he promised her.
“I don’t mind. I like being in here with you.” He had this sure, unrushed way of driving that made her feel safe. And watching his arms tense up as he slowly turned the wheel to reverse out of the lot was a bonus.
The man was gorgeous. As they made it back to the country road, he took her hand, put it on his thigh, pressing his own palm over the top. She liked that too much. Liked the way his thigh muscles felt beneath her touch. Liked the way they could do this without anybody watching or talking about them.
She wanted to do so much more to him. But that would have to wait.
It took another five minutes before he pulled off the road again. This time she recognized it right away. “We’re going to the movies?” she asked.
The Chaplin Drive-In Movie Theater was owned by another of Marley’s uncles and his wife. It was a huge part of summer life in Hartson’s Creek. They ran seasons of old films, along with some of the seasonal blockbusters.
It wasn’t until he drove over the grass toward a space in the center that she realized something was strange.
“Where is everybody?” she asked him. Theirs was the only vehicle in the whole field.
“I rented it out.” He gave her a half smile. “Family privileges.”
“Seriously?” Her eyes widened still.
“Yep.” He parked, grabbed his phone, and tapped out a message. A moment later, the huge screen at the front of the parking lot flickered to life. Marley climbed out of the truck and walked over to her side, helping her down, because this dress might be pretty, and these shoes might make her legs look good, but they weren’t made for climbing in and out of trucks.
“I brought a blanket,” he told her. “But we can go sit at a picnic table if you prefer.
“A blanket is perfect.” She took her shoes off, because grass and heels weren’t a great combination. Marley put the blanket on the ground, then grabbed the food, setting it out between them as the movie started on the huge screen.
“Oh my God,” she said, smiling. “Is this what I think it is?”
“ High Society , yeah.” He’d asked for it specifically. Luckily, his uncle and aunt had a huge library of movies.
“How did you know it’s my favorite?”
He opened the first dish. “I remember you talking about this movie once. You used to watch it with your dad.”
“When did I say that?” She couldn’t get over the fact that he remembered it.
“I don’t know. A few years ago maybe. At some firefighter cookout I think.”
The movie opened with an overhead shot of some expensive homes on the New England coast. There were speakers set up so they could hear the sound of Louis Armstrong singing about Rhode Island and how he was going to sing in his pal Dexter’s jazz festival.
“Have you seen it before?” she asked him.
“Yeah. After you said it was your favorite.” His eyes met hers. “I figured you had good taste.”
He passed her a glass of wine and a tiny tart with tomatoes on it. “Try it,” he said. “Those tomatoes grow in the greenhouse at my uncle’s place.”
“Was he in the restaurant when you picked up the food?”
He gave her a grin. “Yep. Him, my aunt, and my cousins. I had to forcibly restrain them from coming out to say hi to you.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I do. I’ve just managed to persuade you out in public with me. I don’t want my family putting you off.”
“Your family is lovely.”
He gave her a heated look. “Not as lovely as you.”
God, he knew how to make her feel good. In every way. And he’d chosen the exact kind of date she’d wanted. No pressure, just a movie, some good food, and some even better company.
It was hard to remember why she’d been fighting this for so long.