Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
Kai
Ileft the baby shower and went straight to the office. Blake was already there working.
“You’re powering through this project,” I say, dropping my toolbag on the floor.
He glances up at me. “How was the co-ed baby shower?” he asks, chuckling and shaking his head. “Did you see her?”
I walk right by him and say, “Yes, I did.”
The chuckling grows louder, and it’s echoing through the space. I glance around. The stark white walls, the exposed high ceiling with black fixtures, and the back wall project. It’s not anything special yet. By the end of the week, this will be exactly the office I imagined.
Someone is knocking on the door. I turn around. It’s the delivery guy. Almost all the furniture is here. I open the door, and he brings in all the items.
Blake and I end up working for a few hours putting up the rest of the walls.
He updates me on his projects because he won’t be able to join me tomorrow or for most of next week.
It’s a solo project for the next few days.
The office will be my priority, especially if I want it to finish and open in the next couple of weeks.
A smile crosses my face. This is getting real.
Before leaving, I shoot Ava a text.
Kai:
Finally, heading home. I’ll call you in about an hour.
I want to invite her over to hang out in the hot tub, but not tonight.
Seeing her again in that pink bikini in my hot tub while we talk about life—it’s what I’ve been imagining for the last few weeks.
It’s what I crave every day. Her. Her attention.
Her touch. To have more minutes, more hours, more days with her…
longing to hold her in my arms, show her how much I care about her. Soon, very soon.
For this week, I have to focus on finishing the office.
Ava:
I’m not sure my eyes will stay open another hour. It was a long day.
Kai:
For both of us. Let’s plan on meeting up this week.
Ava:
Yes, that sounds perfect. Night.
Kai:
Good night.
The next day, I go back to the office by myself to sand and paint the walls.
Painting should not take as long as it does.
I’m able to finish half of the painting.
I went in there thinking I’d finish all of it today, but not even close.
I want to be home at a reasonable time tonight so Ava and I can talk on the phone—it’s like when I was in high school, when all we could do was talk on the phone.
Kai:
I’m home. What are you up to?
I place my phone on the island as I rummage through the fridge for something to eat, realizing I should have stopped to grab a bite to eat before coming home.
I guess a sandwich is what’s for dinner.
It will do. The echoing of my phone vibrating on my island gets my attention. Scooping it up, I take a look.
Ava:
I’m in bed reading. Another long day with Giana, playing while Mom and Dad have a date day.
Kai:
You’re a great auntie. Can I interrupt your book for a call?
Holding my phone tightly, waiting for her answer, my muscles shake.
Geez, I need to calm down. The phone vibrates in my hand.
Ava…You Should Call Her pops up on my screen.
A quick smirk, remembering the very moment she put her name and number into my phone.
No time to dwell on that memory…she’s calling.
“Hey.” I slip onto the barstool, propping up my arm with my elbow, listening to her soft, tired voice on the other end. I imagine her lying in bed in her PJs, snuggled up with her book.
“Hey, yourself. How was your day?”
Whenever she asks about me, my day, anything really, my heart leaps out of my chest. She’s not one to jump into her day until she hears mine first. I do the same when she calls me.
The importance of listening and being hyper-focused is that it allows people to feel heard.
I fill her in on the day—nothing exciting, just a bunch of painting.
“Seems like mundane work, but has to be done, right?” she scoffs.
“Tell me about it. So, a day with Ms. Giana. She wore you out?” I make my sandwich as we talk, so then I can eat and hop into the hot tub. Having this time with her is the highlight of my day.
“Oh, she did. We played with every toy she owns, or that’s how it felt.
I’m thankful the backyard is fenced in because she’s a maniac out there yelling and running around.
Of course, I’m chasing behind her. She swung for a good thirty minutes.
There were a few minutes when she let me swing too, but it didn’t last long. ”
I listen to her as I eat my dinner, shaking my head like she can see me and humming on the other end of the phone. I laugh at her stories as I see her running around the yard and swinging. “Reading is your downtime tonight.”
“Yeah…” There’s a small sigh after.
“When are we going on that date you promised?” Forward, sure, but I had to bring it up tonight. I saw her yesterday, and it’s already been too long.
She laughs at me. “Well…”
“Well, what?” I ask, humming.
“I have something on my calendar I need to attend to early this week. Do you have time mid-week?”
“I will clear my schedule to see you.” I clear the lump in my throat. “How about dinner on Wednesday night? I’ll pick you up at 6 p.m.”
She yawns on the other end. “It’s not the conversation, I swear…that time works.”
“Good, I would have been highly offended if you yawned and then said it didn’t work for you,” I chuckle, shoving the last bite of my sandwich in my mouth.
“I think I need some sleep. Good night, Kai Hastings.”
“Good night, A—sweetheart.” I had to say it. My heart is about to explode thinking that I have to wait three days to see her again. Not that I’ll have a ton of time, but maybe she can squeeze in a coffee one morning too. One step at a time.
It’s Monday morning already, and my entire body is sore.
There’s no time for rest, so I hop out of bed, slip on my work clothes and boots, and head out the door.
This is a different routine from the one I had in the past few years working at the law firm.
There’s pride in knowing this firm is all mine, and I’ll be working with clients that I can help.
I roll up to the curb and park. The Saxville Coffeehouse is right next door. My thoughts are of Ava. I wonder what she’s doing this morning, resisting the urge to text her.
I’ll head over and grab a large coffee next door, maybe two. Today will be a very productive day fueled by caffeine, a coffeehouse breakfast sandwich, and possibly a muffin top for a mid-morning snack. I laugh at myself.
Opening my car door, I hop out with my small tool bag. Not sure why I bring it back and forth. It’s not like I’ll be working on my house this week, so I should leave it at the office. Unlocking the door, I toss the tool bag inside and lock it back up.
I walk into the coffeehouse, and the coffee aroma sends my heart thudding…for her, always for her.
The barista finishes with the customer in front of me, then says to me, “Good morning, what can I get for you?”
“Morning, can I have an extra-large coffee, if you have it?”
“Yes, we do,” she says as she pulls out the largest paper cup in the lineup and holds it up for me to see.
“Great, I’ll take an extra-large black cinnamon hazelnut hot coffee, a red velvet muffin top, and a turkey bacon, egg, and American cheese on a croissant to go, please.” Talking about food, my stomach growls, not loud enough for anyone to hear.
She repeats back my order and asks, “Your name?”
“Kai. Thank you.” I move to the other end of the counter, where I’ll pick up my order.
To pass the time, I pull my phone out of my pocket and scroll through social media. My name is called within a few minutes. I pick up my coffee and food and walk next door.
I place everything down on the counter. Surveying the space, trying to figure out what I’ll work on first, I decide it’s finishing the painting.
Turning around to grab my tool bag, I freeze.
Nothing moves but my head as I watch Ava walk past the office windows.
Her hair’s blowing in the wind, and she’s wearing a dress that flows with every step she takes.
Never once does she glance my way. I track her until she disappears beyond the sidewalk, wondering where she’s heading.
I hold myself back, and I don’t walk to the door.
The need to walk up to her tugs on my body.
Let’s be real for a minute; it’s kind of creepy to say, ‘hey, I saw you walking and was wondering where you’re going.
’ I definitely don’t need the creep factor radiating off me.
So, I move back to my tool bag and gather what I need to finish the painting today.
Time goes by fast when you’re having fun. Although I wouldn't say painting is fun, there's a sense of accomplishment as I step back and take in my handiwork.
When I turn around, I’m staring into those hazel eyes that spread fire in my chest on the other side of the glass. She stops in her tracks, mouth open, but it turns upward into her beautiful smile, which I never want to stop staring at.
The door swings open, and she says, “You didn’t tell me your new office was right next door to the coffeehouse.” She gestures to the space before her. I guess I missed telling her that detail.
I shove my hand through my hair and take a few steps toward her. “Well, do you like it?”
“Wow, Kai, this is amazing.” She walks straight to me while still gawking at the space.
We’re only a couple of feet away from each other, and I can’t keep my hands to myself.
Not with her around—gorgeous. Her hair is down and wavy on her shoulders.
One more step, and it’s like electric sparks are bouncing between us.
I cup her face with both my hands, tilting upward where our eyes link with each other. “Ava, you’re gorgeous.”
Hazel eyes with flecks of gold sparkle back at me, and her body moves closer to snake her arms around my waist. Her tiny hands are holding my back, and there’s no more restraint left in me.
I dive into her lips, holding onto her tightly, like maybe she’ll leave.
There’s no way I’m letting her go, not now.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to. Because with the way my body is crackling with heat and jolts of lightning, I can’t live without this, without her.
How the hell am I convincing her to stay here in Saxville with me?
The intensity kicks up, my hands move from her face and drag down her back straight for that ass you can bounce a coin off of.
I grab hold of it, pulling her into me. Blood has been rushing south since she walked through the door.
My erection is trying to burst through the zipper.
She feels it because her entire body shivers when she rubs against it.
When I pull away, I say on her lips, “What are you doing down here?”
“I was meeting with Joan, the owner of the coffeehouse, about potentially purchasing it. It was supposed to be tomorrow, but she was blown away by my personality and drive from when we chatted on Saturday; she wanted to move up our meeting.”
The excitement radiating from her is contagious; a smile spreads across my face. “You were considering staying, but now you’re contemplating purchasing the coffeehouse too?” My mouth drops open.
“Trust me, it’s a bit surprising to me too.
I’ve been ping-ponging between staying in Saxville and keeping up my nomadic life.
We’ve talked about it. With Theresa ready to pop, it’s becoming real for me.
It’s hitting me how much I’ve missed time with my sister and her family.
It’s time to show up.” Her head bows down and lifts back up, misty eyes in my line of sight.
Swallowing hard, I reach up to brush my fingers across her cheek. “You okay?” I whisper into the air between us, with my hand lingering on her jaw as her breath hitches.
“It’s just…” She stares up at me. “I don’t want to miss out on anything else.”
My other hand moves up to her face. “I know how that feels.” The crackling heat shooting up my arms is undeniable.
But I can’t quite read her. I bring her into my chest and hug her tightly, rubbing her back as she rests her head on my chest. She slides her hands around my body, and it’s right.
The calm that spreads through my body leaves me holding her a bit longer.
I’m not moving until she releases me first because I’d hold her as long as she lets me—forever.
“Thank you, this is exactly what I needed today.” Squeezing me tighter, her head rubbing ever so slightly against my chest.
“Anything for you,” I say into her hair. Breathing in her coffee and cinnamon scent, it’s like she washes her hair in coffee. It’s exactly what I want to breathe in every time my arms are around her, comforting her, celebrating with her, whatever it is, I’ll be here, cheering her on.
With a few more beats with her in my arms, she leans back, loosens her grip, and stares up at me.