9. Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Kora
T his was a crazy week, and I was exhausted. If anything could go wrong, it had. There was a small fire in the cafeteria Tuesday, causing an impromptu fire alarm during the third grade’s practice for our end of the year field day. Nothing like sixty third grade students needing to exit a school in an orderly manner in an area they weren’t used to. It was chaos, but luckily the fire was a small grease fire and was contained easily and it wasn’t serious.
Trevor and Patrick happened to be on duty and responded to the alarm. They ended up being guest speakers for Darlene’s and my class. The kids loved it.
Then the zoo came in with some of the animals. Let’s just say, third grade girls may not be the best choices to hold snakes. There was quite a bit of squealing and screaming. It wasn’t good.
It was finally three-fifteen, and the last of my students had been picked up in the car-rider line, so I trudged back to my room. I was so ready to straighten up and start the weekend. I loved my job. I was living the dream. But I loved Fridays even more, and the day was finally over. I leaned heavily on the counter in my classroom and stared at nothing while thinking about everything—mostly not school related.
In between all the chaos of the week, Kai had popped into my mind at random times. When I was out feeding the goats, his face would be there. When I drove through town, I thought I saw him at the corner store. Just this morning, when I pulled into the parking lot at school, I saw a truck which I thought for sure was his, parked in the front row. Which was absolutely asinine. Why would he be at school?
His crystal-clear eyes crossed my mind randomly all week. The contrast between the lightness of his eyes and the darkness of his hair was captivating. That crescent-shaped scar by his right eye added mystery, yet a roughness to him which contradicted his kind, easy-going manners. And God, that body . . . that ass.
The sound of hands clapping shook me from my daze.
“Good lord, girlie. You’ve been out of it all week.” Darlene jumped onto the counter and nudged me with her knee. “You look like you could use some girl time and margs. Do we need to have some sort of intervention? You’ve been by yourself all week and very quiet at school even during all the drama. It’s so unlike you. What’s going on?”
I ignored Darlene, pushed away from the counter, and went to my desk. I straightened it up and packed my bag. I always shared everything with Darlene, especially male related, but I wasn’t ready to discuss Kai. Hell, I didn’t even know what I’d discuss. One minute he was irritating the hell out of me, the next he was causing my heart to do weird movements and beat funny.
Margs were much needed. “What do you say we get out of here and drink early? Maybe by five I’ll be five sheets to the wind and ready to have fun.”
“That would be great, but first I need to go pick up James from daycare and drop him off at Shear Perfection. Kaye and Tonya are taking him to Diane’s tonight. She’s babysitting Skylar this weekend, so James and Skylar are having a little play date.”
“Better watch out. That granddaughter of Diane’s is adorable. James might fall in love at the ripe young age of four.”
Darlene shrugged. “Could be worse. At least he’d be marrying money.”
That was true. Diane’s stepdaughter, Leila, was married to Adler Warfield. His family was loaded, and he’d adopted Skylar. “Money’s not everything, Dar.” I threw my bag over my shoulder, and we left. “How about if I leave my car at your house and go with you? If I get too drunk, I’ll crash at your place.” I’d spent many nights in Darlene and Bryson’s spare bedroom over the years. There was a brief six-month stint where I lived with them after my father left for Florida and I was having my house renovated. Darlene’s house has always been my second home.
“Sounds good.” Darlene crossed the hall to her room and emerged just seconds later, her bag over her shoulder. “Let’s blow this joint and enjoy our weekend.”
James ran to the salon as soon as Darlene lifted him from the car. He knocked his tiny fist on the glass since he couldn’t open the door, and Kaye let him in. “Well, hello cutie.”
James ignored Kaye and made a beeline to Tonya. He flew into her arms and motioned immediately to the bowl of suckers. We chuckled as we followed Kaye through the door.
“Hey, Summer.” I placed my purse and sunglasses on her station and plopped in her seat.
“Getting comfortable, Kora? I don’t remember giving you permission to sit there.” Summer swept her station of hair and wiped down the counter. “Why’d you even bring this in?” she said when she picked up my purse to wipe under it. “It’s not like you’re staying long.”
I snatched it from her and plopped it back on the counter. “Because I knew it would irritate the shit out of you, and I live to irritate you.”
Summer rolled her eyes. “Ain’t that the truth.”
“So, how’s the addition going?” Darlene asked.
“Great,” Kaye replied. “Kai has really worked hard all week. He finished the drywall and said he should be painting this weekend. Come on. You’ve got to see it.”
Just the mention of Kai’s name set butterflies free in my gut. I needed to get whatever these feelings were under control. Kai was annoying, yet frustratingly hot, and I didn’t have time for that kind of confusion in my life. I puffed out a breath and followed Darlene and Kaye into what used to be just a large storage room. Now it was a room with waist-high walls separating stations with a sink and chair in each.
“This looks great,” Darlene exclaimed.
She was right; it really did.
Just then, the back door shut and there he was with his arms bulging under the weight of paint cans. The veins in his arms popped under the strain, and my eyes popped at the mouthwatering sight. I swallowed hard to drown the nerves that the butterflies were determined to push out and put on display.
He looked fine as usual. He wore a gray T-shirt which made those sexy crystal eyes pop even more, and his dark hair was disheveled, making him look tastier than ever.
“Hey, ladies. Just bringing in the paint and materials I’ll be needing. Didn’t mean to bother you.”
Good Lord, have mercy on my soul.
It must have been a long time since I had been with a guy because the nerve endings in my body were firing on every cylinder. I grabbed a magazine and fanned my face. It was getting warm in this room.
“No bother at all, Kai.” Darlene gave me a questioning look then smirked.
I turned my head.
“You’re not working tonight, are you? It’s Friday,” Darlene asked.
“Well, tomorrow I’m playing cornhole with Bryson. It’s the finals, you know, so I need to get some work done tonight.”
“Fine, get some work done but join us at the pub by eight. You and Bryson could get practice in. You don’t need to stay late, but you can’t miss the pub on a Friday,” Darlene pointed out.
Kai placed the paint cans in the corner. “I need to get the walls taped and prepped for painting. Maybe when I’m done and cleaned up, I’ll show up. I can paint this room tomorrow morning before Blake shows up.” His gaze rested on Kora. “Are y’all heading there?”
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tear my gaze from him. I was transfixed by his biceps, and his shirt molded to his body and those eyes. Damn those eyes.
Darlene nudged me in the side, and I shot her a hard glare, then nodded. “We’re heading there now. There’s a pitcher of margaritas with our name on it.”
“Then maybe I’ll see you when I get things cleaned up here. Don’t spill any margs without me.” He smirked and that dimple appeared.
My heart thumped so loudly I was sure they all could hear it. I swallowed hard. “I don’t think that’s an issue I have. That’s your wheelhouse.” I hoped that jab sounded harsh. Darlene was giving me too many odd looks. “Let’s go, Dar. I’m starving.” I turned on my heels and high-tailed it out of that room. I needed to get some air and get out of there quickly before anyone noticed the flush I felt climbing my neck. Darlene gave James a hug and followed quickly behind. Thank God.
“Holy Shit.” Darlene started laughing. “What the hell was that about?” We climbed into her car. “The heat between you two is scorching. Like able to burn down an entire forest hot.”
I tried to ignore her and play it cool. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bull. Shit.” Darlene turned left onto the road, then a quick right into the pub’s parking lot. She put the car in park and shifted in her seat.
I shook my head, jumped from the car, and tried to escape into the pub, but Darlene blocked the door.
“No, you don’t.” She held up her hand to stop me from walking through the door. “I haven’t seen you run from a guy that quickly since high school when you were stuck in the closet for seven minutes with Trevor.”
“Yeah, well, Trevor’s sweet and all, but that kiss was anything but exciting.”
“Yeah, but he thought it was total heaven and you guys dated like, forever. He still gives you the eye.”
I held Darlene’s gaze and gestured to the door. We were not going to have this discussion.
“Fine,” Darlene wined, and we walked into the pub and to the bar.
“Hey there, beautiful ladies. I’m guessing you two want the usual?” Trevor asked as he leaned on the bar.
“Please, Trevor,” I answered.
He winked and went to fix our margaritas.
Good Lord, Trevor. You’re just fueling the fire.
Darlene nudged my arm. “He’s still got the hots for ya.” She wagged her brows, and I raised my eyes to the ceiling. Darlene wasn’t going to let any of this go.
He returned with a pitcher of margaritas. “Thanks.” I smiled wide at him and leaned on the bar. “Trevor, it’s been one hell of a week. Let’s get started with some tequila shots and lemons.”
“You got it.” He placed two shot glasses on the bar and a plate of lemon slices dipped in sugar—Trevor’s version of a lemon drop. “Shots are on me.”
Darlene glanced at me from the side of her eyes. I ignored her and slid a shot glass in her direction.
She picked up the shot in one hand and a lemon slice in the other. “Here’s to an awesome Friday night.”
I toasted Darlene, and we took our shots and sucked on our lemon wedges dipped in sugar. The sour and sweet taste, mixed with tequila was always perfect.
Trevor filled our shot glasses again. “On the house, again.”
“Thanks, Trevor. You’re awesome,” I said.
He winked as he strutted across the bar to take care of paying customers.
“Told ya,” Darlene said as she cocked her head to the side and raised one brow.
God, I hated it when she acted all smug and for no good reason. “What’s the big deal? We get a couple free shots out of him weekly. I don’t think that’s anything but friendship. We’ve known him forever.”
“Keep thinking that, Kor.” Darlene shot her tequila and sucked the lemon.
I did the same. “I better go slower, or he may just get what he wanted years ago. We might have dated for almost two years, but we never did the deed.” I studied his profile as he served beers to a couple men down the bar. “He was sweet then. Now he looks much sweeter.” I noticed. “He keeps in shape, that’s for sure.”
“As a fireman-slash-bartender, I’m sure it comes naturally,” Darlene said.
“What comes naturally?” Trevor asked as he cleared away the shot glasses.
“Nothing,” I said with a grin.
Trevor scrunched his eyes like he wanted to question me but luckily, he didn’t. He shook his head instead. “Can I get you ladies anything else?” he asked.
Darlene poured our drinks. “Nope. I think we’re good, Trev.”
“Well then, have a good night.” He smacked the bar twice and left to assist other customers.
Darlene held up her glass and grinned mischievously at me. “If he doesn’t get lucky, maybe someone will. Here’s to an amazing Friday night.”
“Your toast lacks luster.” I brushed her away and lifted my glass. “Here’s to good drinks, amazing friends, and hot guys.” I clinked my glass against Darlene’s.
“Looks like they’ve already started.” Bryson’s arms wrapped around Darlene, and he kissed her neck.
“We’re only two shots in and just started our margs,” Darlene said. “You’re earlier than usual.” She gave Bryson a deep kiss.
“Come on, y’all,” I said. “Don’t get all mushy already. We’ve got a lot of drinks to get through, and if I have my way, Bryson, you won’t get lucky tonight because she’ll be passed out.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time. When she sent me a text that it was a Margarita Friday, I knew that would be a possibility,” Bryson said. “Let’s grab a table.”
I grabbed my glass and the pitcher.
“Here, I’ll get that.”
Goosebumps crept across my skin at the sound of the deep, sultry voice behind me. I turned and there was Kai, his pants paint-splattered and his gray shirt tight against his chest. He wore a baseball hat backward, just like the first day I met him, and his face was smiling. My mouth suddenly went dry. Luckily, I had my margarita, and I took a big mouthful, then cleared my throat. “You sure you can handle that? If I remember correctly, carrying alcohol isn’t one of your talents.”
“Maybe not, but I do promise you there are many things I do well,” Kai answered as he picked up the pitcher and walked toward the table Bryson claimed out on the patio.
My interest perked up—or was that my nipples? I glanced down to make sure my headlights weren’t on, and surprisingly I got the all-clear. My eyes never left his ass as he led the way to the patio.
Yeah, I think I’d enjoy finding out what else he did well. Maybe the tequila was already taking effect.
I leaned against the table and looked up at him. “Why don’t you share with us something else you do well? We hardly know anything about you?”
Our eyes met. “I’m great with a jack and can change a mean tire.”
A smirk pulled at the corners of my lips, and I nodded. “I agree. But there’s got to be something else we haven’t seen yet. A hidden talent?”
He raised his brows. “Sweetheart, I have many hidden talents you haven’t seen yet.” His gaze held mine and was smoldering.
I sipped my margarita to put out the flames that erupted under my skin.
“I’m not sure what I missed, but it seems pretty intense.” Bryson acknowledged as he leaned on the table.
Kai’s brows raised in a flirty manner. He turned away, cutting off the oxygen, and the flames diminished. I sucked in a large breath.
“Kora just asked what it was I did well. I reminded her of my ability to change a tire and told her I have many other talents.”
“Yeah, I heard that much,” Bryson said.
“Like my amazing cornhole talents. My aim is spot on.” He turned toward me. “And I can get it in the hole the first time, always.”
Fuck me. Hopefully later. Heat crept up my neck, and I took another deep swallow of my drink. The cold, sour alcohol felt good going down and cooled me off. To bad there wasn't a breeze out here to help out.
Darlene leaned toward me and whispered. “You good?”
All I could do was nod.
Bryson smacked his hand on Kai’s shoulders. “Well, let’s go practice. Girls, you’re our teammates.” He grabbed Darlene’s hand. “Come on, beautiful.” He kissed the back of her hand as he pulled her to her feet.
Thank God. I needed some air and some space.
We moved to the grass and placed our drinks on the picnic table by the cornhole boards, Kai and Darlene on one end and Bryson and me on the other. It was a great game, not that I was any good, but with Kai’s skills he all but made up for my lack of them.
“Again?” Bryson hollered as Kai’s third bag slid into the hole. “Damn. You better be that on target tomorrow.”
“Once I get warmed up, I hardly ever miss.”
“You’ve already told us that. You got skills,” Darlene answered and caught my attention across the grass. Her eyes were shining with amusement.
Either my mind was in the gutter, or we were all deliberately using sexual innuendos for everything related to cornhole tonight. I couldn’t focus on the game any longer. My attention kept wandering to my sexy partner at the other end of the court who had that dimple stuck on his cheek. I was so focused on brushing my lips against it that my bag barely even landed on the board. Luckily, Kai was good enough on his own and finished the game. He didn’t need my help.
“Good game,” Bryson answered as we joined Kai and Darlene at the picnic table. “Should we play again?”
“I’m out. It’s Friday night, and my margs are getting watered down,” I said.
“I agree with Kora.” Darlene answered. “That’s fun but a lot of work, and I’ve done my share of work this week. Tonight’s about chilling.”
Another set of teams started a game at the cornhole pit, and Kai and Bryson agreed to play the winner. We relaxed at the table, Bryson next to Darlene and Kai next to me. He was so close, I could feel his body heat and smell his cologne. Maybe I was imagining it, but it seemed like he inadvertently sat close enough so our legs touched under the table. I thought of scooting away, but instead, leaned my leg against his.
His gaze caught mine, and I didn’t miss the slight lift of his brow. I hid my smile in my margarita glass. Time to drown those butterflies and have some fun.
Almost two pitchers in and the sun had turned into a rainbow of colors behind the thin layer of clouds in the sky. It was a perfect night in mid-May. The pub had country music pouring from the speakers, and the smack of cornhole bags hitting the boards, along with a game of volleyball at the sand pit, filled the air. Summer joined us and helped us finish our second pitcher.
My favorite song started playing over the speakers. “Time to dance and get this party started,” I yelled to Darlene.
“Yeah, well, I think you two have already done that,” Summer replied as Darlene and I jumped up.
I pulled Summer up, but she pulled out of my grasp. “Nope. Not gonna happen. I have some catching up to do, and anyway, you’re the two that like to dance. Me, I like to drink.”
“Fine. Don’t drink all the margs while we’re gone.” I danced my way onto a makeshift dance floor—basically just a square of grass—and Darlene followed. We were joined by others, mostly women. The night was still young, and the men weren’t much for dancing until more beer entered their systems.
“Didn’t know you had moves.” A sultry voice sounded near my ear. I turned, and Kai was so close, if I wanted to kiss his lips, I just had to lean in. The music turned to a romantic slow dance. “May I?” He held his arms out.
Damn. Hot and manners. He should be illegal. I nodded, and he wrapped me in his arms. One of his arms slid around my waist, low on my hips, and the other clasped my hand. He pulled me closer, and we swayed to the slow rhythm.
The scent of his cologne and the warmth of his body seeped into mine as we moved effortlessly together.
“You good?” he asked, his smile concerned and his eyes clear and damn beautiful.
I nodded. I doubted things could get any better. “If someone asked you, what color would you say your eyes are?”
His brow raised.
“They’re just so different. So clear. I can’t tell if they’re a light gray or a crystal light blue.”
“My mother called them blue.”
I didn’t miss the past tense he used when talking about his mom, or the hushed tone his voice took on. My gaze lingered on his for a beat before moving down to his scar. His mouth ticked up, and I reached out and finally brushed my fingers against his dimple lightly. “Why do men always get the sexy dimples?”
Shit. Did I really just say that out loud? I needed to work on my diarrhea of the mouth. It was like I had to watch what I said all week, so when it was the weekend, and alcohol hit my system, if it was a thought, it became words.
His dimple became deeper. “You think it’s sexy, huh?”
Again, I felt heat grow up my neck, but this time the temperature in my cheeks also rose.
“You’re even more adorable when you blush,” Kai said, his voice deeper than usual as he brushed his knuckles against my cheek.
A shock raced through me at his touch. Maybe it was the alcohol, but suddenly I really had the desire to kiss him. His lips were just inches away, and I could feel his warm breath.
“Our turn, Kai.” Bryson patted his back.
The spell was broken. Kai’s eyes held mine for a beat more. “We’ll continue this later.” He winked and followed Bryson to the cornhole boards, and I followed Darlene to the table. I don’t know how my legs made it.
“I think you need a refill to cool off.” Darlene filled our empty glasses.
I sat hard on the bench next to Summer. My heart was racing, and Kai’s scent was everywhere.
“No shit,” Summer agreed. “I could feel the heat between those two from here and was glad we’re at a pub owned by a fireman. If they were going to combust, at least there are enough professionals around to put out the flames.”
I ignored them and took a large swig of my drink. It tasted good. I needed that.
I downed the rest as I watched the game across the yard. Kai’s body was in perfect form when he threw the bag. I don’t know what Bryson said to him, but he laughed, and his eyes met mine. He winked. I blushed.
Even from across the yard, the pull between us was impossible to ignore. “I need a refill.”
Darlene’s eyes went up. “Kai’s good looking.”
“I second that,” Summer agreed. “Those eyes are mesmerizing.”
Their gazes were focused on me. Play it cool. “Really? I haven’t noticed?”
“Oh, bull shit,” Summer retorted. “You haven’t taken your eyes off him since I’ve been here. And that dance you shared.” She fanned herself. “Just admit you’re attracted to him.”
“I’m not,” I said, staring off at nothing.
“Really? So, you wouldn’t mind then if I make a move? I do see him more since he spends a lot of time at the salon . . . hammering . . . sawing . . . painting.” Summer made a grunting noise.
I whipped my head in her direction.
Her eyes narrowed.
Mine copied hers. There was no way I was going to let her get in the way of whatever was going on with me and Kai—even though there was nothing going on between Kai and me.
“Down, girl,” Summer remarked with a laugh.
Darlene echoed her. “No words needed. We know you, and you’ve got it bad.”
Not true . I kept my thoughts to myself. Just because I wanted to know all about what his other talents were didn’t mean I had it that bad.