Chapter 14 Earn It
Earn It
By Friday and by design, I’d barely seen Kian or Isaiah. And when Kian messaged me Friday morning, I didn’t text back.
Instead, I went out early and walked the far side of the beach down by Wildflower Bluff in hopes of clearing my head.
I couldn’t afford to fall in love with another man who was not emotionally available. I scowled at myself for grouping Kian together with Gary. They were nothing alike. Kian bore too much responsibility while Gary accepted none.
But I suspected I’d end up with a broken heart just the same if I didn’t pull back.
Broken by a better man would surely shatter it altogether.
I huffed out a frustrated laugh. How could I not fall for Kian Matthews? So sweet and yet so damn sexy.
What would he be like in bed?
I tried to push the thought out of my head to no avail. As a friend, he was nurturing and protective. Would he be the same as a lover? Would we mesh?
Or would I be too much?
You’re like a bitch in heat.
I shook my head sharply. Arriving back at Mary Lou’s, my head was no clearer than it was before I left. I threw the door open only to come to a startled halt at the sound of my aunt’s harsh voice.
“Don’t call here again. You’re not welcome,” Anita screeched into the phone.
“Who was that?” I asked, incredulous. Never in my life had I heard my aunt yell like that.
“Gary,” she snarled.
I spun around to face the glass storefront. Eyes wide, I scanned the street while backing away.
“Bridget,” Anita snapped. “Did that man hurt you?”
I swung around to face her, my galloping heart stealing my breath. “Not physically,” I gasped.
“That fucker,” she scowled then blew out a harsh breath and opened her arms. “Come here.”
With a shaky chuckle, I covered my fear with teasing, “You’re going to hold me? I’m taller than you, Auntie.” In fact, Anita was one of the only people I could claim height over. “Curvier, too.”
She beckoned me forward impatiently. “What I lack in height, I make up for in attitude.”
As soon as her arms closed around me, I melted into her embrace.
She held me tight, absorbed the tremors, and leant me her strength. “No more, you hear me?” Grasping my shoulders, she pushed me back. “That man doesn’t get one more piece of you.”
I nodded.
She shook me slightly. “I mean it. Gary is the poorest excuse for a man I’ve ever met.” Her eyes narrowed. “He never hit you? Are you afraid for your physical safety?”
I shook my head. “No.”
She tugged me back into her embrace, a look of relief crossing her face. “That insect is nothing more than a speck in your rear view.”
“What if he shows up?”
“Yeah? What if? What’s he going to do? Hurt your feelings?”
Anxiety tightened its grip on my chest but I huffed out a laugh. “Yeah.”
She rubbed a hand over my back. “With his lies.”
“Yes,” I whispered.
She swatted my ass. “Come now, Bridge. We’re made of sterner stuff than that!”
I laughed and pulled back, pressing my palms to my cheeks. “We are.”
Her burnished eyebrows rose as she eyed me. “Why don’t you get out of town for a couple of days? You could use a change of scene.”
I nodded slowly. “I might. I feel like he’s invaded my safe space.”
She wagged her head back and forth. “Well, he’s trying to. Push him back out.”
At the start of my shift that afternoon, I secured a few days off. Lost in thought, I didn’t notice Kian and Isaiah coming in until they settled at their regular table.
“Hey, Iceman!” I pasted on a smile.
Isaiah beamed back at me while Kian studied me with narrowed eyes.
I widened my eyes at him and gave my head a shake. “What?”
Sitting back in his seat, he twisted his beautiful mouth to the side. “What’s up?”
“Nothing!”
“Beach tomorrow?”
My skin heated. “I might go away for a few days.”
“Yeah?” he challenged. “Where are you going? And with whom?”
I raised my eyebrows. “I haven’t quite decided, and I’m going by myself.”
“We’re going away, too!” Isaiah chimed. “We’re going home to Mapleville as soon as we finish up at the beach tomorrow.”
Kian jerked his chin up. “Why don’t you come with us?”
Blinking like a beleaguered owl, I furthered the unfortunate likeness by cocking my head to the side. “Come with you?”
“Yeah!” Isaiah cheered. “You can meet Grandma and Grandpa!”
I smiled at Isaiah, my brain whirring furiously.
Grandma and Grandpa?
Kian’s parents?
Did I want to meet Kian’s family? Hell, yeah.
But I had to protect my heart. Could I do both? Simultaneously?
“You can protect me from my mother’s matchmaking.” Kian’s mouth quirked up at the side, his eyes bright and steady on my face.
A lightning bolt of jealousy shot through my system.
He laughed and shook his head. “It’s almost too easy,” he teased, then softened. “Why don’t you come with us? Isaiah needs to see my parents and his aunts and uncles before my mom drags the whole clan here. Aaron’s not ready for that, and it might be good for you to get a break.”
“Can I think about it?”
He dipped his chin. “Of course.”
“Don’t think about it, Bridge.” Isaiah looked up at me with his big baby blues. “Just come.”
I smiled softly. “I promise I’ll think about it really hard, Iceman. What can I get you to eat?”
With a small frown on his sweet face, he pushed the kids’ menu away. “Surprise me.”
Kian chuckled. “Bridge doesn’t always have time for that, bud.”
I raised my chin and snapped both menus up off the table. “I always have time for that.”
“I don’t get to order either?” Kian chuckled.
“You want to be in charge?” I tilted my head and smiled. It didn’t matter how often I scolded myself to keep things between us platonic, he brought my inner vixen, the one I’d suppressed for so long, out to play.
His eyes darkened and his cheeks flushed darkly. “Usually.”
I slowly dragged my fingers down the edge of the menu in my hand and whispered, “You have to earn that.”
Isaiah puffed up. “My dad can earn it. My dad can do anything.”
Kian’s lips split wide in a wide grin.
I laughed, twinkling down at Isaiah. “You think so?”
He nodded definitively. “Dad says he’d do anything for you.”
My smile froze as I met Kian’s steady gaze. Looking away, I assured Isaiah, “And I’d do anything for you guys.” It was the truth. “I’m going to sort your dinner now, Iceman. You better eat your vegetables.”
“Not too many,” he grumbled.
I nodded in agreement and walked away without looking at Kian. But could I help the extra sway in my hips? No.
But God help me, I tried.
For the rest of the evening, I kept things purposefully light. I even made sure I was in the kitchen when they left.
Things were getting out of hand. I ran hot then cold. It wasn’t fair to him. And I had no idea if he was ready for something real and lasting which wasn’t fair to me.
And then there was the whole Isaiah thing. If I loved him, too? And lost them both? It didn’t bear thinking about.
Sage Ridge was a small town. There’d be no avoiding each other if things between us went south. All our people, Aaron included, were so intricately entangled.
In the end, Kian might end up further ostracized.
That now familiar feeling, the one that flared up like a dragon protecting her hoard, reminded me where my priorities, and Kian’s, resided.
He wanted his son back in his life.
I wanted to be the person at his back.
When his text came through hours later prodding me for a decision, I had my perfectly worded refusal ready.
Kian: If you’re coming with us, we can skip the beach and head to Mapleville early and spend the day with my family. Can you be ready for ten? We’ll be gone for three nights.
With my heart in my throat, I typed out my answer to Kian.
As I was about to press send, a new message lit up the screen.
This one swept away all my reservations.
Unknown Number: Whore.
I closed my eyes.
There was nothing saying I couldn’t take off for a few days by myself, but since moving to Sage Ridge, I’d grown used to having friends around me.
And this last message solidified the feeling I’d been thus far denying. I didn’t want to be alone. More than that, I didn’t want to be away from Kian.
I backspaced to the beginning of my text, erasing everything before slowly tapping out three words.
I’ll be ready.