Chapter 3
KYRA
HALLOWEEN NIGHT
The house is quiet except for the music playing from the Bluetooth speaker in my bathroom.
Mike is up north for the week; it’s always a nice reprieve when he decides he needs to be out in the woods or on a stream in the middle of nowhere.
There is minimal contact while he is gone because the cell service is practically nonexistent.
Climbing out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my body.
It’s Halloween, and Nyx is going to a little get-together with her men, so I am tagging along.
I get bestie time and out of the house for the night, and dipshit will never know.
It will be a nice little break from life.
The plus side is that I get to meet these men she has been gushing over.
I stand in front of the mirror, taking in my appearance.
My dirty blonde hair hangs just above my shoulders.
The sun-kissed look is fading from my cheeks, making way for the paleness of winter.
My green eyes look sad lately. The sparkle is missing from them.
Removing my towel, I see some lingering handprint bruises.
Most of them have healed, but some yellowing remains.
I would never consider myself fat, but I am definitely soft and squishy. I need to make more time for the gym.
I run my brush through my locks and spray some coconut-scented dry shampoo.
Straightening the few pieces that got weird in the night.
I smooth a few flyaways with hairspray before grabbing my small makeup bag out of the cupboard.
Once I find my foundation, I blend it into my skin to help hide the bags under my eyes.
I continue to do my makeup, making sure I look like the lively, happy Kyra that Nyx knows and loves.
I add a few finishing touches and put my mask firmly in place before putting on some clothes.
Walking back into the bedroom, I spot the perfect little sweater dress hanging in my closet.
It is a dusty rose color with a deep V in the front to show the perfect amount of cleavage.
I’m not trying to impress anyone but myself.
I just want to feel sexy for once. To feel like the Kyra who met Mike at the bar all those years ago.
Slipping the soft material over my head and adjusting the girls, I take a peek in the mirror.
“This is the one, Kye.” No one is here to talk back, but sometimes a girl needs a little pep talk from herself.
Sliding my feet into my thigh-high boots that I have had for years and zipping up the sides, I’m now ready. Perfect. Nyx is pulling up outside, her headlights casting light into the darkness of my house. Snatching a coat out of the closet by the door, I grab my purse and run out to meet my bestie.
We blast music and have a sing-along, and before we know it, she slows her SUV and turns into the driveway.
Pulling up outside of a large gate, I am in awe of the sight before me.
Gates like these are only in movies or in the fancy communities in Metro Detroit.
Definitely not in my run-down shack of a neighborhood.
“Jesus Christ, you weren’t kidding when you said this was an estate.” I laugh. I’m pretty sure the shock and awe are written all over my face.
“They have a cute pool house and everything. I’ll give you the tour. You can stay in “my” room tonight.” Nyx acts like this is completely fucking normal.
“Bitch, you have your own room?” When did this girl essentially move in? A few cars are already lined up along their driveway.
“The gang must be here already.” She says.
Be normal for once, Ky.
Oh, joy that voice is back.
“Who is joining us?” My anxiety skyrockets, but I try to tamp it down, so Nyx doesn’t notice. I thought I was ready for a night with people I didn’t know. I take a deep, grounding breath and decide that I am making the most of this night out.
“Some employees from their security company. Hutch’s brother has moved in. He was wounded overseas and just medically retired, so he is here until he figures out what he wants to do.”
“So you’re saying there are a bunch of hot marines here to drool all over tonight?”
Thank God I put a little effort into my appearance tonight.
“Let’s head in, and you can meet everyone with me. I don’t know any of their employees either. With the stalker, we have stayed home and not ventured out much.” She grabs my hand and pulls me to the door.
Nyx gives me a quick tour of the house, dropping my overnight bag in a gorgeous “guest” room.
This house does not look like a pair of bachelors live here.
They had to have hired someone. The thought makes me giggle gently before she grabs my hand and drags me out the sliding glass door in the dining room.
As soon as I step into the backyard, my eyes go wide.
This space is gorgeous. The deck is dimly lit, with Edison Lights hanging over the patio, and a large seating area around a fire pit.
Off the edge is a large pool that has a faint blue glow, so no one falls in.
A light steam rises from the top of the water. It has to be heated.
Nyx drags me towards the fire pit, and she is swooped up by a large blonde man. This must be Graham Hutchinson. He leads us around to the fire pit and starts introducing us. That is when I spot him.
His eyes meet mine, and my entire body locks up. I am not sure who this god is looking at me, but damn. I don’t register anything Nyx or Graham are saying. I just know I have to get out of this man’s orbit.
“Umm…I’ll be back.” I spit out before sprinting for the house. Opening the sliding glass door, I stand in the dining room trying to catch my breath.
Who is he?
I wander through the kitchen and into the living room before plopping down on the couch. My world is spinning on a totally different axis than before. Never in my life has a man impacted me with just one look.
“Kyra, you have a fiancé. Stop.” I speak softly into the dark room right as I hear the sliding door opening.
Who are you kidding? You wanted a way out.
Nyx must be coming in to check on me. I drop my head into my hands, elbows resting on my bare knees. Just trying to breathe and not think about the most gorgeous man I have ever seen.
“Hey.” The word is soft and gravelly. I startle slightly because that is definitely not Nyx.
Looking up at the person, my heart skips a beat. Before I can respond, he is crossing from the doorway over to where I’m sitting on the couch. He has a slight limp as he walks, favoring his left side. Then it hits me like a MAC truck.
This is Callum. The brother who has been medically discharged. He did look like the giant of a blonde who swept my best friend off her feet the second we went outside. While I am staring at him, I realize I never said anything back to him.
“Hi.” The greeting is soft and barely audible, but there nonetheless.