Greeley's Spyce (11 page)

Turning around, she began to push the cart again.

Ernst grinned at Chief Anderson‘s dazed expression before catching

up to her and putting his hands beside hers to help move the flatbed along.

―That was really nice of you,‖

She rolled her shoulders. ―He is a friend of yours.‖

―You do know I know how you feel about me?‖ Ernst asked in a

whisper as they got in the cashier‘s line.

―Don‘t read to much into it,‖ Kacy insisted even as she blushed.

―Too late.‖ He reached for her and pulled her to him. ―Thank you.‖

The back of one hand ran down her cheek.

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Aliyah Burke

It didn‘t take long to make their purchases and load up the van.

―Thanks for the help,‖ Kacy told Ernst, who had lifted the generators for her.

―Let‘s go, I need to get them delivered.‖

―Who is Adam?‖ Ernst asked as she drove them towards the out-

skirts of town.

―A very good friend,‖ Kacy said, turning on her blinker.

Frowning in frustration, Ernst shut his mouth as they pulled up to a

large, old building. A small sign sat alongside the road that read
Saint Lucia

Orphanage.
Driving around to the back, Kacy pulled up to door with peeling

paint.

She was out of the vehicle before the engine had completely shut

down. Ernst followed and watched as she knocked on the door. A small black

nun answered. ―Koali, what are you doing back already?‖

―Morning, Sister. I brought the generators,‖ Kacy said.

―You are so kind. Who do you have with you?‖

―This is Ernst Zimmermann, a friend of mine.‖ Kacy beckoned him

closer. ―Ernst, this is one of the sisters who run the orphanage.‖

The lady smiled and offered Ernst her hand. ―I‘m Sister Dorothy. You

would think she would know all our names. But she insists on calling us all

‗Sister‘.‖

―Good morning, ma‘am,‖ he said, shaking her hand.

―I will hook one up to each wing of the orphanage just in case,‖ Kacy

announced as she moved back to the van.

Ernst followed her with his eyes. ―She is an amazing woman,‖ the

nun commented.

―Yes, ma‘am, she sure is,‖ he agreed, pulling his eyes off his enchan-

tress and putting them on the woman beside him.

Kacy was hooking on her tool belt when the cry came. ―Kacy!!!‖

She immediately turned around and found the one person she had

been waiting to see. Adam. With a huge smile she walked over to him and

said, ―Adam. Look at you. It is so good to see you.‖ She pulled him into her

arms.

Adam was a seven-year-old biracial child who‘d been left on the

steps of St. Lucia‘s. Aside from the nuns and monks who ran the orphanage,

Kacy was the only constant in his life. His skin was a few shades lighter than

Kacy‘s and his hair was kinky and coarse. He had a smile that rivaled the

heavens for brightness and was very active. He loved Kacy.

―Did you come last night, Kacy?‖ he asked, not willing to let her go.

―I sure did.‖ Her hands tipped up his face so they could be eye to

eye.

―I was scared,‖ his voice admitted as his thin body gripped hers.

―But you survived. And when you woke, it was all okay,‖ Kacy as-

sured him.

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65

―Because you came.‖ He squeezed her again and left to stick his head

in her van and pull out his own tool belt. As he hooked it on, he turned big,

soulful eyes at her and asked, ―What are we doing today?‖

―Generators. And I…we are going over what I did last night.‖ She

ruffled the hair on his head. ―Ready to get to work?‖

―Yes, ma‘am.‖ His small body copied the way she stood. Legs apart

and arms crossed.

―Okay, then, let‘s get to it.‖

C H A P T E R T E N

Kacy and Adam got a dolly and moved the generators. Ernst started

to help but the nuns around him stopped him and said, ―This is their time.

She can do it and he loves to help.‖

So, Ernst stood back while Kacy and Adam installed the generators.

The nun stayed with him the whole time, watching as well. ―Where did you

two meet?‖ the kind-looking nun asked.

―In Hawaii,‖ he said with a grin, remembering that first day.

―Were you the one she was supposed to meet last night?‖ she won-

dered.

Looking down at her, Ernst questioned, ―How do you know about

that?‖

The nun nodded sagely. ―I thought so.‖

Ernst was totally confused. ―You thought so what? Are you saying

she was here last night?‖

Her covered head moved up and down. ―We lost electricity last night

in the storm. A bolt of lightning hit so close it fried some of the circuits, so

Koali came out and fixed it.‖

So it really had been an emergency.
―Why would you think it was me?‖

―Because she‘s never brought a man here with her. She‘d told us she

liked the guy she had been going to meet, and she watches you often.‖

―Does she come here a lot?‖ Ernst asked, warmed at the knowledge

others saw Kacy watching him.
She likes me.

―Every week to see Adam and the other children, unless she is out of

town,‖ she said. ―Let‘s walk around to where everyone is now.‖

Ernst followed her around the corner of the building. He stopped

and stared. About thirty children played in the yard. There were toddlers,

teens and every age in between.

He was amazed by the order that seemed present amongst the chaos.

A tremor traveled along his spine and he looked around. His blue eyes honed

in on Kacy and Adam as they said hello to the other children.

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67

―What started bringing her here?‖ Ernst asked, wanting to know

more about his beautiful electrician.

―She grew up here,‖ the nun stated bluntly.

Ernst wanted to go and gather Kacy in his arms to just hold her. Un-

able to comprehend what growing up here would be like, he needed to touch

her, share his strength with her. Eventually the need grew too much and he

said, ―Excuse me,‖ going over to Kacy as she talked into her phone.

―Kacy,‖ Ernst said, touching her arm as she clipped her phone back

onto her waist.

―Hey, Ernst. I want you to meet a very good friend of mine. This is

Adam. Adam, say hi to Ernst.‖

Dark-brown eyes looked up at him and the child smiled, showing

missing teeth. ―Hello. I‘m going to marry Kacy when I grow up.‖

Ernst couldn‘t help but smile at the boy. ―I don‘t blame you. I‘d mar-

ry her if she‘d let me.‖

―You can‘t marry her,‖ the young tone whined. ―I‘m gonna.‖

―Excuse me,‖ Kacy interrupted. ―Let‘s not discuss my upcoming

marriage like I‘m not here.‖

Ultra marine eyes, swirling with emotion, grabbed hers. ―Okay, we

will talk later on about your imminent marriage.‖ He touched the brim of his

cap before turning his attention back to the child.

―What do you do, Mr. Ernst?‖ Adam smiled at him as he tucked his

small, almost frail hand into the strong one of the Navy SEAL and his other

into Kacy‘s softer one.

Slanting a gaze at the sight beside him, Ernst nearly was brought to

his knees.
If there was ever a sign that told me this was right, I am looking at it right

now.
―I‘m in the Navy,‖ he answered the child even as his stare lingered on

Kacy.

―I‘m gonna be an electric like Kacy,‖ Adam said proudly.

An electric? Well, she is electric all right.
―An electrician? That is a good

job.‖ Ernst nodded.

Kacy stopped. ―Adam, I have to go. I have another few jobs to do to-

day.‖

A look of abandonment crossed the boy‘s face before he controlled it.

―Okay.‖ He dropped Ernst‘s hand and wrapped both of his skinny arms

around Kacy.

―Hey,‖ she said, kneeling in front of him. ―I‘ll be back next week. I‘ll

come on Sunday and we‘ll spend more time together, okay?‖ Ernst moved to

stand behind Kacy and he saw the child fighting back tears.

―Okay, Kacy,‖ Adam forced out.

―I can‘t leave without my smile. Come on, now. Where‘s my brave

little man?‖ Kacy coaxed.

―What if you don‘t come back?‖ The first few tears began to fall.

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Aliyah Burke

―Have I never not come back?‖ she asked as her fingers wiped the

tears away.

―No. Promise?‖

―I promise,‖ Kacy immediately agreed.

―Him too,‖ Adam insisted.

Ernst met Kacy‘s shocked gaze and said, ―I promise I will come back

as soon as I can.‖

―Okay.‖ Adam took one more hug from Kacy before moving to Ernst

and hugging him as well. ―Bye,‖ he yelled as he ran off to play on the

playground equipment.

Ernst helped Kacy to her feet and said, ―He loves you. I didn‘t know I

had competition for your hand in marriage.‖

A sad smile crossed her face before she got her emotions under con-

trol. With farewells to the nuns, soon Kacy and Ernst were back in her van

heading for his friend‘s house to install the fans.

It was six-thirty when she pulled back into her driveway. Parking so

Ernst could move his truck, she turned off the vehicle and got out. She picked

up her mail that she didn‘t get the day before on the way to the front door.

Ernst followed and locked her van for her, then he unlocked the door

for her. ―Thanks,‖ she said as her body brushed past his.

He stopped halfway in the door, blocking her way. ―Kacy.‖ His voice

had dropped to a seductive purr.

―Yes,‖ she breathed.

―I want to kiss you so bad,‖ he whispered by her mouth.

Her eyelids fluttered.
I want you.

―I want you, too, sweetheart. I want you too,‖ Ernst breathed.

Kacy‘s eyes flew open. She met his gaze and he didn‘t have a smug

look, just a passionate one.

―Yes, you said it out loud.‖ His lips brushed hers lightly, teasingly.

―But I want more than a one-night stand. More than a fling. I want to be a

couple.‖

Shaking her head, Kacy tried to back up. ―No, I don‘t think that

would be a good idea.‖

Ernst wouldn‘t let her. Still in the doorway and in view of her neigh-

bors, he held her captive in his arms. ―Why not?‖

―It…it…it just wouldn‘t.‖

―No dice, Kacy. Why not? And you can‘t tell me you aren‘t attracted

to me. I saw the picture you had under your pillow. And your body wouldn‘t

respond the way it does to mine if you weren‘t attracted.‖ His gaze bore into

hers, not giving an inch.

―I…I…I can‘t be in a relationship right now,‖ she stammered.

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69

Sliding into the house, Ernst shut the door behind him and steered

her towards the living room. ―We need to talk about this, because I want one

and I know you do too.‖

―Why are you so determined to date me?‖ Kacy asked, sitting down

on the couch and tossing her mail on the coffee table.

―I want to be a couple with you.‖ Ernst sat down at the other end of

the couch and faced her. ―You have brought a light into my life that until I

met you I didn‘t know was missing. I don‘t want to lose that or you.‖

―You know nothing about me,‖ she said sharply.

―Only because you won‘t let me. Sweetheart, I want to know every-

thing about you. Everything. I want to take you home and introduce you to

my family. I want you to come with me to things that my Team goes to.‖ He

pulled her across the couch and into his embrace. ―I want to know what kind

of music you like, what movies you go see, your favorite color. Everything.‖

Kacy shook her head against the hard planes of his chest.
Get rid of

him Kacy. You know what men are like in the end,
her mind screamed.
Give him a

chance,
her heart countered. ―I don‘t know.‖ Her voice was tortured.
Think of

what a man with his training could do to you,
her brain taunted.

Ernst took a deep breath and caressed her tenderly. ―How about this.

We do things together on days that we both have time off. Go to dinner,

hiking, or whatever.‖ He stroked her hair. ―Take it slow.‖

So slow he would want to find a different woman.
―Okay, I‘ll give it a

try,‖ she conceded.

―So, what about dinner tonight?‖ Ernst closed his eyes and pressed

her body closer to his.

―I have some more work to finish up, but we could order delivery. If

you don‘t mind hanging around while I get my work done?‖ Kacy‘s voice

had dropped to a low whisper as she finished.

―Not a problem. In fact, how about I make dinner for us?‖

She drew back and looked up at him. ―You know how to cook?‖

He flashed a grin. ―Yes, I can cook. Does that sound like a plan?‖

―Maybe you should look at my kitchen before you decide that. There

isn‘t much there.‖ She moved off his lap.

Standing up also, he followed her into the kitchen. Within moments,

Ernst knew he would have to go shopping. ―I can do it; I just have to get

some groceries.‖ He smiled at her blush.

She turned towards her briefcase. ―I will get you some money.‖

―No.‖ She froze at that word. Gentling his voice, he continued, ―I

don‘t have any problem buying groceries.‖

―But it‘s—‖

―Kacy.‖ He flowed over to her still-frozen body. ―Let me do this for

you. Trust me, I don‘t mind at all.‖ His lips brushed over hers tenderly.