Greeley's Spyce (12 page)

―Now, you go do your work and I will be back soon. Can I leave the door

unlocked or do you want me to ring the doorbell?‖

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Aliyah Burke

Knees trembling from the soft contact of his mouth, Kacy mumbled,

―I will give you a garage door opener so you can just come back in that way.‖

―Okay,‖ he whispered, stealing one more quick kiss before taking the

remote from her and getting in his car.

Kacy stood in the doorway to garage as the big door closed after

Ernst. Her fingers ran lightly over her mouth as she remembered his lips

pressing against hers so softly. ―How can a man who does what he does be so

gentle?‖ Her question was unanswered as she headed to her office.

Ernst pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store. Sitting in the

quiet vehicle, he ran over the day‘s events in his mind. He had known Kacy

hadn‘t had parents growing up, but he hadn‘t pictured her being raised in an

orphanage. Having a nice set of foster parents as what he had envisioned.

It would partially explain her hesitation to make a commitment,

however. As her dark beauty swam in front of his eyes, he got out of his

truck. There was something more, he knew; something that had her running

scared from a serious relationship. Yet even still, Ernst strolled into the store

with a smile on his face as he thought about Kacy.

As he directed the man in the meat section to which lobsters he

wanted, Ernst wondered about dessert. He knew she loved ice cream, but he

wanted to give her something extra.

That grin was still plastered to his face as he went through the check-

out line. The girl at the register was flirting heavily with him, but Ernst could

see only Kacy and her rich beauty waiting at home for him.

Entering her house through the garage, he put the things away in the

kitchen before searching for her. ―Kacy?‖ he called as he moved down her

hallway.

There was no answer, but the closer he got to her office door, he

heard her talking. Sticking his head in the door, he saw her leaning over a set

of large blueprints and wearing her headset.

Her copper gaze found his and she smiled even as she listened to the

person on the other end of the phone call. ―Just wanted to let you know I was

back. I‘ll be in the kitchen,‖ Ernst whispered as he leaned down and kissed

her softly on the cheek.

Kacy touched his cheek in return and mouthed the words ―thank

you.‖ Then her attention was totally turned back to the blueprints and the

conversation at hand.

For a few moments, Ernst stayed in the doorway and watched her

work. She was a joy to watch and listen to. Her tone was upbeat and profes-

sional at the same time. No words were minced; she shot straight from the

hip when she talked to people.

His pale eyes wandered around the room as he was loath to leave

her, settling on her bookcases. The top shelf had books of poetry—Lord

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71

Byron, John Keats, Percy Shelley, William Woodsworth, Aleksandr Pushkin,

and more. There were some of Shakespeare‘s works as well.

Slipping out of the room, he began dinner after opening a bottle of

water he found in the fridge. Having looked through her music collection he

had just pressed play—not finding anything that he would listen to—but as

the smooth rhythm and blues filtered through the air, he found it wasn‘t that

bad after all.

It didn‘t take long to prepare the food and Ernst was at home in her

kitchen. The lobsters sat in boiling water on her stove, and now he was

finishing the biscuits and about to slip them into the oven. The salad was

made and chilling in the refrigerator.

Kacy had known the second his body had filled the doorway to her

office. He affected her on so many levels. When he‘d kissed her cheek, she‘d

wanted to end her call and kiss him like their lives depended on it. Despite all

her attempts to protect her heart and invariably herself, this man had found a

way to get under her skin. If she could just get rid of past memories and find

a way to move on.

Setting down her pencil, she rolled her shoulders. Her days were

going to be filled, but she still needed to figure out her nights. She wanted to

hold onto Ernst and never let him go. He made her feel safe.

The ten million dollar question was would he continue to do so or

turn out to be like Kirby.

―Hey, thought you could use this.‖ Ernst‘s voice broke into her wan-

dering.

Kacy looked up to see him holding out a glass of wine to her.

―Thanks,‖ she said, taking the beverage from him.

He sat in the chair beside her. ―How‘s it going?‖

―I‘m done for the evening. Got a lot of work lined up, so I will be

working Saturdays for a while. But that‘s okay.‖ She took a sip of the wine

and added, ―This is really good.‖

Ernst spun her around to face him. ―Can I ask you something?‖

―Of course.‖ Her eyes were soft as they looked at him, waiting.

―Why did you do what you did for Chief Anderson today?‖

True to her word, she‘d gone over to Chief Anderson‘s home after in-

stalling the generators to put in his fans. ―Like I said before, he was…or

is…your friend. It didn‘t take to long. Why?‖ Her gaze dropped to the wine

she swirled around in her glass.

―You are a unique woman, Kacy. Come on; dinner is almost ready.‖

He touched the tip of her nose and stood.

―You didn‘t answer my question, Ernst,‖ she said, standing and fol-

lowing him up the hall to the kitchen that smelled heavenly.

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Aliyah Burke

―I‘ll tell you once you agree to date me.‖ He put his wineglass on the

counter and pulled out her chair for her. ―Your seat, my dear,‖ Ernst said

with a nod.

C H A P T E R E L E V E N

Lobster Newburg, fresh salad greens, cheesy biscuits, a perfect wine,

and dark chocolate Pavé with raspberry sauce. Kacy was stuffed. Happy, but

stuffed.

―You can cook a mean meal, Ernst. Thank you,‖ she complimented

over her shoulder as she loaded her dishwasher.

―I learned a few things in my travels,‖ he responded as she felt his

gaze admire her body bent over the dishwasher.

―Well that one you definitely learned well.‖ Sneaking a look at him

over her shoulder, she smiled. ―I‘m full.‖ She put in the soap packet and

closed the door to turn the knob and begin the cycle. Kacy reached for the

dishrag only to find Ernst was already wiping down the table. ―I was going

to do that; you cooked.‖

―
Schätzchen
, I like working beside you. And I don‘t mind wiping off a

table.‖ He winked at her.

―You are very pushy.‖
I wish I knew what he was calling me.

―You‘ve told me that already. But you‘re right. I am especially about

things I want.‖ His eyes burned with a heat that should have warned her of

things to come. ―And I want you.‖

Goosebumps broke out over her skin. ―Pushy,‖ she said with a half

smile.
Dangerous. This man is dangerous.

He shrugged. ―You say pushy; I say determined. Now, come tell me

about you.‖ Ernst took her by the hand and led her outside to sit on the porch

swing.

Tucking her feet under her, Kacy leaned against the man beside her

and watched as night fell over the city. ―What do you want to know?‖

―Why didn‘t you tell me you were raised in an orphanage? St. Lucia‘s

to be specific.‖

―I don‘t know. But you know now.‖ Her eyes fluttered closed as his

arm settled around her shoulder.

―But you didn‘t tell me. Tell me about Adam.‖

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Aliyah Burke

―Adam is the sweetest child I know. I was out there the night he was

dropped off. Five weeks old and they left him. Because he was mixed.‖ Her

tone betrayed her pain at the child‘s treatment.

Readjusting himself so he could hold her better, Ernst tucked her

head under his chin. The night air thick was with humidity and the promise

of more rain. ―Go on,‖ he encouraged.

―I have been to see him at least once a week since then. He is like

family to me.‖ Her voice broke.

―And he idolizes you. Not to mention being in love with you. I think

it‘s great he wants to be an electrician.‖

Rubbing her back, he waited until she said something else. ―It is

great. But we also do other things, so this coming Sunday, I‘m going to take

him horseback riding. He has a horse that he loves to ride.‖

―Want another body along on the trip?‖ Ernst asked,

―He‘d like that,‖ Kacy said.

―What about you?‖ he asked on a whisper.

―I‘d like it too,‖ she admitted. ―A lot.‖

―Well consider me there…unless…‖

―Unless you are off saving the world. Don‘t worry, I won‘t say any-

thing to Adam about you coming, that way he won‘t be disappointed if you

can‘t.‖ The sound of light rain on the roof of her porch made her open her

eyes.

―I don‘t want to let down either of you,‖ he swore.

―I understand that you get called away at a moments notice. I‘ll be

saddened but not angry.‖ Kacy didn‘t fight it when he tugged her back down

to his side.

―Where should I meet you?‖ he asked as his hands created havoc in

her lower body.

―Here is fine. I am out to St. Lucia‘s by seven and it takes about thirty

minutes to get there. Well, less when I drive my car,‖ she said and chuckled.

―It‘s a date.‖ He kissed the top of her head. ―I should get going.

Thank you for such a lovely night, Kacy Travis.‖

Saddened, Kacy stood and accompanied him into the kitchen where

she looked over his hardened physique. There really was nothing soft about

him at all until he glanced at her with those eyes. They were so emotional;

they hid nothing from her. But for all his strength, all she had seen from him

was gentleness and kindness. ―Thank you for dinner.‖

Picking up his truck keys, he opened her front door. ―It was my plea-

sure. Goodnight, Kacy.‖

Taking a bold step she offered, ―You don‘t have to go.‖

Ernst swallowed hard and she saw desire rage like a squall in his

eyes. ―Yes, I do. I told you I want more than a one-night stand. When you are

ready for that, then I will stay.‖ Inhaling deeply, he raked his gaze over her

once more. ―Come give me a kiss.‖

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75

I want more than a one-night stand. Stay with me forever, Ernst.
Kacy

stepped in closer and slid her arms around his neck, telling him with her kiss

what she wasn‘t strong enough to voice out loud yet.

Reluctantly pulling away, he muttered, ―Good night,
schätzchen
.

Sleep well.‖ One more fast kiss and he was out the door heading to his truck.



Kacy had dreams full of Ernst. Her free times during the next day

were centered on him. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his eyes

staring at her, boring into her soul, seeing more than she wanted to reveal.

Shutting the door behind her, she headed for the shower. She had a

meeting tonight and would just make it if she hurried. Her last job had taken

much longer than she had anticipated. She dressed in blue jeans and a white

tee shirt and clipped her phone on her belt. Jumping into her car, she backed

out of the garage and made sure the door shut all the way before tearing off

down the street. Kacy didn‘t even notice the truck that she blew past.

Her phone rang and as she whipped around a corner, she answered

it. ―Travis.‖

―Evening,
liebling
,‖ Ernst‘s voice thrummed through her body.

―Evening, Ernst.‖ Kacy sat impatiently at the red light. ―What are

you doing?‖

―Wanted to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat with me tonight.‖

He chuckled slightly. ―But you drove right past me like a bat out of hell!‖

Green. She shifted her car into gear and drove on. ―Sorry, I have a

meeting.‖

Silence for a moment and then he said, ―What about after? Meet me

for a drink?‖

―I don‘t think that would be a good idea tonight,‖ she said. ―What

about tomorrow?‖

―Is everything okay?‖ He hadn‘t liked how fast she had driven past

him.

―Sure,‖ her voice wobbled a bit. ―Look, I really have to go. Talk to

you soon? Bye.‖ She hung up.

Blue eyes narrowed in concentration as he decided what to do.

Kacy ran up the steps into the Baptist church and down the hall to

the room that was full of women. The meeting was a double-edged sword. It

was fortunate they were there and extremely unfortunate they had reason to

be.

―Hey, y‘all. Sorry, work was a bit longer than I anticipated,‖ Kacy

said with a smile as she slid into her usual seat.

―Evening, Kacy.‖ A tall woman stood and looked over them. ―Don‘t

worry about it. At least you made it. Okay, ladies, another month has gone

by. How are we all doing?‖

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Aliyah Burke

For the next three hours, Kacy sat, listened to, and shared her feelings

with the Battered Women‘s Support Group. ―Well,‖ she said when it was her

turn. ―I did meet this really wonderful guy.‖ She smiled as the women

encouraged her with nods. ―But I am
so
scared. I still see Kirby around town.