Greeley's Spyce (6 page)

―Still waiting for more details. We will get to your issues later.‖

―Okay, he is about six-two and I would say around one-ninety

pounds. Blond hair, these amazingly pale blue eyes, and—‖

―He‘s white?‖ She sounded shocked.

―Lightly tanned, but yes, technically, he is Caucasian.‖ Kacy smiled

over her friend‘s reaction.

―Well, you know I like my men dark, but hey…go with what you

like. Now, tell me why didn‘t we sleep with this gorgeous man?‖ Ilanderae

questioned.

―I wanted to, Landi, so much, but I couldn‘t,‖ Kacy said with frustra-

tion.

―Still hearing Kirby in your head?‖ The tone was soft.

―Every time I close my eyes, or think that I may be moving on, I see

him.‖ Kacy pulled into her driveway and pushed the button to open her

garage, parking next to her car.

―Sweetie, that man has ruined you for all men, but tell me more

about this new man. Was he into you?‖

―Kind of.‖ Kacy smiled as she remembered the hour it took them to

stop kissing before he was satisfied he would make it two weeks.

―What aren‘t you telling me?‖ Her friend demanded.

―We spent my last two days there together. Went for a hot-air balloon

ride, horseback riding, pedal boating, biking, and just having fun. Landi, I

have never had so much fun with a man before.‖ Kacy admitted as she

walked into her house, closing the garage behind her.

―Sounds to me like someone is in love,‖ Ilanderae offered.

―I don‘t know what love is.‖

―Not every man is going to hurt you, Koali. I know what you went

through, but you have to give this one a chance, especially when I hear the

joy in your voice as you talk about him. It sounds like he was into you. What

does he do?‖

―He‘s Navy.‖

―Well, not a lot of money there. Unless he‘s an officer. Is he?‖

Kicking off her shoes, Kacy shook her head. ―I don‘t know. Landi, I

barely know anything about him, except that when he touches me I feel

complete and beautiful. His kisses leave me breathless and I want to be with

him. I don‘t know about his family; I don‘t know anything. I met his team-

mates but only briefly.‖

―Love,‖ Ilanderae said in a falsely disgusted voice.

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37

―I am meeting him for dinner in a few nights at
The Fisher King
, if he

shows up.‖

―He lives in Virginia?‖

Kacy opened the freezer and pulled out a microwavable dinner. ―He

said around Norfolk. I said I would be outside the restaurant and if he

wanted to see me again to be there at seven.‖

―You didn‘t give him your phone number or anything, did you?‖

―You know me, Landi.‖ Kacy shoved the dinner in the microwave

and pushed the button before walking to the living room and sitting in her

chair.

―Girl, if I were closer, I would kick your ass,‖ the sigh came.

―Tell me how Milan is.‖ Kacy hoped Ilanderae would get off the sub-

ject of her new man that she didn‘t really have yet.

Outside The Fisher King

Kacy leaned against the stone wall and brushed her hands over her

thighs. They were having an unseasonably cool week, so she wore blue jeans,

a honey-colored silk blouse, and a pair of sandals. Her hair hung past her

shoulders, and as she ran a hand down the back of it she heard the voice of

her dreams.

―You still look beautiful,
schätzchen
,‖ Ernst said as his body appeared

beside hers.

Turning her copper eyes to him, she drank her fill. He wore jeans that

cupped him so nicely. A black tee shirt and tennis shoes completed his outfit.

―You still look pretty fly.‖

―Hello, Kacy,‖ he murmured as his body stepped in to get a kiss.

Kacy kissed him back with more passion than she could ever re-

member having for a man. While her number of lovers was limited, what this

man made her feel was off the charts. ―Hello, Ernst,‖ she whispered against

his lips.

―Didn‘t think I would be here did you?‖ His blue eyes moved slowly

over her body as he committed her to memory.

―I had my doubts,‖ she admitted, blushing and stepping away from

him. ―Ready to eat?‖

―More than you could possibly know,‖ he said in a low seductive

timbre. Ernst reached for her arm and drew her back to his side. ―I said I

would be here unless we were deployed somewhere.‖

―So you did,‖ Kacy agreed. ―And here you are.‖

Ernst smiled, breathing an internal sigh of relief. For the past two

weeks, he had panicked every time the phone rang, hoping beyond every-

thing that his Team wouldn‘t be sent away on the day he was to meet Kacy.

Thankfully, they hadn‘t been.

38

Aliyah Burke

However, Ernst had been a nervous wreck as he‘d driven to the res-

taurant. What if she didn‘t really like him and didn‘t show?

His heart had swelled when he‘d spotted her leaning against the wall

in front of the restaurant. It had taken him a moment to regain his composure

before walking up to her. He had missed her so much.

But the fact that she hadn‘t thought he wanted to see her again threw

him. What did he have to do to gain her trust?

―Well, let‘s go eat,‖ Ernst said, filing that away for later and holding

the door for her. They would enjoy their time tonight.

The interior of the place was beautifully lit with recessed lighting and

fancy chandeliers. As Ernst did a once over of the place it occurred to him he

was the only white person in there and the object of many curious gazes.

―Hey, Kacy!‖ a large black man yelled over the music that played in

the building. ―I‘ll be with you in a moment; take your table.‖

―Thanks, Darnell,‖ she responded with a wave. ―This way.‖ Kacy

took the lead.

At least she is still holding my hand.
Ernst met the gazes of all who

stared at him. No one said anything mean, but he could see the suspicion in

their looks. ―Come here a lot?‖ he asked as he stopped beside her in front of

the booth.

―All the time,‖ Kacy said with a smile. ―Inside or out?‖

Ernst cocked his head and looked at her. ―Inside or out what?‖

―Of the booth.‖ She pointed at the seat in front of her.

He looked and looked again. It was one booth seat and a table up

against a wall. They were going to sit side by side. ―Well, I‘m right-handed so

I will sit on the outside, otherwise we will hit each other.‖
I don’t want the men

in here looking at you.

―You remember I‘m left-handed?‖ Kacy seemed impressed. She slid

across the leather seat and closed her eyes as his warm body settled next to

hers.

Leaning in close to her, he whispered in her ear, ―I remember every-

thing about you.‖

―So,‖ a booming voice intruded. ―What can I get you to drink?‖

Ernst looked up to see that same large man standing in front of them.

Picking up the menu, he glanced over it and asked, ―Kacy? What do you

want?‖

The man she had called Darnell interrupted. ―I know what she

wants. I was asking you.‖

Kacy shrugged and sent Darnell a look. ―I want you to meet my

friend Ernst, Darnell.‖

―Friend?‖ Darnell asked, sounding like a schoolmarm instead of the

three-hundred-pound man he was. ―I ain‘t never seen you bring a friend in

here to sit at your booth. Not a male one anyway.‖ Those dark eyes moved

back to Ernst. ―You must be something special. How about I bring you a

Greeley's Spyce

39

lemonade and if you don‘t like it, I will get something else for you.‖ He was

gone before Ernst could say anything one way or another.

―Where do you know Darnell from?‖ Ernst questioned.

―I did the electrical work here when they first opened, and have been

eating here ever since.‖ She frowned. ―I‘m sorry; I sort of just assumed you

would like what they serve.‖

―Hey, I love food; as long as it‘s good, I‘m happy,‖ he reassured her,

touched by her concern.

Kacy smiled at him. ―Well, then, you will be happy. His wife is an

awesome cook.‖

―I love how your eyes crinkle up at the corners when you smile,‖ he

blurted out. It was his turn to grin as he saw the blush move across her skin.

Soon, they were dining on hushpuppies, greens, fried Saba over rice,

and frog legs. Darnell had delivered it on one large plate so they could take

smaller portions and put it on their own plates.

―Oh, Lord, this is good.‖ Ernst laid his fork down beside him and

leaned back in the seat. ―I‘m stuffed. I think I am going to have to run an

extra twenty miles to work this off.‖

―I knew I liked you,‖ Darnell said. ―Any man who eats like you and

is so obviously fond of my Kacy is good in my book. Now, what‘s gonna be

for dessert?‖ He tossed down the dessert menu. ―I will be back in a bit.‖

―Dessert? After that amount I just ate?‖ Ernst turned his head to look

at Kacy who was nodding.

―Have to have dessert. They would be insulted otherwise.‖

―Are the portions always this big?‖

―Yep.‖

―Jesus, I think I should let the team know about this place. It is awe-

some.‖ Ernst leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. ―Thanks for sharing it

with me.‖

Darnell returned. ―What‘s for dessert?‖

―I want Bananas Foster,‖ Kacy said.

―I‘ll have an order of bread pudding,‖ Ernst said. ―And a coffee

please.‖

―Be up in a few.‖ Darnell took two steps and turned back. ―Y'all

make a great couple. I like him, Kacy; keep him.‖ Then he left.

―He‘s a smart man,‖ Ernst observed with a grin. ―You should listen

to him.‖

Kacy rolled her eyes but blushed. ―I‘ll keep that in mind.‖

After their desserts had been delivered and it was once again just the

two of them at the small corner booth, Ernst asked, ―Do I get to know more

about you now?‖

―What were you looking for?‖ she hedged.

―I don‘t know…a phone number. An address.‖ He put down his fork

and placed his gaze on her face. ―Look at me, Kacy,‖ he pled.

40

Aliyah Burke

Slowly, she met his gaze. ―What?‖ Kacy questioned.

Ernst noticed the distrust that lurked in the back of her eyes. ―I want

to know where you live. I want to be able to call you. Hell, I want to call you

my girlfriend.‖

Kacy swallowed. ―I…I…I…‖

―Kiss me, Kacy,‖ he said.

That got her attention. Those dark brows of hers scrunched together

as she asked again, ―What?‖

―Kiss me. Right here. Right now.‖
Do you trust me enough to do that in

front of your friends?

Not even looking around the room at the patrons who‘d fallen silent

and begun watching the couple in the corner, Kacy put down her fork.

Getting up on her knees on the bench, she moved over so their mouths were

millimeters away. Her copper eyes gleamed with the emotion he wanted

them to have for him. Love. Desire. Trust.

She straddled one of his legs and her hands rested against the

smoothness of his chin. As her head moved closer her eyes drifted closed. It

seemed as if all her feelings were poured into this kiss. Her tongue ran over

his lips before sliding between them and entering the warmth of his mouth.

Ernst let her have control of the kiss for about five seconds. His body

was rock hard the second she‘d gotten up on her knees and moved toward

him. But when her tongue slipped into his mouth, he forgot himself. Easily

dominating the kiss, he grabbed her around the waist and held her there

while his mouth plundered hers.

Both of them were hot and horny when they broke apart. Her eyes

were like liquid metal and his were burning with promise—a promise to

finish what had been started.

Kacy got off his lap and silently picked up her fork to try and eat

some more. Her hands were shaking so bad it was almost impossible.

―Let‘s go,‖ Ernst said. ―I want to have you to myself for a while.‖ Ka-

cy nodded, clearly not trusting her voice to speak. Ernst paid for dinner and

soon they were back outside.

―You can follow me home,‖ Kacy said in a quiet voice.

―Are you sure?‖ Ernst asked, not really wanting her to think on it

and back out of the offer.

Kacy nodded and spun on her heel, apparently not willing to give

herself an out, either.

C H A P T E R S I X

Getting out of his rusty pickup, Ernst shut the door, his attention

transfixed. Though Kacy‘s house was a nice little rambler, it was her car that

made him want a closer look.

―Come on in,‖ Kacy called from the garage as she got out of her ve-

hicle.

―That is a beautiful car you have there,‖ he said running his hands

over the light metallic gray car. On the gas tank cover was a small red-orange

phoenix painted in intricate detail. She had a 1968 Camaro Z28.

She grinned. ―I love this car.‖

―Makes sense.‖ Ernst followed her inside the house, watching as she

pushed the button to close the garage. ―You have a really nice home.‖

―Well, it‘s not much, but it‘s mine,‖ Kacy said. ―Make yourself at

home; I‘ll be right back.‖

Ernst looked around. Along one wall he saw a huge fish tank full of

tropical fish and plants. ―Jesus,‖ he muttered as he walked closer.