Hard Break (Deadlines & Diamonds, #5) (12 page)

She used the facilities, washed her hands and headed back to the table where, hopefully, she’d find Ian. Wading through the people, Kayla didn’t realize she’d been smiling
until the frown replaced it. Her heart dropped to her toes.

A woman—a girl, really—flung herself at Ian, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

Kayla admitted she might be exaggerating.

There’d been no flinging.

But there had been kissing. On the cheek, but kissing just the same.

The blond,
Barbie
wannabe showed off a perfectly white-toothed smile as Ian relinquished his hold on her. She said something to make him laugh and shake his head. Kayla ran her tongue over her cock-eyed front tooth. She’d been right, most certainly didn’t fit with this hard-bodied, prime-of-their-life crowd. She wanted to escape, but she’d never been a runner—from her problems, or otherwise—and she wouldn’t start now.

Ian grinned as she approached. His
dark gaze raked over her and he stepped toward her. He grabbed her hands, holding them like she’d disappear into thin air if he let go. “I wondered if you wised up and decided to leave me.”

She laughed, sounding like a strangled hyena. “Long line.” She looked pointedly at the girl.

He put his palm on the small of her back, easing her to his side. “This is Kayla, my—”

“Friend,” Kayla supplied, unwilling to let him call her his loser neighbor.

“My friend. Kay, this is Denali, also my friend.” He winked at Denali and Kayla wondered if she was more than a friend. A friend with benefits, perhaps?

Denali?
She’d heard the name Denali before. Where had she…

Oh
, snap.
Ian’s date! The one he’d missed the night Sadie busted her head open.

Looking at Denali now, and the way she so obviously adored Ian, Kayla wondered if she’d
already claimed that rain check.

Wow, it’d been a long time since ins
ecurity reigned, ruling over Kayla’s sane side. Leon had always made her feel beautiful and loved and cherished and desired and…

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Denali said.

“Yes, you too,” Kayla responded, thinking it hadn’t been nice at all to meet Ian’s
friend
. As Denali walked away Kayla wondered how many of the girls currently drinking fruity concoctions out of fancy glasses were also Ian’s friend.

Ia
n slipped his arms around her and whispered, “You’re the most beautiful woman in the room,” in her ear.

The compliment, lie or not, inflated her ego and made her smile.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” And that was the complete truth. Nothing about Ian was bad; his looks, his attitude, his charm. He was pretty damned good.

The smell of something chocolaty and a soft, feminine, “
Excuse me,” interrupted.

Ian pulled back, but didn’t let go of her hand.
He inched back to give the waitress room. All thought of Leon and
friends
and anything other than chocolate flew right out of Kayla’s head. The ooey-gooey concoction on the white plate made her mouth water. She needed a bite of that now.

She swallowed to keep from drooling.

As soon as the plate scratched across the table, the waitress smiled and walked away. Kayla considered leaving Ian to his own devices, but didn’t want to give him any ammunition to add to his
Kayla’s-a-nut-job
arsenal.

He waved a hand over the table. “Shall we?”

“Oh, yes.” Her agreement sounded orgasmic and she blushed.

He laughed. “Never come between a woman and her chocolate.”

“And ice cream.”

“Best of both worlds.”

“Um-hmm.” More with the orgasm.

He laughed again, sliding into the seat. Feeling like a total idiot, she followed his lead and slid onto the black leather bench.

“Why don’t you take the first bite?” He handed her the spoon.

“Thanks, that’s sweet of you.”

“There’s nothing sweet about me. I’m only worried you might take my hand off if I tried to take the first bite. Don’t look so offended. I’m teasing. You’d better hurry up before all your ice cream melts.”

She dipped the spoon through the ice cream and into the brownie beneath. “I wouldn’t have taken your arm off.” She scooped the bite up into her mouth and
moaned, her eyes fluttering closed. She savored the chocolaty goodness, letting her tongue do the work instead of her teeth. “Although, I might’ve taken off a finger or two.”

One side of his mouth quirked. “That’s what I thought.”

She went for her second bite as he spooned up his first. Their eyes locked. He parted his lips, she parted hers. They ate and groaned in unison.

“Holy shit.” Ian licked his lips. “That’s
really
good.”

She giggled. “I guess
your friend did know his stuff, huh?”

“Yeah.” He dug in for another bite.

“How do you know him?” She let her gaze drift over the crowd, not wanting to get caught talking about Ian’s good-looking buddy. Coast clear. When she glanced back, she caught the tail end of Ian’s frown.

He shrugged, the brownie filled spoon paused in mid-air. She wasn’t sure what possessed her, but she leaned forward and took the bite into her mouth. He gaped at her, his jaw nearly hitting the table.
She smiled around his spoon, moaning as she drew back. He stared at her mouth, his catching flies. She swallowed and grinned like the damned Cheshire Cat.

“So, you were telling me how you knew
him.”

He blinked, shook his head a bit
and looked her in the eye. “Oh…um…Ryan, um…yeah. He’s…”

He was so flustered, Kayla almost felt sorry for him. To make it up, she dug her own spoon into their desert and guided it into his mouth. He bit down, his eyes going as gooey as the chocolate. Su
rely she imagined the flash of desire? Yeah, she had to have misinterpreted that.

She pulled the spoon away and pointed to his mouth. “You have a little on your lip.”

He flicked his tongue out, not even coming close.

“No, it’s right there.” She pointed again.

Another flick of his tongue, another missed it by a mile.

She chuckled. “No. Here let me.” S
he used her own napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth, where the full bottom lip, met the…top…lip.

Whoa
. She had not just wiped his mouth. For the second time in as many minutes, he stared at her like she’d lost her freakin’ mind.

“I’m sorry. It must be the mother in me.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed, twice. “I’m not a child.”

H
is protest most certainly didn’t sound like a child’s. Quite the contrary. He sounded very much like a man. An amazingly sexy man. Who could wipe his own grown ass man mouth! Crap!

She wanted to drop her forehead down onto the table. Hard. Knock some sense back into herself. Good
grief. She was such an idiot! “Maybe we should call it a night. I think it’s past my bedtime.”

He glanced down at the unfinished dessert. “You sure you wann
a leave something on this plate?”

“Do you think anyone would mind if I licked it?”

He let his head voice the negative, using his hand and mouth to devour another bite.

That was one of the things she loved about Ian; no matter how big of a dork she made of herself, he didn’t seem to care. No matter how she yelled at him, or pushed him away, he was there when she needed him. And she did need him. Her kids needed him. But how long would it be before Ian no longer wanted to be needed?

That was the question.

And how long before another one of his
friend’s
needs became more important than hers?

The
answer to that question really shouldn’t make her want to cry.  

Thirteen

I
an couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so frustrated. And he wasn’t talking sexually. Although, he doubted his current state of rock hard could be considered anything close to satisfied. No, his groin had nothing to do with the hot and bothered.

He’d wanted t
onight to be fun. He’d ended up eating out of her hand and nearly spilling it when she wiped his mouth. He’d felt like such a fool, he’d stuttered and stumbled his way into a non-explanation of his relationship to Diaz. Their host. His friend. Good grief. Friends. He ground his teeth. Having Denali show up hadn’t been kismet. Kayla looked like she’d wanted to crawl in a hole.

He’d meant to give her a night free of the kids, free of the drama, free of any heartach
e. He’d failed. In a big way. Even now, she stared out the passenger side window. The far-away expression in her reflection made every muscle in his body tighten.

Awwk-waaard!
he heard Sadie singing in his head. She probably had no idea what the word meant. Ian sure as hell did. He’d felt it. He was currently living
it.

He pulled the Mustang into his driveway, waited for the garage door to hit its full height, then eased inside. He cut the engine and yanked his door open. He jumped out, taking his own damn time to get around to her side. She hadn’t said a word since thanking the valet.

He opened her door and long, gorgeous legs swung out. Her heels hit the concrete. He offered her a hand and lifted her to her feet.

“Thank you.” She smiled up at him, genuine gratitude sparkled in her eyes.

He knew the difference, too. He’d seen her say
thank you
while go-away-and-leave-me-alone shimmered just below the surface.

Her arms moved around his shoulders, clasping behind his neck. He returned her hug, wrapping her in an embrace, holding onto her as tightly as he could without breaking her. Long before he was ready
, she let go. Her hands caressed their way over his trapezius muscles, causing them to jump, until her fingers came to rest on his pectorals.

She looked at her hands, not saying anything, not blinking. He wasn’t sure she breathed. Finally, she looked up into his eyes. Her hands slid up to his face.

“Thank you for tonight. I had a really good time. It’s been a while since I felt…pretty. Thank you for that.” Her eyes glittered. “Thank you for everything. If you haven’t noticed, I don’t accept help very well. And I push away everyone who gets too close. You, sometimes you get too close.” Her thumbs brushed over his cheeks. “I’m grateful to you, Ian. I really am. And no matter what I may say, I do need you.”

Yes! Victory!
He wished he had a ball he could spike.

“But I know you’ve got a life. P
lease don’t ever put your life on hold for us. We’ll be fine when you finally wise up and move on.” Her mouth tipped up at the side. She looked so damned sad, he had to…

He dipped his head and pressed his lips to the softest, sweetest spot he’d ever felt. He eased back just enough to allow him to go in again. She even tasted like heaven, or what he’d expect heaven to taste like.

She sighed as he straightened. Her eyes wide with a whole lot of what-the-hell?

He grinned and shrugged. “Didn’t want the doorstep to be awkward.” 

She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, and Ian fought the urge to play search and rescue. Before she could respond to his lame excuse for kissing her, he made her a vow.

“I’m not going anywhere, Kay. As long as you need me, I’m here.”

Come hell or high water, he’d never leave Kay or her kids high and dry. He was in it for the long haul. Tonight’s events proved she wasn’t completely adverse to the idea of him taking on a different role in her life.

At least he hoped he’d read her right.

“You say that now,” she told him, pushing out of his hold, “but someday you’ll find a woman who will love you the way you deserve and you’ll forget I even exist.”

That she looked so
sad while making the statement gave him the tiny flicker of hope he needed to love her for one more day.

H
e’d kissed her.

Holy crap. He’d actually kissed her.

And as he hugged her once more, she could feel his heart hammering in his chest. He buried his face in her neck. His breaths causing goosepimples to break out over her skin.

“I’ve said it before, Kay, and I’ll say it until you finally
believe it. I’m not going anywhere.”

She saw the kiss coming this time and craved his lips on hers. He’d taken control and in t
his moment she savored him.

He eased away and she leaned forward, wanting just another moment of contact. She couldn’t believe the wanton feelings bubbling in her belly. She actually
felt
something. Something very scary, too scary.

“Um, we really should get to the kids.” She tried not to lick her lips, but needed another taste of him. Ignoring his gaze on her lips, she walked across their yards and stepped up on the porch. He followed.

Kayla reached for the lock, feeling like a total dork when she couldn’t get in. “I don’t have my keys.”

He
simply smiled and knocked softly. They waited in silence, she shifting on unsteady legs, Ian the ever stable rock behind her.

When Stephanie opened the door
, she still had all of her hair, for which Kayla was happy. “How’d it go?”

“Good.” Stephanie yawned. “You’ve got some great
kids.”

“Thanks.” Trading places with Stephanie, she looked at Ian from inside her home. “Thank you for tonight. I had a great time.”

He jerked his chin. “Yeah, me too. ‘Night, Kay.”

Kayla closed the door, leaning back against it. Holy crap. Ian had kissed her.
Of course he kissed her. He’d been trying to shut her up as she babbled on about him getting a life and leaving her alone, even as she feared with everything she was that he actually might.

Her biggest concern, though, was the feelings stirred deep inside her in response to his kiss. She didn’t feel numb or disgusted or annoyed
. She’d felt…something. She shouldn’t feel anything. She didn’t want to feel anything.

Going upstairs, she changed into her pajamas, washed her face, brushed her teeth and crawled into bed.
She slid over onto the cold sheets, the side which hadn’t been touched in months. She curled herself around the pillow which still faintly smelled like Leon and cried. She’d vowed she was moving on. She’d lied. She may never be ready to move on. She’d known the night out with Ian didn’t mean anything. But then he’d kissed her, and all bets were off.

Except
they weren’t.

Ian was her sweet next-door-neighbor, who’d taken a night away from the friends he really wanted to spend time with, to take one for Team Pathetic.

Tears seeped out, soaked up by the pillow.

What the hell was wrong with her?

She’d focus on her children, her job, and that was it. The next time she needed Ian McCallister, she’d leave the poor man alone.

Kayla
bet Denali would reap the benefits. She slammed her fist into the pillow. How very nice for Denali.

***

The next morning Kayla saw things in a whole new light. Literally. Apparently the light bulb in the laundry room had blown out and the only bulb they could find last night was an orange one she’d used for Halloween.

“We had to find our pajamas, Mom,” Sadie explained.

“There are light bulbs under the kitchen sink,” she said.

Pene clucked her tongue. “How we know that?”

Kayla guessed the girl had a point. She’d have to fix that, at least make sure Chase knew where things were and how important it was to put them back. Although she was pretty sure he’d learned the lesson on the second part.

The orange glow and the way it turned everything a sickly hue unnerved her. Kayla looked at Chase. “
Hey, bud, run and get a bulb for me.”

Her son nodded and took off.

“How were things with Stephanie last night?”

Penelope shot a look at Sadie and the two grinned. “We like her.”

Sadie nodded. “When can she come back?”

“I don’t know.” Kayla opened the washer and dropped some clothes inside. “What’d you guys do?”

“She’s awesome, Mom.” Sadie bent over and grabbed a handful of white—with an orange shadow—socks, tossing them into the washer.

“Oh, honey, yo
u can’t wash whites with reds.” Kayla looked at her daughter. “What happens when you mix white and red?”

Her lips pursed. “You get pink.”

“Yep. You get pink,” Kayla verified.

“Oh.”

“I like pink,” Penelope announced.

“I know, baby. But white socks are supposed to be white, not pink.” She picked all the white from the red and lobbed
them into the hamper. So what’d you do with Stephanie?”

“She tell stories,” Pene said.

“She didn’t even need a book!” Sadie jumped in the air.

Pene shook her head. “She tell stories better than Ian. He need practice. He practice on me.”

“When did Ian tell you a story?”

Penelope pointed at Sadie. “When doctor fix Sissy’s head.”

“And he doesn’t tell good stories?”

She frowned. “No. He don’t have a little girl.” She shrugged. “I be his little girl. He tell me stories.”

Penelope’s matter-of-fact announcement surprised Kayla. It seemed the whole family had come to rely on Ian. She shouldn’t be surprised. Maybe she was just a fool. Ian hadn’t meant to worm his way into their lives, she was sure, and yet, that’s exactly what had happened.

She couldn’t blame her children for loving Ian. Everything about the guy was completely lovable.
But wanting to be his little girl? Kayla didn’t know how to fix that desire.

“Here, Mom.” She turned and Chase held out the light bulb. “Do you want me to change it? You have to unscrew the screws holding the white ball
thingy on then change it.”

Her son bounced on the balls of his feet. He chewed on his bottom lip and his eyes were the size of dinner plates, twinkling brightly.

“Go for it, buddy. Make sure to get the ladder.”

He snorted. “I don’t need a ladder.”

“You don’t?” she asked. “Well, you’re certainly not tall enough to reach unless your arms can stretch.”

He rolled his eyes. Kayla didn’t mention the superhero from her childhood who could do just that.
Chase hustled out of the room. She heard the garage door slam, then reopen a few seconds later, just to slam again. She closed her eyes and prayed for patience.

Still holding the light bulb, Kayla greeted Chase as he rounded the corner, step-stool in hand.
He held it a bit higher. “See? I told you I didn’t need a ladder.”

“I’ll be darned.” Kayla shooed the girls out of the laundry room so Chase could position the step-stool under the light fixture. “You know what, bud, I think we should get some breakfast before we change the light.”

“Why?” His brows crunched.

She smiled, loving that she could still teach him something about changing a light bulb. “Because right
now, that orange one is hot. What do you think’ll happen if you grab hold of that bulb?”

Chase looked down at his fingertips, probably imagining the burns that thankfully wouldn’t appear. Thanks to his mother. He jerked his gaze to hers and nodded. “Good point, Mom. And I am hungry.”

They walked out toward the kitchen. Kayla put her arm around Chase’s shoulders. “So, how did you like Stephanie?”

Chase shrugged. “She was nice. The girls really liked her.”

“You didn’t?”

He looked up at her,
duh!
glittering in his eyes. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m eleven.”

“You’re ten.”

“Almost eleven.”

“You
are
almost eleven. In six months, which means you’re not there yet. And we’ll have to try out
your
babysitting abilities a little bit at a time, and not when I’ll be gone for hours past your bedtime.”

“Oh, please.” H
e scoffed. “Watching everyone sleep is the easiest thing ever. Did you know Ian sucks on his lip in his sleep?”

“No. I didn’
t know that.”

Chase stopped walking to fling his arm over his eyes and lean against the wall. He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, suckling it.

Her son looked absolutely adorable. She could imagine Ian looking just as adorable. And yet, there was something sexy about the thought of Ian sucking…anything. Her body heated and she shoved the thought out of her head. She couldn’t go there. Not with anyone.
Especially
not with Ian.