Just a Kiss: The Bradfords, Book 5 (11 page)

Who had then denied him in that very place after promising to love him for better or worse.

Yeah, it would have been a nice change for
her
to come after
him
.

“What if it would have taken more than a speech?” he asked. He almost regretted it the moment he’d said it. Something flared in her eyes and she moved closer. And he knew he would have been a goner if she’d been truly determined to get him back. He’d been a sucker for Eve since he’d walked into Algebra II.

“I would have done anything.”

“Oh?” He shouldn’t be encouraging this. It didn’t matter now. It had been too long. He should be bitter and angry and should
not
want to run his fingers through her hair or see if that spot on her inner elbow was still sensitive or see if her throat still flushed when she was turned on.

She moved an inch closer and her gaze dropped to his mouth.

It turned out that righteous indignation was hard to hang on to in the face of Eve looking at him like her speech had an X-rated addendum.

“After all those girls, I knew I would have to remind you of how things were with us.”

She was close enough now that he got the answer to his last question—her throat did still get pink when she was turned on.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he choked out, knowing exactly what she intended.

He’d already kissed her, spontaneously, without thinking. But
this
was deliberate, with purpose, both of them knowing exactly what was coming.

“Oh, come on, Kevin,” she said with a little smile, “it’s just a kiss.”

He pulled in a quick breath, recognizing those four words immediately. They were the ones he’d said to her before their very first kiss ever.

He’d known even then, even before it happened, that it was going to change his life.

He felt the same way now.

With a touch of panic thrown in this time.

That, however, was forgotten as their lips met.

It was just a kiss like Niagara Falls was just a waterfall.

Eve tilted her head to one side as Kevin moved the other way so their mouths were able to meet fully. They groaned together and she stretched up at the same time he bent his knees to fit their bodies more fully against the other. Their mouths opened, tongues met, breaths mingled and Kevin’s hand lifted to the back of her head at the same time she grabbed the front of his sweatshirt, attempting to pull him even closer.

As he tangled his fingers in her hair he thought about how the heavy silkiness felt softer and smelled different than he remembered, which led him to wonder what else had changed. Then her hands dropped to his butt and she urged him closer. And it really hit him.

A lot of things had changed. Fourteen years worth.

He pulled back, looking down at her. Her cheeks were pink, she was breathing hard and her eyes were unfocused as she opened them. But he couldn’t escape one thought—she’d never kissed him like that before.

They’d gotten carried away on the couch at Justin Thompson’s Halloween party, on a blanket by the river and in the front seat of Kevin’s car and she’d been eager, but sweet. Now she was bold, clearly confident, obviously knew what she was doing in arousing him.

There had been someone else. Maybe more than one someone else.

It had been a long time after all and he’d very definitely not been celibate. Could he expect that she had been?

Maybe not rationally, but yes, part of him really thought she should have been saving herself for him all this time.

He did not, however, let himself wonder how not-virtuous she had been.

Staring down at his wife, he wanted to dive right back in to that kiss.

Instead he took a big step back.

His
wife. His
wife.

There was something about that term that made him feel possessive even while he was trying to remind himself that he needed to stay away from her.

For some reason.

“I knew it would still be like this,” Eve said breathlessly, tucking her hair behind her ear and looking at him with wonder.

Yeah. He felt it—exactly like before. Her ability to suck him in and take him over completely was still intact.

He wasn’t over her. That was clear. If he was honest, he’d always known it. But getting close to her again couldn’t be good.

“We’re still
us
. Now I know for sure,” she said.

Yes, they were. That was exactly what he needed to remember.

Almost grateful to her for the reminder, he said, “Right. You’re still the woman who said marriage vows to me and then forgot all about them the moment you realized things were complicated.”

She sucked in a quick, hurt breath and he almost regretted his words. But they were true.

“I don’t want to sign the papers, Kevin,” she said softly, her eyes sad. “Not yet. I want to show you that I’ve…changed. I know what I want and I’m willing to fight for it. You’re going to be here for the next six months. Can’t we…try?”

She wanted him back. Or thought she did. Or thought she might.

Kevin took in the brightness in her eyes and the plump pinkness of her lips from his kiss. He’d done that to her. He was the one who’d put that look on her face. He’d always been the one. And now he was even more what she’d always wanted, always needed. He’d still have her if her father had approved of him and the man he was today would have gotten her father’s consent without question.

And
now
she wanted him back. What a coincidence.

He took a steadying breath, then cleared his throat. “We’d better cool it. The guys won’t stay out of here forever. I can’t believe they’re not in here already.”

“Wait—” She caught his arm.

That kiss had been a bad idea. Not that her touching his arm should have anything to do with the kiss, but it brought her close enough he could smell her and that’s all it took for him to want it all over again.

Aw, hell.

“I haven’t told you my proposition yet.”

No. Whatever it was, it was a bad idea. “I need to get ready for Drew—”

“It’s about Drew. I thought I’d stay for dinner and help with his first night at your place.”

“You know Drew that well?” He hadn’t expected that.

“Heather works for me,” Eve said. “Drew’s at the restaurant every day.”

A familiar face. Someone Drew knew and could talk to. Someone who knew something about the kid.

That could be really, really good. And it had nothing to do with Kevin wanting to kiss her again. Nothing at all.

“Fine. Dinner tonight,” he said reluctantly. “That will be nice for Drew.”

She smiled. “You’ll need more help than that.”

He sighed and looked around the kitchen, noting the bowl of fruit and books…and ignoring the jelly beans…that she’d brought.

Yeah, he needed help all right.

“Your proposition is for more than dinner tonight?” he guessed.

“I can be the one that stays with Drew when you work,” she said, grinning proudly as if she hadn’t given him the perfect, horrible situation to love and hate at the same time.

That would mean she would be here. A lot. “That’s a big commitment.”

“But it makes sense. My schedule can be flexible and he already knows me.”

“I work seven p.m. to seven a.m.”

“You said that.”

“I don’t have a backup plan.”

“You won’t need one.”

“Drew might get attached to you.”

“Fine. Great. He can. No worries.”

“He’s a kid, Eve. You can’t change your mind partway into this.”

Again she took a quick breath as hurt flashed in her eyes. Kevin steeled himself against the urge to apologize.

“I’m not changing my mind,” she said firmly, chin up, meeting his gaze directly.

He looked at her for several seconds. He needed someone to help him, there was no way around it. He might be able to switch some shifts, but nothing on a regular basis. All the guys who worked days now did so because of their own families. And he had no other options. Taking Drew back and forth to Omaha wouldn’t give the kid the stability he needed and even though his friends and their wives would make the drive, Kevin couldn’t ask them to do that.

Besides, Eve was here and, apparently, willing.

And, dammit, part of him wanted to see her do this for him,
with
him and stick with it.

He was in trouble.

“Okay, fine,” he finally said. “Three nights a week you can come stay with Drew.”

She seemed to be pondering that. “How about I have dinner with you every night, so that it doesn’t feel like I’m a babysitter?” she said. “But I’ll spend the night only when you need me to.”

He knew that she’d said it that way on purpose. Only when he needed her to? He’d needed her to spend the night every damn night for the past fourteen years. For a start
.

He reigned in the thoughts that were part desire and part frustration. This was about Drew. She was offering to help with Drew. He needed to focus on
Drew
.

And there was something else Eve Donnelly could help with besides macaroni and cheese.

“I know six months isn’t a long time overall, but I want to be a good influence on him here while we’re together. I could really use help with that.”

Eve smiled up at him. “Whatever you need. I’m your girl.”

Why did everything sound so temping and sexual?

Oh yeah, because he really wanted to take her to bed.

He cleared his throat. Focus. He needed focus. “My friends are great with kids,” he said.

“The guys drinking root beer, playing video games and belching and swearing in your living room right now?”

He nodded, trying not to smile. “My best friends. They’ll give me lots of advice, help out whenever they can, but I could really use someone who’s a believer.”

Eve’s eyes widened for a split second, then she wet her lips and smiled. “A believer, huh?”

“When things got out of hand in my life I realized I needed something that would be solid and stable. Obviously, things are crazy in Drew’s life. I want to give him something he can depend on.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of helping with his math homework and doing some laundry.”

Kevin shrugged. “That would be great too.”

“Too?” She swallowed and gave a little laugh. “What else are you thinking?”

“Sunday school?” He didn’t mean to say it as a question, but it wasn’t like he was bringing people to the Lord in droves. And certainly no kids. Church was what worked in his life for sure, but Kevin wasn’t overly optimistic about his abilities to affect someone else’s faith. Which was where Eve could really help out. “Maybe. Something. Something that will help him through the tough times.”

“
You
can be what helps him through the tough times,” Eve said.

He rubbed the back of his neck. He’d like to believe that. “Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

“We should talk about what we’re going to tell people,” Eve said. “What should we tell them about why we’re always together and why we’re kissing and stuff?”

“We’re going to be kissing and
stuff
?” he asked. No. No, no, no. She was going to be here for
Drew
, not for him.

“I don’t see how we can possibly avoid it,” she answered with a smile.

He cleared his throat and shifted, suddenly uncomfortable in his jeans. She had a point. Even Sam had said it—if Eve was within ten feet of him, he was going to have a hell of a time keeping his hands to himself.

“Should we tell them we’re dating?” she suggested.

And who said he had to keep his hands to himself? She was his
wife
. If he was married to her, he wouldn’t be putting his hands on anyone else. And surely he wasn’t expected to live like a monk while he was
married.
He’d meant every word of the vows he’d said to her and
she
was the one who didn’t want to sign the divorce papers. It stood to reason that, of all the times in his life when he should be putting his hands on a woman, it was now. And it should be Eve.

He was practically
required
to put his hands on her.

Made complete sense.

“Sure. Dating. Okay.”

“Are we dating exclusively?” she asked, leaning against the counter again.

Only then did he think to ask, “Why? Are you dating someone?”

“There’s a guy I’ve—”

“Yes,
exclusively
.” The surge of jealousy was surprisingly strong. Of course she was dating someone. The men in Grover weren’t complete idiots. “And tell people it’s getting serious. I’m the only one you’re doing
anything
with.”

Her grin grew and he knew she’d been messing with him. She’d been looking for a reaction and he’d apparently given her the one she’d wanted.

“And by
anything
I assume you’re talking about sex,” she went on.