Southern Seduction (30 page)

Kip

I listen to Shelby breathing as she sleeps. So peaceful now, compared to the emotional roller coaster she was on half an hour ago. My heart aches for her. She’s gone through so much. More than she’s even allowed me to know. In a way, I don’t want to know all of the bad stuff. I don’t want to know what that son of a bitch did to her. I can only imagine, and I already want to kill him.

There’s so much more I want to ask her. So much I’m confused about. Like, how did she end up here? When did she leave Owen’s? Why didn’t she leave sooner, and if she did, where did she stay? I don’t want to bombard her with these questions, though. I don’t want to scare her off. I’ve finally got her opening up to me. I’m also frightened that that was a fluke. The snuggling. The kiss.
Oh hell—that kiss!
It was so soft and pure—and yet, it did the most impure things to me. What if she wakes up and pushes me away? I warned her that she was opening a door I wouldn’t let her close.

Looking down at her, I can’t help but be captivated by her beauty. She is nothing like and everything like I imagined my
one
would be. I wonder if I should tell her what I remembered the other day.
No.
I’ll keep that to myself until I can’t any longer. Damn, she feels good in my arms. I let my hand slide down her side and onto her hip. Her jeans always hug her hips so nicely. I’ve been watching her sleep this entire time, and it’s been hard to restrain myself from touching her at all. I lean down and inhale her scent deeply. My breath matches my racing pulse as I squeeze her hip and run my nose up the side of her neck.

“No!” Shelby yelps and pushes out of my arms.

“Shelby, it’s me. It’s Kip.” I grip her flailing arms gently. She stops and stares at me, visibly shaken. “God, baby ... what did he do to you?” I palm her face.

“I’ve gotta go,” she says softly and tries to climb out of my bed.

“No.” I pull her back. “You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Where you were meant to be.”

“What were you doing? What were you trying to do?” She stares through me.

“I’m sorry.” I look down. “I needed to touch you. But, Shelby, I wasn’t going to do anythin’ inappropriate. I think I just startled you. Don’t leave, please.” I slide my fingers down her arm to her hand and bring it up to my mouth. I peck at each of her fingertips and her palm before pressing it to my cheek. She stays silent. “Are you ready to talk some more?”

“What else is there to say?”

“Well, how did you manage to make your way out here? Why did it take you so long to come?” I relax my head onto the pillow so that we are face to face.

“Um ...” she exhales. “Before my mom died, she gave me this key.” She pulls at the chain around her neck to reveal it. “She told me to keep it in a safe place. She had me memorize the box number and the bank’s name before she ever got sick. She always told me that if anything ever happened to her, I should make my way here to our family and get what she has for me out of the safe-deposit box. It took me three years. And it would’ve been longer if Nate was still with me.” She bites her quivering lip and plays with the key, running it up and down the chain.

“How did you manage to make your way here?” I hold her hand so she’ll stop.

“Nate had a life-insurance policy. It was enough to cover his funeral and get me out here.”

“What about the accident? Isn’t there a lawsuit of some sort?”

“Yes. I’ve hired a lawyer, but I’m not sure when I will see anything from that. There’s a holdup with the insurance company and the guy who caused my brother’s death. It’s quite a mess.” She pulls her hand away and scoots to sit up.

“What was in the box?” I prop myself up on my elbow.

“I don’t know. I haven’t gone yet.”

“Why?” I sit beside her.

“Scared, I guess. Kip, I haven’t seen my family in fifteen years. The last time we were here left a very bad impression on me. Some kids were mean to me at a party. Uncle Big Daddy was just plain awful to my mother. He yelled at her and ended up slapping her across the face. We left after that. My mother never saw or talked to her sister again, which saddened her at the end of her life. Aunt Bea hasn’t even asked me about my mom. Isn’t that weird?” She looks over at me.

“Shelby, the whole thing is weird.” I sigh. “Do you remember anythin’ else about that party? Anything about the other kids there?”

“Um, there was a nice boy who chased away the others. He brought me back to my mom. That’s when I saw what I saw. I remember my cousins. That’s about all.” She shrugs.

Damn. She barely remembers me, never mind the conversation we had.

“I still don’t really understand why you haven’t checked what’s in that box.” I reach up and rub her back. “Do you want me to go with you?”

“Would you, Kip?” She turns her head to look at me again.

“Of course. Hell, let’s go now.”

“No. You’re barely over this virus. Get better first. We can go in a few days.” She tucks the key back into her top.
Lucky key.
What? I’m still a guy! “Now, why don’t you lay back and I’ll go and get you some toast. You haven’t eaten in a few days. Let’s get you your strength back, shall we?” She pats my leg.

“You’re beautiful,” I lean in and whisper near her ear.

“So you’ve said.” She gives me a small smile. I dip my head slightly and collect her lips with mine. I can almost feel my heart sigh.

“Okay, lay back, Casanova.” She nudges me. I can’t help my goofy grin at this new nickname. I relax back onto the bed and watch her get up and head to the door. She looks over her shoulder as she’s about to leave and giggles a little while shaking her head. I’m pretty sure it’s because my goofy grin is still intact.

Shelby leaves and my eyes wander up to focus on the ceiling. I lie there, unable to shake my curiosity over what’s in that box. This is also a good time to remind myself to keep things slow with her. I don’t want to scare her off. I still can’t believe she’s letting down some of that wall she built up. I can’t get over how
right
she feels to me. I never in a million years thought this would happen anytime soon, but I’m so hopeful as to where it could lead. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s the “L” word already, but to be honest, my heart is ready to head down that road. I’m more willing to entertain the idea than not, and we both know that’s saying a lot!

“Hey, son,” Mama sighs and I look over to the door.

“Hey, Mama.” I smile.

“Shelby said you were doin’ better this mornin’.” She comes over and sits on the bed next to me. She presses her hand to my head.

“I’m much better.”

“And?”

“What?”

“How are things with Shelby?” She raises a brow.

“I think they’re really good. I mean—I hope they are. I really care ‘bout her, Mama. Ain’t that strange?”

“Why’s that strange?”

“Well, I barely know her.”

“Kip, you could know somebody for twenty years and not
really
know ‘em. Jus’ like you can meet somebody new one day, and then have a kinship with them like they’ve been around forever. Life is funny that way. I think people just have a natural sense about each other.” She shrugs. Usually when Mama talks like this, I tease her by calling her “Sally” because she makes me feel like Forrest Gump—she always has a way of explainin’ things to me so I understand them.

“I guess you’re right. I’m just tryin’ not to screw this up. I’ve dropped all them other girls and kept my distance as much as possible. I wanted to give her time to get used to me. Oh hell, Mama, I don’t know what I’m doin’ or how to do this right. I just really want to be with her. I’ve felt it from the moment I met her. Well, when we got reacquainted,” I add.

“Reacquainted?” She gives me a quizzical look.

“You remember that party at the Johnsons’ when I was around thirteen or so? When they made us all leave due to family issues?” I ask.

“Ha—family issues! What a joke! Why, that arrogant son of a bitch went off on—oh my God, Kip! Was Shelby the little girl you took under your wing that day? The one who was gettin’ picked on?” She smacks my arm.

“Yeah. I just remembered the other day. The whole memory came floodin’ back, Mama.”

“It’s kismet! I knew it! I knew there was somethin’ about her on that very first day! Oh, Kip, God does work in mysterious ways!” She hugs me. Mama gets so excited over things like this.

“What’s kismet?” Shelby asks as she walks in.

“Nothin’,” I answer quickly, ignorin’ the look Mama gives me. “What’s that you got there?” I ask as she heads over.

“Just some toast and more tea for you.” She smiles warmly.

“Thanks, baby.” I take it from her and notice the uncomfortable look that comes across her face.
Shit.
I may be overdoin’ it with calling her “baby.”

“I’m so happy that you two are gonna give this thing between you a go!” Mama gets up and hugs her.

“Um ...” Shelby trails off, and my heart plummets.
Um?
What does that mean?

“All right, well, I’ll let you two kids have some privacy.” Mama releases Shelby.

“Uh, we don’t need that. I mean ... he’s feeling better now, so I’ll, um ...” she stops her stammering. “I’ll go check on the horses, especially Lucky, and also, um—”

“What’s with all the
um
s, Shelby?” I cut her off. Yes, I came off snappy. Wouldn’t you? Here I am thinkin’ we’re moving in the right direction, and she’s already backpedaling. Well, that’s how it feels, anyhow. I probably shouldn’t have snapped, though. It made her jump a little, and now her eyes are huge. Buggin’ out, even. “Sorry,” I murmur.

“I have a paper due tomorrow that I’m only half done with. If I could have the rest of the day off after I see to the horses, I’d really appreciate it. I mean, Kip seems to be feeling much better.” She looks at my mother and offers me not one single glance.

“The rest of the day, Shelby?” I don’t even try to hide my disappointment. What in the hell has changed after twenty minutes? I don’t understand it—she was openin’ up to me.

“Come on, baby girl.” Mama turns her, wrapping her arm around her back. “I’ve got a satchel of apples for you to bring down to the stables.” And with that, they leave.

Be patient, Kip ... just be patient.

I look around as I head down to the stables. This is day three since Shelby left the other morning. It’s the first day I fully have my strength back, and the first day I might be able to see her. She’s been avoiding me like crazy—pretty successfully, too!

I’d like to say I have what I’m going to tell her all planned in my head, but I haven’t a clue. I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out why she rebuilt her wall so quickly. Just when I start thinking I’m probably also not going to see her today, I walk over to Lucky’s stall and find her massaging him.

Her hands glide over his muscles so patiently. She’s got gorgeous hands with long fingers, and I think about them massaging me like that. My jeans become painfully tight between that thought and just taking the sight of her in. God, she’s gorgeous. Her long red hair is braided tightly down her back. She’s wearing a blue tank top and, good Lord, short jean shorts. Would ya look at the legs on her?!

“Gah!” She jumps when she turns and sees me. “Jesus Christ, Kip!” Her hand goes to her heart. I do have a habit of creeping up on her.

“Sorry, ba ... Shelby,” I quickly correct myself.

“Is there something you need?” She reaches down and closes her schoolbook. I don’t answer her. We both know what I need. She stands back up and we stare at each other for a few minutes.

“Grab your purse. I’m takin’ you to that bank.” I finally give in.

“No. I’m not going. I changed my mind.” She looks down and shuffles her feet over the dirt.

“You can’t keep runnin’, baby,” I sigh. And yeah, I went there. Damn it, I don’t care.

“I’m not running,” she says defensively.

“You are!” I get stern with her. “You’re runnin’ from your feelings for me, and from the closure you might get from whatever is in that box.”

“I’m not running from you, Kip. I’m just trying to sort things out. I don’t like how comfortable I feel with you. It’s not right. It’s too fast.”

“It doesn’t feel right?” I take a few steps toward her—cautiously.

“It feels very right, Kip, which is why it doesn’t seem right.” She shakes her head.

“Well, we’ll figure that all out. Now, what about the box?”

“What if I open that dang thing up and I get information that will destroy me? What if I don’t like what I find? Then what?” She starts to tear up.

“Whatever it is, I’ll be right there with you. You’re not alone, Shelby. As long as I’m around,” I gently pull her to me by her hip and palm her right cheek, “you’ll never be alone.” I lean down and press my lips to hers, then sigh with relief when I feel her pressing back into mine. I open my mouth and suck on her bottom lip before darting my tongue in. Her slight moan does nothing to lessen the burden on my jeans. There’s so much igniting in me—I have to dig deep to not take her like a Neanderthal. “Please,” I pant against her mouth, “don’t stay away from me anymore. Don’t be afraid of what we’re feelin’.”

“I’m damaged, Kip,” she whispers. I feel my heart break. That’s all she had to say, those two words, and I know exactly what that son of a bitch did to her.