Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (12 page)

Chapter 12

"Wait, you have to tell me everything, like every little detail." Lisa threw her hands up in the air as Kari pulled her sweater dress off her head with a loud sigh.

"I did tell you everything. He was beautiful, like the most gorgeous man I've ever seen."

"And he didn't ask for your number?" Lisa scoffed and reached to pick up the dress and put it in the hamper.

Kari shook her head. "No he didn't. He's way out of my league, and did you really just put my clothes in the dirty clothes hamper? You're the most unorganized person I know."

"Unorganized does not mean dirty. I hate dirty messes and clothes turn into a monster if left out."

"Don't go into the guestroom where Marc has been then. He's a hot mess when it comes to losing his clothes wherever he stands. My mom used to always say that the clothes basket in his room looked like four hoodlums were standing around the basket talking about nothing when the apocalypse came."

They laughed and Lisa started back up. "How is he out of your league? You have the best curves of any girl I know, you’re stunning smart, not to mention funny."

"You want me, I knew it."

"Duh," Lisa uttered, moving to pick the sweater dress up out of the bin and chuck it at Kari. Kari caught it and threw it back, as they laughed at each other. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and followed Lisa down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Where is everyone?"

Lisa pointed to the small window in the kitchen that overlooked the porch. "Sicily and Marc are putting together a small picnic table and swing that we picked up from the hardware store."

"Who paid for that?" Kari asked, moving to look out the window.

"My mom and dad. They sent a chunk of money to make sure we were okay. Not sure when they'll ever learn that money isn't the same as a relationship." She shrugged as Kari turned around, catching the sadness that ran across her friend's features. She'd known Lisa had a pretty pathetic relationship with her folks, but they'd never really gotten deep into the whys and hows.

"Well, my mom's coming in a few days, so you can properly bond with her."

Lisa snorted. "Your mom thinks I'm a punk rock hooker."

Kari tilted her head. "That's because you are."

"Noted." Lisa moved to the fridge and pulled out a peach. "You want anything?"

"No, I figured we'd go out to dinner tonight."

"I can't. I'm going out on a date." Lisa walked to the kitchen table and sat down.

"With who?" Kari moved to sit across from her.

"Well, if it's okay with you - your brother." Lisa smirked before biting into the fruit, the juice running down her chin as she cursed and reached for a nearby dish towel.

"Oh that's interesting." Kari leaned back, mixed emotions playing along her senses.

"Interesting... like you're okay with it, or..."

"Yeah, I mean he's grown and you're grown. I just hope you both understand the situation you're possibly putting yourself in and know that if the shit hits the fan that I'm not standing between you in a fight. You’re my best friend and he's my brother. It's a no-win situation for me unless you have a casual fling or get married and live happily ever after."

"Whoa on the baby talk. I'm just going with him to dinner. I have no plans after that." Lisa's eyes widened and Kari laughed, her best friend the most commitment phobic person she knew.

Sicily walked in the back door, a loud growl coming from her as she marched into the kitchen. "Ugh! Your brother is impossible. I told him if he'd just use the instructions on the swing that we'd be done, but no! What is it with men and instructions? Don't they know that a freaking man wrote the instructions for other men?"

"It's a stab against his pride if he has to use the instructions. Did you not take this in boyfriend 101 in high school?" Lisa smirked and threw the dishtowel at Sicily.

"What? That's ridiculous. I'm done working on it with him. He's running in circles and I'm not sleeping with him, and we're not family. Done!"

Kari stood up and stretched. "Let me go talk to him."

"Best of luck. He's in grunt mode where all he does is grunt and huff." Sicily rolled her eyes and moved to the fridge getting out a beer. She chucked it at Kari. "Take this with you. He might be willing to at least talk."

Kari caught the beer and walked from the kitchen down the small hall, taking the first right to get to the back porch from the laundry room. She walked out in time to hear her brother cursing in a way that'd have their mother falling over dead.

"That bad?" Kari walked over as he looked up, his face a sweaty mess though it was close to freezing outside.

"Yes. Why can't anything just be simple? This should be insert A into B and beeeeeeeeee done." He reached for the beer, popping the top and throwing it back until it was gone. He burped and crumpled the can, dropping it on the porch and moving back toward the half-built swing.

"Um, you’re welcome and I'm thinking the instructions would make that a lot easier."

He looked over his shoulder and growled. "Not you, too."

Kari laughed and walked toward the railing, leaning over and enjoying the early scenes of the sun setting. Dark blues pushed at the burnt orange of the sun, like some unseen force shoved it from the sky. She let the conversation with her brother die before it really started, his unwillingness to make things easier on himself not really her problem. The swing would get put together somehow. Most likely by her and Sicily when Marc and Lisa left for their date.

The date.

She turned and pressed her back to the railing, her arms crossing over her chest as she watched her brother fumble with the swing. "Hey... can you look at me for a minute?"

He looked up with angst on his features. "Can it wait? I'm ready to be done with this."

"Then be done with it. It's getting dark anyway. Put the damn thing down and we can work on it in the morning. You still have another day or so with us. Let it go."

He sighed and put the large leg of the swing down, sitting back in the small plastic chair he'd somehow squeezed himself into. "Okay... what's up?"

She motioned for him to join her and smiled sweetly as he huffed, stood, and walked over to stand beside her. She turned and looked out at the water again, the sun setting fast. "Tell me what's going on with you and Lisa."

He shrugged. "She's hot and she likes me. What else is there to tell?"

"Um, she's my best friend and if you hurt her I'm likely to stab you in your sleep and feed you to the large fish in that lake."

"That's the ocean and those would be sharks."

Kari laughed despite herself. She turned a little, resting her elbow on the railing and looking at her brother. "I'm serious. She means a lot to me and you guys getting close and then you leaving isn't going to be good for her already jacked up stance on men."

He nodded. "I understand. I'll just take her to dinner and explain that I am interested too, but now isn't the time."

"Really?" Kari asked, shock washing over her. "Wait... I don't want to be the reason you guys don't get together, but I don't want to be the one here left to pick up the pieces should things not work out."

"I don't think this is as much about
you
as you're making it seem. She likes me and I like her. We're not kids, sis. We're adults and if things go farther with us than they should then we'll fix it or not. It's really our decision. I'll try to talk some sense into her and, I guess, myself tonight at dinner, but if she's not willing to listen, I'm not trying that hard."

Kari reached over and wiped a black mark from his cheek. "Okay. You're right. It has nothing to do with me. I just don't want one or both of you getting your heart crushed. It's not fun and putting me in the middle of both of you just sounds like trouble in the making."

"Just because Frank's a dick doesn't mean I am, Kari. Lisa and I might find that we have something between us that would call for the next steps. I'm still young, but commitment isn't a fear of mine. It is for your friend though." He looked over his shoulder as if he expected to find her coming out the door.

"I know, I'm just a little concerned."

"Well, don't be. Now, tell me about the new job. Meet any small town celebrities?" He lifted his brow and chuckled.

"Yes, I actually did." She reached over and pushed at him softly. "He's the fire chief and teacher of the year."

"Bald and two hundred years old?"

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "We're talking about a biker vampire now?"

Marc clapped his hands and hollered. "No, but that would be awesome."

Kari turned her attention back to the beautiful scene before her. "No he wasn't a biker or a vampire, but I'd love to ride him and I'd be more than happy to let him bite me."

"Awwww fuck," Marc grumbled, walking away from the ledge as Kari laughed so hard her sides hurt. Nothing grossed her brother out more than her talking about her sex life. The only thing that might outdo it was their mom talking about her sex life - or lack thereof.

"Sorry. I had to."

"No, you really didn't." Marc moved back beside her, his body facing the house as he hopped up on the ledge and let his feet swing in the air.

"No, he was my age I guess and he was honestly one of the most handsome men I've ever seen." She shrugged and exhaled a long breath. "He's way out of my league, and from what I could tell by the pictures, he's taken."

Marc reached over and tugged at a few strands of her hair. "No one's out of your league, silly. Did you ask him if he was taken? Maybe it was his sister in the picture."

Kari's face contorted as she responded. "Ewww... I hope not. This girl was wrapped around him like he set her blood on fire. Let's hope they aren't family."

Marc shuddered. "Yeah, I just entered a whole new level of disturbed."

She swatted at him again. "Anyway, I'm not interested in finding someone new. This stuff with Frank just went down a few weeks ago. I figure I need six months to a year to redefine myself and really get over the nagging sensation that I'm just not worth someone's efforts."

Marc pushed at her shoulder. "I think you should be careful."

She looked up at him, warmth filling her chest at how much she cared for her little brother. If happiness could be anyone's, she'd want it to be his. "How so?"

"I think that sometimes we let the pain or tragedy in our lives live on far too long. It not only hurts us in the moment, but continues to steal our joy or douse our dreams in flames for years to come. You need to realize that everything that happened with Frank was all about him being a dick. It has nothing to do with you not being enough or good or beautiful. If you keep thinking those things, then you miss the next great love perhaps."

Kari smiled. "When did you become the great love doctor?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Living the life of a sexy, well-to-do bachelor gets lonely sometimes. Just trying to grow up a little."

"Who's the sexy, well-to-do bachelor we're talking about?"

He slipped down and moved to grab her into a bear hug, turning around the porch as she screamed. "Me, you dirty, biker vampire chick."

He finally stopped and they both reached for the edge of the porch, too dizzy to do anything but laugh together. She finally got her bearings and sat down in the small plastic chair in the middle of swing pieces.

He looked over at her, his hand firmly grasping the edge of the deck. "You should ask the guy who the blond is. If he's someone you're interested in then maybe it isn't a coincidence that you ran into him today. I believe things happen for a reason."

"It wasn't just today." Kari shrugged, looking up at her brother. The sun moved behind him as it slipped past the edge of the world, darkness moving in fast.

"You've seen him before?"

"Yeah," Kari muttered, her thoughts slipping to the night before, Jake in his gray hoodie, a smile on his perfect lips as he helped her pick out wine. He probably didn't even drink wine. "I saw him at the grocery store last night and then his picture at the newspaper today on the wall."

"Three times in two days?"

She nodded and smiled as her brother's eyes grew wide.

"That's not a coincidence. That's fate."

Chapter 13

His morning was off. His thoughts were scattered and he could've sworn he could still smell Kari's perfume in his office. He walked to the restroom, kids yelling and having far too much fun in his gym, but he couldn't focus. He pushed the door to the men's restroom open and walked in, stopping at the mirror and reaching down to splash cold water on his face.

"Get it together. What's wrong with you?" He looked up at himself, reaching for a paper towel to wipe across his face. "One good looking woman stops by your office and you act like you haven't been around them in years."

He hadn't. Bethany had done a number on him, and after her he'd sworn them off, hoping to one day get back in the game. He ran his hand down his chest, patting the firm muscle of his pec as he closed his eyes, trying to hold onto the reason for giving up on love. This girl didn't even seem interested and yet he knew quite well that seeing her twice in two days was more than coincidence.

He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes and grimacing at himself in the mirror. "Get your shit together. She's probably not even available, and even if she was... you’re jaded as hell and she's way outta your league."

He turned and walked out of the restroom, his mind calming a little, his heart still racing. It was the damn color of her hair, the soft look of acceptance in her gaze, the way that sweater dress clung to her. He ran his hands through his hair, the vein in his neck throbbing like crazy. A basketball was lobbed his way and he caught it and threw it back without paying much attention.

He needed to know who she was. Had he met her before? Something almost felt familiar - right - about her and yet he knew that was absurd. He walked toward his office, turning as the bell rang. "Clean up and head to class. Good job today, guys."

Brian, a seventh grader, ran up and pulled at his arm. "Coach. We having practice tomorrow morning? You didn't show this morning, so we just ran drills on our own."

"Oh man... I totally forgot."

Brian smirked. "It's okay, coach. You haven't ever forgotten. I think one time is excusable."

Jake pressed the boy’s shoulder, pushing a little as if antagonizing him playfully. "Oh yeah? Well, thanks for the free-pass. I'll be there tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder."

The boy smiled and jogged off as Jake slipped into his office, his off period coming at the moment he needed it most. Sitting down at his desk, he picked up his phone and dialed the number for the paper and hating himself for doing it.

Martha answered the phone, her voice three octaves too loud. "Martha Wittington."

"Hi, Ms. Wittington, it's Jake Isaac. How are you?"

She squealed as Jake shook his head. "Coach Isaac. How are you? Did the interview go okay yesterday? Kari is new to all of this, but I thought she would just be perfect for our staff. Please tell me what you thought."

He moved the phone from his ear as she spoke rapidly, waiting until the sound of silence followed her. He leaned in and closed his eyes. "I'm good, and she was wonderful. Very professional and did a great job for all of us here at the school. Is she there by chance?"

"No, not yet. Did you need her to give you a call?"

"No, that's okay. I just have the lens cover for her camera. I think she left it in one of the other teacher's rooms and I was talking to the secretary today when they discovered it. I'll bring it by to her later today. Be nice to see you anyway." He smiled at the thought of seeing Kari, the innocent desire to succeed and be good at her job sitting on her perfectly yesterday.

"That sounds great. She should be in any minute. Do you want me to let her know you're coming by?"

"No. I'd rather not just in case I don't make it over there. I'll try my best though. Oops... class time. Gotta run."

"Okay, Coach! Go get 'em!"

He laughed and hung up, his smile dropping as he leaned back in his chair and growled. "What are you doing? Just let her come get the lens from the front desk. You go over there and she's going to know that you're interested and you're not supposed to be interested!"

A knock on his door caused him to jump, his knees plowing into the underside of his desk.

"Come in," he groaned and reached to rub them as the door opened.

"You talking to yourself again, coach?" The high school basketball coach, an attractive woman in her forties walked into the room and pointed to an empty chair. "May I?"

He nodded. "Of course. You guys don't have class right now?"

"Off period." She took a seat, leaning back and crossing her legs in a very manly way as she started in on the reason for her visit. "I need some help with a tournament next weekend. It's all day Saturday and it's in the next town over. We're headed to a girl's tournament that same weekend in Philly for the championship game. Any way I can pay you to go on Saturday and help with the boys?"

Jake was used to these requests with the high school seriously understaffed. "This coming Saturday?"

"Yeah, are you on shift at the fire station?"

"On Friday, but I can head out Saturday morning and meet the boys there. Where are they going?"

"Up to Winterville, so not too far of a trip for you. You just need to be there by nine on Saturday morning." She shrugged, tilting her head as if studying him.

"Yeah I can do that. It's an all-day tournament?"

"Yeah, the boys are staying Friday and Saturday night, so you can stay with them Saturday night if you want. I'll get you a room. They are selling out fast, but we reserved an extra."

"For me, I'm sure." He smirked and leaned back as she laughed, confirming his suspicions. He hardly ever said no to anyone in need. The high school boys’ basketball team was on fire too. He'd been coaching them in a few years, but he knew that proving himself was part of the deal. This was another chance to do just that.

"So, you in?" The coach stood and walked toward the door, looking over her shoulder and waggling her eyebrows. "A win would look awesome under your direction and we're assured it."

He nodded. "Yeah, as long as there are parents going with me."

"All dads, just like you like. The crazy moms will be staying at home hopefully."

He laughed and turned back to his computer as if he had something to do. "Good. I don't need any momma drama in my weekend."

"Amen," she yelled behind her as the door closed.

Sicily was in the kitchen when Kari woke up, her alarm not set to go off for another few hours. The night before had been short, and after a hot bath and a peanut butter sandwich, she'd dozed off on the couch watching Seinfeld reruns. Sometime during the night she'd made her way back to her room, but when or how she couldn't recall.

"You look nice." Sicily turned, her hands coated in flour. "Gray is your color."

"Thanks." Kari smoothed down the gray cashmere sweater that laid perfect over her black slacks. She hated wearing heels and yet the outfit she'd chosen only looked good with those shoes. She slipped them off and padded across the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, a loud yawn leaving her lips.

"You passed out fast last night."

"Yeah, I guess it was from getting a new job and meeting the man of my dreams - again." She laughed, fixed her coffee and sat down as Sicily turned around with a mixing bowl in her hands.

"About that... I somehow missed the update on Mr. Hot-stuff as I was helping Mr. Fix-it with the swing." She stopped by the kitchen table, her arm working fast to beat the cake batter looking stuff in her large bowl.

"What are you making?"

"Trying out a new type of muffin. We're going to work on painting the new shop later this week, maybe Sunday. You think you can help?"

Kari nodded. "Yeah, unless Martha calls me out to do something over the weekend I should be good. You know the colors you're wanting?"

"That conversation can wait. Tell me about the boy!"

Kari took a tentative sip of her coffee and jerked back. "Hot."

"He's hot?"

"No, the damn coffee's hot."

"So he's not hot?" Sicily's lovely smile faded.

Kari shook her head. "He's insanely hot and the coffee is too."

"Oh good. I was getting worried."

"No, he's honestly one of the best... wait - you were in the grocery store with me the other night. The wine guy - you said he was the best looking guys you'd seen."

Sicily walked to the counter, grabbing a handful of chocolate chips from a bowl and putting it into her batter as she turned. "He's hot like that guy? Does he have a brother?"

Kari sighed. "He
is
that guy."

Sicily stopped stirring. "Wait. You're telling me that your prince charming is the fine-ass guy from the grocery store the other night?"

"With the gray hoodie."

"No matter the hoodie. With the dark spiky hair to run your hands through."

"Yes and those demanding brown eyes."

"Mmmm and that brooding, 'I could bend you over the balcony and you'd love it' gaze."

"Yes and those beautiful muscles."

"And his tanned skin. Oh he must be Mexican or Italian."

Kari held up her hands and laughed. "Wait, he's not my prince charming. He's just the coach at the junior high. I had to interview him."

"He's a coach? Oh I knew it. He looks like a guy who scores all the time." Sicily laughed at her own joke as Kari chuckled and turned her attention back to her coffee.

"You saw him twice in two days?"

Kari nodded. "I know... seems creepy, right?"

"Creepy wasn't the word I was looking for. I was thinking more like it was meant to be."

Kari turned as her friend threw a handful of nuts into the bowl and started to stir again. "I don't believe in fate, to be honest. When are the muffins going to be done?"

"It will be a while. The batter has to sit in the laundry room for a little while. Secret family trick to make them rise really high." Sicily set the bowl down and walked over to the table, sitting down beside Kari. "How can you not believe in fate? Fate led us to the center of the club the other night and helped us see Frank for who he really was. Fate led you here with us. You would not have come otherwise. Fate had you meet the man of your dreams at the grocery store the other night and again at the school yesterday. I think you and fate need to talk."

Kari scoffed. "You believe in fate. I'm alone and heartbroken, so fate can suck it."

"Well, I think you'd better open your eyes. Seems like things are about to change."

"I hope so. Jake is certainly the man of my dreams - at least the naughty ones."

*

"Martha? I'm here." Kari walked down the long hall of the newspaper building, her camera heavy on her shoulder. Martha mumbled something about donuts in the kitchen and Kari deposited her stuff on her desk and walked down the hall. Her lack of breakfast was catching up fast and Sicily's muffins wouldn't be ready until lunch.

She walked into the kitchen, and a guy a few years older turned and walked toward her. His shirt was a little too wrinkly and his glasses were crooked, but other than that, he was cute, like an older version of her brother.

"Hi, I'm Cliff. You must be Kari?"

She extended her hand, glad to notice the wedding ring on his other hand as she greeted him. "Yes, nice to meet you. You feeling better?"

He laughed and moved toward the table, picking up his donut and motioning for her to get one. "Much better. I get migraines every so often and it's just better for me and the world if I just shut myself in the bedroom."

She smiled and moved to get a sugary treat, the first bite good enough to make her want to groan. Sicily was going to have some competition if this was the bakery in town. She leaned over and pulled the top of the box down, the small engraved name read, 'Judy's.'

"Hey, thanks for covering for me yesterday. Everyone at the school good to you?" He spoke softly as Kari turned back to him.

"Oh yeah, no problem at all. I'm the worst interviewer in the universe, but the teachers were great." She lifted her donut in the air. "This has to be the most delicious thing I've eaten in weeks. Who is Judy and where is her shop?"

He laughed and popped the last bit of his donut in his mouth, mumbling around it. "Oh yeah, her pastries are a town jewel. She's on the square in town and she's not all the type of lady you'd expect to own a pastry shop. We all joke about the fact that she has elves running around behind the closed doors making her treats. She's far too wealthy to roll dough."

Kari smiled, trying to understand his comments. "So she's rich?"

"Oh yeah, like filthy rich, and I think she's sleeping with the mayor, but don't tell them I told you." He shrugged and reached for another donut, smiling up at Kari. "Alright... I'm off to work up the boys’ basketball story at the high school this year. Eighth year in a row that they'll be headed to the district playoffs this weekend. They are on fire!"