WalkingSin (2 page)

Chapter Two

“When?” Emma asked. She held up her glass
so Dax could pour more wine into it.

“When what?” Alaina asked.

“When are y’all getting married? You have
to set a date. Not too soon. I want the reception to be in the restaurant.”

“That won’t be finished for months.”

“It’ll be worth the wait. You won’t believe
how gorgeous I’ll make everything.”

Dax didn’t doubt that. Emma had offered
some great suggestions for the old Victorian that Alaina had purchased to
remodel into a bed-and-breakfast. Stevens House had been ready to collapse
until Alaina hired Coleman Construction to refurbish it. In one more month,
Alaina would have her grand opening. Then everyone in the area would see how
the old, dilapidated house had been turned into a mansion.

The restaurant Alaina decided to build
would be as beautiful as the B-and-B. She had moments of panic that she’d
committed to a restaurant next door to Stevens House, but he had no doubt she’d
be magnificent at running both. Especially since Emma would be the chef.

Alaina looked at Rye. “What do you think?
Should we wait until spring? The restaurant is scheduled to be finished by
March first.”

“That’s if we don’t get any really bad
weather to slow us down.”

“Then maybe we should have the wedding in
the early summer.”

He shrugged. “It’s up to you. Tell me when
and where and I’ll be there.”

She frowned. “It doesn’t work that way. I
need a little more input from you.”

“It’s the bride’s day.” He leaned closer
and spoke into her ear. “I’ll be happy with the wedding night.”

Dax chuckled as a lovely blush filled
Alaina’s cheeks. She’d lived with Rye since April, yet still blushed when he
teased her about sex.

Emma rolled her eyes. “Men. They always
think with their cocks.”

“I don’t hear any complaints about that
when we’re in bed,” Griff said before nipping her neck.

Still chuckling, Dax glanced at Kelcey to
see if she enjoyed the playful banter as much as he did. She held her glass
with both hands, staring down into the last drops of wine. She seemed lost,
alone, instead of part of the group. He wondered what was going through her
mind right now.

Dax set his empty glass on the pool table
behind him. “I have an idea.”

“Uh oh,” Emma said. “That means trouble.”

“Actually, I’m going to be nice to my
brother and his new fiancée and give them some alone time tonight. Kelcey, you
should come home with me.”

That comment brought her head up in a
hurry. Her eyes widened. He thought he saw apprehension flash through them
before they narrowed. That nose went back up in the air and she released a
snort of laughter. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious. I have two extra bedrooms.
One of them has its own bath. You’ll have it all to yourself. Rye and Alaina
should have some private time to celebrate their engagement.”

“You’re very sweet to offer, Dax,” Alaina
said, “but it isn’t necessary for Kelcey to leave. She just moved in here
yesterday.”

“I know that. I also know that y’all can be
alone in your bedroom no matter who is in the house. But if you and Rye are
completely
alone, y’all can run around the house naked and you can scream as loud as you
want to.”

Alaina hit Rye’s arm. “You told him I
scream
?”

“Ow.” Rye rubbed the spot she’d hit. “I
didn’t have to tell him. He can probably hear you at his house.”

She blushed again as everyone
laughed—everyone but Kelcey. Her cheeks as red as Alaina’s, she lowered her
head and stared into her wineglass.

“It’s only for one night. I’ll bring Kelcey
back tomorrow in plenty of time to watch the Cowboys’ game.”

Rye and Griff looked at each other. Dax
knew what that look meant—they figured he’d make a move on Kelcey when he got
her alone in his house. While the idea tempted him, he hadn’t made the
suggestion to get Kelcey alone. He honestly wanted to do something nice for Rye
and Alaina.

He faced Kelcey. “The bedroom has a lock on
the door. I won’t bother you.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

“Is there something you
are
worried
about?”

Her gaze touched everyone in the room
before she looked at him again. “Of course not.”

“Okay, so it’s settled.” He glanced at the
clock on the wall. “It’s almost eleven. If you’ll get whatever you want to take
with you, we’ll head out.”

“I’ll help you, Kelc,” Emma said, standing.

“Me too.” Alaina also rose from her chair.

The three women left the room, Kelcey
leading the way. Dax enjoyed the view of them walking out, then turned his head
toward his brothers. Neither of them were smiling.

“What are you doing, Dax?” Griff asked.

“I’m doing something nice for Rye. Why is
that a bad thing?”

“It isn’t a bad thing, if that’s really
what you’re doing and not trying to get in Kelcey’s panties.”

Dax grinned. “That wouldn’t be a bad thing
either.”

His teasing didn’t earn him the slightest
chuckle from his brothers. “Hey, I’m joking. I’m not making a move on Kelcey.”

“I hope not.” Griff set his empty glass on
the table beside his chair. “Kelcey isn’t outgoing like Emma and Alaina. Emma
told me Kelcey never dates, that she’d rather stay home and read than go out
with a guy.”

Rye leaned back in his chair. “Sounds like
someone hurt her.”

“I have no intention of hurting Kelcey.
I’ll admit I’m attracted to her. Those blue eyes could drive a man to his
knees. If I can charm her into my bed, I won’t complain.”

“She isn’t like the women you usually date,
Dax,” Griff said. “She won’t fall into your arms the first time you snap your
fingers.”

“Then I’ll have to work harder. I think
she’ll be worth it.”

* * * * *

Kelcey laid her toothbrush and toothpaste
in the tote on top of her pajamas. “Guess that’s it.”

“Are you sure you want to go with Dax?”
Alaina sat on the bed next to Emma. “You don’t have to leave. You won’t disturb
Rye and me if you stay.”

“I agree with Dax.” Kelcey zipped her tote
shut. “You and Rye should have the house to yourselves tonight so you can
celebrate your engagement.”

“You can spend the night with Griff and me,
if that would make you feel more comfortable.”

Kelcey caught herself before her mouth
dropped open. Emma’s offer shocked her. Kelcey figured Emma would be the first
one to tell her she should take advantage of being alone with Dax. Before she
became involved with Griff, Emma had loved to party and went through a couple
of different lovers a week. “
You’re
telling me to give up the chance to
jump Dax’s bones?”

Emma shrugged. “You aren’t the type to jump
his bones. Me? In a heartbeat, if I wasn’t so crazy about Griff.”

“You’re always nagging at me to date. Now I
have a handsome hunk inviting me to spend the night at his house and you aren’t
telling me to go for it. What’s wrong with this picture?”

“Maybe I decided it wasn’t right of me to
push you. When you’re ready, you’ll find a guy with the perfect bones to jump.”

I wish
.
Kelcey picked up her tote. “Dax said we’d be back before the Cowboys’ game.
When is that?”

“Noon,” Alaina said. “Since the guys’
parents are out of town, we won’t go to their house tomorrow for dinner. Emma’s
making pizza.”

Emma stood up as Alaina did. “Perfect
football food. We can talk about the wedding during commercials.”

“The wedding.” Alaina giggled like a girl
half her age. “I’m getting married.”

“You bet you are.” Emma gave her a quick
hug. “You’re going to have the most beautiful wedding this town has ever seen.”

A dull ache settled in the pit of Kelcey’s
stomach. She’d never have the man who loved her, the engagement ring, the
beautiful wedding. She’d never know how it felt to walk down the aisle toward
the man who would be her partner for the rest of her life.

It hurt. Sometimes it hurt so much, she
could barely draw a breath.

Kelcey tugged the tote straps over her
shoulder. Thinking about what she didn’t have, instead of concentrating on all
the good things she
did
have, would only make the pain worse. She walked
out of the bedroom and met Dax in the hallway. He slipped the tote from her
shoulder.

“I’ll carry that. Ready to go?”

“As soon as I get my jacket.”

She said her goodbyes to everyone and
followed Dax outside. The air was crisp and cool with a strong feel of autumn
in the air. Though the calendar said it would be Halloween tomorrow, it had
been unseasonably warm until a couple days ago. The high today was only
seventy-three instead of in the high eighties. Now it truly felt like autumn.
She sniffed deeply of the clean air.

“Yeah, the weather is finally nice.” Dax
opened the passenger door of his pickup for her. “I’m glad the heat is gone.”

“So am I.”

She slid onto the seat and watched him
close the door, then circle around the hood. The truck smelled like Dax’s
profession with the touch of paint and paint thinner. For a reason she didn’t
understand, the scent tickled every feminine part of her each time she inhaled.

He was an incredibly attractive man, she
couldn’t deny that. Strong hands gripped the steering wheel. A light dusting of
dark hair covered his fingers, the back of his hand and his forearm. Her gaze
slowly traveled up his arm. The dark green T-shirt stretched across his broad
shoulders and chest. She continued down his flat stomach to the impressive
bulge behind his fly. Part of her had no desire to know what existed behind the
denim. Another part of her longed to explore that fascinating male flesh.

Moments later, Dax drove the pickup into
his garage and parked next to a vehicle covered by a gray tarp. Kelcey climbed
out and grabbed her tote from the floorboard. He took it from her and closed
the door.

“I can carry my tote. It isn’t heavy.”

“Let me be a gentleman, okay?”

She followed him to the door that led into
the house. Just like Rye’s house, they stepped into the mudroom. From there,
she expected the similarities to end. She imagined Dax’s house to be a bachelor
pad done up in gaudy colors, maybe a combination of red and gold and black. She
expected to see big screen TVs in every room and paintings of naked women on
the walls.

Instead, she found a cheery kitchen painted
in a soft butter yellow with white cabinets. Earth tones made the living room
warm and inviting. Photographs of his family and the area around Lanville
adorned the walls.

“Not what you expected?” he asked from
behind her.

“No.” Realizing that sounded rude, she
quickly turned to face him. “I mean, you’re single so I thought your house would
be more…” She stopped, unsure which descriptive word to use.

“Decadent? Nasty?”

“Well…yeah.”

Dax shrugged. “I like comfort. I wanted my
house to feel like a home, not simply a place to shower and sleep.”

“It’s lovely, Dax.”

“Mom helped pick out the furniture, just
like she did for Rye. Jana picked out most of the furnishings for Griff’s
house.” He chuckled. “Emma’s taste is completely different than Jana’s. She’s
already talked to me about paint colors. She’s getting rid of every bit of
pastel.”

“Emma likes things bold.”

“So does Griff, but he always let Jana do
whatever she wanted.”

Some people might consider Griff weak to
cater to his wife the way he had. Kelcey thought him loving and romantic.

“This way to your room.”

She followed him once again into the hall.
Two steps through the doorway, she stopped. Framed photographs lined the walls
on both sides of the hallway. More pictures of family, more of scenery. A large
sepia photo in a gilded frame of a young, smiling couple caught her attention.
Their clothing appeared to be from the early nineteen hundreds. The woman held
a small baby in her arms.