22

Summer

I stretch my body, feeling sweetly sore. I can still feel Kale all over me. I blink open my eyes, trying to adjust to the sunlight pouring in through the window. My heart lodges in my throat when I see the other side of the bed empty.

I sit up, holding the sheet to my body and looking around the room. There is no trace of him except for the ripped uniform on the floor. A reminder of how desperately he had wanted me.

I slip from the bed, heading toward the bathroom and flipping on the light. I drop the sheet, looking at myself in the mirror.

Kale was so sweet last night. Worried that he’d hurt me. I knew the moment that he slipped from the bed to get a warm washcloth to wipe between my legs that underneath all that jerk attitude there is a sweet man.

He’s a jerk to keep people at arm’s length. I had hoped we were past that last night, but him not being here this morning has me thinking we’re not. I brush my teeth and do my morning routine before I go to check on Colby.

When I see the time on the clock, I’m shocked. I’ve overslept which means Colby had to fend for himself. I hate not being there for him in the morning.

I hurry out of my room toward Colby’s but stop dead when I see Kale and Colby. Kale is holding a try with food on it. Colby is at his side smiling.

“I helped make it.”

“It’s supposed to be breakfast in bed,” Kale says, making me smile. My heart flutters. I turn around and race back to bed. I hurry to get situated before they enter a few moments later.

“Are you feeling okay?” Colby asks. “You never sleep this late.” Kale hides a smirk as I feel my face heat.

“I’m fine. I just didn’t get much sleep last night.” I run my fingers through his hair.

“Gonna check on Beast. You haven’t met him yet,” Colby says to Kale before running from the room. I can tell he’s really excited to show Kale. Seeing him this happy makes my heart happy. Kale sets the tray on the bed.

“Hi,” I say, suddenly feeling shy. He leans down, brushing his mouth against mine. “You came back.”

“Yeah.” I wrap my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. He growls against my mouth before he’s pulling back.

“You need rest and…” He glances to the door that is halfway open. “Colby.”

“I feel fine.” I am only a little sore. He looks over at the door again and I know he wants to do more. Yet I respect him for looking out for Colby.

“Eat your breakfast.” He moves the tray closer to me before sitting down on the bed.

“This is really sweet of you.” I pick up a piece of bacon, taking a bite.

“I’m sorry I didn’t eat your food.” His apology warms my heart.

“Is this your way of apologizing?” I take another bite. He shrugs. I think this is the first time I’ve seen Kale relaxed. I’d like to think it’s because he’s comfortable around me now. That I’m the only one that he shows his true self to.

“I guess so. I wanted to do something for you.” He reaches out, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear before his finger traces my jaw. “I’m probably going to fuck this up.”

“It looks good to me.” I take a bite of the omelet next.

“Not the food.” He stands, running his hands through his hair. He starts to pace back and forth.

“I can’t have you cleaning my home and still be sleeping with you. It doesn't feel right.” Is he firing me?

“I need this job.” Even as I say the words I think he might be right. That it would be awkward. I don’t know what Kale is to me now. My boyfriend? Will I have to beg him to not fire me?

Is he going to hire someone new and we’ll have to move out so they can have this space? So many questions run through my mind. A nervous feeling begins in my stomach at the thought of not having anywhere to go.

He starts to say something, but Colby comes running back into the room with Beast in his hands. “Oh.” Colby’s eyes go wide. “I forgot we weren't supposed to show him.” Colby holds the kitten tight to his chest.

“Why can’t I see it?” Kale walks over to Colby. He gives the kitten a pet under its chin.

“You might make us get rid of it.”

I watch the two of them.

“You can keep your kitten.” Kale looks over at me. I nod in agreement.

“Cool! Now we don’t have to hide her anymore.” Colby puts Beast down on the ground.

“You’ve been hiding her?” Kale smiles. God, he looks good when he smiles.

“Maybe?” I shove more food in my mouth. He doesn’t seem too shocked by the kitten, so I’m guessing he already knew we had one.

“Is Kale going to jail?” I cough, almost choking on my eggs. The smile drops from Kale’s face. “The chief is here.”

“Why is the chief here?”

“Doesn’t have a warrant so it doesn’t matter.”

“He thinks you’ve been kidnapped,” Colby answers. “Is Colten your boyfriend?” He scrunches his face.

“She's not dating Colten,” Kale growls. Annoyance shows on his face.

“Good, 'cause I think you two should be together.” His eyes bounce between Kale and me.

“Colby.” My face warms more. “What? He spent the night with you.” My mouth falls open. This is one of those times I wish the earth would open up and swallow me whole. How the heck am I going to explain this?

“He saw me this morning.” Okay. I guess that settles how I was going to tell Colby about Kale and me. I wasn’t going to tell him so soon since I’m not sure where Kale and I are even going. Or what exactly this is between us. We didn’t really do a lot of talking last night. So I’m unclear of what he wants.

“I don’t understand why anyone would think I was kidnapped.” I throw my legs over the side of the bed.

“I told him to leave. It doesn’t matter what they think.”

“But I can easily just go down and tell him I’m fine.”

“No.”

“No?” I stand there staring at him. I can tell from the look on his face he’s serious. Why would he be so adamant about me not going to talk to the chief? Maybe I have been kidnapped.

23

Kale

“If you don’t let him in, he’s going to get a warrant,” Tina warns.

I shift the phone over with my file so I don’t get metal shavings all over it. “I’m not keeping her by force. She can leave if she wants.”

“You know that and I know that, but Chief has Colten chirping in his ear about how you were aggressive in the restaurant. He’s getting everyone in town riled up. They’ve been making up stories about you since you bought the castle and refused to let anyone inside. Then you show up at Len’s Café hassling poor Colten over having dinner with your housekeeper. You dragged her out by her hair, and no one has seen her since.”

I stop filing the metal piece that will serve as the sculpture’s torso and scowl at the phone screen. “I said she can leave whenever she wants.”