Chapter Five
Have fun. Enjoy each other. No pressure, no expectations. No, they were not on the same page, Kane thought, but he had a plan and he was sticking to it. He’d given Halley what he knew she needed to hear if he was going to keep seeing her. Talking to her. Kissing her. And fucking her. Eventually.
For now, he’d settle for what she was willing to give while he sweet-talked her into more. He worked into the afternoon, and the few times he paused, wiping the sweat from his brow and looking through the glass, he saw her painting. She was a study in concentration, more so because he was using power tools, which had to be distracting for her. Her brush moved across the canvas with deliberate precision, her eyes focused, never drifting to his.
When he stepped in for a better look, he noticed her little tongue peeking out from between her lips. Which brought him back to their kiss, one he wouldn’t be forgetting any time soon.
Her lips were soft and sensual, the gliding touch of her tongue electrifying. It had taken all his self-control not to lay her down in the sand, strip her out of that sexy dress, and take her right there in front of God, the water, and the fucking neighbor who’d ended up interrupting their time together.
He was ready to wrap up for the day, so he knocked on the glass sliding door to let her know.
She slid it open and stepped out. “What’s up?”
He immediately took in her paint-stained hands, a smudge of light blue on her cheek, and bit back a grin. “I’m finished for the day. I need to do some things for my family tomorrow, so I won’t be working on the deck.”
“You don’t need to account to me. It’s not like you’re on the clock. I’m just grateful you’re finishing this for me at all,” she murmured.
“Okay then. I wanted to say good-bye,” he said.
She grinned. “Good-bye, Kane.”
He smiled wide. “So long, beautiful.”
He liked the flush that always stained her cheeks when he used that word. He started to turn, then paused. “Have you heard from your mother?” From her carefree demeanor, he doubted it, but he needed to ask.
She bit down on her lower lip. “No… but I have had one hang-up. Maybe she’s nervous to talk to me?” she asked almost hopefully.
He was really worried about the situation, though he’d never let on to Halley. He figured her aunt had good reason and knowledge to be concerned about her mother’s motives. On the other hand, he understood Halley’s need to know the woman, and if she was disappointed in the end, at least she’d take heart knowing she’d tried to give the woman a chance.
Kane just didn’t want her heart broken, and he’d be there to pick up the pieces if the worst occurred. “I guess you’ll see what happens.”
She nodded, her hand on the edge of the slider, as if waiting to close the door behind him.
“One more thing,” he said.
“What’s that?” She tipped her head to the side curiously.
In for a penny, he thought. “I was hoping you’d do me a favor,” he said, pushing his luck and he knew it.
“Name it.” She obviously felt she owed him for the deck work, something he was shamelessly trading on… and she’d realize it as soon as he told her what he desired.
“Tomorrow night is a family dinner. On Sundays we get together at Dad and Andi’s house. She and Nicky live with him,” he added by way of explanation. “Anyway, it’s casual. But I was hoping you’d come with me.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Kane…”
He reached out and grasped her paint-speckled hand. “It’s not a big deal. I just want you to be my buffer so I don’t get into it with Dad and end up upsetting everyone in the process. Please,” he said before she could argue.
“But you said yourself it’s a family dinner and I’m sure I don’t belong there.”
He shook his head, anticipating this argument. “Wrong. Dad often has a friend come, sometimes Nicky brings someone from school or camp. Dinner is just an excuse to get us all together. It doesn’t matter if someone else joins in.” He raised an eyebrow. “So what do you say?”
“I—”
“Pretty please?”
“You’re not going to stop until I say yes, are you?”
He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Nope.”
Her wavering smile turned true and she laughed. “Fine. I’ll go.” She sounded nervous and he’d make sure she both showed up and was at ease.
“Thank you. I’ll pick you up around five forty-five tomorrow. Dress casual. And don’t worry. We’re typically normal,” he promised. “You’ll be fine.”
She looked at him uncertainly, like she wasn’t sure she believed him. She would, soon. Because he had an ulterior motive in inviting her, one that involved showing her that she wasn’t the only one with a dysfunctional family. Considering there wasn’t a family dinner that passed without a mention of his father’s bad habits, Kane wanted Halley to see that family was messy.
One of the reasons she withdrew into herself was because she hadn’t grown up with family around her. She got upset when her sister was angry, pulled away from her aunt, who tried to win her over with extravagant gifts. And she hid inside her house to avoid it all.
It was all obvious to him.
But if he could show her how normal it was to be around family who loved you despite your faults, he could open her up to new experiences, both with her family and hopefully with him.
It wasn’t a purely selfish desire, either.
Of course, he wanted her to be with him willingly, in a relationship she didn’t mind acknowledging publicly. But he also wanted to give her family back to her. In a way that didn’t make her want to curl up and be alone because she felt odd, in her words, or different.
He raised a hand, knowing it was time to leave before she changed her mind. “Bye, Halley.”
She smiled back at him. “Bye, Kane.”
* * *
On Sunday afternoon, closer to evening, Halley stood in front of a full-length mirror behind her bedroom door, taking in the pile of clothing on the bed behind her. She’d already tried on a few dresses and a pair of jeans. Now she stood in her bra and panties, completely undecided.
What did casual mean? A dress like she wore every day to paint? Or a pair of jeans that she didn’t really like wearing in the summer because she hated the feeling of denim sticking to her skin in the heat and humidity but really did meet the definition of casual?
She was about to pull yet another dress from her closet when her cell rang. Her sister’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hi, Phoebe.”
“What are you doing?” her sister asked. Sometimes Halley thought Phoebe had radar, catching her at the most inopportune times. Like when Kane had been working on her deck.
She bit down on the inside of her cheek. “I’m trying to decide what to wear.”
“Since when? Throw on a dress and call it a day. That’s what your closet is filled with anyway. Oh. Wait. Why are you getting dressed when the day’s about to end? Where are you going so close to dinner time?” her snoopy sibling asked.
She really didn’t want to tell her but she could use the advice. “Kane asked me to go to dinner at his father’s house,” she admitted.
“I knew it! He’s into you.”
“We’re friends,” she insisted. If friends kissed. Hot, steamy, sensual kisses on the beach like in the movies. “He wants me as a buffer because he has some family issues.” Ones she wouldn’t tell her sister about because she would keep Kane’s secrets to herself.
“Sure you are. Okay, what are you choosing between?”
“One of my dresses or a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. He said be casual.”
Phoebe paused, obviously thinking.
“Be yourself. You’re a floaty-dress kind of girl. Don’t change for any man,” her sister advised her.
“I wasn’t trying to change. I just didn’t want to stand out.”
Phoebe cleared her throat. “If this were anyone else, I’d think they were silly, but because it’s you, I know this is serious. For one thing, you never go out on a date and this makes it a big deal. And for another, you rarely go out at all, which makes it a bigger deal. Either way, be yourself. Wear one of your pretty dresses. And relax. Nobody there will bite, I’m sure. Or maybe Kane will if you ask him nicely.”
“Phoebe!” Halley said, laughing. “Behave yourself.”
“What fun would that be? Want me to come over and help you pick something out?”
Halley sighed. “No. I don’t have that kind of time.”
“Then wear something with blue in it. It matches your eyes.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Any time. And you owe me a dinner. I was calling to see if Jamie and I could come by for your fantastic cooking.”
Halley smiled. If not for her sister’s pushy—in a good kind of way—personality, Halley wouldn’t see nearly enough of her sister or her nephew. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
She chose a pastel white-and-light-blue everyday dress, as Phoebe suggested, with a pair of strappy silver sandals. Something she’d wear if she was just going into town for an errand, but one she wouldn’t paint in because she liked it too much to risk ruining it.
She put on minimal makeup because that’s who she was. She didn’t overdo the foundation, eye shadow, or lipstick. She wasn’t into the whole made-up look, and Kane seemed to like her as she was. Although she told herself this wasn’t a date, she had no doubt it was something. Every tummy flutter and wave of nerves confirmed that.
A little while later, Kane picked her up in his Camaro, wearing a pair of dark denim jeans, cleaner than the ones he wore during the week to work, but which fit his lean frame the same way. With his hunter-green tee shirt, he looked rugged and sexy.
He whistled when he caught sight of her. “Looking beautiful, beautiful.”
She blushed. “I baked cookies for dessert. And as a thank you to your family for having me.”
“You didn’t need to but I’m glad you did. What kind?” he asked, eyes twinkling.
“Chocolate chip.”
“A girl after my own heart. You ready?” he asked.
She grabbed her purse and the cookies covered in tinfoil. He held the dish so she could lock up the house, and they headed to his car.
A little while later, they pulled up in front of a well-maintained house with manicured shrubbery on a residential street. With light gray clapboard and black shutters and a white front door, it looked warm and welcoming.
Nicky was shooting baskets into a hoop at the far end of the driveway when they pulled in.
Kane climbed out of the car and walked around to her side. “Hey, sport. How’s it going?” he called to his nephew.
“Good! Want to play?” Nicky asked, dribbling the ball and shooting it toward the basket, missing by an inch.
“I promise to shoot a few before I leave. Right now, let me introduce Halley to your mom, okay?”
“Okay.” The boy turned back to his practicing.
“He’s adorable.”
“And a good kid,” Kane said. “I’m glad my sister doesn’t have a pain in the ass like me to deal with.”
Halley frowned. “From all you’ve told me, I think you were just as good as Nicky.”
“Maybe until puberty hit,” he muttered.
She grinned and they headed up the walk. He let them into the house, where a set of stairs was immediately in front of them. They walked up and she found them facing the kitchen. To the right was a living room and around to the left of that was a dining room.
“Kane!” A pretty woman with dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail walked out of the kitchen to meet them. “And you must be Halley. Welcome.”
“Nice to meet you,” Halley said. “And thank you for having me.”
“Any time. Ooh, what is that? It smells delicious!” Andi said.
Halley handed her the plate of cookies. “Chocolate chip.”
Andi accepted the plate. “Thank you! Come on inside. Dinner’s almost ready. Dad’s grilling steak. I hope you eat red meat?” She turned to Halley. “I can throw chicken on the grill if you prefer.”
“Steak is fine. Don’t worry. Can I do anything to help?”
“Nope. Why don’t you call Nicky in, Kane,” Andi said. “And then we’ll sit down.”
Not long after, they were all seated at the table. Halley was, as Kane promised, comfortable with his family. His father was charming, despite his flaws, and he talked to Halley about her painting when Kane mentioned it. Andi, who was obviously a doting mom and doing a great job as a single parent, was also sweet and warm.
She found herself relaxing when, midway through the meal, Nicky said, “Uncle Kane, want to play cards with me?”
“What game?” Kane asked.
“Poker.”
Andi coughed and dropped her fork onto the table. “You don’t know how to play poker.”
“Grandpa taught me! We can play with Cheerios until I have real money,” he said. “Then, when I’m older, Grandpa’s gonna teach me how to really gamble.”
Kane’s gaze zeroed in on his father, and Halley stiffened for the fallout.
“Nicky, please go outside and play until dessert,” Andi said to the boy, who’d already finished eating and had been fidgeting in his seat anyway. Her hands were curling into fists on the table.
As if sensing his mom’s upset, he scrambled out of his seat and ran to go outside.
Andi waited until Nicky was out of earshot before turning to her father. “You taught my son how to play poker and to gamble?” she asked angrily.
“It’s just a card game, darlin’.”
“Don’t darlin’ me. The games are harmless but gambling sure as hell isn’t. You’re an addict, Dad. And addiction runs in the family. I don’t need you exposing my son to gambling with Cheerios or money. It’s careless and stupid.”
“The boy needs to know these things. It’s a life skill,” he argued.
Andi thumped her hand on the table and rose to her feet.
Kane caught her hand in his and urged her to sit back down with softly murmured words.
Then he turned to his father. “Dad, Andi is raising her son her way. You know how we both feel about gambling. That means you need to respect her wishes. Don’t teach Nicky bad habits and don’t go behind her back. Because if you’d given it any thought, you’d know she wouldn’t like it.” He kept his tone measured, but Halley sensed the leashed anger inside him.
Halley felt like an observer to a movie except this was real life, and she felt guilty for being here when something so serious was happening.
“Maybe I should—”
Kane stopped her next words with a well-placed hand on her thigh. “It’s fine,” he said to her. “Stay put.”
She swallowed hard.
“Fine,” his father finally said, in a child-like sulking voice. “I won’t play with my grandkid,” he said, deliberately misunderstanding her point.
Andi groaned and put her head in her hands. Then she rose and began clearing the table.
In the silence that remained, Joe Harmon also stood. “Excuse me. I have things to do,” he muttered and walked out.
“I think that’s the end of the meal,” Kane said, turning toward Halley and shooting her a sad glance.
“Let me help your sister.” She pushed her chair back and began collecting plates. Kane helped, and while Andi cleaned, she and Kane cleared the table.
Andi insisted she could handle the rest on her own and all but begged them to go do whatever they wanted. “Let’s go outside,” he suggested.
She followed him out the front door. Then, while he and his nephew played a friendly game of H-O-R-S-E, she watched the two males dribble and shoot and have fun. It was nice seeing Kane interact with the young boy, teaching him pointers on the game and things that would help him when his league started again in the winter. Not to mention, he didn’t suggest they leave until he’d fulfilled his promise to the boy to play hoops with him, something she admired.
Once he’d exhausted the child, he sent him inside. They stopped in to say good-bye to Andi. His father was hidden away somewhere and they left him alone.
Back in the car, he turned on the ignition, set the air conditioning, and met her gaze. “I gotta say, my plan to take you to a normal family dinner backfired. This was way worse than usual.”
She smiled and placed a hand on his forearm, feeling the strength in his muscles there. “It’s fine. I enjoyed your family. I’m just sorry if I made things more uncomfortable by being there.”
“You didn’t. Dad did that all on his own. What was he thinking teaching a seven-year-old the basics of gambling when he knows it’s an issue for himself?”
She shrugged. “He doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge that at all.”
“True.” He placed a hand on the wheel. “Sorry we missed out on your cookies.” He pouted at the realization.
“It’s fine. I hope Nicky enjoys them. And I can always make it up to you with a fresh batch.”
He grinned. “That makes me a happy man. Now… what do you say to some Italian ices? Ever been to Hank’s?”
She shook her head. “I’ve passed it but there’s always been a ridiculous crowd of people out front.”
“Well, it’s worth the wait. Feel like going on the way home?”
She nodded. “If you can keep me occupied while we wait, then I don’t mind.”
He laughed. “I think I like that challenge.”
When they arrived at Hank’s, an outdoor ice cream and Italian ices stand, they discovered a short line. Not enough for him to have to entertain her, and before they knew it, they were ordering.
Because they also had ice cream, Halley changed her mind when it came to ordering and asked for vanilla ice cream with hot fudge topping. Kane got a red Italian ice.
They took their desserts and walked over to a short brick wall and hopped up, sitting side by side, legs swinging as they ate.
He finished his first. “Good?” he asked, putting his cup down beside him.
She glanced over, laughing. “Your tongue is red.”
He stuck it out at her and grinned.
“Want some of mine?” She held out the spoon of vanilla and chocolate mixed.
“No, doesn’t exactly mix with my cherry.” He paused, as if thinking of something. “Unless…”
“Hmm?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Unless I’m kissing you.” And before she could react, he leaned over and swept his tongue over her lips and into her mouth, devouring her quickly but thoroughly.
She moaned into him, leaning in close, savoring the warm cherry flavor he brought to her dessert.
Before she was ready, he lifted his head and met her gaze, his eyes dark and hungry. “Now that is how to eat an ice cream.”
Her perky nipples and needy sex agreed.
* * *
Kane parked in front of Halley’s house and braced his hand on the steering wheel, unwilling to leave her just yet. That kiss had lit a fire in him that needed quenching, and a good-bye peck wasn’t going to do it. Until tonight, he wouldn’t have said she seemed ready for that next step, but she appeared more relaxed around him now and she definitely wanted him as much as he desired her. One thing he knew, he wasn’t letting her go without at least an attempt at taking things further.
Before she could let herself out, he hit the button on the automatic locks, closing her in.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Before I get out of the car, there’s something you need to know.”
Curious eyes met his. “What is it?” she asked.
“If I walk you to your front door, I’m not leaving.” His words lay hot and heavy between them, leaving no doubt as to his intention and desires.
He waited for understanding to dawn, and when it did, her eyes darkened to a deeper hue. “Kane,” she said, more breathlessly than before.
“What’s it going to be, beautiful?”
She swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. His dick perked up at the sensual gesture.
“Get out of the car.” Her voice was deep and husky, a definite current of sexual desire flowing from her words.
Relief flowed through him that they were on the same page. He shut the engine, telling himself to calm the fuck down so he didn’t jump her the minute they got through the door. Just because she’d agreed didn’t mean she was ready for a fast, hard tumble. A woman like Halley deserved more.
He wanted to give her more.
He came around her side of the car and placed a hand on the small of her back, leading her up the path and to the house. She pulled her key from her purse and put it in the lock with shaky hands. He grasped the key and inserted it into the lock for her. He was steadier but not by much.
Once inside, away from passing cars and prying eyes, he grabbed her purse, tossed it onto the nearest chair, and pulled her into him.
She gasped at the needy way he banded her against him, holding her close with his arms, his head coming down, his mouth capturing hers. Their tongues tangled, dueled, their hands fumbling with clothing.
She grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. He pushed the elastic neckline of her dress down, revealing her breasts to him, as they overflowed the cups of her lacy bra. Reaching around her back, he unhooked the garment and let it fall to the floor, then leaned down and licked his way from the top of her breast down to the tip of one nipple, laving and nibbling before moving to the other one and giving it the same thorough treatment. She tipped her head back and moaned, her body shivering in delight.
He spent a good amount of time on the tight buds before she wrenched out of his grasp and shimmied the dress down and off, till it pooled at her feet. Then, her hot gaze on his, she hooked her thumbs into her barely there panties and got rid of them, too. Bared to him in every way, she was every dream he’d had come to life and more. Breasts not too large, just the right size for his hands, full with dusky nipples, red from his teasing. And her neatly trimmed pussy a treat for his eyes.
She reached out, fumbled with the button on his jeans with those trembling hands, causing him to take over. He unhooked, unzipped, and stripped them off, kicking them aside, unable to bear the clothing against his skin a minute longer, his boxer briefs going with them.
They were frantic for skin-on-skin contact, and as soon as he was naked, he backed her to the nearest wall and fused his lips to hers. He grasped her hips, gliding his hand upward until he cupped her firm breast. He massaged her nipple in his palm, then began to pull on the tip with his thumb and forefinger. She writhed against him, hooking her leg around his and grinding herself against his straining shaft.
Her pussy, hot and needy, rubbing into his cock was all he could take. “Bedroom,” he said, breathing into her hair.
He grasped her hand and she led him to her room, a feminine place of yellows and white ruffles and pillows. Unable to wait, he picked her up and laid her on the bed, coming down over her, his cock nestled in her soft, heated flesh, pulsing and demanding to be allowed inside.
She arched her hips up, as if she could pull him into her by virtue of sheer need and desire alone.
“Not so fast,” he said, pushing himself up and meeting her gaze. “I don’t want this to be over before we even begin.” And if he even felt a hint of her warm sex wrapped around his dick, that’s exactly what would happen.
“It’s torture, feeling you on my skin and not inside me, where I need you,” she said, surprising him with her open, honest words.
“Then let me see what I can do to take the edge off.” He slid between her legs, pushing her thighs apart with his hands. He took in her sweet pussy and lowered his head, swallowing a groan at the heady scent of her desire.
Parting her lips with his fingers, he dipped his head and began to feast on her damp sex. She moaned, her hands tangling his hair, pulling on the long strands as he teased and suckled her swollen flesh. He braced his hands on her thighs and brought her higher, licking and suckling her clit.
She yanked his hair harder and ground herself into him. He didn’t let up, sliding his tongue inside her, while using his fingers to tease and play with her clit, wanting her to come and come hard before he took her in the most basic way.
His tongue darted into her, his fingers played, and suddenly she stiffened, yelled, and called out his name as she came, riding out her orgasm until the very end. The sounds she made were sheer heaven, driving him insane.
Only when he was certain she was sated did he slide up her body, dragging his dick along her thigh and settling between her quivering legs so he could kiss her, letting her taste herself on his tongue.
His hips bucked of their own volition and he knew it was time. “Condom,” he muttered. “Hang on.” He eased off her, heading for his jeans. No, he hadn’t planned it but he did have one shoved inside his wallet. It was old but not too ancient and it’d do the trick.
He ripped the foil packet and slid it over his aching cock. He glanced over to find her watching him with slumberous eyes, still hazy with desire. She lay against the bed, arms draped over her head, totally sated but her gaze focused intently on his dick in a way that made it stand at attention even more.
He placed one knee on the bed and came over her, cock poised and ready for action. He held himself in one hand and glided his cock over her swollen clit.
She moaned and met his gaze. “You have me ready again,” she whispered.
“You’d better be, because this time you’re coming around my cock, beautiful.”
Her body flushed a sweet shade of pink.
Taking that as his signal, he lined himself up at her entrance and drove deep.
“Kane!” She wrapped her legs around his waist and arched her hips into his.
“Fuck, you’re so hot and tight.”
Her fingernails dug into his shoulders at his words. “Move,” she gritted out.
“My pleasure.”
He pulled out, thrust back, beginning a rhythm she matched, her body clasping around his. Her fingers threaded through his hair, latching on. He pumped into her, harder with each consecutive plunge home, their hips grinding into each other, his dick hitting her pubic bone.
“God,” she muttered, scoring her nails against his skin.
He took the pain, used it to drive him higher. He wasn’t deep enough, needed more of her.
More.
Everything.
He pulled out.
“What?” she asked, surprised.
“Hang on.” He flipped her over. “Knees,” he instructed.
She scrambled onto all fours and he plunged into her. She screamed as his cock submerged completely.
Utter fucking bliss.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and began to drive and grind, covering her with his body, owning her with the force of his need and desire. She groaned, arching her back, her hips meeting him thrust for thrust.
He cupped her breast in one hand, plucking and pulling at her nipple while taking her higher. Her guttural moans told him he was succeeding in bringing her to the same heights his body was reaching. It was raw, it was primal. It was unlike anything he’d experienced before and he doubted he ever would again.
Knowing he was close, he slid his hand lower, massaging her clit with his hand at the same time he braced himself for his own orgasm, his balls drawn up tight, as he forced himself to hold back until she came.
And she did, with a full-body spasm. “Kane, I’m coming. God, harder. I need it harder.”
He slammed into her and she exploded beneath him, her entire being stiffening, then shuddering in release. He let go then, his climax overtaking him, mind and soul. He spurted into her over and over, losing what was left of his senses and his body inside this spectacular woman.
And when it was finished, she collapsed beneath him, falling to the mattress as he tumbled on top of her. Reality was far away as he struggled to catch his breath, but he knew he couldn’t crush her much longer, so he pulled out and off her.
He felt the loss as he detached from her body and rolled to his side. He rose, got rid of the condom and returned to bed, pulling her into him as he struggled to return to his senses.
He wasn’t sure how much time passed before a light giggle sounded beside him. “Halley?”
“That was spectacular,” she murmured, pushing herself deeper into the cocoon of his body.
“Yes, it was.” He wrapped an arm tighter around her because she wasn’t pulling away and he took that as a huge win.
Then again, they’d agreed on great sex. They hadn’t said as much, but taking things as they came pretty much defined casual to him. Not that anything he’d felt tonight had been casual.
He’d had his share of women and he’d had good sex. He’d never had blow-his-mind, off-the-charts, nobody-else-would-do sex before Halley. And something told him he never would again, so he’d better fucking find a way to keep her in his bed… and in his life.