Chapter 11
Levi
It’s definitely not a racing fan. The girls I see at the tracks look nothing like this. Long black hair, olive complexion, pouty lips, curves in all the right places, eyes that draw a man in like a sirens call… I could look at this woman for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.
I didn’t really notice her looks last night. Everything was so hectic, and I was lost in all the thoughts running through my head.
This morning when she came into the kitchen, I felt her behind me. I know she was checking me out, but I wasn’t going to turn around, catch her, and embarrass her like that. I’m more of a gentleman than that. When I turned and saw her at the bar, it took everything in me to turn back to the eggs, so I wouldn’t burn them.
She captivated me. She captivates me. I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman in my life, and my sisters are beautiful women. I know now that I haven’t seen her. If I had seen her, I wouldn’t be able to forget it. She has a slight resemblance to her dad, Danny. That must be where her familiarity comes from.
As I told her, my plan was to see my family. I’m not going to change those plans. It just looks like she’s going to come along with me.
I’ve never had a girlfriend. I know. It’s weird, but I’ve never gotten close enough to a girl to label one as that. I don’t trust well. I only have my sisters, my friends’ moms, and my niece in my life. That’s all the women I’ve allowed. My own mother is the most horrible woman in the world. I only know there are good ones by the women that are in my life now.
So, taking Kathleen to see my family is going to be somewhat interesting. Even though she isn’t my girlfriend and I just met her… I know my family. I’m about to catch hell.
“It looks like my plans now include you. I am supposed to be at Zant’s house by ten, but we can be late.”
I watch her look at the gold watch on her wrist. We have a little over an hour until ten. She looks up at me, and I am once again drawn into her eyes.
“First, you didn’t answer me. I’m assuming the guy that paid you Friday night is Russel, am I correct.”
“Yes.” I don’t know why she wants to know, but I see no point in keeping that from her. She could find out on her own. I personally think we need to work together on this.
I can’t comprehend letting her go out there alone, knowing that someone is after her. Again, I’m much more gentleman like than that.
“Second, does this town have a mall or a clothing store so I can pick up some stuff to wear?”
“We have a mall here, yes. Would you feel comfortable going there and then changing at Micah’s?”
She looks at me with a confused look on her face. “Who’s Micah?”
I scrub my hands over my face. It looks like I’ve got to come clean with this girl on my family. I just pray to God it doesn’t bite me in the ass later.
“Here goes nothing. I’m going to tell you something that very few people know. I trust your dad, so I’m hoping I can trust you.” I give her a look and she just nods at me. Her face doesn’t give anything away, but I’ve got to go ahead with this. I can’t leave this girl out there for the monsters that are after her. I also can’t let her walk into Micah’s house blind. That may almost be as bad as the monsters. Just kidding. Kind of.
“You met Zant last night. His wife is Micah. She is one of my sisters. Let me back up. I don’t have biological siblings, so everyone I’m about to list are my family by choice. Zant and Micah have a set of twins. Their names are Axel and Nova. They are five.”
“I’m never going to remember these names.”
I chuckle. “I know and I’m about to throw out more to you.” She covers her face and groans. “Next, there is Chance and Kelly. They are married, and they have a four-year-old son named Bone. His name is Memphis Bone, but we all call him Bone.”
“Bone is something I may remember.”
“You will remember the kids. They will make sure of it.” We both laugh. It kind of feels good.
Man, I hope and pray that I’m not overstepping here. Zant did tell me last night that Micah was going to have a million questions and would want to be involved in whatever is going on. That terrifies me a little, but I understand where she is coming from.
“Nova is the only girl. I’m her favorite.” Kathleen smiles as I blow on my knuckles and rub them on my shoulder. “She may act strange. I’ve never brought a girl home before.”
Her mouth drops open before she closes it slowly. “Never?”
“Never.” I don’t feel like I need to explain any further at this point to her. I probably never will.
“Ok then.”
“We need to leave in a second to get to the mall. Do you need to do anything?”
She jumps up off the stool and runs down the hall. “I’ll be ready in just a few.”
I pull out my phone and dial Micah’s number. I better get this over with.
“What are you calling me for and why did you come home early? My husband won’t tell me anything. You know how I hate that.”
“Good morning to you too, Micah.”
I can physically hear her roll her eyes through the phone.
“Mi. We will be over there at ten. Have everything ready.”
She doesn’t speak for a few seconds, too long for her. “We?”
“Yes, we. I will explain when I get there.”
“Is it a she?”
I inhale deeply before saying, “yes.”
Micah screams. I pull the phone away from my ear and hang up.
“She screamed in your ear,” Kathleen says as I set my phone on the counter. She has the same clothes on that she had on yesterday aside from her shoes. They are in her hands.
“That she did. Are you ready? We can go to the mall now. Well, after I change.”
She looks around the kitchen and behind her, before putting her hand over her face.
“What?”
She lowers her hand before speaking. “I have no idea where my bag is. It has my money and identification in it.”
That’s easy to fix. “It’s in my car.”
“Really?” Relief swims in her eyes and I am hypnotized. Her eyes are amazingly beautiful. Next to her lips.
“Really. I grabbed it off the ground and threw it in the car with you last night.”
“You’re amazing,” she says as she turns to head toward the door. I smile as I run to my room and throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The smile disappears when I leave the bedroom.
She isn’t getting to me.