Caraleigh

 

Sitting in my kitchen being grilled by DJ about Braxton, I’m grateful for the ringing of the door-bell, although I have no clue who could be stopping by. “I’ll be right back, hold that thought,” I say before getting up and heading to the front door. Looking out the peephole, I’m surprised to see Braxton and Hatchet standing there. What in the world are they doing here...and together?

When I open the door, I’m once again struck speechless at the sheer essence of the man standing in front of me. “Hey, Braxton. Hi, Hatchet. What can I do for you guys?” I ask, stepping back to let them both inside.

“Is DJ here?” Hatchet asks.

“She’s in the kitchen,” I reply, then watch in astonishment as he walks through the living room and back to the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” I ask Braxton, who has stepped closer.

“Morning, beautiful,” he replies, leaning down and placing a sweet kiss on my lips.

It takes everything in me not to reach up and touch my lips. Or pull his head down, jump into his arms and have my wicked way with him. Right now, it’s a toss-up after the kisses I got yesterday. Graham never made my body react that way. “Braxton?” I question since he still hasn’t answered either of my questions.

“Wanted to see if you ladies would go out with us this evening,” he finally says.

“You mean, on a date?” I ask. Wait, Paisley said bikers didn’t date! What the hell is going on?

“Yeah, on a date,” he replies, a grin stealing across his handsome as hell face.

“But what about the kids?”

“Mom said she’d watch Luca and Ralynn.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I’d love to go but don’t want to put Nan out.”

“I’m positive it won’t be a problem. Now, was that a yes?” he asks.

“Yes, that was a yes,” I tell him, grinning from ear to ear.

“Great, let’s go see if your girl is onboard with that as well,” he says, grabbing my hand and leading me into the kitchen.

Once we get there I see that Hatchet is sitting next to DJ and she has a smile playing on her lips. “So, are we going out tonight or what?” Hatchet asks, never taking his eyes off my best friend.

“We are, yes,” I reply. “Would either of you like some coffee?” I’ve got to keep my hands busy or else I’ll just grab onto the handsome hunk standing next to me. Focus Caraleigh, focus!

“We’ve got time before we have to head down to the trucking company,” Braxton says, going over to my coffee pot and grabbing two mugs from the cupboard above it. I see DJ’s eyebrows raise and shake my head no. Going to the fridge, I pull out creamer and set it on the table. I’m not one for coffee—give me a diet soda or a Dr. Pepper and I’m raring to go, but my girl loves her coffee so I’ve always had a coffee pot.

“Where are we going?” DJ asks as she sips her coffee.

Braxton brings over the two cups, placing one in front of Hatchet, before sliding into the chair next to me after he moved it closer, that is. “I was thinking about the Barnhouse in the next town over, it has dancing, and the best steak you could sink your teeth into, if that’s good with you two?” he asks, stirring in some creamer.

“But it’s a school night,” I say.

“No, it’s a school holiday tomorrow,” he replies.

“Already?”

“Yeah, Labor Day,” he says.

“Well hell, I guess moving and getting settled got me all turned around. And you’re sure Nan doesn’t mind?”

“Nope, in fact, she’s going to bring Lily over here so if the kids get tired, they can all go to sleep and be comfortable.”

“What time do you want to go?”

“We’ll come get you around six if that’s okay?”

“That’ll give us enough time to feed the kids,” I muse.

“Don’t bother. Mom is planning to make them homemade pizza,” Braxton says. “She also informed me that you’re looking for a job?”

“Yeah, I am hoping for something part-time but the only thing out there is at the convenience store.”

His look stops me and I immediately realize that there’s no way in hell I’ll be working at a convenience store. “We need help down at the trucking company,” he blurts out.

“What kind of help?”

“Someone who can do the books, schedule the runs, make sure the shit is straight for the accountant, that kind of thing.”

“I know how to do those things.”

“Great, come in Tuesday and we’ll get your paperwork sorted.”

“Are you serious?” I ask. “I mean, I haven’t worked in years, Braxton.” I knew he was a jump into it kind of guy, but seriously a job? Without even checking past employers, or checking on what I majored in at school? Usually a potential employer likes to do reference checks...don’t they?

“Positive. It won’t take you long to get up to speed.”

“So, you got any other jobs available?” DJ asks.

“What?” I question, looking at her. She had mentioned moving closer to me but right now, I’m a bit slow so her asking that has me looking at her all crazy-like.

“You know I wanted to move closer, just need to find something and a place to live.”

“As a matter of fact, we need someone to oversee the complex here,” he tells her. “And one of the perks is a place to live. But I thought Cara said you homeschooled Ralynn, and that you wrote books?”

“Well, I homeschool her because of the area I currently live in, and I can write anywhere and any time.”

“You want to see the place?” he asks her.

“Now?”

“No time like the present,” he replies.

“Sure, why not?” she tells him, standing up. “I’ll go slip on some shoes.”

I’m sitting at my kitchen table looking at the three of them as if they’ve popped out of an episode of the Twilight Zone. How did I go from yakking with her about Braxton and how we were doing with the new move to having a job and her relocating? “You okay, sweetheart?” he asks.

“Hmm? Yeah, I’m good. Gonna go get my shoes on, be right back.”