Kimber

I hate waking up in unfamiliar places. Caleb’s house is beautiful and spacious but it doesn’t feel anything like home. It’s going to take a long time to feel comfortable in this six thousand square foot home, if I ever do.

Yesterday this all seemed like a reasonable decision but after a few hours of rest and something to eat my brain is functioning better. I think it’s best that we go stay with my mom. I don’t want to be the woman who can’t stand on her own two feet when life gets difficult.

I don’t need to lean on Caleb. I built my life back up when he left me and just because Julián isn’t going to be a part of it doesn’t mean I have to replace him, as if that could even be done.

I shower and pack our things back into the bags we just unpacked last night while Grayson lies wiggling on the king sized bed. Who has a king sized bed in their guest room? Caleb Johnson does, I guess.

We never had money like this when we were married. We lived in a modest bungalow that I decorated myself. It was small but it felt like home for the three years we lived there together. It was nothing like this house. Caleb admitted to me last night that he turned to gambling when we got divorced and won a lot of money. He used it to buy this house and his expensive Audi. Thankfully, when he started losing, he was smart enough to quit before things got out of hand. So now he’s just a Marine living in a swanky house driving a nice car.

I was never into gambling. I couldn’t see why people wanted to risk their hard earned money on the slim chance that they might win. Why not invest or save? It’s so much safer.

A knock on the door snaps me back from my sensible thoughts. “Yes?”

“I have breakfast ready, I’m about to head to the base do you have time to eat with me before I go?”

Breakfast? Who is this man? He never used to cook. In fact, he was sort of a caveman about the cooking. He believed a woman should cook for her man and have dinner waiting on the table when he comes home from a long hard day at work. We argued about that very thing more times than I can remember. I worked hard too and I didn’t think I should have to cook all the meals.

I zip up the last bag and leave Grayson on the bed to open the bedroom door.

“You cooked breakfast?”

He smiles like a proud six-year-old who just made breakfast for his mommy.

“Yep, I’m pretty good at cooking now. Without you I had to learn how or starve.”

There he goes with the without you remarks again. He’s been laying hints ever since I got here last night about us getting back together.

He looks around me at the bed. “Is little man awake? Hey… what’s all this?” he says when he sees my bags are packed.

“I changed my mind, Caleb, I think it would be better if we stayed with my mom for a while. This doesn’t feel right.”

His face falls for a second but recovers quickly. “Grab the baby and come with me.”

“Caleb, I’m sorry. I’m not changing my mind.”

“Let me show you something first. Please?”

I bow my head and close my eyes. I hate it when he uses that tone, he used to manipulate me with it all the time when we were married.

He hooks his finger under my chin and brings my eyes to his. He tilts his head to the side, “Please?”

I roll my eyes, “Okay, hold on.” I gather Grayson up and follow Caleb down a long hall to a door next to his bedroom. I only know it’s his room because he told me where it was last night, in case I needed anything, anything at all.

“I’m serious about being a family again, Kimmie. I had all of this done when I realized what a mistake I made leaving you. He opens the door and steps aside so I can enter.

It’s a nursery, the most over the top nursery I’ve ever seen. It’s the opposite of the one I designed for Grayson myself with its bright colors and busy cartoonish theme. There are no less than fifty stuffed animals around the room and tons of inappropriate toys that Grayson won’t be able to play with for years. There are things he needs now, too, like diapers of every size from newborn to pull-ups for potty training and clothes, my God, the amount of clothes he has lined up in the closet is ridiculous. He could wear a different outfit every single day without repeating one until he’s out of grade school.

“What’s all this?”

“It’s his bedroom. I got everything he’s ever going to need.”

“Yeah, like until he’s twelve.”

“You don’t like it?” he says sounding disappointed.

“Well, it’s great but usually people get all this stuff along the way, ya know? Like, not all at once.”

“I wanted to make sure he had everything.”

“Well, I think you succeeded. But, Caleb, we still can’t stay here with you. This will be great for when he’s a little older and he can come and stay overnight but for now I need to stand on my own two feet for a while, you understand, don’t you?”

His shoulders are slumped, his hands are in his pockets, and he’s looking at the floor.

“No, I don’t understand why you would want to go live in your mom’s cramped house when you could be here with everything you need.”

“I don’t need things, I need time. I’m not closing the door on anything, I just want to take it slow. You burned me pretty bad when you walked away from our marriage. It takes time to build trust.”

He looks up with hope in his eyes. “So you think we have a chance?”

I smile a weak smile, “Maybe.”

“Okay, but if you ever get tired of your mother you both have a place here and you’re welcome anytime.”

“Thank you, that means a lot.”

“Do you need help putting your bags in the car?”

“Yeah, that would be nice, thank you.”

We eat breakfast together in his flashy kitchen filled with top-of-the-line appliances and expensive marble counters before heading out, him to the base and me to my mother’s.

I need to stop and pick up some things from my house that I forgot yesterday. I was in such a hurry I didn’t grab my files for Tiana’s house or my laptop.

I’m not comfortable with the idea of returning to the house where Julián’s brothers hassled me yesterday but I want to do it when he’s at work and by the time I get there he should be gone.

I’m surprised to find the Rover parked in the driveway, why is he still home? It’s almost ten thirty. I never returned any of his hundred calls yesterday or the handful of texts he sent either. Surely my mom told him we were safe and he’s not still looking for us.

I’m going to have to see him sometime to make arrangements to sell our house and move the rest of my things out anyway, I may as well get that uncomfortable moment over with now. And I also don’t want to lose any more time on Tiana’s project. I need my laptop.

I park on the street and take Grayson out of his seat. I’m about to turn and go into the house when Tiana comes bounding out of her house.

“Hey! Oh my God, I knew you’d be back as soon as you found out! I’m so glad to see you guys.” She grabs us in a bear hug and starts cooing at Grayson as soon as she pulls away.

“Isn’t this the craziest thing imaginable? True love conquers all, that’s what I told Julián. He didn’t believe me that things would all work out but they did. Serves him right for not listening to me.”

She’s vibrating with excitement and overflowing with positive energy but I have no idea what the hell she’s babbling about.

“What are you so excited about? I’m totally lost here.”

She stops bouncing around and her mouth falls open. “You mean you don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Aren’t you coming home?”

“No, I stopped to get my laptop so I can work on your house from my mother’s.”

“Where have you been all night?”

I don’t want to tell her I spent the night with my ex-husband who broke my heart and stomped it into dust less than a year ago. “Why are you asking? What’s going on Tiana?”

Her lips straighten into a line and she looks very serious. “Shit, you need to talk to Julián, like right now.”

“You’re sort of scaring me, is he okay? Did something happen to him?”

A tiny satisfied smile tugs at the corners of her mouth like she’s just discovered a secret.

“He’s fine, well, he misses you more than life itself but other than that, no.”

“Here, let me take Grayson so you two can talk.” She doesn’t even give me the chance to say no, she takes him out of my arms and reaches through the car window to grab his baby bag.

“Go, shoo, talk to the man.” She waves her hand in the direction of my house and nudges me forward. I stumble and when I catch my balance she’s already on her porch opening her front door with my baby.

God, pushy much? What on earth does she think Julián has to say to me?

I slowly make my way to the front door and hesitate before walking in unannounced. It’s technically still my house but it feels weird not knocking.

I don’t ring the bell or knock, though, and when I open the door the smell of bacon and eggs surrounds me. Now, he’s cooking breakfast? What is it with the men in my life making breakfast today?

I walk down the hall past our living room and into the kitchen stopping short when I see him. He’s wearing my favorite cotton pajama pants that hang low on his hips with no shirt. I stand silently watching the muscles of his back flex as he moves the food around in the pan.

God, he’s beautiful. I want to cry when I think about never marrying this man. We are so perfect for each other in every way except for one. His family is insanely dangerous and I can’t put my son in that kind of harm’s way.

He turns around holding the popping pan of bacon and his lips part when he sees me standing here.

“Hi.” I say unsure of how to greet him. We used to greet each other with a passionate kiss and roaming hands but not today.

“Hi. I didn’t expect you to be here.”

“Sorry, I needed my computer and some files, I should have knocked…”

He slides the bacon out of the pan and sets it back on the stove.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would you knock on your own door?”

“Julián, we both know this isn’t my home anymore.”

“Where’s Grayson?” he asks suddenly like he just realized I’m not holding him.

“Oh, uh, Tiana ambushed me in the street and stole him.”

“She did, huh?” He leans his ass against the counter and places his hands on either side of him gripping it until I can see his knuckles turn white.

“Yeah, she said we needed to talk. Are you okay?”

Frown lines burrow deep in his forehead. “No, I’m not okay. You moved out without telling me and spent the night with your ex-husband. Oh and you took our son with you so no, I am far, far from being okay.”

I fiddle with the diamond stud earring in my left ear. How does he know I was at Caleb’s house? And why do I feel so guilty when I didn’t do anything wrong, it was him who lied to me, that’s why I left, that’s why I was so emotionally distraught that I considered moving in permanently with my ex-husband who I normally can’t stand.

“I needed a place to stay, he offered and he wanted to spend time with Grayson so I spent the night there. In the guest bedroom, of course.”

“Why did you go to him? Of all people you could have turned to for help you chose him.” His voice is twisted with pain. Every molecule in my body wants to go to him and tell him I’m sorry.

“I didn’t go to him originally, I was on my way to my mom’s when he stopped me on the highway. He wanted to spend time with Grayson and I was so tired I just…”

“You just forgave him for abandoning him and leaving you to raise your baby, his baby, alone.”

“It wasn’t like that, Julián. I was confused after everything that happened, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

His grip on the counter loosens and he pushes off holding my eyes as he approaches. When he is right in front of me he cups my cheek with his hand and I lean into it without thinking and close my eyes. It’s so good to feel his touch, I have no control over my body as I step into his arms and let him hold me.

“Forgive me, Kimber, please, tell me you forgive me for keeping my family a secret. I was selfish and wrong and I know you think I put you in harm’s way but I would never have let anything happen to you or Grayson, never, I swear.”

“I forgive you.” The words are out of my mouth without a second thought. I can feel his remorse penetrating my soul. His only sin was loving me too much. How can I hold that against him?

He squeezes me so tight I can’t breathe. I try to push him away with my hands on his chest just a little bit so I can take a breath but I feel his body begin to shake and I hold my breath and wait a moment longer.

He’s crying. I’ve never seen him cry before and it’s heartbreaking. When I can’t hold out any longer, I push away and take a deep breath of air. When I look up his cheeks are streaked with tears and his eyes are red.

“Why are you crying?” I ask and cup his cheeks with both of my hands.

“I thought I lost you. I hoped you would forgive me but I never thought…”

I swipe his tears away with my thumbs, “Never thought what?”

“My family… it’s over. They aren’t a threat to us anymore. They were arrested on so many charges there’s no way they will ever get out again.”

“What? When? How?” I’m so shocked I can’t make full sentences but I get out the basics.

“I guess they took my dad in a couple weeks ago and he gave everybody else up for a lesser sentence. Yesterday, they raided the property and arrested the rest of them. There was always a plan in place to burn the house down if anything big ever happened to cover up any evidence that might have been there. They knew it was over so they burned it down.”

“What about your brothers? They were just here yesterday.”

“They hadn’t caught up to them yet but I made some phone calls this morning and they found them in New York trying to charter a plane to Europe. They’re locked up, too.”

“This is… so unbelievable.”

“Say you’ll come home. I love you, Kimber, I don’t even want to wait until next year to marry you, let’s fly to Vegas and do it tomorrow, just say you’ll come home.”

“Yes, of course yes, yes, yes! I’m already here. My stuff is in the car, I was on my way to my mother’s. I realized what a mistake I made when I woke up at Caleb’s house this morning.” Now I’m crying and blubbering all over his bare chest.

“Thank God, I couldn’t live another day without you guys. I miss you and Grayson so fucking much.”

“We miss you, too.”

His mouth covers mine, our tongues tangle and he scoops me up into his arms and carries me to our bedroom. He kicks the door shut and walks to the bed where he sits down on the edge and slides me around until I’m straddling his hips.

“You’re mine, forever, don’t ever leave me again,” he whispers while he pulls my T-shirt over my head.

With my hands on his cheeks looking deep into his eyes I tell him, “Never, I promise, no matter what comes our way we will handle it together.”

He nods, “Good. Now we need to have makeup sex.”

A wide smile spreads across my face, “Makeup sex sounds perfect.”

Like a switch has been thrown we are crawling up the bed, devouring each other and tearing at each other’s clothes in a desperate attempt to be as close as possible. This isn’t sweet drawn out makeup sex. No, this is fast and dirty, can’t wait to have you, makeup sex.

Within minutes he is inside me and our bodies are slick with perspiration as he glides in and out building an impressive rhythm. With my legs wrapped around his waist and my feet pressing into the small of his back I beg him to go deeper, thrust harder, push me further than I’ve been pushed in months.

The headboard is banging against the wall so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if we ended up breaking through the wall into the front yard. Our neighbors can probably hear but I don’t care. I look up into his eyes as he brings me to climax and see a world of love and devotion mixed with passion. This man is my destiny, nothing will ever take me from him again, even if it’s life-threatening, I will stay and we will conquer it together.

We come together in record time and he collapses on top of me out of breath. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and breathe in the familiar smell of his almond lotion mixed with his special musky scent.

“That was mind-blowing,” he murmurs against my neck.

“Don’t get any big ideas, I don’t want to be having any more makeup sex.”

He props himself up on his shoulders to see me and his face is twisted in shock.

“I can’t believe you didn’t just like that.”

“Oh, I never said I didn’t like it. That’s the best makeup sex I’ve ever had but I don’t want to argue with you just to get it. There has to be something else that triggers hot, fast, passionate quickies like that.”

His jaw relaxes and his eyes soften. “I’ll figure it out, don’t worry.”

I rise up and press a kiss on his lips. “I’m sure you will.”

We both look up when we hear Tiana banging on our front door with a very angry and very hungry Grayson.

“I can’t believe it, but for once it’s good to hear him scream,” Julián says rolling over to slip on his lounge pants.

“He learned from the best,” I say and wiggle my eyebrows. He bends to kiss me on the forehead.

“I’d prefer to hear you scream, Mrs. Garcia, now go and feed our son so I can take you to Vegas and make you scream every night.”

“You were serious?”

“Hell yeah, I was. I’m going to put in for some leave, the police want to talk to me this afternoon but we can leave as soon as that’s over. Do you think Drake and Tiana would come with us?”

“I don’t see why not. We should ask Mattie and Belle, too.”

He swats my ass, “I think we have a wedding party!”

A wedding, what a difference a day makes.