eyebrow was a blatant we’ll see .
Following Kimi’s second cigarette and third shot, Cal reached for her hand and threaded their fingers together. “Time to pay the piper and tell me what’s goin’ on.”
That provided the push she needed to tell him everything. She didn’t leave anything out, including what’d happened after she’d left his house last year.
“Hell, darlin’. That is some seriously fucked-up stuff.”
“I know.” She looked at him. “Carolyn didn’t tell you any of this?”
He shook his head. “Carson only mentioned he’d known your mom was on death’s door when he came over to tell me she’d died. And I ain’t gonna lie. I gave him what-for about Carolyn keepin’ you in the dark.”
“Is that why you were so eager to help me?”
“Partially. And knowin’ what happened after you left here that night explains a lot as to why I hadn’t heard from you at all.”
“I figured it was a one-night thing.”
“Wrong. And you damn well know that’s wrong.”
Kimi stubbed out her cigarette, wondering how far she should go in this truth telling. “You’re right. I’m sorry I didn’t write you a letter or anything. I had some stuff to work out.” As soon as she’d returned to Montana last year, she’d started making plans.
“It wasn’t like I could ask Carolyn how you were doin’. Not even why you didn’t come back for Christmas.”
“She didn’t know why I’d cut out all contact with Mom and Dad.” She felt Cal studying her.
“So the last time you spoke to your folks…?”
“Was the night we had the big blow-up. So I’ve got a ton of guilt over that. But now I’m pissed that Carolyn didn’t say shit to me about what was really goin’ on with Mom. Neither did Aunt Hulda. So then I get here and find out every one of my siblings knew she was dying except for me.” She firmed her wobbling chin. “How is that fair? The one child who needed to make amends didn’t get the chance.” That’s when her voice broke and the tears started.
Cal picked her up and tucked her against his side. He whispered, “Hey. It’s okay. Let it out, darlin’. I got you.”
She blubbered in his arms until calmness and too many shots of Jack turned the lights out.
Chapter Six
Kimi slept like the dead.
Not that Cal would say that to her, beings she’d buried her mother today.
Gigi woke up wanting to play and brought the ball over. With Kimi sacked out almost on top of him, Cal kept one hand on her back and used his other hand to play fetch.
When the day began to dim, his stomach growled. He carefully shifted to standing and carried Kimi into the house, the puppy on his heels.
Cal paused in the living room, debating on whether to lay her on the couch. But if he wanted to watch TV, the noise would wake her, so he headed down the hallway to his bedroom. He started to lower her onto the bed when she stirred. Glancing into her face, a surge of tenderness overwhelmed him.
“So sleepy,” she slurred.
“I know. Which is why I’m tuckin’ you into bed, sweet darlin’.” Cal left her clothes on and slipped her between his sheets. He sat on the edge of the bed, his heart heavy. He murmured, “Glad you decided to stay tonight.”
“Me too.” Kimi rolled over, giving him her back.
Gigi immediately jumped up and snuggled in beside her.
“Good girl. Keep an eye on her.”
***
Cal slept on the couch.
He tried not to disturb Kimi early the next morning as he rummaged in his closet for work clothes.
The bed squeaked and he turned around just as Kimi sat up.
At some point during the night she’d whipped off her shirt, leaving her in a black bra that emphasized the fullness of her breasts.
“Cal?”
Look at her face. But goddamn, that wasn’t any better. She looked cute as hell, her hair sticking up all over the place. Her eyes slumberous.
“Hey.”
She stretched her arms over her head and released a satisfied-sounding groan. “How long was I out?”
So much for
Following Kimi’s second cigarette and third shot, Cal reached for her hand and threaded their fingers together. “Time to pay the piper and tell me what’s goin’ on.”
That provided the push she needed to tell him everything. She didn’t leave anything out, including what’d happened after she’d left his house last year.
“Hell, darlin’. That is some seriously fucked-up stuff.”
“I know.” She looked at him. “Carolyn didn’t tell you any of this?”
He shook his head. “Carson only mentioned he’d known your mom was on death’s door when he came over to tell me she’d died. And I ain’t gonna lie. I gave him what-for about Carolyn keepin’ you in the dark.”
“Is that why you were so eager to help me?”
“Partially. And knowin’ what happened after you left here that night explains a lot as to why I hadn’t heard from you at all.”
“I figured it was a one-night thing.”
“Wrong. And you damn well know that’s wrong.”
Kimi stubbed out her cigarette, wondering how far she should go in this truth telling. “You’re right. I’m sorry I didn’t write you a letter or anything. I had some stuff to work out.” As soon as she’d returned to Montana last year, she’d started making plans.
“It wasn’t like I could ask Carolyn how you were doin’. Not even why you didn’t come back for Christmas.”
“She didn’t know why I’d cut out all contact with Mom and Dad.” She felt Cal studying her.
“So the last time you spoke to your folks…?”
“Was the night we had the big blow-up. So I’ve got a ton of guilt over that. But now I’m pissed that Carolyn didn’t say shit to me about what was really goin’ on with Mom. Neither did Aunt Hulda. So then I get here and find out every one of my siblings knew she was dying except for me.” She firmed her wobbling chin. “How is that fair? The one child who needed to make amends didn’t get the chance.” That’s when her voice broke and the tears started.
Cal picked her up and tucked her against his side. He whispered, “Hey. It’s okay. Let it out, darlin’. I got you.”
She blubbered in his arms until calmness and too many shots of Jack turned the lights out.
Chapter Six
Kimi slept like the dead.
Not that Cal would say that to her, beings she’d buried her mother today.
Gigi woke up wanting to play and brought the ball over. With Kimi sacked out almost on top of him, Cal kept one hand on her back and used his other hand to play fetch.
When the day began to dim, his stomach growled. He carefully shifted to standing and carried Kimi into the house, the puppy on his heels.
Cal paused in the living room, debating on whether to lay her on the couch. But if he wanted to watch TV, the noise would wake her, so he headed down the hallway to his bedroom. He started to lower her onto the bed when she stirred. Glancing into her face, a surge of tenderness overwhelmed him.
“So sleepy,” she slurred.
“I know. Which is why I’m tuckin’ you into bed, sweet darlin’.” Cal left her clothes on and slipped her between his sheets. He sat on the edge of the bed, his heart heavy. He murmured, “Glad you decided to stay tonight.”
“Me too.” Kimi rolled over, giving him her back.
Gigi immediately jumped up and snuggled in beside her.
“Good girl. Keep an eye on her.”
***
Cal slept on the couch.
He tried not to disturb Kimi early the next morning as he rummaged in his closet for work clothes.
The bed squeaked and he turned around just as Kimi sat up.
At some point during the night she’d whipped off her shirt, leaving her in a black bra that emphasized the fullness of her breasts.
“Cal?”
Look at her face. But goddamn, that wasn’t any better. She looked cute as hell, her hair sticking up all over the place. Her eyes slumberous.
“Hey.”
She stretched her arms over her head and released a satisfied-sounding groan. “How long was I out?”
So much for
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