"So...what�re we going to do today," Kaylee whispered against Kevin�s neck as she stepped behind him wrapping her arms around his waist. "Football baby....it�s Sunday. This is one of the biggest football towns I know...how could you even ask," he laughed as he turned around in her arms, pulling her closer and walking them both to the sofa. "I can ask," she answered seriously, holding his chin in her hand, "cause I�m not that into football. You forget mister...I�m a hockey woman." "Oh no...I wouldn�t be able to forget that...I was sitting next to you when someone went after your man. You hit me damn hard..." "That�s right...don�t ever forget it.....," her voice raising as he dropped them onto the sofa, laughter overtaking both of them. "You do not play fair Richardson," she muttered as they got comfortable. "Nope...not when I really want to get my way," his arm and leg wrapping over her... pulling her closer. "And, I want to get my way right now." "Oh...." "Oh what?" his words a gentle whisper against her ear. "Nothing," was all she could manage to squeak out. "Nothing but football," he laughed into her hair as he pointed the remote control at the television. "I do not like you." "That�s okay darlin� .. you don�t have to like me...just watch football with me." "You owe me handsome....you owe me big time," her voice soft as she kissed his arm. "Deal." The rest of the afternoon was spent with Kaylee nodding off, and with Kevin watching her more than the football game. "Talk to me, baby," his voice barely a whisper as he rubbed the back of his hand over her cheek. "I won�t ask.... I heard you last night," his eyes never leaving her face, "please just talk to me...." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When halftime of the second game approached, Kaylee was awake and able to convince Kevin that watching football did not mean having to starve. "No really...Kevin....sit," she pushed him back onto the couch, "I don�t need help. Enjoy the game...I�m going to make a salad and have some pizza delivered." Taking her hand, he kissed the palm then pressed it to his cheek, "thank you." "For what....take out food?" "Nope," he stretched his arms over his head, "for just letting me do nothing...it feels good." "You�re welcome....now just give me my hand back and keep doing nothing." Sighing deeply as a smile slowly spread across his face, Kevin tilted his head and watched her walk into the kitchen until she was out of sight. He dropped his head on the back of the couch and closed his eyes. The football game long forgotten as images of the last few months filled his head. He had let her into the parts of his heart no one had ever seen before. Shaking his head, he recalled how she could have just kept walking away from him that first night. "Thank God she didn�t," he spoke out loud. "Thank God she didn�t what," Kaylee asked as she stood behind the couch gently combing her fingers through his hair. "Run screaming from the drunk on the sidewalk," he chuckled softly. "Hey...truth be told...I thought you were pretty damn hot, even drunk." "Baby...you looked like an angel to me...well...when I could finally focus on just one of you, that is." Bending down, Kaylee pressed a kiss against his temple as he reached his hand behind her neck to hold her to him. "I know I�m always sayin� thank you...but I hope you know I really mean it," his lips against hers as he spoke. "I love you lady," he whispered as he kissed her softly. "Damn," she pulled away as the doorbell rang, "save the rest of that thought for after dinner." Kaylee paid for the pizza and before the door closed, she glanced across the street and saw that Jeff was standing next to his car, watching her. "Oh no.....please...no....," her body froze as he took a few steps around the back of his car onto the street. "What�s wrong ....," he yelled from the center of the street taking a few steps closer, "you don't look happy to see me." "Just leave... please just leave me alone....." "Nope...you�re not happy at all are you Kaylee...why not??? You seem to be movin� through men pretty fast lately...and I�m just waitin� my turn," he laughed sarcastically, while looking around. "Where�s your �pretty boy�? He must be gone, too...cause I see you got a new guy around now don�tcha?" Kevin had started to walk into the kitchen when he heard the voices. Stopping, he turned back around in time to see the pizza box slip from her trembling hands and land on the floor at her feet. "Kaylee...what�s wrong," he felt her jump as he rested his hand on her back. "Who�re you......aw fuck," he muttered as he looked toward the street. "Kevin...please....," her tears falling freely as she turned to look at him, "make him stop...just make him leave me alone..." One look at her and Kevin�s heart broke. He took her shaking hands in his own...her face pale and tear streaked. "Kaylee....baby....," he touched his forehead to hers. "I wanted....I....I...I was go....going to...," her voice breaking as she struggled to catch her breath. "Ssshh....," he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead before turning her around, "just go in the living room." With a slight nod, Kaylee started to walk away, then stopped suddenly and turned to look at him. "Just go," his words a soft command, "we�ll talk later." "Kevin," her voice barely a whisper as she met his gaze, "I�m sorry...so sorry." "Go...," he mouthed the word as he turned away from her and slipped his boots on. Kevin narrowed his eyes and looked directly at the man across the street. Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the porch and walked toward the car. "What the hell do you want? Just go back inside...nothin� out here for you," Jeff pointed at the house as he walked back toward his car. "No...I think it�s what the hell do you want," the words said between clenched teeth as Kevin stepped onto the street. "Isn�t it obvious....I want her...but she�s too busy fuckin� around," Jeff stepped from beside the car. "She must not know what the hell she wants...first that pretty boy...and now you....guess I�ll just have to wait for my turn," he smirked. "And I know it�ll come...." "Shut up," Kevin�s voice was deep and threatening as he stood directly in front of Jeff, "just shut the fuck up." His hands balled together in fists at his side, his arms straining against the short sleeves of his tee shirt and his chest heaving, "I should�ve knocked the shit outta you when I had the chance." Jeff�s eyes met Kevin�s as a sudden feeling of "deja vu" overtook him. Even though he had been drunk all those months ago, he would never forget that look. "You....you�re....," Jeff�s voice faltered. "I�m what? C�mon Jeff...what am I," Kevin asked, his demeanor surprisingly calm as he took a step closer. "Him....you�re....you�re him....." "Who asshole...the pretty boy?" "Yeah," Jeff�s voice strained. "Well I�ll be damned...give the man a prize," Kevin muttered as he grabbed a fistful of Jeff�s jacket. Jeff swallowed hard. "What�re you going to do? Your bodyguard isn�t here to....ooph...," his words leaving him in a rush of air as his back was slammed against the side of his car. Raising his forearm, Kevin pressed it against Jeff�s neck. "Be glad he�s not," he snarled, "I�d let him beat the fucking shit out of you." Jeff paled considerably as he remembered that indeed the man could not only beat him senseless, but probably even kill him. Although at the moment, he wasn�t convinced that the man directly in front of him couldn�t do the same. Suddenly he wasn�t feeling as confident as he had in front of Kaylee. It was one thing to intimidate her...it was another thing coming face to face with a living and breathing brick wall. "I asked you before...what�re you gonna do to me," he tried to stop his voice from shaking. Kevin pressed his forearm down harder onto Jeff�s neck, "What I�m gonna do is tell you this one time and one time only asshole......leave her alone." "I ... I just wanted ...." "I don�t give a flying fuck what you wanted.....," Kevin lifted him by the shoulders and slammed him back against the car. "LEAVE HER ALONE!" Jeff winced as his back again hit the unyielding metal of his car. "But I want her to hurt like I hurt....." Kevin took deep breaths trying to keep his emotions under control. "You want her to hurt like YOU hurt?!" "She walked out on me......" "She walked out because you fucked around on her and because you...." Kevin�s finger repeatedly jamming into Jeff�s chest with each word. Jeff�s mouth was moving before he even had time to think about the repercussions of what he was about to say. "I fucked around because she was boring in bed....she had to know that was why...she�s good, but damn...she�s....." Jeff hadn�t even finished his sentence when a fist connected with his face. Blood dripped from Jeff�s lip as he struggled to break free from Kevin�s grip. "You listen to me....," Kevin�s voice a low angry growl, "she walked out on you because you beat the hell out of her." Jeff�s insides rolled as he saw the look of pure hatred and anger in Kevin�s eyes. But, when he realized that Kevin was still shaking his left hand from the punch he�d thrown, he took the opportunity to try and break free. He blindly tossed his right hand up and clipped the side of Kevin�s head. "Motherfucker," Kevin muttered as he landed a second punch, this one to Jeff�s midsection causing Jeff to double over. "You self serving sonofabitch....you had an unbelievable woman, but you weren�t satisfied....so just stay the hell away from her before I hurt you like you hurt her." "KEVIN!" Looking up, Kevin saw Ali�s brother in law, Rich, running from his car. "Someone else to save the day Kevin," Jeff�s voice dripping with sarcasm as he righted himself, "to come to your rescue." "He doesn�t need rescued from anyone but himself, Jeff," Rich�s voice calm, "now get the hell outta here....the next phone call goes to the cops." At Jeff�s hesitation, Kevin grabbed him by his arms, and pushed him toward the open car door watching as he fell inside. "If I see, or hear, about you coming near Kaylee again, you�ll wish the cops HAD been called....cause if there is a next time asshole," Kevin�s voice filled with venom, "you won�t see me coming." Both men stood in the street and watched as Jeff�s car disappeared down the street. After a few minutes, Rich wrapped an arm around Kevin�s shoulders and led him back toward the house. "Kevin," Rich stopped him before they went into the house, "how long has this been going on?" "Longer then I knew about I guess," his words coming out on a deep sigh as he raked his hands through his hair. "She wouldn�t talk to me about it, Rich...but that ends now." "Ali�s in there with her...I�m just glad I was at the house when Kaylee called. Give her a little while Kevin...Ali told me she wanted to tell you...." "Then why didn�t she," frustration evident in his words as he sat on the step. "You gotta ask her that Kev," Rich shrugged as he sat down next to Kevin. "She�s stubborn...probably thought she could handle it herself." Propping his elbows on his knees, Kevin scrubbed his hands over his face. "Well she can�t...but I fucking could have....and I will." "I�m not sure I even want to know the how or what...just please don�t be stupid." "Guys...," Ali�s voice called from the open doorway, "you need more time out here or are you done talking?" "We�re done sweetheart," Rich rose to his feet extending a hand to Kevin. "Good....because someone in there," she pointed to the living room as her gaze met Kevin�s, "really needs someone who is still out here." Looking past Ali, he could see Kaylee walking toward the door. Without looking, he reached his hand back to Rich, "thanks man....I gotta..." "I know....just go....we�ll talk later." With a grateful squeeze to Ali�s arm, Kevin walked into the house and straight to Kaylee. Stopping inches away from her, he reached out and gently tipped her chin up. "Hey....look at me," his voice filled tenderness. Blinking back tears, she slowly looked up at him...her eyes searching his face. "I�m sorry....oh Kevin...I�m so sorry....." "Sh..sh...," he stepped forward wrapping his arms around her ... holding her trembling body tightly to him. "I wanted to tell you Kevin...I did," her words muffled against his chest. "I just didn�t know how...I never wanted to spend our time talking about him...I never wanted him to come between us...." Tilting his head back, he gently held her face in his hands, wiping her tears with his thumbs. "He wouldn�t come between us....he couldn�t come between us," his lips so close she could feel his words against her skin. "But..." "No buts," his eyes meeting hers, "he wouldn�t...he couldn�t....he won�t...he can�t...understand?" She nodded. "Do you really? Because I have never loved anyone like this before....never," his voice breaking as his eyes filled. "I don�t just love you...I�m in love with you....," his lips meeting hers in a tender kiss. "Thank you Kevin.....," her words lost in their kiss. "C�mere," he reached down, lifted her up into his arms as she wrapped her legs around his waist...nuzzling her face against his neck. Walking into the living room, he sat her down on the couch, resting his hands on either side of her, he leaned over, "you...sit...I�m gonna see what can be salvaged in that pizza box...finish the salads...and take care of you..." "Again Kevin...I'm so sorry. And, for the record...," she took his face in her hands, "thank you...I love you and I love how you love me." Kissing the tip of her nose, he stood and made his way to the foyer, retrieving the pizza box from the floor then heading into the kitchen. When he was certain she wasn�t going to follow him, he grabbed his cell phone and dialed. It was time for a long overdue call. "Hey Luke...it�s me...." BACK HOME NEXT |
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| CHAPTER 57 |