Just One Kiss: A Black Alcove Novel (The Black Alcove Series Book 1) (11 page)

“We’ll take it slow.” She nods.

An ear-to-ear grin takes over my mouth, and
I spin for the kitchen. My cooking always wins everyone over.

“But I have class today, in twenty minutes,
so breakfast will have to wait for another day.”

I stop dead in my tracks
and pull myself together before I turn around to let her see the
disappointment on my face.
Who takes
classes at eight in the morning?

“Can I drive you?”

“I can drive myself, but thank you for
offering.” She heads for the stairs.

I can’t let her get away this easily. There
has to be something I can do to spend more time with her. Today.
Not later. I don’t want to wait. If I’m actually going against all
the rules my father set, either I’m all in, or I need to back out
now.

“I think…I’ll drive you.”

Kelsey pauses and looks over her
shoulder.

“And then I’ll pick you up for lunch. Maybe
even give you a ride to work. We can tell everyone we decided to
carpool.”

Her lips twitch as she holds back a smile.
Finally, she hangs her head in defeat.

“Give me five minutes.”

* * *

I get out of my truck for the third time.
This girl has me so worked up I can’t even make the simple decision
to sit or stand while I wait for her to get out of class.

The doors to the Littman Building open and
students begin to pile out. I spot Logan first; his six-foot build
towers over most everyone. When the crowd clears, my eyes fall on
Kelsey. She’s so incredibly petite next to Logan. She’s got her
arms crossed over the books in front of her while her hair blows in
the wind. Logan nudges her with his shoulder, and she tosses her
head back as she laughs. I straighten my stance as jealousy floods
me. I want to be the guy who makes her respond that way. Kelsey
bumps his shoulder back, and I force myself not to look away.
Jealousy is new for me and I don’t like it.

“Kelsey, Logan, hey,” I say
when they are close enough. Her eyes are focused on me now.
Yep, I’m here, Logan.

“Ethan, we were just
talking about you,” Logan says and nudges Kelsey
again
.

“We were not.” She widens her eyes at Logan
and mouths something to him, but I can’t see what.

Great, they even have inside jokes.

“Nothing bad anyway.” Kelsey looks back to
me and blushes. She does it every time our eyes meet, and every
time it makes me want her more.

“I’m going to head out, but I’ll catch you
both tonight at work, right?” Logan gives me a fist bump and then
quickly gives Kelsey a side hug before heading in the opposite
direction. I know he lives close to campus and walks to class every
day, but I still feel a tad bit like a dick for not offering him a
ride. Kelsey clears her throat and then those brown eyes meet mine
once more.

Like I say – I only feel a tad bit bad.

Kelsey

“So where are we going?” I climb inside
Ethan’s truck and he sets my books on my lap after I buckle my
seatbelt.

“It’s a secret.” His face lights up and he
closes my door. I watch as he jogs around to the driver side. My
stomach starts to flutter immediately when he flashes me a smile
from the front of the truck.

“You’re still a fan of surprises, right?” He
starts the truck. “Because if you’re not, then I’m screwed.”

I let out an embarrassing laugh slash snort
at the worried expression on his face. I slap a hand over my mouth
and nod with wide eyes. If I keep making noises like that, he might
change his mind.

“Good.”

He backs his truck out of its parking spot
and pulls off campus. He takes a right then a left. We pass The
Black Alcove and right when I’m about to kill the awkward silence,
he slows to a stop in front of Sara’s and my apartment building.
When he kills the engine, I know my face reads nothing but
confusion.

“We’re here.” Ethan beams
at me. “Wait, I’ll get your door.” He jumps out and again, I watch
him jog around the truck to my door.
What
is he up to?

My door swings open and he tosses my books
from my lap to the now-empty driver’s seat.

“No studying on this date.” He looks
serious. I nod like I have no choice but to do what he says. Ethan
slips his hand in mine and gently pulls me from the truck.

“Wait here.”

This excited behavior completely baffles me,
so I try to sneak a peek at what he’s pulling from the back of his
truck. The tailgate slams shut and he looks over the bed with a
grin that practically makes me forget how to breathe.

“You planned a picnic for lunch?”

He laces his fingers with mine as we cross
the street. I’ve lived in this apartment for two years now. Not
once can I remember having lunch in the park. This memory with
Ethan will be one I never forget.

“I planned a picnic in the
park for our
first date
.”

We stop under a tree that provides shade but
also has enough sun peeking through the branches to keep us warm.
Ethan spreads out the blanket and takes a seat. One by one he takes
out sandwiches, bottled water, baked barbeque chips, and a bag of
cookies. Next he pulls out some plates.

“Are you going to sit down or just watch
me?”

A picnic might sound like a cheesy move, but
when you’re in the moment and a gorgeous guy is offering you a
turkey sandwich with a huge smile on his face that you know you put
there, it’s the sweetest moment in world, and I wouldn’t change a
thing.

Ethan

The next morning came fast, and as I listen
to my phone vibrating against the nightstand, I know I can’t avoid
my father any longer. It’s been a week and a half since my
successful picnic in the park. Every morning I go to Kelsey’s house
and make breakfast, I pick her up for lunch, and then we spend
almost every night working together. The only way things could get
better is if we had a night alone…and if my father would stop
calling. I’ve responded via text with things he wants to hear, but
I have to answer his calls eventually. I’m avoiding him while I
figure out what to say. Texting is much easier.

“I haven’t found the numbers you need,” I
answer in a tone that sounds similar to his everyday one. Cut right
to the chase. I don’t care what he has to say anyway. I’ll say
whatever it takes to keep my brothers away from Wind Valley.

“So, you do know how to answer a phone,” he
says. He doesn’t sound concerned, only annoyed. “Your brother is
packing a bag and leaving today. You can expect him tonight. When
he arrives, you can come home. I have different plans for you, ones
that don’t require so much responsibility.”

Fuck.

“That won’t be necessary. I’ve got
everything under control here. My lack of response to your phone
calls has been due to nothing but hard work to find what you
want.”

Complete silence except for my father’s
heavy breathing fills the phone line. I imagine he’s standing in
his study in a black suit. He has one hand in his pocket while the
other holds a finger just above the end call button for the phone
sitting on the corner of his desk. He’ll take his hand from his
pocket and drill his fingers against his desk, glancing up to the
fireplace and back to his fingers three times before he makes up
his mind. I’ve seen him do this more times than I can count. It’s
the moment he’s debating whether he’s hearing the truth.

“If you haven’t found what I need, then you
haven’t been working hard enough. You do realize, son, that I can
send one of your brothers there to watch over you without taking
your spot. Someone to keep you in line while you are there. We
don’t know exactly how long Sara will be away, so you need to act
fast, and mistakes are something I can’t have you making.”

“Yes, sir, I understand you could do that.
But my sudden appearance after all these years has already raised
some suspicion. I think it’s best to hold off on sending anyone
else. Drawing attention isn’t what you need right now.”

At this point everything I’ve said is100
percent bullshit. I know Sara wants to ask more, but she doesn’t.
She has always been a big believer in family and she sees nothing
but the best in me. If only I could see what she does, maybe I
could stop my father. I’m in too deep now. No matter what happens,
I’ll end up looking like the bad guy.

“Just keep going the way you have been, and
I’ll make the best decision. Keep your eyes open. You never know
how easily things can change.”

Like always, he doesn’t say good-bye once
he’s spoken the last word. An eerie feeling flashes through me.
More than likely, he’s still sending one of my brothers. I sure as
hell hope he sends Lance, because if he sends Ben, there is no
telling what could happen.

Growing up, Lance always found a way to look
out for me. As long as he was at the top of our father’s list, Ben
couldn’t have cared less if I was in trouble or not.

With two fingers I pinch at the nerve
between my eyes. What am I going to do? I had this all figured out
days ago. Now, my father’s words keep playing in my head.

Keep your eyes open. You never know how
easily things can change.

I could just let one of them take over. It
would be easier, but helping my father doesn’t feel right. I can
put it off, my brother won’t. I have to figure something out.
Whatever my father has planned isn’t good. And there is only one
way I know to protect Kelsey. I have to cut all ties with her
beyond an employee/employer relationship until I know what’s he’s
going to do.

Kelsey

The next few days pass in a blur. After
about a week, I finally worked up the courage to cook for Ethan. So
I woke up one morning to make Ethan a breakfast casserole, but he
never showed. The morning after that, another no show. I called
him, but he didn’t answer. One morning I went as far as to go over
to his house to make sure everything was okay. I know he pretended
he didn’t hear me knocking on the door. I’m not crazy. Something’s
going on and I want to know what it is. It’s just so incredibly odd
to me to just stop talking to someone with no explanation. I want
one.

I deserve one.

Tonight is Sara’s going-away party, and
being held at the BA, it’s the perfect place to run into Ethan and
ask him what his deal is.

I’m back in our apartment
getting ready with her. She leaves tomorrow and it plain out sucks.
For me. Not her. I slide my feet into the black pumps that I save
for special occasions. They don’t happen very often so tonight will
make it the second time I have ever worn them.
I hope I can remember how to walk in them after I’ve been
drinking.

“Kelsey, hurry up, let’s go! “ Sara hollers
at me from down the hall. I check myself one last time in the
full-length mirror behind my door. My little black dress hugs my
body amazingly, my hair is curled to the middle of my back, and my
shoes make my legs look long and lean. Hopefully, this outfit can
get Ethan to confess what’s been going on with him. I smile at
myself and grab my red clutch off the dresser. This dress better do
more than get him to confess—it better grab his attention and hold
it there all night long.

I’ve spent more time than any girl should
obsessing over a boy who hasn’t even kissed me yet. After
considering forgetting everything that involves Ethan, I came to
the conclusion that I’ll just go with whatever he has in mind. I’m
not going to initiate anything, but I won’t say no if he brings it
up. I like the way I feel when I’m around him. He opens doors, he
makes me laugh, he’s got a bit of a romantic side to him, and he
always smells good. He’s got a great smile and a great body, which
is a huge plus. All the bad just disappears when I’m with him. Any
stress I have is gone and nothing could make me happier. Unless, of
course, he stops avoiding me. That would totally make me
happier.

“Oh. You look amazing!” Sara squeals. She’s
waiting impatiently by the door, wearing a red, ruffled dress that
falls to her knees, with nude heels. Her blonde hair is
straightened down her back, and she has a black clutch in her
hands.

“You look amazing as well,” I tell her as we
lock the door and walk outside. The BA is directly across from our
apartment building. Beth, one of the other bartenders, lives in the
apartment below us. We usually cut through the park when we walk to
work, but not today. Heels and grass just don’t mix very well.

The entire place is full of people when we
arrive. Most are here for Sara while others are regulars. Either
way, her eyes begin to fill with tears at all the people who have
come to see her off.

“It’s about time you showed up,” Logan
hollers as he leaps up the steps to guide Sara to the bar. She
waves over her shoulder at me as they walk away.

I recognize almost everyone here tonight,
but one person stands out. I focus on each step I take to be sure I
don’t fall in front of him. He approaches me too, staying calm and
collected with a smile on his face. I wish I had that much
confidence when it comes to me.

“Hey, Kelsey,” He leans in to speak into my
ear over the music. “You look beautiful tonight.”

I blush.

“Thank you.” I’m obvious about letting my
eyes take in the sight of him. Ethan has on a pair of dark blue
jeans that fit him loosely, with a brown belt and a black
button-down shirt he has tucked in. He looks stunning and I can’t
hide the smile on my face.

“Do you want to get a drink?” he asks.

“Yes.”

He places his hand at the small of my back,
leading me to the bar. My nerves are all over the place, and I
already know I’m going to need more than one drink to make it
through this night.