Chapter 11

11

Kara

I wake up wrapped in Silas’s arms. As soon as I stir, he does, too, but to my surprise, he doesn’t move.

He just holds me tighter as he whispers, “Good morning,” and kisses the top of my head.

“Good morning,” I say, rubbing my hand over his arm.

“Did you sleep well?” he asks in a soft tone.

“I did. Very well actually. I forgot where I was.” I laugh.

“Good, because I have a feeling you’ll be waking up in my bed a lot more often now.”

Heat spreads throughout my body at his words as I turn to face him. “Will I now?” I ask teasingly.

He rolls me over so I’m on my back and he’s on top of me. “If I have anything to say about it at least.”

He gives me a quick kiss, then climbs over me and hops out of bed, leaving me desiring more.

“Uh …” I pout.

He leans back down, kissing me again. “What? You wanted more?”

“Maybe.” I kiss him back.

The sexiest grin covers his face. “I have to take a rain check. I promised Myles I’d help him today. I’m already late, but I know he’ll understand.”

I slide out of bed with his T-shirt that I slept in, which hangs down to my knees.

“Damn, you look sexy.” He kisses me one more time. “What are the odds of getting you to stay here until I get back?”

I laugh out loud. “I need to get home, but we can plan something for later.”

“Deal. Make yourself at home. There’s coffee in the kitchen. I’m going to hop in the shower real quick.”

“Okay.”

He kisses me one more time, then heads to the en suite bathroom while I go toward the kitchen. Once I’m there, I realize that I have no clue where anything is. This morning has felt completely normal, like we’ve done this before, yet this is the first time I’ve been in his kitchen.

I look around, and thankfully, he has a Keurig with the pods sitting right next to it, so all I have to search for is mugs. I open a cupboard and see all of his plates and bowls so I shut it and open the next which holds the cups and mugs. Reaching for one, I notice they are all different, which makes me smile.

I take my time, seeing what they all are and where they came from. There are a few from places he’s visited, like the Grand Canyon and New York, and some are firefighter-oriented. But what catches my attention the most is one that has a photo on it. I take it out to see a photo of him, his sister, and—I assume—their parents and other brother, all smiling together in front of his home.

Wanting to know the story behind the mug, I set it under the Keurig and hit the power button, then wait patiently for the liquid heaven to pour down.

Once it’s made, I open the fridge to see if he has any creamer and am taken aback by how clean and organized his fridge is. Guys I’ve dated in the past had next to nothing in their fridge, and what was there were to-go containers or food that was obviously spoiled and needed to be thrown away, but not Silas.

I can tell he cooks by the packages of meat from the store, and his crisper drawers are full of actual vegetables and not just beer cans, which was what one of my ex-boyfriends filled them with.

I reach for the milk, add a little to my coffee, then walk it back to the Keurig, where he has sugar and spoons already sitting there, ready to use.

Instead of walking back to his bedroom, I decide to head to his living room and curl up on his couch, grabbing a magazine about mountain biking from the coffee table. As I flip through it, I hear the shower turn off and love when he comes out in nothing but a towel, showing off his fit physique.

“Were you able to find everything okay?” he asks as he reaches for a cup himself.

“Yep. I love your cup collection too.” Once his coffee is made, he walks toward me, holding the New York one. I show him the cup I chose. “Are these your parents?”

He blows on his coffee, then takes a sip. “Yep. That’s the day I bought this house. They were all here when I got the keys, and the agent took that photo, then made the mug for me.”

“Aw. That’s awesome.”

“Yeah, I thought so too. It’s my favorite mug.”

I rub my lips together and raise my eyebrows. “Sorry that I took it.”

He shakes his head. “I told you to make yourself at home. You are welcome to use any cup you want. I’m going to go get dressed.”

I flip through the magazine some more, then put it down and head back to his room to get dressed myself. He’s standing at the sink, putting product in his hair, when I slip his shirt over my head, instantly getting his attention even though I was not trying to do so.

Our eyes meet as I stand here in nothing but panties.

He steps back and turns to head toward me. The fire in his eyes leaves me standing still in anticipation, and I don’t try one bit to cover myself.

“You are so gorgeous.” He wraps his hands around the nape of my neck and pulls me in to kiss him.

I’ve noticed this is his thing. Every time he kisses me, he holds me this way, and it instantly makes me putty in his hands.

“God, I hate Myles right now,” he says with a smirk. “What are you doing tonight?”

“You.”

I grin, and he laughs out loud.

“Fuck yeah, you are!”

He smacks my ass, making me laugh before turning around to finish getting ready as I put my lace bralette on, then slip my dress over my head. I sit down to put my boots on and stand when he’s by my side.

“How about I make you dinner tonight?”

I nod. “Okay.”

He gives me a quick kiss, then turns to leave his room with me right behind him. We leave his house and walk to his truck. He clicks the unlock button and opens the door for me, lets me hop in, then goes to his side and joins me.

“Where to, madam?”

I give him my address, and after he has his seat belt on and the truck started, he reaches for my hand again, holding it in his. We sit in silence, listening to the country station he already had on in his truck. This level of comfort between us is amazing and so calming at the same time. Add in the music playing around us, and I’m so content. I could drive around like this all day.

He pulls up to my place and leans over to kiss me one more time before I open the door.

“Come over around six?” he asks.

“I’ll see you then,” I reply, already counting down in my mind how long that is from now.

We say our goodbyes, and I head to my apartment, dialing Nikki at the same time.

“Spill it!” she says as she answers.

“Best. Night. Ever,” I state clearly and slowly, emphasizing every word.

“I knew it! When do you think you’ll see him again?”

“Tonight,” I singsong.

“You’re joking?” she asks in amazement.

“Nope. He’s cooking me dinner.”

“He’s hot. Employed. Good in bed. Cooks. And he doesn’t play games? Damn, girl, this guy must be a keeper.”

“Don’t get my hopes up, but I know! I’m trying to not get too excited.”

“Nah, don’t be like that. He’s obviously into you. Enjoy that feeling. You more than deserve it.”

“Thanks, Nikki,” I say with a sigh.

The last six months of living here have been an absolute roller coaster of ups and downs. I’ve gotten my hopes up so many times about my career, only to be let down and left to feel lower than the ground I walk on. It’s hard to see anything besides disappointment when you’ve felt it so many times, but I’ve kept pushing forward.

I can’t believe I’ve found this great guy and had my first amazing show, all at the same time. I’m just terrified it won’t last. I’m not sure just how much heartbreak I can take.

“Get outside of your head,” Nikki says after a few seconds of silence between us. “Take this amazing energy you called me with and go write a song about it.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“I know I’m right. Your future is bright, and you might just have another person by your side to cheer you on along the way now.”

“I hope so.”

“Love you. Call me later when you have lines you want to run past me.”

I laugh out loud. “You know me too well.”

“I’m your biggest cheerleader. Of course I do!”

“Thank you, Nikki. I mean it. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“I got you, girl. Talk soon. Bye!” she singsongs, making me laugh.

“Bye.”