Finding Ever After (18 page)

           
“As long as you’re still there in fifty years, I’ll be good. No matter
who
we end up with and even though you don’t want to birth
my children, you and me are still forever.” He said playfully and wrapped his
arm around my shoulder, tugging me into his chest and squeezing me tightly.

           
“Wouldn’t want it any other way.
You’re stuck with me
for life.” I threw my weight onto him and pushed him over until I was laid out
over him squishing him into the cushions.

           
“Good.” He said right before flipping over and reversing our positions and
pinning me down. A devious smile lifted his face and I knew what was coming.
“Our children would have been fucking beautiful.” He exclaimed right before
initiating a tickle war that was very one sided considering he had about fifty
pounds on me and wasn’t even ticklish.

           
My face was beet red and my eyes were watering when he finally ceased his
attack. We curled up on the sofa and flipped on the
Tv
, then proceeded to watch three hours of Buffy
reruns before going up to bed.

           
The next morning I was wiping oatmeal off Izzy‘s face and hands when Bas’ phone
rang.

           
“Hey Mom.”
I could tell Bas wasn’t especially thrilled
about talking to his mom. He’d never been as close to her as he was to his dad.
She wasn’t a bad mom, but she was generally more concerned with the goings on
at her country club and her social calendar than the lives of her sons. She
thought their affection could be bought with gifts, but didn’t have a lot of
time for them. Now that they were adults, their lives stayed pretty separate
unless she needed them to make an appearance at an event. Bas’ stepdad was the
CEO for some giant conglomerate and close friends with the governor so they
were heavily involved in politics. Often Bas had to be the dutiful son and attend
some function or other even though he hated going.

           
When my mom and I first moved in here Bas and Chris would stay at their mom’s
any time their dad had to work, but after we became close and our parents got
to know one another, their dad allowed them to stay with us. They both said it
was more fun at our house because their mom and step dad didn’t make much time
for them and they didn’t get along very well with their stepsister or their
half-brother.

           
When my mom passed away Bas and his dad wanted to take me in, but as a single
parent who regularly had to work over night, he wasn’t allowed take me on his
own and Bas’ mom didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s kid. Bas’
relationship with his mom became even more strained after that. I didn’t blame
her, but he did.

           
I could tell from the side of the conversation that I could hear, Maureen was
requesting Bas’ presence at a luncheon today. Bas tried to talk his way out of
attending, but she was persistent and eventually he caved under her relentless
harping.

           
“Mommy dearest need you to show your handsome face at lunch for the governor?”

           
“Close, senator
Kellen
. She insists that she told me
about it weeks ago, but I know for a fact that she didn’t. I hate when she
springs this crap on me last minute; I don’t have enough time to think of a
good excuse to get out of it.”

           
“That’s probably why she does it.”

           
“Yeah.
Probably.”

           
“I’m guessing
Vi
will be there as well?” I asked,
knowing her parents ran in the same social circles.

           
“Yeah, I would imagine her parents are making her attend. My Dad is still at
his conference so I’ll call Chris and see if any of the guys are around today.
I’m sure one of them wouldn’t mind hanging out with you girls.” Under other
circumstances I would argue that I could manage a couple hours on my own, but I
wasn’t willing to take any chances with Izzy.

           
I took her into the bathroom to get her dressed for the day while Bas made the
call. He came in a few minutes later to say that Chris had talked to the guys
and they agreed that one of them would be here before Bas had to leave.

           
“Did he say who it was going to be?” I couldn’t decide whether I was hoping it
would or wouldn’t be Kyden.

           
“Nah, he said they still had to figure it out, but one of them would be able
to.” As usual Bas saw right through me and rolled his eyes. “I doubt it will be
Kyden.” I didn’t ask why and he didn’t elaborate, but I should have felt
relieved. So why didn’t I? Bas watched me intently and I tried to hide my
thoughts. I was unsuccessful.

           
“You want it to be Kyden?”

           
“No.” I said adamantly.
“Maybe.
Crap, I don’t know.”

           
“I know I’ve said this already, but please be careful.” I was trying. It wasn’t
like I wanted this and yet three hours later when I opened the door to find
Chris and Kyden standing on my front porch, the rush of excitement I felt
couldn’t be denied.

           
“You’re staying here with her?” Bas asked, surprised, when we walked into
living room where he was building a giant tower for Izzy to knock over. Kyden
just nodded, and Bas got a confused look. “You’re not going to the luncheon?”

           
“No.” I didn’t understand why Bas had asked him if he would be going with them.
Bas’ parents didn’t usually like them to bring friends, and I doubted they
would consider the lead singer of Chris’ band appropriate company for their
sons to be keeping.

           
“Bas, we better take off or we’ll be late and Mom will have a conniption.”

           
After they left, Kyden lowered himself to the floor and leaned back against the
couch.
Iz
immediately forgot about the blocks she had
been playing with and launched herself at him. Apparently there was no age
limit on his appeal to the female population.

           
“So why did Bas ask you if you were going to the luncheon?” For a minute I
thought he was going to ignore me when he continued to play with Izzy instead
of acknowledging my question, but he finally looked up and met my gaze.

           
“Because it’s a lunch for senator
Kellen’s
campaign
and my father is Stefan McCabe.” I’m sure the shock I experienced was apparent
on my face. I had gathered that he came from money, but a Senator’s son? Even
with the last name I wouldn’t have put that together. Crap, I was even more out
of my league than I thought. What would he think if I told him my father’s
name?

           
It was one thing for Bas and Vi to be friends with me even though they had
parents among Boston’s elite, but there was no way the son of senator would
want anything to do with me knowing who I really was and what I came from. If I
just came clean it would probably put a stop to the flirting and solve my
problems there, but the more I considered it, the less I wanted that.

           
“I can see your brain churning. Don’t make a big deal out of it. Now you know
who my parents are, but it doesn’t change anything.”
If only
that were true.

           
“Won’t they be upset that you aren’t there?”

           
“They learned a long time ago that they can’t control me. I was only going to
hang out with Sebastian and Chris, but I’d much rather be here. I’ll take a
beautiful girl over stuffy, superficial politicians any day.” My cheeks turned
pink before he smirked and lifted Izzy up in the air above his head. “And this
right here is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.” Of course he meant Izzy,
I never thought he meant . . .

           
“And you’re not too bad either.” He winked at me while Izzy started laughing
and squirming in his arms.

           
“Park park.
We go park now with
Ky
Ky
.” Izzy squealed excitedly.

           
“Not yet sweetie.
We have to have lunch first and then
nap time, but we’ll go to the park later. I promise.” I stole her out of his
hands and ran toward the kitchen making racecar noises as we sped through the
house. She giggled and joined in with her own cute little car noises.
“
Bwoom
bwoom
.”

           
After our gourmet meal of macaroni and cheese and bananas with peanut butter, a
personal favorite of mine, it was time for Izzy’s nap. The little play tent was
set up with blankets so she could nap in there. She started to throw a little
bit of a fit, but when Kyden offered to sing for her she climbed in pulling him
in after her, by his fingers. He didn’t fit all the way in and his legs hung
out the door.

           
“Auntie Jaxy
come
.”

           
“I don’t think I’ll fit
Iz
.”

           
“Auntie!”
She pleaded and I couldn’t resist. I got
down on my hand and knees and poked my head in the entrance. Kyden shifted to
the side as much as he could and then tugged me inside. I landed in a heap on
Izzy’s other side. It was a tight fit and she was sandwiched between the two of
us. Our legs were overlapping outside the tent.

           
“Sing me, sing me
Ky
Ky
.” I wondered what he had in his repertoire that would be
appropriate for a child.

           
“I can show you the world.”

           
I was in awe when his low voice came in soft and sweet singing the first verse
of “A Whole New World.” Izzy and I were both ensnared by the enchanting sound
and magical lyrics. God had truly gifted him with the ability to touch people
with his voice.
Hearing that particular song, written to melt
the hearts of every girl in the world, coming out of those lips, dissolved the
last of my resistance.
I could no longer deny that I had a full blown
crush on this complex guy.

           
This realization was followed by the sinking feeling that there was only one
way it could end for me, and that was painfully. No matter how sweet he could
be, he was a heartbreaker down to the core and my heart was in line to be the
next casualty.

           
With every perfect note he sang, my heart fell further. I tried to ignore the
feeling and ran my hand through Izzy’s hair, gently caressing her head as
sleepiness overtook her and her eyes drifted shut. So soft, that it was almost
a whisper, he hummed out the final words. Izzy was fast asleep.

           
“So, you watch a lot of Disney movies, or did you just learn that one so you
could seduce girls?” I whispered. The only answer he gave was his signature
smirk.

           
“I will admit I never thought I’d be using it for this.”

           
As carefully and quietly as we could, we both tried to extricate ourselves from
the tiny structure without disturbing Izzy. Trying to wiggle out backwards, we
ended up a tangled mess of limbs. When I was almost clear of the tent, I tried
to lift myself into a crouch so I could crawl the rest of the way out, but
Kyden had the same idea and I ended up tripping over the lip of the tent door
and taking us both down.

           
I found myself in a very familiar situation, only this time I was on top, with
Kyden pinned beneath my weight, my chest flattened on top of his and my eyes
staring directly at his lips, mere inches away. His hands were resting gently
on the strip of exposed skin just above my hips. I became aware of a heat
radiating from his touch, spreading it’s warmth through my body.

           
“You have to stop trying to jump me Princess. You need to at least buy me
dinner before I let you have your way with me.” My eyes widened and once again
my cheeks returned to the bright pink color that was becoming their natural
state in his presence. I muttered an apology and quickly tried to lift myself
off of him. Instead of letting me go, he tightened his grip on my waist and
rolled us so that I was on my back and he was on his side leaning over me with
his one arm
laying
across my stomach, his fingers
still heating my flesh.

           
“Fine, if you insist. I’ll buy dinner and then have my way with you.” He said
in a breathy voice. That sent shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes for a
moment to collect my scattered thoughts and steel myself against the havoc he
was wreaking on my nerves. When I reopened them Kyden was staring down at me
with a devilish grin. I grabbed his arm and removed it from my hip. I would be
able to think more clearly without his hand on me.

           
“I don’t think so.” I told him and despite the ever growing attraction, I meant
it.

           
“Come on, just give me one night.” His voice was low and seductive. He brought
his hand back to my body, skimming his fingers gently across my stomach, just
above the waistband of my jeans. “I would make it so good for you, I promise.”
I didn’t doubt that, but I refused to lower myself to being a one night stand.
I wouldn’t allow him to cheapen me like that. I shoved him away from me and got
to my feet.

           
“I’m not interested.” I hissed.

           
“You might want to tell your body that, because the way it’s responding screams
more than interested, Princess.” He spit out dryly as his mouth twisted into a
sardonic smile.

           
“This isn’t about a physical reaction, you jerk. We both know the effect you
have on women, but just because I’m not deaf or blind doesn’t mean I’m some
whore, tripping over myself to be used by you.” My heart pounded in my chest
and my face turned an even darker shade of red, but this time it wasn’t due to
my embarrassment or desire. It was my anger and humiliation. To him I was no
better than the easy groupies he was used to.

           
“I would never treat you like a whore, or make you feel used. I know you’re not
like the sluts who hang around the bar. You think I have to pursue them and
offer to take them on dates before they spread their legs and let me take
em
’ six ways from Sunday?” I cringed at his crude
depiction. How could he go from Disney song to degrading women all in the span
of five minutes? It didn’t matter if was right about them, I could never be
with someone who devalued sex like that.