Stone, Rayna - Safe Haven (Mastering Holly Oaks 2) [Siren Publishing Classic] (6 page)

Chapter
Seven

Kelly woke up to her cell phone blaring at her from the living room. She’d set Jay’s ring tone to the most annoying ring she could find so she would hear it in case something happened to Kat and the baby. She really needed to change it again, or she’d smash the phone and miss the damn call anyway. Troy was sitting up and looking around like he expected the cavalry to stampede in at any moment. “What the fuck is that?”

“It’s Jay. And it can’t be good. It’s too damn early to risk waking me for nothing. Either Kat’s in labor or she’s freaking about the party tonight. I really hope she’s in labor. That kid needs to come out. I’m seriously worried about her psychological state. If they ever decide to have another kid, I think we should all get a vote.” Troy was nodding his head in agreement.

Kelly rolled out of bed and stumbled to her phone. Damn, she really needed coffee and a shower. As in immediately. She didn’t function well at six in the fucking morning. “What,” she grumped into the phone.

“Oh, shit. You’re pissy, too. Great. Look, I really need some help over here. Mac had to go into work early so he can be at the party on time, and Kat is insisting that she won’t go at all. I know it isn’t till six tonight, but seriously? It’s fucking daybreak and she’s already threatening to do things to me I’m not comfortable repeating. I need to get over to the caterer and then the club to finish getting the place ready. I really need your help, Kel.” Yeah, Jay was absolutely useless when it came to being stern with Kat.

“Fine, give me an hour to caffeinate and get ready. I’ll babysit the monster and make sure she’s at the club. But you owe me, Jay. And if I have to tie her up and gag her to get her there, I don’t want to hear one goddamn word about it, got it?” She used her best Domme voice to make her threat clear.

“Not one word. Just make sure Mac doesn’t see. He gets all possessive when people threaten to tie her up.” Jay sounded so relieved that he was off the hook. Poor guy, she could not imagine living with that hormonal beast 24/7. She shuffled to her kitchen to get the coffee started. Troy had pulled on his pants and joined her in staring at the precious liquid pouring oh-so-slowly into the pot.

“What did Jay need?” He starting caressing her back and nuzzling her neck
. Oh, God
. If he didn’t stop touching her, she’d never get out of the house. “He needs help with Kat. Mac’s at work, and Jay needs to finish up some party details. Kat’s being difficult and making threats.”

Troy was chuckling into her neck, making her whole body break out into gooseflesh. “She’s only got two more weeks to go. Try not to kill her.”

Easier said than done. He wasn’t the one worried Kat might cut off
his
hair. Kelly could still not believe that Kat was so pissed about her hair
potentially
falling out that she threatened to cut off Kelly’s so they would match. Jesus, Kat was definitely on her own trip to insanity land. “I really need to get a shower and get moving. What’s your plan for the day?”

Troy straightened up and grabbed two mugs. His serious face was back on. She thought of it as his work face. “I’ve got to head into the station for a while. I want to see if anything’s back on the toxicology tests and check in with the team. We’ve got some feelers out around the club scene. Hopefully somebody remembered something and called it in. I’ll meet you at the club tonight, okay?” He was all business now. She felt a little sad for him that he had the kind of job that could drain all the happiness from his life. She was more determined than ever to be the one to give him back some joy and love. Before he could pour the coffee, she wrapped him in her embrace and kissed him softly. He returned the kiss with a hint of desperation. Like he needed to take all he could from her to get him through the day. When they finally broke apart, she cupped his face and looked into his eyes. “Be safe today. See you tonight?”

Troy let out a relieved sigh and kissed her forehead. “Nothing could keep me away.”

* * * *

Kelly gingerly approached Kat’s bedroom. When she opened the door she saw Kat lying on her side, just staring out the window. She didn’t look pissed, she looked sad. That was more worrisome for Kelly. “Honey? Kat, tell me what’s wrong.”

Kat took a deep breath and looked to Kelly. “I can’t stand it anymore, Kel. I can’t sleep, I feel so miserable all the time, my back is killing me, and just look at me. I don’t know what Mac and Jay saw in my body before, but it’ll never look the same again. I have stretch marks, and I’ll sag. What if they just can’t be attracted to me anymore after this? I wanted this baby so badly, and I still do, but I’m scared shitless that my men won’t really want me. What if all they see is the mother to their child?”

Jesus, Kelly totally got it now. Kat had terrible self-esteem to begin with. Her first husband had cheated on her and made her feel like she wasn’t good enough for anything but keeping his house in order. Kat wasn’t just being bitchy because she was hormonal. She was terrified and lashing out in the only way she knew.

Kelly sat down on the bed with her and smoothed the hair away from her face. “Kat, listen to me. Mac and Jay are not going to abandon you in any way. They are going to love your body no matter what it looks like because it’s yours. How many times have you told me Mac’s first question every time you see the doctor is about sex? Can he have it now, how long will he have to wait after the delivery, what positions are best? I don’t think too many men ask those questions. Everything’s going to be just fine, trust me. I’ve known them a long time, Kat. They love you. When this baby is born, they’re just going to love you more.” Kelly could finally say all this to Kat because for the first time in her life she was coming to understood what that kind of love felt like.

Kat let herself be pulled into a hug and they both settled into the bed more comfortably. “Thank you, Kel. I know I’ve been terrible to everyone. I guess I really needed someone other than the boys to tell me things would be okay. I mean, they kind of have to say that, you know? They’re a little afraid of me right now.” Kelly just laughed. Yeah, everyone was a little afraid of her right now, but Kelly finally understood her better. She was going through all the changes that came with pregnancy, fearing all the things new mothers must fear, and she was insecure because she’d been let down by a man before. She’d be just fine. Mac and Jay lived for this woman. She just needed some time to believe that again.

“What about you? You and Troy looked pretty happy last night. How is that going?” Kat seemed much more relaxed now. Kelly was surprised over how much she wanted to tell Kat all about her relationship.

“It’s going great. He’s wonderful, Kat. I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to let him touch me, that I wouldn’t be able to open myself to him. But it was like he’d been dissolving my fears and barriers all week, and they were just gone last night. And we have so much fun together. He has this insanely stressful job, and I’ve spent so many years holding tight to my control, not letting myself really enjoy anything, but when we’re together we can actually play with each other. We laugh and talk about everything. He can make me giggle, Kat. I didn’t know I even could giggle. He’s funny and sweet and so affectionate. And then, he can turn it on a dime and he’s all heat and fire. He makes me feel so much. I want to make his life better because I feel like he gave me back mine. Even more, I just want to be the one to make him happy. I’m falling for him, Kat.”

They’d been casual friends for over a year. In the last week, she felt she had learned about his soul. And she realized she’d spent twelve years preparing herself for this. Years in which to grow up and find her strength. Years to focus on herself and her career. The whole time she thought she’d never have anything else, but all along, she was really just growing into the woman who could have a life with a man like Troy.

Kat gave her a brilliant smile and hugged her close. “I’m so happy for you, Kelly. You deserve love and joy and definitely giggles.”

“Do I also deserve my best friend’s cooperation? Because honestly, Kat? You smell. And you’re a bit greasy. You are going to this party tonight and you are going to look fabulous. We’ll go to the spa and get the works. I even brought in a new massage therapist who specializes in pregnancy massage. And I have the most amazing outfit for you. Can you try to be nice today? I’d really like to just relax with you. I did lose my virginity last night, you know. A girl should really get to enjoy her day after something as life altering as that. But if I have to cuff you to the table to get you ready for this party, I will. I’d probably enjoy that, too. It’s your call.” Kelly got out of the bed and headed for the bathroom to get the shower started. She heard Kat get out of bed and grumble a “damnit,” but she soon joined Kelly in the bathroom and obediently stepped into the shower. Kelly smiled in triumph as she left to get some of Kat’s things ready for the day.

By the time they had finished brunch and were heading to the spa, Kat seemed to be in a better mood. Kelly was really excited about her present to Kat. She knew that she hadn’t felt pretty in a long time, but Kelly planned to turn her into a work of art. She had hired a body artist to paint Kat’s skin with a beautiful and shimmering peacock feather design. Parts of her face and arms would also be painted. She had some stick-on jewels to add some more sparkle, and the fabric that she would wrap around Kat’s hips and breasts was sheer and gorgeous. She’d look like a live painting. Kelly kind of wanted to get painted, too. The pictures she had seen of this guy’s work were simply stunning.

“I cannot believe you convinced me to get waxed. I thought that was the one positive to being pregnant. I managed to avoid that torture for over thirty fucking weeks. I will say, though, it feels so nice to have smooth skin again. Shaving just doesn’t compare. I feel human. But I’m still pissed. It’s just the principle of the matter. Who’s that guy?” Kat was wrapped in a huge towel and just now noticing there was a strange man eyeing her up.

“This is your body artist. He’s going to paint you.” Kelly showed Kat the drawing of what she’d look like when she was finished.

“You want to turn me into a peacock? What the fuck?” Kat was slowly backing out of the room. Oh, hell, no. Kat was not going to ruin Kelly’s plan. She was excited about this, and Kat was just going to have to suffer through it.

“You are not going to look like a peacock, you idiot. It’s going to be stunning, and you’re going to lay back and let him do his job. Jesus, have a little imagination. It’s not like I asked him to paint a pumpkin on your stomach.” Kelly pointed to the massage table she had set up for the painting. Kat stomped her foot and proceeded to lie down. Kelly left the room to finish getting herself pampered.

Two hours later Kelly was putting on her black heels. She felt so good. Scrubbed and polished, hair, nails, and toes gleaming to perfection. And she loved the black halter dress she found. It was elegant and silky, and it hugged her body nicely. She couldn’t wait to see Troy’s face when he saw her. She was actually showing her back, and she felt good about it. Now Kat on the other hand had better be painted and ready to get dressed. They had twenty minutes to finish her outfit, and Kelly was not going to be late.

When she walked into the room, Kat was sound asleep on the table, snoring away. But Jesus, she was a vision. The painter was reclining in a chair next to her with an indulgent smile on his face. “Passed out before I finished with the first feather. It can be a really soothing experience. I just wanted to make sure she didn’t ruin it before it dried. Or roll off the table.” He started packing up his things while Kelly looked at the painting.

“She looks beautiful. You did an amazing job. Thanks for coming all the way out here.” Kelly shook his hand and gently nudged Kat awake.

“Hey, sleepy. Let’s get you dressed. We have to get going soon. You’re going to love this, Kat. Really. It looks awesome.” Kelly grabbed the material and helped Kat to her feet. Without saying a word she fastened the skirt and halter half top. Then she ushered Kat over to the mirror so she could see the finished product.

“Holy shit. That is the coolest thing I have ever seen, Kelly. You’re a genius. I was really irritated about this, but I admit, I look fucking great. Thank you so much. I haven’t felt this pretty in months.” She was turning to and fro, checking out the way a different angle changed the patterns. It really was stunning. Kelly noticed that Kat’s nose was getting red and knew they had better move before she ruined everything by crying.

“Okay, mama. Let’s head out.” She shuffled a sniffling Kat out the door and to her car.

As soon as they entered the second floor of the club, all the activity stopped. Everyone took in Kat’s appearance and then applauded with oohs and ahhs. Kelly felt tremendous satisfaction from the response and Kat’s obvious joy over the compliments. She took pride in making her friends happy, and this had gone over better than she could have anticipated. But when she found Troy in the crowd and saw that he only had eyes for her, she practically forgot Kat and the whole reason they were there tonight. Watching him walk over to her, she felt like they were the only two people in the room.