Page 48 of No One But You

Kaye playfully swatted Kora’s arm as she, too, wrapped her in a hug. “If you really wanted to keep your date secret, you wouldn’t have drug this handsome man all around town.” Kaye put her arm around Kai’s shoulder.

“Hey now, don’t steal Kora’s man and leave me all alone,” Charles said as he joined the group.

Kaye laughed and hugged Charles. “Don’t you worry handsome. These eyes are only interested in you.” She gave him a quick kiss.

Charles’s billowing laugh echoed around the pasture. “Good to know beautiful. Hey there, Kai.” He turned to me and shook my hand with a cobra-like grip. “It’s great to see you again. I’ve been by the salon and checked out your work, but you haven’t been there. I’ve heard you’ve been busy with our Kora, and I guess the rumors were right.” He pulled Kora into a squeeze.

“Charles, I can’t breathe,” she whispered.

“You’re fine, baby girl.” He patted her on the back. “Gotta watch out for this one, Kai. She’s a wild one. I think we need to tell you some stories about high school Kora that are so entertaining.” He squeezed Kora to his side, and a blush crept across her face.

“Don’t you dare.” She pointed a finger at him.

“Your dad expects me to keep an eye on you. He’ll be interested in finding out all about this fine young man who is taking up his daughter’s day.”

Kora rolled her eyes and turned toward me. “Charles and my dad have been friends since the dinosaurs roamed the earth.”

“Not quite that long. But almost,” Charles bellowed as he released Kora.

I met Charles before, but we didn’t talk much. He and Kaye made a cute couple, and he adored Kora. At least we had something in common. How could I not like him?

We all sat on Kora’s patio, and they did exactly what Charles said they would. They told lots of great stories of high school Kora and college Kora. I laughed so hard my side was hurting. I also learned that Kora had a killer gaze and didn’t like that I was amused by all the stories. Luckily, gazes couldn’t really kill, or I would have been dead on the ground a couple times.

This was what I always pictured family and extended family to be like. Joking and laughing together and sharing memories of the past as if it was just yesterday. I hoped Kora realized how lucky she was to have these people in her life.

“I don’t know about y’all, but I’m hungry and I don’t think anyone has planned dinner.” Tonya grabbed her phone and started dialing. “I’m going to order pizza. Is everyone good with pepperoni and mushroom?”

“Please order one with pepperoni only,” Kaye said. “You know I can’t stand mushrooms, T.”

“Kaye, hon, I still have hopes that you’ll grow up one day,” Tonya said. She winked and ordered the pizzas.

“While we wait, do you want to help me settle in the animals for the night? These goats will only go to bed if they get fed.” Kora stood, and Percy’s head popped up.

The goats had been lying around like a bunch of dogs the entire time we were talking. Percy at Kora’s feet, Baby Goat next to Tonya, and Jackson off on his own munching on the grass.

“Of course.” I followed Kora, and the goats fell into step behind us.

“You were quiet,” she said as she wrapped her arm around my waist and leaned her head on my shoulder. I could really get used to this.

I kissed the top of her head and let go of her to open the gate. The goats bounded ahead.

I chuckled. They were so entertaining. “I was just taking it all in. I loved the stories.” I pulled her to a stop and turned her toward me.

The light breeze blew strands of her hair around her face, and I brushed it back into a ponytail. “This is all exactly what I pictured a family would be.” I placed a light kiss on the tip of her nose. Her eyes were closed when I pulled away, and I just watched her. Took her in.

It was twilight, and the sun fell behind the hills in the distance. There was little light, but the moon was full, giving me just enough light to see all her perfect features.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she tilted her head to the side. “This is why I came back here after college. This is home to me. Everything about it. I’m lucky; I know that. But things have become even better recently.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck and weaved her fingers into my hair, sending chills down my spine. The feeling of her touch seemed to always have that effect on me. I held her face. “Things have become much better recently,” I agreed with her.

Her dark brown eyes smiled. Our eye color was as opposite as our upbringing, but we seemed to both want the same things: family, friends, and love. But they were all easier for her to express since she’d experienced the positive side of all those things. Our lips touched, and she pulled me closer to her. We might have grown up differently, but when we were together, none of that mattered. I moaned her name as the kiss intensified.

“Baa.” My thigh was rammed by a hard head.

“Ouch.” I broke away.

Baby Goat jumped up, his front hooves on my thigh. “Baa.”

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