Page 72 of No One But You

Her deep brown eyes held me tight, and I got lost in them.

“Kiss me, Kai,” she whispered.

I didn’t wait for her to ask again. I closed my lips desperately over hers and kissed her long and deep. God, I’d missed this all week. Her soft lips, her taste. My fingers tangled in her hair, and I held her tighter. I needed her closer, and soon, my tongue found hers.

I broke the kiss and held her steamy gaze. “Kora, I’ve never been good at expressing my feelings, and I have no idea how to be in a healthy relationship. What if I mess up? What if I fail you and fall back to what I know? What if I turn out like Terry?”

“Kai, if you mess up and if you fall, I’ll be here to catch you. Every time.” Her eyes shone bright and made my heart skip a beat.

“Thank you,” I said.

“And don’t worry. You’re nothing like Terry. You're kind, loving, and so much more.” She pushed up on her toes and kissed me softly.

It was a perfect kiss. A kiss that told me things would be okay. We were okay. My shoulders became lighter as the tension I stored in them evaporated.

“Let’s go,” she said when our lips parted. “I’m sure Aunt Tonya and the book club gossips will want to know what’s going on.”

I laughed and wrapped my arm around her waist, and we walked back to the yard. As soon as we turned the corner, we ran right into the book club.

“Wow. What a surprise. We never would have guessed you four would be eavesdropping on our conversation,” Kora said with a laugh.

Kaye and Ruth glanced down at the ground while Diane and Tonya faced us head on.

“We weren’t eavesdropping,” Diane said, her head high.

“Yeah, Kaye was showing us a bird’s nest, and we were wondering what kind of bird made it,” Tonya said.

Kora looked at Kaye, then the bush. “Kaye, why don’t I believe her? You and Ruth both look guilty.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kaye entwined her arm through Ruth’s.

“Yeah, don’t give us that teacher voice.” Ruth pulled Kaye’s arm, and they walked away. Ruth never could hold strong under pressure.

I laughed. Couldn’t help it. These book club ladies were too much. “Y’all are awesome.”

Diane walked away. “Yeah, we are, and it looks like all things worked out.”

Tonya nodded at them, winked, and followed her friends.

Chapter 27

Kora

I tried to wipe away the goofy smile I knew was plastered on my face but couldn’t. After our talk, my muscles relaxed again. My heart was bursting, and I was on cloud nine. It might sound corny, but there was no other way to describe it. I felt like I could accomplish anything right now. I was invincible. It was funny how a talk and a kiss from an outrageously handsome man could do that.

I watched Kai play cornhole with the guys. His face was lit up with laughter as he and Bryson high-fived their perfect throws. He was cutting up with them like he had grown up here. Like they were family. He was in his element. He and Bryson were again dominating, this time though in the backyard.

He looked more relaxed than I had seen before. Maybe it was because his past was out in the open. He wasn’t hiding anything from me, could be himself, and I was still interested. Damn was I ever.

“Someone’s happy.” Darlene said as she sat on the chaise lounge and joined me and Summer.

My eyes didn’t leave Kai, and I took a sip of wine. “Yeah. I guess you could say that.” I gave her a crooked smile.

“Well, I’m glad you worked things out with him,” Summer added. “I know I give you a lot of shit, but you really are good together.”

I exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Darlene, and we busted out laughing. It wasn't often Summer said something sweet.

Summer stood. “Whatever. See if I’m nice anymore. I gotta go.”

---