“We’re always good, Ash.”
One Month Later
I’m walking down the sidewalk towards Lukas’ tattoo parlor, texting Tanner about a few new missing dogs that we’re going to set some traps for and bam, I crash right into someone, knocking her phone, keys, and purse out of her hands and onto the sidewalk.
“Shit,” I mutter. “I’m sorry. Totally my bad, I wasn’t paying attention.” I say, kneeling down to help her pick up all the stuff she just dropped.
“Neither was I.”
Hearing her voice again slices though me like a hot knife through butter, but that’s nothing compared to the feeling that flashes through me when we both look up at the same time and our eyes meet. It’s like getting struck by lightening.
“Kenzi…” I swallow hard, feeling lightheaded. She looks the same but so different. Older. More mature. Her hair has a darker brown shade mixed in with her blonde, and it really brings out her eyes, which I’m trying hard not to stare into like a lovesick puppy.
Those eyes. Holy shit, I miss those eyes.
“Tor…,” she takes a deep breath as she stares at me, her eyes growing wide as if she’s trying to take in the sight of every inch of me all at once. “I didn’t even see you.”
I stand and offer her my hand to help her up. “I had no idea you were in town.” I say, feeling completely lost. I can’t take my eyes off her. She looks amazing in a tight black V-neck sweater, jeans that fit like a second skin, and those damn little black motorcycle boots. The memory of the time I made love to her with nothing else on but those boots surfaces, and I quickly try to put those images out of my head. Some things never change.
She falters, losing herself under my intense gaze. “I moved back here about a month ago. I’m living with Rayne, that’s why I’m here,” she gestures over towards Lukas’s shop. “She works here and I had to drop something off for her.”
“I was just heading there for my tattoo appointment.” A month. She’s been here for a month and I didn’t even know. Why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t Asher tell me? Is life going to fuck me over and take her away from me when we finally have things fixed?
The corners of her mouth tilt up and her smile lights up her face. “You’re still getting ink? I’m surprised you have any open skin left.”
“We’re working on my legs now,” I reply. “How have you been?”
She pulls the strap of her bag up higher on her shoulder. “I’m doing well. My calligraphy business is going great. I’m actually designing a lot of those hand-lettered tattoos for people, especially Lukas’ clients, and I’m selling a lot of the cookies I told you about.”
“The cookies with the writing?”
“Yeah. A lot of brides have been buying them. And I just started making some for dogs that have cute words on them.”
“Wow, that’s really cool. I’m proud of you, Angel.” The nickname slips out past my lips before I can stop it.
A hint of pink touches her cheeks. “Thank you,” she says. “I was going to call you once I got settled.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?” I ask, because I can’t stand here not knowing why. “Why were you waiting to call me? What if I hadn’t run into you just now?”
“Because I wanted us to reconnect with me being on my own. Not living in my father’s house. Even though he’s doing his best to accept it, I couldn’t see having you come over to see me in his house, or make him watch me leave his house to go to yours, and then come back again later that night. That’s the place where you were my uncle and I was your niece, and I think we need to stay away from those memories for a little while, at least in front of him.”
I nod slowly. “Okay. That makes sense and I can accept that.”
“I was definitely going to call you, Tor,” she assures me. “Please don’t think I wasn’t. I just wanted us to start off right, and I wanted some time with my father, too. To make sure he’s really okay. I just wanted to do everything right.”
Right. That’s what I want, too. Everything to be right. And normal. Without lies, and betrayal and worry.
“Can I take you to dinner?” A year ago, we couldn’t go out to dinner for fear of someone seeing us. But now, I don’t care. Asher already knows, so there’s nothing to hide. Now I can take her on a real date.
She beams. “I’d love to. When?”
“Is tonight too soon?” I ask with a grin. No point in trying to hide my impatience, right?