Always Enough (8 page)

She looked shocked. “How do you know I watched you play football?”

I raised my eyebrow at her and said, “Harper, you really don’t think you got away with hiding under the bleachers during the games, even after you’d said you weren’t coming, did you? Or when I’d catch you sitting in your car across the field from my house while Finn and I were throwing the ball … unless you were there to watch Finn?”

I was teasing and her cheeks held a tint of pink. She looked down and fidgeted with her hands in her lap.

“I didn’t know you’d seen me. How come you never said anything?”

“Because you didn’t want me to see you, and if you did, you would have stopped coming.”

She looked back up at me and we stared at each other for several moments before someone cleared their throat.

“Uhhh … yeah, I think we’ll just go in the other room and leave you two alone.”

It was Lincoln that spoke. Obviously Harper and I had forgotten that we weren’t alone. Her cheeks flushed slightly pink again and she gave a small smile.
Since when had my Harper become easily embarrassed?

Still looking at her I spoke to the guys, “Nah, that’s okay, we need to get back to our room. We’ll catch you all later.”

Harper stood up and said goodbye to all of them, telling them it was nice meeting them. Levi chimed in and asked if I was bringing Harper with me to his party.

“Party?” Harper looked at us questioningly.

“Yeah, Levi’s birthday is in a few days and he’s rented out a full floor of an exclusive club in Manhattan. Although, I’m not sure if you’ll want to come with us, it’s going to be pretty much all guys, and the club is well … uhhh … just not the type you find other females in.” I said.

“So what you’re saying is that it’s a strip club?”

I’d been to several strip clubs before but for some reason, admitting to Harper that it was that kind of club was sort of embarrassing. Plus I didn’t want her thinking that I was into that kind of thing. My eyes were for her and her alone. No one could ever compare to her.

“Actually,” Levi interjected, “it’s a gentlemen’s club.”

She snickered. “There’s a difference?”

“Hell yeah, there’s a difference. Strip clubs are for men who are missing their teeth, and women who need someone to be their baby-daddy. A
gentlemen’s club,
” he used air-quotes to emphasize the term, “is for business men looking for a calm evening and something gorgeous to look at. The women there are educated, and aren’t working to pay their way through college.”

Harper burst out laughing. “That’s a really fucked up description. Do the women get naked at the
gentlemen’s club
?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then it’s a strip club,” she replied, leaving no room for argument.

Levi looked frustrated, but the rest of the guys were amused.

“Time to go, feisty girl … before Levi tries to tell you that the girls’ tits are real, and that they’re dancing because they like the music,” I said.

We got up and left the room and went back to our suite to settle in for the night.

“The guys really seem to like you.” I grinned at her.

“You sound surprised?” Her tone is playful.

“No, I knew you’d charm them. I’m just glad they all like you.”

We were standing by the door to her bedroom, when she looked up at me through her long thick brown lashes.

“Are you sure you don’t want to sleep in the same bed as me?” She asked so seductively that I felt my dick twitch, and I had to question my reasons for not being in the same bed with her.

Feeling the need to be honest with her I said, “No, I’m not sure. I want you, Harper. I will
always
want you … but I need it to happen this way.”

She leaned in ever so slightly and I felt the draw to her. She put her hand up and around my neck, pulling me down to her incredible mouth. Her soft lips parted and I felt her tongue brush my bottom lip. I opened my mouth, accepting her in as we kissed and tasted each other. I needed to pull away before things got too heated. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself if they did, that was something I was certain of.

“You’re tempting me,” I said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Maybe, but you’re obviously resigned to going along with this little … test of wills. That’s fine,” she said, before she kissed me on the lips one more time and moved out of my arms.

Before she walked into her room, she turned and smiled at me.

“Good night, Ky.”

“Night, beautiful.”

She went in her room and shut her door. I ran my hands through my hair and gave it a frustrated tug. Time for me to take a cold shower and have a chat with the Behemoth. I’d never last the week with her kissing me like that.

“Grandma, where’s Daddy?” I came in to the cool air-conditioned house after riding my bike outside. California is always hot during the summer.

“He’s in his bedroom, baby. But I think he’s already asleep.” Grandma has weary eyes.

Daddy has been living with my Grandma and Grandpa since Mommy made him leave. I spend a lot of time at Grandma’s house because my Mommy has to work a lot and Grandma runs a daycare in her home, so Mommy lets me come here all of the time. I don’t see my Daddy much though. He’s always gone with his friends. But when he does come back, he always walks back to his room, and shuts the door.

“Can I go lay down with him, Grandma?” I ask.

“Sure, just don’t wake him up. You know how he gets mad.”

I walk down the hall towards my dad’s bedroom, passing all of the family photos that line the walls. There are a few pictures of me from school, a photo of my grandparents together, and pictures of Daddy when he was younger. He looked different then. Now he looks skinnier, and tired.

I slowly open the door to the bedroom and walk into the dark space. It is lit by the small television that is playing a National Geographic show talking about venomous snakes. Daddy is lying on the bed face down on his pillow, already asleep. Creeping in, I silently slip my shoes off beside the bed and climb up, trying not to jostle him. There’s an extra pillow next to him so I put it under my head and lay down beside him. The television is turned all the way down so I can’t hear it, but I lie there watching the snakes move across the screen, until I fall asleep …

I open my eyes after my short nap to a darkened room. The TV is still on and it’s bright enough for me to turn over and see that Daddy is no longer in bed with me. I can’t help the tear that escapes my eyes and hiccup that comes from my chest. Daddy always leaves me. He never wakes me to say he has to go. I’m sad, and all alone …

I sat up abruptly. The sun shone brightly into the room, and I squinted against the onslaught of light. My head hurt. I hadn’t had that particular dream in years. Why I was having it now, when I hadn’t thought about it in such a long time?

I needed to take a shower and go out to see if Ky was awake yet. I was a little surprised that I hadn’t woken up with him beside me. I’d sort of hoped he’d sneak in to sleep with me. Shaking off the disappointment, I got out of bed, took a quick shower, and dressed in black leggings matched with a peach, lace tunic. My hair hung over my shoulder in long subtle waves, and I slipped on a pair of knee length boots.

Walking out into the living room, the smell of coffee permeated the air. The table was set with orange juice, coffee, and a bagel with cream cheese—my favorite. Ky was sitting behind The New York Times, but moved it down to see me. I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at him. He was shirtless, his hair still wet from the shower. My mouth started watering, and my nether regions clenched. Ky was beautiful.

“You look hungry.” He paused. “Except with the way you’re looking at me I don’t think you’re hungry for food.” His mouth tipped up into a sexy smirk.

He had me pegged. He certainly would be more appetizing than the bagel, but I
would
maintain the upper hand here. After yesterday’s incident against the wall, I was determined to prove that he wanted me more than I wanted him.

“Keep dreaming, asshat. I’m craving the coffee, not you.”

He chuckled. “There’s my girl. I missed that term of endearment.”

I rolled my eyes and made my way over to the table. Taking a big long sip of the piping hot coffee, I devoured the bagel he’d so kindly prepared for me.

“How’d you sleep?” he asked.

Not wanting to talk about the dream that had rocked me awake, I answered with a simple, “Good.”

“So what time are we getting started on this sightseeing tour?”

“As soon as we’re done with breakfast, we can take off. I just need to go put a shirt on,” Ky said as he stood up from the table.

“Or don’t,” I dared him.

“Don’t start with me, woman. We have a long day ahead of us, and I’m already struggling here. You look good enough to eat. And stop giving me that smile.”

I laughed and licked my lips, enjoying watching his eyes dart down to my mouth. Oh yes, I was still in control.

Thirty minutes later we headed out, taking a cab to Castle Clinton to get tickets for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. I had to admit I was really excited to see the sights of the city. I was certain that everyone had to experience New York City at least once in their lifetime. What made my time here even better was that I was doing it with Ky. When the cabbie dropped us off, we boarded the ferry and floated our way to one of the US’s most popular sights. And what a sight it was. Its beauty, and the history behind it, flabbergasted me. Ky had booked us a guided tour and I soaked in everything that was said.

On the boat ride back, I leaned up against the edge of the boat deck, enjoying the cooler fall air and watching the New York skyline draw closer with every wave. I was relaxed and having a great time when Ky came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. I took a deep calming breath and sank into his embrace. It felt nice, and almost … normal. I was so happy in this moment that I could actually picture myself with Ky for the long haul. I knew he could make me happy, and building a future with him could be something wonderful, but I just didn’t know if I could do it while he was on tour. The fans—and the girls that would be begging for his attention—was something I wasn’t sure I could handle. Even if I
could
manage to take the leap and be with him for real, I swear I’d cut a bitch if he was groped, manhandled, propositioned, or kissed. For this to work, he would have to be
mine
. I didn’t share. This didn’t even have anything to do with my issues that surrounded my father, and my fear that he’d leave me, it was me being female. I was a naturally a jealous person, and I’d stake my claim.

The daddy-issues were a whole other problem. Before talking with Em, I hadn’t realized just how much the trauma of what my father did had affected the way that I lived my life. He was never there for me. I had plenty of other family members that supported me throughout my life, but I had to learn at an early age what drugs and promiscuity did to a family. Like in my dream, even when my father would come back around he was still never
there
, and he would always leave me to pick up the pieces whenever he upped and left again. I’d always wanted my father to play the role that he was supposed to.

When I looked at Ky, I knew he would never be that kind of person to me. He wasn’t the kind of man to lead me on, only to crush me and leave me in the end. And I had to remember that Ky had never touched drugs, or had an alcohol problem, like my father did. That was the catalyst that ruined my parents’ relationship. But I knew that Ky loved me and would be there for me. My heart felt it, but was I capable of believing it?

The ferry moored up to the pier and we got off. Jumping into our second cab of the day, Ky told the man to take us to MetLife Stadium. The Giants game was starting soon. When we arrived, we were escorted up to the suite to have dinner, and watch the game. As a realtor, I’d seen plenty of beautiful houses but this was impressive, and not just because the room was beautiful, but because the service was impeccable as well. I’ve always enjoyed the finer things life has to offer, and this room gave me exactly that. The room had a floor-to-ceiling glass window that looked out over the stadium. The walls were painted in a neutral color with several tables situated along them. Trays of food with sandwiches, cheeses, cookies, and cakes covered the first table. The second table had two plates with chicken marsala and wine. The middle of the room had a black leather couch and two black reclining ottomans with a massive seventy-two inch flat screen on the wall.

Ky guided me into the room, his hand resting on my lower back. We sat down at a small table by the window and a stadium worker served us our plates and wine. When she left, Ky looked over at me and gave me a brilliant smile.

“Are you having a good time?” he asked.

“I am, today has been wonderful.”

We ate our dinner while chatting about anything and everything. It was nice, and I felt at ease with him. Ky gave me some pretty heated looks while I was eating, probably because with every mouthful, I moaned my appreciation. It was the best damn chicken marsala I’d ever had.