I Choose You (8 page)

             
He stopped and offered her his hand, then helped her over a small crevice in the path.

             
“How do you mean?” Nicole asked, intrigued to learn something new about him.

             
“My parents never saved a dime and we were always scraping by. My dad couldn’t hold a job, so my mom would get odd jobs cleaning houses or babysitting, meanwhile, Roni and I would go days without eating. When I got old enough to start mowing lawns, I vowed that Roni would never go hungry again. I also promised myself that I would be smarter with my money, and I would never be worried about where my next paycheck was coming from.”

             
Nicole slowed down and took his hand in hers. “I think the way you look out for Roni is wonderful, and I’m amazed at the strength you had at such a young age.”

             
Kent pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly.

             
“Thanks, I’m glad that you can appreciate how important Roni is to me,” he looked up to get his bearings. “We’re about halfway through this trail. We’d better speed it up if we’re going to get you home in time to shower before work.”

             
They hit the trail hard. Nicole used the time to clear her head and to reflect on what Kent had told her about his childhood.

             
They’d led very different lives, and Nicole couldn’t imagine the obstacles he’d dealt with growing up, but she was very impressed with the man he was today.

             
Kent made sure they did some cool down stretches before getting back in the car.

             
He’d worried briefly that Nicole would look at him differently when he’d told her a little about his upbringing, but he was happy that he had. He wasn’t ready to tell her everything yet, but he was comfortable with what he’d told her.

             
He drove her back to her apartment and walked her to the door.

             
“Do you want to come in?” Nicole asked him, her face was flush from exertion and glistened prettily.

             
Kent felt a strong urge to gather her in his arms and take her to her room, kissing and stroking her gloriously toned body along the way. He imagined carrying her into the shower and lathering her up.

             
He shook his head, trying in vain to calm his raging hormones. He felt like a teenager again: unbearably horny and unable to find release. Well… At least not the way he wanted to.

             
“Um, no,” He replied gruffly. “I’d better not. You have to get ready for work and I have some stuff to do at my house. I’ll give you a call later.”

             
He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead, then turned and jogged down the stairs, leaving her there staring off after him, the confusion she felt apparent on her face.

Chapter Nine

             
Nicole was finishing up backing her bag when she heard a knock on the front door, indicating Kent had arrived with dinner.

             
Kara was going to be picking her up to go to Austin in a couple hours, and Kent had offered to bring dinner over for her and Roni before she left.

             
Roni had to work this weekend, so she couldn’t go on the Austin trip, but Nicole was excited to get away and see Bree and Colin. She was sure that Roni would enjoy having the apartment to herself for a few days. They were getting along great so far, but it was always nice to get some alone time.

             
Nicole zipped up her bag and took it out into the living room to set it by the front door. She prided herself on being punctual, and didn’t want to make Kara wait when she arrived.

             
Roni had let Kent in and they were setting the table for dinner.

             
“Hey, Kent,” Nicole said, walking over to give him a hug.

             
“Hey, Babe,” He replied, giving her a quick squeeze before releasing her. “I was just asking Roni if she wanted to spend some quality time with her big brother this weekend.”

             
“Really? Big brother? You are like two minutes older than me.” Roni said wryly.

             
“Still counts,” Kent countered with a wink.

             
“Mm mm, that looks delicious,” Nicole said, her stomach grumbling as they opened containers of tacos, beans, rice, salsa, and guacamole.

             
“The best you’ll ever eat,” Kent promised.

             
“That’s big statement,” Nicole replied. “We have some excellent Mexican food in Dallas.”

             
“Yeah, but this place is run by a sweet old lady who moved here from Mexico in her teens, and makes her own tortillas.” Kent boasted. “I’m telling you, no one makes a meal like Señora Garza.”

             
“Let’s stop talking about how good it’s and dig in,” Nicole counted with a laugh. “I’m dying over here.”

             
Kent and Roni sat down and Nicole began to make their plates. Kent couldn’t help but smile as he watched her, always the perfect hostess. He thought briefly at how perfectly he could see her in his life, long-term, then scowled; the last thing he needed to be thinking about was what a wonderful wife Nicole would make.

             
“You okay?” Roni asked him. “You look like you got a bad bite.”

             
Kent shook off the annoying thoughts and smiled at his sister. “No, I haven’t even tasted it yet. I was just thinking of something.”

             
“Well stop thinking and start eating,” Roni said with a laugh.

             
Nicole was already savoring the delicious combination of flavors, so she just smiled absently at the twins. She’d always wished she’d had siblings. Growing up as an only child, her parents had made sure she never wanted for any material things, but she’d always longed for a sister or brother.

             
Kent smiled at her obvious enjoyment of the meal.

             
“I’m right, aren’t I?”

             
Nicole could only nod as she enjoyed every bite.

             
“Rich called me and said he would be coming home for Halloween,” Kent said.

             
“Great,” Roni groaned.

             
“What’s your problem with Rich?” Kent asked her. “I didn’t raise you to be rude, but you seem to be every time you’re around Rich.”
              “I’ve seen too many guys like him, that’s all,” Roni answered.

             
“Rich is nothing like Hank, Roni, he’s a good guy. You should give him a break.”

             
“Hank?” Nicole asked curiously.

             
“My ex,” Roni stated.

             
“Rich said it looks like he’s on track to graduate in December, so it looks like you’ll have to get used to him being around full time.” Kent informed Roni.

             
Roni didn’t reply she just went back to eating with a scowl on her face.

             
When their bellies were full, Roni went to her room to wash up, while Nicole and Kent settled in the living room to wait for Kara.

             
Kent sat down, picked up Nicole’s feet and placed them on his lap. He picked up one perfectly manicured foot and began to massage it gently.

             
Nicole settled back and closed her eyes, groaning softly and smiling reflexively.

             
“That feels wonderful,” She said in a soft tone.

             
Kent quickly realized his mistake when he couldn’t pull his eyes from her beautifully curved mouth and his vision blurred at the sounds emitting from her throat.

             
God, she was hot.

             
He continued rubbing and pressing his fingers deeply into her skin, and tried not to dwell on the fact that her other foot was pressing perilously close to his hard cock.

             
“Shit, when is Kara gonna get here,” he wondered miserably.

             
Nicole lifted her other foot, and pulled the one he was rubbing out of his hands, indicating that she was ready for the other one to be massaged.

             
She opened one eye and grinned saucily at him, so he picked up the other foot and began rubbing, laughing in spite of himself.

             
When she put her other foot down, it inadvertently landed right on top of his strained jeans, causing him to jolt and her eyes to fly open.

             
Nicole sat up and moved closer to Kent, as he watched her warily.

             
He’d never been so afraid to have a girl coming at him like she wanted to eat him alive. This was unchartered territory.

             
Nicole had felt his erection, so she knew that he was turned on, but the look he gave her indicated that he was anything but. She wasn’t sure what to do. She really wanted to kiss him. She wanted to be in his arms and feel his hard body pressed against hers, but she was afraid of rejection.

             
She was debating with herself whether she should ask him what was wrong, or just throw herself at him, when there was a knock on the door.

             
Nicole got up to answer it, but not before she noticed the look of relief that crossed Kent’s face. She felt her stomach jitter with disappointment.

             
Had he changed his mind about dating her?

             
She opened the door and Kara came bounding in.

             
“Road trip!” Kara yelled.

             
Nicole laughed as she watched Kara dance around the room with excitement.

             
Roni came out of her room and said, “Hey Kara, don’t you look cute.”

             
Kara had a teal blue tank top on with a long white skirt that was twirling as she spun around.

             
“Thanks, Roni,” Kara said, stopping to give the other girl a hug. “I so wish you didn’t have to work and were coming with.”

             
“Me too,” Roni said with regret. “But I do have a hot date with my brother to look forward to.”

             
“Best date in town,” Kent chimed in, as he came over to give Kara a hug hello.

             
“I’ll say,” Kara said with a wink. “Hey, Kent, I was going to ask if you wouldn’t mind giving Pete a call to hang out one night while I’m gone. I want my man to have some fun and not just sit around missing me.”

             
Kent chuckled at that.

             
“Sure, we could probably get a poker night together or something. No worries, I’ll take care of him.”

             
Kara beamed at him.

             
“Thanks.”

             
She turned to Nicole, “You ready?”

             
Nicole nodded and walked over to pick up her bag.

             
They all walked down to Kara’s car and Nicole put her bag in the backseat, opening the front zipper and pulling out a water to keep in the front with her.

             
She walked over to the curb where Roni and Kent were saying goodbye to Kara.

             
“Tell Bree and Colin we say “Hi”,” Roni was saying to Kara.

             
Kent didn’t say anything about Briana or Colin. He hadn’t since she’d brought up the trip, which made Nicole wonder if he still had feelings for Bree.

             
“I have to get going too,” Kent said, looking briefly at his watch. “You girls have fun,” he said to Nicole and Kara, then turned to Roni and said, “I’ll give you a call to set something up.”