Laces and Lace (Assassins #6) (7 page)

“I’m not going anywhere, Lacey. I’m here. I’m yours. Just give me the chance.”

Biting into the inside of her cheek so hard it hurt, she closed her eyes as she leaned her forehead against his lips, taking in a deep breath. She was given a second chance at life to live it, not to hide. She had to live her life to the fullest, and a part of her knew that she wouldn’t be living if Karson weren’t a part of her life. Yes, she was terrified, and yes, there was a chance that he would completely break her, but she couldn’t help but try. She didn’t care how crazy it was. She felt the same thing he did. So she slowly nodded as she looked back up into the caramel eyes she craved to look into daily.

A grin came over his lips, and she returned it before whispering, “Yes.”

Karson wasn’t sure who moved first, but the next thing he knew, he was wrapped up in Lacey’s arms, kissing her so hard that he couldn’t breathe. Not that he wanted to. All he wanted was to kiss her for the rest of his life. As his mouth moved with hers, he knew this was it for him, and he didn’t plan on ever letting her go. Deepening the kiss, his tongue moved with hers in the most delicious way, causing the passion in him to rise. Holding her close, he separated only an inch to look deep into her eyes.

Into his heaven.

“As much as I don’t want to let you go, I have to pay these guys, so one second,” he said with a quick grin, reluctantly letting her go to pull some twenties out of his pocket. Thankfully, they had turned the lights back on, and everyone went back to doing what they were doing before Karson turned into a completely pussy and serenaded her. While he knew that he was going to get shit for it at practice tomorrow, he couldn’t muster up anything to care. All he cared about was making Lacey happy, and he thought he succeeded pretty damn well.

“Great job, guys,” he said, before handing them money. They all grinned before heading off, leaving him with Lacey. Turning, he smiled at her before taking her hand in his. “What are your plans tonight?”

She smiled as she laced her fingers with his. “I need to study.”

“Wanna get some dinner first?”

“Is this the date you spoke of?”

“Yeah, one of many to come. Can I please steal you away from studying? I know that’s bad, but I really can’t imagine leaving you after all this.”

A grin pulled at her lips as she said, “Yeah, I can study later. Let’s go.”

Elated, Karson waited as she packed up her stuff before wrapping his arm around her waist and leaving the coffee shop. Heading into the snow, they walked quickly to the Logan’s Roadhouse that was on campus. He knew there was a chance that it could be swamped, but luckily, it wasn’t. Being seated, he scooted into the same side of the booth that she did, grinning when she looked at him, surprised. Taking her book bag, he placed it in the empty spot across from them before looking down at the menu. He could feel her staring at him and looked over to find her grinning at him.

“I have to admit, this is my first date in years, probably, so I may be a tad bit rusty, but aren’t you supposed to sit over there?”

He laughed. “I could, but I don’t want to.” He shot her a grin before saying, “Your kissing isn’t rusty, that’s for sure.”

A giggle escaped her before she pressed her lips shut tight, looking over at him with playfulness in her eyes. “Well, thank you.”

Leaning over, he pressed his lips to hers softly before saying, “No, thank you.”

They held each other’s gazes until the waitress came over for their orders. After their food was ordered and drinks were delivered, Karson turned to ask, “So, how’s school going?”

She shrugged as she folded her hands under her chin. “Good, I failed my math pop quiz today. I hate math.”

“I’m pretty good at it. I’ll help you out if you’d like.”

“I would, thank you.”

“No problem. I won’t miss school once I go into the draft. I hate writing papers and crap. It’ll be nice to just relax and play. Knowing my mom though, she’ll probably suggest I take online classes.”

“Why did you go to school in the first place? Weren’t you offered to go into the draft after high school?”

Karson’s mouth turned up at the side. “Been stalking me?”

She laughed. “Please, if anyone is the stalker in this relationship, it’s you.”

“Maybe… But to answer your question, yes, I was offered, but my mom pushed me to go to school first to make sure that hockey was what I wanted to do.”

“Is it?”

“Hell yeah,” he scoffed with a laugh.

She smiled as she agreed. “You were born for it.”

“Yeah, I love it.”

Holding his gaze, she smiled as she said, “So you want to start a relationship with me when you have one foot out the door?”

“See, I thought about that, but then I figured that you’re the kind of girl that’s worth the trouble of a long-distance relationship. I know you want to stay here because your family is here. I would never expect you to go with me, but wherever I go, believe me, I’ll be yours only.”

“If this works, and the time came for you to leave, then you best believe you’ll be only mine. Don’t cheat on me, Karson King. I’ll kill you…with a hockey stick.”

Laughing, Karson said, “You think I don’t know that?”

Laughing along with him, she leaned into him as she asked, “So where are your mom and dad?”

“Wisconsin. My sister Kacey goes here though, plays for the women’s team.”

“Wisconsin is a good place to go to college, especially for hockey. Why come here?”

“They offered me a full ride. I couldn’t pass it up. Plus, your dad promised to mold me into a great player. He’s succeeded, I think.”

She nodded as their plates were delivered. “Yeah, he is good at what he does. Been doing it his whole life.”

“Yeah, my dad believed in him, so I did. Now though, I’m ready for the pros.”

Lacey agreed as she dug into her food, and he did the same. After swallowing, he asked, “Do you live on campus?”

“Yeah, I had to get out of the house before my dad smothered me. We get free room and board here since he is the coach. Even though he and Grady begged me to stay home, I decided to be a rebel and do what I want.”

That made him smile before he asked, “Why did they want you to stay home?”

Looking away, she shrugged slowly. “I don’t know, maybe because I’m the only girl? My mom passed away when I was seven from breast cancer.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, his heart going out to her.

She gave him a tight smile before she went on. “Thank you, but they’ve been a little smothering since then. I think they are scared I’ll get hurt, when I could take out anyone who tried to hurt me. They are nuts and overprotective, which reminds me, I’m sorry Grady did that. He’s a bonehead.”

“He loves you; I understand it. Anyone ever touches Kacey, and I’ll do the same. It’s a big brother thing.”

“I guess, but he goes over and beyond the big brother requirements. He’s treated me like a walking time bomb since the diagnosis. It’s annoying.”

Karson stopped and glanced over at her. He could see it all over her face. She hadn’t meant to tell him that. “Diagnosis?”

Clearing her throat, she asked, “Huh?”

“You said diagnosis.”

She laughed, waving her hand at him. “I don’t know why, silly me.”

Still looking at her, he said, “I know this is new, but I know when you are lying to me. Lacey, what diagnosis?”

Dropping her fork, she let out a breath before wrapping her fingers together in her lap. She picked at the nail polish that was flaking off her fingers. Karson watched as she took in a deep breath before letting it out again. Looking up at him, she said, “I had breast cancer.”

His heart stopped as she held his gaze. “You had it, too?”

“Yeah, that’s how they found out about it. My mom had, so I was at risk. They suggested I come in early, just as a precaution, and found it.”

“Do you still?”

“No,” she answered, shaking her head.

“Well, that’s good, great even, that you fought it. Why are you bashful about something like that? You should be proud that you are a survivor.”

“I am. It’s just that I’ve been sick for so long, and I am just now getting back to me. You know what I mean? Like, I still don’t look like me. I used to be healthy looking and my hair was so long, but the chemo took it, and then I—” She stopped suddenly and shook her head. “It’s just that I have this second chance and I want to make the most of it, but sometimes I am so scared that I’m not the girl I used to be.”

Turning to her, Karson took her hand in his. “I didn’t know that girl, but I bet she was as amazing as you are now. You’ve taken something that could be a tragedy and are capitalizing on it, wanting to help women feel sexy after something that could make them feel like they aren’t female anymore. Breast cancer is scary. I admire you for what you’ve overcome and for your plans for the future. You are amazing, Lacey, and gorgeous. Don’t ever forget that.”

Her mouth pulled up at the side as she looked away bashfully. He said, “And to let you know, I’ve fallen just a bit more for you. You blow me away, Lacey. The more I learn about you, the more I know this instant attraction to you is more than I thought. I hope you’re ready.”

Confused, she asked, “Ready?”

“Yeah, ready for the kind of relationship that will ruin you for anyone else. Not that we have to worry about that because I know this is a forever kind of thing.”

“You’re so confident,” she said, shaking her head, a grin pulling at her lips.

“Yeah, because I know what I want, and when I want something as bad as I want you, I know I’ll do anything to keep it.”

“I admire that about you.”

“Good…because I’ve never been in love, and I want to do this right. I want to do you right. I read once that being someone’s first love is great, but to be their last is beyond perfect. I want that with you, and I don’t care how crazy that sounds.”

Looking away, she pulled in a deep breath before looking back at him. “You scare me shitless, Karson King, because I have decided to trust you. I hope to God that everything you say will be true because cancer broke me into a billion pieces, and I’m just now putting that all back together. Picking all those pieces up again would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do, so please don’t break me.”

Cupping her face, he leaned in, running his nose along hers before he whispered, “There won’t be any pieces to pick up because I’m not breaking you. I’ll hold you together. You’ll never face anything without me right there. I’ll be there until the end. I promise you that.”

“I trust you.”

That was all he needed to hear.

T
heir relationship was on the fast track from that moment on. It was intense and maybe a little insane, but Lacey wouldn’t have it any other way. She was falling madly for him, and she wasn’t the least bit ashamed of it. Wherever Karson was, Lacey was, and vice versa. They were constantly together, studying, going out, and just enjoying each other. She had never felt so free in her life, and she knew it was because of him. He made her feel alive, like the most beautiful girl in the world, and he continually told her that. She had never felt so strongly about someone, and despite Rachel and Grady telling her she was nuts for falling for him so quickly, she still allowed herself to do so.