Life's Next Chapter (13 page)

“To my truck to get a change of clothes. Oh and wear something comfortable, after breakfast I’m taking you and the girls somewhere fun.”

Looking at him with confusion, “like how comfortable?”

He leans against the doorframe. “Like touristy comfortable…shorts and sneakers,” laughing, as he drops his towel and runs down the stairs.

WE HAVE BREAKFAST with my grandparents and the girls. The girls were thrilled to see Luke. They were very well behaved, which I appreciated even more. Granddaddy tried to give him the fifth degree, but Luke, having been in the military, handled it like a trooper. He even winked at me when Granddaddy was lecturing him about how to respect a lady. I just smiled. Seeing him sit on the couch next to the one man that means the world to me, brings out emotions I have tucked so far away. I want so much with this man, but I am terrified. I’m even more terrified I might be pregnant. Something I never really wanted to go through again, especially this way. Single, with two daughters and a possible boyfriend. I don’t even know if he is my boyfriend. We haven’t discussed this, hell we haven’t discussed anything. I still haven’t met his daughter. She will go ballistic if she finds out she is going to have a sibling at the age of eighteen
. UGH! My crazy life
!

Nana loved Luke. She couldn’t get enough of him, especially squeezing his biceps. She looked like a schoolgirl blushing every time she went to pinch his arm. I just might think my Nana just might have the hots for Luke. I don’t blame her; he is so damn hot he makes my insides melt just looking at him.

The girls were over the moon to show us the pancakes they made us. They were pretty tasty, too. We didn’t stay long because I knew Luke wanted to take us somewhere. So, I told my grandparents that we would have them over for dinner so they could get to know Luke. They were pleasantly accepting and excited. I was shocked, after Keith I didn’t expect them to like any guy I brought around.

Luke loads the girls in their booster seats as I hug and kiss my grandparents goodbye. My Nana whispers in my ear as we hug goodbye, “I like that fellow, he’s a good man, Katie.”

I pull back and mouth, “I know” to her as my Granddaddy leans in to hug me. I hop into the passenger side of the truck with Luke driving us to some unknown destination. The girls played one hundred questions with him. He was taking it well, but after the twenty-fifth question, I was really getting tired of the game. I tell the girls to take a breather and let’s listen to the music. I turn on the radio to my favorite country station and Hunter Hayes’s song
I Want Crazy
comes on. The girls and I have heard this song a number of times, so I crank up the dial a little more and we sing our hearts out. Luke’s driving with his right hand on the wheel and his left elbow is resting on the door. I glance to Luke, singing along with us; surprisingly he has a good voice. The girls are pretending to strum their air guitars. Luke watches me sing. He’s not a fan of country music, but seeing him sing with us is such a turn on. Once the song is over, he has the biggest, sexiest smile on his face. He grabs my hand and pulls it to his mouth. He kisses the back on my hand. “Sunshine that is our song. I don’t want easy, I want crazy with you and them.” He cocks his head to the back seat, where my girls are shaking their heads as fast as they can.

“Well, you certainly have crazy with us, there’s no doubt about that.” I laugh as the girls look like bobble heads. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with those two
. Lord help them.

We’re on the Interstate, passed downtown, and he’s taking the exit closest to the theme parks when I finally realize where he is taking us. “Luke, seriously?” He just grins at me. “You can’t take us here, this place costs a fortune.”

“Have the girls been here?” He asks in a determined tone. He looks in the review mirror. “Girls, would you like to go to Sea World?” The girls are silent.

“I think they are stunned,” I laugh to Luke.

“You didn’t answer my question, have the girls been here?” He pulls his sunglasses up and gives me a serious look. I study those beautiful eyes and only one word comes out of my mouth.

“No.” I mumble out of my mouth.

“Good. I thought we all could enjoy a day of fun.” I place my other hand of top of his.

“Luke, this is too much. We should do bowling, not a theme park.” His jaw is clenching, and I know he is getting irritated with me.

“Kate, please, I want to do this. I didn’t get many chances with Danika at this age, and they aren’t getting the chance with their father. So, in a way, we’re helping each other out.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

Our day at Sea World was pure joy. We entered the park and Luke was adamant about getting a group picture. Once we were posed, him holding Julia and Nicole, I knew exactly what his intentions were: to replace the Disney picture with the Sea World one. I don’t think I looked at the camera; I couldn’t take my eyes off Luke and his big smile. He looked so happy and content.

At the Shamu show they asked all Veterans and active military to please stand, so the staff at Sea World could thank them for their “service and sacrifice for our freedom”. Luke stood, and I had goose bumps run all over my body with how proud I was of him, and thankful for all the men and women I saw all around us. The girls went crazy chanting, “Lukey is our hero!”

Then there were other countless animals. We saw the dolphins, penguins, polar bears, sharks; we pet the stingrays, fed the dolphins, and fed the seals. We caught a few shows, including the Pet Show, where the girls informed me they wanted a dog. Luke thought that was a great idea, until I gave him my death stare. “No, momma works with dogs all day long, you can see and play with them at any time. Plus, we have horses. When you turn eight maybe we’ll think of getting a dog.” No way, I can’t add another responsibility to my list, especially when I am counting down the days until my period. I have never wished or wanted my period to come so badly.

As the sun is going down, the girls get whiny and tired, so I suggest to Luke we should get going. He scoops up both girls in his arms. They lay their sweet heads on his shoulder and doze off as we walk to the truck. Taking out my cell phone, I slowly walk behind Luke because I want to capture such an adorable picture. I truly believe, just like animals, children have a sixth sense about people. My girls have been attached to Luke since the moment they met him. And they don’t really seem to care their own father isn’t around. I hope that they feel Luke’s warmth and the love he has for them.
Shit, did I just say love?
Maybe it’s more like warmth and affection, or fondness. Hell, it’s something, but I don’t think he loves us. All I know is in this moment my feelings for him have changed.

Luke helps me put the girls to bed. He tells me as much as he wants to stay; he needs to get home because Danika is coming by in the morning. I agree and walk him to his truck. I thank him for a wonderful day, and for the group picture he bought. “Get some sleep, sunshine. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He drags me to his body. Wrapping his arms around me, he leans down and kisses me. Standing on my toes, I wrap my arms around his neck. I can hear him growl from frustration and pleasure. He picks me up as if I weigh nothing. Wrapping my legs around him, he pushes my back against the truck. The space between our mouths closes with ferocity as he slides his tongue over my top lip and around to my bottom, then pulls it into his mouth, softly sucking on it. I moan with greed, I want him with a vengeance.

“Luke.” I whimper into his mouth.

“I know, baby, I want you so damn bad. But, I don’t have any more condoms on me.”

I groan from annoyance. Kissing along his neck, my body is trembling. Luke cups my breast and rubs his thumb over my sensitive nipple. “Luke, please, right here, right now…pull out before you come.” I pull back, my hands on his jaw as I look into his eyes.

“Damn, baby you are going to kill me.” With that he stands me up to unsnap the button to my shorts, and pulls them down along with my panties. I step out of them, and as I look at Luke he already has his shorts around his hips and his erection has sprung free. He picks me up, places me against the truck, and with one swift move, he’s inside of me. The feeling of him making me completely full throws my body into overdrive. Luke leans his whole body into me. My back rubs up and down the cool metal of the truck. “Christ, sunshine, you feel so fucking good.”

My face is buried in his neck. I gasp for breath as I can feel my lower body start to convulse. “Luke, I’m,” is all I can mutter.

“I’m almost there, Kate.” Luke continues to bury his cock in me further.

“Hurry, babe.” I squeeze my legs around his waist tighter.

“Now, Kate.” As, I shake from the force of my orgasm, I feel empty and alone. Looking at Luke, he has pulled out and finds his release. He grabs my face in the palm of his hands. “That was one fan-fucking-tastic goodbye kiss,” he says with the biggest grin. He gently places me on the ground, where I retrieve my shorts and panties. Once they are on, he hops in the truck and gives me a quick kiss goodbye.

“Call me when you get home?” I ask of him. I watch him leave the driveway, and I go and lock the gate. Locking the gate, I notice a car sitting across the road. I can’t see if anyone is in there, but it doesn’t seem to be on. I didn’t see it coming home. Feeling chills run up my spine, I double check the lock and walk up the driveway. Once I am in the house, I run upstairs to look out the girls’ window to the road. The car is gone. Shit!
Did that pervert just watch Luke and me?

MONDAY MORNING ARRIVES and I’m running late to work with Dr. Pierce in her clinic. I drop the girls off at school and head into town to Dr. Pierce’s office. I glance in the review mirror and notice a cop is following me.
Crap!
Looking at my speedometer I see I’m not driving too fast. I’m going four miles over. He continues to follow me, and I have a gut feeling this isn’t about speeding. I move all the way over to the right, the cop still following me. Then the lights appear. Shit, I knew this would happen. I pull into the parking lot of a drug store. Reaching over to the glove compartment, I’m digging for my insurance card. When I turn around, Keith is glaring at me through the window.

“Jesus Christ, Keith. What the hell did I do?”

“Get out of the truck, Kate!” He demands.

“No, not until you tell me what violation I broke for you to pull me over.”

“Your tail lights are out.”

“What?”

Not paying attention to the rear of my truck this morning, I just jumped in the truck and left. I push him out of my way and walk to the rear of my truck. Someone bashed out my lights.

“Keith, these aren’t out, someone broke them!”

“Shit out of luck, Kate, can’t help you. You will get a ticket for it though.”

“Fine, hurry it up, I’m late.”

“You say ‘hurry’ a lot, always in a rush, huh?”

“What the hell are you talking about? I’m late Keith, write me the damn ticket so I can get to work!”

“I’m talking about you fucking that asshole just feet from my daughters’ window.”

I am astounded by the vulgarity coming from him. It was him; he was watching us. I hold back the tears. I will not let him see me cry.

“That was you…you were watching us.”

“You haven’t changed at all, Kate. So desperate you will screw anything, anywhere, and anytime.”

“Go to hell, Keith. Let me be. I don’t want anything from you, so leave me the hell alone.”

“Sugar, but you do have something. OUR DAUGHTERS!” He screams in my face, and I can feel his spit on my face.

“Keith, we have a court order, you are allowed to see the girls whenever you want. Just because you choose not too, is not my problem.”

“You listen here, stupid. I’ll be damned if another man is around my daughters. You don’t need to go and fuck up their minds thinking it is okay to bring home a man anytime you feel the need for some dick.”

I push him out of my way and get back into the truck. “You are such an asshole, Keith. Luke is the first guy I have been with since you. He adores our girls, and the girls adore him. I don’t give a shit what you think, and you will not tell me how to live my life. MAIL ME THE FUCKING TICKET!” I yell back at him as I drive away. Calling Dr. Pierce, I let her know I have an emergency and can’t come in.