Over the Fence (31 page)

Kourtney laughed as I tickled her red, sock-covered feet that were draped over my knees. We were sitting on the sofa, she in her usual corner and me right beside her. I still couldn’t stop touching her. I had orbited around her all day, needing to be close and I was constantly drawn to her lips. Every chance I got, I kissed her. Thankfully, she seemed to feel the same way, returning my caresses with her own. “How many more questions are you going to ask me?”

I chuckled, relaxing back into the sofa. “I’ll keep asking until I know all there is to know about my girl. You’ve asked some yourself.”

She had managed to get a few queries in, but I was far more interested in her. I wanted to know every little piece to the puzzle that made up Kourtney Whyte. I had been bombarding her since lunch. Favorite color. Book. Movie. Hobby. Ice Cream. Time of day. Music. Anything I could think to ask her that didn’t include her family, or make her think I was trying to overwrite anything. I simply wanted to know more about
her.

She sighed, looking content and relaxed. Silence fell between us, the quiet surprisingly welcome and comfortable. The smell of her spaghetti sauce was drifting into the room from the kitchen, soft music playing from the stereo and we were cuddled together in our little bubble, while outside the rain had started again. I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt this relaxed . . . or this much as if I was where I finally belonged—as if I was home. It was all because of the remarkable woman sitting beside me; her eyes warm as she gazed at me. Absently, I picked up her hand, playing with her fingers, marveling how small her hands were in comparison to mine. When I closed my fingers around them, they disappeared. Grinning, I picked up one of her feet and studied it.

“What size feet do you have, Kourtney?”

“Six.”

“Ah. I wear a thirteen.”

She chuckled. “I know. Big feet.”

I grinned back. “Midget socks. How tall are you anyway? Do you break the five foot mark?”

She sat up straighter. “I am five foot two and a quarter, for your information.”

Smirking, I tweaked her nose. “Sorry, didn’t mean to dis the two inches there.”

“And a quarter,” she insisted haughtily.

“I’m six three, Kourtney. I have twelve plus inches on you.”

“Funny, I thought that’s what you had in me earlier,” she quipped back. Her hand flew up, covering her mouth, her face reddening, and her eyes widening as she realized what she had said.

I gaped at her, throwing back my head as I howled with laughter. She was so fucking brilliant.

She jumped off the sofa. “Come back here, I’ll show you twelve plus inches,” I laughed as she took off down the hall.

I struggled to my feet and followed her, stopping in the doorway of her room. She was sitting on her bed against the headboard, her cheeks flushed; still embarrassed and still fucking brilliant. I leaned on the doorframe, taking her all in. “You know, Chefgirl, you’re not so good at this hiding game,” I informed her, my voice husky to my own ears. “You run away, but I find you every time.”

She bit her lip, unknowingly sexy in her shy embarrassment. “Maybe I wasn’t trying to hide.”

I stepped forward, locking my gaze on her. “Are you trying to seduce me again, Kourtney?”

Her eyes glowed in the dim light of the late afternoon. “Seems to me I don’t have to try too
hard
.” She glanced at the growing bulge in my jeans. “Or at least so I’ve been told.”

I tugged the shirt over my head and crawled up the bed toward her. Leaning forward, I stopped short of her tempting, full lips, feeling her warm breath mingle with mine.

“No, Chefgirl. You don’t.”

Then I kissed her. And this time I didn’t stop.

I woke up gradually; Kourtney nestled tight to my chest. Outside, the rain was coming down hard again, the wind wild in the trees, thunder rumbling in the distance. Kourtney began to stir in my arms. “Go back to sleep, Chefgirl. You’re not going out in this weather,” I murmured into her hair. She didn’t even open her eyes as she burrowed deeper into me.

“Good. Don’t want to,” she mumbled and slipped back into sleep.

Listening to the rain, I was grateful I had gone next door and brought over a bunch of my things after dinner last night. I didn’t want to have to get up and go over the fence this morning. We hadn’t discussed how long I was staying, although I was perfectly content with the thought of never leaving. I was sure Kourtney had other ideas, though. I sighed, shut my eyes and allowed myself to drift for a few minutes; memories of yesterday flowed through my mind, bringing a contented sigh to my lips. Our passionate morning had eased into a warm, lazy, love-filled afternoon mostly spent in bed and had been followed by a wonderful evening. The day had closed with Kourtney tucked into my arms. I didn’t want it to end, but I knew we now had to get back to reality.

I woke her up with slow kisses, making her giggle as I begged for coffee and breakfast before we left; something I never got when I woke up next door alone.

The car ride was quiet, Kourtney’s hand resting in mine the entire drive to her office. I parked by the front doors and started unbuckling my seat belt. “What are you doing?” she questioned with a frown.

“Taking you in.”

She shook her head. “No, Nathan. He isn’t here. I’m safe and I don’t want to be walked in like a child.”

“I wasn’t doing that, Kourtney.”

She stared at me, eyebrows raised, and I shrugged. “Okay, I didn’t realize I was doing that.” I kissed her, enjoying the feel of her full mouth against mine, pulling away regretfully. “Can I at least
watch
you walk in?”

She rolled her eyes, but didn’t say no. She hesitated when she got to the door of the office, looking over her shoulder as she bit her lip. I climbed out of the car, and went over to her, not wanting her to get any damper in the rain. As I approached her, I held out my hand and she took it. I brought her close, cupping her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. I . . . I wanted to say thank you, and have a good day.”

She looked so unsure and vulnerable, and I wanted her to smile. I loved seeing her happy. Bending down, I kissed her cheek and put my lips close to her ear “Nobody’s seen us yet, Chefgirl. You want to get back in the car, call in sick and stay in bed all day with me?” I waggled my eyebrows at her to make her laugh. “I’ll let you play doctor. You can examine my stethoscope.”

She giggled and swatted at my chest. “Stop it.”

“I’m serious. I’m pretty sure I have a raging fever only you can cure,” I teased, capturing her mouth with mine in a searing kiss. I forgot we were standing in front of her building. The only thought on my mind was making her smile again.

“Well, for the love of God, I think there is more information sharing needed than I thought,” an amused voice spoke from beside me, startling both me and Kourtney.

We drifted apart to see Annie standing there, watching us with a wide, devilish smirk on her face. Kourtney’s head dropped to my chest. I could feel the warmth of her cheek, but grinned back at Annie as I dropped another kiss to the top of Kourtney’s head.

“Sending my girl off with a smile.”

Her smirk widened. “Maybe I should send you out with Jason tomorrow night. You could give him some pointers on that, because it looks as if you did one hell of a fine job.”

I winked. “Anytime.”

I lifted Kourtney’s chin and kissed her affectionately. “I’ll pick you up tonight, okay?”

“Okay.” Her vibrant, shy eyes blinked up at me, and I had to kiss her one last time, before Annie grabbed her arm, and dragged her away.

“God, the two of you, it’s only a few hours. You’ll survive.”

I laughed watching her pull Kourtney through the doors. I lifted my hand to wave, as she looked over her shoulder one last time.

“Have a good day, dear. See you tonight,” I called out.

“You too, Nathan,” Annie called back sarcastically. “I’ll make sure she makes it through without you.”

I got back in the car, grateful there was someone who would watch out for Kourtney when I wasn’t around. I knew she would be fine.

Nonetheless, for the first time in so long, the end of the workday couldn’t come fast enough. I wanted to be able to go home. Because when I went home, it would be with Kourtney beside me.

And the thought of that made
me
smile.

“What’s this?” I asked as Kourtney handed me a small bag Monday night, looking nervous and chewing her lip.

“It’s, ah, it’s, well, I thought maybe you would want it. Annie took me out at lunch to get it, but you don’t have to keep it . . .” She trailed off, her eyes glancing everywhere but at me.

Opening the bag, I turned it upside down. My eyes widened when I saw the chef hat shaped key ring and the shiny silver key attached to it lying in my hand. I looked up at Kourtney, who was watching me with anxious eyes. I smiled as I kissed her. “Are you sure about this, Chefgirl? You’ll never get rid of me if I have a key.”

“I don’t want to get rid of you.” She looked up at me from under her long eyelashes.

I kissed her again. “Good.” I leaned back, smiling widely as I held up the key. “I like going over the fence, but this will come in handy when it’s raining.”

“Your choice, Tomcat. You can use the fence or the door when you come over—whichever you want.”

I frowned. “When I come over? Are you telling me you want me to leave, Kourtney? You’ve had enough of me?” My stomach clenched as I waited for her answer.

“No! I don’t want that! I don’t want you to go!”

I sighed in relief. I wasn’t ready to go. The truth was, I didn’t think I’d ever be ready to go.

She looked at me sadly. “I can’t expect you to stay here indefinitely though, Nathan. I know you’re worried about Andy, but eventually we have to go back to our normal routines. You can’t put your life on hold because of my brother.”

I regarded her in silence. Somehow, this felt more normal than how I had been living the past couple years.

“I’m not. I’m right where I want to be.” I held up my hand to stop her from interrupting me. “I know I need to go back next door, but not yet. I need to make sure you’re safe, then I’ll go if that’s what you want. But things have changed now. You’re in my life. And I’m in yours. Regardless of where I sleep at night, it won’t change, you understand me? As long as you want me around, then I’m yours.”

She nodded.

“I plan on being right here, with you, as much as you’ll let me.”

“What about your place?” she asked quietly. “Don’t you miss it?”

Rising to my feet, I held out my hand, knowing it was time to show her. I took her out the door, using my new key to lock it, and over to my place. I opened my front door, letting her walk ahead of me. Kourtney moved around, looking everywhere. I remained silent, knowing exactly what she was seeing. It was the exact same layout as hers, but like our yards, the difference was like night and day. Her place was warm, filled with comfortable furniture, muted colors and pieces of her everywhere. In the short time she’d been there, she had made it into a home. This house was stark; lifeless rooms with empty walls that screamed nothingness. It was a shell, somewhere I had been existing. Here, I was merely a shadow. Like the life I pretended to live before her.

“You’re not happy here.” She sounded sad, but knowing.

I shook my head.

She stared at me, her eyes filled with wonder. “You need me.”

I sighed. “So much, Chefgirl.”

“Maybe you should get a few more things while we’re here.”

“Maybe a few extra days’ worth, yeah?” I paused. “For now?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “For now.”