Stripped Raw (19 page)

I smile and scoot up in the tub then move close to him, right up next to his ear, as if I don’t want anyone else in the world to hear. “This afternoon. . . .”

“Yes?”

“That was the first time I swallowed.”

“Christ, I tried to warn you ahead of time. I’m. . . .”

“No,” I say and put a finger to his lips. “This time with you, I need to see things through.”

*

Zoe’s not allowed
to visit Tessa in the hospital, and there’s not much space at my place for her to play, so Kane offers to take her to his house while I visit my sister. At least there, she’ll have a yard and space to crawl around. So after visiting hours are over, I head over to his house to meet them.

It’s still weird to go over to his place. It just feels like
their
place, but he’s being helpful with Zoe, so I’m not going to complain. Fortunately, when I walk out to his patio, any strangeness I feel about being there melts away.

Kane’s in the pool floating on a raft, shirtless, with Zoe laying on his chest. Wish Tessa could see this! Kane hasn’t spotted me yet. One hand is in the water, gently moving the raft along, and his other hand is rubbing Zoe’s back. She’s not wearing anything but a swim diaper and a sunhat. He must have stopped and bought the swim diaper because I know that wasn’t in the diaper bag I gave him.

He leans down and kisses the top of her head. He’s total daddy material, unlike Zoe’s sperm donor, Brandon. The raft turns enough for him to catch me spying on their little moment. “She’s sleeping,” he whispers.

I walk over, slip off my shoes, and put my feet in. He moves the raft to the edge and reaches for my foot, rubbing gently. “Did she give you any trouble?”

“Nope,” he says. “I fed her the baby food you packed, made a huge mess, and decided the pool was the easiest way to get her clean.”

“Good thing it’s still warm,” I say. Most everywhere else, mid-October would be cool fall weather, but not in Dallas, at least not this year.

He nods towards the edge of the pool. “Don’t worry, I lathered her in sunscreen. Like SPF 1000 or some shit. How’s Tessa?”

“A little better. She’ll be home in a few days.”

“That’s good,” he says, as Zoe stirs awake. She whimpers a little then lifts her head up, looking into Kane’s smile. She giggles then lays her head right back down on his chest. My baby girl knows a comfy spot when she finds it. “Get in with us. Dimples loves the water.”

“I don’t have a suit.”

“Nude works,” he says, and I kick my foot, causing water to splash up on his swim trucks.

“Shit,” he says. “Fucking freeze my balls off.”

Unable to control myself, I start laughing, calling out, “Icesticles.” Next thing I know, a huge splash of waters slams right into my chest. Mouth open and soaked, I rip off my clothes, keeping only my bra and panties on, and dive in. Taking Zoe off his chest, I start to splash the water with her little hand. “Let’s get him, Zoe.”

Zoe squeals in laughter, distracting Kane enough for me to lift my leg, kicking the bottom of the raft and knocking him in. This time, it’s me squealing in laughter. Kane bursts from the water, shaking his hair out, and captures us in his arms. “You are in so much trouble.” I hold Zoe between us. I’m not above using her as a human shield. “Ahh, cheap move,” he says, kissing Zoe’s belly.

“I love you,” I say, softly.

“I love you,” he says, twirling us around in the water. “And I love you, too, Dimples.”

My breath stops. I’ve never heard him say he loves Zoe before. She’s an adorable baby, so what’s not to love, but still, it hits my heart, hard. “You know, she’s going to start thinking her name is Dimples? You never call her Zoe.”

He pulls his lip between his teeth, his eyes glancing up towards the second story of the house. “I like Dimples.”

I do a half turn and rub my booty. “Good thing, because I’ve got plenty of them.”

“That’s it,” he steals Zoe from my arms and splashes me with so much water I look like a drowned rat.

Somehow, against all odds, with my sister in the hospital—Kane manages to give Zoe and me the best day. We spend hours in the pool and then later at the stables, letting Zoe pet all the horses and feed them apples and carrots. And at the end of it all, we make dinner in Tessa’s house and put Zoe to sleep then curl into bed together in Tessa’s spare bedroom. Is this a picture of what my life may soon look like—a family? It looks like I won’t be taking care of Zoe by myself, as I always thought I would. It will be a blessing to have some help, like finally having a man’s protection, someone I can count on no matter what.

*

It takes a
few days for the pneumonia to clear and for Tessa to be discharged from the hospital. The plan is for her to stay at Michael’s house from now on. Still, Tessa is ready to get Zoe back, and Kane and I don’t fight her on it. The baby is the best kind of medicine for her. Plus, it will be nice for Kane and me to have some time alone.

Kane and I pack up some of Zoe’s favorite things and take them to Michael’s house. I walk inside carrying Zoe, while Kane follows behind carrying everything else, an entire baby store in his arms. I glance back at him. He looks completely yummy in his navy suit and white dress shirt with no tie, the top few buttons undone, giving me a sneak peek at his chest.

When I turn back towards the den, reality sets in hard. Tessa is on the sofa bundled in blankets, her head wrapped in a scarf. “Ma Ma!” Zoe screeches and reaches out a little hand.

Tessa’s hollow cheeks turn pink as she takes Zoe and covers the baby in kisses. She looks up at us and smiles. “Thank you for taking care of her.” Tessa’s head tilts. “You look really pretty, Kenzie. Going somewhere special?” I glance down at my knee-length flared skirt and sexy Prada sling-backs. At least they make me feel a little sexy. I swear the right pair of shoes can make any woman’s legs look good.

“The station’s anniversary party is tonight,” Kane says, “so we need to make an appearance.”

I fidget a little, nervous about seeing his family again. We got along well enough at the Cowboys’ game, but this party seems different, more formal in some way. There will probably be lots of businesspeople there and, of course, Deacon. I hope the conversation is easy. Maybe my Prada sling-backs will be a good conversation starter with Kane’s mother, who I know is a shoe whore like me.

“Do you need to head out now?” Tessa asks.

“Not yet,” Kane says. “I’m in no hurry to get there.” His phone buzzes, and he flicks it off.

“I wanted to ask another favor,” Tessa says, moving to sit up on the sofa. “It won’t take long.”

“Anything,” I say and help steady her.

“Halloween is coming up, and I was wondering, Kenzie, if you and Kane could take Zoe trick or treating with me and Dad.”

“Of course,” I say then look up at Kane, who nods in agreement.

“I just don’t think I’ll have the energy for a lot of houses, and I don’t want Zoe to miss out. Dad’s weird about me being alone now, so he’ll want to come back here with me when I get tired.”

Michael walks in the room. “Tessa, I don’t think you should be out in the weather.”

“Daddy, I’m not going to miss it.”

“All I’m saying is that it could be cold out,” Michael says.

“I don’t care.”

“I just don’t want. . . .”

I take a step forward. “I think Tessa should trick or treat with Zoe, so Kane and I will come to help out.” I turn my attention to my niece. “What’re you dressing up as, baby girl?”

“Oh, I ordered the cutest costume online for her!” Tessa says and goes on to describe it. I look over at Michael, concern written all over his face.

“That costume sounds adorable,” I say. “We’re going to have the best time.”

“I’m going to check with the doctor first,” Michael says.

“Fuck that,” Tessa says, and the room goes silent. I actually think all of Dallas is now silent, too.

“Honey, I’m just. . . .”

“Dad, there are things about being a woman, a mother, that you just can’t understand. So I don’t give a shit if you like it or not, or if the doctor approves or not, but I am trick or treating with my daughter. And I don’t care if it upsets you or anyone else.”

Michael turns to me. “Can you help me out here, Kenzie? I’m trying to look out for Tessa.”

“I am, too,” I say firmly.

“Jesus Christ, Kenzie, for once can’t you just. . . .”

“Dad, don’t take it out on her!” Tessa barks. “All she does is look out for me!”

I look over at Kane. I’m sure he’d rather be anywhere else—maybe even at his family’s hoity-toity party. He probably thinks they’re more normal than my family. I mean, what exactly are we fighting about here? Trick or treating, of all things! We are crazy people!

Michael takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a moment. He doesn’t have any idea how stubborn Tessa and I can be, or how fiercely we love each other. When he opens his eyes, they’re filled with tears.

“Tessa, I’m not taking it out on Kenzie,” Michael says, his voice cracking. “I’m just trying to protect you. I’m your father. I need to do
something
. I just want to
try
! But there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do. There’s nothing I can do to stop it, or even slow it down.”

Now I feel like shit. I haven’t always seen eye to eye with Michael, but he’s in pain now, and pouring his heart out to us. The whole thing has nothing to do with Halloween. I hate to see anyone in pain. Kane’s phone buzzes once more, and he flicks it off again.

“It’s a helpless feeling for a father not to be able to help his daughter, especially when she’s dying. Maybe that’s something hard for
you
to understand, Tessa—how difficult it is for me not to be able to help you, how difficult it is when I can’t even try.” Michael turns and walks out, wiping his face with his hands.

I sit down beside Tessa, and Kane motions to the door. “Maybe I should go wait. . . .”

“No,” Tessa says. “He didn’t mean anything by all that. He’s, well, very emotional. You saw him. He needs me close, so I’ll be staying here now. But I’m not going to be a prisoner.” Tessa takes Zoe in her arms. “Kenzie, why don’t you move into my place? It’s better than your crappy apartment.”

“Umm, thanks, but. . . .”

“It’s just empty, and that way when you have Zoe, it’ll be easier. She’ll have her own room, her own things.”

“I will do that eventually to make it easier on Zoe,” I say. “But I can’t right now. It just feels like. . . .”

“Like I’m trying to get everything in order?” Tessa asks, and I nod. “If I was trying to do that, I’d tell Kane to move into my place with you.”

“Tessa?” I can’t believe she just said that out loud with Kane standing a foot away. I glance up at him, and he raises an eyebrow at me.

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Tessa says. “You should both move into my place. Just don’t screw each other in my bed.”

“You did not just say that!” I cry. “Don’t listen to her, Kane.”

“Why not?” Tessa wonders. “I give good advice.”

“Tessa, no need to worry,” Kane says. “I’ve got plans of my own.”

He’s got
plans
? I look over at him, finding him grinning at me. “Should I leave so you two can conspire together?”

“Kane, we should so do that!” Tessa says. “Let’s have lunch soon and plan out the rest of Kenzie’s life!”

KANE

As I grab
the door to Dallas’ current hotspot, my phone buzzes for the millionth time. I know who it is—again. Kenzie heads inside, and I quickly flick it off. I’m about ready to throw it in the trash. Maybe I should’ve just picked up once earlier today. Ignoring Lily obviously isn’t working. Thankfully, Kenzie doesn’t know she keeps calling—at least I don’t think so. Before that happens, before Kenzie catches on, I need to talk to Lily.

Now’s not the time, though. There are people everywhere—crowded around the dance floor, open bars, food tables. My mother and stepfather rented out the whole place for the anniversary party. I know it’s just another opportunity for my parents to rub elbows with certain business associates and so-called friends, but the station employees seem to get a kick out of it.