That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

“Kurt, why are you whispering?” Her voice is always the same. Showing no emotion.

“Just woke up. How are you?” I say, trying to change direction.

“Frustrated. I need your help. Got a job that needs covering. I was in an accident last night and can’t do it. Broke my leg, for fuck’s sake.”

“Oh, shit, sorry about that. Glad you’re okay, though.” There is a little silence on the other end of the phone.

“So, can you help me out? Won’t be for long. Just until I can get someone to replace me.”

I take a deep breath before I answer. I feel guilty, but I have to look after myself. I just don’t have the time.

“You know I don’t do that type of work anymore. I just can’t. Sorry.” Her groan tells me she’s not happy with the answer. “What about John? He might be able to help at short notice.”

“Fuck no! He’s useless. I wouldn’t trust him not to get way too involved in the job instead of just covering for me. Plus, you’re the best. I can’t understand why you won’t do these jobs anymore.”

“Because I’m happy with the way my business is now, and life is nice and peaceful. I don’t want any stress. And we both know that is bullshit about me being the best. You’ve proven time after time you are good at what you do.” Hearing movement from down the hallway, I know I need to get off the phone.

“Yeah, until I’m stuck in a fucking cast.”

“Got to run. But hope it gets better soon. Take care.” I don’t even let her reply before ending the call.

I feel my breathing stop when I see the early morning vision.

Coco is trotting down the hallway with Asha following behind her. Her blonde hair is still messy but wrapped on the top of her head in one of those bun things women do, just wrapped in a knot and not all smooth. Her hair up shows off her slender neck and I know exactly how it tastes.

If I was hoping for help in making this less awkward this morning, the white t-shirt that she’s wearing, hanging loose off one shoulder, is just the opposite of helpful. I’m pretty sure she has nothing on underneath, and the bottom hem is just long enough to cover her ass and sit on the top of her thighs.

Am I in heaven? Because she sure looks like my kind of angel.

I’m not sure if she can tell what I’m thinking, but her soft blushed cheeks give away what she’s feeling right now, while I’m trying to get my scrambled brain to work.

Stopping in front of me, she reaches up on her tip of her toes to kiss me on the cheek. All my senses are on overload. She smells like fresh minty toothpaste, the soft floral scent that is Asha mixed with a hint of the leftover scent of last night’s sex.

Fuck! I’m screwed.

“Morning, Kurt.” That morning voice that is still soft and a little raspy is something I could very easily get used to. I won’t, but fuck, I’d like to.

Snapping out of my buzzing mind, I see her looking at me, confused. “Sorry, morning, Asha. How did you sleep?” I try to busy myself again with chopping up the food to cook.

“The best I’ve had in years. I don’t normally sleep well, but last night you must have put some magic spell over me… or something.” Out of the corner of my eye I see her biting her lip which is not helping.

“Or something…” I mumble.

“You’ve got clothes on?” Sounding disappointed, Asha moves to lean on the counter next to me so she can look me in the face as she talks to me.

I’m supposed to be the one in control here. You know, the alpha guy that came to her rescue last night. Yet every time I look at her, she disarms me.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to scare the neighbors by fixing up your house naked. Not sure that’s good for business.”

“Shit, the house, the storm, I forgot…” Her body moves to the door to go and investigate. Instinct has me reaching for her, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind just as her hand turns the knob.

Asha screams as I pick her up off the floor and press her against my chest.

“Umm, where do you think you’re off to, little one? I’m not fixing the house naked, and you sure as shit aren’t going outside dressed like that. That sexy ass isn’t covered enough for you to step outside this house.” Wow, what am I doing? I sound like a possessive asshole right now.

“Well, if you weren’t lifting me up, no one would be seeing anything.” She giggles. Looking over the top of her shoulder, I see the shirt is now scrunched up under my arms, level with her waist. Below the hem is bare skin as far as the eye can see. Well, bare except for that little patch where my eyes gravitate to, and I try to quickly look away.

“Oh god, sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I just thought… you know… maybe you didn’t realize. Umm yeah, anyway…” I slowly place her back down and quickly turn back to the kitchen counter.

“Protective much?” Asha is now walking to the window to look out at the world and assess the damage.

“You have no idea,” I murmur under my breath.

“How bad is the house? I don’t even own this place. What do I need to do?” As she stands against the floor-to-ceiling window with the early morning sun shining through… it’s not easing my growing problem. The bright light is making the white shirt partially see-through and showing me all the curves I worshiped last night with my tongue. How the hell am I going to do this?

“You don’t need to do anything. I can fix it all up for you this morning. The damage isn’t that bad, considering. A few pieces of the outdoor furniture will