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

Kurt, it seems. Davina will kill me if she finds out.

“Okay, sent. Now, if you need me for anything—and I mean anything—you call me, and I’ll be here. Even if it’s something silly, or the middle of the night.”

Both of us stand silently, not knowing what to say. My mind is too busy thinking of all the things I would like to call him in the middle of the night for.

Finally, Kurt breaks the awkward silence. “Last night was unexpected but totally amazing.” His voice is not as strong as usual.

“Totally,” I agree.

“I can’t offer you more, but I would love to stay friends.” Thank god we’re on the same page, but it does suck.

“Same,” is all I can manage to say without tripping over my words.

“Then we’re okay then? You’re not just saying that? I don’t want to sound like a dick who is brushing you off, because it’s not like that.” I thought his deep sex voice made my body tingle, but this soft gentle one has me shivering all over. So much tenderness.

“Kurt, it’s okay. I knew it was just last night. I can’t commit to anything either. So, we’re fine, and I know you aren’t a big dick… well, not in that way anyway.” Without being able to stop it, my giggle breaks free.

“How the hell am I going to be friends with you when you keep talking like that? I think I need to go read one of your books to see what goes on in that head of yours.” He laughs, running his hand through his gorgeous curls.

“Well, when you work out how my brain works, let me know. I’d be interested to hear the insight, because I’ve been wondering for years what makes me tick, or where the words come from. Not that I’m sure I want you to read my books. You might realize how weird I really am.”

He steps forward and takes my hands in his, and my breathing hitches a little.

“Believe me, I know exactly who you are, Asha, and I like what I see. Never change, no matter what happens in your life.” Leaning forward, his mouth coming to kiss my cheek, but I want one last taste. Moving my face quickly to the side, his lips land on mine. Softly at first, but then the heat that was ever-present last night takes over and we’re both taking the kiss way further than we should.

Finally, he pulls back, his hand taking my cheek, stroking his thumb softly across my lips that are still tingling.

“I wish I could offer more, beautiful, but I just can’t.” His whisper falls over me like a comfort blanket. Just knowing he wants me is enough.

“I know, I can’t either. It is what it is. Friends is all it can be.” His forehead leans on mine for a moment and then he’s gone, pulling back and collecting his tools in his hands.

“Goodbye, Asha, and thanks for last night. Remember, call me anytime, I mean it. Anything you need.” He walks himself backwards towards the gate.

“So, anything, huh? Does that include booty calls?” As usual when I’m struggling to cope with losing something in my life, I cover it with humor.

“Asha!” There’s that growl again. The one that makes me stand up and pay attention.

“Too soon? Okay, right, friends, got it,” I say, still giggling.

“Friends. How the hell I’ll manage that is the challenge. Now, behave!” Turning, he walks through the gate, looking over his shoulder before he disappears down the path to his truck.

“Talk soon,” he calls out, and that’s the last look of his face I get.

“Not as soon as I would like, I’m sure.”

KURT

“What the fuck just happened?” I shake my head, driving out of the parking lot. This time yesterday, I was at work dealing with Ricky being a pain in the ass, and then one hell of a storm swept through, and everything was turned upside down, including me.

I’ve been watching her from a distance for so long, fascinated. Yet nothing can compare to Asha in real life. So tiny in size yet full of life and energy, she’s not at all what I expected. Not that I really knew what she would be like, but she floors me. I can’t work out why, but she does.

My phone now charging in the truck, I decide to use the drive to call my mom, get it over with before she comes looking for me to give me the lecture for stressing her out last night. I honestly don’t know how Jodie coped while I was away all those years. Mom must have driven her crazy with the fussing.

“Do you know how many new worry lines you gave me last night, young man?” Mum’s voice echoes in my truck cab.

“Morning to you too, Mom. Sleep well last night?” I can’t help laughing and being the pain in the ass son she complains I am.

“Very funny, Kurt. You know damned well I didn’t sleep a wink because I thought you were lying dead in a ditch somewhere.”

“You have the best imagination there is, Mom. Why do you always assume the worst?”

“Stop being a smarty pants. You’re never too old to put over my knee and I’ll spank that right out of you, you know?” I can hear the tension starting to leave her voice the longer we talk. No matter how much my father would have tried to convince her I was alright after I messaged them this morning, until she heard my voice, she wouldn’t have settled. I know it’s my fault she’s like that, and I wish I could change that, but you can’t rewrite history.

“Whatever you say, Mom. Now tell me how your house is, any damage?” The change of subject has her off and running, giving me a blow-by-blow description of the storm last night and what needs fixing at home. I know my dad will be all over the repairs, but I don’t want him climbing ladders at his