When the Smoke Clears (Interracial Firefighter Romance) (17 page)

“We should get back,” she said. “I don’t want Rich to seeing me kiss anybody.” She looked around. “Although, I doubt he could see us out here.”

“I understand. You’re the first woman I’ve ever let this close to my girls.”

“What?”

“I never thought anyone was good enough to even invite to a beach party like this.”

“I don’t know what to say. I mean, you’re definitely the first guy that’s been around my son, but that happened in a different way.”

“Only guy,” I corrected.

“What?”

“I’m the only guy that you’ll be bringing around your son.”

“That sounds a bit scary.”

“Fear protects us, but I’m just being confidant not trying to scare you. I’m really good at getting what I want, when I work hard for it. That’s my game plan.” I lowered my voice. “I’m going to work really hard.”

“Why are you saying it that way?” She spoke deeply, but still sounded ridiculously feminine. “Work really hard.”

“Aww. I’m saying it that way because in my mind, there are things I really want to try and I plan on doing some serious work when I get you there.”

She playfully hit my chest. “We haven’t even had a date, yet and you’re talking dirty?”

“When should I take you out?”

She tugged a few locs behind her ear. “I’m not ready.”

“You’re not, but when you are. . .”

“You’re going to work really hard?”

“Yes.” I tried to smile, but I couldn’t. I just had to ask. “Did your ex-husband hurt you really bad?”

She looked off at the drum circle and muttered, “Yes, he did.”

“So badly, you don’t want to fall in love, again?”

“Yes.”

“You know that’s just a normal phase?”

“Not with me. I’m done falling in love.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because, I don’t just fall in love. I crash. I burn. I bleed. I stagger.”

“What about rise?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t rise.”

“You could.” I kissed her in the moonlight, as the warm water rippled against us. “Can I see you again?”

“Yes,” she whispered against my mouth.

I embraced her, gathering her soft curves into my arms and grasping her full ass. As soon as I squeezed her cushion, I growled like a goddamn beast.

The sound stopped the kiss.

Damn it. What’s wrong with me?

Confusion spread across her face. She got out of my arms and inched back. “I should go. It’s getting late.”

“I’m sorry, Kassie. Was the kiss too much?”

“No.”

“Was it the growling?”

“Maybe, but not in a bad way.” She touched her lips. “I just. . .I should go.”

She hurried away, stopped, and then glanced over her shoulder. Moonlight bathed her ass. “Thank you for inviting me. And thank you for that. . .kiss. I just need a minute.”

“I understand.”

Damn it! Bring that beautiful ass back over here. I want those lips again.

I fisted my fingers and kept my hands behind my back. “I promise, I will take it slower. I needed to kiss you.”

She put her back to me. “That’s okay.”

Was it okay?

Kassie headed toward the drum circle and I followed like a bumbling idiot. What else could I do? She had all of my attention. I wanted more time. I sucked on my own lips and thought of hers. I had to hold in another growl.

Remember. Take it slowly. Take it. Fuck. Look at her.

With each step, she twisted her curves. Her ass jiggled with the movement. I bet she didn’t even get how insane she made men. What the hell had her ex done to her? This woman had no reason to fear the male species.

If anything, she should’ve invested money in all the leashes that she’d need to keep future fans in check. She could own us. Dominate. Control and destroy. Love and turn away. She’d been through a lot, but I could see something happening inside of her. It moved in her eyes. She was on a path to be something even more amazing then what she’d been. Hardships did that. When a woman faced a difficulty in life, she grew stronger and more beautiful.

I would have to beat men away from her, once she gained confidence in herself and recognized her worth.

“Are you going to come to the Community Garden kick on Sunday?” I asked.

“Yeah. I think so. It sounds like a good time and for a good cause. What should I bring?”

“Nothing. They give you a small plot and everything else from the garden tools to the seeds and soil.”

“Wow.” She turned to me as we hit the sand. “You have a plot with the community garden?”

Some guy laughed on the side and completely disturbed us. I turned and realized it was Rockstar. He stumbled over to us and patted my shoulder several times.

I moved his hand away. “Hey, man. How are you getting back home?”

He admitted, “I’m going to let you drive me, Lou.”

“Well, I’m glad you let me know that, now.”

“I’m good like that.” He whistled at Kassie. “No wonder I didn’t see you around the drum circle.”

I tapped his back harder than necessary. “Chill out, man.”

Kassie continued walking and giving me shy, quick glances that kept my dick hard with each step.

“So, do you have a plot with the Community Garden?” she asked again.

Rockstar roared with laughter. “Does he have plots? Man, Lou has all types of plots. All those women love him.”

I shook my head at her. “He’s drunk. Ignore him. My girls and I have a plot.”

Rockstar chimed in with several slurs, “Lou has several plots. Every single mother in the community garden depends on him to work her land. The whole time they’re hoping he’ll work them, too. I’ve won some serious bets on his gardening adventures.”

“Hmm.” Kassie smiled. “And I bet he works really hard on their lots.”

“Hey, that’s enough.” I held my hand up.

However, Rockstar wasn’t done. “They’re always asking him for help and having him load and unload things for them. Then, when it all grows, they’re stopping by the station and giving home cooked meals that they made with vegetables from the garden.”

My temper began rising, so I focused on my breathing. “Rockstar, go back with the guys. I’m going to walk Kassie over to the kids. Once I get the twins, I’ll grab you.”

“Lou is a pimp!” Rockstar roared and began doing a serious air guitar.

“You’re an idiot.” I took Kassie’s hand, held on to her warm skin, and guided us to the kids. “He’s over exaggerating.”

She smirked. “So, you have a fan base composed of single mothers?”

“No. I have a plot and when I’m done on it, I go around and assist others. I can help you out, if we’re there at the same time.”

“It sounds like you have enough women to help.” Although the words made me nervous, there was humor in her voice. “I’ll be there next Sunday. When you have a chance, can you send me the address?”

“How about I pick you and Richard up?”

She thought about it for a minute. “Okay. I’m sure you can get the address off of the volunteer form.”

“Yes. I can.” I wanted to say more. Worst-case scenario, I hoped to get another quick kiss. Maybe a peck or two, but the twins spotted me and then tapped Rich and his friend. All four rushed to us, and now it was time to return to being responsible parents.

I did my best to wave the sexual energy away.

You’re safe now, Brown Sugar.

Rich attached himself to his mother’s hip and went on a fast-word-spree of describing everything he’d seen. Giggling with so much beauty, she waved goodbye and that lovely woman walked away from me.

My daughter, Hope, disturbed my drooling. “She’s pretty, Daddy.”

I exhaled the breath that I’d been holding. “Yes, she is.”

Faith giggled. “And Daddy likes her. He wants her to be his girrrrl friend.”

The twins continued with their ridicule as we headed to the car. I spent no time explaining my plans for Kassie to them. They were too young to understand the complexities of dating.

Men and women loved crazy. In all my years, I still hadn’t found a method to the madness. There was no sense, blabbing to my girls about how much I liked Kassie already. It would sound crazy. It did to me. No. I had to play this cool on all fronts. Too many players existed in the game. We both had kids. There were too many hearts in this situation to ignore.

I had to take my time with her, get to know her son, and Kassie would have to get to know my twins. I had to calm my body down and think each step through. She possessed a haunting beauty and so far, I could see a huge heart inside of her.

But how far does her darkness go? We all have it.

What’s hers?

Chapter 11

Kassie

T
hat
Saturday night, Mom called.

“How are you doing, Kassie?”

“Not bad.”

“Rich said you both went to the beach.”

“When did he say that?”

“He texted me, when you both got home. He said there was a cool fireman that kept following you around and that his daughters said you were both getting married and having tons of kids.”

“Sorry about that. I forgot to send you the wedding invitations.”

“No problem, sweetie.” A few chuckles filled her words. “I’m sure the wedding will be in Sarasota, so that’s good enough for me. Is he a nice guy?”

“Yes.”

“Are you two dating?”

“We’re getting to know each other.”

“That sounds good to me. I just pray that you never go back to Ellis. He’s a special sort of evil. You need a man in that house that’s knocking Ellis in the head, when he bothers you.”

“That’s a lot of knocking. Ellis isn’t a special evil. He’s the devil himself.”

“Girl, you don’t ever lie.” She laughed some more. “Have you heard from him yet?”

I told her about the texts.

“Kassie, just give Ellis the address and stop letting yourself get so worked up with him. Sometimes, you got to let God and let go. That’s the good thing about the Lord, he takes care of the things that are out of our hands, and Ellis is out of your hands.”

“That makes sense.”

“Does this firefighter go to church?”

“Yes, Mom.” I chuckled to myself, thinking about my fire degenerate, standing in God’s house with an erection. “He seems like a decent man, so far.”

When we got off the phone, I thought about Mom’s words and texted Ellis my address. What was the worst that he could do to me now?

I was finally happy. Finally understanding the beauty inside of me. If anything, Rich would get to see his dad and I would get to show Ellis my middle finger, when our son wasn’t looking. Good old dysfunctional times.

I sent the address and Ellis didn’t reply.

Oh, well. I had a great day.

I headed to bed and once I fell asleep, my dream played out in technicolor.

I stood in a crowded house. The ceiling rose a mile high above me. Boxes and junk piled twenty to thirty feet in the air. It looked like a city made out of cardboard and tape, dusty junk and scattered memories. Ink scribbled letters blew in the cold breeze that traveled around some of the passages. Torn envelopes and faded pictures littered the gray floor. Things moved in the shadows. They screeched and hissed.

But somehow I knew it was a house, and not just anybody’s home. It was mine.

Even crazier, I stood in the center of this ginormous dream place with black molding clay encased all over my body. Gasping, I broke through the soft parts, kicking my legs and slamming my arms around. The clay stuff turned to powder and sprinkled in the air around me. I somehow broke free of the thing that had been binding me. I knew that for sure. That blackness had bound and limited me, forced me to stay in one place in that big house and kept me confined to darkness.

I broke free. My heart glowed with the feat.

But then, a haunting horn blared behind me.

I turned around and searched for the person making the noise. But I couldn’t see anything but boxes on top of boxes. Someone had scribbled labels all over them, but they weren’t the typical moving words like
Kitchen pots, Bathroom Toiletries,
and
Family Memories.
Someone had organized them in another way. The person had written the strangest things on those boxes.

In bold letters, the black marker screamed
heart, love, life,
and
me
. Another said
self.
Others read
ego one
,
ego two,
and
ego three. Damn this person has a lot of egos.
Pressure built in my chest while I scanned more of the labels—
brain, tears, lungs, and lips.
My gaze stopped on the one named
pussy.

What?