Kyle's Return (9 page)

The gym phone started to ring but I couldn’t take my
eyes away from my cell. I knew a snarky reply was coming.
“Rushing’s Gym and Fitness, this is Megan, how can I help you?”

“Well, love, in reply to your last text, no I’m not
jealous of you going out with Tyler. Now if it was with your other
two shitdick friends who want to bang you out,
then
I’d have
a problem.”

“Oh yeah, what would you do?”

“You don’t want to know.”

I chuckled. “Probably not.”

“Where is he taking you?” he asked.

“We’re going to Kacey’s restaurant to celebrate my
promotion. I wish you could join us. It’s a really nice place. I
bet you’d like it. It’s amazing the kind of talent your sister
has.”

The line went quiet but then he sighed. “That she
does.”

“I can call you tonight when I’m on my way home. I
wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Sounds good. Besides, there’s something I want to
talk to you about too.”

The parking lot was slam packed when I pulled up to
Kacey’s restaurant, K and B’s Bistro. The K stood for Kacey and the
B stood for Bree, her partner. Luckily, I found a spot and made it
inside before Tyler could. Kacey spotted me as soon as I walked
inside.

“Megan, it’s so good to see you,” she greeted,
folding me in a hug. “I have the best table for you. Follow
me.”

I walked behind her and stared at her blonde hair
that was the same color as Kyle’s. I wanted to tell her about how
he was trying to be a better man, but it wasn’t the right time. One
day soon, hopefully. She led me upstairs to the loft that was set
up with just one huge table and my favorite bottle of wine,
chilling in a bucket of ice. “This is awesome, Kacey. Thank
you.”

She pulled out my seat and faced me. “No, thank
you
for being such a great help to me and Tyler. He loves
you to death and so do I.”

I reached out to hug her again and closed my burning
eyes. “You’re like my family, Kace. If it wasn’t for you and Tyler,
I wouldn’t be happy here.” Letting her go, I wiped my eyes and sat
down at the table. “Can I ask you something?”

She sat down on the opposite side and opened the
bottle of wine. “Sure. What’s up?” She poured me a glass.

I took it from her and drank a sip. “I was wondering
. . . are you hiring any chefs?”

Sitting back in her chair, she narrowed her eyes with
a smirk. “Why do you ask?”

“You know my friend Nicole?” She nodded. “Well, she’s
an amazing chef and graduated the top of her class in culinary
school. I’d love to see her get a good job.”

“Why hasn’t she come to talk to me?”

“She’s nervous. Your restaurant is amazing and she
knows that. Plus, if she applied and you said no, she’d have to see
you around all the time and that would be awkward.” I laughed. “I
just want her to be in a place where she’s appreciated, where she
can use her talents and be creative. I know you’d encourage that
side of her.”

Her gaze landed on something over my shoulder and she
grinned. “Speak of the devil.” She got to her feet and winked.
“Don’t worry about your friend, I’ll take good care of her.”

Turning around, I smiled as Nic approached.

“I’m not late am I?” she asked.

Kacey shook her head and put her arm over her
shoulders. “Nope, you’re just in time. If you’d follow me,
please.”

Nic’s brows furrowed. “Where are we going?”

Kacey led her back to the stairs. “To the kitchen.
Don’t worry, you’ll do just fine. I’ll pay you double time.” Eyes
wide, Nic glanced back at me with her mouth gaping wide open.

Giggling, I nodded for her to go and she went
willingly. She was probably going to bitch me out for catching her
off guard. At least now she had no choice but to show Kacey what
she could do. As the girls started down the steps, Tyler marched
up. His smile grew wider when he realized Nic wouldn’t be eating
dinner with us.

“Don’t look so happy,” I chided, downing the rest of
my wine.

Chuckling, he sat across from me. “I know she’s your
friend, but she talks way too damn much.”

I poured another glass of wine and held it up. “That
she does. I hope you’re ready to max out your credit card because
I’m hungry. I intentionally didn’t eat lunch so I could pig out
tonight.” Shaking his head, he grabbed his menu and opened it up.
“Oh, and before I forget, is there any way I can take a couple of
days off after you get back from your honeymoon?”

“Of course,” he said, setting down his menu. “Are you
taking a little vacation?”

I wished. If he only knew I was going to be spending
that time with Kyle. “Not really. I figured I’d spend some time
with our friends out in California. I know they’ll be here for your
wedding, but I miss the coast. I’m ready to see the ocean.”

“So, you’re not a fan of the desert?” he teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Ha-ha.”

Tyler kept his gaze on mine over the rim of my glass
as I took a sip. “I heard that Kyle helped you in your self-defense
class.” I choked on my wine and it splashed up in my face. Grabbing
my napkin, I held it over my mouth and coughed.

“Who told you?”

He set the menu down and folded his hands on the
table. “Sherry,” he replied. “She couldn’t help but fawn over how
cute and amazing the new instructor was. Imagine my shock when I
figured out who she was talking about.”

Sighing, I closed my eyes and lowered my head. “You
didn’t tell her who he was did you?” I asked, lifting my head.
“They really like him, Tyler. You should have seen the way he
worked with them.”

He leaned forward, jaw firm. “You know I trust you,
Megan. But putting your faith in Kyle is a gamble, not just for
you, but our clients as well. Bottom line, I don’t want to see you
get hurt.”

“If you trust me as much as you say you do, then
trust me on this. Kyle is trying hard and he wants to make a
difference. I believe he can do it. All you need to do is give him
one
chance. Let him teach the classes with me on Monday
nights. See for yourself how his demeanor has changed.”

Huffing, he ran his hands through his hair. “If Kacey
finds out about this, she’ll roast my ass.”

“Not if she realizes he’s doing it for her.”

He groaned and poured a glass of wine, gulping it all
down. “So help me, I’m gonna regret this.”

I smiled, excitement bubbling in my veins. “Does this
mean he can help?”

“Yes,” he grumbled. “If he proves himself,
maybe
I’ll even consider paying him.”

Jumping out of my seat, I rushed over and hugged him.
Belting out a laugh, he hugged me back. “I swear you two are going
to be the death of me.”

I pulled back and smacked him on the arm. “Now that
won’t do. We can’t have you kicking the bucket before your wedding
next weekend.”

“There won’t be one if Kacey finds out.”

“I think you underestimate the power of family. I
have faith Kyle can turn around for the better. I’ve seen it. All I
need you and Kacey to do is to see it for yourselves.”

***

ON THE WAY home, I couldn’t wait to call Kyle. I
didn’t want Tyler to know I was calling him so I waited until I
pulled out of the parking lot to dial his number. He picked up on
the second ring.

“How did your date go?” he asked.

“It went great and ended with a little tongue. Thanks
for asking.”

He chuckled. “I bet.”

“Nic even got an interview with Kacey and said it
went terrific. I’m hoping she gets hired.”

“I’m sure she will. You on your way home?”

Actually, I had a better idea. “Nope. I’m on my way
to you. What’s your address? I’m coming over.”

“The only way I’m going to let you come over is if
you tell me you missed me this week.”

“Really?” I shrieked.

“Yep, now say the words, love.”

“No. That’s ridiculous. I’m not gonna lie.”

He snorted. “But you just did.”

I opened my mouth to say something and then stopped;
he got me with that one. And judging by the satisfied chuckle he
tried to contain, he knew it too. “Fine. You want to play games?
Then it looks like you won’t be hearing what I have to say.
Bye-bye, French fry.”

“Megan, wait—”

Taking the upper hand, I hung up the phone. He was
going to drive me insane. I had to hand it to him, he could
definitely get my blood pumping. I did miss him, but I wasn’t about
to give in to his antics. If anyone was going to submit first, I
wanted it to be him. I got my wish when my phone started to ring.
Deliberately, I refused to answer it, hoping it’d make him feel the
restlessness I felt inside.

With a smirk on my face, I pulled into my
neighborhood. He was just going to have to sweat a bit longer.

To my surprise, that wasn’t going to be very long.
Because in my driveway, there Kyle stood, beside a sleek, black
motorcycle. I hit the button to my garage and pulled past him. He
walked up to my door and opened it with a smirk on his face. “You
are one stubborn woman, you know that?”

I got out and bumped him in the arm when I passed.
“Look who’s talking. I was trying to come over to your house to
give you some good news, but you decided to be a pain.”

Chuckling, he followed behind me. I was tempted to
slam the door in his face, but who was I kidding . . . I wanted him
there. He shut the door and joined me in the kitchen. Opening the
freezer, I grabbed the bottle of vodka and a shot glass out of the
cabinet.

“Want one?” I asked, holding up the bottle.

“Only if I’m staying, however, I have a strange
feeling you’ll be kicking me out.”

I snorted. “Good point.” Pouring a shot, I tossed it
back. It burned going down, but it felt good.

“Have I driven you to drinking?” he asked with a
chuckle.

I poured another one. “Actually, this is me
celebrating. This whole week I’ve been on edge, trying to keep
everything hidden, but now I don’t have to worry about it
anymore.”

Putting his hand on my shoulder, he turned me around.
I finally got a good look at him. His whitish blond hair was in
disarray from his helmet and the way he stared at me with his
mismatched eyes made me tremble. With my shot in one hand and the
vodka bottle in the other, Kyle took the bottle and set it down on
the counter.

“What happened with Rushing?” he asked.

Smiling, I drank the shot and then grabbed his hands;
they felt good in mine. “Guess who gets to officially start working
with me next Monday? You need to get some more moves ready.”

His brows furrowed. “You can’t be serious. Tyler
agreed to this?”

“Yep, and he’s even thinking about paying you. Isn’t
this awesome? You’re one step closer to getting your sister back.”
He beamed and I wished Tyler and Kacey could see how genuine his
smile was. One day soon they would see it, I was positive.