King Me (King Me Duet 1)

The difference was I was considering reupping with the Air Force. How could I ask Natalie to wait for me? Though I hadn’t asked Carrie to wait for me: I made the half-assed assumption that love conquered all.

Natalie had an opportunity to be with a guy I suspected could make her as happy as Kalen made Bailey. Though Matt lost, Bailey and Kalen won.

“Penny for your thoughts, soldier boy.”

“Yes. There is a woman. We haven’t known each other long.”

“But you have that spark?” she asked.

“There’s something. It doesn’t matter because she’s seeing someone else.”

“Like my brother.”

I nodded. “It could be for the best. Like you said, Kalen and Bailey have something.”

“You could say that. Or I could say that maybe you don’t have the balls to go after her. Maybe you’re just scared. I was there. I was allergic to love, like truly. I fought commitment like a bad habit.”

“Yet you’re with Connor.”

“Exactly. I fought him too, by the way. But when it’s right, it’s right.” She held my gaze. “Don’t give me the excuse that fate will intervene. I might have fought against it in the beginning, but I also fought for it in the end.”

“It might be too late,” I said.

She wagged her finger at me. “Might is the operative word. If you like the woman, let her know. My brother didn’t. It puts the ball in her court. If this relationship she has is new, like Bailey and Kalen’s was at the time, you never know.”

“I could also screw up something great she could have with the other guy.”

“You’re impossible and saved because my niece just fell. Bailey’s pushing her son on the swing. Watch the baby with your life. Anything happens to him and it’s your ass.”

Then she was gone. The fiery blonde had given me much to think about.

Days later when I got a text from Natalie, I’d made my decision.

Nineteen

Natalie

All I wanted to do was sink into the tub and wash the day away. As I made my way down to the subway, I heard people talking about an incident. When I got closer, I saw the signs that the train I normally took was temporarily shut down. From what I heard along the way, there may have been a jumper.

It didn’t know the city well. I could’ve figured out what other trains I could take to detour around the trouble. Instead, I used the opportunity to send a text to Liam. I hadn’t spoken to him for days since our last phone call. I wanted to see him.

Standing near the entrance to the subway, I waited for his reply which hadn’t come immediately. When his answer came, I nearly sighed in relief. I’d been holding my breath thinking maybe he didn’t want to see me ever again.

His place wasn’t far, and I was let in by a doorman who called up to get approval first. The call took longer than him saying let her up and for a second I thought I might get turned away. I didn’t.

My palms were sweaty by the time I arrived at the door. I wiped my hands on my jeans before knocking.

To say the man was devastatingly handsome didn’t quite cover it. He opened the door in a t-shirt, jeans and bare feet. My pulse ticked up. I had to take cleansing breaths just to walk in.

As I gazed around the room, I took off my coat and laid it on a bar stool. He sat on the sofa where I assumed he’d been before I arrived.

“It’s lovely,” I said. There was an upgraded kitchen on the left and the sizable but cozy living room on the right. It looked professionally decorated. Everything had its place.

“Yeah. It’s cool.” He never once took his eyes off the TV as he spoke.

I leaned my back against the island and watched him a second. “Do you have a problem with me? Because I can go.”

Rather than answering, he got to his feet and walked past me. “Want a beer?”

“No. Thanks.”

As he headed back to the sofa, he brushed by me. I hated where things stood between us. Since he wouldn’t answer my question, I took an indirect approach.

“I went out with Brian again.” If I hadn’t been looking, I wouldn’t have noticed his jaw clench. Bolstered, I moved over and sat less than a foot away from him on the couch. “I need some advice.”

“What about?”

“Like I said, I had another date with Brian.”

“Did it go well?” he asked.

“That’s my question. He’s yet to make a move. He hasn’t tried to kiss me.”

“He’s probably just taking his time.”

Tired that he hadn’t looked at me once, I reached up and cupped his cheek, turning him to face me. “What’s wrong with me?”

A storm raged behind those eyes. “Nothing.”

I leaned forward, our lips almost touching. “Are you sure?”