Kiss Me by C. C. Wood Read Free Book Online Page B

“I’ll tell you what.  You hole up in your office and I’ll take care of the front when we open.  You can be all moody and reclusive today.  It will help your image as a designer.”
    Kaylie rolled her eyes but decided to take what her friend was offering.  “Thanks, B.  That sounds perfect.”  She stood.  “First I think I’m going to walk down to the coffee shop.  Do you want anything?”
    Blair went back to her desk and sat down.  “Sure, get me a caramel macchiato.”
    Kaylie nodded and headed off on her errand.  When she returned, she made a beeline for her office and sealed herself inside.  She worked the rest of the morning until Blair stuck her head in to ask what she wanted for lunch.  While she ate the salad that Blair picked up for her, her phone chimed.  Kaylie looked at the screen and couldn’t help the little twitch in her tummy when she read the message from Jake.
    Thanks for dinner last night.  I missed u.  See u 2night.
    Kaylie really wanted to text him back and tell him no way, but she wanted answers.
    She typed, What time?
    She tapped her fingers on the desk top while she waited for his response.  Her phone chimed again.
    After 6
    Kaylie stared at the screen.  It was so surreal and weird to be making plans with Jake after so many years apart.  She finally answered.
    Ok
    She put the phone off the side and stared into space.  Doubts and insecurities whirled through her mind and she hated it.  She wasn’t used to feeling anything but utter confidence in her choices.  Even if they turned out to be the wrong ones, she knew that she would learn something from the experience.  Now, Kaylie didn’t know what in the hell she was doing.  As much as she wanted to hope that she and Jake were headed somewhere special, it was hard to believe.  He’d walked away once and left her heartbroken.  She wasn’t sure she could handle it again.  He said she seemed unaffected but he had no idea how many nights she cried herself to sleep or never slept at all.  He didn’t know about the ache that had lived in her chest for months afterwards until she forced herself to start dating again.
    Jake also didn’t know about how she cried the day after she had sex with another man for the first time after they broke up.  While Jake hadn’t been her first lover, he was one of a few and he had been special.  When she finally opened her heart up enough to make love to someone else, she hadn’t expected it to feel so different, so alien.  The man had been sweet and very good, but he still wasn’t Jake.  They broke up soon after. 
    Kaylie scrubbed her hands over her face.  Even if Jake wanted to start again, Kaylie didn’t know if she could.  There was so much history between them.  So many hurts, both big and small, she didn’t know if she could let them go, even if she really wanted to. 
    Resigned, she went back to her sketches and tried to focus on the details.  The seamstress was expecting her later in the afternoon to give her the designs, choose fabrics, and go over measurements.   Kaylie didn’t have the time to brood.  She managed to finish her work and got ready to leave.  She exited the office and headed to the front room of the shop. 
    “I’m headed out, Blair,” she said to her partner.
    Blair watched her for a second.  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Kaylie.”  She walked to Kaylie and gave her a quick hug.  “It will all be okay, babe.  You’ll see.”
    Kaylie just nodded.  “I’ll talk to you later, B,” she said before she headed out the door to her car.
    Two hours later, Kaylie pulled into her driveway.  She gawked at the vehicle parked in front of her house.  Apparently, Jake wasn’t kidding about coming by that evening.  It was barely even six.  Tired and annoyed, she grabbed her bag and climbed out of the car.  She went in the side door to the kitchen and stopped dead.  Jake was standing in front of the stove, obviously cooking.  It smelled