in personal conversation with the other women of Epperly to know that I wasn’t the only one having inappropriate dreams about Kael Hendricks. But I couldn’t deny having a tiny shred of hope in my gut that I was the only one having sex with him.
Again, it was hard to explain. I didn’t … really … I didn’t want a boyfriend or the rumors and responsibilities that came with one. I just wanted to get my fill of the new, hot guy in town before he dipped his penis into every other hussy in Epperly.
Every other …
Yep, I thought of myself as a hussy at that moment. After all, I did have a mental list of other available Epperly men I could have screwed. Even if the list comprised of only two other men besides Kael, it was still a list.
“You should run to the store later to pick up something you forgot.”
“What?” I squinted at him. “I didn’t forget anything. And the store is closed today.”
“The convenience store on the corner is open.”
Confusion kept a strong hold on my face.
“My dad will take a nap in about two hours. And you’ll need to run and grab some milk.” He stood straight.
“I don’t need milk.”
After glancing down the hallway and up the stairs, he opened my fridge, grabbed the milk, and dumped. It. Down. The. Drain.
My mouth hung agape, eyes frozen open.
The bathroom door down the hallway creaked, and Kael brushed past me. “Don’t worry, I’ll need milk too, in about two hours. I’ll pay for yours as well.”
Dan peeked his head back into the kitchen just as Kael started toward the front door. “Tell that lovely daughter of yours ‘thanks’ for the coffee.”
It took a few seconds to peel the shock off my face and conjure an expression that resembled kindness. I wasn’t sure I hit the mark, but Dan seemed fine with my attempt. “Happy Thanksgiving,” I managed.
Chapter Fifteen
A fart is not a mating call.
* * *
My crew of four kids, three girlfriends, and a wound-up dog all made it to the kitchen an hour later. I couldn’t look Linc’s girlfriend in the eye, but it didn’t stop me from shooting daggers at my son. I taught him better than that. Maybe I never said the actual words “don’t pound your girlfriend and make her scream when other people are in the house,” but I had to believe that one of my many speeches over the years implied such etiquette.
“Where’s the milk?” Finn asked, inspecting the contents of the fridge.
“Oh … uh … we’re out. I need to go get some.”
“There was a full carton of it earlier.” Bella felt the need to complicate things with her astute observations.
“I used it up.”
“On what?”
Oh, Bella … Bella … Bella …
“The stuffing.”
“I didn’t know there was milk in stuffing.”
I gave her a tight smile as I set a pitcher of orange juice on the table for the boys and their girlfriends. “Well, you’ve never made stuffing before.”
“My mom doesn’t use milk in stuffing, but I suppose there are different recipes that call for different things,” Chelsea, Linc’s vocal little minx, piped in.
“But a whole carton?” Bella probed as she washed cranberries for me.
“No. I used the milk in the potatoes too.” I really should have said potatoes to begin with.
“Emma’s lactose intolerant, so make sure you let her know everything you added milk to,” Chase mumbled while focused on his phone.
“I’ll go get milk,” Finn said.
“No!” I took a slow breath as my reaction drew everyone’s attention. “I mean. Don’t be silly. You have a friend here. Just relax.”
“I can run and get it.”
I frowned at Bella even though she didn’t see me while facing the sink. She had done enough by inviting Kael and Dan inside earlier for coffee … which led to the milk shortage.
“I’ll go get it. I could use some fresh air after spending all morning prepping food.”
“I’ll go start the Tahoe to let it warm up for you.” See … I did teach Linc some manners.
“I’m not leaving right now.” I glanced at the clock on the microwave. “I’ll leave in about forty-five minutes.”
Linc gave me a suspicious eye squint.
I cleared my throat and headed toward the stairs. “I have a few things to do first. That’s all.” Before anyone could question my peculiar behavior, I hustled up the stairs to find sanctuary in my bedroom.
An hour later, I pulled into the convenience store parking lot just as Kael exited the building with a shit-eating