I Stand Before You (Judge Me Not #2)(49)

Kay nods, but still appears a little crestfallen. I want to put the smile from earlier back in place, and I think I know just how to do it.

“Hey, there is something I’d like to show you. It’s pretty cool and I think you’ll like it.”

Kay perks back up. “Really, what is it?”

I go over to the window that’s opened a crack, open it all the way, and take out the screen.

“What are you doing?” she asks, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she walks over to see what I’m up to.

“Just trust me on this one.” I hoist one leg over the sill, to where the roof is even and flat. I straddle the open window and offer her my hand. “Come on, I want to show you where I go to sketch, and, sometimes, just to think. The view from up here is amazing, better than the one from the kitchen window even.”

I kind of can’t believe I’m sharing this private piece of myself, but I know Kay will get it. She gets me, she’ll get this. She kicks off her low heels, game again for one of my suggestions. Trusting, my sweet girl is so damn trusting when it comes to me. I need to be careful with that.

Trusting girl puts her hand in mine and we smile at one another. I swing my other leg out onto the roof and help her over the sill. It takes some care since she’s in a dress, and it is kind of a short one. I try not to look when it rides up, but I do catch a glimpse of white, silky panties. I try not to groan as I think how much I wish I could touch her there, right f*cking there.

Kay hurriedly straightens herself out once we’re out on the roof, and I turn so I’m not staring.

There’s a long ledge next to the window and I sit down on it. I stretch out my legs and pat the spot next to me. Kay comes over and sits down. A light, warm breeze kicks up while the sun sets off in the distance, streaking the sky in hues of red, orange, and pink.

“This is the kind of shit I draw when I’m up here.” I motion to the sunset.

Kay and I are sitting so close that when I bring my knees up to sit more like she is our bare feet almost touch.

“It’s peaceful up here,” Kay says, curling her pink-painted toes next to my foot, “and very scenic. I can see why you like it.” In a softer voice she adds, “Thank you for sharing this with me, Chase.”

Kay gets it, just like I knew she would. I smile at her, and then we just sit quietly and watch the sun sizzle into the horizon. I am decidedly happy I shared something so important to me with someone who always seems to see what I see.

I shift slightly and the sides of our feet touch. Neither of us makes any move to change positions. So, with bare feet pressing close, her warm skin against mine, I point to off in the distance, to where the tree line begins. “Part of the creek Harmony Creek is named for runs through there. You can’t see it from here with all the trees filled in, but it’s just over the hill.”

“Do you own the land down by the creek too?” Kay flexes her foot and I nudge back with my own. She stares straight ahead, but I catch her shy-girl smile.

“Yeah,” I answer after a beat, trying to suppress my own lips from curving up into a silly grin. “I go down there to fish sometimes.”

“Oh, that sounds like fun.”

Wait, what? I shoot her a sidelong glance. “Really?” My voice betrays my skepticism.

“What?”

One more flex, another nudge, and two surreptitious smiles, one from each of us.

“I just can’t see you fishing,” I say.

The breeze blows Kay’s hair and she tries to smooth it back into place. “Oh, really? Why is that?”

I nod to her dress, raise an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know, girly-girl. Just don’t see too many lacy dress-wearing people down at the creek.”

I chuckle and she huffs, “Like I’d wear this dress to go fishing, Chase.”

She rolls her eyes dramatically, but I can tell she’s not really offended; she’s just playing like we do.

“I’d probably catch more than you,” she continues, all sure and cocky as she turns her head away and raises her chin a little.

“Ooh, a challenge.” I nudge her foot. “Wanna bet on it?”

She looks down at our feet, which are closer than ever. “Sure. What are we betting?” she whispers.

“I get to pick the terms?” I ask, astonished she’d allowed such a thing.

Her caramel eyes meet mine, and damn, my girl looks determined. “Well, you pick whatever I have to do if you win. And I’ll pick what you have to do if I win.”

I think about it for a minute. I’m pretty f*cking sure I will win, so I want to make my prize worthwhile. What’s the one thing my girl has been holding out on, something that’s been driving me crazy?

I say it now, “If I win, you move into my apartment.”

Her eyes narrow. “Chase—”

“Oh no, baby girl.” I can’t help but smirk, she walked right into this one. “You agreed. You said I get to choose whatever I want if I win. And that’s what I’m picking.”

“Fine, fine,” she mutters. “But if I win then you have to sit up in the front of the church for, let’s say”—she ponders—“an entire month. And you have to sit between me and Missy.”

Fuck, I better win, is all I can think as I quickly look away. Sitting in the front would be bad enough, but sitting between Missy—who’s had my dick in her mouth—and sweet girl Kay? Uh-h-h, no f*cking way, talk about uncomfortable.