Heaven and Hell (Heaven and Hell #1)(172)

Well, I had to admit, she had a point there.

Her voice changed, got soft, pleading, “Please, Kia, go and bring him to me.”

I bit my lip.

It was Luci who then caught my hand and when she did she squeezed.

Then she whispered, “This is not a tryst. This is not for fun. He’s my friend too and I love him. I would not do this to him, myself or the memory of my husband if this didn’t mean something to me.”

I believed her. Looking at her, it was impossible not to believe.

But it was more.

She was in love with George “Hap” Cunningham.

“Oh honey,” I whispered back.

I saw bright fill her eyes and she continued, “It isn’t the same. It wasn’t what I had with Travis. It didn’t hit me like a bullet. It snuck up on me. But I go to bed thinking about him and I wake up thinking about him. Now, for months, I’ve been waiting breathlessly for the weekend to come, for Hap to come. And these last three weeks, not having even a little of him, it hurt, cara mia. It was a new kind of pain but I knew, feeling that pain, being separated from him, not knowing what he’s thinking, worried about him, I know he means something to me. I know it’s worth trying. And I know, as a woman knows, the way he kissed me, touched me, that he goes to sleep and wakes up thinking of me. So I must try. Life doesn’t give you two chances to feel that strongly about two men and I cannot waste life, Kia, I cannot.” Her hand squeezed mine and she finished, “You know this just the same as me.”

Boy, did I.

Shit.

Shit!

“I’ll go get him.”

Yep. That was me.

Shit!

She smiled a trembling smile. She was relieved I agreed. But that tremble was something else. The beautiful, ex-supermodel Luciana was worried a man would deny her.

I was worried about the same thing.

Shit.

“Be right back,” I whispered.

“Okay,” she whispered back.

I gave her hand a squeeze.

Then I let her go, turned and walked up the walkway.

I didn’t want to do this and when you didn’t want to do something you had to do, you did it fast and got it out of the way. So that was what I did.

And anyway, Luci was waiting.

I walked right to the deck, right to the grill and therefore right to Hap.

But also right to my husband.

Eek!

“Can you come with me a sec?” I asked Hap, looking in his eyes and ignoring my husband’s eyes on me.

“No,” Hap answered instantly.

He saw me leave with Luci.

“Hap –”

“Don’t go there, babe,” Hap said quietly. It wasn’t mean. It was just quiet.

And, unfortunately, firm.

“What’s goin’ on?” Sam asked and I looked at him.

“Nothin’,” Hap muttered. “I’m gonna go to the beach and pass the ball with the boys.”

“No you’re not, Hap, you’re gonna come with me,” I told him and his eyes came back to me.

“Kia, babe, I said no.”

“And I say you owe her this,” I returned then got close. “I get you, honey, I get the war you’re waging within but there’s a woman waiting for you, she cares about you, you care about her and even just as friends, after what happened, you owe her this.”

Hap glared at me.

Sam semi-repeated, “What the f**k is goin’ on?”

I ignored my husband and endured Hap’s glare.

Then Hap muttered, “Fuck,” and stomped around me toward the walkway.

I started to follow him.

“Kia, baby,” Sam called, I looked over my shoulder and called back, “Explain in a minute, honey.”

Sam looked displeased.

I ignored that (kind of) and hurried after Hap.

I caught up halfway down the walkway and I knew I was right to agree to Luci’s demand when I saw her standing in the drive wearing her heart right on her sleeve.

Oh God. I hoped this worked out right however that right would be.

“Luc, babe, this is not –” Hap started immediately when he stopped three feet from her but I put my hand up and interrupted.

“Nope, no,” I stated then looked between a stony-faced Hap and an unhappy, visibly scared Luci. “Ground rules,” I declared and looked at Luci. “I love you. He loves you.” I jerked a thumb at Hap. “Sam loves you. And Sam told me once no matter how beautiful you are, Luci, and how Luci you are, he would never go there. Never. Because of Gordo. And he meant it, sweetie. It wasn’t an option and if that’s what Hap tells you now, you need to deal with it, process it and accept it. For Hap. And then you have to find it inside you to move on with him in your life the way he used to be.”

The tears started shimmering in her eyes again and when she opened her mouth to speak, I turned to Hap.

“And you,” I began. “You only have this life and the woman who’s standing here right now goes to bed thinking of you, she wakes up thinking of you, she thinks you’re handsome, a good kisser, gentle and you make her laugh. Travis Gordon was a good man and I know you loved him. But do not do something right now that you’re going to regret for the rest of your life because you’re intent on honoring the memory of a dead man. Or because you might be worried about what your buddies might think. Regret is the worst feeling you can feel and that would be compounded knowing the decision you’re about to make will make someone you love feel the same for the rest of hers.”