Roots and Wings (City Limits #1)(44)

I leaned closer, the only inch he gave me, and traded it in for his mouth on mine. It was a good trade.

This kiss was slower and it made my neck weak and my shoulders slump forward into it. Leisurely, he proved that although our previous kisses—like pushing the throttle forward on my boat, wind rushing through my hair—were exhilarating, slowly floating along in the warm sun felt just as nice.

For unrushed minutes we floated together, the rain pounding down on the roof, me in his passenger seat, dressed up like a woman on a mission, praying that it wasn’t all too good to be true.




When I finally went inside, I saw my dad in his recliner, snoring like a bear, and a can of soda next to his chair. I grabbed the blanket off the couch and covered him up.

He blinked a few times, still drunk and more than half asleep.

“I miss you so much, Katie,” he said, his voice lenient and sad.

“Good night, Dad,” I said and kissed his forehead. He must have been pretty drunk to call me by my mother’s name. I couldn’t imagine how much he missed her, or even why he’d still be thinking about her after what she’d done.

I wished he’d move on and find someone who’d love him like he deserved. It killed me to think that he’d be lonely forever.

Upstairs, I got in my bed and thought about everything that had happened, but it all came back to one thing.

I liked Vaughn a lot.

I liked me with him a lot, too.




For as late as it was when I went to bed, I rose with the chickens. Well, we didn’t have chickens, but you know what I mean. I slept well, not waking once, and popped out of bed, hitting the ground running, like it was the first real day of summer.

And since I was getting the boat out for the first time that year, it kind of was.

I was showered and dressed before seven.

I’d packed an overnight bag and grabbed some clean towels for the cabin.

I had about an hour before the store opened. There were things I needed to grab for my day, and hopefully night, while I was in town.

As I put my to-go mug under the coffee pot, I heard my dad stir in the living room, pushing the forever-broken-foot part of the recliner into the chair.

“Morning?” I asked more than offered.

I peeked in there to see what kind of state he was in. I could count on one hand how many times I’d seen my dad that wasted, and I was sure he wasn’t going to be very good company, at least until after lunch.

Again, I was glad to be heading to the river.

He was still groggy and puffy-eyed as he reached for his glasses, which sat on the end table beside him.

“I survived another night,” he said weakly, repeating the stupid thing he’d said almost every day of my life.

“Yeah, and that one was a rougher one than most. What were you doing at Sally’s last night?”

He slumped forward holding his head, noticing his shoes were still on from yesterday.

“Oh hell, I don’t know. I guess I got bored or something.”

I was right. He was going to be a bear.

“Want some coffee?” That always helped me and it reminded me I’d need to grab some for the cabin. I mentally added it to my list.

“Do you mind? I’m going to wash the stink off,” he answered.

He stood on fresh legs and didn’t wobble like I’d expected, taking his time getting reacquainted with gravity.

“I almost feel sorry for you,” I teased as he passed me on the way to his room.

When my cup was full, I slid one under the maker for him, making sure to change the setting to strong. He was going to need the caffeine more than I did.

I was bright-eyed and downright bushy tailed.

I was spending the day, not only on the water—which was normally reason enough—but I was going to be with Vaughn.

Maybe he’d kiss me again.

Maybe I’d kiss him first.

I grinned into the sink waiting for his cup to fill, and when it was done I doctored it up real nice. Just the way he drank it. Although he said he hated so much shit in his coffee, he made it the same way for himself. I’d watched him do it a thousand times.

“So what did you do last night?” he asked when he came back fresh from the shower and looking eighty percent better.

“I went out on a date.”

“With who? Astro?” He stood stock-still in front of me and watched my expression.

I kept my mouth closed despite the smile that was crawling around on my face.

“Maybe?”

“Maybe?” He kicked my foot. “You got a thing for that tooth yanker?”

“I don’t know.” It wasn’t like I was ashamed of it—it was just so new. Or weird. Or awkward to talk about with him. We’d never talked about anyone we were seeing. Mostly because neither of us ever saw anyone.

“You don’t know? Looks like you know. What did you do on your big, fancy date?”

I sat down at the two-person table in our little kitchen and drank my coffee, thinking of what I wanted to tell and what I wanted to keep for myself.

“He made me dinner, and then we took a drive.” I smiled thinking about it. “Then Sally called and said you were shit-hammered and you needed a ride home. He was going to help me, but Dean got there first.”

“Yeah, I suppose I need to go get my truck. You headed into town any time soon?”