Driving away from her place and going home alone was the hardest thing he’d had to do that day. Still, he figured he’d get some work done after making a handful of calls to determine what in the living hell had gone on.
After the first two calls, he turned on his television and watched the news replay some very grainy video. He instantly spotted himself and Kara helping Liz after the shooting.
Kara’s face was pale as she shouted for help. The video zoomed in on him when he ripped the tablecloth and applied the tourniquet on Liz’s arm. The reporter called him a local hero, but his eyes weren’t on him or Kara. His eyes were scanning the background, trying to find any sign of the shooter or shooters, as the news hinted at.
The report ended with information that there were no suspects in custody and that the police were looking at a few leads. He hit mute and went back to making his calls.
Kyle didn’t take his call.
Gary did.
“I know why you’re calling. No, we don’t have any leads. Yes, we’ve talked to Willy and his gang. They’ve all vouched for one another. They claim they left the market half an hour before the shooting and were back at Mike’s place. We’re trying to confirm that,” Gary said before Nick could even say a word.
“Was it one shooter or more?” he asked. “They sounded different. Like they were from different guns.”
Gary was quiet. “We’re checking on that.”
“Did you also check on any guns Willy and the others might own?”
Gary was quiet again. “I can’t discuss…”
“Damn it.” Nick slammed his fist on the table. “What about the other night? What those three tried to pull with Liz? What’s going to happen with that?”
“The three of them claimed they just wanted to give Liz a birthday gift they had for her out in Willy’s truck. We can’t charge them without proof a crime was actually committed. Since they are claiming that Kara attacked Willy to begin with, we can’t do much about it.”
After getting off the phone with Gary, Nick felt more frustrated and had even more questions than before.
He walked over to the kitchen window and looked out over to Kara’s place. All of her lights were out now. He could just make out the dark building through the lightly falling snow.
Glancing down at the dogs, he motioned towards the back door and grabbed his coat, needing the fresh air to think.
Watching his father’s dogs skip and play in the snow, he felt a wave of loneliness hit him. It was funny, he’d never thought about how lonely the place was before. Never had he imagined being there without his father.
Sure, maybe when he was an old man, but not before he’d turned twenty-five. Hell, what was he supposed to do with the rest of his life?
He turned back to his house, and seeing the place lit up with all the Christmas lights warmed him. He’d also left all the lights on in the kitchen and living room, making the place practically glow in the snow light. The place was massive. Too big for just him and two dogs.
His parents had always hoped to fill up the five bedrooms with children. They’d suffered multiple miscarriages after his birth. Then his mother’s cancer had been discovered.
His eyes grew damp as he looked up at the home, but he laughed when Squiggy dropped a huge log in front of him.
“Want to play fetch?” he asked the dogs, who danced around his feet happily.
After a half hour of playing with the dogs, he headed back inside. He’d accidentally forgotten his cell phone inside and now saw many messages from Kara. He punched her phone number instead of reading each one.
“Hey,” he said when she answered.
“Are you okay?” she asked, sounding worried.
“Yeah, I was just outside playing with the dogs. You?”
“We’re on the news.”
“Yeah, I saw.” He glanced towards the still-muted television.
Kara was quiet for a moment. “Is… is it too late for us to head over there? I’ve just realized I don’t really want to be alone. Not when whoever did this is still out there.”
He smiled. “I’ll come get you.”
“No, I can drive. I’ll need my truck for the morning trip to see Liz. We’ll be over in a few minutes.”
He stood in the kitchen, his eyes glued to her place. He watched as lights flickered on, then off. He saw her truck start and watched as it traveled all the way to him.
He was standing on the front porch with the dogs, waiting for her. Lenny and Squiggy liked Oliver, and they happily greeted the older dog, who walked into the house as if he owned the place.
Kara laughed. “Oliver thinks he owns the world.”
Nick smiled and took her overnight bag from her hands. “Have you eaten?” he asked. She shook her head. “I was about to make some soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“I can help,” she offered.
He set her bag at the base of the stairs and then wrapped his arms around her. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said into her hair. He could smell the fresh shower on her, and her hair was still a little damp.
He felt her shiver slightly as she held onto him.
“We got lucky today,” she said against his chest.
“Yes, we did.”
“Nick?”
“Hm?” He closed his eyes and tried to hold onto the moment.
“We can eat. After.” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Take me upstairs. I need to feel alive. I need to be with you.” She took his hand in hers.
Everything inside of him pulsed and slanted. Suddenly, his world shifted until its axis was here. Right before him. Whatever happened to him, or the ranch, no longer mattered. She was the center of his world. The center of his universe.
In one quick motion, he lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. When he laid her down gently on the bed, he knew that this was his chance to show her exactly how he felt. Even if she didn’t return the words, he had this chance to show her.
“Nick?” Kara said softly as he slowly removed her clothes. When he didn’t respond, she took his face in her hands.
He could see what she wanted to say. Could see it there in her eyes. He didn’t need the words. Didn’t need to hear them. He got the feeling that she wasn’t ready to admit to herself how she felt about him. So, not giving her a chance, he covered her mouth with his and showed her everything they could be together.
This time when the words slipped from his lips, Kara didn’t jerk away or tense. Instead, she melted against him as he held onto her, as if they had to cram a lifetime together into one night.
Chapter Seventeen
Waking up in Nick’s arms was by far the best feeling in her life. This was the second time now they had spent the entire night in one another’s arms. She hoped it wouldn’t be the last, but every time he admitted his feelings to her and she didn’t return the words, she grew more worried.
How long would it be before he grew discouraged and gave up on her?
It was true that the feelings she had for Nick were deeper than she’d had for anyone else. Of course, she’d only had a handful of boyfriends before now, and none of those relationships had lasted longer than a few months.