I'll Take a Chance (10 page)

“Yes, all clear,” s
he says and wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight.

We decide to take Lucy for a walk before calling it a night. It’s late summer and the weather is still beautiful. We start to walk down the street and Amelia looks over her shoulder. She looks
back at me to see if I notice her looking for something and of course I do. She smiles at me and takes my hand.

“What was that all about?” I ask her.

“Um… nothing,” she says.

“That didn’t look like nothing,” I reply.

“It’s just me. I’ve been so paranoid lately and I don’t know why.”

“
You’re paranoid about what exactly?” I ask concerned.

“See that silver car down the street, across from my building?”
She points across the street, and I turn to look, but I don’t see a silver car anywhere.

“I don’t see it, no,
” I tell her.

“I swear
it was just there. I have been seeing this silver car hanging around lately,” she looks down the street confused.

“If you see it again, show it to me. OK?”

“OK.” She squeezes my hand, and we walk around the block and let Lucy do her business. Back at the front of her building, I can see she’s trying to hide that she’s looking around for this car again.

We take the elevator to her floor and she visibly relaxes. Good, I guess seeing Roger made her a little paranoid
, I’m sure that’s all it is. Once inside the apartment she locks the door. I spin her around, bend over then stick my shoulder against her waist and lift her up and on my shoulder. She lets out a squeal and kicks her feet as Lucy barks.

“Put me down
, you caveman.” She pounds my back with her hands playfully.

“Not on your life
, woman,” I bounce her on my shoulder and she shrieks again.

I walk her down the hall
, into her bedroom and flip her off my shoulder onto her bed with a bounce. Once on the bed, I climb on top of her pinning her to the bed. She smiles huge at me, I take that smile in a full on hot and heavy kiss. She sighs in my mouth and deepens the kiss with her tongue. Damn, she’s a good kisser. Her hands are wild on my back, and she pulls the back of my shirt up and off over my head. I smile down at her then kiss down her neck. I unzip her pants and slowly pull them off her legs. She sits up and kisses me again. While she is sitting up I take off her shirt and bra.

“God
, Amelia, you are so beautiful.”

She reaches for my pants and
pulls them down my hips. I wiggle out of them and haul her up the bed. I start at her lips again and kiss down her jaw line to just below her ear. That’s a hot spot for her and it drives her wild. She has her hands in my hair and says my name.

“Kyle,
” she says in a breathy whisper.

“I’m right here
, honey.”

I kiss down her body and place her foot on my shoulder. Ever so softly I trace her with my tongue. Inserting two fingers she moans and her leg starts to shake. There is nothing wrong with this woman
, she lights up like a Christmas tree. She props herself up on her elbows and watches me love her with my mouth. She is breathing heavy, moaning softly and I feel as her insides clench around my fingers. I quickly grab a condom and put it on. I want to get inside her before she comes down from her orgasm.  I enter her quickly and she screams my name.

“That
’s right, honey, it’s all for you.” I pound into her hard, in and out.

“Oh my God, Kyle
, don’t stop.”

I reach between us and finger that sensitive spot that sends her over t
he edge. She clenches me tight for a second orgasm which throws me into my own. We’re both breathing hard and I look into her eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes search mine back, and I am overcome with emotions.

“I think I’m quick
ly falling in love with you,” I tell her honestly, hoping she feels the same way. She places her hand on my face and searches my eyes once more. I know she sees the depths of my love.

“I’m well past falling,” s
he says with a smile.

We both get cleaned up and ready for bed. Lucy jumps up and curls in a tight ball between the two of us at our feet
with a loud sigh.

Amelia

Sunday morning I wake up wrapped up in all things Kyle. He is warm and all mine.
He looks so sexy with his hair messed up and the sheet lying around his hips. I gently slip out of his hold and put on a pair yoga pants and a t-shirt.

“Come on
, Lucy, lets go for a walk before breakfast. Let’s let the good doctor sleep in this morning,” I pat my leg softly and Lucy jumps off the bed.

I grab her leash and we walk out of the building
into the warm sunshine. I take a cautious look around and don’t see the silver car. With a sense of relief, we walk around the block. Still no sign of the car or the feeling of being watched, we head back up to my apartment. I make Lucy her breakfast and put on a pot of coffee. I’m just about to make us an omelet when Kyle steps out of my bedroom in only his boxer briefs. Holy hell is he hot.

“Good morning
, honey. Why didn’t you wake me? I was lonely in bed without you.” He walks up to me and wraps me in his warm arms.

“I thought I would take Lucy for a walk and then make us breakfast in bed.”
I kiss him in the center of his chest and look up at those amazing chocolate brown eyes.

“That sounds good. Can I help?”

“Sure, you can cut up some fruit if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” h
e says and gets out a knife and a cutting board.

The meal is pulled together in no time
, and we take everything back to my bedroom and sit in bed. Lucy jumps up, curls in a tight ball, and goes back to sleep. We spend a better part of the morning just lounging around the apartment. We don’t have to be to my parent’s house until five. It’s nice not to have to rush around and be anywhere all morning. Kyle jumps in the shower, and I head into the kitchen to throw together some homemade chocolate chip pudding cookies to take to my parent’s house. They are another one of my specialties and a family favorite recipe. Kyle comes out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“What smells so good in here?” h
e asks.

“I thought I would m
ake some cookies to take to my mom and dad’s for dinner. We should leave around four thirty if that’s OK with you.”

“I’
d like to stop off at my house for a few minutes to change clothes first.”

“Sure,
it’s on the way, it’s not a problem at all.”

I finish up the cookies
, and Kyle may or may not have eaten at least a dozen before I even had the last batch out of the oven. I jump in the shower and quickly get ready. I grab Lucy and the cookies and we are out the door by four. We get to Kyle’s and I stay outside with Lucy while Kyle changes clothes.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end
, and I turn around to see that silver car driving down the street. I give Lucy a gentle tug and run inside the house. Kyle must still be in his room, and I don’t want to worry him with my paranoid thoughts, so I try to calm myself down by taking deep breaths. I think it may be time to talk to the police, but I’m not sure if there is anything they can do.

Kyle soon comes out wearing a pair of slacks and a polo shirt. He kisses me on the cheek and grabs his shoes. We make it to my
parent’s house right on time.

We walk in my
parent’s house hand in hand and all eyes are on the two of us. My mom has an all knowing smile, and Asher walks up to Kyle and shakes his hand with a smile.

“Kyle, this is my m
om Samantha, and this is my dad Samuel.” He shakes my dad’s hand and my dad claps him on the shoulder with a smile too. Uh oh, I think Asher may have said a few things to my dad about what happened in the restaurant. I sure hope he didn’t tell him everything.

“These are my older brothers Aiden and Adrian. And
this is my baby sister, Ava,” I say and give her a hug.

Everyone gets acquainted and greets Kyle
with welcome arms. Lucy trots off and starts kissing baby Abbey all over her face.

“Lucy
, knock that off,” Willow says and shoos her away.

Everyone gathers at the table
, and I have to say this is what peace is all about. My family all sitting around the table and the man I know I am in love with fitting in with everyone so well. Everyone is sitting around the table laughing and having a good time. I don’t know what comes over me but a single tear slips down my cheek. Kyle doesn’t miss a thing and reaches for my hand under the table with a squeeze. I quickly wipe it away with the back of my other hand and look around the table to make sure no one else saw.

“Are you alright?” Kyle whispers in my ear.

“I’m more that alright. I’m just so happy,” I assure him.

We finish up dinner
, and the women gather in the kitchen to clean everything up. The men bring in all the dishes and set them on the island. Asher walks up next to me and places his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t think I didn’t see that at the dinner table. He
makes you happy, doesn’t he?” he asks.

“He does. I never knew
that this is what a real relationship is supposed to feel like. I just felt so overwhelmed by it all,” I tell him with a smile.

“I know the feeling
, sis. It’s a good place to be,” he says to me with a smile then joins the rest of the men in the family room. We have everything cleaned up in no time, Ava puts on a pot of coffee, and I arrange the cookies on a platter. We carry everything into the family room and set it on the coffee table.

Willow checks on Abbey
, who is peacefully sleeping in her car seat on the floor then sits on Asher’s lap. Kyle reaches for my hand and sits me next to him on the couch. My parents are sharing an overstuffed lazy boy chair. Everyone digs into the cookies and they are gone in no time.

We say our goodbyes
, and my parents invite Kyle to dinner next Sunday. He opens the driver’s side door for me to get in, and then he gets into the passenger seat.

“I have a meeting at six in the morning tomorrow
,” he tells me.

“I should probably get myself into the office early tomorrow too.”

“I’d love to stay the night with you again tonight, but I need to get a few things done around the house,” he says with a frown.

“I understand. It’s not the end of the world. I’d love to stay with you too, but I have work I need to catch up on at h
ome before I go into the office.” I pat his hand and start the car.

We are both disappointed to not spend the night together again, but we both lead busy lives
, and I can’t expect that he would drop everything to be with me twenty-four seven. I drop him off at his house, and we make out in my car like love sick teenagers.

“If I can I’d like to stop by before I go in to t
he hospital to say good morning,” he says.

“I’d like that. I should be up and ready before you need to be at the hospital.”

“Alright then, I’ll see you bright and early. I’ll bring you an espresso and a donut. How does that sound?”

“You only have to bring yourself
, but the espresso is definitely a cherry on top.”

I kiss him one more time and he gets out of the c
ar. He walks up his sidewalk then turns around to blow me a kiss before he goes inside. What a dork. I get home and flip off my shoes, pull out my laptop to log in to work and get some things done before I go to bed.

Crawling in bed
, I think about the past week with Kyle. Things are moving so fast and I have no plans on stopping them either. He seems to feel the same way about me, and I couldn’t be happier. Soon I am fast asleep with all the good thoughts of Kyle swirling around in my dreams.

My alarm goes off at four the next morning and I groan
. I get myself up and in the shower. Maybe one espresso before Kyle gets here will hold me over.

Just as I finish my espresso
the door buzzes. I glance at the clock, hmm he’s really early. It’s only a quarter after five. I buzz the door and crack it open for him. I head back into the kitchen to put my cup in the dishwasher when I hear him coming up behind me. I smile hoping for a kiss on the back of my neck. I love when he brushes my hair away and place warm soft kisses there. I turn around and see that the man in my kitchen is not Kyle. I’ve never seen this man before in my life.

I open my mouth to scream
, but he puts his hand over my mouth. I struggle in his arms. I kick and I dig my nails into his forearm as hard as I can and I feel several of them bending backwards. This only makes him hold me tighter. He bends me over the counter and he reaches in his pocket. Oh God, please, no.

I flail my arms on the countertop
, knocking dishes and knick knacks onto the floor. The vase of flowers Kyle gave me falls in slow motion then shatters on the tiled floor. I try desperately to find something, anything I can hit him with. I try to pull his hand away from my mouth with my hands so I can scream, but he has such a tight hold on my face. I taste blood as my teeth dig into the side of my cheek. He’s just so strong, I try to plead with him to please stop, but everything comes out muffled. Tears stream down my face as I panic. Oh God, what is he going to do? Please don’t let this happen to me.

He pulls a syringe out of his pocket and I scream into his hand
shaking my head no. He stabs me with the needle in my upper thigh and the last thing I remember is feeling the room closing in around me. I feel lifeless as I slide down the front of his body onto the kitchen floor. I vaguely hear him saying that they are not allowed to be happy, that they destroyed everything. Who is they and what have they destroyed? Then it’s nothing, but darkness.

Kyle

I slept through my alarm and now I am running late. I wanted to see Amelia this morning
, but now I may not have time. I rush around the house getting ready and get in my car, hoping I still have enough time to see Amelia this morning.

Now you have got to be kidding me. Why is there traffic this early in the morning? I thought I could still make it to her
apartment if I didn’t stop for coffee, but now I don’t even think I can stop by at all.

I’ll have to text her when I get to the hospital and apologize. I’ll tell her I’ll stop by her office for lunch. I finally make it to the hospital and
I send her a quick text. I am nonstop with patients and paperwork until lunch. I tell the nurse I am taking an hour lunch and if anyone needs me to page me.

I park in the parking garage at her office and make my way to her floor. I get to her office and
her door is locked. That’s strange. I ask around and no one has seen her today at all. I ask if Asher is in, I know he’s still on paternity leave, but I ask anyway. I’m told he’s not in yet, but he and Willow will be in soon to show the baby around. I rush to my car and drive to Amelia’s.

I thought it was strange that she didn’t answer my text this morning too. An older lady is just opening the door to the building and I squeeze in behind her.
There are a bunch of people waiting at the elevator and it will take too long to stop on that many floors so I take the stairs two at a time to her floor. I’m extremely winded and breathing heavy by the time I make it to her floor. I can see her door is cracked open from down the hall. I rush in and take a look around.

“Amelia. Are you here?” I shout.

I rush from room to room shouting her name, she’s not here, I don’t understand. Where could she be? I get to the kitchen and stop dead in my tracks. There are broken dishes on the floor and a mess all over the counters. Canisters are broken and their contents scattered all over the counter tops and floor. There is blood smeared on the counter and droplets on the floor. Panic sets in instantly. What in the hell is going on here? Think, Kyle, think.

I rush back out of her apartment and speed back to Wellington. I get off the elevator on the top floor and run through reception. An older woman shouts behind me.

“Sir, can I help you? Sir you can’t just go back there. Sir, excuse me. What do you think you’re doing?” she yells at me.

I rush in the door to see Willow holding Abbey and Asher sitting at his desk. They
turn toward me and look shocked at me barging in. The woman is behind me shortly after I open the door.

“Sir, I’m sorry I tried to stop him
, he just barged in here,” the woman tells Asher.

“It’s
alright Charlotte, this is Amelia’s friend, Kyle,” he tells her.

She gives me a dirty look
and closes the door behind her.

“Kyle
, what’s going on?” Willow asks concerned.

“Have you seen Amelia today?” I ask.

“No, we were just about to go down to her office though and surprise her with Abbey. Why? What’s going on?” Asher stands and asks.

“I was supposed to meet her at her apartment this morning
, but I got stuck in traffic. I texted her and told her I would stop by here at lunch. Her office door is locked. No one has seen her this morning at all. So I went to her apartment, her front door was open and there are signs of a struggle in her kitchen.”