“I’ll still need the keys.”
She fished them out of her purse and handed them over.
“I’ll be movin’ Carson’s truck out front so maybe it’s time to gather everyone out there for the sendoff.”
Kimi approached her family. Four of her bothers had attended: Darren, Marshall, Stuart, Thomas. Harland hadn’t shown up, but his wife Sonia had, as well as Darren’s wife, Tracy.
Darren spoke first. “What’d that other McKay want?”
“To know where to find Carolyn’s things before we send the newlyweds off.” She looked at her aunt. “It’s about time to throw rice. Maybe you’d better get Mom into position outside.”
“Where will you be?” her mother demanded.
“Fulfilling my maid of honor duties,” she said evenly.
A quick pit stop in the kitchen assured Kimi that the ladies’ auxiliary had packaged up the leftover German chocolate butter cake Aunt Hulda had made. Kimi grabbed the coffee can filled with rice, passing off the duty of handing out rice to her sister-in-law, Sonia.
The priest was chatting with the newlyweds. Carson looked anxious—but so did Carolyn. Cal caught Kimi’s eye and smiled before interrupting the priest.
“Carse, your truck is parked at the curb and loaded with your wife’s things, so you’re all set.”
Carson kissed Carolyn’s forehead. “Let’s go home.”
After exchanging a hug with her sister and new brother-in-law, Kimi opened the doors. Carson and Carolyn raced through a hail of rice. That bone-deep sadness reared its ugly head again. She knew being jealous was stupid, because she was happy for her sister, but the one person who tied her to this family…would now have a family of her own. It’d always been her and Carolyn facing the world. The West sisters standing up for each other, protecting one another, inside the family and outside.
She’d never felt so alone.
No one noticed Kimi sneaking back into the church. Around the corner in the sanctuary, she pressed her back against the brick wall and let the tears come full force—but in silence.
Not long after she disappeared, a shadow fell over her. “Aw, hell, sweet darlin’. Those tears are killin’ me. C’mere.” Cal’s strong arm slipped around her waist. A solid chest cushioned her cheek and muffled her sobs. A gentle hand skated up and down her back.
She accepted his comfort without question.
He said nothing, he just held her until she calmed down.
“I didn’t mean to lose it,” she whispered.
“You didn’t. Not like you could have—throwin’ shit, screamin’ obscenities and swigging from a bottle of whiskey.”
“There’s plenty of day left for that.”
“And ain’t I the lucky one, for getting to spend the rest of it with you.”
She managed a hiccupping laugh. “You sure you still want to do that?”
“Yep. More than anything in the world, actually.”
Kimi finally looked up at him. Butterflies took wing in her stomach again. This man was…all man.
Cal curled his hand around her cheek. “You are a little whip of a thing.”
“I’ve got a chip on my shoulder about that, so watch it. I’m small but mighty.”
His lips twitched. “Thanks for the warning. So I thought you could come over to my place.”
His place? Like it was no big deal if she was alone, with a man, at his house? She’d never imagined that’s where they’d end up on this “date”. Since they were in a church, she felt the need to confess the truth. “I’m not a wild girl, Cal.”
He lifted both eyebrows. “You’re tellin’ me this…why?”
“I’ve been told I flirt too much, so I might’ve given you the wrong impression.” She tried to squirm away but he held tight.
His blue eyes were hard as steel. “Seems you’ve been listening to your family run down the McKays. You assume I’m the type of man who’d take advantage of you?”
Kimi didn’t back down. “That’s the thing—I don’t know what kind of man you are. I’m just letting you know what kind of girl I’m not. So if you want to change your mind…”
“I don’t.” He touched her cheek. “I ain’t gonna lie, Kimi. There’s a pull between us. But acknowledging it and actin’ on it are two different things. I just want to get to know you.”
“So this isn’t really a date?”
He shrugged. “Call it whatever makes you comfortable. But I promise I won’t try and talk you into my bed.”