Kresley should have stopped to think. She shouldn’t have let her temper get the best of her. But she chose to make a statement of welcome instead to Cade. She did the only thing she knew to do in her circumstance. Kresley kicked out with her leg and hooked her foot behind the man’s long, blue-jean clad one, and pulled with all of her might until he came toppling down onto the sidewalk, opposite from her and out of range from hurting his Aunt Mae.
With a snort of revengeful humor, Kresley didn’t wait around to issue a less than sincere apology or hear his. Mumbling the word asshole under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear, Kres made excuses for having to go get cleaned up for work and told Ms. Grantham goodbye, running down the street to her vehicle, wet ass and all. Kresley could hear Cade calling after her, still laughing with that beautiful, deep, gravelly voice, but she didn’t stop. She was shaking too badly from humiliation, yes, but also from something that was so foreign to her and so new, that it scared her. Desire, want, need. Call it what you want, but Kresley Anderson knew that Cade Grantham was going to be very troubling to her life starting now. And for some reason she was looking forward to it.
Kresley made it back home and after one shower and change of clothes, she was feeling less embarrassed and more irritated at the gall of the man, laughing at her like that. No prince charming right there, that was for sure. Jerk! He needed to attend Mrs. Easom’s Manners for Men. If Mrs. Easom was still alive. She was always able to put the fear of God into any man who took her class and they always graduated with impeccable manners and skills to woo any woman properly. That was what her brochure always stated any way.
Grace brought Kresley back to the present abruptly when she asked, “Haven’t you gotten to the door yet Kres?”
“Almost there. Sorry I’m not walking as fast as you want me to, Gracie”, Kres said with her usual sass mixed with affection.
“Oh, don’t go there with me. You hurry me all the time at the office. I can hear your shrill voice now. Where are you Grace, I need you Grace, come tie my shoes Grace.”
“My voice is not shrill. Sultry. It’s sultry. And I have never, not once, asked you to tie my shoes, you witch. You’re going to start talkin’ around town and people are going to think I’m some sort of wedding planner Godzilla”, Kresley grumbled.
“Like that would stop people from using you for every wedding known to man. You can’t keep up with what you’ve got on the calendar right now, no less take on more events. I swear, I’m gonna take your calendars away from you, so you’ll stop piling on more than you can handle. Kresley you need to slow it down sister.”
Kresley chose to just roll her eyes at Grace as she came to the back door and entered the security code so the alarm wouldn’t sound as she opened it. She felt safe in her little town of Mercy Springs, but she wasn’t crazy either. Protection was always important for her, her sisters and Grace. No one else worked at the office, and at times, they were each alone in the big warehouse building. Adding in the fact that Kresley lived in the apartment on the 2nd floor, well, none of them needed to take chances. She couldn’t face anything happening to her sisters or Grace. Paying that extra cost for the security system gave them a sense of comfort.
The only sound in the alley was the squeak of the old door being opened. It was dark out. Crisp, early spring air that held the faint smells of smoked meat from her favorite BBQ joint blanketed her small town at this late hour. Pushing the door open further, a small piece of light spilled out onto the concrete stoop. Suddenly, the door stopped on something solid. Kresley had her smartphone in one hand, with Grace telling Jaxson that she was going to beat his butt if he didn’t get in bed. Kresley only had one hand and her body weight to try to get the door to open more fully, so she could have as much light as possible to shine on her car.
Using her shoulder as a force, Kresley was finally able to use the door to shove the heavy bulk away. She could hear whatever it was scrape the pavement a foot or so, then come to a stop. As she pushed the door open another few inches, she could see part of the bulk that had stopped her at first. Rather, she saw the shoes. They were men’s shoes, basic leather loafers. White socks could be seen from the shining light coming through the wide crack in the door. Dark blue jeans with well-worn hems were next. But that’s all Kresley could see without venturing out further. What in the world? Did someone pass out in the alley, a drunk looking for a place to rest? Kresley paused for a moment to listen to what Grace was saying.
“Lord have mercy Kresley, aren’t you out there yet? You are taking forever, and I’ve got the Bachelor ready to play on my DVR. I’ve got to find out who he chooses so I can rub it in Francie’s face tomorrow”, Grace stated.
“Well just hang on a second. Something is blocking my door, or rather someone.”
“Someone? What
