Part Ninety-Eight

On the drive home Katiya’s hand remained on my leg where I held her hand in mine. We talked about all kinds of different things, our lives, her brother, my brothers, even Madison. It was easy to just talk to her and I never once saw pity in her eyes. There was only understanding, she had gone through a lot in foster care as well and we connected over that.

In the elevator the heat between us simmered again and soon we were kissing again. When the doors opened we broke apart and I unlocked the front door and switched the lights on. Katiya walked through to the kitchen, confusing the hell out of me.

I leaned in the doorway as she made coffee for both of us. I had to wonder if I did something wrong but I couldn’t figure out what. We had just kissed five minutes earlier and she was giving me all the signals that she liked me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her as we stood across from each other with the kitchen island between us.

“I like you Kage, I really do, but I work for you,” she said.

“Fine, you’re fired,” I said and she smiled as she looked at me.

“I’m being serious, Kage,” she said.

“What do you want me to say?” I asked her.

“I don’t want this to be awkward, I like you and I like Kalen, but do you have any idea what will happen if we sleep together again and this, whatever this is, evolves and it doesn’t work out?” she asked me.

“I get it, trust me, I really do. I’m sorry if I came on too strong,” I said.

“So did I and if the circumstances were different, if I were different, maybe things would be different,” she said.

“If you were different how?” I asked her.

“Not so damaged,” she said and walked out of the kitchen.

She was right, about everything, not that I liked her being right. We shouldn’t pursue a relationship, firstly like she said, she was working for me and secondly, she was Alexei’s sister. If things between us ended badly it would affect the whole team as well, not just me.

I had given up on sleep at around four am and had gone down to the gym. It felt odd not having Kalen at home and I had woken up at her regular feeding time at two am and had tossed and turned until four. I worked out for longer than normal and then I made coffee and sat down on the roof terrace, watching the city wake up.

“Here you are,” Katiya said from behind me and walked into view.

“It’s one of my favorite places,” I said.

“It would be mine too, the view is gorgeous,” she said as she put a fresh cup of coffee down on the table next to me.

“Thanks for the coffee,” I said.

“Look, about last night …” she began to say.

“You don’t have to say anything. You’re right, we should keep it professional between us,” I said.

I had left her sitting on the rooftop as I went downstairs to shower and officially start the day. I only had to pick Kalen up at three and it seemed so long. Endri and Luke were out of town and I didn’t want to go over to Castiel or Miles and miss Kalen more by seeing their kids.

“Hello Kage,” he answered his phone as I sat on the edge of my bed.

“Hey Dad.”

“You okay?” he asked me.

“Yeah, I think I’m in trouble,” I said to him.

“What kind of trouble?”

“The female kind,” I said and he began to laugh.

“I feel honored that you called me of all people,” he said and I had to smile at that. “So what’s going on?”

“I slept with this woman at Justin’s birthday party …”

“Please tell me she’s not married,” he said and I actually laughed.

“No, it’s worse.”

“What the hell can be worse than sleeping with a married woman?” he asked me.

“She wasn’t even interested in giving me her name, told me straight out she doesn’t date hockey players,” I said.

“Get to the good part, my popcorn’s almost finished,” he said.

“I’m glad my life is so entertaining for you,” I said and he laughed. “Turns out she’s Kalen’s new nanny that Endri and Luke interviewed.”

“Oh man, the nanny fantasy …”

“She’s also Alexei’s sister,” I said.

“Shit.”

“Yeah shit,” I replied.

“How hot is she?”

“A twelve at least,” I said and he laughed again.

“You’re screwed, Kage, sorry,” he said.

“Like I didn’t know that already,” I said and closed my eyes briefly.

“What are you worried about? There’s nothing wrong with getting out there again,” he said.

“It’s not me, it’s her, she wants to keep it professional, be friends,” I said.

“Are you picturing her naked yet?”

“Shit Alexander,” I said as he laughed again.

“I’ll take that as a yes. You have two choices. One, you can be the friend and boss or two, you can make her change her mind.”

“Yeah thanks, that was no help at all,” I said as he kept on laughing and I ended the call.

I used my free time and went to the store and I found myself buying all kinds of shit that she liked, stuff I never bought and on a whim I added a box of condoms, just in case. I bumped into Castiel as he exited the pharmacy and he smiled when he saw me.

“Fancy meeting you out here in public,” he said.

“Weekly groceries, what’s your excuse for being out in public?” I asked him.

“Cade’s gums are swollen, so yeah,” he said.

“Teeth already?” I asked him.

“Unfortunately, how’s my little princess doing?” he asked me.

“I’m picking her up at three,” I said.

“You really took her to Madison’s?” he asked me.

“She is her mother, doesn’t matter what she did,” I said.

“I know you just never were the forgiving type,” he said.

“I’m only doing it for Kalen, she deserves to make up her own mind, I don’t want her to hate me one day because I kept her mother from her,” I said.

“Look at you all mature and shit,” he laughed.

“Yeah and shit,” I said.

“Listen I’ll call you when I see you’re in town again, we should do dinner or something one night,” he said.

“Sure, send my love to Tiff,” I said.

“Asshole,” he said and I laughed at him.

“Love you too, Castiel,” I said as we went our separate ways.