Page 13 of Redeemed (Redeemed #1)

Chapter Twelve

Kennedy

S unday morning greets me with a bundle of nerves, a mild hangover, and a brain full of questions, with the main one being: What the hell am I thinking, agreeing to a date ?

There has never been a time in my life where I’ve thought about being exclusive with someone.

I’ve had to hide an entire part of my existence from anyone I’m involved with.

What would it feel like to be honest with someone I’m in a romantic relationship with?

Let’s be honest, casual is all I’ve ever been open to.

For starters, waking up to a “good morning” text from a man is definitely new, but it made me smile.

Alexander found the name I saved myself under as funny as I did when I thought to enter it.

To top matters off, he picked the place we’re meeting, The Coffee Club, and didn’t expect me to do the research.

Clearly my bar for men was so low it was in hell.

As I run styling products through my freshly washed coils, I can’t help but wonder who Alexander Carter is, and how he’s gotten to this place in his life. How has he built this business on the outskirts of the crime world and gained respect from some of the worst people in the city?

And what better way to find out more than to ask the man myself?

I allow my hair to air-dry a bit while I continue to get dressed, deciding on a black crop-top, ripped jeans, and tan quilted heels.

I keep my makeup light and to the essentials, adding some pieces of gold jewelry.

These pieces are the only items of my mother’s I was able to keep when my father had all of her things cleared from our residence.

Once I’ve pulled together the rest of my outfit, it’s back to the bathroom to diffuse my hair.

I allow the hum of the blow dryer to relax my brain as I go back to speculating about Alexander.

I will admit, there’s excitement knowing I’m going to spend time with him.

There’s a chemistry that crackles between us, and I want to explore further.

He looks at me as though I’m a puzzle he can’t wait to solve.

That night in the alleyway, he saw exactly what I was capable of, and he didn’t back down.

What do I make of someone who doesn’t blink twice at that show of violence?

I click the blow dryer off, realizing I need to head downtown now so that I’m not late. Gathering my items, I head toward the door when the lock clicks open, and Nathan comes in looking like he hasn’t gotten a minute of sleep.

“Wow. You look like the walking dead. Did you let the girl sleep at all?”

Nathan rolls his eyes. “It wasn’t me that kept the all-night marathon going. Pretty sure my junk is broken. Where are you going?”

I gag at the mention of Nathan’s “junk.”

“First, you know my rule about hearing anything regarding your sex life. Also, I hope you plan to bathe before passing out.”

“Don’t avoid my question, Kennedy. Where are you going, and should security be following you?”

My eyes roll at the overbearing questioning I have to face before leaving my house.

“No, I don’t need security, and I gave Cary the day off. I’m running out to grab coffee and shop for some clothes—didn’t want to spend too much of the day lounging in bed.”

“Call me if you need anything,” he says through a yawn he muffles with his hand.

He’s definitely tired if he isn’t pushing the situation, and I take that as my cue to get the hell out of dodge.

While I wait for the elevator, I pull out my phone to respond to Alexander’s text thread.

Me: Just wanted you to know that I’m on my way and about 20 mins out.

My phone vibrates multiple times before the elevator reaches the garage level. When I get to the car, I glance at my phone to find there are two messages, but only one is from someone I actually want to hear from.

Alexander: See you soon.

Ashton Rose: Kennedy, call me.

I choose to ignore both messages and focus on my drive downtown. There’s no way in hell I’m ready to talk to my father.

We haven’t visited the restaurant to question them about the money. I also need to dig in more on this Antonio Garcia situation.

In the past, this wouldn’t be something I would keep from my father, but I need the distance to handle things on my own.

Deep down I can’t help but feel like it’s a recipe for disaster, but I turn my music up to try to drown out the nagging sense of concern.

I’ll worry about my father and hard conversations later.

I arrive at The Coffee Club and immediately I’m drawn into the atmosphere.

There’s a sprinkling of college-age students studying and relaxing.

The front section of the coffee shop has a bar, with plenty of seating and baristas serving orders.

The back section of the shop empties out into what resembles a small library, or bookstore.

I spot Alexander across the coffee shop where he’s snagged us a table in the secluded corner.

He stands as I make my way over to him. While the suits truly do it for me, casual Alexander presses completely different hot buttons.

He’s wearing nicely fitted khaki jeans, with a snug white shirt, and blue jean jacket that’s rolled to the elbows.

I wonder how much more of his body is covered in tattoos.

When my eyes reach his face, I can see that he’s been giving my outfit the same attention that I’m giving his.

He gives me a devious smile. “Hello, Kennedy. Long time, no see.”

The way he looks at me makes me feel like the only woman in the room, and that feeling is far too enticing. I swear I blush more around this man than I have in a lifetime.

“Hello, Alexander.” We share a brief hug that eases the awkwardness clouding my brain. “This cafe bistro is so unique. It definitely doesn’t look like a place where I would expect to find you.”

His hand flies to his chest in exaggerated astonishment. “What makes you say that?”

“You don’t strike me as a reader,” I say with a barely concealed smile.

Alexander moves in closer to me, whispering, “I’m a card-carrying member to the local library, but don’t tell anybody; I have an image to uphold.”

Now that does make me laugh.

“Oh, talk dirty to me.” He gives me that sexy smirk that continues to pull me in.

“You get settled in and I will place our orders. How do you take your coffee?”

Alexander walks to the other side of the table and pulls out my chair, indicating for me to sit while he grabs our drinks.

I look at the menu posted behind the counter before taking my seat, deciding on a cappuccino, and Alexander goes to order while I settle in.

I study the way he interacts with the barista and how relaxed he seems walking through the world.

The shop isn’t busy, so he returns with our drinks after a short wait.

“Kennedy, I’ll be honest, you intimidate me in the best way. I really want to make a good impression.”

Alexander getting straight to the point is the most refreshing thing that could’ve happened in the moment. It feels good to know I’m not the only one feeling the pressure.

“Well, I’ll be honest as well and tell you that I’m just as nervous. I’ll spare you all the details, but this isn’t typically something that I do.”

I pull napkins from the dispenser at the table to have something to do with my hands while my coffee cools down.

“Well, I’m happy to know that I’m not alone.” He releases a chuckle. “So, are you originally from Georgia?”

“No. Actually, I’m from Texas, but I recently moved here with my best friend. What about you?”

“I’m from upstate New York.”

“Really? I never would’ve guessed that. Especially since you don’t have that northern accent.” I throw out my best attempt at a New York accent which wins me a warm laugh.

“Well, you don’t exactly have a southern twang, Miss Texas.”

Alexander’s country impression is worse than my northern one and we both laugh at that.

“My family traveled a lot when I was growing up, and we were never in a place long enough for an accent to stick.”

Most of that is true.

He doesn’t need to know that the real reason I don’t have an accent is because my father made sure my voice wasn’t easily recognized.

“My father wasn’t as hands-on with us. For reasons in my past, I worked hard to conceal my accent.”

At the mention of his father, I notice all traces of humor leave, and his jaw muscle flexes. I feel a twinge of pity for him because I understand that feeling all too well. I change the subject, taking the attention away from what appears to be a sore subject for him.

“I don’t know what to expect from this,” I say, pointing between the two of us. “Situation.”

Since the moment we met, he’s made me laugh and smile without even trying. There’s genuine interest in me as a person without knowing who I’m connected to.

I came on this date for a reason, and right now I want to experience more.

“I’m not sure what to expect either, but I’m glad this is happening because it feels right. I’ve learned from hanging around Victoria that going with what feels right is the best way to experience life.”

Smiling at the mention of Tori, I say, “I wonder what she would say about the color of our auras right now.”

We both laugh at that thought, and everything in this moment feels like it couldn’t be any more perfect.

Alexander leans forward on the table with his hands clasped together, the slight squeeze giving away his emotions.

“What if there weren’t any expectations about what we needed to be? What if we could just exist in each other’s orbit and let what happens happen?”

Just existing together sounds like a commitment that I could make without jeopardizing Alexander’s safety. The only danger that I see is what could happen if I get too attached.

“No expectations feels like something I can handle.” Then I lean in closer and say, “Besides, I like to know who I’m making commitments to before it happens. Care to explain what inspired you to offer a VIP membership to Emerald Nights? Or how you manage to keep it murder free?”

He leans back in his seat with a sly small, assessing me. Then, as if he makes his mind up in the moment, he divulges a bit of information.

“It’s murder-free because I don’t play favorites and I’m only loyal to myself. People try to buy my loyalty, but when you owe nothing to no one things tend to work in your favor. Care to let me in on why you wanted a membership?”

His explanation touches a piece of me that wishes my existence was debt free. I owe it to my father to follow through on this agreement we made years ago. To my mother, I owe the revenge on her life.

Instead of giving too much away, I smile and respond with, “I’m new to the city. What better way to meet the players and make new connections.”

His head tilts as he studies my answer, and I swear he can see right through me. He doesn’t call me on it but simply nods before sipping his coffee and moving on to the next topic.

We continue chatting for a while longer, allowing the natural flow of conversation to take over. He tells me that the idea of the club was Tori’s, but he knew immediately he would make the VIP section work in his favor. I tell him that Nathan and I moved here to experience life outside of Texas.

Soon, both of our cups are empty, and he says, “I hate that I’m cutting this short, but I have plans to meet Tori and Patrick soon. Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?”

“Not really. My roommate and I usually hang around and watch football on the weekend.”

We clean up our space before leaving the table.

“You watch football? Who’s your team?

“No team. I just enjoy watching the sport, honestly. Now Nate, he’s a die-hard Cowboys fan.”

Of all the things that are going on in our lives, the fact that Nathan is obsessed with a specific football team is beyond me.

Alexander makes a face before saying, “Yikes, the Cowboys.” He leans in a little, as though he has a secret, and it takes all my muscle strength to not openly sigh. “Can’t say it too loud here, but I’m a Jets fan.”

My head snaps up and I look him dead in his eyes. “And you have the nerve to say yikes about any other team?!”

Alexander laughs out loud and it’s the most carefree that I’ve seen him.

He slides his hand onto my lower back, guiding me to the exit.

Once we hit the street, I lead him to the car at his insistence on making sure I get there safely.

It’s the fact that he knows I don’t need the protection but still wants to provide it that makes me internally swoon.

We’re standing in front of my car when I turn in time to see him checking out my ride. He steps closer to me, wrapping his pinky around mine.

“Do you mind if I call you later?”

“Of course I don’t mind.”

He’s looking down at me, and I tilt my head up as his eyes flick down to my lips. I know, at this moment, I want him to kiss me, and the look in his eyes say he wants it too.

“Thank you for meeting me today.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

He smirks and begins to step away. We both allow our pinkies to hold each other until the last minute.

“Until next time, Kennedy.”

I blow him a kiss before climbing into my car. My body feels light—like I just spent the past hour breathing fresh air. There were no expectations in my mind when I decided to meet with Alexander, but things couldn’t have gone better.