A.N. So sorry it took so long school and work and all that fun stuff but that's no excuse hope you guys like it.
She walked out and was greeted by the sight of her two boys racing towards her. Paul stepped out besides her and smiled at the sight. When the boys seen them their faces lit up and the launched themselves at him. He caught them and lifted them both with ease. "Hey guys." He said laughing.
"Whatcha doing here?" Brandon asked.
"I came to see your mom." He said.
"Oh." Luc said disappointedly.
"Tell you what when we get back I'll hang out with you guys ok?" He said.
"Really you aren't just saying that?" Luc asked.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Paul asked seriously.
Both boys shook their heads.
"Alright now go have fun; we'll be back in a little while, so try not to drive your Uncle Mark crazy okay?" He asked.
They nodded and raced off to play. He opened the truck door and helped her in. He walked around and got in, started it up and left.
"So where are we going?" she asked after a few minutes noticing he was going the opposite way of town. He looked over at her and grinned.
"Somewhere we can talk or knowing you yell and we won't be interrupted." He said. She slapped his arm.
"I do not yell." she said.
He rolled his eyes and she started playing with the radio. Ten minutes later he pulled off the main road onto a small gravel road and stopped. He got out and opened her door for her.
"Come on." He said and led her up a steep path. When they got to the top you could see for miles and you could see Mark's ranch.
"Wow, it's beautiful. How did you find this?" she asked.
"Truthfully I got lost one day on the way to Mark's house." He said.
"So what do you want to talk about?" He asked.
"Everything, this whole… thing." She said for lack of better word.
He sighed and sat down.
"I've already told you how I feel and it didn't go over to well." He said.
She scowled at him.
"I love you and I want to be with you and don't dare bring up those boys, I've never treated them any less than I would if they really were mine." He said.
"It's not that simple Paul, I wish it was but it isn't. Look at you obviously people don't agree with us being together." She said as she squatted next to him to get a closer look at the gash on his forehead.
"It's only your dad really and Shane I guess but no one else cares and all that matters is that you are happy." He said.
"How do your ribs feel?" she asked.
He shrugged. She glared at him and he pulled his shirt up. She gasped at the purple and blue bruises covering his ribs.
"You shouldn't be out of bed and if you are you have to be on some great medication." She said.
"No I probably shouldn't but I wanted to see you and no I'm not on medication I would never drive with you in the car not sober." He said.
"Do they hurt?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Yeah but they aren't that bad and I need to get used to it, we have a show tonight." He said.
"You aren't wrestling you can't." She said.
"I have to and so does Shawn." He said.
"Neither of you can you're both hurt." She said.
"I can deal if you're the nurse that patches me up." He said.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.
"Stop it you don't need any extra pressure or weight on those ribs." She said trying to get up.
"It doesn't hurt." He said.
She sighed and balanced her weight on her knees.
"I'm with Shane, Paul, he doesn't deserve this." She said.
"It seems to me that you aren't that happy or in love with him otherwise you would have laughed in my face when I told you how I felt and definitely wouldn't be here with me right now." He pointed out.
"That doesn't change the fact that he doesn't deserve to be treated like this, just because of… this." She said gesturing between them.
"What's this?" he asked.
"I don't know hormones or how about good old fashioned lust." She said.
"You get these reactions when you're around me?" he asked.
"Yes I do, as if you didn't know you are a very attractive man." She said matter-of-factly. "And why haven't you ever said or done anything about them?" he asked.
"Because I didn't want to ruin our friendship." She said.
"Honey saying or doing something wouldn't have ruined anything." He said.
"Yeah well that was before I knew you had feelings for me." She said.
"And now that you know?" He asked.
"I'm in a relationship I can't do anything about it." She said.
"That doesn't mean I can't." He said and kissed her.
She pulled away after a few moments.
"I can't Paul." She said.
He sighed and let her go.
She sat down next down next to him and drew her knees up to her chest.
"I don't know what to do Paul." She whispered.
He sighed and looked down at the ranch.
"Do what you want to do, not what any one expects of you. Do what's best for you and the boys. If that means you stay with Shane, or you're with me, or you're dating someone else do it if it makes you happy." He said after a few minutes of silence.
"What will happen to our friendship Paul I don't want to lose that?" She said.
"Kayla, you will never lose me no matter what you do." He said and slung an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close.
"I just need time to think, to step back and look at it all." She said.
He nodded and they sat in silence for a long time looking at the breathtaking scenery surrounding them.
"Come on we should get back before those boys go crazy." He said getting up and holding out a hand for her.
She took it and he helped her up and into the truck. When they got back the boys ran out from behind the house to greet them.
"Come on Uncle Paul, Uncle Mark's horse just had a baby a few weeks ago." Luc said. "Yeah and he has a stream behind the barn, maybe we could go swimming." Brandon said hopefully.
Paul allowed himself to be led away by the two eager boys, laughing as they told him all about the new colt and horses. Kayla stood watching them long after they disappeared behind the house.
"How are you little one?" Mark asked.
"Confused." She said honestly.
"He's a good man and he worships the ground you walk on, but then again so does Shane apparently." He said.
"I know but it doesn't make things any less confusing." She said.
"I know and I'm sorry." He said.
"Have the boys eaten lunch yet?" she asked.
"You try getting them kids in the house unless its pitch black outside and you're threatening their lives." He said.
She laughed.
"Well I'll start making some food and then I'll show you how to deal with almost two five year olds." She said.
"This I'd like to see you intimidate them when I can't." he said.
"You listened to grandma didn't you?" She asked.
"One look from that woman and I would do whatever she told me to." He confessed. "One look from me and they know I mean it." She said.
He laughed as she walked inside and he started towards the barn. She made sandwiches and potato salad. She went outside and found all the guys in the barn. The boys were standing on the fence staring in intently at the colt and mother. Paul was standing behind them protectively and had a hand on each boy's shoulders. Every few minutes one of them would turn their head and ask him a question and even though he was talking to Mark he would stop and answer them. It looked like a father and two sons.
"You boys hungry?" she asked.
"Aw mom can't it wait?" Luc asked.
"Go wash up and set the table." She said.
Paul lifted them both from their perches.
"Listen to your mom." He said and they raced to the house and the adults followed at a more leisurely pace.
When they got there, the boys were just finishing up setting the table and sat down. "They never listen to me." Mark complained.
"Yet you two tell them to do something they run off to do it." He said.
Kayla smiled.
"I'm a mom, it comes with the job." She said.
"What's your damn secret then?" Mark demanded turning to Paul.
He shrugged.
"I don't know they just listen to me." He said.
He's like their dad; it just comes with the territory. Kayla thought to herself. They all sat down and ate. Mark watched the two younger people interact with the kids, especially Paul. No matter what he was doing or who he was talking to he'd stop and do what they asked or answer their questions.
"Uncle Paul, will you take us swimming?" Luc asked hopefully, and Brandon looked on hopefully.
"Yeah, after the dishes are done." Paul answered easily.
"Why do we have to wait for mom to finish the dishes?" Brandon asked.
"We don't, we have to do the dishes." Paul said.
"We don't know how to do dishes." Luc said smugly, thinking he had gotten out of it. "It's easy, I'll show you." Paul said smirking.
"But mommies do the dishes not guys." Brandon scoffed.
Paul shook his head.
"You are sadly mistaken and if you still have that attitude when you get older and start dating, you are going to be dateless." Paul said.
"But…" Luc started.
"Go on, bring your plates in." He said shooing them.
They grumbled but gathered the plates and went into the kitchen.
"I have a few errands to run, I'll be back later." Mark said and got up to leave.
"Want to join us?" Paul asked.
Kayla shrugged,
"You are going to be the only one not swimming." She said.
"I'll go in my boxers I have my bag in my truck." He said simply and walked into the kitchen carrying the remaining dishes.
The boys had pulled up chairs and stood on them next to the sink.
"Ok first you fill the sink up with water and squirt some dish soap in." He said.
Luc turned on the water and Brandon squirted more than enough soap in. Paul sighed and wondered what the hell he had gotten himself into. Even though more suds ended up on the boys and him and they all needed to change, he had fun. They now knew how to do dishes and mop the floor. The boys raced upstairs to change into their swimsuits and Paul went out to his truck. He stripped off his shirt to change it and walked back into the house. Kayla came walking down the stairs.
"Here, they're my dad's but they have to be better than boxers." She said handing him a pair of Hawaiian print swim trunks.
"Thanks." He said.
"No problem, better hurry up and change. The boys won't wait long." She said.
He smiled and disappeared into the bathroom to change. When he was done they all headed off the stream that ran through Mark's property. The boys jumped in as soon as they reached the stream and started splashing each other while the two adults sat down well out of range and talked.
"Come on Uncle Paul, the water's not that cold." Luc said.
"Yeah, you said you'd hang out with us not mommy." Brandon said.
Paul sighed dramatically and got up.
"Remember you two asked for it." He said as he jumped in with them and started splashing them and dunking them. Kayla sat and watched for awhile before dozing off. The next thing she knew she was being lifted and then carried. She snuggled close and then felt herself being dropped. She stood up sputtering and the sound of her sons' uncontrollable laughter filled the air. Paul stood a few feet away smirking.
"You son of a bitch." She said laughing.
"We wanted you to play with us." Paul said innocently.
"You could have asked." She said.
"This way was more fun." He said.
They played in the water for awhile then headed back to the ranch.
"I better get going to the arena." He said.
"Okay we'll see you next week." Kayla said.
"Mommy can't we go now then come back or maybe Uncle Paul will let us spend the night or we could spend the night with Grandpa." Luc said.
"Yeah and we can watch from backstage and hang out with the guys." Brandon added. "Yeah Kayla I don't mind if you guys hang out tonight." Paul said.
She gave up and quickly got herself and the boys ready to go to the arena.