The Fresh Start

Chapter 3Moving really fast

Kay smiled walking into the book cafe, pushing the stroller with Maria in it. For once she was in a good mood. It was sunday afternoon, and tomorrow she would go back to work. Fox hadn't called or anything yet... but she would see him tomorrow. Why hadn't he called, maybe he lied, and he had a horrible time?

Why was she even bothering, he was a guy, not just a guy, he was a Crane. She should know better, especially after everything Ivy had put his father through.

Taking the coffee she ordered from the young girl at the counter, she walked outside onto the deck and sat down at a table turning the stroller toward her so she could watch Maria more closley. She handed her the stuffed toy she used most often and she giggled and smiled, Kay kissed her daughter on the forehead happily. She had been smiling non stop all weekend and it was making Tabitha sick.

"Kay!" She heard and turned around to see her half brother Ethan walking toward her.

"Hey" She smiled. They hand't become that close, but he was a good guy, and he had been trying his best to help out Jessica.

"You look good...your smiling..." Ethan said sounding surprised.

"Yeah, just having a good weekend i guess" She smiled. Ethan reached into the stroller tickling Maria a bit and smiling.

"Yes...so is my brother" Ethan laughed. "Ive never seen him so...so...joyful"

"He told you we went out?" Kay laughed.

"Yes... every detail, about five times actually. He seems to be quite smitten with you" Ethan joked "I havn't seen him like this since we were kids, not even with Whitney"

Kay said nothing, only blushed.

"Well, just be careful, he's always been..."

"A womanizer..." Kay said

"Yea" Ethan sighed.

Fox had picked up the phone about ten times that day, turned it on... but stopped himself everytime. As much as he wanted to see her again, or even just hear her voice, he didn't want her to think he was pushing her.

Whitney had called him twice, and for the first time in months, he didn't care. All he wanted to think about was Kay, and that kiss on the pier, and how all he wanted was more of those...but once again his thoughts were interupted by a knock on his bedroom door. He knew, even before opening it, that it would be her.

"We need to talk Fox" She said as he opened the door.

"Do we have to?" Fox groaned.

"You don't know Kay Bennett ... Fox she's a manipulative little slut.." Whitney said becoming flustered. She wasn't used to Fox treating her so rudely.

"Who the hell are you to talk!" Fox yelled, finally loosing his patience with her. Something about the way she spoke about Kay made him so angry. "After what you did to me, the way you hurt me... your gonna sit here and lecture me about Kay Bennett?" He yelled turning around to see that someone else had entered the room. Kay stood there behind Whitney with her arms folded over her chest glaring down at her. Whitney followed his gaze and turned around, embarassed as she realized that Kay must have witnessed their entire conversation.

"Oh don't stop on account of me... although if you don't mind my daughters in the room... and where is your son Whitney?" Kay said taking a step toward her.

"Kay listen it's not what it sounded like..."

"Oh i think i know exactly what it is. This is you...realizing that your an idiot for hurting him the way that you did, and being jealous that he isn't sitting around waiting for you to come back to him. After everything you've done to him...you've got the nerve to call me a manipulative slut?" Kay laughed

"Kay it's ok... Whitney was just leaving"

"No i wasn't" Whitney snapped back.

"Oh yes you are, Fox and i are busy" Kay yelled and walked across the room with Maria in her arms to stand by his side. She could almost see her blood start to boil. Whitney grabbed her bag and walked out of the room embarassed and feeling frustrated.

"Kay thanks... but you didn't have to say any of that" Fox blushed.

"Yes i did, or she would never have left you alone" Kay laughed. "Besides, i just got the flowers you sent... thank you" Kay smiled, she tried to stop herself from blushing, but he looked at her and immediatley she lost it.

"I was gonna call... but i didn't want to push... or scare you away"

"I don't scare easily" Kay smiled, staring him in the eye. "Maria and i discussed it... and we think you should come help us make dinner tonight"

"Oh really..." Fox laughed glancing down at little Maria.

"Yes, on Sundays Tabitha and Andora always go out" Kay said... yea they went out alright, to a meeting in the basement... she thoguht "we make dinner and our favorite chocolate chip cookies..." Kay said kissing her on the cheek.

"Well... i couldn't miss that, besides Choclate chip is my favorite" He said taking her out of Kay's hands. She watched him hold her and he was smiling... most men would be scared off by a baby, but he seemed to love her. "I have a meeting with my grandfather... but is five ok?"

"Five is perfect" Kay smiled. She wanted to kiss him, it had been all she thought about since their date, was how amazing that kiss was, but knew she had to keep him at a distance, atleast until she knew for sure that this wasn't just another conquest for him. So instead she flashed him a smile and headed for the door, already planning out what she would wear.

Later that day Kay was pacing around the house, cleaning up after Maria and Andora nervously. She had decided on a pair of dark blue jeans her favortie black boots and a tight black top, that accentuated her curves in a way that said she wasn't trying too hard. Fox Crane had a big enough ego... let him know you were dressing up for him and god knows how he'd act.

She glanced at herself one more time in the mirror. Tabitha was laughing behind her.

"My my... i have never seen you so nervous" She laughed.

"Tabitha please..."

"Oh come now... you obviously like this boy"

"Yes i do. So do me a favor, and try not to come back up until tomorrow..." Kay laughed. Tabitha shot her a shocked look "I'm not saying anything is going to happen, i dont even know if i'm ready for that, i just want everything to go perfectly tonight"

"Oh fine..." She huffed. The door bell rang and she headed for the basement door. "Good luck dearie" She laughed before walking down stairs.

Kay opened the door and led him inside, she looked him up and down admiring how nice he always looked. He was always so put together, that hair... those gorgeous eyes...

"As usual... you look gorgeous" Fox smiled.

"Thank you" She blushed once again. He was always making her do that.

Kay watched him closely as he helped she and Maria bake after dinner. Why did he have to be so good with her, so cute, so successful, so sweet, so... perfect. There had to be a catch, things like this and men like Fox didn't happen to Kay. It was nice to feel attractive and wanted for once, ever since Miguel had left, the thought of romance was something she viewed as imposible. But now, he made her feel like maybe it was ok to be herself around him, she idn't have to trick him into liking her.

Kay laughed as Fox blew on the cookie and handed a small piece of it to Maria, she had choclate all over her face by the time they were finished.

"I'm gonna go clean her up and put her down" Kay said picking her up. "Why don't you open that bottle of wine... i'll be right back"

"Sure... goodnight cutie" Fox said tickeling her belly, making her giggle again. "Hurry back" he said watching her go up the stairs.

Fox poured two glasses and walked outside sitting on the back porch. He couldn't believe how quickly his feelings were growing for her. They had only been on one official date. Maybe they had been flirting and he had been saving her from earthquakes and sharks for weeks now, but now they were kissing and he had fallen for her daughter as well. Finally she came back down the stairs laughing. She came outside and he handed her a glass.

"Sorry i took so long, she had choclate everywhere" Kay laughed. "Your really good with her"

"How could you not be, she's adorable Kay... i don't know how Miguel could have left her"

"Yea... well a two year old scares most guys off. So what's the catch here Fox"

"What do you mean?" he said looking her in the eye, and realizing in that moment that she was just as scared as he was. "I told you Kay, don't believe everything you hear... besides, your different then most women i meet... besides, im falling for you way to fast for this to just be a one nighter"

"Fox i'm not good at this whole... dating thing... i've never really" Kay said embarassed. She took a sip of her wine before continuing. "I just know that were moving kind of fast, and its not easy for me to just let you in, i've been hurt pretty bad..."

"Yea... me too" Fox sighed reaching for her hand "Listen i know that your not the kind of girl thats gonna make this easy for me... but its too late for me to stop this, i'm falling for you... really fast, and your daughter is amazing. But if i'm moving to fast for you, or you need space or if there is anything at all you need all you have to do is say so, i'll do anything you want Kay..." Fox said stepping closer to her. For once Kay didn't have a smart come back and she couldn't think of a single word to say. So instead she just smiled and reached up placing her hand on his face, she bit her lip contemplating her next move, but gave in to her desires and kissed him gently. Gradually they began to kiss more passionatley and Kay placed her glass down on the table. He tried to pull away but she only pulled him closer, wanting to kiss him again.

"I don't want to push you Kay, i know this is fast..." he said out of breath

"shhhh" She laughed kissing him again. She had been thinking about this all night and it felt good to finally get what she wanted. Maybe it was fast, but she didnt care, and she didn't want to stop. "Let's go upstairs Fox" She said out of breath

"Are you sure ... we don't have to..." Fox whispered. She shooke her head yes and he picked her up kissing her again as he made his way up the stairs.