Not Just A Kiss

By Elise

Kim pressed his lips to hers lightly, the action startled her. Cindy felt him start to pull away after her slight jump. It’s been so long since she’d been kissed. So long since anyone wanted to kiss her. Before he moved away she pressed her lips back to his.

It was a soft chaste kiss to begin with. His lips were soft, touch so tender it drew her closer to him. She felt the barest touch of his fingertips to her face as she tilted her head slightly and parted her lips for him.

Cindy felt her heart beat a bit faster as her mind yelled for her to stop. She didn’t stop, tell him to stop, instead…. The rest of the world seemed to still. The spell was broken when she felt his hand move up her back.

Coming back to Earth she stepped away from him and spoke softly. "I think we should go home. Jake has probably worn your poor mother out."

Kim smiled softly and nodded. His mind filling with things to say but he keeps them there and says instead, "No worries, she’s a tough old bird. She was tickled pink when I called her."

Turning back toward the car Cindy nodded her mind flooded with that kiss. It was probably impulse, it didn’t mean anything. She didn’t want it to mean anything anyway. They were barely friends, he was her boss, there were a million reasons it would be bad to kiss him again. She stopped walking for a second. Surely the thought of a second disastrous kiss did not cross her mind.

Kim stopped with her placing a gentle hand at her elbow concerned by the expression of panic on her face. "Is there something wrong?"

Realizing she must look like what she was thinking Cindy grinned softly and shook her head. "No, I'm okay." What am I thinking? I can't be falling for Kim. Why not? Why not I'll tell you why not! He's my boss, we're barely friends. He just recently started calling me by the right name!

Kim opened the car door for her and she slid in her shoulder brushing his. He smiled at her softly and she smiled back. This is crazy.... not as crazy as having a conversation with yourself.

The ride home was mostly quiet. Kim wondered what she was thinking. Probably that he was a real bugger. What the hell had come over him to kiss her like that? But wait didn't she kiss him back? She did, he was sure of it Cindy kissed him back. Damn he was falling in love with her. No he was in love with her. The question was how did she feel. From the look on her face back there on the beach... it might not be good thoughts.

For a while he just sat and thought about how much of his life had been about grabbing the brass ring. He wanted that brass ring so bad that he'd made dozens of sacrifices to get it. How many things did he let just slip though his fingers or make choices based on just how far the could get him up that ladder.

Yeah and look at just how far they got you. But now he had the store, his own place. Business was growing daily with the town. He was finding out what it was like to be successful but he was alone at the top. Kim looked at the woman next to him in the car, maybe he didn't have to be alone. There was room at the top for two more wasn't there?

Kim parked the car and helped Cindy out. She looked lovely with her hair slightly wind blown. As she walked past for him to close the door he could smell the sea air on her skin. Joining her they walked up the flight and to the apartment doors.

Sounds of pretend lasers and crashing with a few cries of you foul villain tossed in came from behind Cindy's apartment door. Kim tried to stifle the laugh as Cindy hurried to open the door. When they went inside they saw Jake standing on the couch with a towel tied around his neck for a cape. Kim's mother was standing next to him holding an egg beater in one hand and a pot lid in the other.

Grace smiled and quickly got Jake down off the sofa. Kim kisses her on the cheek. "Eggara up to her old evil tricks again mum?"

The older woman smiled and laughed. "Of course, you know that vile woman couldn't resist the diamonds hidden in Barrett’s safe."

Jake smiled wide as he ran to hug his mother. "Mommy we had so much fun. Grandma Grace played the bad guy and I was a Power Ranger. Did you have fun?"

Cindy smiled and nodded hugging him back tightly she had missed him. "Yes, it was a very nice dinner. We ate on the deck right over the water with a big moon in the sky."

Grace grinned at her son. "Sounds romantic."

Kim cleared his throat and walked his mom to the door. "Um.. yeah. It was nice. A beautiful night. So you had a good time with the tyke."

Giving him a knowing smile Grace kissed his cheek as she slung her purse over her shoulder. "Yes, I did. I had a very good time with the tyke." She leans in close to whisper to her son. "Don't bugger this one up. I like being called Grandma Grace."

Kim gives her a look as he opens the door and starts to walk her out. Grace stops him and smile. "I can find my way back down the stairs. Good night son. Good night Cindy it was fun playing with you Jake."

Cindy sent Jake to get ready for bed before giving Grace a soft smile. "Thank you so much for sitting with him. I hope he wasn’t any trouble."

Grace shook her head. "He’s no trouble at all. I hope you’ll call again soon."

They watched Grace make her way to the stairs. Kim turned to Cindy taking her hands in his. "Cindy, about …."

She cut him off pulling her hands from his. "You don’t have to explain. It was just a kiss."

"That’s just the thing, it wasn’t just a kiss. Do you know why I called you by every name but Cindy for a while?"

Giving him a look she crossed her arms. "Too annoy me as the only peon you have to play bossman with."

Kim leans against the door jam with a sigh. "You’re right I can’t deny that. I’m a right bastard I admit. I’ve used and stepped on a lot of people. But the real reason was to keep you at arms length. I didn’t want any kind of attachments. Not just with you with anyone, everyone. It’s easier to step over the body than carry it up the ladder with you was my philosophy for a long time."

Cindy feels her heart falling. He kissed her because she said at one time she was easy. That was all he wanted, she was too much baggage to carry. Her eyes glance toward Jake’s room. They were too much baggage for anyone. "That’s comforting, I’m nothing but a skirt. I get it. I’m not the person I was a few years back so I’ll say good night."

Kim pushes off the wall and gently places his hands on her arms. "Cindy, no. That’s not what…" He takes a deep breath trying to find the words on his heart. He’s never don’t that for anyone before. "Cindy, I am attached to you. And Jake. I’ve come to care about you a great deal. I still want to climb to the top. But what good is it to be up there looking down at the world alone."

Listening to his words watching his expressions she can feel his sincerity of them. Cindy feels it herself, tired of being alone. Is that why she thinks she’s falling in love with him? Just to cure her loneliness? It’s too much, too confusing. Where does Jake really fit in with Kim’s idea of reaching the top.

"Kim…. I. I have feelings for you too. I don’t know what they are exactly. I know what I want them to be but I don’t have just myself to consider anymore."

He understands what she’s saying, the puzzlement he sees in her pains him. The last thing he would ever want to do is cause her life more difficulty. Jake is a big consideration. Is he ready to be a mentor for the tyke? Be involved, really involved in his young life? Glancing toward the bedroom door where he can hear the boy playing Kim is filled with a warmth the never imagined for himself.

Cupping her face softly Kim pulls her into a kiss feeling her stiffen. As he fills the kiss with what is in his heart he feels her relax against him.

Her heart wants so much to give in to him so much to be cared for. For just a moment she lets everything he offers into her heart. Her hands rest on his shoulders as she returns the kiss.

A loud creak and Cindy steps away from Kim and turns to Jake who’s walking toward them. "Ready for bed honey?"

He nods and yawns sleepy. Jake takes her hand and they go back into his room. Cindy gets him tucked into bed and sits on the edge kissing his forehead. Jake hugs her tight and smiles. "You like Mr. Barrett."

Cindy gives him a look and turns on the nightlight. "Yes, I like Mr. Barrett he’s our friend remember?"

Jake hugs his bear tight as he rolls to the side. "Are you going to kiss him again?"

Moving back to his bed she sits down. "That is not a subject for little boys." She combs though his hair for a moment then sighs softly. "Did it bother you to see me kissing Kim?"

He yawns and shakes his head. "Huh uh. I think you should kiss Mr. Barrett again."

Cindy grins. "And why should I kiss him again?"

Jake closes his eyes as he starts to fall asleep. "Because you looked happy."

She watched him sleep for a minute thinking about what he had just said. How did it make her feel to be around Kim? Even just working in the store she felt content, happy. "Out of the mouths of babes."

Going out to the living room she finds it empty and the door was closed. He had gone home. Cindy hesitated a moment then opened the door and stepped across the hall knocking on his.

Kim heard the anxious knock and hurried to the door. He knew it was Cindy, something must be wrong. "What’s happened? Is Jake alright?"

Nodding with a soft smile Cindy steps up to Kim sliding her arms around him in a tight hug. His arms go around her smoothing her hair. "Cindy, what’s wrong?"

Looking into his face. "Nothings wrong. I… It wasn’t just a kiss."