The next couple days went by uneventful, but at least the house was almost fully put together. Only the master bed and bath were left. With the baby down for a nap, Kira began to work on her room. About an hour later, her phone vibrated in her back jeans pocket. Pulling out her slightly battered iphone, she saw she had a new text message from Natalie.
You busy?
So Kira texted her back. Nope.
Can I come over?
Sure
Great. Two minutes.
K
Kira wondered if she'd fallen victim to the notorious curse of 'Hanson Time'. She looked at the time on her phone to see if she'd really be two minutes. As her phone marked two minutes, Kira listened for the dorbell, and was answered by silence. Just as she thought. And just as she was about to go back to work, the doorbell chimed. Kira dashed down the stairs and let Natalie in.
"Sorry, it's such short notice, but I had to get away! My head is starting to throb." She sat on the couch as she set her baby's car seat on the floor and began unbuckeling it. "Where's Westin?"
"He'll be up from his nap in about fifteen minutes."
"Awesome. So tell me, how have you been the last few days?"
They cought up with the visiting until Kira's baby woke up, and then the two babies played until Kira had to go pick her other kids up from school.
"Sure, I'd love to watch your kids tomorrow night. I mean, you've babysat for us at least a million times now! When do you want to drop them off?"
"Thanks Natalie, especially on such short notice. How about six?" Kira said.
"That's fine. You guys were going to dinner and a movie, right?"
"Yeah. Now that Junior's one and has regular sleeping habits, he's a lot easier to take care of."
"Oh, you know I don't mind."
"I know, but then I feel better about dumping him on someone else." Kira laughed.
"So I'll see you tomorrow at six then?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Natalie."
"Sure. Glad to return the favor."
So the next day, at four, Kira started to get herself ready. A short strapless black dress with lace ruffles over the top and black heels. She'd put the sides of her hair up, back away from her face with diamond clips, to show off her matching earrings. Smoky eyes, and red lips completed her look. At ten to six, she final-checked her appearance, and deciding she was satisfied, she gathered her kids and ushered them out the front door and across the yard over to Natalies'. Ringing the bell, she bent down to adjust a kids slipper when the door opened.
"They're ready to eat and then lay down if you want them to, they brought their sleeping bags-" When she didn't get a greeting or response, she looked up into the doorway, and into Taylor's face. "Oh, sorry, I thought you were-"
\
"Natalie," he finished. "She'll be right back. She went to the store for some stuff." Kira looked back down and adjusted the other slipper, to realize she was giving TAylor a good view down her dress. He better enjoy it, she smiled her herself wickedly. Standing slowly, she smoothed her dress. Just then, Penny ran by inside, and Kira's daughters snuck through Taylor's legs and ran inside after Penny, squealing with happiness. Junior slowly made his way in, holding onto the door as he teetered in after his sisters, leaving Kira empty handed with Taylor.
"So-" Kira said, not knowing who to give the rest of her instructions to. She guessed she'd have to text Natalie later.
"You look really nice." Taylor said.
"Ah, thanks." Why was she so nervous when she was getting responses from him that she'd wanted all along? Why was it awkward when they'd seen eachother so many times- dropping off or picking up kids, out in the yard- granted they're usually from a distance, but up close and personal? "So, if you could just let Natalie know that the middle one, Kelsey, needs to go to the bathroom before she lays down-"
"I'll let her know. You know," he looked over his shoulder at a short high-pitched girls' scream, "that I found out where I remembered you from. That first night we came over when you moved in, I recognized you from somewhere, I just couldn't place it. But I remember now, after a little looking." He gave her his famous smile. "And I haven't told Natalie anything, but I know." He grinned as Kira raised an eyebrow in question. "You do know who I am, and according to my research, you're a very active member of our street team and fan club. And the place I recognize you from, mostly, besides from random glimpses at other shows and walks, you had a meet and greet the end of '07 in Vegas, and front row for that show. It was driving me crazy trying to place where I've seen you before. Besides. It's not like a face like yours could be forgotten so easilly. And when I saw that picture, of you between Isaac and I, I remembered my arm was around your waist. Am I right in all this?"
Inside, Kira was jumping up and down with joy. Outside, Kira tossed her curls over her shoulder and looked into his eyes. "You are." When the grin appeared on his face again, she smiled slyly.
"Does your husband know?" He stepped out of the doorway onto the step, almost toe to toe with Kira. And without flinching, she answered.
"Not all. He doesn't know who you really are, he just knows you're our neighbors. He knows I'm an active member of the club, but he doesn't know I'd had the meet and greet and your arm was around my waist." She'd lowered her voice slightly for the last line. She knew her husband was in their house, getting ready for their evening out in the opposite corner of the house. She wanted to be bold and make a small move, but she wasn't sure of his reaction, so she didn't. She wanted to take that last step to close the distance between them. Instead, she tilted her chin up and to an angle, then parted her lips, daring him. She saw him look down at her lips, then bite his bottom lip, then look back into her eyes. She could tell he wanted to. And just as she thought he was going to kiss her, he jerked his head up and took a step back as Natalie's SUV pulled up into the driveway. Kira and Taylor held eachother's gaze for one more moment.
"So she needs to go to the bathroom before she lays down?" Taylor said a little louder than necessary.
"Yeah. And they have their sleeping bags, so they can lay down there if they don't want to lay on a bed or something. Oh, hey Natalie."
"Kira! You look so pretty! You need to get out more!" Natalie laughed as she carried the two bags of groceries from her car to the house. Kira giggled as she stepped aside for Natalie. Taylor did the same, then took the bags from her.
"Have a nice night." He said before disappearing into their house.
"So I was just telling your husband that Kelsey needs to pee before bed, and they have their pajamas on and they're ready to lay down after dinner."
"Awesome. I bet you're running late."
"Probably. But Anthony hasn't come outside yet, so it can't be too bad."
"True. But I hope you have a good time, and you do look great."
"Thanks. And thanks for watching my kids again."
"No prob. Have fun!" Natalie went inside as Kira crossed the lawn and entered her quiet house, then went up to find her husband.
Chapter Four