Oneshots - Kayce Dutton

Cold Dinners and Flowers

The dinner you had made earlier was cold now, still on the wooden table back near the kitchen of the smaller cottage you had been sharing with Kayce for almost a year now. You were sitting on the back porch, your eyes tracing over the mountain range on your boyfriend's family's ranch. There was one empty beer bottle near your bare feet and a cold one on the armrest next to your hand. Due to there being little yellow left in the sky, you knew it must be close to eight or nine in the evening.

Kayce was supposed to finish around five each day, having started as the Livestock Commissioner for his father. You let him put on a show of annoyance when you both discussed it but you secretly knew he would love it. All cowboys wanted to grow up and wear a badge right? Why would Kayce Dutton be any different?

But that didn't excuse his absence tonight of all nights. You knew he didn't remember, while Kayce loved you and proved it to you in many different ways, remembering dates was not his specialty when it came to romance. You hadn't even done anything really special for this one. His favorite dinner and favorite whiskey were on the table, his favorite dress was currently on you, and you had made a deal with John to have Tate with him for the evening.

Seeing as how you and Kayce had been together from about fifteen to seventeen, then had a long break of almost seven years before getting back together (by the way he was married in between then) an anniversary did seem a little ridiculous to you. But you remembered this June evening a year ago. You both had spent the day up at summer camp with everyone else, roasting in the sun and watching the cattle. More supplies were needed so you volunteered to go with Kayce and a few others back to the main house to help. He had been divorced for over a year and the two of you have a friendship again. You were very cautious on the subject and had told Kayce off a few times when he got a little too handsy or his eyes turned that deep caramel color you would deny you loved.

The crew decided to spend the night before heading back to camp in the morning, which meant you and Kayce were the only two in the main house. You made this simple pasta dish with sausage and spinach in a cream sauce while Kayce made you both a drink. You don't remember laughing more during the meal and the two of you retired to the den and had another drink. You felt bold from the whiskey and sat right next to Kayce on the large couch, his arm resting behind your head. The conversation and laughter died down and you both fell into a comfortable silence.

"Are you ever gonna let me take you out on a real date again?" Kayce asked quietly. You turned your head to look at him while he stared straight ahead. You had been told by John you scared the shit out of Kayce because he thought if he said the wrong thing you'd be gone for good. Truth was, you were terrified yourself. Kayce had cheated on you, got Monica pregnant, and chose to try and do the family thing. He broke you and then paraded around the town with what looked like a perfect family. So you made sure to stay cautious and keep him at a distance because you were just as scared as he was.

"Well," You paused and cleared your throat, scooting up a little in your seat. "Let's see...a nice dinner, good drinks, and fun conversation. I'd say we just had a lovely date."

Kayce eyed you, not fully believing what you were saying. You bought yourself another moment taking a sip of your drink.

"I don't really think my father's house is where I had In mind to take you, darling," Kayce turned slightly towards you, your knees brushing against one another from his movements.

"I think this is the first actual date we've ever been on," You offered, feeling your cheeks heat up under his gaze.

"I took you on dates before," Kayce looked at you like you grew another eye before chuckling. "You about near bankrupt me when that new pizza place on Main opened."

Your eyes turned softer. You were fighting hard to not let your emotions show because if you were being honest, what you and Kayce had before seemed to crumble based on how it ended. While there were good times, you still felt like that phone call from him outside the clinic on the reservation destroyed any hope of remembering good times. It's been over a decade now, but your heart still clenches.

"You did," You nodded, turning to look across the room. "You took good care of me."

There was a shift in the room then and you knew Kayce had picked up on it. He sat his empty glass down on the table and turned more in his seat. You felt his hand slip beneath your hair and rest on the back of your neck. His fingers gently rubbed your skin as you felt your eyes flutter.

"No, I didn't," His words came out slowly as if he was in pain. You looked to your left and saw his expression, regret mixed with sadness and humility. Something inside you snapped though and you reached your hand to rest against his thigh.

"The decision to try and make your family work isn't what hurt me, Kayce," You offered quietly. Kayce sat still, waiting for you to continue. "It was just the act of cheating in the first place. I know you were drunk and we had had a major fight...but I was in my bed crying my eyes out that night while you went with your friends out to the res."

"The biggest mistake of my life," Kayce whispered. It wasn't lost on you that cheating on you was his biggest mistake and not his failed marriage. "I'll regret it to the day I die."

"I hope not," You shook your head, surprising him. "Because Tate is not a mistake."

You thought Kayce was about to start crying. He reached over and grabbed your hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss each knuckle. Your eyes watched him closely.

"He really likes you," Kayce said looking back at your eyes. "Said he thinks you're better friends than we are."

"He's right," You laughed, not ignoring the swell in your heart at Kayce's words. Kayce's hand dropped yours but you quickly placed it against his cheek, enjoying the way his beard tickled your palm. "Because friends don't make out on one of their dad's couches."

Smiling for the first time since you had sat down Kayce leaned into you.

The backdoor opening pulled you from your memory.

You turned around in your seat but your vision was obstructed by a bouquet of wildflowers. Their smell was intoxicating as you giggled at them being so closer. Tilting your head up slightly you saw Kayce's face above the bundle looking down at you. He was smiling but there were apologetic lines around his eyes.

"Hey baby," He said softly, leaning down to kiss your forehead. "I'm so sorry I'm late."

"Are you okay?" You asked, scooting over to the large seat so he could sit with you and not next to you. You grabbed the flowers as his arm went around your shoulders.

"Yeah 'm fine," Kayce mumbled, taking your beer bottle and having a swig. "Just people being stupid."

"I have dinner but," You trailed off knowing he saw it when he walked in.

"It looked delicious," Kayce leaned over and kissed your cheek. "Sorry I ruined my favorite."

So he had some memory, you thought as you took in the flowers and started adding things up. You hadn't told Kayce why you were making dinner tonight for just the two of you but he must have figured something out.

"Why the flowers?" You asked trying to solve it.

"Same reason for the dinner," Kayce smiled over at you but then his eyes took in what you were wearing. "And apparently that dress."

You felt your cheeks heat up like you were sixteen again and he was offering you his jacket in the parking lot after school one day.

"It's just dinner," You mumbled but couldn't stop your smile.

"No, it's not," He chuckled.

"I didn't want to be THAT girl," You rolled your eyes realizing you had indeed become that girl.

"You're cute when you blush," Kayce bit his bottom lip making your stomach squirm.

"You don't think it's annoying?" You asked, leaning into his warmth. His arm around you tightened as his lips came closer to yours.

"I like having something that's just ours," He answered honestly, before pressing his lips to yours.

The dinner still tasted good...when you reheated it three hours later...