Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!


Kayce held open the door to the restaurant for you. It was cold but the intimate place immediately warmed you up. There were red hearts hanging from the ceiling as Kayce leaned over to the hostess and said your reservation name. The woman led you both back to a table in the far corner. You pulled your coat off and Kayce waited for you to sit down and push your chair in before he took his seat. You watched him remove his hat and smooth back his hair.

A waiter came by and took your drink orders, placing some bread in the middle of the table. You smiled at Kayce as he shifted in his seat. This wasn't a place where he was comfortable, but he was doing this because he knew you were in love with the chef's chicken parm. That, and it was Valentine's Day after all.

"What?" Kayce smirked at you over the candlelight.

"Nothing," You shook your head fast, smiling. "Just happy."

"Good," Kayce nodded and looked down at his menu. "That's all that matters."

You glanced at the menu even though you knew what you wanted. A few minutes later and two glasses of red wine were placed on the table along with some water. You ended up ordering your chicken parm and Kayce decided on the ribeye and fingerling potatoes. You raised your eyebrow at him as the waiter walked away.

"Now what?" Kayce asked you.

"You eat that all the time at home," You giggled. "So that's what you choose to order here?"

"It's what I like," Kayce shrugged.

You picked up your wine glass and rolled your eyes.

"Here," Kayce picked up his glass and held it out for you to toast with him. "Happy...heart day."

You smiled brightly at him and clinked your glass with his.

"Happy heart day," You took a sip and then sat your glass down. "How was work today?"

"Fine," Kayce leaned his arms on the table. "Still no where on the Reynold's case."

"You thought it would take some time," You said.

"We need to find something on him though," Kayce sighed. "We're almost a week since and things go cold after that long."

"Nothing from Helena?" You asked.

"They won't help unless we have someone," Kayce shook his head.

"I'm sorry," You told him. "What happened to the kids?"

"We were able to find an aunt down in Cheyenne," Kayce grabbed his glass again and took a sip. "So there's one bright spot."

"All thanks to you...and that's not under your jurisdiction," You smiled.

"We know the state won't do shit to help kids like that," Kayce shrugged. "The least we could do...ain't their fault their dad is worthless."

"Speaking of dads..." You took another sip of your glass. "I spoke to yours today."

"You talked to my dad?" Kayce asked.

"He wanted to know if I'd seen or heard from you since he hadn't in over a week," You blinked back at Kayce.

"What'd you say?" He asked.

"That I see you every day," You shrugged. "We talk throughout the day...but that's how healthy relationships work."

"Bet he loved that," Kayce rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure he called me a few choice words in his mind," You giggled. "But in all honesty...maybe we should go see him?"

"Baby," Kayce sighed and rubbed his face.

"I know," You nodded. "I know what's happened. I was there for most of it...but...he's not governor anymore. We could bring Tate? Just thought that it would be a nice gesture and then no one could say we weren't...nice."

"You're always nice," Kayce told you. "Don't have to ever worry about that with you."

"Not always," You said. "I haven't reached out to him in over a week either."

Kayce chuckled.

"What?" You asked.

"You think that's you not being nice?" Kayce asked. "Baby...that's a monthly occurrence in this family since we were born."

"Well, we can't all be the big bad Duttons," You rolled your eyes but smiled at him.

"Let me be the big, bad guy," Kayce took another sip. "Let me deal with my father."

"That worked until this," You held up your left hand, showing off your wedding rings. "But you now made me one of those big, bad Duttons."

"Sure, baby," Kayce winked at you. "You're the biggest, baddest of us all."

"Damn straight," You nodded as your food was brought to you.

**

Kayce pulled under the Dutton Ranch sign a little while later. You were full of good food and wine, happier than a June bug. But your smile faded as Kayce pulled up to the foreman's cabin and saw John and Rip standing there. Kayce put the truck in park, looking over at you.

"Kayce..." You whined.

"Let me go see," Kayce opened his door.

"Kayce," You said shortly.

"I know," Kayce told you before shutting his door and walking over to his father.

You watched them talk for a few minutes, both getting heated every now and then. Shifting in your seat, you waited as patiently as you could. Kayce glanced back at you before saying something to his father and then walked back to the truck. He came up to your side though, so you rolled your window down.

"How mad am I about to get?" You asked Kayce.

"Do you want to know?" Kayce rested his arms on the window.

You looked over at John and Rip who seemed to be waiting.

"Is it dangerous?" You asked Kayce softly.

His eyes were apologetic to you, one of his hands reaching into the truck to hold the side of your face.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Kayce told you.

"Alright," You nodded. "Please be careful."

"I will," Kayce walked off and headed to Rip's truck.

**

It was around three in the morning when you felt the bed dip behind you. Kayce sighed, molding his body against yours with his arms wrapping around you. You turned your head as best you could and felt Kayce take a deep breath. Your hands rested on his arms.

"Are you okay?" You whispered out.

"Sure," Kayce said.

"What happened?" You asked.

"Tell you in the morning," Kayce mumbled.

You turned around in his arms to face him. Kayce's hands rubbed up and down your back as your nose brushed his. Slowly, his eyes opened up and he looked at you.

"Tell me," You said gently.

"Everything's fine now," Kayce sighed. "We lost two hands though...Dad's just...protecting this place like only he knows how."

You reached up and rubbed your thumb under Kayce's eye.

"I love you," You told him.

"Even when I abandon you on heart day?" Kayce asked.

You leaned forward and kissed him.

"Even then," You mumbled against his lips.

"Then should I return this?" Kayce asked, moving his hand around to pull something from behind his back.

It was a small, long black box. You blinked a few times, your eyes adjusting to the darkness so you could see better. Your fingers opened the lid up and your eyes widened at the simple, but beautiful gold necklace inside. There was a small, eloquent heart pendant attached to it. It was simple, but one hundred percent something you would have begged for.

"Kayce..." You smiled up at him.

"I love you," He told you.

You leaned forward and wrapped your arms around his neck, hugging him close.

"It's beautiful," You looked back down at the necklace. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Kayce sat the necklace on the nightstand and snuggled back with you. "You can wear it tomorrow."

You tucked your head against his chest, under his chin and fell asleep listening to the sound of Kayce's breathing.