Kate (The Dimarco Series Book 5)

by Jennifer Hanks

She chuckled and turned back to grab orange juice and yogurt, Andy happily at her side pointing out things he wanted. When he was done, I continued. “Do you have brothers and sisters?”

  She laid a loaf of bread in the cart and nodded. “I have a sister.”

  I was surprised, I didn’t think she had any family considering she was here all alone. “Where does she live?”

  “She does mission trips with her church. Her husband’s the pastor.” She looked thoughtful. “I think they’re in Costa Rica right now, but I’m not sure. She usually sends me a postcard when they move around.”

  “What about your parents?”

  “They’re traveling. They both retired a few years ago and decided it was time to see the world. The last postcard I got was from London.”

  “Mom, can I get cookies?” Andy called out.

  I looked to see him standing beside a small table loaded with freshly baked goods and smiled at his wide eyes. I turned to look at Kate when she spoke. “Yeah, we’ll take them to lunch today.”

  She turned to me. “How many boxes should we get?”

  I thought about it for a minute before walking to where Andy was standing. “We’ll get two.”

  Kate frowned. “Will that be enough?”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  “Luke.” I turned my head when my name was called and barely stopped the frown. The same damn woman who’d been texting me was standing behind me.

  “Hey Tonya.”

  Kate’s head whipped around from helping Andy pick two containers of cookies, her eyes wide and she mumbled ‘shit’. I looked at Tonya whose head had also turned and saw her face twist.

  I looked between them. “Do you two know each other?”

  “She got me fired.”

  Kate glanced down at Andy before responding. “You didn’t get fired, you quit.” Kate’s eyes found mine. “Do you two know each other?”

  Tonya slipped her arm through mine and leaned in to my shoulder. “We’re dating.”

  “What’s dating mom?” Andy’s voice interrupted.

  “We’re not dating.” I pulled her arm from my own and took a step to the side.

  “We are.”

  “Tonya,” I said as nicely as I could. “We went out on one date a long time ago.”

  Tonya tilted her head to the side. “Our date wasn’t long ago and,” She held up her cell phone. “we were just texting yesterday.”

  Kate looked between us and I knew any progress I’d made with her, I’d just lost because of this woman. She grabbed the cart from me, threw the cookies in and started down the next aisle, calling for Andy to follow her while I dealt with Tonya.

  CHAPTER TEN

  KATE

  Tonya. Freaking. Banks.

  Of all the women he could’ve dated, he picked her. I grabbed a few more things for the week before heading for the checkout, actually agreeing to buy Andy a small truck, just so he’d play with it and stop asking me what a date is.

  I felt Luke step in to line with us, but I kept my back to him. I wasn’t doing this again, I wasn’t living my life surrounded by doubt and misunderstandings, like Kurt used to tell me they were. Meaning, he was cheating and I was ‘misunderstanding’ it. I checked out and loaded Luke’s SUV with Luke’s help, quietly. We drove home, again, Andy chatting about his new truck, but the both of us silent, only speaking to answer him.

  “Hey Andy, I’m going to help your mom unpack the groceries. Why don’t you get together a few things to take to my parent’s house for you and Bray to play with?”

  I froze for a moment when I heard his request, knowing he wanted to talk about what had happened and also knowing that was the last thing I wanted to talk about.

  “Okay Luke.” Andy sang out happily. He started back the short hallway, but turned back. “Hey Mom, can I take my new truck?”

  I looked at him over my shoulder, since I was putting groceries in the cabinet, and smiled. “Sure, honey.”

  He took off down the hallway when I turned back to the cabinet, finishing the task of putting some things in the cabinet before returning to the grocery bags Luke had carried in and sat on the island. I grabbed the milk and Andy’s yogurt snacks, put them in the refrigerator, closed the door and turned around, running right into Luke. He put his hands on my shoulders to steady me. “Can we talk?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing to talk about.”

  His lips tightened into a thin line. “That wasn’t what you thought.”

  “It’s none of my business, Luke.” I shoved away from him and made my way to the island to unpack the rest of the groceries.

  He sighed and from the corner of my eye, I saw him run his hand through his hair. “I’m not dating her.”

  I pulled vanilla wafers and crackers from the bag, setting them on the counter. “Again, like I said, it’s none of my business who you are or aren’t dating.”

  He moved quickly to stand behind me, putting his hands on either side of the counter, trapping me in the circle of his arms. His warm breath fanned over my ear when he leaned in close.

  “There is only one woman I want to date.” He put his lips to the sensitive skin along my neck, running them up to my ear again, and I unconsciously leaned back in to his body. “There’s only one woman I want to kiss,” His teeth grazed my earlobe. “One woman I want to touch.” He moved his hands from the island, wrapping his arms around my waist, and pulled my body back into his. I could feel his hardness pressing against my lower back and I wanted to get closer, wanted to feel his hands run under my shirt over the bare skin of my stomach. I could almost feel it, I wanted it so badly. He ran his tongue down the side of my neck and I tilted my head, giving him more access. “And baby, there is only one woman I dream about fucking.” His teeth bit into my skin gently.

  “Mom!” Andy yelled and I heard his feet coming quickly down the hall, followed by the sound of Cookie’s nails on the hardwood floors.

  We broke apart at the same time and I swallowed hard. Luke grabbed a bag and turned to the cabinets along the back wall, opening them and shoving various things in. I’d fix it later.

  “Yeah, Andy.” I smiled at him, my hands resting on the island, my eyes on him when he finally made it to stand in front of me. He held up his small backpack. “I’m ready.”

  “Okay, give me a few minutes and then we’ll go.”

  I left the kitchen and headed to the bathroom, needing some space. Closing the door behind me, I faced the mirror, took in my flushed skin and closed my eyes. I needed to put his words and his touch out of my mind. I needed to go to lunch with him this one time, get the names of potential sitters for Andy and then go back to my life. Boring, yes, lonely, definitely, but ultimately safe and that’s what I was craving. I opened my eyes, nodded at myself in the mirror and left the bathroom.

  It only took a minute for me to grab my purse and Andy’s things and get back in Luke’s vehicle. The ride was silent and short, because his family didn’t live too far from where Andy and I lived. Although the town is pretty small from what I’d been learning, so I didn’t imagine it took long to get anywhere.

  Luke pulled alongside the curb almost directly in front of a clearly updated farmhouse. It was beautiful and colorful, with flowers, wildly in bloom lining the sidewalk and on either side of a massive front porch. I hopped out, while Luke did the same and opened the door for Andy, who came around and reached up for my hand. I smiled down at him and recognized the shyness taking over. He knew this family, but Andy was always shy in new places, so I’d expected him to need extra assurances today.

  We waited for Luke and followed him up the sidewalk, standing back while he pushed open the large front door and gestured for us to go in ahead of him. I was immediately surrounded by noise and I stepped back, landing right against Luke’s chest, his hand grabbing my hip to steady us.

  “I should’ve warned you it would be noisy.” His hot breath blew across my ear and I shivered.

  “Andy!” I watched Braydon run, his
small legs moving fast towards Andy who was now smiling. “Come pay.”

  His head tilted back. “Can I mom?”

  I nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”

  He followed Braydon around the corner in to a large living room, filled with toys. I saw a little girl, who had to be four or five playing with another little girl who looked to be about Braydon’s age.

  “I’m so glad you came.” Bella’s voice brought my attention to the hallway directly in front of me flanked by a gorgeous staircase.

  She got to me and leaned in for a hug, which I returned, waving at Pike over her shoulder who was carrying a little girl. I pulled back and smiled when Pike came to stand beside Bella and tossed his arm across her shoulders.

  He tilted his head towards the little girl. “Kate, this is Savannah, my little sister I told you about.”

  I leaned in and ran my finger down her chubby arm, watching her lips tip up in a smile. “Hi Savannah.”

  She laid her head on Pike’s shoulder, but did it smiling and I remembered Bella telling me how shy she’s been since they were given custody of her. “How’s she doing?”

  “Much better.” Pike said. “We’ve seen a big difference over the last few months, so I’m hoping by her first birthday, which is soon, she’ll be mostly caught up.”

  “That’s amazing, brother.” Luke’s deep voice sounded from behind me. “How are you doing?”

  He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Better. I’m finding peace with everything. Kennedy’s death, my mom’s death, Savannah.” He looked down at Bella with nothing but love in his eyes. “I’m just lucky to have Bella supporting me through it all.”

  I heard a high-pitched cry and looked over Bella’s shoulder to see a woman coming down the hall with a crying infant in her arms. She smiled when she saw me and headed our way. “Hi, we haven’t met yet because Brody hasn’t let us out of the house.”

  She rolled her eyes and I giggled when Brody came up behind her. “We shouldn’t even be here today.”

  She shook her head but handed the baby to Brody when he reached for her. She immediately quieted. “She’s a daddy’s girl.”

  “Yeah because he won’t let anyone else hold her.” Luke complained from beside me.

  Brody shot him a look. “What do you know about holding a baby?”

  Luke snorted. “As much as you do.”

  The woman stepped in between them and held her hand out to me. I took it, still watching two grown men glare at each other over her head, finally moving my eyes back to her. “I’m Gia.”

  “It’s nice to finally meet you.” I shook her hand and then released it. “Bella’s told me a lot about you guys. I think it’s amazing that you named your new daughter ‘Kennedy’ after Pike’s sister who passed away.”

  “Well, when we found out that his sister and I shared the same father, it was a tribute I wanted to give. After all, I never even met my half-sister, but I wanted her to be a part of my life in some way.” She explained.

  I saw the moisture hit her eyes and I nodded, I could understand that. “How’s Kennedy doing?”

  “She’s amazing. So much like Lexi had been when she was a baby.” She tilted her head at my expression. “Oh, you haven’t met Lexi.” She looked past Brody and called out. “Lexi, come here a second.”

  The little girl who seemed close to Braydon’s age popped up and came running over, wrapping her arms around Gia’s neck as soon as she lifted her from the ground. “Lexi, this is Kate. She’s a new friend of ours.”

  “Hi.” Lexi said cheerfully.

  “Hi Lexi.”

  She smiled sweetly and then faced her mom, placing her hands on either side of Gia’s face. “Mama, I pay wif Mia.”

  She squatted down and put Lexi back on the floor who immediately started back towards the living room but stopped when Brody’s deep voice called out to her. She turned back around and came to him when he squatted down, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He whispered something in her ear, making her giggle and then she ran back in to the living room, found Mia and plopped down on the floor beside her.

  “Is everyone here?” Luke asked.

  Brody nodded. “All, but Ben and Grace.”

  “Grace?” I asked.

  “Oh, yeah I guess you haven’t met Grace yet. She’s the youngest of the Dimarco’s and the only girl.”

  “Poor girl.” I thought out loud.

  Luke and Brody chuckled and Gia asked. “Have you met Ben?”

  I thought back. “Lucy’s friend?”

  “That’s the one.” Bella said. “I think you’ve met everyone then except Grace.”

  “I really hope so.” I admitted, feeling overwhelmed by this family and how close they all seem to be.

  “You’ll love Grace.” Gia stated. “She’s an amazing woman and the kids love her.”

  “Does she live nearby?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, she works for an attorney about forty-five minutes from here, as his personal assistant.”

  That sounded interesting. “Does she like it?”

  Gia shrugged her slim shoulders. “She seems to, I guess, she doesn’t really talk about her work very much.”

  “That’s because we give her hell all the time.” Brody grunted.

  I tilted my head, in confusion. “Why?”

  Brody’s jaw tightened noticeably. “Because the attorney has her running to the jail to bail out clients and we don’t like it.”

  “What?” Luke stepped out around me coming closer to Brody.” “When?”

  “It was only one time that we know about.” Gia frowned at Brody.

  Brody’s face pulled into a scowl. “You didn’t meet the big bastard we met who she’d bailed out.”

  “When did you meet him?” Luke asked.

  A flash of sadness passed over Brody’s face. “When you were in the hospital, the night of the shooting.”

  Luke nodded and gestured for him to continue, but I interrupted. “Shooting?”

  Luke’s eyes flicked to mine, something I couldn’t understand passing through them and the others got quiet. “I was shot outside a bar almost nine months ago.”

  My eyes widened. “While you were on duty?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  I wanted to ask so many more questions, but it was obvious he didn’t want to talk about it, so I dropped my gaze to the floor, only raising it again when Luke’s voice pierced the awkward silence.

  “Tell me what happened with Grace.”

  Brody’s eyes met Luke’s and I could tell they were having a conversation without saying a word before he continued. “This guy turns up and Grace tells us she knows him because she picked him up at the jail after he’d been arrested for assault.” Brody lifted his hand and scratched the back of his neck. “Actually, it turned out to be that ex-football player that broke his neck.” His eyes shifted to the side like he was thinking. “Tyler…” He looked at Pike. “Do you remember his last name?”

  “Morgan.” Pike added.

  Luke whistled. “Tyler Morgan. I remember that story.”

  Brody nodded. “Anyway, he looked less than thrilled to see Grace and have to talk to us.”

  Luke frowned. “I can pull a few favors, see what he was in for. I know some guys who have jurisdiction in that town.”

  Gia shook her head. “Can’t you guys just leave her be?”

  Brody and Luke answered together. “No.”

  My eyes widened and I looked at Gia in pity. “I feel sorry for your girls when they’re all grown up and want to date.”

  “Date?” Brody snorted. “They’re not dating.”

  “Date?” My head snapped towards the living room to see Andy walking towards me. “Like the girl Luke was talking to in the grocery store?”

  I dropped my head and heard Luke groan. I did not want to answer these questions with an audience or think about Luke dating Tonya, so I was more than excited when Anna came to stand at the mouth of the hallway and announced dinner
was ready.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  LUKE

  I dropped my head and groaned when Kate brushed past me and took Andy’s hand, guiding him down the hallway behind Gia and Bella.

  I felt a hand come down on my shoulder and looked up, my eyes meeting Brody’s curious ones. “Grocery store?”

  “Boys, get your asses in here, your mom has dinner on the table.” Dad’s voice boomed from the dining room.

  “Long story.” I admitted before moving towards the dining room. Looking up and down the long table, I noticed they would soon be out of room. The dining room was big enough to hold another table, not one as big, but they were definitely going to need it if they planned to continue having these dinners.

  I grabbed a seat next to Kate, with Andy on her other side who was directly across from Braydon. I assumed mom arranged that so Andy was surrounded by familiar faces and after spending the day with Jake and Bray, they were definitely familiar to Andy. The food was passed and I watched Kate’s eyes flick down the table while conversations took over, people joining in mid-way and everyone talking over everyone else. For me it was a typical dinner, the way I grew up, but I had a feeling for Kate, it wasn’t something she was used to or had expected.

  “Syd and I are engaged.”

  My attention snapped from Kate when Cam’s voice broke the conversations at the table. It was quiet for all of a minute before the cheering and questions began.

  “You finally did it, huh?” Pike smirked.

  Cam grinned like the cat that ate the fucking canary. “Yep.”

  “Took you long enough.” Chris added.

  “Really, Chris?” I smirked when Lucy rolled her eyes at Cam’s response. “You’re one to talk.”

  “Lucy and I know what we have and we’ve talked about it. When the time’s right, it’ll happen.”

  “Could it be before she’s pregnant?” Mom asked with a grin floating around her lips.

  Rolling laughter filled the room, all of us knowing mom was only teasing since her boys had a bad habit of getting their girls pregnant well before they married them.

  “No promises, Mom.” Chris grinned at her and she shook her head, laughing.