Kiss Me Kate

by Mari Carr

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Kiss Me, Kate

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Preview the next book

  Note from Mari

  eBooks by Mari Carr

  Mari recommends … Sami Lee

  Excerpt

  “Hello?”

  “Kate. It’s Rick.”

  Rick listened as she forced herself to wake. He could hear her sitting up in bed and he thought he detected the click of the bedside light being flicked on. “Are you okay? Where are you? What time is it?”

  “It’s a little after midnight and I’m in a small hospital in Texas.”

  “Oh my God, what happened? Are you hurt? Where’s Wes?”

  “I’m fine.” Rick was secretly pleased by her concern. “Wes is considerably less than fine, but getting better.” The stress of the case and the last two days caught up with him. “I’m done with this, Kate.”

  “With what?”

  “This job, the agency, all of it. I’m just so fucking tired.”

  “Good.” He was surprised by the strength behind that single word. Before he could ask her what she meant, she continued to speak. “Do you need me to come there? I can miss a few days of work and catch the first flight out. I could be there by morning.”

  Touched by her willingness to put everything aside for him, he shook his head before realizing she couldn’t see the gesture. “No. Wes will need to stay here for a couple more days and then they’ll transfer him via helicopter to the hospital over in Harrisburg so we can be closer to home. His leg is broken as well as his nose and a few ribs. With any luck, I’ll be home the day after tomorrow and we’ll both be back in the farmhouse to stay by Christmas.”

  “Jill and I will put up a tree and decorate so Wes will have a nice place to come home to. We can even set up a bedroom for Wes on the ground floor, so he won’t have to deal with the stairs.”

  Rick grinned, more than happy to let Kate take care of all the details. “That sounds perfect, Kate. Moving Wes’s bedroom downstairs is a good idea.”

  “Don’t worry about anything, Rick. I’ll get Seth to help me start moving some of my stuff back over to Jill’s. Today’s Tuesday and I have to work this week, but I can probably have most of it out by Saturday.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Rick was upset by the thought of Kate’s sudden departure from his house and life.

  “You’re coming home, Rick. That sort of alleviates the need for a house and dog-sitter.”

  Spying an opportunity, Rick glanced back at the door of Wes’s hospital room and silently apologized to his friend for what he was about to do. “Actually, I need your help now more than ever.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ll need help with Wes. He’s going to need care while he recuperates. I was hoping between the two of us, we could supply it.” A small thread of guilt permeated his conscience, since Rick knew the agency would offer to provide a nurse for Wes, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He wanted Kate in his home, his life and his bedroom, and if he had to tell a hundred little white lies to make that happen, he would. There was no way he was letting Kate get away.

  “Oh my goodness. Of course I’ll stay and help. I wasn’t thinking. Are you sure you won’t mind having me underfoot for a while?”

  Rick wasn’t sure about the underfoot part, but he sure as hell wouldn’t mind having her under another part of him. “I need you, Kate.” His exhaustion was getting the better of him, causing him to forget to shield his words. Luckily, Kate misunderstood his comment.

  “Then I’ll stay. For Wes.”

  Kiss Me, Kate

  Madison Girls, Book 1

  Mari Carr

  Published 2017 by Book Boutiques.

  ISBN: 978-1-946363-06-0

  Copyright © 2017, Mari Carr.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Book Boutiques.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or events is wholly coincidental. The names, characters, dialogue, and events in this book are from the author’s imagination and should not to be construed as real.

  Manufactured in the USA.

  Email support@bookboutiques.com with questions, or inquiries about Book Boutiques.

  Blurb

  Blindsided when her husband skips town with another woman, Kate is forced to move in with her sister. Desperate to get out of Jill’s apartment, Kate jumps at the chance to help Rick and Wes, DEA agents whose latest case finds them in urgent need of a house-sitter while they’re off on assignment.

  As the months pass, a stronger Kate emerges. She develops an email friendship with Rick, and it isn’t long before they secretly begin starring in each other’s lust-filled fantasies. Problem is, after her failed marriage, Kate only wants a physical relationship. She’s terrified of losing her heart—which is exactly what Rick intends to capture upon his return.

  They reach a compromise. One that involves explosive, no-strings sex–for now. Rick patiently deflects her fears and slakes her passion while keeping his darker, dominant needs in check, afraid of scaring his innocent lover. But unbeknownst to Rick, Kate has a few untapped fantasies of her own.

  Previously Published

  (2015) Mari Carr | (2008) Ellora's Cave

  Acknowledgement

  Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Design

  Chapter 1

  Mid-May

  “Yowza,” Kate muttered as the front door of the farmhouse opened. Recalling herself, she quickly said, “Hi there. I c-called earlier. I’m Jill’s sister. The, uh, house-sitter.” Kate stumbled over her words as a man who could pass for George Clooney’s identical twin brother answered the door. O brother, where art thou been all my life?

  “Hello.” Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome spoke in a voice so hot and deep she was sure it could melt chocolate, not to mention what it was doing to her insides. “Ms. Summers?”

  “Harper.” She silently remarked how strange it felt to be using her maiden name again and extended her hand. “Kate Harper.”

  “Harper.” He shook the hand she offered, his grip strong yet curiously comforting. “Rick McAllister.”

  Kate prayed he couldn’t feel her hand shaking. Damn, she was a fool. She needed this job, desperately. Now was not the time to act like a giggling teenager crushing on a movie star. Although with his dark brown hair and cocoa-colored eyes, he could certainly grace her silver screen anytime of the day or night. “You’re doing it again,” she muttered underneath her breath.

  “Excuse me?” Rick had heard her and looked confused.

  Mortified, Kate attempted to backtrack quickly. “Nothing, I was just, uh, saying…so you and Jill are friends?”

  Rick grinned in a way that let Kate know he wasn’t fooled. “Yep and I don’t mind telling you that your sister makes a Dutch apple pie that can bring a grown man to his knees begging for a crumb of the crust.”

  Kate laughed at his description. She constantly heard similar comments from most of the folks in town. Her sister owned and operated a diner on
Main Street. It was typically packed for breakfast, lunch and dinner due to Jill’s amazing culinary skills and vivacious personality. Kate couldn’t think of one person in town who wasn’t drawn to Jill and her delicious food—which made it all the more painful to have to admit she was Jill’s baby sister. People expected Kate to be like her and were always disappointed.

  “Jill’s cooking is one of the reasons I’ll never succeed in any diet.”

  “Why on earth are you dieting?”

  Rick looked so sincere in his question, Kate wasn’t sure how to respond. Flustered, she changed the subject. “I, uh, understand you’re leaving town immediately.”

  “That’s right.” Rick stepped back from the doorway and gestured for her to enter. “Why don’t you come on in? Would you like something to drink? I’m not sure there’s much left in the fridge except for a couple beers and maybe some lemonade. Wes and I have been trying to clean it out so nothing would spoil. We weren’t sure we’d be able to find someone to stay here on such short notice.”

  “Oh, I’m not thirsty. Thanks anyway.” Kate’s eyes took in the spacious foyer. “Wow.”

  Rick chuckled behind her. “Is that an impressed ‘wow’ or a horrified one?”

  “Impressed,” she answered without thinking. “This house is even better on the inside.” It was an old farmhouse, situated on twenty-five acres just outside the small town where she worked as the high school librarian. She’d driven by the house quite a few times in the past since it sat on the road that led to one of her favorite hiking trails. Every time she drove by, she slowed down to see all the improvements the new owners had made over the years.

  Although she’d never actually met Wes Robson or Rick McAllister, she’d certainly heard all about them via the gossip grapevine, a.k.a. Jill. She had seen them in town on various occasions, but only from a distance. She had to say up-close was much, much better.

  “Other than Wes and myself, I think you’re the only person to ever actually admit that. We still have quite a bit of work left to do, as you can see. Wes and I have put most of our efforts into maintaining the outside of the house and the outbuildings. I’m afraid neither one of us is much use when it comes to interior decorating. Add to that the fact that our housekeeper quit a couple months ago, we’re two hopeless bachelors when it comes to housework and voila—the mess you see before you.”

  “Not a mess.” Kate studied the high ceilings and arched doorways that led to several different rooms. The house was clearly built at a time when people paid attention to detail. She was so sick of the carbon-copy cardboard boxes contractors liked to refer to as “dream homes” nowadays. “A work in progress—and one with a lot of potential.”

  “I agree,” Rick added quietly. “We’ve just had a hard time making any progress on that work. Come on in the living room. Wes will be here in a while. He’s out mowing the yard.”

  “I assume you have a riding mower?” Kate wondered if yard chores would be part of her duties if she could convince Rick and Wes to allow her to stay.

  “Hell yeah. Pardon my language, but it would be a bit much to do with a push mower.” Then he seemed to realize the reason for her question. “You don’t have to worry about that, though. There’s a teenager who lives down the road. He’ll be taking over the yard work once school lets out in a couple weeks. Jill says you’re a teacher?”

  “Librarian, but as it’s at the high school, chances are good I know your new gardener.”

  “Scott Miller.”

  “Oh yeah, Scott’s a great kid. He’ll do a terrific job.” Kate wondered if Rick knew how much the Miller family could use any money Scott would earn. His mother was a teacher at the same school as Kate and his father had recently been placed on disability. The family had four kids, ages eight to seventeen, and Kate knew money was tight.

  “Jill says you’re going through a divorce,” Rick added and Kate felt the usual tightness in her chest that accompanied that statement. The pain of her slime-ball husband’s desertion still stung. She’d come home two months ago to find their house empty and their joint bank account cleaned out.

  Madison was a small town and she was sure there was little chance Rick McAllister hadn’t heard all the gory details of how the town’s top lawyer had run out on his dumpy librarian wife and taken off with Madison’s one and only hairdresser. True to the cliché, Kate was the last one to find out about Zachary Summers’ cheating ways. In fact, until she came home to find everything in the house gone—except her books and clothes—Kate hadn’t had a clue Zack wasn’t faithful to her.

  Having grown up in Madison, Kate wasn’t surprised by the townspeople’s reactions. Her husband’s exploits were apparently acceptable because they were so expected. She overheard one particularly nasty comment about how it had only been a matter of time before Zack Summers left to find a woman worthy of him. On top of that, Kate sensed most of the women in town were actually pissed off with her for not keeping her husband happy because they now had to travel thirty-five miles to Harrisburg to get their perms and color.

  Kate cleared her throat and nodded. “That’s right. Unfortunately, divorce is a rather pricey investment and I decided to put my house on the market to help with the cost.” Not that Kate gave a damn about the house. Zack picked out the modern monstrosity, determined to rub his success as an ambulance chaser in the neighbors’ noses, and Kate had hated it since the day they’d moved in.

  “I’ve been staying with Jill, but she and I are rather different people and her apartment is a bit small.” Kate didn’t bother to include the fact that, although she loved her sister dearly, Jill was driving her up the wall.

  “Well, I have to say Wes and I were starting to give up hope of finding someone to take care of the place. Fact of the matter is we aren’t sure how long we’ll be out of town and we hate to leave the place empty for so long. There are lots of plants inside that need tending, and Rex.”

  “Rex?”

  “Jill did tell you we have a dog, didn’t she?” Rick asked, looking concerned.

  “Uh, no.” And Kate knew exactly why Jill had omitted that fact. Kate was deathly afraid of dogs since being bitten by one in the sixth grade. “Is Rex an outdoor dog?” Silently she prayed he was one of those dogs kept in a pen in the back she only had to throw water and food at once a day.

  Rick laughed. “Oh no, although he probably should be. Big old pain in the ass is what he is. He adopted us about a year ago.”

  The word “big” reverberated in Kate’s head. “He adopted you?”

  “Just walked up to the back door and started scratching. Wes is a softie when it comes to dogs. Started feeding him scraps every night. Next thing I know, there’s a horse of a dog sleeping with me in my bed, hogging the covers.”

  “H-horse of a dog,” Kate mumbled as Rick studied her face.

  “You’re afraid of dogs,” he said simply and, realizing she wouldn’t be able to deny it, she nodded.

  “Hell,” Rick cursed.

  Kate sank down on the plush chair behind her, indecision flooding her. A dog. Dammit, they would have a dog. Of everything she could have dealt with while house-sitting, she wasn’t sure about an enormous dog.

  Then her mind drifted back to this morning when Jill’s current flavor of the month, Seth, came into the kitchen completely naked. Kate spent more than half the night listening to the man’s moans and groans and her sister’s headboard banging against her bedroom wall. That was when she decided sleeping on the street was preferable to spending one more night under Jill’s roof. There were dogs on the street, she supposed, so if she was willing to cuddle up to a trashcan rather than risk seeing the naked woman tattooed on Seth’s ass again, then perhaps she could handle this. “Dog or trashcan,” she muttered.

  “Trashcan?” Rick asked, clearly confused.

  “Uh, nothing.” Damned mumbling. A bad habit she couldn’t seem to kick. It was asshole Zack’s fault. He’d left her alone for so much of their marriage, she’d started tal
king to herself. She seriously had to get it under control. People were going to start thinking she was crazy. “I’m sure Rex and I will get along famously.”

  “Really?” Rick asked, obviously unconvinced.

  “Really.”

  Rick looked at the quirky little librarian sitting across from him and wondered for the third time since she entered the house what the hell he was thinking. Kate Harper was an odd bird with her stammering and mumbling. Add to that the fact she was obviously terrified of dogs and he figured he was the biggest fool in the world for even considering letting her house-sit his precious home. However, he and Wes were desperate and Kate was the only person who’d expressed an interest in doing the job. Rick could sense she was anxious for a place to stay despite the problem of Rex. Wes would probably kill him, yet he knew he was going to leave timid Kate holding down their rather messy fort and overly affectionate dog.

  Unfortunately, chances were good she would take one look at Rex and run for the hills. When he mentioned Rex’s size, her pale face had gone even whiter, the trembling in her hands seemed to escalate—and he hadn’t exaggerated about the mutt. Wes joked that Rex was half black lab, half mountain lion. Not that he acted it. Rick had never met a gentler dog. If he could get Kate past her initial fear, he had little doubt Rex would claim her heart just as he did everyone else’s he met.

  He found himself a bit angry at the toll her husband’s cheating had obviously taken on Kate’s self-esteem. Madison was a small town and he knew all about Zack Summers’ seedy escapades. Poor girl was dressed fit to enter a convent, with no makeup and her long black hair pinned up in a tight ponytail. Her oversized t-shirt and baggy jeans shielded her figure from the world’s eyes and he suspected she may be using the big clothes to hide a few extra pounds. Her voice was soft, almost unsure of itself, and despite the fact she was holding up her end of the conversation just fine, Rick sensed her discomfort in his presence.

  Of course, like Rex, he was used to women being intimidated by him and his size. In this case, he had to be nearly a half-foot taller than Kate and at least a hundred pounds heavier, so he assumed some of her apprehension was due to the situation and the rest due to him.