Chase took her hand. “No buts, Katie. We want, no we need, to know you’re safe. While Drake and the rest of them try to figure out what’s going on.”
“I already cleared Chase staying here today with dad. Emma is changing the sheets in Chase’s room.”
Katie couldn’t think with Chase running his thumb over her knuckles, sending tingles up her arm. She had no idea how to combat the steamroller of the twins or their concern for her, with a heavy dose of Drake’s warning on the side. Being safe was more important than arguing, when she really didn’t mind and wasn’t completely sure she would feel comfortable in her own bed tonight.
“Fine. But what will you do all day?” she asked Chase.
He picked up the package of oil pastels. “Pretty up your storefront. But no peeking until I’m done.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
She laughed at his silliness and felt some of the sadness drain from her as she wondered about what he would draw on the plywood. Spending the day near him wasn’t a hardship. And the thought of sleeping in his bed made her blood heat. If he’d been planning to join her in that bed, it would be even better, but she would take what she could get.
“Okay, you win.”
Cade grinned, and Chase sighed in what sounded like relief. They really were worried about her.
Chapter 10
Chase was thrilled that Katie had given in to Cade’s plan easier than they had expected. They’d come into the store armed with every play they could think of, but they hadn’t needed any of them. Which in Chase’s opinion meant she was feeling more than a bit uncomfortable about being alone and sleeping in her apartment.
Chase sent his razor blades and the other things he’d picked up home with his brother, while he took the oil pastels and a pencil out to the front. He was content to be watching over Katie and making her something special at the same time. He could see both doors to the store, so no one could get past him without him knowing about it. The plywood didn’t keep out all the sound, so he would be able to hear if she needed help.
As he drew he wondered about who might have broken her window and why. He couldn’t think of a single person from town that would do something like this. They were a small enough population that they stuck together, even when they didn’t like each other much. So, was it someone from out of town? Katie had said she’d had no run in with anyone except the men who were still cooling their heels in jail. It was certainly very strange.
He had the scene nearly drawn on the board with pencil when he heard the staple gun and felt the vibration in the plywood. He grinned and asked, “Whatcha doing, Katie?”
She was only slightly muffled. “Putting up some posters, so that bare board doesn’t look so ugly. How is your picture coming along?”
“I’ve got it almost all drawn on. So, I can start filling in the colors.”
“Oh goody. Let me know if you need some water or something.”
“Will do. Want me to grab some sandwiches later at the café for lunch?” It was fun talking to her through the wall, like they were on a secret mission or something. He could imagine her expressions as they talked.
“Sure, whenever you get hungry. We can sit behind the counter and eat. I’ve got drinks and stuff to go with them. Or I could have the pharmacist watch the front of the store if you want to go across the street.”
“No need, we can sit behind the counter. Like we did sometimes when we were little.”
He could hear the smile in her voice when she answered. “Those were fun times. We felt so old being allowed back behind the counter.”
“Yeah, good times.” He saw a family of tourists start up the stairs to her store. “You’ve got customers on the way.”
“Good, now get to work on my picture, I’m dying to see it.”
He chuckled and took the sky-blue color out of the box. He would start at the top and work down the board, so he didn’t smear what was already done. “Yes ma’am.”
Katie was having so much fun with Chase being on the other side of the plywood. When she wasn’t busy with customers or restocking the shelves, she would go back to putting up the posters and he would start chatting with her again.
He’d come in the store a few times to wash his hands or get a bottle of water or use the facilities. They’d had lunch behind the counter sitting on the ledge that was back there. He’d brought sandwiches and she’d supplied fruit, cookies and drinks.
It was mid-afternoon when she finally got all of her posters up. Chase’s voice had sounded down further on the other side of the board, so she knew he was making progress.
Two young women in their late teens or early twenties came in giggling. They were tourists, so she went over to ask them if she could be of assistance.
“Yes, you can, you can tell us who that hunk outside drawing on the wall is.”
“Yeah, the man has muscles on top of muscles. He might get mugged out there, with no shirt on.”
Katie’s brows went up. “No shirt? Really?”
“You didn’t know? You have got to go take a peek, girl. You are missing one hell of a show.”
“I’ll be right back.” She signaled to the pharmacist that she was going outside for a moment. He would keep an eye on the tourists.
Katie hustled to the door and about passed out when she saw Chase. He was squatting to work on the lower part of the board, and the girls were right, the man was magnificent. His back muscles gleamed and moved as he drew. He was tanned from the waist up from haying. It was a hot job so regardless of the dirt and scratchiness the men often worked in the fields shirtless. His nut-brown muscles bunched and stretched as he worked on the drawing.
He glanced over at her. “Hey, what are you doing out here. I said no peeking.”
Katie shook her head. “You’ve got half the town watching you work shirtless, Chase.”
“You’re exaggerating. It was hot out here, I just grabbed what was handy when I got your text and it’s too hot working next to pavement radiating heat.”
Katie scanned the street where she saw several women on the big chairs and benches that sat on the porches most of the businesses had out front. “I count no fewer than twenty women watching the show.”
Chase stood and looked around in surprise. “I had no idea.” He grabbed his shirt and pulled it back on.
One of the women called out. “Katie Jackson, you are a spoilsport.”
Katie chuckled, and Chase turned bright red. She whispered, “Own it, Chase.”
He grinned at her then turned back to the street. “Show’s over, ladies. Move along now.”
One of the other shop owners hollered, “If I break my window will you come draw me a pretty picture, Kipling?”
“Nope. This is a gift to my girl.”
Katie thrilled at the words, but then her brain kicked in and reminded her they were just friends. Bad brain. To take her mind off the disappointment of that idea she turned back to Chase as the women dispersed. “So, since I’m already out here, can I see it?”
“Sure, it’s nearly done. I was just adding a few critters at the bottom.”
She walked over to see the picture and was completely enthralled. He’d drawn a depiction of the town and the people who populated it. The lakes were down in one corner and the Rockin’ K ranch was in the upper left one.
He’d drawn all his family up on the ranch except for himself and his brother who were with Katie on the porch to the store. The twins were both loaded down with huge bags of candy, that had pieces falling out of them onto the ground.
He’d drawn Karen and the Singing River Ranch in another corner and the forth one had the road to the Rocky Mountain National Park in it. There was so much detail she knew she could look at it for hours and not see it all.
She whirled on him and grabbed him in a bear hug. “It’s awesome, Chase.”
“You like it?” he asked, sounding a little uncertain.
“No. I love it. When they put up the glass I’m going to have it mou
nted in my apartment. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Just trying to cheer you up. Looks like it worked.”
She dug her phone out of her pocket and took a picture of it. “Did you sign it? You have to sign it.”
“Naw, it’s just for fun.”
She put her hands on her hips and tried to look fierce. “You have to sign it Chase. You’ve got room on that last little bit you were working on. Now do it.”
“If you insist.”
“I do. Now I’m going back in the store because those teenie-boppers that were drooling over you, have been in there alone long enough.”
Chase grinned. “Teenie-boppers? I saw two college age girls go in your store right before you came out.”
She poked him in the chest. “They are too young for you.”
He rubbed his face like he was fighting a smile. “Oh, I don’t know about that, we seem to be having a run of younger women marrying my brothers.”
She poked him again. “Too young.” Then she turned on her heel and went back in to see what the teenie-boppers were up to.
Chapter 11
At the end of the day Chase and Katie drove to the ranch in her car. She’d packed up the essentials to spend the night and brought along a couple of bags of candy, since she knew what everyone purchased all the time it wasn’t hard. Chase had tried to convince her it wasn’t necessary, but she’d done it anyway.
When they pulled onto the ranch the entire family met them in the driveway.
Chase’s mother, Meg, hugged her hard. “Don’t you scare me like that again, Katie. My old heart can’t take it. You’re one of my own.”
Katie’s breath hitched at the sentiment, and she fought tears. “You’ll never be old Meg, you’ve got too many kids and little Tony to keep in line.”
Meg squeezed her again and passed her on to the next Kipling. By the time she’d gone through all the family, and had the stuffing squeezed out of her, she was near tears at the love and concern she felt from all of them.
Four-year-old Tony had whispered in her ear as he hugged her. “I don’t know why we’re all hugging you, but I would never turn down the chance to hug the candy lady.”
She smiled. “I would never turn down the chance to hug you either, Tony.”
The ranch hands had heard the commotion and come out of the bunk house, so while everyone was assembled she handed out the candy she had brought with her. That made her even more popular than she had been, as each person thanked her for remembering them.
Finally, they went into the house. Chase had already taken her bag in, she assumed it was because he’d spent the day with her and didn’t need to hug her one more time. Although she wouldn’t have minded another hug from him.
They rehashed all the trouble and drama at dinner, being careful with their words so they didn’t frighten Tony. No one had any idea who would do something like that, especially since they hadn’t gotten in to steal anything.
Although Emma had stopped the conversation when she said that maybe they’d gotten scared off before they could get inside. That actually made the most sense of all. That it really was just a foiled burglary. Still not a good scenario but at least that wasn’t personal. She’d been thinking all along that it was some kind of personal attack on her.
Emma’s idea helped Katie to relax and she thought it would be nice to have a sister to talk things through with. Being an only child was not always fun.
After dinner some of them played penny ante poker and of course she lost, like she always did. She lost a whole whopping four dollars and thirteen cents and was glad they only played for pennies. Chase and Cade teased her about being the worst poker player ever and she vowed that someday she would beat them.
Cade grinned. “You’ve been saying that for twenty years, Katie girl.”
Chase shook his head. “No. I don’t think we started playing poker at the age of seven. I think she’s only been saying it about fifteen years.”
Cade nodded. “You’re probably right. Mom wouldn’t have let us play poker in elementary school. But we played Old Maid and Go Fish back then and she lost at those, too.”
Chase smirked at his brother. “Ah yes, I forgot she was dreadful at those card games also.”
“Standing right here while you malign my character.”
“Not your character, just your card playing.” Cade patted her on the head like a dog.
She growled and tried to bite him.
Chase pulled his brother back. “Now stop picking on Katie, she’s had a hard day and can’t help the fact that she sucks at cards.”
Katie put her hands on her hips. “I’m going to bed; you two fools can stand around yucking it up at my expense without me having to hear it. Goodnight, boys.”
She turned to walk out of the room.
Chase said, “We’re just teasing you. If we didn’t love you, we wouldn’t tease you.”
She held up her hand and kept walking. She wasn’t really mad, but it didn’t hurt them to think differently. In fact, it might be good for them. Idiots.
They dashed up next to her one on each side.
Cade put his arm around her shoulder. “You aren’t really mad, are you?”
Chase wrapped his arm around her waist. “We didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
She relented and put her head on Cade’s shoulder. “I’m not mad, but I am tired. It has been a heck of a twenty-four hours.”
Both of them nodded at that.
Chase said, “We’re relieved you’re here with us tonight, so tomorrow can be better.”
“Yeah, we’re damned glad you’re okay.”
She swallowed. “Thanks for being there for me, guys. It means a lot.”
Cade said softly. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She put her arms around both of them as they walked down the hall to the bedrooms.
Chase turned over again. He was comfortable enough on the blow-up mattress. He just couldn’t get his mind off of the fact that Katie was asleep in his bed. It wasn’t the first time she’d spent the night at their house by any stretch of the imagination. But it was the first time since he’d noticed how beautiful she was, and how much he desired her.
It was also the first time since the kiss, and she was in his bed. Not Emma’s or Cade’s, or on the couch, but his, and that was making him a little crazy. Fortunately, his nosy brother was sound asleep, or he would have questioned Chase’s restlessness. Chase was normally the one who could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Nearly standing up even. Not tonight though. Tonight, he was wide awake thinking about Katie right next door.
He had to stop this nonsense, she was his best friend, he had to work in the morning, he needed to go to sleep. Maybe a glass of milk would help. He’d heard milk had some kind of something that helped. Warm milk anyway. There was no way he was going to warm it up, that sounded disgusting unless it had lots of chocolate in it.
He got up and pulled on his jeans zipping them, but leaving them unbuttoned. He padded silently through the hall to the kitchen where he found the stove light on and Katie standing in front of it. He froze, not knowing whether to high-tail it back to the room, or stay there and enjoy the hell out of the shortie pajamas she had on. Her legs looked a million miles long even though she was barely over five feet tall. There was a hint of sexy curves under the top that made his mouth water. He should definitely leave. But before he could, she turned and saw him standing there so he walked in and noticed her catch her breath.
“It’s just me.”
“You didn’t startle me, Chase.”
“But I heard you gasp.”
She nodded. “But not in fear.”
He had no idea what she meant, she must have noticed because she turned back to the stove. “Never mind. Do you want some warm milk? I couldn’t sleep, and it always helps.”
“Warm milk sounds disgusting, without chocolate in it.”
“No chocolate, but I did add some sugar and a touch of
nutmeg. Try it, you might like it. I assume since you’re up roaming around at one in the morning, you can’t sleep either. And we both have to work in a few hours. I made plenty.”
“Fine, you talked me into it.”
She gave him a sly grin and reached up to get another mug out of the cupboard, which caused the tiny top to ride up and give him a glimpse of smooth skin above the tiny shorts. He bit back a groan and tried to look away. Not happening. He did manage to sit at the table without looking at the chair.
She brought the mugs to the table and slipped into the chair next to his. Close enough to smell, dammit. Was she trying to kill him? She smelled like heaven all warm and welcoming. He tried to distract himself with a gulp of milk, which was still too hot to drink, and it burned his mouth. He quickly swallowed so the fire could sear the rest of his insides.
Katie grimaced. “You might want to let it cool before you gulp it down.”
“I did come to that realization, after I had a mouth full of scalding liquid. I thought you said warm milk not volcanic.”
She giggled. “I usually let it cool a few minutes while I rinse out the pan, but you distracted me.”
He shivered at the goose bumps that had broken out over his body at the sound of that giggle. “You distracted me too, which is why I didn’t notice the steam pouring out of the cup of molten lava you call milk.”
“Distracted you how? You knew I was in here.”
He looked her up and down and she turned a delightful shade of pink.
“Oh. Well, you have no room to talk, mister.”
He looked down at himself and his unbuttoned jeans and a slow grin moved across his face. So, he’d distracted her too. Now that was an interesting notion. He looked at her and he wondered if he really did see a bit of hunger in her gaze, before she looked back at her drink.
She lifted the cup to her mouth and took a tiny sip while he watched in thrall. She stared into her cup. “It should be cool enough to drink now.”
Tempting Chase_Burlap and Barbed Wire Page 6
