She let out a small moan.
“Hmmm,” I repeated. “This turkey is exceptional, Mackenzie—moist… really, really moist.” I took another bite. I hoped I had managed to cover for Katie’s reaction to what I was doing to her.
I felt a kick to the shin, and looked up to find Haley giving me the evil eye. I was caught. Haley knew exactly what I was doing to Katie under the table. Her glare spoke volumes.
I slowly removed my fingers and discontinued playing with Katie’s clit. I tugged her underwear back into place and gave Haley a look that let her know I had complied with her unspoken request.
Katie’s breathing returned to normal and so did her coloring. I had not been able to take her all the way. I had come close and there was no doubt I could have gotten her there, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without causing her embarrassment.
I had let my own arousal dictate my actions, and it had almost cost Katie her dignity. I hoped that Haley was the only one who had clued into what was happening.
“Katie made dessert,” Mackenzie announced. “Come help me bring it out?” she asked Katie.
“Of course, I would love to.” I picked up on Katie tugging on her dress, stretching it below her knees. Was her look one of regret? She had let me in, given me access. She better not have regrets. It was too late for that.
All I wanted to accomplish was to take that stick out of her ass and find the pool shark from the bar I knew was inside her somewhere. That was the kitten I wanted to play with.
Is that what she thought? That I was playing with her? Is that all I wanted from her—to play? No. I had her for one night, and that wasn't enough. I wanted her again. There was much to teach my little kitten.
I had never had such a burning force of lust for any woman. Why this one? What was it about this one that was going to drive me to insanity if I could not get her to feel what I was feeling?
“I’ll go see if the girls need help bringing in the coffee,” I offered. I could brush up beside her, make her feel the heat. I was not going to pass up any opportunity to feel her, touch her.
I reached the doorway to the kitchen and watched as Katie and Mackenzie placed the perfect bite-sized tarts onto a tray. It was Thanksgiving, and though they were surrounded by family and friends, somehow the women looked melancholy.
I knew I shouldn't eavesdrop. I didn't want to be that guy—the one that skulked in corners listening to everything his girlfriend said about him.
Besides, Katie wasn't my girlfriend. I had no right to invade her privacy like this.
“The first is always the hardest.” Mackenzie was comforting Katie. The first what? Did Katie tell Mackenzie about our night together? Had she lied about being a virgin? Was I her first? That would explain a lot.
“Do you want me to come with you tonight to the meeting?” What meeting? Was Katie an alcoholic—was that why she didn't drink? She was only twenty-two. What could be so tragic about her life that she had turned to drinking at such a young age? That would explain why her brothers were so overprotective of her.
There were more layers to Miss Katie Steele then I understood. She was becoming more and more complicated, and I didn't do complicated. I would do her a favor and stay away. She had enough baggage of her own to carry without dealing with my damage.
I stepped into the kitchen. “Can I help carry in the coffee?”
“Thank you, Aaron. That’s very gentlemanly of you,” Mackenzie said with a smile. She handed me a sterling silver tray bearing a carafe of coffee, a small pitcher of cream, and a sugar bowl.
I would have my coffee and dessert and head home. I had enough of family bonding for one day—hell, for a month.
After coffee and dessert, Katie excused herself and no one objected. It was like an unspoken secret. Everyone apparently knew where she was headed—everyone but me.
Following her lead, I made excuses about how driving this time of year on my bike late at night was not safe, and no one challenged me.
At the door, while putting on my boots, I heard Mackenzie again offer to attend the meeting with Katie. But Katie insisted she was fine, and Mackenzie had a house full of guests. As understanding as they were, this was Mackenzie’s special day. The day her engagement was announced. She should stay with Richard and their guests, Katie told her firmly.
Things were not adding up, and I needed to know what was going on with my little kitten. I thanked Richard and Mackenzie for their hospitality, said my goodbyes, and fumbled with my bike until Katie’s car pulled away.
Then I followed her.
She pulled into the church parking lot, and I followed. I kept my distance, careful not to be seen. I entered the church though the side entrance like she had. It looked like an AA meeting. Katie had put some of her tarts on the table with the coffee. She spoke to a few people and took a seat.
It occurred to me that what I was doing was nothing short of stalking. I turned around to leave, realizing I should never have gone into the room.
“Father Tim…” There was no way to explain my being here and no way out. The priest had seen me, and it was too late to run.
“Aaron, it looks like you were about to leave. The holidays are always the hardest for the ones left behind. Come in. You don't have to share your grief if you’re not ready. Sometimes hearing that others are going through the same thing is enough. Come and sit.”
This was a grief counseling meeting, not AA. Katie had suffered a loss and was feeling alone on Thanksgiving. That was something I could relate to. Technically, I had family, and Father Tim was right—the holidays were when I missed my mother the most.
I took a seat at the back of the room, hoping not to be noticed. I listened to stories not unlike my own. The difference was that I had another family, and I was the one not letting them in.
I took in a breath when Katie took the podium.
“First, ladies, my brothers are still out of town.” There was a collective groan of remorse. Maybe her brother really was a ladies’ man. Go Liam. “In the holiday tradition, Andy will keep the bar open later tonight for anyone who wants some company.”
I remembered that Anne invited Katie to Thanksgiving dinner. She had gone to Richard and Mackenzie’s only after being told there was a secret to be revealed. Was Mackenzie’s secret the engagement and was telling Katie the only way to get her there?
“Mackenzie told me tonight that the firsts are the hardest. This is my first Thanksgiving without my father.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I hope she’s right. I hope it gets easier.”
Mackenzie was wrong, I thought. It doesn't get easier. I knew from experience. I had drowned the first year with booze and hookers so I didn't have to face the first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other important occasions without my mother. If I had dealt with it then, maybe the next three would not have felt like the first each year.
“I see we have a newcomer sitting at the back. Mr. Walsh, would you care to share?” Katie said smoothly.
How long had she known I was here? My little kitten wanted answers, and she was about to get them. I stood to make my way to the podium at the front of the hall.
I knew the effect I had on women with my torn jeans and leather jacket, a look enhanced this night by the five o’clock shadow I was sporting. Women loved a bad boy, and this crowd was no different. I could feel their eyes on me, wondering where I had come from and if I’d be back again.
“Thank you, Miss Steele.” I turned to the crowd. “Hello, my name is Aaron.”
“Welcome, Aaron,” the crowd collectively resounded.
“I lost my mother four years ago. I still find the holidays hard. Maybe for some it changes, but I still feel the loss the same.” I looked directly at Katie. “I have recently reconnected with my biological father. His family has been very welcoming—considering the circumstances.” I silently cursed that damn uncontrollable twitch. “Before she died, I promised my mother I would try, so here I am in a strange town, having Thanksgiving din
ner with virtual strangers I’m supposed to think of as family.”
Something sparked in my brain. If Katie had just lost her father and her brothers were out of town, where was Katie’s mother? Was she more of an orphan than I was— truly alone on Thanksgiving in a hall full of strangers?
“Now that I’ve depressed everyone, how about some coffee? I see some of Miss Steele’s delicious pumpkin tarts over there.” I stepped down from the podium, and the crowd dispersed into smaller groups, chatting quietly.
I was flanked by a flock of what I hoped were unmarried women. They all wanted to get to know the fresh meat—at least that was how I felt. I had to get away and find Katie. She was the reason I was there.
I had given her the answer to her question about why I wasn’t a Van de Graaf. How much of the story had she put together on her own? I wasn't going to let her think my mother was some opportunist who got herself pregnant, trying to trap a rich man into marrying her. That wasn’t the case, and my little kitten had to understand.
Where the hell was she? Had she left without so much as a goodbye?
As I left the church into the cool Autumn evening, it had begun to drizzle. Great, I needed to get myself back to my apartment and park my bike. This was not the type of weather I wanted to be riding in.
I parked my bike and pulled out my cell to call an Uber.
Time to track down my little kitten. I knew exactly where to start.
Chapter 14
Katie
I needed time to process the information I had learned. Aaron was Richard Van de Graaf’s illegitimate son. I had heard the rumors and refused to believe them. Richard and Evonne were twins and had celebrated their thirtieth birthdays not long ago. Aaron had said he was twenty-nine.
Did Mr. Van de Graaf cheat on his wife while she was pregnant? What kind of woman cheats with a married man who has a pregnant wife at home? I’d gotten my answer, apparently, but there had to be more to the story.
I knew Mrs. Van de Graaf was a classy woman, but to accept your husband’s bastard son into the family and treat him like one of your own made her exceptional in my eyes. I would not have been as understanding.
It was going to take a few days for me to reconcile how I felt about the entire situation. Could I still have respect for Mr. Van de Graaf despite his indiscretion?
Lucky for me, the cougars were in full force tonight and had distracted Aaron, allowing me to make my escape. I went home and changed into a pair of yoga pants and sloppy sweatshirt. I would head over to Andy’s. It would be open, and I would stick around to help with the cleanup. That would occupy my mind for the rest of the evening. I would sleep in tomorrow. My first appointment wasn't until ten.
I would have the weekend to come to terms with my feelings on the entire matter.
Again, I was reminded that Aaron Walsh was complicated, and I absolutely, positively did not do complicated. I would have my career to keep me busy until my birthday. I would take Anne up on her invitation to close the bar and throw a private party. This way, I could control the guest list—a very short guest list.
At twenty-three, I was going to be too old to continue with the summer romances that briefly occupied my time and temporarily abated my loneliness. As much as I could pass for someone younger, morally I could not bring myself to become a cougar like the ones who surrounded Aaron.
Aaron… His name was barely a whisper on my breath. It wasn’t my age that was going to keep me from summer romances. It was knowing that they would not be able to satisfy me. Not any longer. Not after my one night with Aaron. Every time I moaned his name, my core melted and spilled over into my underwear.
If I did not get my laundry done, I was not going to have any clean lingerie. I had to get that man out of my head and out from under my skin.
Anne looked disappointed to see me walk into the bar. “I wasn't expecting you tonight.”
“I would never miss the family tradition of helping out on Thanksgiving, you know that,” I scolded Anne and hugged her tight. I went into the kitchen and asked Uncle Andy what I could do to help.
“All I need from you, Katie, is to go out there and have some fun. I think you’re due.” He hugged me tightly and pushed me out the kitchen door.
Andy had been my father’s partner on the police force. When they retired, my father opened a security company and Andy bought the bar. He had always been Uncle Andy to me, and he always would be.
“I would like to have my birthday party here, if the offer still stands?” I asked.
“Of course it does,” came Anne’s voice from behind me. “We’ll put up a sign that says private party. You give me the guest list, and I’ll take care of everything.”
“Looks like you had quite the turnout. Let me help with the dishes.” I started filling the sink with hot water.
“I love doing dishes.”
I stiffened at the sound of a husky masculine voice at the entrance to the kitchen. What was he doing here—not here in the bar but here in the kitchen? “You should not be back here. Staff only.”
“Is this your part time job?” He was being cute with me, his smooth charming self. Anne had better not fall for it.
“The more hands the better, right, Katie? Come on in.” Anne fell for it, all right. Then again, why wouldn't she? Everyone did—everyone except me. I was not going to let him charm his way under my skin any more than he already had.
Doing dishes wasn’t sexy. It was messy. Maybe this was not such a bad idea. I would see him out of his element. That should help me get back my self-control.
“Start with scraping off the larger bits, then rinse over there. I’ll load and put them through the dishwasher. Think you can handle that?” If he was going to play, he was going to play by the rules.
“Got it—scrape… rinse… pile. Sounds easy enough.” Only Aaron could make cleaning dishes sound like a porn movie. This might not be as easy as I had hoped.
Concentrate on the dishes, Katie. Ignore everything else, everyone else.
We worked in silence and the work went quickly.
“Aren’t you going to ask?” Aaron broke the silence.
Was it too much for me to think I was going to get away with not having this conversation? He wasn’t going to give me time to process it, was he?
“Ask what?” If I played dumb, maybe he would let it go.
Nope.
“How a woman—my mother—could sleep with a married man?” There it was, the judgment he was afraid I would make. That was why he had shut me down when I asked him in his office about his last name.
“I thought you might be married the next morning. I never asked before we…” I blushed. “It happens.”
“So, you blame Richard?” It was a loaded question.
“It’s not my place to assign blame, Aaron. It didn't happen to me.” That was the diplomatic answer, a noncommittal response. How I saw Mr. Van de Graaf did not—should not—affect the way I felt about Aaron.
What did I feel about Aaron?
Lust—that was what I felt about Aaron. An insatiable lust that had me wanting to spray him with the water hose and have my own personal wet T-shirt contest. He would win hands down. Of course, he would catch a cold in that wet shirt. He would have to take it off.
“Katie?”
I had been daydreaming. Working with him under these circumstances was not helping. I imagined any job would be sexy if Aaron was involved.
“What?” I had to start paying attention.
“We’re done.” He was looking at me with his glowing amber eyes, his beautiful face surrounded by long, slicked back, hair. He had that wicked smile and sultry voice. His stubble of beard gave him a dark, forbidden look. I could smell my lust oozing through my clothing. I needed to step away before he could too.
“Listen…” Aaron cocked his ear toward a tune that was drifting into the kitchen from the bar. “My mother used to love that song.” I listened to the song playing in the bar. Dottie West, an old country son
g… “‘Til I can make it on my own.” My eyes watered.
“It was my dad’s song. After my mother passed, he used to play it over and over.” I turned away.
Aaron came up and encircled my slim waist with his hands. “Dance with me.” His hot breath in my ear, I practically came right there in the kitchen. There was no way I was going to get through a slow country song with him holding me.
“Please… It would mean a lot to me.” He whispered it so low, it almost felt like he telepathically willed me to hear it.
“Okay.” I silently prayed I was not making a mistake.
He ushered me to the small dance floor in the bar, one hand on the small of my back. Good. We were not the only couple dancing. We swayed and I lay my head on his chest. Good God, he smelled musky, and all my woman parts responded. My nipples hardened, my stomach churned, and I didn't think my underwear could get any wetter.
He began to sing in my ear.
The third verse. The one that talks about having no pride about missing a lost love. The one that made my father cry over losing my mother. The love of his life.
It invoked too many sad memories.
“Aaron… don’t.” I couldn't say any more for fear of crying.
“Don’t what, kitten? Don't sing? Don't you like my singing?” He knew what he was doing. He was breaking me down. This was a very dangerous game, and I wasn’t going to play.
I pushed him away and left the dance floor. “Goodnight, Aaron,” I whispered. I walked to the bar and said goodnight to Anne and Uncle Andy. I needed to get home, take care of my needs myself, and then crawl into bed—alone.
I stepped out onto the sidewalk in the cool damp Autumn air.
“Can I get a lift?” Arron had followed me out. “I don't like riding my bike this late at night in this weather so I took an Uber to get here.” He was brazenly asking for me to drive him home after that stunt? Seriously? I sighed in resignation.
“Fine. Where do you live?” At least the cold should calm both of our libidos. I would drop him off at his door and leave.
No coffee.
Bastard Heir (The Heirs Book 3) Page 9
