by Josie Kerr
“You’d live here, though? With some changes?” He looked so hopeful, so vulnerable. He was breaking her heart.
“In a heartbeat, Cal. In a heartbeat.” She grabbed him in a tight hug and hoped he would truly believe her. She knew that he did when he slanted his mouth over hers; the kiss he gave her told her his answer.
“What do you say, Kat? Wanna begin by getting rid of some really bad window treatments?”
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They spent the next few hours removing every set of mini blinds and all the balloon valances in the house. That initial project left Cal energized and ready to do more redecorating. He sauntered up behind her and stopped, taking a moment to admire Kat’s curvy rump still clad in the sleep shorts she’d been wearing—or not wearing—during breakfast.
“Are you staring at my butt, mister?”
“Maybe.”
Kat popped up, put her hand on her hip, and wagged her finger at him. “You are so flirty, Cal. I thought you wanted to get all the window coverings down?”
“I did, and they are.” He stepped into her space and slid his hands under those shorts. He rubbed up against her and whispered in her ear, “Do you want to stop in town and look at some paint colors before we head over to The Hemlock?”
Kat arched her back and ground against him. “That sounds fun. I like looking at paint colors.” She let out a little moan when Cal stroked her. “But, oh boy, I like this, too.” He slipped in a finger, then added another. “Oh, I really like this.”
Cal curled his fingers inside her. “I like those noises you make,” he growled in her ear. He was rock hard now, just from a few seconds of Kat letting him know how turned on she was. She squirmed on his hand and panted. He could tell she was getting close.
“Finish, Kat. Let me hear you.”
He nipped at her neck. Kat’s hands pulled at his hair and scrabbled at his shoulders while he ground his fingers deeper inside her core. But then she surprised him by pulling up her T-shirt and pushing down the cups of her bra to get at her peaked nipples. She grabbed his hand that was gripped on her hip and moved it to her breast. Cal followed her wordless instructions and pinched the taut peak, gently at first, then more aggressively when she demanded that he do it harder. She rode his hand, his fingers thrusting deep, until her legs began to quake.
“Give it to me, girl,” he growled. When he added the third digit and pinched hard, she keened with pleasure, and with a shudder that rocked her whole body, she did.
Ho.ly. Shit.
Kat twisted in his arms and crushed her mouth to his, murmuring her thanks between kisses.
“I was also going to suggest going to an antique store.”
Kat pulled back. “Antique store?”
Cal snuck another kiss. “Uh-huh.”
Then Kat got a glint in her eye. She tried to do that popped-hip stance but ended up stumbling and trying to play it off before she snickered and snorted. “Shower blow job? Double duty, buster.”
Cal considered the sexy, goofy-ass woman in front of him. “Deal,” he said and lifted her over his shoulder to carry his giggling queen up the stairs.
As soon as Kat had seen the train depot, she’d sat up straight, her face almost pressed up to the glass, exclaiming about the town’s charm and reading out the names of shops while speculating on the contents within.
“Oh my God, this whole town is so cute! It’s like something from a sweet movie.” She clucked her tongue.
They’d managed to get to the hardware store in time to pick out paint for one room, plus a new back door and some plywood for a temporary possum-proofing, before they headed to their second destination. When they pulled into the tiny, graveled parking lot of The Backward Glance, Cal thought Kat might lose her mind.
“Oh, I can tell I’m going to love this already.” She pointed at a large prize wheel. “And they’re having a sale? Oh boy. I have a feeling you might begin your redecorating project a little sooner than you’d planned.” She sighed happily. But as quickly as her joy appeared, the big smile on her face faded and was replaced by a thoughtful look.
“Darlin’, whatever it is you’re thinking is probably wrong.”
The grin returned for a split second. “That was a pretty presumptive statement—I mean about the redecorating.”
Cal squeezed her hand. “See? Wrong. I think the timing is pretty perfect.” Cal saw a curtain move and a face dart into view and then disappear. “We’d better go in. She’s probably thinking that we’re casing the place.”
“You know the owners?” Kat was still craning her neck around, taking it all in. He could see her plotting, mentally replacing the current horrific décor.
“Bunny and Ace have owned the place for as long as I can remember. Ms. Peeper is new.” He saw a shadow pause in front of the stained-glass door and then disappear. “Okay, let’s go, but be prepared to be overwhelmed.”
They walked through the front yard of The Backward Glance, and Kat stopped to take a closer look at the spinner. Cal laughed as he heard her mutter, “There’s got to be a place to put this.” He dragged her away from the spinner, opened the front door, and motioned her inside.
“Whoa.” Kat froze in the front hallway of the little house, actually spinning around to take it all in.
“Yep, exactly the way it’s always been,” he said with a chuckle. “Why don’t you go wander, and I’ll catch up with you.” Remembering the collection of antique and vintage office machines that decorated Kat’s brownstone, Cal leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I suggest starting with the His Girl Friday room.” He pointed at a sign above an interior doorway, and Kat set off down the hall.
“Mr. Harper?” The same face that spied on them through the window now looked up at him.
“That’d be me.”
She stuck out her hand. “Tally Brown. I’m Bunny and Ace’s great-niece.”
“Nice to meet—”
Cal’s greeting was interrupted when Kat squealed, “Oh my God, just shut up and take all my money!”
He laughed and turned back to Tally. “My girlfriend apparently approves of the shop,” he said with a laugh.
Tally, her tight smile betraying her nervousness, bobbed her head in a nod. “Let me get you your consignment paperwork, and you can be on your way to your next adventure.”
Cal followed Tally to the living room of the house, where a small vintage bar served as a makeshift shop counter. Cal could hear more unintelligible exclamations from the back, followed by a clear “Son of a ham sandwich.” Cal chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get her out of here anytime soon, so there’s no need to rush.”
Several hours later, Cal watched as Kat fondled the spinner one last time after they’d filled the Nova’s trunk with small items to replace Cal’s current decorations.
“Just you wait, pretty lady. We’ll find a place for you,” she cooed.
“Oh, you’d better watch out, Harper. Looks like your lady has been snagged by the siren song of the spinner.”
“Hey, Robbie Mac. Two days in a row. Are you not working Hemlock Creek tonight?” Cal clapped his high school buddy on the back.
Rob McFerrin set the crate he was carrying down on the front porch. “Yeah, I am, and even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t miss a free Tobias Harper show,” he said, lifting a bottle out of the crate and handing it to Cal. “Here’s the inaugural batch of Owl Creek Muscadine Shine. I was dropping some off for Bunny.”
“Bunny always did like his shine.” Cal held the bottle of moonshine up to the light. “That is gorgeous.”
Kat wandered over. “What is it?”
“Moonshine. Made from muscadines.” Cal grinned at her. “You know the vines that are at my house? They’re similar.” Cal examined the red liquid, thinking. “You said you’re all licensed and legal?”
“Yep. Some of the liquor stores in Forsyth County are stocking it and everybody raves, but I need some leverage in town. Old
Man Gandy is still sore, so he won’t stock a thing that has anything to do with me.”
“Good Lord, it’s been twenty-five years!”
Robbie rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it. The man can hold a grudge.” Robbie leaned over to Kat. “Old Man Gandy caught me with his daughter in the back of my truck after homecoming our senior year. I was not her official date.”
“Oh dear,” Kat exclaimed, stifling a laugh.
Robbie shook his head. “I’ve gotta drop these off and head into the tavern. See y’all tonight?”
“Yep, wouldn’t miss it.” Cal tried to slip the bottle back into the crate, but Robbie shook his head and scooted into the store before Cal could cause a fuss.
“He’ll be offended if you don’t take it,” Kat said knowingly. “These small brewers are proud of their product.”
“Yeah, they are,” Cal murmured, the idea he ignored yesterday knocking around in his head again.
“I see you thinking, Cal Harper,” Kat whispered in his ear. “Keep it up.”
He grinned at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
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Cal had confessed that it had been years since he’d seen his brother perform, so Kat watched him with interest all during the show to see how he reacted. He kept his face impassive for most of the evening, though he clearly enjoyed the music. But when Tobias began to sing, Cal sat up and kept his eyes riveted on the man playing the pedal steel guitar. It took Kat a few moments to realize that the whole bar had gone completely silent. During the other songs, while people were generally respectful, the bar was filled with the usual hum of people ordering and eating, silverware clacking. But not this one. This song, which Kat was sure she’d heard before, made the entire tavern stop and listen. And when it was over, everyone in the bar remained silent for a good ten seconds before they erupted in applause and cheers. She glanced over at Cal, and he was still sitting up straight, looking at Tobias, who gave his brother a single nod before downing a glass of a water.
“Wow.” Kat was blown away. She leaned nearer to him so he could hear more clearly. “He’s really talented.”
“He’s an award-winning songwriter.”
“Like awards?”
“Yeah, like big-time awards.”
“And that song?”
“He wrote that for our mother.” Cal looked wistfully at the stage. “It also happened to be the love theme for a movie, but without the lyrics.”
“Oh my Gosh, that’s the song from—”
“Yep. Toby still gets a little funny about it. There was a whole thing, the final straw that caused him to break with our old man.” Cal sighed and shook his head. “But you know what? The fact that he performed it tonight means . . . well, hell, I don’t know what it means. But it’s something, which I’m not going to question.”
Kat squeezed his hand and leaned against his shoulder.
Robbie slid into the booth across from them. “Hey, guys. Hope you don’t mind a third wheel.”
“You off duty?” Cal asked.
“Yeah, yeah. I got the babysitter until midnight, so might as well make good use of it.” Robbie shrugged and then slapped his hand on the table. “But, man, Cal, your brother? Was smoking. I guess that’s what happens when a guy takes a ten-year hiatus from performing. Man, I am so glad I got to see this.” Robbie shook his head. “The tavern should do this every weekend.”
“You mean they don’t?” Kat frowned. “There’s a dedicated stage and lights and everything.”
Robbie shrugged. “Everything stopped when Reynolds took over. All the farm-to-table stuff—”
“Wait. Reynolds Restaurant Group?”
“Yeah, them. Dickerson joined up with them about three years ago. At first it was okay. The group stayed out of our way and let us do our thing, but they did a whole lot of advertising and stuff. We actually had to start taking reservations. But then about a year ago, they just stopped. Fired Murphy, who had been here since Hemlock Creek opened—something crazy, like, fifteen years—and brought in this guy from Boston who had no clue about anything. He fucked everything up. And then this jackass comes down and strips everything down, turns it all corporate.” He shook his head. “It’s a damn shame. Sorry for the rant—I get all wound up.”
“Would this corporate guy’s name be Topher, perchance?” Kat already knew the answer, but she wanted to confirm.
“Yeah, Topher, Xander, some stupid name.”
“Darlin’, now you’re the one who is thinking.” Cal was looking hard at her.
“Yeah, I am. Cal, I need to call Donald. He won’t care if it’s late.”
“Let’s say hi and bye to Tobias, okay?” Cal was still looking at her.
Kat leaned over and kissed Robbie on the cheek. “You are awesome, Robbie McFerrin.”
“Uh, sure?”
Cal slapped Robbie on the shoulder. “Believe her. She knows what she’s talking about.”
“Well, don’t you look all kinds of sexy, with your glasses and your topknot bun thing?” Cal grinned at Kat from the bedroom doorway. Kat thought he looked pretty sexy himself, wearing those low-slung blue jeans and a lightweight cotton Henley. The vein that ran up his forearm completely distracted her until she saw what he held in his hands.
“Are those doughnut holes?” Kat sat up, immediately at attention. While Cal was certainly delicious, Kat’s stomach had been rumbling for the past half an hour, ever since she’d realized Cal was no longer in the bed next to her.
“Yes, ma’am, they are. Who knew Blue Ridge would only have Yankee doughnuts?” Cal mused. He set the doughnuts and coffee on the nightstand and then bent down and gave Kat a peck on the lips. “Hey, darlin’.”
“Hey, Cal.” A giggle almost escaped from her. She stifled it but then wondered why in the world she felt she needed to do so. She’d said she loved him, and he’d said it back, and now she was sitting in his bed with him feeding her doughnut holes. Heck, they’d even survived picking out paint.
“Open up,” he said, teasing her with a tasty morsel.
“Mmm.” She swallowed the doughnut hole, gave him a kiss, and then settled back in the pillows. “What’s with all this?” she waved her hand at him.
“All what?” Cal popped a doughnut hole into his mouth.
“This ‘wearing all these clothes’ business.”
“Oh, you want me to get rid of the clothes?” Cal gripped the bottom of his shirt.
“Yes, please.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely.” In flash, Cal rid himself of his clothes and was back under the covers with Kat nestled against his side. “That better?”
“Definitely.” Kat sighed contently and closed her eyes. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“Tobias is swinging by, and we’re going to go get the new door. I’ll put it up, and then we can paint over this gawd-awful color.” Cal shifted, nuzzling her a little closer. “Then, after the sun goes down, we could go for a swim. It’ll be chilly, but that’s half the fun.”
“I don’t have a suit, so I’ll need to—oh.” Kat did giggle then. “I have never gone skinny-dipping.”
“Oh, hell—we didn’t wear suits until we were nine, ten.” He huffed a laugh and got a faraway look in his eyes. “There was a little crick behind the house. We’d run out there, naked as jaybirds, as soon as it got the least bit warm, and have contests to see who could the stand the cold the longest. We’d stay in the water until everything was blue.”
Kat chuckled. “ ‘Crick.’ ” They’d ended up spooning against each other, Kat’s back against Cal’s chest.
“Hell yeah, you’re going to get a crick in your neck if you keep craning your head around like that.” Cal tried to roll her, but Kat was steadfast in remaining exactly where she was. She pulled his arms tighter around her and wriggled her butt against his erection.
“No, I meant you say ‘crick’ instead of ‘creek.’ I like it.”
“I think there’s something else you might
like,” he murmured against her neck as he slid into her from behind.
“Oh yeah. I definitely like that.” Kat closed her eyes and let herself sink into the pleasure of his movements, of his big hands on her hip, her waist, sliding down to her belly and lower, until his thumb brushed the bundle of nerves that threatened to send her into orbit. Cal continued to murmur sweet and dirty things in her ear even as he thrust faster and stroked harder. She grabbed his ass, her fingers in the cleft, and he rolled her under him. Kat’s legs were closed, at least as much as she could be with him buried in her, and Cal spread his legs around hers, pushing deeper. Kat moaned into the pillow. Between Cal’s fingers and the mattress, the friction was almost too much.
She could feel Cal beginning to shake behind her. “Darlin’, I don’t know how much longer I can make it last. You’re so tight when I take you like this,” he ground out. “Damn, you feel good.”
He rocked against her one more time, and she was soaring, legs quaking from trying to hold on. Kat whimpered as her climax crested. Cal kissed her hard, roaring a sob into her mouth while he rode out his orgasm, until he collapsed on her, giving her his whole weight. Kat reached behind her and ran her fingers through his hair, petting the back of his neck while his breathing slowed.
“Wow.” Kat laughed; it’s all she could do after that. She felt Cal slip out of her, and he rolled onto his back, breathing hard. “Now, that’s what I call a wake-up call.”
Cal looked over at her and shook his head. “You still have your glasses on.”
“I’m talented that way,” Kat said with a snort. She crawled over and gave him a kiss. “Good morning, Cal.”
“Good morning, darlin’.” He gave her a kiss back. “Toby’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Good grief—you’d better scoot, then.”
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Kat danced in the middle of the living room, shaking her butt and stomping her feet in glee. She’d found out a whole lot in the previous two hours, thanks to her ally, Donald Reynolds, whose access to all the databases at Reynolds Restaurant Group hadn’t been deactivated. Then, the attorneys prosecuting Topher just happened to call and she’d given them an earful. She definitely was going to have to go back to be deposed, but it would be so worth it. Topher Reynolds was not going to orchestrate another business’s failure in order to force a below-market sale. Now, she had information to compile to show Cal.
