My Soul For You

by Morgana Phoenix

  The others seemed to know exactly where they needed to be seated and fitted themselves into the chairs accordingly. Joyce’s cousin/nephew claimed the chair on Katie’s right. Katie didn’t notice right away. She’d been too busy watching for Kaleb.

  “Joyce needed a word with him.”

  Katie blinked and dropped her gaze to the silver ones watching her. “Sorry?”

  John Paul snapped his napkin and draped it over his lap. “Your date.” He raised his head and met her eye. “He’s with Joyce.”

  “Oh.” Katie sat back. “Thank you.”

  He smoothed the tips of his fingers over the cream tablecloth. “So which agency are you from?”

  Katie frowned. “Excuse me?”

  John Paul cocked his head ever so slightly to the side. “Your agency. I have a dinner party next week that requires a plus one. I find the act of finding one tedious. You would do nicely.”

  Katie could only stare, not quite certain if he was deliberately being an ass, or if he really wanted to know, or if she was hearing things wrong.

  “I think,” she said finally. “That you’re out of line.”

  His eyes narrowed. He sat back. “So what you’re telling me is that you really are in some type of relationship with Kaleb?”

  “And if I am?” she countered hotly.

  Arrogant amusement lit behind his cutting smile. “I would call your bluff. Kaleb would most certainly not be stupid enough to bring someone he cares about here.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Why, because of Joyce, of course. She would never allow it, especially not one as beautiful as you.” He licked his upper lip slowly while tracing the swell of Katie’s breasts over the line of her bodice with his eyes. “She’s quite intimidated by things younger and prettier than she. Why do you think little Stephanie is so dull?”

  Katie turned her head away, hoping that would deter him from talking to her anymore. She glanced up and down the table, but the girl wasn’t there.

  “And you, by far, are much more breathtaking.”

  She jumped when his breath tickled her ear. She whipped her head around, jerking back when she realized just how close he really was.

  “What are you doing?” she growled through her teeth.

  John Paul drew back and she expelled the breath she was holding. “Doing what your darling Kaleb didn’t; I’m warning you. Joyce doesn’t take too kindly to being out showed. I would watch what I eat tonight, if I were you.” He nibbled on his bottom lip around an almost feline smile. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be with me?”

  “Right, because you’ve just charmed the pants off me so far,” she muttered.

  “I could,” he purred. “There are plenty of rooms upstairs. No one would miss us, certainly not your date.” He grinned devilishly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he left you by the end of the night, just to make her stop badgering him.”

  She stared at him, searching for some sign of bullshit, but all she could see was triumph.

  “Kaleb wouldn’t do that.”

  All traces of amusement vanished and he was blinking at her with wide, innocent eyes. “No! He absolutely wouldn’t. I saw the way he was watching you, the way he held you. He’s half in love with you if not completely. Joyce, on the other hand, has her own methods of getting what she wants. She will torture you until you beg her to kill you.”

  “And why would you tell me?” She raised an eyebrow. “From the goodness of your heart?”

  He snorted. “Hardly. Let’s just say I’m bored and Joyce’s little game has become tiresome.” He looked at her and raised a brow. “Aren’t you even slightly curious to know what she’s telling him right now?”

  She was, but not enough to go jumping into the fray. Kaleb was a grown man and if he was going to let his stepmother dictate his life, then was there really anything she could do about it? Aside from lose respect for him. John Paul was clearly the sort of person who thrived on conflict and confusion, two things Katie had enough of in her life and didn’t need more of.

  “No,” she said simply. “Kaleb can handle himself.”

  John Paul raised a pale brow, but he thankfully didn’t push her or make any more snide remarks, to which Katie was thankful for.

  “So, Katie,” Shawn smiled at her from the head of the table and simultaneously killed all other conversations. “Tell us about yourself.”

  Katie opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She wasn’t in the habit of telling people about herself and didn’t know where to begin.

  “What would you like to know?” she said instead. Q&A she could possibly handle.

  “Well, what do you do?” Shawn asked.

  Katie cleared her throat. “I work at From Dawn Till Dusk,” she started slowly. “And I go to school.”

  “I remember Kaleb mentioning that,” Shawn said. “Your aunt owns it, correct?”

  Katie nodded. “Yes.”

  “Family business,” the booming man across from Katie declared loudly, looking up and down the table at the others. “That’s the way to go, I say.”

  The men at the table nodded. The women looked bored.

  “Oh don’t go off on one of your business rants again, Edward,” Celine muttered, waving her hand dismissively.

  “Well, it is true!” Edward declared vehemently. “Just so long as women stay out of it.”

  The other two men, nodded in agreement.

  Katie could only stare in shock for a moment, not trusting herself to speak through the outrage brewing inside her.

  “My aunt is a woman,” she said, cutting into the low murmurs the trio were making. “She’s been running From Dawn Till Dusk successfully for eight years.”

  One of the men, the squat, rat-faced one, actually scoffed in a way that made Katie want to throw her plate at him. “A woman knows nothing of business. Too emotional.”

  Katie thought of her aunt’s rash decision to sell the shop, but quickly pushed it away.

  “There are tons of successful women,” she argued. “In all fields.”

  Edward smiled at her. “It’s all right, my dear. You’re still so young. You couldn’t possibly understand.”

  His placating tone only amped her indignation. She opened her mouth to tell him not to patronize her, when another voice spoke for her.

  “I think Katie would understand better than most.” Kaleb slipped into the room and took the chair on Katie’s left. “She’s studying business law.”

  Rat-face slapped his hand down on the table, rattling the china. “See, that right there is what’s wrong with this world. You let women go to school and suddenly they think they can be like men!”

  Katie gasped, horrified. “Let us—”

  Kaleb put his hand over hers, stopping her before she could pitch her fork across the table.

  “Yes, let you,” the man said rudely, eyeing Katie like she really ought not be talking.

  “Stan, really!” Edward put his hand over his friends and gave a light pat. “Excuse him, my dear,” he said to Katie. “Stan gets a little overzealous at times. What he means to say is that women should have every right to attend university and get a degree—”

  “But only when it’s not something that should be overseen by a man,” the third man said with a satisfied nod.

  “And what,” Katie growled through clenched teeth. “Exactly is a proper profession for a woman then? Home décor and baking?”

  The three men laughed, which only enraged Katie further.

  “Our wives attended school,” Stan stated, waving a hand towards the three women who had yet to disagree to anything their husbands were saying. Yet, at the mention of their accomplishment, all three preened like their feathers had been stroked.

  “So you see?” Edward pacified calmly. “We have nothing against women getting a good education.”

  “So long as it’s something trivial and mindless,” Katie muttered, practically vibrating with her rage.

  “Trivial?” Isabella squeake
d.

  “Mindless?” Celine piped. “I have a degree in fine arts!”

  “And I,” huffed Isabella. “In art history.”

  “It’s where we met,” Celine added smugly, like that in itself was an accomplishment.

  Katie waited for Jace to say something, but she was too busy reapplying gloss to her lips.

  “You see,” Edward said. “Perfectly acceptable for a woman to be interested in art and fashion. It even makes sense, because that is a field men know nothing about.”

  “And for good reason!” Stan huffed. “Only those kinds of men prance about salivating over fabric.” He gave a shudder that did not go unnoticed by Katie.

  “Who exactly are those kinds of men?” she wondered out loud.

  “The flamboyant sort,” Edward said. “You know the sort. Very feminine.”

  “You mean gay?” Katie came right out and said it.

  “We do not use that sort of language at the table!” Celine exclaimed, actually fanning her face with her hand. “Have you not been taught proper etiquette at all?”

  Katie wanted to laugh, but she couldn’t trust herself that she wouldn’t start screaming at them instead. Never in all her life had she met such arrogant, narrow-minded bigots. Being in the same room, breathing the same air made her want to shower. She had never felt so disgusted in her life.

  “I’ve been taught to be respectful,” she said slowly. “I was raised to accept people for the way they are and know myself before I go around judging others.”

  “I think this whole conversation has just gone completely off topic,” Edward said. “Shawn, why don’t you tell us what you’re working on.”

  Mr. O’Reilly was looking at Katie, his dark eyes watchful. “I’m more fascinated by what Katie has to say,” he said instead. “It’s interesting to get an outsider’s point of view on certain matters.”

  It was unclear whether he was feeding her a compliment or insulting her. Judging by the company he kept, she was leaning towards the latter and instantly regretted thinking he was reasonably decent.

  “Then you need to get out more,” she heard herself mutter.

  While the others gasped in horror, Mr. O’Reilly’s face broke out in a wide smile. “It’s good to see someone with a little spine for a change, and you’re right, I don’t get out nearly as much as I would like.”

  “And what is it you do, Mr. O’Reilly?” Katie asked, not allowing herself to be charmed.

  Mr. O’Reilly darted a glance towards Kaleb before looking at her. “I dabble in a great number of things.”

  Katie’s eyes narrowed as she thought about X’s letter. Was Kaleb in some underground gang, or an arm’s dealer? It explained the fancy house and asshole company.

  “And do you believe a woman’s place is in the kitchen?” she asked.

  Mr. O’Reilly laughed. “Ah, darling, I wouldn’t trust Joyce in the kitchen if you paid me.”

  While the others laughed, Katie didn’t. He hadn’t answered her.

  “What have I missed?” Joyce sashayed into the room, looking as immaculate as ever.

  “Just discussing women’s education,” Jace said, smacking her lips.

  Rounding the table to the empty spot on Shawn’s right, Joyce sat. “What about it?”

  “We were just explaining to Katie that women in simple careers just make for better business,” Stan said like they were discussing which season was the best for fly-fishing.

  Joyce gave a harsh little chuckle. “You would be wasting your time. Katie is very much a modern woman. She believes women can do anything men can do, possibly better. Lord knows I would love to see her try.”

  “A woman needs a man!” Isabella said. “It’s just that simple. Men were made to lead and women were made to be delicate.”

  Celine nodded. “I never understood that rubbish. A woman can’t be a man. They certainly can’t be expected to behave brash and manly. It’s disgusting.”

  “You don’t have to dress like a man to be strong,” Katie argued. “A woman can become a mechanic, or a doctor. I’ve even seen women construction workers and wrestlers.”

  “And for what purpose?” Joyce chimed in. “Grueling, manual labor?”

  The crones clicked their tongues.

  “It’s a man’s job to provide for his family,” Isabella stated firmly. “A man who can’t provide, isn’t a man. Women have a delicate sensibility. It’s not in our nature to do such crude—”

  “What about pride?” Katie cut in. “Pride in yourself and in your work?”

  “We have plenty of pride!” Joyce said. “Look at my home, for example. My husband works and he provides me with everything I could possibly need to run and maintain a beautiful home for him to return to. I make sure he knows that his hard work is why we are so happy.”

  Katie shook her head. “Maybe this type of lifestyle works for you and that’s fine, but I’m not like that. I was raised to help myself and never rely on anyone for the things I need.”

  “Only a bitter old cow would teach a girl such a thing,” Celine said haughtily. “I’m betting your aunt isn’t married and never has been.”

  “Okay, I think we should—” Kaleb was ignored.

  “Excuse me?” Katie nearly hissed through her teeth.

  Celine shrugged. “Women like that can’t help themselves. They know they can’t possibly find a man so they compromise.”

  “My aunt can find a man,” Katie said. “She is beautiful and smart—”

  All four women hissed like Katie had just cursed.

  “Hideous,” Isabella said at once and got agreeing nods from the other three. “No woman is smart and beautiful. It’s just not possible.”

  “Smart girls are too busy with their books to realize the damage they’re doing to themselves,” Jace recited as though from a book. “Vacant expressions, wide, dull eyes and wrinkles from frowning all the time. It’s disgusting.”

  “Ladies,” Shawn spoke up for the first time. “Please. Katie is a guest.”

  “Oh, let the women talk!” Edward chuckled. “It’s what women do best, after all.”

  Joyce touched Shawn’s hand lightly. “You are right, of course, love. We hardly want the poor thing to feel like she’s not wanted.” She smiled winningly at Katie. “She’s been quite entertaining.” She laughed, showing teeth. “I haven’t had such a good laugh since, well, I don’t know when. You must bring her again, Kaleb.”

  “Perhaps after you’ve had a talk with her,” Stan urged Kaleb.

  “Talk with her? Goodness, Stan.” Joyce did that tittering laugh thing again. “He’s not serious about … this.” She waved a manicured hand at Katie. “She clearly does not belong here.” She looked at Katie, her face twisted in sympathy, but her eyes shone with relish. “You know that, don’t you?”

  “That’s enough!” Kaleb growled. “I won’t let you talk to her like that.”

  “Oh relax, Kaleb. We’re only having a bit of fun with her,” Joyce said. “She knows we’re only teasing.”

  Kaleb shook his head. “No, you’re attacking her.”

  “Well, if we are, then I’m sure she’s a big enough girl to stand up for herself,” Celine declared. “I mean, she’s the one who claims not to need a man.”

  “And she doesn’t,” Kaleb growled. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to just sit back and let you vultures—”

  “Kaleb!”

  He ignored his father, his focus fixed on Joyce. “Take shots at her. She might not be what you expect in a woman, but she sure as hell is exactly what I want in my woman and you won’t like what I’ll do to the next person who says another damn thing about her.”

  Katie was on the verge of bursting into tears and tackling him in a fierce embrace, when Joyce opened her mouth.

  “Well, you’re deluding yourself, Kaleb,” she said. “That girl can’t possibly make you happy.”

  “That girl is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” he said slowly, annunciating every word car
efully. “She is smart and caring and she’s the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. But on top of that, she sat here for the last twenty minutes holding her ground against the lot of you without breaking, which only makes me want her more. I almost didn’t bring her because I hated the very idea of her being in the same room as you, but I knew she deserved to see all of me, even this dark, twisted part of my life. I would rather she knew what sort of family I had than lose her. She is not a passing amusement and I’ll be damn if I let you make her feel that way.”

  A stretch of silence followed his bold declaration. Maybe it was because no one wanted him yelling at them again, but no one even moved.

  Kaleb, satisfied that he’d made his point, sat back in his chair.

  Katie reached under the table and touched his hand. Wordlessly, he turned his palm over and laced her fingers with his.

  “I think we all need to calm down,” Mr. O’Reilly said, breaking the silence at last. “This is a dinner party after all, which reminds me, where’s the food?”

  While the rest of the group returned to chatter about this or that—Katie wasn’t listening—she turned to Kaleb. But he was already watching her. The heat and passion was still bright in his eyes as he took in her face. He just stared at her, his eyes cloudy with so many emotions that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

  She reached for him with her free hand and closed her fingers around his arm. “Thank you—”

  He kissed her and it was unlike any kiss he had ever given her before. It was hot, but not seductive. It was passionate, but gentle. It was wild and untamed and completely devastating. He kissed her like he was dying and she had the cure to save him inside her. He consumed her until she no longer even knew her own name, or cared that they were at the dinner table in front of his parents. Then he just stopped and Katie nearly whimpered.

  “Come home with me tonight,” he said, his voice gruff. “I need you in my bed, even if it’s just to hold you.”

  Katie didn’t even stop to think about it. “Yes.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  The rest of dinner went by smoothly without anyone making a single comment of any sort towards Katie. John Paul toasted her with his glass of scotch when their gazes clashed. She simply ignored him.