Huffing, Katie speared her hips and glared at the phone. “Ashlee wrote to them. She has the address.”
“Okay, but that still doesn’t explain why your name wasn’t on the invitation.”
“Because Ashlee thought we might not get invited if we used different names,” Katie explained. “So she used Rebekah’s name instead.”
“Ah!” he said, realization dawning across his face. “Okay, so you pretended to be this Rebekah chick.”
“No, not really. I mean I didn’t tell anyone I was Rebekah,” she justified.
His lips twitched. “That explains things.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Well, events like that are usually for people who…” he trailed off and waved his hand clockwise as he tried to think of the word.
“Are rich?” she supplied, raising an eyebrow.
“Run in the same circles,” he clarified. “I don’t know any of them, but Joyce would, which is why she was invited.”
“Well, now we have their address,” she said, doing a little hop on the balls of her feet. “Once Ashlee has finished on her date, I will ask her to send it to me. Then we’ll get this fucker!”
The vicious glee on her face had him bursting out laughing. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her soundly on the mouth.
“Easy tiger. One thing at a time. Dinner. I’m hungry.”
Still grinning broadly, Katie nodded. “I can make something, or we can order.”
“I’m in the mood for Chinese,” he said, reaching into his wallet for the slim card tucked inside.
Katie stared at it. “You carry your Chinese takeout card in your wallet?”
Kaleb shrugged. “You never know when you might need it. Besides, I just happen to pick it up one day while I was there. I stuck it in my wallet … why are you grilling me? Order food, woman!”
She poked him in the chest with the card. “You order. I’m going to text Ashlee.”
Plucking the card from her hand, he swatted her with it on the nose before moving across the room to make the call.
“4-1-1,” Katie texted to Ashlee.
“A-O-K so far.” Came the reply.
“Emergency evac?”
“Not yet.”
Katie set the phone down just as Kaleb hung up as well.
“Forty-five minutes,” he told her, stuffing his phone into his pocket. “How’s Ashlee?”
“Fine, I think.” Katie sat on the sofa. “She said no to emergency assistance.”
“Emergency … is that girl code for something?”
“Yup, it’s when a date is going horribly and emergency evacuation is required.”
He moved to take the spot next to her. “In which case you would…”
“I would call with an emergency and tell her to come home.”
Kaleb shook his head. “That is very sneaky. You girls are just mean!”
“Hey!” She smacked him playfully in the chest. “Don’t tell me guys don’t have a code.”
“We don’t, or at least, I don’t.” He frowned, his face scrunching in deliberation. “I’m beginning to think Jake is a really bad friend.”
Katie laughed. “Been on a lot of horrible dates?”
“No, not really.” He rolled a shoulder in a shrug. “I mean, I usually knew right away things weren’t going to work out and that was that.” He looked at her. “How about you? Had to report any emergency evacuations?”
“Once.” She grinned a little at the memory.
“Oh yeah? Do tell.”
“It was with Dylan, actually.” She toyed with a loose thread. “He’d been asking me relentlessly for weeks to go out with him, but I didn’t want to get involved with anyone, not when I knew he would be graduating the year after so I kept turning him down. Finally, Ashlee convinced me I should just get it over with. We went to this fast food place that was just so gross and it was awkward and he kept saying the wrong things. It was just so bad. Anyway, I texted Ashlee. She phoned a minute later and said my aunt was having a stroke and I needed to come home immediately.”
Kaleb’s eyes widened. “That’s a little extreme, isn’t it?”
Katie chuckled. “That’s Ashlee.”
“So what happened? I mean, you guys were together for a year, so obviously something went right.”
“Uh…” She cleared her throat. “He came to the shop the next day with flowers … for my aunt.” She grimaced when he hissed through his teeth. “I felt horrible so I told him the truth. He apologized for taking me on such a lousy date and promised that if I gave him another chance, he’d make it up to me. We went to the movies that night.”
A thick tension slipped over the room. It was joined by a thrum of pain that made her insides hurt. She hadn’t thought about that night in ages. Truth be told, since his disappearing act the night after they’d had sex, Katie had gone out of her way not to think of Dylan at all, to not remember any part of him, especially the good parts. There had been a few when their relationship had been new and exciting. He’d made her laugh and surprised her with small, sweet gestures. But it hadn’t lasted. Their first argument had started two months later and it hadn’t stopped. She couldn’t even remember what half of them were about anymore.
“Katie.” Kaleb touched her arm lightly.
She shook her head, more to clear it than anything else. “I’m sorry. Things had always been so complicated between us.”
He took her fingers. “Most relationships are.”
True, but not like theirs. There was always just something keeping them from fully connecting, like each time they met, they were meeting a different version of the other. Dylan was always so clingy, needing to know who she was talking with and where she was going. He hadn’t liked that she spent so much time with Ashlee when she could have been spending it with him. Katie hadn’t liked being suffocated. There had been other things, but that was the only one she could remember.
Needing to stop remembering, her gaze flittered over to where her papers lay on the floor, quietly mocking her for her many stupidities.
“Why do you think he’s doing this?” she asked, unable to connect the dots.
Kaleb shook his head. “Who knows? To be cruel?”
“Maybe.” She put her head back and closed her eyes. “I think he’s trying to drive me crazy.”
He touched her knee lightly and gave it a squeeze. “We’ll stop it before that happens.”
Katie snorted. “Do you have a plan?”
“No, but I’m working on it. I need you to trust me.”
The phone in his pocket sprung to life, shrilling a loud rendition of Black, Black Heart by Moist. He dug it free and pressed it to his ear. He said something quickly and hung up.
“Food’s here.”
Katie blinked. “Already?”
He grinned. “That’s why I keep their card in my pocket. Fast service.” He withdrew his wallet and fished out a wad of bills.
Katie ignored them as she rose to her feet. “I got it.”
He caught her just over the stairs. His arm hooked around her middle. His long fingers expanded across her abdomen. He pushed the money into her hand.
“You got supper yesterday,” he murmured into her ear.
“You’re keeping count?” she teased.
He kissed the side of her head. “No, but I got this.”
Rolling her eyes, too tired to argue, she hurried down.
She got the single paper bag of food, paid the boy, reactivated the alarm and shuffled her way back upstairs to where Kaleb stood hovering over really old, really embarrassing pictures of her lining the fake fireplace.
“Food.” Katie said, wanting to draw him away of the picture of her with her floaties, splashing around in an inflatable kiddie pool. It didn’t work. She set the bag down on the coffee table. “My aunt insisted I needed those,” she justified. “There was like two inches of water in the pool.”
Kaleb chuckled, moving to the next picture. “You were cute.”
Ka
tie arched an eyebrow. “Were?” She closed the distance between them to stand at his side. “I’ll have you know people think I’m still very cute.”
He slanted her a sidelong glance from the corner of his eyes. “Are these people blind?”
“Are you saying I’m not cute?” she challenged, folding her arms.
“I’m saying that when I look at you, cute isn’t the word that comes to mind.”
“No kidding.” She bit her lip. “And what does come to mind?”
He turned slowly towards her. “When I look at you?”
Heat warming her cheeks, Katie nodded.
The distance vanished between them and she was enclosed by his rich, musky scent. His height forced her head back. The feral glint in his eyes had her heart tripping and her stomach fluttering.
“Are you sure you want to hear it?”
Her exhalation shook out of her lungs. “Why wouldn’t I?”
His head lowered, his hair falling in wispy fringes around his face until his lips were dangling much too close to hers. “Because I—”
Her phone buzzed across the coffee table, interrupting him. She took a step back, expression apologetic.
“It could be Ashlee.”
He motioned for her to go ahead.
It was Ashlee.
“Total bust,” the text read. “Talked about his cat the whole time.”
Katie frowned. “His cat?”
“Right? Serial killer.”
Katie chuckled. “What are you doing now?”
“I dunno. Go home? What are you doing?”
Katie looked over at Kaleb, who was beginning to take takeout containers out of the bag. “Just chilling here with Kaleb. Want to come over?”
“Yeah right and be the third wheel? Pass.”
“I could call Larson over,” Katie suggested.
“Double pass. Just had the date from hell. I don’t need no man.”
She was snickering to herself when she typed in her next message. “Text me when you get home.”
“Will do, Mom.”
Rolling her eyes, Katie set her phone down on the table and turned to Kaleb.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Yup, she’s on her way home.” She took the plate he offered her.
“How’d the date go?”
Katie shook her head. “I don’t see a second date in the future.”
He clicked his tongue. “Too bad.”
“Not really,” she replied, scooping chow mien into her plate. “Maybe now she’ll finally give into her feelings for Larson.”
“She has feelings for Larson?”
She licked a smear of sauce off her thumb. “They both do, but he’s the only one willing to admit it.”
Kaleb hissed through his teeth. “That’s a tough break.” He dumped three sweet and sour balls on top of his rice. “Did you and Larson ever…”
“Date?” she finished when he trailed off. “No. He helped me with the clock we were supposed to build in shop class and we became friends, much to Ashlee’s eternal frustration.”
“Have you ever considered locking them both up in a closet until they, I dunno, give in?”
Katie laughed. “Every day.” She took a bite of her food, chewed and swallowed. “How’s Dorothea’s house coming along?”
He nodded while he chewed and then swallowed. “Good. We’re getting the roof done tomorrow and putting in the windows.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” she said honestly.
They spent the rest of the evening cuddled on the sofa watching TV and talking about everything and nothing.
She must have dozed off at some point, because Katie woke up to the tenacious buzz of her cell phone. She groaned as her neck protested the movement, having been forced into an odd angle over a toned thigh for so long. Her shoulder ached as she reached for the phone on the coffee table.
Vision blurry, she squinted at the caller ID before giving up and answering. “Hello?”
Her assumption that it was her aunt calling to check in quickly popped when a smooth as silk voice penetrated her hazy senses.
“Hello Kaitlin.”
More alert, Katie sat up. Her abrupt movement shook Kaleb awake. He winced as he raised his head from the back of the sofa. He came fully awake when Katie nudged his knee.
“Who is this?” she demanded into the phone, her wide-eyed gaze darting up to Kaleb’s.
“I think you know.”
Kaleb’s eyes darkened. “Speaker,” he mouthed.
Fingers fumbling, Katie pulled the phone from her ear and found the right button on the pad.
“I don’t know.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
The voice chuckled. “Hello Kaleb. I’m sorry to wake you both at this hour. You looked very sweet together.”
Kaleb was on his feet in an instant, his gaze darting around the apartment. In four long strides, he marched to the window and pulled apart the blinds to peer out into the night.
“No, I’m not out there,” the voice said, amused. “Go ahead and sit down while we talk.”
Jaw muscles set, Kaleb stalked back to the sofa and stood, arms folded. “Who is this?”
“Your Fairy Godfather, of course,” the voice said. “And I’m getting a tad bit miffed by your avoidance of me, Kaleb, especially after everything I’ve done for you.”
“What exactly have you done?” Kaleb challenged.
“Why, plenty,” the voice mused casually. “For starters, I made our Katie’s wish come true and I think you know the rules on that one, Kaleb. It’s time some of that generosity was paid back, don’t you? It’s only fair after all.”
Katie dropped the phone down on the cushion and got to her feet, unable to sit still any longer. “What wish?”
“The one you made the night of the gala.”
Katie’s eyes widened. “I knew it! This all has something to do with that night. Who are you?”
The voice chuckled. “I told you, I’m just someone who wants to be paid.”
“I don’t understand. No one ever said anything about me having to repay the wish.”
“Well, why wouldn’t you? Nothing in this world is for free. You of all people should know that. I did something for you. Now you do something for me.”
Kaleb growled deep in his throat.
“So, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is downstairs.”
Katie met Kaleb’s eyes. He seemed to be thinking the same thing—the guy was downstairs?
“Stay here,” Kaleb told her, grabbing his coat off the sofa and starting for the stairs.
“No!” Katie ran to the corner of the room and grabbed the metal bat leaning there. “I’m not letting you go down there alone.”
“How sweet, but I assure you that there are no nasty surprises waiting for you.”
They ignored the reassurance.
Kaleb stalked over to her and reached for the bat. He sighed when she jerked it away.
“You’ll only distract me.”
“I’m coming.”
“Now, children, you can both go,” the voice supplied. “But take me with you, please!” the voice urged when Kaleb relented.
“Stay behind me,” Kaleb instructed, swinging his jacket on.
“I’m so glad we cleared that up. Now can we go please? I really don’t have all night.”
Kaleb snatched the phone up off the sofa. “Other lives to ruin? People to hurt? Can’t be easy.”
The voice laughed. “Someone has to do it.”
“No remorse?” Kaleb challenged.
“Are you really trying to psychoanalysis me?” The voice tsked softly. “You will not catch me, Kaleb.”
Kaleb bared his teeth. “Hurt Katie and there won’t be a place in hell you can hide from me.”
“I’m terrified. Now, can we proceed?”
With Katie a step behind him, Kaleb made his way carefully downstairs. Katie passed him the bat when they reached the bottom and took the phone. He held the weapo
n aloft, over his shoulder like he was waiting for the perfect pitch. They wove through the racks and shelves to the front desk.
“On the counter,” the voice said as Kaleb hurried to check the locks on the door.
“They’re all still in place,” he told her.
She glanced at the alarm panel behind the counter. “The alarm is still activated, too.”
“Yes, I really am that good,” the voice boasted. “Now if you could open the envelope please.”
Katie frowned. “What envelope?”
“That one.”
Kaleb pointed with the bat to the envelope leaning precisely against the register. He reached for it.
“Not you, Mr. O'Reilly. Ladies first.”
Kaleb growled, teeth flashing in the darkness.
“It’s okay,” Katie whispered, rubbing her clammy palms on her pants.
Her fingers shook as she dragged the envelope towards her. It felt empty.
“What’s in there?” Kaleb demanded.
“A surprise.”
Katie slipped two fingers through the opening and gingerly fished inside. Something soft and silky brushed her skin as she closed her fingers around it and drew it out.
It was five inches of sleek, brown hair tied with a blue bow. The kind girls used to give their boyfriends as a token of their love.
Katie frowned at it before peeking into the envelope for anything else.
“What is it?”
“Hair,” the voice said. “Yours to be exact, Katie.”
Chapter Twenty
As Katie combed her fingers through her hair, searching for some part that had been cut, the voice laughed on the phone.
“Do I have your attention now?”
“What did you do?” Kaleb demanded.
“I proved to you that even with you protecting her, I can still get her any time I want. That is how good I am, Kaleb. You have no idea who you are dealing with.”
Kaleb planted his hands on the smooth glass and leaned into the phone. “Is that supposed to impress me? You’re terrorizing an innocent just to prove a point? The only thing you’ve managed to do is prove what a pathetic piece of shit you are.”
Katie found the spot the hair had been taken from. It was from the back of her neck, under all her hair. Someone would have had to get very close to do that.
“How?” she croaked.
My Soul For You Page 28
