by Jenna Jacob
“I live for it,” Brooke replied in a derisive tone as she wrinkled her nose.
“Lord, I’m sorry, honey. I forgot. I’ll go tell her,” Gran said, clearly frazzled and exasperated with worry.
“No.” Brooke shook her head. “You get Katie home. It’s been awhile since Hazel’s looked down her nose at me like I just crawled out of a septic tank. It’ll be fun. I’ve actually missed her pretentious attitude.”
Gran rolled her eyes and sighed in disgust as Brooke kissed Nina’s cheek and walked into the bank. Seconds later, Sky pulled to the curb. He jumped out to help Kaitlin inside.
“I’m not an invalid, for crying out loud.”
“Stop complaining and just say thank you, Katie,” Sky lobbied.
“Thank you, Katie,” she mimicked in a singsong tone and with a playful grin.
“Oh, how I would love to turn you over my knee,” Sky whispered in her ear.
Kaitlin gasped. “In your dreams,” she scoffed.
Sky laughed. The deep, rich timbre made her shiver. “You have no idea the things I do to you in my dreams.”
Her knees nearly buckled.
“What about dreams? What are you two talking about?” Gran asked as she settled in next to Kaitlin.
“Nothing,” she answered. “Sky’s acting like a damn…caveman.”
“Be glad I don’t carry a club over my shoulder.”
“I might need to borrow your club if Katie doesn’t start eating and taking better care of herself,” Gran scolded with love. “Besides, you don’t need anything else on your shoulder. The chip you brought back from Iraq is finally gone, and I’m damn happy about that.”
“You had a chip on your shoulder?” Kaitlin asked, her eyes growing wide.
“A little one, but we don’t need to talk about that,” Sky stated matter-of-factly.
“Oh, I see. You expect me to spill all my dirt, but you’re not willing to talk about your own? Is that what you’re saying?”
“It’s not the same,” he countered, suddenly turning somber. “Leave it alone. You have enough to deal with. Besides, my crap’s in the past. Yours isn’t.”
“What makes you so sure about that, Dr. Phil?”
“Because I wasn’t the one having a goddamn panic attack on Main Street.”
“Stop bickering, you two,” Gran ordered. “Katie, whatever is troubling you, tell me. I can’t take another minute seeing you this way.”
“What way?”
“Empty…like all the life’s been sucked out of you.” Gran frowned.
Kaitlin lowered her head. Empty was a good analogy. Her fear, anxiety, panic, and anger were simply by-products of the real issue. She’d stayed too long in a broken relationship thinking at first that she could save Doug. Once that had proved an impossible feat, Kaitlin had stayed because she couldn’t stomach the thought of failing any further…but she had. She’d failed herself.
Once they arrived home, Sky instructed Kaitlin to rest and relax, then left the two women alone. After devouring a bowl of chicken noodle soup, under Gran’s watchful stare, Kaitlin went upstairs. She took off her clothes, climbed into bed, and crashed…hard.
When she woke, the sun was slipping low on the horizon as her brain slowly started to sputter back to life. She needed to touch base with Veronica and check her email for Reed’s contract. Rolling out of bed, Kaitlin donned her robe and opened her door. The scent of fried chicken filled her senses, and her stomach rumbled in approval. Her mouth had started watering long before she’d entered the kitchen. Gran stood by the stove, flipping pieces of golden-brown chicken in a cast-iron skillet while humming an old fifties tune playing on the radio.
“It smells heavenly,” Kaitlin moaned. “What a feast. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, sweetheart. I have it all under control.”
“All right. I’ll set the table, but I need to make a phone call first.”
“Take your time. There’s no rush,” Gran assured her.
As Kaitlin reached for her phone, it began to chime. Ironically, the call was from Veronica.
“How strange, I was about to call you. Is everything okay?”
“It’s been an interesting afternoon,” Veronica began. “I overheard Phyllis…”
Kaitlin had to think for a moment before the light bulb flipped on in her head—Phyllis Dillman was Doug’s newest secretary. His surly, unstable disposition had caused the eight previous assistants to quit over the past year and a half.
“…telling someone in the ladies’ room that Victor Spellman called Mr. McCarthy.”
That name Kaitlin recognized immediately. Victor was Madeline Christopher’s attorney…a brute of a man with hands the size of bear paws and a menacing scowl permanently fixed to his face.
“And?” Kaitlin prodded.
“Mr. McCarthy was told to annul his contract with Christopher Cosmetics or they’d file suit against the agency for sexual harassment.”
Kaitlin’s heart leapt in her chest, and blood pounded in her ears. Like quicksilver, a sense of foreboding filled her. “Please tell me Doug agreed to void the contract. The last thing I need to worry about is a damn lawsuit.”
“Yes. He did,” Veronica assured her.
Kaitlin exhaled a breath of relief as her pulse continued to race. “Thank god the son of a bitch had enough working brain cells to make one right decision.” She pinched the bridge of her nose as a headache began to crawl up the back of her neck. “Thank you for telling me, Veronica. I know it’s late, but did you get the files copied?”
“I’m working on that now, but there’s still a lot of people here.”
“Don’t get caught or I’ll lose you,” Kaitlin warned. “You’re my ears and eyes right now, and I need that more than anything.”
“I’ll be careful,” Veronica promised before they ended the call.
Gran turned away from the stove and pursed her lips. “I don’t know what’s happening with Doug or your company, but it doesn’t sound good.”
“No, it’s not, and I don’t have a clue what to do about either of them. It’s all a hot mess and has me so strung out I want to scream.”
“Then do it,” Gran suggested with a saucy grin. “It wouldn’t be the first time these old walls had echoed with your scream. When you were thirteen…it was a very loud year.”
Kaitlin issued a soft chuckle and nodded her head. “That’s true, but I didn’t come back to unload my trouble on you. I need to make some life-altering changes and needed a safe, quiet place to figure out what I’m going to do. The problem is I’m afraid whatever decision I make will be the wrong one…again.”
With a frown, Gran slid the pan of chicken off the burner, then sat down at the table next to Kaitlin. “You’ve never lacked confidence to do anything, Katie-girl. What’s happened to change that?”
“I don’t know,” she lied, briefly looking away. “Right now, all I know is that I’m kicking my ass for leaving you…we’ve lost so much precious time.”
Gran patted Katie’s hand. “You’re here now, and you better unpack all that luggage you’re carrying around, because I’m not going to let you take any guilt trips…not on my account.” Kaitlin smiled. It was just like Gran to cut through all the bullshit. “Did you honestly think I wanted you to stay here, atrophying with an old lady the rest of your life? You did exactly what I always wanted you to do…you went out and made a happy, successful life for yourself.”
Successful? Yes. Happy? Not anymore.
“It might take some time, but I have faith you’ll get it all figured out.” Gran leaned in and kissed Kaitlin’s cheek, then stood and made her way back to the stove. “For now, stop stewing and set that table. Dinner will be ready soon.”
After discovering Reed hadn’t yet sent her a draft of the buyout offer, Kaitlin packed up her computer while she and Gran discussed surface stuff, like all the scandals that had rocked Connor since Kaitlin’s last visit. The familiarity of working in the kitchen with Gra
n helped some of the tension bleed from Kaitlin’s body, and a sliver of simple peace settled in.
“Greg Harris still co-ops your land, right?”
“Yes, he’s a good boy.”
“Gran, he’s at least fifty-five years old. He’s not a boy anymore.” Kaitlin laughed as she pulled two plates out of the cupboard.
“I’ve known him since he was born. He’s still a boy to me,” Gran justified, glancing over her shoulder. “Oh, add three more place settings to the table, would you?”
“Why? Who’s coming?”
“I invited Brooke and Sky and Nina up for dinner, too.”
A tremor of excitement rippled through her along with a thud of dread. She hadn’t been able to come up with a way to prove she trusted him yet. Kaitlin knew the minute she was near him again, her brain cells would turn to mush, and she’d never be able to devise a plan. Besides, there would be too many people at the table for her to even try and talk about trust with Sky.
This isn’t some storybook fairy tale. You can’t stay here forever, the little voice in her head reminded. Kaitlin scowled. While her body ached to relive the past and grab all the much-needed orgasms she could get, her heart and mind knew it was dangerous to start a romance with Sky again.
“Please, don’t try and play matchmaker, Gran. It’s not fair to him. I—I can’t possibly stay.”
Gran turned and studied Kaitlin before she nodded in understanding. “I’m not playing anything. There’s always been a powerful connection between you two. I know your lives have changed, but you can still be friends.” She paused for a long moment. “And if you do decide to stay, you know I’d do all I can to help you find your spark again.”
Benevolence twinkled in Gran’s eyes, nearly taking Kaitlin out at the knees. Less than five minutes ago, she’d been mourning the time she’d lost with the woman. Now she was talking about leaving. Glued to her emotional roller coaster, Kaitlin was tired of the ride and only wanted to get off.
“I’ll stay as long as I can, but my employees are counting on me and their jobs.”
“I understand and I admire your commitment to do right by them. But you can’t save everyone, Katie-girl. Sometimes, the only one you can truly save is yourself.”
“I know.”
“Focus on fixing what you can. The rest will take care of itself in time.” Gran stepped in close and cupped Kaitlin’s cheek. “Find and bring my old Katie back. I miss her something fierce,” Gran whispered before wiping a tear from her eye.
Kaitlin wrapped her in a tight hug. “I will. I promise.”
“Good. Now run upstairs and get dressed. Our company will be here any minute.”
With a nod, Kaitlin went back to her room. Plopping on the bed, she mulled over Gran’s words. There wasn’t anything she could do to save Doug. There never had been, and truth be told, she’d long ago stopped caring to even try. No matter what happened with the company, she’d do everything in her power to keep the members of her teams intact.
Her thoughts fluttered back to Sky. She needed to apologize, yet it didn’t feel like that would be enough. The desire to seduce that stupid oath out of him warred with self-preservation to keep her distance.
“That’s your problem. You can’t make up your mind about a damn thing these days,” she chided herself.
With a frustrated sigh, Kaitlin plucked her favorite Versace sundress from the closet. It was time to get real…lay down some ground rules and rebuild a solid framework, and stop lying to herself. She wanted Sky, and he’d made it clear in the kitchen earlier that he wanted her, too. If she could prove she trusted him and he could accept her apology, maybe they could reach an understanding and both have what they wanted…some steaming, hot sex. Then when it came time for her to leave, she’d behave like an adult this time and kiss him good-bye. Anything else would only convolute her already-complicated life.
CHAPTER SIX
Three things cannot stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth.
-Buddha
With a tub of ice cream in one hand, Sky raised his other and rapped his knuckles on Gran’s screen door.
“GG Gran, it’s me…we’re here,” Nina yelled through the mesh.
While the aroma of fried chicken filled Sky’s senses, making his mouth water, food was the last thing his body craved. He felt as if they’d made some headway outside the bank. Still, the panic attack Kaitlin had suffered bothered him. Something more than her breakup with Doug was crushing her spirit, and Sky aimed to get to the bottom of it…soon.
“Come on in,” Gran’s voice rang out.
He opened the door for his mom and daughter, and by the time Sky rounded the corner, he found Katie and Brooke in a hug. The white pallor was gone from Katie’s face, replaced by a peachy glow that made his pulse race.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The floral-print sundress she wore hugged her curves, making him think of last night on the road. He had the insatiable need to wrap a fist into the thick red mane spilling over her thin shoulders and pillage her lips. Instead, he squeezed the container of ice cream in his hand until the cardboard edges caved in.
“You look pretty, Miss Katie,” Nina praised with a shy smile.
She looked better than pretty in Sky’s eyes. Katie looked as if she’d just stepped out of his fantasies. The only thing missing were the red stiletto heels he often imagined feeling pressed into the small of his back. His cock stirred, and he quickly erased the images from his mind.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he stated, unable to stop his stare from gliding over her exposed flesh.
Desire pulsed though him, but he needed to remember that she wasn’t ready for the things he wanted to do to her. Not only didn’t she fully trust him, a lot of life had passed between them. Though it was easy to slide back into a teenage frame of mind, a mountain of healing lay ahead of her…and himself, but that didn’t keep his hungry cock from longing to be inside her.
Gran lifted the dented container of ice cream from his hand, jolting Sky back to his senses.
“Thank you for bringing dessert, honey,” she replied with a knowing smirk.
Sky realized he’d been busted checking Katie out. A guilty grin spread across his mouth. “No problem,” he chuckled.
“Who’s hungry?” Gran asked.
“Me. Me,” Nina declared as she wiggled in excitement.
“Grab a seat, everyone,” Gran instructed.
Sky placed a stack of phone books on a chair before setting Nina on them while Brooke and Gran placed the food on the table. Claiming the chair between his daughter and Katie, Sky sat down. His leg pressed against Katie’s bare flesh, and the heat of her skin bled through his jeans. The scent of her lilac perfume teased his senses far more than the aroma of the chicken. Sky knew he was in for a long, arduous dinner.
“Dig in.” Gran smiled as she and his mom sat down, as well.
And dig in they did. Not a single word was uttered, but there were plenty of moans of delight as they devoured the scrumptious meal. When Sky took a bite of the fluffy mashed potatoes covered in rich, thick gravy, he couldn’t help the low groan of approval that rumbled from his chest. Katie’s leg quivered, so he groaned again to feel her feminine tremor.
When she turned her head and pinned him with an accusing arch of her brow, Sky couldn’t help but grin. A flicker of challenge darted across her sexy green eyes before Katie picked up a golden-brown chicken leg. Without breaking eye contact, she sank her teeth into the juicy meat and whimpered…loudly. Sky’s cock jumped and strained.
It had been thirteen years, two months, seven days, and ten hours since he’d heard that bittersweet sound of satisfaction. Sky swallowed tightly and purposefully brushed the napkin off his lap. When he bent to retrieve it, he leaned in close to Katie’s ear.
“You keep playing with fire and you’re going to get burned,” he whispered.
She flashed him a sardonic smile. “Maybe. But remember, you won’t kiss it and make it better
, so…who cares,” she taunted, arching her brows.
“Will you all excuse us for a minute?” Sky asked. Without waiting for anyone to reply, he stood and lifted Katie right out of her seat.
“Wha…what on earth—put me down this instant,” she screeched as he dragged her out the front door.
“We need to talk,” he growled.
“And it couldn’t wait until after dinner?” she challenged, tossing the leg bone still gripped in her hand at him.
Sky dodged the missile and shook his head. “No,” he snapped, hauling her to the end of the driveway.
With a twist of his wrist, Sky spun her around to face him. The glow of the porch light illuminated the shock and confusion marring her big, beautiful eyes. “Just what the hell do you think you were doing back there?” he demanded.
Katie lifted her chin defiantly. “You’re the one who started it.”
“Honestly, we’re not five anymore. You can do better than that,” he scoffed, watching her cheeks redden. “Is there something you want to say to me? Something about trust, perhaps?”
His direct question seemingly took some of the starch out of her. Katie’s shoulders sagged slightly, and a pained expression wrinkled her forehead. “There’s a lot I want to say to you, Sky. I’m just not sure how to start.”
“You just did…you opened your mouth. Keep going,” he urged her.
He watched as she nervously stared down the road, over his shoulder, to keep from looking him in the eye. Finally, she darted a glance at him but dropped her gaze to the middle of his chest.
“I—I tried to tell you this earlier today, before Gran interrupted. I’m sorry. Sorry for everything. For the way I just disappeared on you. For keeping the secret, all summer, that I’d been accepted to the University of Chicago and was going to leave.”
She’d known the whole fucking summer and hadn’t said a goddamn word? That revelation made his blood boil.
“I thought I wanted more out of life. The idea of leaving Connor, to explore the world beyond, seemed romantic. I’d filled my head with stupid dreams I thought would make me happy, but I was wrong…so damn wrong.”
