Not Quite Mine (Not Quite series)

by Catherine Bybee

  “Sometimes we do things for the people in our lives.”

  Mikey sat forward and met Dean’s eyes. “If falling in love and getting married means I have to give up everything I like doin’, then count me out.”

  “I didn’t give up everything.”

  Mike snorted.

  “I didn’t.” Dean winced, knowing he sounded like a five-year-old. “OK, maybe I did. I was messed up back then.”

  “That’s my point, buddy. If Katie wasn’t acting at all normal, we’d know she was messed up. That something had gone down that none of us knew about. And as much as we might hate it sometimes, we all like to keep tabs on each other. Be there for each other.”

  Mike was right.

  They changed the subject to a local baseball team and grilled a couple of steaks. Katie was never far from Dean’s mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something…something big.

  Dean wasn’t sure why Katelyn insisted on showing up to the job site before him, but for the fourth time in a week he pulled alongside her rental car and shook his head.

  The top of the convertible was down and he glanced in the backseat. A bright pink pacifier stuck out like a bald man in a hair salon. He reached in and picked it up. Maybe the pacifier was hidden under the seat, and the person who rented it before Katie had lost it.

  Still, the presence of the infant toy sparked a moment of recognition much like déjá vu, and didn’t let go.

  He cupped the plastic binky into his palm and made his way inside.

  Jo greeted him and gave him his messages. The light in the conference room was on, and he could hear Katelyn talking on the phone. After the conversation with Mike the day before, and his own nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right, Dean had decided to poke a little more into Katie’s mind.

  “Mornin’, Katelyn,” he called from across the room when he heard her say good-bye on the phone.

  “Hey, Dean.”

  Without bothering to enter the conference room, he asked, “Would you mind coming in here for a few minutes?” Dean walked into his office and waited for Katie to follow.

  The space in the trailer was tight; barely enough space for the three rooms.

  He sat behind his desk and looked over his messages.

  “What do you need?”

  Dean looked up, somewhat startled. The sound of high heels, which usually accompanied Katie wherever she went, wasn’t there. When he glanced over her frame, a pair of designer jeans hugged her slim hips and sneakers adorned her feet.

  He didn’t know she owned a pair of sneakers.

  “Come in, sit down.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Am I in trouble, boss?”

  When it came to Katie, Dean never felt like the boss. “Should you be?”

  She stepped forward and closed the door.

  The snarky smile on his face fell. “You’re limping.” And attempting not to show it by walking slowly and with calculated ease.

  When she sat in the chair across from him, she huffed out a breath. “Stubbed my toe,” she told him.

  He was out of his chair and at her side in an instant. “Liar. You’re wearing running shoes.” And from what he could tell, only a little bit of that black stuff women wear on their eyes and lip gloss. Mike’s words hung in the air. If Katie wasn’t acting at all normal, we’d know she was messed up.

  He knelt down and placed a hand on the foot she was favoring.

  “I’m OK.” She pulled away.

  He dropped his hand to her side and met her gaze. Just a glimpse of her always knocked the wind out of his lungs. Her porcelain skin and pink lips were more tempting than any he’d ever seen. He remembered those lips on his, the feel…the taste.

  “Let me look.” He lowered his voice. “Please.”

  Katie rolled her eyes and lifted her leg. “It’s not a big deal. Just a sprain.”

  Her ankle was swollen and wrapped in a bandage, her shoe loosely tied. “When did this happen?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “Here?”

  “I’m fine, Dean, really.”

  “Dammit, Katie. Those shoes—”

  “I’ve heard the lecture already. Monica thinks I sprained it. No big deal.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Monica?”

  Katie hesitated. “She is a nurse.”

  “But not a doctor. Did you see a doctor? Have an X-ray?”

  “I don’t need a doctor. It’s already feeling better. I’m sure you didn’t make me walk in here if you knew I had hurt myself. What did you need?”

  Dean forced himself to stand. “No more high heels, Katie. I mean it.”

  “Whatever.”

  “I mean it.”

  She glared at him now. “I don’t hear you telling anyone else around here what they can and can’t wear.”

  “No one else tries to walk on heels the size of a number two pencil.”

  She sat forward, but didn’t stand.

  Feeling better, my ass.

  “Fine, no more stilettos. Now what did you want?”

  He fished out the pacifier from his pocket and handed it to her. “I saw this in your car.”

  She took to her feet and her face swept of all color. “My car?”

  “Yeah, the little red convertible outside? Someone you know have kids?” Like maybe Ben? He thought but didn’t ask.

  “Ah, no…er.”

  “Maybe the person who rented it before you had kids.”

  Katie kept looking at the pacifier in thought. “Yeah…maybe.”

  If Katie wasn’t acting at all normal…Mike’s voice called inside Dean’s head. Katie wasn’t acting normal. She stared at the binky as if it had legs and was crawling up her arm.

  “Is this why you called me in here?”

  Dean leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “I wanted to ask you about this fountain idea you blew past Steve yesterday.”

  “Oh, is that all? OK,” she said sitting back down.

  “Katelyn, are you all right?”

  She shook her head. “I’m fine. The ankle bites a little, but it isn’t that bad.”

  “No, not the ankle. I mean…is there anything going on you want to talk about?”

  “Like what?” She sent him a puzzled look.

  “I don’t know…you tell me. Is something wrong?”

  She looked away, her eye twitching. “What could be wrong? I like what I’m doing here, the guys seem to like me. It’s hot out, but not like Texas. Everything’s great.”

  “Great.” She did not lie well.

  “About the fountain…” Katelyn changed the subject and went on to tell him her ideas. Which he had to admit, he liked. She didn’t ask for a bigger budget, but Dean knew it would triple the cost of what they had previously planned.

  “I need to check this with Jack, see if he likes it.”

  Katie smiled. “Tell him to ask Danny’s opinion.”

  “That wouldn’t be playing fair. He can’t say no to that kid.”

  The grin that played on Katie’s face met her eyes and stayed there. How long had it been since he’d seen her that lit up? “Kids have that effect on people.” She hesitated and then said, “You should know that. You have a nephew. How is Robert anyway?”

  “Getting big,” he told her.

  “Isn’t Syrie pregnant again?”

  “Yep. Has a couple more months to go.”

  Katie was still smiling. Maybe she’d come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t have kids of her own. The last time they’d talked about kids, it was right after the doctor had given her the bad news. It was the only time Dean had seen Katie cry.

  “Boy, is she gonna have her hands full.”

  “Our mom plans on staying with them for a couple of weeks after the baby is born. Help her get used to dealing with two.”

  “Oh, good. She’ll need that.”

  Dean’s heart cracked. Obviously the memory of their child, the one that didn’t make
it past the first trimester, no longer haunted Katie. He still felt the loss like it was yesterday.

  Katie stood. “Give them my best when you talk to them.”

  “I will.”

  She started for the door and grabbed the back of the chair for support. Dean shot to her side and slid an arm around her waist. “I thought it wasn’t that bad.”

  “Hurts more when I first get up,” she said, excusing away his concern.

  She leaned into him and let him walk her out. Dean hated the fact that she was hurting, but warmed with her being in his arms.

  Only a class A asshole would enjoy this, he told himself.

  “You should go back to the hotel, rest your ankle.”

  Although he took the brunt of her weight, she still sucked in a breath as she tried to walk. “I’m OK.”

  She stepped again and moaned.

  “The hell!” He lifted her in his arms and told her to hold on.

  He carried her through the door and barked at Jo. “Get the door. Katie’s going home for the day.”

  Jo jumped up and cleared the path.

  “I can walk, Dean.”

  She rested a hand on his chest but didn’t push away.

  “Take tomorrow off,” he told her as he walked down the steps of the trailer and over to her car. “If it’s only a sprain, it should feel better after the weekend.”

  Her forehead rested beside her hand on his chest and Dean’s heart kicked hard. God he missed this. Missed her.

  “You win,” she told him. “It hurts like a bitch.”

  He chuckled. “Need me to drive you home?”

  “No. I drive with my right foot, not my left.”

  He gently placed her inside her car. His hand rested on her thigh as he spoke. “Have someone help you up to your room.” He didn’t like the sound of that. “You know what, I’ll go with you.”

  “No! I’m fine. I think Monica’s home. I’ll give her a call; find out if there’s a doctor I can see.”

  The thought of him tucking her into bed dissipated. “Good idea.”

  “Here’s your purse, Katelyn,” Jo said from behind Dean.

  When he stood, he felt the loss of Katie’s heat. She tucked her purse beside her and buckled her seat belt.

  “I’ll call you,” he told her.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  No, he didn’t. But he wanted to.

  “Use my cell,” she said. “In case I’m at the doctor’s.”

  The dust from the road kicked up behind her car as she drove away.

  I should have gone with her.

  Chapter Eleven

  As sure as the sun would rise tomorrow, Katie knew that Dean was going to check up on her over the weekend. The only way to avoid it was to get his nosy ass out of town. And for that, Mike was key.

  Talking to Mike was quick and easy.

  Work has been stressful. Jack will be back in town next week and Dean could use some downtime. You two should go camping.

  Mike fell in line and agreed to push Dean to go with him. As soon as she was off the phone with him, she’d called Dean.

  “The doctor said it’s a sprain. Ice, elevate, compress. He wants to see me in two weeks.” He also told her to wear flat shoes for six weeks. Not that she intended to follow that advice.

  “You could have easily broken it in those heels.”

  “I know,” she agreed with him…hoping to make him feel good about the conversation. “Monica agreed to help me out over the weekend. I shouldn’t have any problem coming in on Monday.” She cast the line and hoped he’d take the bait.

  “You sure? I could—”

  “I appreciate that you care, Dean, but Monica is the nurse. She’s beat me up over my shoes more than you have.”

  “Remind me to kiss her when I see her again.” And the bait is in the mouth.

  “I saw the schedule for next week. You could use a real weekend off.”

  Dean’s voice wavered. “Maybe.”

  “I’ll see you on Monday, Dean.”

  “Take care,” he said before hanging up.

  An hour later Mike sent her a text and let her know that he and Dean were on their way to the desert with their dirt bikes.

  Katie leaned back on Monica’s sofa with Savannah sleeping at her side and relaxed for the first time since she’d arrived in California.

  Monica picked up the phone on the first ring, praying it didn’t wake up the baby.

  “Hello?” she practically whispered.

  “Mo! I’m back!”

  Monica jumped up from the couch, moved to the large sliding glass door, and opened it up. “Oh, Jessie, it’s so great to hear your voice.” Monica needed a good sister chat in the worst way. After brushing off the leaves that had collected on a patio chair, Monica sat down and kept an ear out for Savannah.

  “We had such an amazing time.”

  “I doubt you even made it out of the hotel room.”

  Jessie laughed. “We did stay an extra night in Florida before we did the island hopping.”

  Monica could feel her sister’s smile over the phone. She deserved happiness and Jack was the perfect man for her. “Is married sex better than single sex?”

  “You’re going to laugh at me if I answer that.”

  “No, I won’t.”

  Jessie hesitated. “OK, then. Yes, it is. It’s hard to explain why.”

  “Well try,” Monica insisted. “Because you telling me about your sex life will be the closest I’ve come to having sex in a while.”

  “I don’t know, Mo, it’s like every doubt I’ve ever had, any insecurities leftover from my life before marriage were swiped clean when we said ‘I do.’ It’s just better. Perfect.”

  “Does all his Texas lovin’ mean you guys are going to give Danny a brother or sister soon?”

  “Oh, lord, not you, too. Do you have any idea how many people have asked me that since we got back to Texas?”

  She could only imagine. “Is Gaylord harping?”

  “Him, the housekeeper, Jack’s aunt. I’m not opposed to having more kids, but could they lay off for a month at least? Let someone else in the family bring babies into the world.”

  Monica’s eyes traveled to the open door to the apartment. Now would be the perfect time to tell Jessie about Savannah, but she couldn’t do that to Katie. “Don’t look at me. You have to have sex to have babies and sadly, I’m not.”

  Jessie laughed. “I’m going to miss you, Mo.”

  “You’ll be too busy decorating that new house and having perfect sex with Jack. Besides, you can climb on that fancy jet and visit whenever you want.”

  “Jack told me that today before he left.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Katelyn told me he was coming in today.”

  “You and Katie really hit it off, didn’t you?”

  Monica thought she heard a noise from Savannah’s room. She poked her head inside but didn’t hear anything other than the air conditioner turning on and off. “Yeah, we did.”

  “Jack was worried about her working with him. Has she said anything about the hotel?”

  Monica bit her lip. If Jessie thought Katie was living with her, more questions would be asked and it would be hard to keep Savannah out of the conversation.

  “Actually, she slept over this weekend. She sprained her ankle at work last week.”

  “Is she OK?”

  “Just a sprain. And if you ask me, a deserving injury. She was wearing four-inch heels, for crying out loud. I told her she needed to wear flats, or tennis shoes. But Miss Fashion wouldn’t even buy a pair until last Friday.”

  “She’s lucky it’s not worse.”

  “I know—” Savannah’s cry filled the small apartment and made Monica’s heart jump inside her chest. “Oh, no.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m…er, babysitting.”

  “Babysitting? You?”

  “I know…strange. But a friend was in a bind. Can I call you back later?” Mo
nica stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind her.

  “Sure. Call when you can. Love you, sis.”

  “Love you, too.” Monica hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch.

  “Oh, Vanna…what’s the big deal?” After a quick diaper change, Monica moved Savannah to a baby carrier while she prepared a bottle. It took a little while for the baby to calm down. She’d been fussy all night from what she’d heard. When Katie had gone to work that morning, she looked like a zombie. The pace of keeping Savannah a secret was tiresome. It was only a matter of time before someone figured out that they were hiding a baby.

  Monica hoped the investigator Katie had hired would come up with something soon. Now that Jessie was back, the last thing Monica wanted to do was lie to her sister.

  Dean walked into a quiet office. Jo had called to tell him she had the flu, the icky stomach variety that would spread. She’d offered to come in, but Dean wanted nothing to do with getting ill.

  The light on the phone blinked, letting him know there were messages, and the air-conditioning was already on. His office was dark but light under the conference room door ran along the floor.

  A weekend with Mike reminded him of how much he’d given up since he’d met Maggie. It wasn’t until the second night, while sitting under a blanket of stars, that Mike had told him that Katie had suggested the guys’ weekend.

  Damn if that didn’t warm him just about everywhere. “Katie said you needed a break,” Mike had told him.

  Here Dean had worried about Katie not getting around on her bum foot, and she was pushing their mutual friend to help Dean relax.

  He called himself all kinds of foolish for dreaming about her, but he couldn’t help it. Every time he closed his eyes, she was there. Even now, as he stood outside the conference room where he assumed he’d find her, he couldn’t stop the fast beat of his heart. Would she be wearing heels? Would she smile when he walked in the room?

  Could he get through the day without touching her?

  Turning around, he moved away from the door and went to his office. He fired up his computer and tossed his car keys on the desk.