The knotted rope around his heart loosened an inch. He gave his dad credit for showing up today and taking an interest in his grandkids. Maybe he would do for them what he’d never done for Vance. They still hadn’t spared each other more than a few words, and Vance realized progress came in all forms. Theirs happened to be at the speed of a slow-moving glacier. Seeing his dad at the book signing the night before had been a shock. Overcoming Adam Reynolds’s innocent blunder when he’d exposed the one thing Vance had hoped to keep quiet hadn’t been as difficult as calming his racing heart over the sight of his dad. His reason for donating anonymously to Helping Comrades was to keep the attention away from him and on the cause. He wanted all the focus to be on the needs of the veterans. But as his agent, Mike, reminded him, his celebrity status brought attention to the cause…and didn’t hurt in selling books either. Standing next to his dad last night, Vance hadn’t felt his usual regret for what might’ve been, because Katie had been there. She soothed all his rough edges. Moving past the hurt and forgiving himself seemed possible with Katie curled into his side. The conversations and ease with his dad would come with time…he hoped.
Vance loped down the front steps. Yellow trumpet-shaped daffodils dotted his front lawn. Dogwoods blossomed, and petals floated in the cool April breeze, dusting the footpaths. He shook his head, wondering how anyone could see zombies and vampires on this picturesque property. Katie’s desperate attempts to please her dad had obviously clouded her vision. Maybe he could put a different spin on it and convince her this location was all wrong, without revealing the deal he’d cut with her dad. The more time that passed, the more Katie would be hurt by their deception, and hurting Katie was not an option for him.
“Bye, Kay-tee. Bye, Uncle Pance.” Danny waved from the backseat of the car, clutching Lollipop with her other hand. Poor Lollipop had that resigned, I’m-doomed look about her as she posed with all four paws in the air.
Katie blew kisses. “Good-bye. Have fun with your mom.”
“Bye, sweetie. You guys behave for your granddad and Mrs. Duncan, ya hear?” Vance leaned inside the back window and ruffled Dover’s hair and reached over, fist-bumping Donald.
“We will,” Donald said, wearing a serious look on his young face.
“You’re in charge, bud. Okay?” Vance said to his oldest nephew. Donald and Dover had been hesitant when they realized their granddad would be accompanying them on their road trip. Vance couldn’t blame them. They barely knew the guy. But after a long conversation with Gloria, she’d convinced him it was the right thing to do, giving everyone time to get to know each other.
“They’re gonna be just fine. I’ve got everything under control. As long as they call me Dottie and not Miz Duncan. Reminds me of my mother-in-law, that clattering bag of bones.”
“Oh! Wait. I forgot Pixie’s dog food.” Katie rushed toward the house, her short blue skirt flying around her legs.
“Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.” Dottie heaved a sigh. “It’s bad enough I’ve got to babysit General Sourpuss here. Good thing I didn’t bring Sweet Tea along,” she said, referring to her mongrel of a dog.
Vance’s dad leveled a military stare at Dottie that would’ve broken the worst enemy under intense interrogation. It had zero effect on Dottie.
“I’d be more than happy to leave you behind, rattling around in that God-awful mausoleum you call a home,” his dad said between clenched teeth.
Dottie gave a loud snort, as if what the general had suggested was preposterous, and adjusted her skintight T-shirt with Toot-N-Tell spelled across her chest in silver sequins.
Katie returned with the bag of dog food and bowls in her arms. “I think that’s everything,” she said, slightly out of breath. Vance reached for the items and placed them in the rear of the car. “General Kerner,” Katie continued, “I took the liberty of downloading some picture puzzles on your laptop for the kids to play with. I hope you don’t mind.” His dad and Katie exchanged a look. The suspicious hairs on the back of Vance’s neck stood up. He hoped Katie, in her big-hearted, misguided way, wasn’t trying to mend broken fences behind his back. Vance didn’t want anyone running interference, and he’d bet his last royalty check his dad wouldn’t appreciate it either.
“That’s fine. I’m sure the kids will enjoy them,” Chuck said in a gruff voice.
“We all set? That dog secure in her crate?” Dottie asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Donald said.
“Let’s hit it.” Dottie put the SUV in gear. “You two have a nice weekend, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Dottie waggled her painted-on eyebrows. Katie’s cheeks pinkened, and she cast her eyes to the ground. And Vance mentally blocked images of Dottie Duncan…doing anything. At. All.
Chapter 18
Dun, dun, dun, duuuunnnn. You know that scary music that played in your head when something really bad was going to happen? Yeah…that. Katie felt Vance’s sizzling gaze as soon as Dottie had exited the driveway with her merry band of kids and animals. And the general. What a road trip. Relief washed over Katie at not being invited. Until she glanced at Pirate Man. The promise of what was to come in his smoldering look rattled the California grapefruits from Katie’s tree. The urge to give chase after Dottie’s car suddenly washed over her. She needed more time. She needed to process. She needed at least a week to groom…shave, bleach, pluck, powder, perfume…lose weight.
“Oh no you don’t.” Vance tipped her chin up with his finger. “No second-guessing and no running. Got it?” Katie gulped. Her face must’ve read like a Sunset Strip billboard. Next time her mother insisted she take acting classes, Katie was signing up. Because she sucked at hiding her emotions.
Katie jerked her chin from his mind-scrambling touch. “I hope you don’t think we’re going to start something right here. Right now. While the Harmony Huggers are performing ‘I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.’” She slid a glance at the ladies harmonizing the old folk song.
Pirate Man bared his teeth in a piratey smile designed to make pathetic-girl-desperately-seeking-validation freeze with fear…anticipation…excitement? “Give me a couple of hours to finish a scene. I’ll meet you under the outdoor space. I’ll be the one with the chilled champagne. You be the one wearing a come-and-get-me smile and nothing else.” He winked.
As if. A nervous laugh burst forth at what he suggested. Scandalous. Vance had a knack for taking a tense situation and lightening the mood with humor. She loved that about him. Errk…there it was again…the L word. And it felt right, and that made Katie want to run screaming for the Hollywood Hills. Certified hot mess. No other way to describe herself.
Vance’s phone chimed. His jaw tightened, and all signs of humor disappeared as he read his text. “Son of a—”
“What? Are the kids okay?” Visions of faces covered in blue paint, peanut butter topped with cat hair, and Dottie swerving off the highway blindfolded flashed through her mind. “Maybe I should’ve gone with them,” she murmured, squeezing her hands together.
“Relax. It’s only Brogan, reminding me about the cookout tonight. We don’t have to go, if you don’t want to,” Vance said, hope coloring his tone.
“Funny, but this is the first I’m hearing about it…from you anyway. You never invited me.”
“Sure I did”—Katie shook her head—“didn’t I?” A flash of guilt skittered across his face.
Oh, Vance, all six feet two inches of solid muscle, arrogance, and badass confidence. Got her every time. Her phone chimed next, and she pulled it from her skirt pocket to read the text. “Bertie and Lucy are reminding me of the same thing.”
“You wanna go, don’t you?” He didn’t bother hiding his disappointment.
She shrugged. “Well, sure. Sounds fun.”
“You know there’ll be poking and prodding and trying to wring out every juicy detail the entire evening.”
Yeah, kinda
. The town was famous for that very thing. Katie went for polite. “Bertie and Lucy have been very nice to me and supportive of you—”
“I’m talking about Brogan. He’s worse than a middle-school girl when it comes to gossip.”
“You’re an easy mark.”
He arched a brow. “How do you figure?”
“Exotic dancers, Russian spies…Jo Ellen and her ruby-red lips and pink pickup truck…need I go on?” She batted her eyelashes.
Vance’s naughty grin did nothing to Katie except make her rusty uterus contract. “That’s all old news. You’ll be the hot topic tonight, cupcake. Hope you can take the heat.” And by heat, Katie had a feeling he was referring to what he generated every time he leveled his wicked gaze at her. He tapped a response into his phone. “We’ll meet them by the lake at seven. Does that work for you?”
Plenty of time to work up a good case of cold feet. “Yes. That works.” She nodded, shoving her hands in her pockets. “I’m going to the store. You need anything?” She planned to make a classic California salad to contribute to the cookout.
“I’m good, unless you want to stop by the Scanty Panty and pick up some edible undies,” said the pirate with too much swagger.
“Nah. No need,” she tossed over her shoulder.
“Pity.”
“Last time I was there, I bought a pack…strawberry flavor. Hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved.” Vance’s bold laugh carried across the lawn, broadcasting things to come.
* * *
Vance stretched his arms over his head, rolled his shoulders, and loosened his cramped muscles. He’d saved his work, having finished the scene he’d been working on. The war stories Adam Reynolds had shared after finally opening up to Vance fueled the motivation behind his hero and gave his scenes an authenticity and rawness he’d been searching for, but they also left Vance on edge. He could only imagine Adam’s nightmares.
Vance moved to the open window. The cool spring air carrying the scent of new cherry blossoms brushed past his heated skin. He shoved his fingers through his hair. Getting inside his characters’ heads took a toll. For the emotion to appear on the page, Vance became one with his protagonist, much the way an actor did studying for a part. He massaged his temples and emptied his mind. Tonight he wouldn’t be fighting demons. Tonight, stories of snipers, ambushes, and gathering military intel would be shut down, along with his computer. Tonight he’d be spending time with the enticing and delightful Katie, and all his thoughts would be centered on her. Katie’s husky laugh played in his ears as he remembered her teasing about edible panties. Her laugh. It was the first thing he wanted to hear in the morning and the last thing he wanted to hear at night. He wanted to spend his days and nights getting to know everything about her. He wanted to erase the vulnerabilities that held her back and made her doubt. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and never let her go.
He checked his watch. But first they’d have to endure the teasing and bullshitting his close friends felt compelled to heave his way. Vance had thick skin…he could take it. But Katie had smooth, soft skin, and he hated to see it bruised or marred by the careless things his friends might say or imply.
Reaching for his ringing phone, he groaned in disgust. “Great,” he muttered. “What can I do for you, Walter?” he said, pressing the phone to his ear.
“Vance, good to hear your voice.” Yeah, it was becoming a daily unwanted occurrence. “Things are progressing right along on my end. Almost have the details ironed out on the Wilmington location. You won’t need to detain Katie much longer.” Vance didn’t like the sound of that. Detaining Katie had been the highlight of his days—and soon to be nights—and he wanted to keep it that way.
“What’s your time frame?” Vance asked.
“Few more days. Five tops. My location manager will have an update for me later today.” By location manager, Walter meant Tad Pole, the dickless wonder. Vance eyed the half-empty bottle of bourbon sitting next to his computer. He hadn’t been drinking, but maybe now would be a good time to start. “You’re doing a good job of keeping Katie in the dark, and I appreciate it.”
And didn’t that make Vance feel as low as Tad Pondscum. “About Katie. How am I supposed to break the news?”
Vance could’ve sworn the sound of Walter’s chuckle was evil and sinister. “You’re a clever man. I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“Assuming I do, then what happens to Katie? Where does she go from here?” Not back to California, if he had anything to say about it.
“Home. I’ve enrolled her in the community college, where she’ll be taking accounting classes. She needs a useful skill, and accounting will be good for her. Keep her grounded. Good, solid profession.”
Accounting? What the hell? Forcing bright and vivacious Katie into accounting would be a terrible fit. Vance couldn’t imagine a duller career choice for someone with Katie’s spirit. “Does she know about this? Have you discussed accounting with her?” Like ever, you controlling puppeteer.
“Katie never knows what she wants. She has to be told. Otherwise, she tends to wander from place to place and job to job. Never sticking. Katie needs to stick.”
“And accounting will make her stick?” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his tone.
“Accounting is a noble and useful profession,” Walter said on the defensive. “There will always be jobs for accountants. She’ll have a career she can be proud of.” Whose pride were they concerned about? Katie’s or Walter’s?
“From what I know about Katie…I’m not sure accounting is the right path for her. She seems more creative—”
Walter’s voice grew stern. “You let me worry about Katie. I know what’s best for my own daughter.” The hell he did. Vance almost snorted. Walter McKnight didn’t know the first thing about his daughter. “You just keep stalling until I give you the green light. Got it?”
Vance gripped his cell phone to keep from hurling it out the window. “I’ll keep stalling until I hear from my agent regarding my contract. You still haven’t satisfied my end of the bargain. Where do we stand on that, Walter?” Vance struggled not to sound disrespectful. After all, this was Katie’s father.
“My boys are working on it. I’m sure we’ll find some common ground we can both agree on.”
“Sure. As long as the common ground is my getting approval rights to the screenplay, we shouldn’t have a problem.”
Vance recognized the sound of back molars being ground to the nub. “Like I said, my boys are working on it,” Walter said between clenched teeth.
“Good. Because I wouldn’t want to hurt Katie with the truth about her fake job. And how everyone lied to her.”
“No. That would put us both in a really bad light. And from what I gather…hurting Katie would not be in your best interests.” Shit fire and call him Sally. How much did Walter know? He’d bet he had Tad Poke to thank for playing squirrelly informant and blabbing about all the porn rumors. It still didn’t change their agreement. Vance prayed like hell Katie wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire, but he had no intention of surrendering his balls to Walter either. Business was business. It wasn’t personal.
* * *
“This looks delicious.” Bertie and Lucy stood in Vance’s kitchen, watching Katie throw together her favorite salad: romaine lettuce, red onion, sliced avocados, sectioned grapefruit, and homemade poppy seed dressing.
“Not the first thing that comes to mind for a cookout, but I thought it’d be refreshing.” Katie laughed, enjoying the female companionship. Bertie and Lucy had stopped by for a visit…and to snoop. Just as Katie had suspected and Vance had warned. But they dug for dirt in such clever ways that Katie didn’t mind. It made her feel part of the group. As if she belonged. She ignored the small voice in her head telling her it was only temporary.
“Brogan’s bringing healthy stuff from BetterBite
s. Half of which I won’t touch,” Lucy said, dipping her pinky finger in the dressing for a taste. “Yum. This is good.”
“And Lucy will be supplying the Cheetos and ranch-flavored Doritos. She’s our resident junk food ho. And it never shows.” Bertie swiped a section of grapefruit and popped it in her mouth. “I have to count every morsel, but Lucy can eat anything and never gain weight.” Katie understood Bertie’s plight…all she had to do was look at food, and the pounds appeared by the bushel.
“My poor eating habits drive Brogan crazy. I have gotten better. But every now and then a girl needs to spend time with her two best friends…Ben and Jerry.”
Katie sighed. She missed those two guys. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d shared a pint of Chunky Monkey. “You both look amazing. You must be doing something right.” Katie covered the large salad in the wooden bowl with tin foil and screwed the lid on the Mason jar holding the dressing.
Sweet Southern Bad Boy Page 21
