He hated avocados and grapefruit.
And she was no fan of Eastern Carolina barbecue.
“Listen, Miss California, Vance is a pretty great guy. You might want to take advantage of what he’s offering. There isn’t a gal among us who hasn’t dreamed about that stud at one time or another. Am I right, ladies?” Liza said.
Wanda burst out laughing, and Lucy covered her mouth, trying to hold back the giggles.
Bertie squeezed Katie’s hand and glared at her sister-in-law. “Liza, I hope my brother doesn’t mind your overactive fantasy life. Try not to frighten Katie away before she’s gotten to know us.” Liza shrugged her shoulders and remained silent. “Katie, if you decide to stick around, which we all hope you do”—everyone gave an enthusiastic nod—“then we’d love to brainstorm with you about that empty space. I think it has real potential.”
“And with your fresh face and cool ideas, you’d have the whole town backing you,” Lucy added.
“But even if you change your mind about the space, we’d still love it if you stayed,” Wanda said sincerely.
“You’re good for those stubborn Kerner men. They need someone like you to help bring them together.” Bertie gave her a warm smile.
“Yeah, if Vance loves you, then you’re all right. Because we love Vance.”
Katie’s heart swelled at the outpouring of kind words. These women she’d only just met made her feel a part of something. They made her feel wanted, and if she left Harmony, she knew she’d be missed. A heady emotion. But Vance loving her…she almost snorted aloud. Katie was no fool. She lived in Hollywood and knew how lust looked and acted firsthand. Vance wasn’t looking for a relationship. He was looking for a distraction, and Katie was available.
At the sound of loud shouts and teeth-jarring grunts, Katie and her new girlfriends stopped talking and looked up in time to see Vance block and Brogan launch the football for a long pass.
And then Vance’s gaze snagged hers, and time stood still, as if the world was holding its collective breath. His face was all dark angles and shadows, his eyes hot with desire and laced with mischief. Katie hid a grin behind her hand and then gasped when Vance got tackled from the side by Russell and hit the ground hard.
“Holy motherfuh—” Vance groaned, rolling on the ground. “Upton, Jesus, you hit like a Mack truck.”
“Thatta boy! You go, Pookie Bear,” Wanda cheered for Russell. “You are so getting lucky tonight.”
“I hope Vance’s okay,” Katie said, trying not to sound worried or race over to check him for injuries.
“He’s fine. Tough as nails.” Russell winked at Katie and gave Vance a hand up.
Vance brushed the sand off his board shorts and shook it from his hair. “I need a beer. I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“I’m buying.” Keith trotted over to the keg, along with Cal and Russell.
Brogan clapped Vance on the shoulder. “You still suck. But you take a hit like a man.”
“If you’d release the ball a little quicker, maybe I wouldn’t have to take so many hits,” Vance grumbled, scooping his shirt up off the ground, pulling it over his head, and covering his chest. And wasn’t that a darn shame?
With beers in hand, Cal planted a kiss on Liza’s lips and dropped down beside her on an empty chair. Russell sat next to Wanda, Brogan flopped down next to Lucy on her blanket, and Bertie joined Keith by the keg, wrapping her arms around his waist.
And that left Vance.
Watching Katie with hooded eyes. Katie drew a ragged breath. Sauntering toward her—yes, sauntering, you know…walking with attitude—Vance stopped in front of her and held out his hand. “Hop up, cupcake,” he said in his lazy drawl, pulling her from the chair. Vance dropped down in Katie’s vacant seat and lowered her onto his lap. Hoo boy. Katie remained stiff, her back ramrod straight. Unsure of what to do with her hands. The last time she’d sat in a man’s lap, she’d been five, and he wore a red suit with a fake white beard. “Relax. I’m not going to cop a feel…until later,” he murmured close to her ear, wrapping both arms around her waist and causing her to shiver against his hard chest. “Better?” Katie could only nod due to the swallowing of her own tongue.
After the guys finished their beers, Brogan piped up, “Who’s up for some volleyball?”
“You’re kidding,” Liza muttered.
“Come on. When was the last time you played volleyball?” Cal hooked his arm around Liza’s neck, kissing her on the temple.
“High school. It was required for gym.”
“You any good?” Cal asked.
“I could’ve been, if I’d cared.”
“What about you, Wanda? You play volleyball in high school?” Russell said.
“With these bad boys?” Wanda hefted her breasts with her hands.
Lucy laughed. “She would’ve knocked someone out for sure. Bertie and I played in gym class. We both stank. Being short didn’t help.”
“If Bertie played volleyball like she plays tennis…” Keith shook his head. “Not good. Not good at all.”
Bertie sniffed. “Not all of us can claim to be professional athletes. Besides, I think it’s a hand-eye coordination thing.”
“Ya think?” Keith teased.
“This is beach volleyball. Come on, it’ll be fun.” Brogan jumped up from the blanket, yanking Lucy up by her hand.
“Okay, Mr. Triathlete. I’m game.”
Liza joined Cal, grumbling about being too old for any kind of volleyball, and Keith pecked Bertie on the lips and told her she could sit this one out. Wanda blew Russell a kiss and settled more comfortably in her chair to watch the game.
And that left Vance.
With Katie still wrapped in his arms.
He cocked his head, peering down at her. “What do you say? You up for a game?”
Katie reached down and removed her shoes. “Sure. I’ll give it a try.”
* * *
“Whoa! Where’d that shot come from? Hey, Kerner, you know she could play like that?” Brogan said, grinning at Katie from the opposite side of the net.
Teams had been decided, with Brogan, Lucy, Keith, and Cal on one side and Liza, Russell, Katie, and Vance on the other. Lucy hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she sucked, and Liza ran a close second. But Katie…holy hell. She’d already executed a perfect bump arm pass, a couple of digs, diving to her knees in the sand to save the ball, and a dink over the net to end a point. All while wearing those crazy flowing pants that clung to her great butt and the blue, curve-hugging shirt that exposed soft skin around her middle every time she went for a shot.
“Yay, Katie! You are so saving my butt. Y’all don’t mind if I sit the next one out,” Liza said, brushing sand from her knees.
“One more set, and we’ll call it quits. I wanna see more Katie-action,” Cal said, tossing the volleyball in the air.
With twinkling eyes, Katie flashed a devious smile. Vance would like to see more Katie-action too. A different kind of action. A contact sport involving skin on skin with Katie under him, long legs wrapped around his waist. Vance balled his fists in an extreme effort not to go all hillbilly and haul Katie over his shoulder and into the bed of his truck.
Liza rolled her eyes at Cal. “Whatever. But I need a drink.”
“Five minute water break.” Brogan clapped his hands. “Come on, babe. Hop on.” Brogan bent down, and Lucy wrapped herself around his back for a piggyback ride.
Vance watched Katie brush sand from the knees of her dirty pants. “I’ve got a few more points left in me. How about you guys?” she asked him and Russell.
“Absolutely! We’re kickin’ ass and takin’ names.” Russell rubbed his hands together in glee.
“You never told me you could play volleyball, cupcake.” Vance dropped his arm over her shoulder, peering into her upturned, flushed face.
Bambi? He’d dated a Bambi once, but Kat couldn’t be referring to her…God help him, could she? “What are you talking about?” Hoping she didn’t pick up on his nervous tone.
“Bambi…it’s slang for a player who tenses up and doesn’t play aggressively.”
Vance laughed with relief. “Uh, no. I wouldn’t call you Bambi.”
“Break’s over. Lucy, honey, we need some points…sing something and distract them,” Brogan teased. Everyone in Harmony knew Lucy couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. The joke around town was that anytime there was a fender bender, Lucy’s singing voice must’ve been the cause. It was that bad.
Lucy dug her toes in the sand in the ready position. “What do y’all wanna hear?”
“Doesn’t matter. It all sounds like nails against a chalkboard.” Keith hugged Lucy around the neck.
“Ready to take ’em down, Beach Bunny?” Vance growled next to Katie’s ear.
Katie shot him a cocky grin. “Serve it up!”
* * *
Vance glanced at his watch for the umpteenth time. Eleven o’clock. He wanted to end this party so he could start one of his own. A party for two. With Katie. All night long and into the early morning. No cell phones. No computers. No blinking cursor. No plot holes. And no rug rats.
Vance did double time, cleaning up and loading chairs and coolers in the backs of all the cars. Dark clouds had started to roll in, threatening rain. Katie stood next to Keith’s SUV, chatting and laughing with Bertie and all the women as if they hadn’t just spent the last four hours together. What more could they have to say? The conversation over the course of the evening had spanned baby food to nail polish to toilet bowl cleaners to bikini waxes. Katie had observed more than participated, taking pictures with her professional camera at the group laughing and joking. She appeared to be enjoying herself, and Vance didn’t want to rob her of any fun by whisking her home early. But enough was enough.
“You and Katie want to come by the house for a drink?” Brogan asked, closing the hatch to his car.
Heck no. “Nah, man. I need to get home. It’s been a long day—” Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a huge clap of thunder.
“Whoa. That storm is rolling in fast.” Brogan glanced at the dark sky. “Luce, come on before the skies open up.” Brogan motioned to Lucy. “Sure you don’t want to stop by? Oh, I forgot, you have the kids.”
“Actually, I don’t. My dad and Dottie Duncan drove them to visit Gloria this weekend.”
Brogan’s look of worry over the impending storm turned to surprise. “Your dad and Dottie? Don’t you find that a little strange?”
Vance shook his head. “So strange that no publisher would touch the story if I decided to pitch it.” Dottie had texted earlier, announcing their arrival, and Gloria had confirmed that everyone was alive. No missing eyes or limbs…in other words, his dad was in one piece.
“Shee-it. Think your dad can hold it together and not kill Dottie?”
“I’m more worried about her killing him. He’s a stick in the mud, and Dottie’s a real pain in the neck.”
Brogan grinned. “A match made in heaven.”
Vance grunted. “God, I hope not.”
“How did the book signing go?” Brogan asked, referring to the night before. “I hear your dad showed up. That’s pretty awesome. Think he’s read your books?”
Vance still hadn’t figured out what had prompted his dad to appear at his book signing. But from the stern expression and lack of words exchanged, Vance hadn’t seen it as much improvement. He shrugged one shoulder. “Who knows? The man won’t talk to me. But he seems to be coming out of his shell a little more. He met Katie and took an instant liking to her. And now this road trip with Dottie and spending time with his grandkids. We’ve made progress.”
“Kinda hard not to like Katie. What’s the deal with you two? She’s not your usual type.” Vance narrowed his eyes in warning, which Brogan ignored. “News flash. Like I’m telling you something you don’t know. But you better hear this…she’s forged strong bonds with our wives, and if you break her heart, I’d hate to imagine what they’d do to you. Liza’s downright scary,” Brogan warned.
Vance wished for once everyone would mind their own business. “No one is breaking anyone’s heart.” Unless Katie found out he’d made a deal with her dad and lied to her. But he’d make sure that never happened. Vance shoved his hands in his back pockets. “Look, we’re just…” Friends? It was more than that. And from the skeptical look on Brogan’s face, he knew it too. But to admit that Katie meant the world to him and he couldn’t live without her after only a short week would be ludicrous. Who fell in love in such a short span of time? Not him. No way. Hell no. Katie’s husky laugh caught his attention, her bright smile lighting her face. Vance almost whimpered at the sight.
Crapshitdamn. His single-carefree-horndoggin’ days were gone…never to be seen again.
Brogan clapped him on the shoulder in sympathy. “Join the club, man. You’re fucked.”
And with that, the clouds opened up, and it poured cats and dogs.
Chapter 20
“Run for it!” Vance yanked Katie out of the truck and hauled her across the lawn toward his barn through the drenching rain. The storm had hit hard and fast at the lake and soaked them before they’d made it inside the cab of the truck. “You okay, cupcake?” he asked, shaking water from his head, droplets splashing her.
Snickering, Katie glanced at her sopping wet clothes and ruined shoes. “I’m okay, but I look like a drowned rat.” Smiling, she peered up at Vance and froze. His T-shirt plastered to his chest and stretched across his broad shoulders seized her lungs. If you liked sculpted chests and rock-hard muscles, you’d be in heaven over this dark angel. Katie shivered, not from the chilled rain soaking her clothes, but from the man in front of her warming her heart.
“You’re freezing.” Vance wrapped his hands around Katie’s arms and pulled her close. Touching his wet chest lit an inferno inside her and sparked heat behind his eyes. All of a sudden he was kissing her, and Katie found her arms wrapped around his neck and her back against the door. She was no longer cold but burning from his raging heat. Firm and insistent, his mouth demanded entry as he slipped his tongue past her lips. He tasted of beer and spicy male and pure decadence. Katie ran her fingers through his wet hair. Vance pulled back and nipped at her lower lip with his teeth. The solid hammering of his heart beating through his chest smashed against hers. “Please stay with me tonight,” he said in a fevered whisper. Katie’s knees threatened to buckle, and her head wobbled. “Is that a yes?” Vance fiddled with the barn door behind her, sliding it open while still holding her tight. Clever man.
“Y-yes.”
“Thank God.” And before Katie could take another breath, he scooped her up in his arms and bounded for the stairs. The interior of the barn whirled past her in a complete blur.
“Vance, put me down. You might hurt yourself. I’m not exactly a lightweight.” The fact that he took the stairs two at time without labored breathing or wheezing didn’t go unnoticed and scored huge points in her book.
He smiled down at her. “I’m getting you in my bed as fast as I can…but first…a hot shower.” She laughed at his eager persistence.
At the top of the landing, Katie caught quick glimpses of an open loft bathed in white, covered in floor to ceiling built-ins crammed with books. Vance whisked her inside the bathroom and lowered her slowly to the grey marble floor, making sure every inch of her body stroked
his along the way down. Desire surged inside her to a flash point, and Katie bit back a groan. Vance gripped the back of her neck and took her mouth in a bruising kiss. And the melting began.
Releasing her mouth much too soon, his voice rough, he said, “As much as I’d love to act out my fantasy of peeling your clothes off inch by inch, we need to hurry and warm up.” Vance reached around her and turned the water on inside the glassed-in shower built for two. “Take those wet things off, cupcake, before you catch cold.” Ripping his wet T-shirt over his head in one motion, he toed off his Topsiders, kicking them to the side, and his shorts and boxers followed. Katie’s skin went tight, and her mouth dried up. The temperature in the room suddenly surged from the steam curling from the shower and the Greek Adonis standing before her. Katie trembled not from soggy, cold clothes but from being in the presence of such perfection. She sucked in a breath; the exhale stuttered out with the impact of how gorgeous he truly was. Fascinated by the ripple of every muscle, Katie stared, unable to take her eyes away.
“Your lips match your shirt.” He reached for the hem of her blue top and peeled it up and over her torso, exposing her wet bra and pebbled nipples. Plop. It landed on the pile of wet clothes. Vance laid his hands on the bare skin of her shoulders, stroking with his fingers and sliding her bra straps down. His light touch woke up all the nerve endings under her skin. Desperate to move, she reached behind and unhooked her bra, letting it fall to the floor. His hands stilled at her waist, and his eyes flared with smoky desire.
Sweet Southern Bad Boy Page 23
