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Kate
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When Kate woke up the next morning, Duke was already gone, off to do whatever it was he did. As she made coffee, she replayed her conversation with Chris from the night before. She couldn’t believe she’d actually asked him out to dinner! Something about the man made her uncharacteristically bold.
But he’d accepted, hadn’t he? And he hadn’t seemed at all bothered by the fact that she’d gone up there, uninvited. Well, except for the doing it during a snowstorm part, which, admittedly, wasn’t one of her brightest ideas.
Mug in hand, she pulled back the curtains and looked outside, pleased to see sunshine trying to break through the lingering clouds. One side of the street was relatively clear. The other had snowdrifts that looked to be three to four feet high, which was typical for a nor’easter. Thankfully, the system had moved through quickly, and the effects weren’t as bad as some forecasters had predicted.
After a quick but hearty breakfast, she dressed in comfortable, warm layers and trekked across the street to open the store. The place was pretty cold first thing in the morning, so her usual winter routine involved turning up the heat and getting the pellet and wood stoves going. Both were big sellers around this time of year, especially when customers came in and saw how well they worked.
Her dad came in shortly after. She was glad to see he was his gruff, cheery self. That and the fact that she hadn’t had a slew of worried texts and voice mails suggested he wasn’t aware of last night’s drama. After the usual good mornings, he commented on how well the spaghetti dinner had gone.
“Even Rico was impressed. He suggested that maybe you were wasting your talents here at the hardware store and should work for him.”
It wasn’t the first time Rico had said something like that. Rico Buschetti was one of the owners and full-time cook at Franco’s restaurant. As much as Kate loved to cook, she didn’t think she could be happy, working in a place like Franco’s. It was a nice restaurant with great food and lovely people, but it was also an established place with an established menu. She couldn’t see herself making the same dishes night after night, using someone else’s recipes. For her, the true joy in cooking came from experimenting and trying new things.
“I’m flattered, but I’m happy right where I am.”
Her dad nodded. He opened his mouth as if to say something more but closed it again when Luther came through the front door.
“Morning, Luther.”
“Morning, Mr. H.”
A subtle wave of expensive cologne preceded his body by several seconds. Luther looked like he always did—well-dressed and not a hair out of place.
“I was just telling Kate here what a good job she did last night,” her father proudly told him.
“She did indeed.” Luther looked at her and had the nerve to smile, the poser.
“Good man.” Her father patted him on the shoulder and then turned to her. “Katy-belle, I’ll be out back, clearing the lot. Call me if you need me.”
“I will.”
He was barely through the door when Luther’s expression flipped from cheery to stormy.
“Where the fuck were you last night?”
“Why the fuck do you care?” she hissed back.
His eyes widened, probably because she’d used the F-word. It wasn’t something she did often, so it packed more of a punch when she did.
I really am being bolder these days.
“Kate.”
“Luther.”
“I promised your father I’d look out for you. What if something had happened?”
Typical self-centered Luther, more concerned with how he’d look than if something had actually happened to her.
“For the record, I did come looking for you to tell you I was going to deliver dinners to the people on my Meals on Wheels route. You were busy.” When he looked confused, she pitched her voice higher. “‘Oh, Luther! Yes! Yes!’ Does that ring a bell?”
His face turned red. “Kate, I—”
She put her hand up, having heard all of his excuses before. “Save it, Luther. I really don’t care.”
“You don’t have to pretend with me. I know it upset you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “What on earth makes you think that?”
“Because you wouldn’t answer my texts, and when I went over to your place, you weren’t there. You always go for a drive when you’re upset, though I thought you had more sense than to go out in bad weather, especially alone.”
“Maybe I wasn’t alone.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, right.”
The fact that he found such a thing laughable pissed her off. A wave of anger coursed through her body, and she felt the telltale prickle of tears beginning to well up.
“You should leave. Maybe whoever you were with last night would enjoy your company because I sure don’t.”
He actually had the balls to smile. “Jealousy isn’t a good look for you, Kate.”
She was practically shaking at that point. “Get over yourself. You’re delusional if you think I’m ever going to take back your lying, cheating ass.”
His face hardened, and he leaned in close. “Careful, Kate. I’ve been patient, but even I have my limits.”
She couldn’t help it. She laughed, the sound more like a bark-slash-hiccup because he was being so ridiculous.
He didn’t like that. His lips curled up in the hint of a smirk. “It’s not like you have a lot of options.”
“I only need one, and that’s my choice to keep my self-respect, thank you very much.”
“Fine.” He turned on his heel and headed for the door. “You know where to find me when you come to your senses.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” she muttered. She wasn’t a violent person by nature, but the mental image of her grabbing one of the new torque wrenches and throwing it at his arrogant ass was appealing.
She was still seething when her phone vibrated a short while later.
“What?” she growled into the device. The ensuing silence was her first clue that she should have checked the caller ID.
“Kate?”
Her anger was immediately replaced with mortification. “Chris?”
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes, fine. I’m sorry. What’s up?”
Her heart pounded as she waited for him to answer, counting three beats and then four. Not a long time in the overall scheme of things, but it felt roughly the same length as an eternity.
“Are you free for dinner on Friday?” he finally asked.
Her relief was instantaneous. “Friday is perfect.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Since you’re more familiar with the area, why don’t you pick the place?”
She leaned her hip against the counter, her earlier angst gone, replaced by anticipation. “Hmm, okay. Got any preferences?”
He laughed. “I’m not picky. Whatever you want is fine with me.”
She tried to imagine the type of place he’d like. He struck her as a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy. Simple but substantial fare. And big guys usually had big appetites.
“I know just the place. Great food, lots of it, and very casual.”
“Sounds good to me. Pick you up at six?”
“Perfect. I live right across the street from the store. Two-story gray American Foursquare. Can’t miss it.”
“See you then.”
“See you then.”
She disconnected the call, feeling almost giddy. Her good mood carried her through the morning. Even her father noticed when he came in from plowing the lot.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?”
“I’ve got a date this weekend.”
“Glad to hear it.” He beamed. “Where’s Luther taking you? Someplace nice, I hope.”
She hesitated, debating on whether or not to tell him the truth. It was a brief debate. She might not tell him everything, but she’d never lied to him, and she wasn’t about to start now.
“I’m not going out with Luther, Dad.”
“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows. When she didn’t say anything more, he added, “Are you going to tell me who, or do I have to guess?”
“I’ll tell you, but fair warning: you’re probably not going to like it.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“Chris Sheppard.”
His brows pulled together. “Don’t recognize the name. Do I know him?”
“Kind of. He was in the other morning. The one who bought the tickets to the spaghetti dinner.”
His frown deepened. “You’re right; I don’t like it.”
“You haven’t even met him.”
“No,” he agreed. “What about Luther?”
She exhaled. “I know you’ve pinned your hopes on us getting back together, but it’s not going to happen. He’s not the man for me.”
“And this guy is?”
“I don’t know, Dad. I barely know him. What I do know is, he’s been very nice, extremely polite, and well mannered.” She smiled wryly. “He’s also the only man who’s asked me out in two years. Trust me, okay?”
“I do trust you. It’s him I don’t trust,” he grumbled. “But ... it’s also been a long time since I’ve seen that sparkle in your eyes. You really like this guy, huh?”
“Too early to tell, but he shows promise.”
“All right, Katy-belle.” He pulled her in for a quick hug. “Just be careful, okay?”
“Always. Thanks, Dad.”
~ * ~
When five o’clock on Friday rolled around, Kate zipped home and took a quick shower. She dressed in the one pair of jeans she had that made her ass look fantastic and paired it with a tank top beneath a light three-quarter-sleeved V-neck sweater. A bit of mascara and lip balm, and she was ready to go with twenty minutes to spare. After setting out fresh water and kibble for Duke, who’d been MIA all day, she paced anxiously in front of the window, waiting for Chris to arrive.
His truck rumbled up fifteen minutes early. She wondered if that meant he was looking forward to dinner as much as she was.
I can hope.
She grabbed her coat and scarf and met him as he was coming up the steps.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” He smiled. “I’m a little early.”
“That’s okay. I was ready early.”
He offered her his arm in an old-fashioned gesture, which she thought was a nice touch. “Shall we?”
“We shall.”
She held his arm down the steps, acutely aware of how solid it was beneath the layers of outerwear. She wasn’t petite by any means, but she felt like she was when she was next to him. She didn’t want to let go when they reached his truck.
Keeping with the gentlemanly theme, he opened the passenger door and then waited for her to get in before closing it and walking around the front to the driver’s side. Instead of getting in, however, he held up his index finger in a wait gesture and then crossed the street and went into Handelmann’s.
He came back out a few minutes later and slid his big body behind the wheel.
“Do I want to know what that was about?”
“I saw your father watching us through the window. I wanted to reassure him that you were in good hands.”
Her heart melted a little. “I’m sure he appreciated that.”
Chris shrugged and pulled out onto the street. “If you were my daughter, I would. So, where are we going?”
She directed him past the Sumneyville town limits and into the next town. Andy’s was exactly the kind of place she thought he’d like—with the added bonus of fewer prying eyes. She wanted the chance to get to know him without being under the scrutiny of the town watchdogs, and Andy’s was, by unspoken rule, considered neutral territory. It was kind of like Vegas that way, only on a much smaller scale. Everyone minded their own business. If you were there and saw someone else, you didn’t talk about it.
Plus, the food was fantastic. For locals, it was the best place for burgers and beer.
To his credit, he didn’t question her choice when she led him into the sketchy-looking building. He did, however, stay close by her side and protectively place his hand at her lower back. She liked that. She liked it a lot.
Fortunately, the inside was nicer than the outside. Also nice: he didn’t remove his hand when they got inside.
Dark wood and low-level lighting gave the place a cozy feel. The high-backed, roomy booths also afforded some privacy.
Kate requested a table in the back. Chris waited until she was seated to slide in across from her. This courtesy was something she could quickly get used to.
“What do you recommend?” he asked.
“Honestly, everything here is good.”
He put his menu back in the wire holder. “Why don’t you order for both of us?”
“Challenge accepted.”
His eyes shone with approval when she ordered a plate of mango-habanero wings, two Angus burgers—a half-pounder for him and a quarter-pounder for her—a basket of thick-cut fries, and coleslaw. To drink, she went with a pitcher of locally brewed beer and one of ice water as well.
“How did I do?” she asked as the waitress walked away.
“A-plus.”
She smiled, but inside, she was fist-pumping. “You seem like the kind of guy who can appreciate a hearty meal.”
He grinned. “You’re not wrong.”
Their drinks arrived first. He poured beer into frosted mugs for each of them while she did the same with the water.
“Tell me about Kate,” he said.
“There’s not much to tell.”
“I doubt that.” He looked at her with penetrating dark blue eyes, giving her his undivided attention.
An old saying came to mind—still waters run deep. She was pretty sure she’d need scuba gear to explore those depths. Also, she was an excellent swimmer.
“I’m a local girl, born and bred. I’ve worked in my father’s store since I was a kid.” Even as the words came out of her mouth, she realized just how boring and uninteresting she was and attempted to spice things up with some self-effacing humor. Placing both hands under her chin, she batted her eyelashes and channeled her inner game-show hostess. “Kate likes cooking, DIY projects, and hiking local mountain trails. She tends to avoid any situation that requires wearing pantyhose or high heels. Her turnoffs are posers, liars, cheaters, and people who think salads are actual meals.”
His lips quirked.
She dropped her hands and returned to her regular voice. “See what I mean? Totally underwhelming.”
“I disagree.”
“Oh?”
“Do you want to know what I see?”
She didn’t think it was possible, but his eyes grew even more intense, and her heartbeat kicked up.
“I’m not sure. Do I?”
“I see a woman who is loyal and loving and cares about her family. One who takes in stray dogs and delivers meals to others on stormy nights. She’s confident and comfortable in her own skin. Beautiful and funny and refreshingly down-to-earth.”
She sucked in a breath. “That’s what you see?”
He nodded.
“Wow.” That might have been the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her.
She was going to have to be very careful, or this guy would charm the pants right off her. Not that she was wholly opposed to the idea. Holding on to pants in a situation like this was vastly overrated. He was very attractive in a rugged, masculine sort of way and growing more so by the minute.
She cleared her throat and swallowed the urge to say so. “Your turn.”
He shrugged and leaned back. “I grew up in a small town in the Midwest. Joined the Navy and got a degree.”
She waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. Their wings arrived, temporarily halting the conversation. In retrospect, she probably shouldn’t have ordered something so messy for a first date, but the wings were good enough to overlook the potential embarrassment factor. Besides, she wasn’t exactly the dainty, sip-and-nibble type. He should know up-front what he was getting himself into.
“What is your degree in?” she asked after making prudent use of the wet wipes that had come with their food.
“Architectural engineering.”
“Impressive.”
“Not really. I like drawing, and I’m good at math, so it seemed like a good idea.”
She was fascinated by the way he tried to downplay himself. His modesty was just as sexy as the rest of him.
“How did you become involved in the Sanctuary project?”
“I met Matt Winston on the teams.”
“SEAL teams?”
He nodded. “After my time was up, he called me, told me about his vision, and asked if I wanted in.”
She grinned. “And you said yes.”
“Without hesitation. Matt’s a good guy, and I couldn’t think of a better way to put my skills and education to use.”
Before she could stop herself, she asked the question that had been rattling around in her mind since the last time she saw him, “Why do they call you Mad Dog?”
He didn’t answer right away. She could practically see his wheels turning, deciding whether or not to tell her.
Then, his eyes locked on to hers, and he said very softly, “Because when something is important to me, I’ll go to any lengths to protect it.”
“Oh.”
“Does that scare you, Kate?”
“No,” she answered honestly. It probably should have, but it didn’t. In fact, she felt perilously close to swooning. At least, she thought that was what the light, tingly sensation was. It wasn’t something she’d ever experienced before.
“Good.”
Their meals arrived, and over burgers and beer, they got to know each other better. They took turns in asking each other questions and sharing, keeping the subjects light and not too personal. By the time they left the restaurant and drove back to her place, she found him even more attractive. Another first. Usually, when guys started talking, their appeal took a nosedive.
“I had a wonderful time tonight, Kate,” he said as he walked her to her door.
“I did, too.” So much so that she wasn’t ready for the night to end. “Would you like to come in and have some coffee?”
“I would, but I think it’s better if I don’t.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I like you, and I find you incredibly attractive. If I go in there with you now, I won’t come back out until morning.”
She inhaled sharply, her core and nipples tightening at his words. “You sound pretty sure of yourself, Mr. Sheppard.”
He grinned. “Hopeful. May I kiss you good night?”
“I’d be insulted if you didn’t.”
He lowered his head. She closed her eyes, her entire body vibrating in anticipation as she waited. And waited. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face but no actual kiss. She opened her eyes to find him watching her, his lips poised just a hairbreadth away from hers.
“There you are,” he whispered and then closed the distance between them.
She’d been kissed before but never like that. Like, the moment his lips touched hers, the rest of the world ceased to exist. In the span of those precious seconds, she no longer felt the cold or heard the sounds around them. Every sense grew sharper, more acute, all focused solely on him. His taste. His scent. The way he held her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
When he pulled away, she felt light-headed and off-balance.
Yep, totally swooning.
She licked her lips and tried to catch her breath. “Wow. Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”
He chuckled softly and kissed the tip of her nose. “Good night, Kate.”
“Good night, Chris.”