Walking through the house toward the kitchen, Dave’s thoughts turned to Kathy. He couldn’t get the image of the way she bit her bottom lip out of his head. It was a tell sign when she was concentrating on something. He could go on and on when it came to all the adorable things Kathy did and it made him want her more. And then he thought about the kiss they shared.
Dave couldn’t help but think about all the ways he was going to have her in bed and decided it would only be his imagination that held him back. And maybe time. He flexed his shoulder in response. And what the hell was up with her ex? How could the man not see what had been right in front of him? She was beautiful, smart, funny, sensitive, and deserved to have a man dote on her every chance he got.
Despite how hard she tried to fight it, he knew she had feelings for him. He could see it in the way she looked at him when she didn’t think he noticed. Or the way her body responded to his touch. “But maybe you should stop this whole thing before one of you gets hurt,” he grumbled. The fact of the matter was sooner or later she was going to find out about his past and then she’d dump him like every other woman had. And yet he couldn’t help how he felt about her.
Grabbing a can of tomato soup, Dave struggled to get it open. “Damn it!” Things just weren’t that easy when you only had one arm to work with. After the lid popped, he poured its contents into a pot and turned on the stove.
“Meal for the rich?” Jake’s voice boomed through the silence.
“As a matter of fact, it is. What brings you by, besides making fun of my handicap cooking abilities?”
“If you didn’t want to live with us anymore, you only had to say so.” Jake placed his hand over his heart. “It broke me a little to know you weren’t honest with me.”
“It wasn’t personal.”
Jake may have been the little brother but they watched over each other as best friends would. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t say or do for one another—and Dave thanked the heavens for that every day.
“Nothing personal? Psss. That’s not how it feels.”
“Jake, if I tell you the truth you’ll just get mad and try to beat me up. I’m not feeling up to it.”
“So you want me to wait until the shoulder is better?”
“Well, that’s the nice thing to do.” Dave’s lips cracked into a smile. “But of course, you’ve never been nice.”
“And you’ve always been ugly. Where’s the beer?” Jake plopped himself down in one of the kitchen chairs. “The least you could do is offer me one.”
“I don’t have any.”
“What!”
Dave shrugged his brother’s exasperation off. “I forgot to pick some up.”
“Bullshit. Come on, Dave, where’s the—wait a minute, why are you still smiling?”
Dave couldn’t stop grinning, and knew it had nothing to do with his brother’s impromptu visit. “I’m happy to be home and out of yours.”
Jake glared at him. “Why out of mine?”
“Because your cat sucks. Schnitzel is the meanest, fattest, most territorial cat I’ve ever met and I couldn’t stand sharing space with his smelly butt anymore.”
“He’s not smelly,” Jake grumbled. “And you were in his space, how would you react?”
“It’s a cat. Not a human. See, I told you you’d get upset if I said why I couldn’t stay there anymore.”
“Because of my cat.” Jake seemed to think this over. “Bullshit.”
“Fine. You and Sophie were starting to smother me. Not that I don’t appreciate what you’ve done for me but damn, Dude…”
“Oh, you mean Sophie was smothering you? Well, when you see her, you better make sure to tell her you left because of Schnitzel,” Jake said with a look of amusement.
“No problem. I’ll lock it in the vault for when I need her on my side. ‘No really, Sophie, he told me not to tell you.’ ”
“You do that and I will beat your ass. So why are you smiling?”
Dave threw a pot holder on the table then brought his small pot of soup over. “I already told you.”
“Eating right out of the pot, eh? Classy man. No wonder Kathy is thinking twice about you. You’re a real catch.”
With the spoon halfway to his mouth, Dave stopped and studied his brother. “Who says Kathy’s thinking twice about me?”
“No one.” Sitting back with his arms crossed, Jake grinned at his brother. “Although she did call Sophie right after you left work today.”
Dave stirred the soup in front of him and pretended to take this little bit of news lightly. “So. She calls Sophie all the time.” He shrugged and ate.
“She was excited.”
Now that news got his attention, and before he could cover up his concern, it seeped out of him. “Really? About what?”
“You tell me. When she first came to work for us you were all puppy-dog in love with her. Then… I don’t know what the hell happened and now you two are smiling and happy and shit.”
“We’ve decided we’re both mutually interested in each other.”
“How mature,” Jake teased.
“Hold on a minute.” Dave walked to his basement door, threw it open, marched down the steps, and grabbed the case of beer he’d been holding out on. “I think we’re gonna need this.”
Jake took a bottle with a mini-salute. “Sometimes I don’t think you want me drinking your stuff.”
“Most of the time I don’t,” he said with a laugh. “Now what was she excited about?”
“Should you be drinking that with pain pills?”
“Stop stalling. And I haven’t taken the pills in days. Haven’t needed them. Now, spill.”
“Okay. I guess Kathy’s had some…” Jake scratched under his chin. “Unsuccessful relationships.”
“Yeah, she told me.” Dave wiggled his brows. “I can help her with that.”
“Ummm, not sure I want to know what you’re talkin’ about but I meant that she gets rid of them before it gets too serious.”
“And you think she’s gonna get rid of me?” Dave ate his tomato soup and followed it up with a chug of beer.
“I just don’t want to see you get your hopes too high and—”
“She got rid of them because they weren’t fulfilling her needs. If you know what I mean.”
At the announcement, Jake spit his beer out like a water sprinkler. “Come on, Dude!” Dave jumped up and began to try to wipe the splatter from his clothes. “You could have led up to that.” Grabbing the dish towel, Jake began wiping his mouth and then the table.
“Yeah, you better clean up this mess. Damn, you even got the floor.”
“We’re off subject. Geez, no wonder she got rid of the ex and those guys. What kind of men has she been dating?”
“None like me.” Dave concentrated on the label of his drink. “She hasn’t said much about the former husband. Do you know anything?”
“Nope.”
Dave could visualize the two of them together walking through the park holding hands, laughing, smiling, and planning their future. Whoa, slow down buddy!
“Hey, you took a side trip on me.” Jake waved his hand in front of Dave’s face. “I said she’s never had a reformed troublemaker before.”
“ ‘Reformed troublemaker,’ not sure how I like that.”
“It’s what you are, big bro, and should be proud. Not too many people can say they lived and changed their life.”
Dave scratched his head. How much should he tell her? A little? A lot? All? “You know, the weirdest thing happened today. Yesterday Kathy saw me talking to the cops. Before that she pretty much wanted nothing to do with me. Today she’s all over me. I mean, attacked me.” He gave a slow whistle. “Insane, all… over… me. It was awesome. Hot. If I could have stripped her there, I would have. Unfortunately I got only one arm for the next few weeks.”
“Quiet, shy Kathy? Are you sure it wasn’t her evil twin?”
“She doesn’t have one.”
Jake snickered. “Oh man. Sexually repressed women are the best! They’ll do anything.”
“You’re such a pig.” Dave picked up another beer and handed it to Jake to open. “Jake, I really want to get to know her. I mean, I think she’s it for me.”
“Oh man, don’t tell me you’re seeing white picket fences, children, and tiny dogs.”
Dave pressed his lips together to stop himself from saying, “Yes.”
“You are!” Jake yelled and stomped his foot for emphasis. “I can’t believe it.”
“Jake, I want to get to know the side she hides from everyone. Come on, you must have felt that way with Sophie.”
“Nope. It was all sex.”
Dave gave his brother a bland look. “And I’m sure Sophie feels the same way.”
“Nope. She thinks I fell head-over-heels in love with her and will do anything for her.”
Dave took a sip of his beer while eyeing Jake. “So you bringing her breakfast in bed on the weekends and giving her foot massages has nothing to do with loving her?”
“Nope. It has to do with the fact that without her I’m lost and I want her to know I appreciate her putting up with my crap.” Jake grinned at his brother. “Love has nothing to do with it.”
Dave laughed. His brother had just described what love was, and he had a feeling Jake knew it. “So you’re saying I shouldn’t get to know her.”
“Oh, you should. Totally and absolutely. This way you can mush her up with the things she likes and you get to reap the benefits.”
“Like sex,” Dave stated for clarification.
“YEAH. And don’t forget having someone to talk with at night. I mean it was all good and everything when I hung here with you. But having Sophie there all the time is a bonus, and Schnitzel doesn’t say much.”
“Except when he’s hungry.”
“Right.”
“So sex, talking, massages, breakfast in bed. In that order?”
“Well, not always.” Jake shrugged. “But it sounds like a solid plan to get you started. Anything you want me to do? Like get you some candles and sex toys?”
“I don’t want your used crap.”
Jake kicked back in his chair. “Suit yourself. But don’t be going to Sophie for ideas. What we do in bed is our business.”
Giving his brother a mild look, Dave said, “Yeah right like I need tips from you and Sophie. You’ve forgotten who you’re talking to.”
“Might be time to get out those spare handcuffs you stole off of Officer Bennett.”
“I gave those back. And, Jake?”
“Yup.”
“If you’re going to drink my secret stash of beer, stop insulting me.”
“It’s all brotherly love.”
* * *
Sophie’s quick feet gave Kathy vertigo—the dizzying sensation leaving her breathless. How can a person move that fast with so little effort? The dancer spun as if gravity didn’t exist. Every jump, leap, and promenade convinced Kathy more and more that her friend’s talent was actually a supernatural power. How else could a body bend and float beyond all logic?
“Kathy!” Sophie wiped her face with a towel. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I wanted to talk. Sorry if I’m interrupting.”
Sophie gently touched Kathy’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong? Why can’t I be spontaneous, rebellious, sexy—”
“You are sexy. What’s this about?”
“Why couldn’t I be born with soft curves like my mother? Why did I have to take after my father? Ugh, look at these man hands!” Sophie’s long sigh gave Kathy’s plight little comfort. Over the years the conversation may have been visited many times but at this moment it seemed more urgent than ever.
“You are beautiful. Now what’s the matter?”
The negative energy of Kathy’s thoughts sucked every ounce of self-worth from her. She had begun to question her life’s path and the results were painful. “I’m not sure if this is right. If things don’t work out with Dave, I’ll be out of a job and it took so long to find one after I was laid off.”
“Dave wouldn’t fire you, Kathy. Come on over here and sit down.” Sophie led her friend to a nearby couch. The soft, pale shade of pink accented the ballet studio nicely.
“I remember picking this out,” Kathy said while rubbing the plush material.
“It was fun.”
They sat there in silence for a few moments. “I’m not sure if what I’m feeling is the product of a self-made pity party or a well-deserved crisis.”
“Either one is good. What’s going on with Dave?”
Kathy’s eyes rolled to look at the ceiling. “The man is driving me nuts. I don’t understand. It’s crazy. I’m crazy. He’s so darn adorable with the way he taps his pen against his desk when he’s trying to figure something out. Then there are those biceps of his that seem to constantly be flexing. I want to grab him, throw him to the ground, tear off his clothes and… well, that’s just it, I’m too afraid to take what I want.” Unable to stay still, Kathy rose to her feet and walked to the ballet barre. “How can you get your leg up here without pulling all your muscles?”
“Years and years of practice. What do you see in Dave’s eyes?”
Turning to look at her friend, Kathy leaned back against the wooden handrail. “You’re gonna think I’m nuts.”
“Already do.”
“True. Okay, I don’t know if I’m ready for a man like him.”
Puzzled, Sophie asked, “I don’t get it, what do you mean?”
“Whatever’s between us is overwhelming. I feel like if I allow this thing that’s happening, I’ll lose all control and… Sophie, Dave looks at me as if he wants to eat me.” Kathy winced. “That didn’t come out right.”
Sophie laughed goodheartedly. “Yes! Kathy, my friend, you are going to learn what it’s like to have a man take care of all your needs. You’re feeling desire, lust, attraction!” She jumped up from the couch and danced a little jig. “I can’t wait.”
“Geez. You’d think you’re the one who might get laid.”
“Oh, I get that every night, and twice on Sunday,” she added. “But you’re going to have your first orgasm. I can see it!”
“You’re creepin’ me out,” Kathy sobered.
“Kathy, you owe it to yourself and him to give this a real chance. Otherwise you’ll always be asking yourself ‘What if?’ and that’ll stink.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right. He’s the first guy I’ve ever felt this kind of attraction for and it’s not just his chest under those tight shirts, or his arms, or his butt. It’s how I feel when I’m with him. He makes me laugh and feel sexy. When he looks at me, I mean truly looks at me, I swear he can see my soul because he always knows the right things to say and do. Aagggg.”
“We need to go shopping!” Sophie announced. “Get you some new spring and summer clothes. Have ice cream and talk about our men.”
“Dave isn’t my man.” Not yet anyway. But did she want him to be?
“Oh, Kathy.” Sophie put a reassuring arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I’m telling you this time will be different. Don’t think on it too much.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t try too hard. Let yourself relax. Be patient, it will come—no pun intended. The right man just hasn’t met you yet.”
“Yes, he has. Come upstairs. I want to shower before we go shopping.”
“I don’t want to go shopping,” Kathy miserably mumbled.
“Yes, you do. Now stop feeling sorry for yourself and come with me. You’re going to relax and tell me everything that’s happened between you two while I get ready.”