Morgan made his way to his brother’s apartment feeling like he was on top of the world. He’d finally met someone he believed was perfect for him. Someone he felt he could trust. He knew she didn’t come from a wealthy background like his own, but hers must be somewhat privileged. Her artwork, furnishings and home told him that much; even if she’d bought her house at auction, it would have cost her a pretty penny. None of that mattered to him. He’d seen firsthand how his world could affect people like Bonnie and her family when they weren’t used to it, and Morgan was determined not to let such differences come between him and Kathleen. He wanted a future with her.
After parking in front of his brother’s apartment building, Morgan spent a few minutes speaking to the security guard before making his way up to KJ’s penthouse. When he opened the door he was met with a big smile and a loud shout of “Uncle Morgan.”
Morgan knelt down and scooped up Colby, swinging him in the air. “Hey, Colby. How’s my favorite four-year-old nephew?”
Colby frowned. “I’m not four anymore. I’m five.” He held up his right hand to support his assertion.
“That’s right. You did have a birthday. Sorry I was out of town and missed it. You did get my gift, right?”
“Yep, you want to see it?” He squirmed until Morgan placed him on his feet and he went running to the back of the apartment.
KJ came out of the kitchen, saying, “Slow down, son.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Colby slowed his pace.
“Good morning,” KJ greeted him.
“Morning.” The two men bumped fists. “What you two doing here? Is Mia here too?”
“No, she’s getting a haircut or trim...something, hell I never know. Want some breakfast?” KJ asked, leading Morgan into the kitchen.
“No, thanks.”
“You sure?” He held up a kids-targeted cereal box. “Breakfast of champions.”
“I’m sure,” Morgan said, laughing at the funny expression on his brother’s face. He found himself wondering if one day he’d be making that same offer to someone, only it would be his and Kathleen’s kid’s cereal. That thought didn’t scare him in the least bit either.
Colby ran back into the kitchen but slowed down when he saw his dad’s face. He held a fire truck nearly as big as he was. “Here it is, Uncle Morgan.”
“Let me see that. Man, this is cooler than it looked online.”
“It makes noise too,” Colby informed him.
“Yes, it does,” his brother agreed, giving Morgan the evil eye. “Remind me to return the favor one day.”
“You might be able to sooner than you think.”
KJ went expressionless. “Colby, you done eating?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Then take your truck back to your room and watch cartoons while I talk to your uncle.”
“Okay.”
“Here you go, little man.” Morgan handed Colby back his truck. “See you later.”
“See you later, Uncle Morgan.”
Both men stood and watched Colby leave the room. Morgan looked at his brother and smiled. “That’s one great kid you got there.”
“I know, and I’m blessed to be able to claim him as my own,” KJ admitted.
“How’s he doing...healthwise?”
“He’s great. We’re extra cautious when his asthma acts up. It can cause so many other issues in kids with Down syndrome, but we’ve been really lucky,” he explained.
“That’s good.”
KJ leveled a look at Morgan, and he knew the turn the conversation was about to take. “Now, what’s this about me being able to return the favor? Want to tell me something, brother?”
Morgan shook his head. “No, not yet.”
“Sit,” KJ ordered, taking a seat at the island. “Now you got me curious.”
Morgan sat and rubbed his hands together. “I met someone.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously, and man, she’s something special.” Morgan’s heart started beating so fast he felt like the sound might drown out the words he was trying to express. “I’ve never met anyone like her before. If you take Mom’s strength, Aunt Elizabeth’s kind heart and the beauty of all my sisters-in-law, you’ll have my Kathleen.”
KJ’s eyebrows stood at attention. “Your Kathleen.”
“She’s family-oriented, knows the oil and gas business and she doesn’t take my crap.” Morgan was so engrossed in his description he nearly missed his brother’s comment.
“She really must be something special. How long have you known this woman and where did you meet her?”
“I only met her a few weeks ago. She’s the trainer that OSHA sent to update our systems and training program based on some new regulations that just went into effect,” Morgan explained.
“Don’t you think that’s fast?”
“You know me—”
“I do, which is why I am asking. You don’t get involved. At least not long-term,” KJ stated with a worried look on his face.
“Neither did you until you met Mia,” he reminded KJ.
“True. Even then I fought it.”
Morgan nodded in agreement. “So did I but I couldn’t seem to help myself.”
“I know the feeling. Congratulations, man.” KJ offered his hand, and the two men shook. “So when do I get to meet her?”
“I was going to bring her with me when I came to your house tomorrow, if that’s cool.”
“Tomorrow? What happened to tonight?”
“We have this other thing we need to do and I’m not sure when we’ll be done or what shape we’ll be in by this evening. Will tomorrow work?” he asked, hoping for a positive response.
“Of course. There will be plenty of BBQ.”
“Great.”
“Yep, you got it bad.”
Morgan laughed. “I know.”
“So what brings you to town anyway? Don’t say it’s just to see us,” KJ questioned.
“I took Kathleen to dinner last night.”
“Last night. Well, I know you didn’t spend the night here, so I assume you two...”
“I should go change,” he said, ignoring his brother’s conclusion. “Kathleen and I are meeting her sister at a community center for a service project.”
Morgan figured KJ got the hint that he didn’t want to go there with him when he changed topics and said, “So she has a sister.”
“Yes, and she’s an amazing chef.”
“A chef?”
“Yes, she has some popular show,” Morgan offered, his forehead creased as he tried to remember the name of her show.
“That’s cool. What’s her name?”
“Hannah Winston. You know it?”
“No, but Mia might. She’s really into cooking networks,” KJ explained.
“She has two other siblings too. Her brother’s in finance, I think, and her older sister is an executive. At least I think that’s what she told me. I honestly don’t remember what she said,” he admitted. “I do know they all seem to do well for themselves.”
“Well, I’m happy for you, man.” Colby’s laughter rang throughout the house.
“Me too, for you, as well. What time tomorrow?”
KJ shrugged. “How’s one?”
“Sounds good to me. I’m going to change. I can’t keep my lady waiting.” It was a declaration that Morgan was beginning to enjoy making.
* * *
Kathleen sat on one of the chaise longues in her closet with her body and hair wrapped in towels. She looked up at her frustrated sister, and she knew she couldn’t keep this conversation at bay any longer.
Hannah stood in front of Kathleen with her arms folded across her chest. “Now that you’ve had your shower, do you want to tell me what’s going on? Why are you in such a frenzy about Morgan coming to help us today? The man is obviously crazy about you. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off you.”
Her sister’s words broke through the dam Kathleen built to hold back her tears; the truth of Hannah’s statement was too much to bear. Kathleen burst into tears. Hannah sat down next to her sister and put her arms around Kathleen. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m falling in...love with... Morgan,” she said between sniffles as she tried to catch her breath.
“Oh, sweetie, that’s okay. It’s pretty clear to me he’s fallen for you too.”
“I know...” A fresh set of tears fell.
Hannah released her sister, left the dressing room, returning quickly with a box of tissues in hand. “Here you go.” Kathleen took a tissue and blew her nose. She wiped her tears and took several deep breaths trying to calm herself. “Talk to me, Kat.”
Kathleen offered her sister a weak smile at her childhood nickname. “I still haven’t told Morgan the truth about everything.”
“What?”
“I know, I should have told him.” Kathleen dropped her face in the palms of her hands.
“Yes, you should have.”
“I—”
“Kathleen, you had sex with the man without clearing the air about everything.” Kathleen nodded, keeping her hands on her face. Hannah put her arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay.”
Kathleen dropped her hands. “No, it’s not.”
“No, it’s not, and I shouldn’t have encouraged you. I forgot how emotionally inexperienced you are and I don’t want you to get hurt,” Hannah stated. “But you are going to tell him, right?”
“Yes, of course. I was waiting for the assignment to end, but now, I’m going to tell Morgan as soon as my boss officially closes the case.”
“I thought you did that already?”
Kathleen saw the confusion in her sister’s eyes. “I did, but I don’t have the final say.”
“Well, when will that be?”
“Hopefully Monday, and I’ll tell Morgan everything as soon as I know.”
“Why does that even matter? I mean, you said they were innocent. Why not just tell Morgan now?”
“Because my deception was about business that I let turn personal—”
“But only after you’d determined that they were already innocent.”
Kathleen shook her head. She stood and walked over to the dresser. “That doesn’t matter. I still deceived him...them, and I put my reputation and job in jeopardy.”
“How did you do that?”
“I got involved with the target of an investigation, Hannah. That crosses all types of ethical boundaries,” she explained, throwing her hands up in disgust.
Hannah heaved a sigh. “So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to get this case closed, come clean to my boss and tell the Kingsleys the truth. I’m hoping when I explain things and give them the good news about the outcome of the investigation they might find a way to forgive me,” she rationalized.
“And if they don’t?”
“I don’t know,” Kathleen admitted.
“Well, if Morgan cares for you like I think he does, he’ll find a way to move past it. I’m sure of it,” Hannah stated with confidence.
“It’s not just that.”
Hannah stare fixed. “What else is there?”
“He doesn’t realize we come from an equally wealthy background.”
Hannah gave a nonchalant wave. “Oh that, that’s nothing.”
“It’s something to him.”
“I can’t believe he hasn’t figured it out.” Hannah ignored her buzzing phone. “All he has to do is search the internet for you or me, for that matter.”
Kathleen exhaled. “Thankfully he’s not into social media.”
“All right, but what does all this have to do with the service project?”
The look of confusion had returned to her sister’s face.
“Dad supplied all the materials for this job.”
“So...” Hannah frowned.
“So? Don’t you think he’ll find it odd that we’re doing a service project with a bunch of Winston materials lying around the place?”
“First off, our donation was in the form of money and workforce. They could purchase the materials from many different places, and our name isn’t on any of them.” Hannah started walking around her sister’s closet, checking out her wardrobe. “You’ve been out of the business too long.”
“So have you,” Kathleen countered.
“Yeah, but I know what’s going on and that we don’t make the materials we use,” she snapped back.
“You’re right. Sorry, sis. I guess my paranoia is getting to me.”
“It’s fine. Look, I think you’re concerned over nothing, but I’ll head over now and make sure there’s nothing out there that says Winston Construction or that there’s no one’s around to blow your cover, okay?”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.” Hannah hugged her sister. “Keep the faith, and I’ll let myself out. See you soon.”
“Hannah’s right. Just keep the faith. You can do that because Morgan’s worth it. What we have is worth all the risk,” Kathleen told herself.