Loving Kate

by Lara Van Hulzen

  She surveyed herself in the mirror. Her hair was in its signature tight ponytail high on her head, her makeup dramatic but not overdone.

  “Perfection!” Hannah stood behind Kate with her hands on her shoulders. “Okay. As much as I would love to be here when Jack picks you up, I think Maggie and I need to skedaddle.”

  Maggie was sitting on the bed, her left foot tucked up under her right leg. She nodded in agreement and stood.

  “Hey, wait.” Kate turned to her half sister. “Do you know where Jack is taking me?”

  Maggie shook her head. “No clue. He might have told Josh, but I wasn’t within hearing distance this time. Sorry, I got nothin’.”

  Kate turned back to her reflection in the mirror and shrugged. “Oh, well. I can go with it.”

  She could, couldn’t she? It had been God only knew how long since she’d been on an actual date, but it was like riding a bike. Right? It all comes back to you.

  She walked Hannah and Maggie to the door before panic set in. Butterflies started doing a serious dance on her tummy. Her shoulders against the front door, she leaned her head back with a thunk. What was she thinking, saying yes to this? It had bad idea written all over it.

  The doorbell rang, causing her to jump about a foot from the door, one hand on her mouth, the other on her stomach.

  “Get a grip, MacIntire. It’s just a date.”

  Right and the Easter Bunny was real.

  With a deep breath and the decision to face her fate, she reached for the door.

  Kate opened her front door and it took all Jack’s self-control to keep his jaw from dropping to the floor. Never before had something so simple as black pants and a green top been so heart-stopping gorgeous. The black, high-heeled boots were a nice touch as well. Oh, this night was gonna be good.

  Of course, what she was wearing was not going to go over well with the plans he had set up for them, but it certainly would add to the adventurous part of the evening.

  “You look fantastic.”

  Her rigid shoulders relaxed a bit. “Thank you.” Her eyes moved down his body and back up again, sending a shiver down his spine. “You look nice, too.”

  He had to laugh. It was clear, based on her tone, she was trying to say something nice. In loose jeans, his favorite black boots, and a dark Henley shirt, he’d gone for casual. Hell, he didn’t do dressy. Not unless it was forced upon him for work. And where they were going called for relaxed. He should’ve known Kate would go dressy. The woman was a walking clothing ad.

  Maybe he should’ve told her where they were going tonight? Nah. Where was the fun in that?

  He smiled and said, “Thanks.”

  He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “You ready?”

  “Yes. Let me just get my purse.” She went to turn then stopped. Eyes huge, she tried to look past him into the street. “You didn’t bring your...motorcycle, did you?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Phew!” She laid a hand on her chest in relief.

  “I’m saving that for another time.” He winked, getting the exact reaction out of her he was looking for—narrowed eyes and a hand on her hip. Oh, this woman was too much fun.

  “How about that purse? Time’s a wastin’.”

  She reached around the front door and grabbed her purse from the entryway table. She joined him on the front step and closed the door. “What makes you think there’s going to be another time?”

  Her body language said challenge, but in her eyes he saw...fear? Why in the world would she be afraid of spending some time with him? Maybe it was the bike she was more worried about.

  He shrugged and put a hand to her back to guide her to his car. “Just a hunch.”

  “Hmph.”

  They took a few more steps down her front path then she stopped. “This is your car?”

  He looked at his convertible Mustang and back to her. “Yeah. Why?” Was the woman going to have a problem with his car and his motorcycle?

  “I...I’m just surprised. That’s all.” She continued walking.

  “That I have a car?” He opened the passenger door for her.

  “No,” she mumbled. “Just this...kind of car.”

  Hmm. Okay. He closed her door then went around and got in the driver’s side. He turned the key and the engine roared to life.

  Tension radiated from Kate’s side of the car, it was almost palpable.

  He put his hand on her arm. “Hey.”

  She turned and looked at him. Unsure of what he saw in her hazel eyes, he said, “Relax. Let’s have some fun.”

  A slight smile broke through and she nodded. A small breakthrough, but a breakthrough nonetheless.

  The woman beside him was a definite mystery. One minute, control personified, the next, rattled by what kind of car he drove. Odd. He put the car in gear and pulled into the street.

  Well, no matter what, his goal for the evening was to get her to let her hair down, literally or figuratively, and enjoy herself. And he was a man who didn’t quit until his goals were achieved.

  Kate relaxed a little and let the cool breeze graze her cheek. Thankful Jack kept the top up on the car – she had spent serious time on her hair – the windows were still open, allowing the fresh air to flow through. They drove along the coastline, the setting sunlight dancing off the water. Silver Bay had gotten its name by how the rays of sun and moonlight made the water look silver rather than blue most of the time.

  “You’re thinking hard over there. Why don’t you relax and tell me what’s spinning in that pretty head of yours?” Jack’s eyes moved from her hand to her face then forward again as he drove. He guided the car along the winding road with ease.

  Not even realizing her grip on the door, Kate folded her hands in her lap. “I wasn’t really thinking much of anything. Just watching the water.”

  “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

  She looked out the window again. “It really is.”

  “Do you like it here?”

  Not ready to answer lots of questions yet, she turned the tables on him. “You must. If you grew up here, moved away, then came back.”

  He nodded. “It can be tough growing up in a small town. Some of the stereotypes are true. You certainly can’t get away with much.” He winked at her then looked ahead again. “But you can either see the nosiness as people truly caring, or see it as, well, nosiness, and get your panties in a bunch over it.” He shrugged. “It’s really up to you.”

  Kate nodded and thought about what he said. Small town life did take some getting used to. But as much as she’d like to get her “panties in a bunch” as Jack had said, over people knowing about her life, she saw more caring in how she was treated. People meant well.

  And, she’d been careful not to talk much about her life before Silver Bay so, for the most part, she’d stayed out of the gossip mill. She turned to look at Jack. Well, until now.

  Until Jack.

  She looked back at the road. Having enjoyed the scenery as they drove, she hadn’t realized they were now on the outskirts of town and headed towards the beach.

  “Um, where are we going for dinner? The town is back that way.” She pointed behind them with her thumb.

  “You’ll see.”

  The sexy smile was back, causing her tummy to flip. She trusted Jack, but her heart still sped up at not knowing where they were going.

  “I’m not a big fan of surprises, just so you know.”

  “Noted,” he said with a nod. And that grin.

  Oh, boy. She was in big trouble.

  They drove in quiet the next few minutes, the road getting closer and closer to the shoreline. Jack turned and guided the car down a road that led to a small parking lot beside the beach. Only a few cars filled spots in the lot. Couples strolled by the water. A family with two kids played in the sand.

  Jack turned off the car and looked at her. Those chocolate brown eyes glimmered as he took her other hand. “Relax, Kate. This will be fun.”

 
; He got out and came around to her door. He helped her from the car, then dug into the trunk, emerging with a large picnic basket and blanket.

  “A picnic?” Kate tried to keep her voice down, but didn’t succeed.

  Undeterred by her tone, or her rigid stance, he said, “Yep.” Then he locked up the car and came back to take her by the hand. “Let’s go, princess.” He started walking towards the sand. And water.

  Kate held her ground, their arms locking straight as she pulled against him. “But there’s sand. And water.”

  He stopped and turned. Never letting go of her hand, he stepped back towards her. “Yes. Most beaches have both of those things.”

  She looked down at her outfit then back at him. “Clearly, I am not dressed for a picnic on the beach.”

  “Clearly.” He looked her up and down as well, her tummy doing a flip for different reasons now.

  “Then maybe a restaurant back in town would be better?” Couldn’t blame a girl for trying, right?

  “I don’t think so.” He turned again and led them down a path towards the sand. She still fought him, but not nearly as hard. The heels of her boots clicked on the pavement as they walked. How the heck was she supposed to maneuver through sand in these things?

  “Take them off and roll up your pants,” Jack said over his shoulder as they walked. What? He read her mind now?

  And he could just forget that idea. She hadn’t spent all day on this outfit just to roll up her pant legs and strut around barefoot in the sand like Huck Finn. Had the man lost his mind?

  They reached the end of the path where pavement turned to sand. Kate released her hand from Jack’s grip and stopped in her tracks. Casual as ever, he kept walking, his big boots making divots in the sand as he went. Was he whistling?

  Hands on her hips she thought about her options. She could wade through the sand as Jack had done. Maybe her heels would sink in the sand and stabilize her? Or take off the boots and go barefoot as he said, but without rolling up her pants. That might work.

  “You’re really overthinking this one, sweetheart.” Jack’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. He’d already stopped about twenty yards from her and laid the blanket out. The picnic basket sat on one corner of it.

  Hmph. Men! No common sense in any of them.

  Kate decided on option number two. She carefully unzipped her boots and with as much grace as possible, pulled them off and tucked her socks into them. With a deep breath and an eye roll, she picked them up and ventured into the sand.

  Chapter Four

  Jack watched as Kate tried to tiptoe through the sand, her sexy boots gripped in one hand, the other stretched out for balance. Her candy apple red toenails were a contrast to the light sand; her teeth gripped her bottom lip, also red, as she attempted to walk delicately towards him.

  He bit back the urge to laugh out loud.

  “Would it kill you to come and help me?” Her curt tone of voice cut through his thoughts. It was a good thing, too. His thoughts were getting as racy as that toenail polish color.

  “Oh, I think you’re doing just fine on your own.”

  She stopped and glared at him, only making him that much more heated up inside. The woman’s eyes could shoot daggers, for sure, but aimed at him, they shot straight for the heart and drew him in like a cool drink on a hot day rather than chase him away, as he was sure was her intention.

  “It would help if you’d let loose and stop trying to not get sand on anything.” He held his arms out, pointing out the obvious.

  “Ugh. Men.” She huffed, before beginning to tiptoe again.

  She made it to the blanket and set her boots down gently on one corner. Hands on her hips, she glared at him once more. “Now what?”

  “Now, we eat!” He rubbed his hands together and knelt on the blanket. He dug into the picnic basket, pulling out plates and napkins and various containers full of food.

  “Where did you get all of this?” Kate knelt across from him on the blanket, careful to keep her sandy feet off of it, of course.

  “Josh made it. And, no, I have no shame in admitting that. It was either store bought food or take advantage of a brother who loves to cook, and is pretty damn good at it to boot.”

  Kate laughed. Ah, another small victory. Even though the rest of her body was clearly still trying to avoid sand, her shoulders relaxed and her smile made her face light up. Jack vowed to keep that smile on her face as much as possible. He still had some work to do on the getting her to relax part though.

  He pulled the tops off the containers and laid out the spread his brother had prepared. His stomach growled.

  “It smells amazing.” Kate picked up a container with rice and stir-fry chicken. She closed her eyes and breathed in. “Mmmm, now my stomach is growling, too.” Her attempt at hiding her grin behind the food container failed.

  “Hey, when a man is hungry, his stomach lets him know.”

  “As well as those within a ten-foot radius.” She giggled.

  The sweetest sound on earth.

  “Oh, I have something for you.” Jack jumped up off the blanket. “I left it in the car. I’ll be right back.”

  He retrieved what he needed and returned to their picnic spot. Kate now sat on the blanket, her legs to the side so her feet were still in the sand.

  “For you, my lady.” Jack sat across from her again and handed her a yellow gift bag, complete with white and pink striped tissue sprouting out of the top.

  Kate’s face was priceless. If he could only snap a picture without it being weird.

  She took the bag from him, but eyed it as if a scary jack in the box might pop out of the top.

  “Go ahead. Open it.” He grinned. He couldn’t help himself.

  She reached in the bag and pulled out the cardigan sweater he’d bought for her earlier that week. Her wide, hazel depths looked from the sweater in her hand to him.

  “But...”

  He shrugged. “You said I owed you a sweater.”

  Her cheeks flushed crimson. And was she blinking back tears? That wouldn’t do. “I know it’s not exactly like the one you tore when you fell, but Maggie said you’d like it.”

  She blinked again but no tears fell. Thank God. Instead, she smiled wide, her expression lighting in a way that would have knocked Jack over had he not already been sitting. He busied himself with putting food on plates for them, if only to keep his arms from wrapping around her and kissing her senseless.

  “This is so beautiful! I...I don’t know what to say.”

  He set a plate in front of her. “How about, you are so amazing, Jack. When I’m with you, the world just melts away and you really shouldn’t spoil me this way.”

  Her laughter floated through the air as she swatted his shoulder. “I think I will settle with thank you.” Before folding the sweater and placing it with tender care back in the bag, she squeezed his hand. A quick touch, lasting only a moment and yet sent a fire through his system.

  She set the bag aside, out of the reach of any sand, of course, and set her plate in her lap. “I can’t believe Josh made all this for us.”

  “Well, he made it for himself and his wife as well, I just mooched off of them.”

  She laughed again as she placed a forkful in her mouth. Her eyes got huge as she chewed.

  Jack finished his bite and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I know, right? He really can make a meal.”

  “I have eaten meals he’s cooked before but this is outstanding.”

  “And the evening is just beginning, princess.”

  They ate in quiet for a while, looking out at the water. The waves rolled in, lazy and slow, the night calm and the air crisp.

  Jack took their empty plates and other dirty items and placed them in a bag he’d brought. Kate eyed the gift bag that held the sweater he’d bought her. Nothing in the world could have prepared her for that. She had a feeling Jack Harden was a man full of surprises. Every day like an empty canvas, ready to be mapped out, each experience
a vibrant color covering the bright white.

  And the sweater was gorgeous. Teal green with tiny flowers woven through the lapels. Sure, he had Maggie help him pick it out but still. To think enough of her to buy her something she needed or wanted? She hadn’t had a man her life that thoughtful since her father. Just Barry. Huh. Barry only bought her what he wanted her to have.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  Jack’s question pulled her from her thoughts. “Oh. Nothing.”

  “The look on your face doesn’t say nothing.”

  “Was I making a face?” For the love. She’d have to work harder at masking her thoughts.

  “Well, you were just happy and then, you weren’t. What changed?”

  Nothing. Everything. “Oh. Sorry. I was thinking about...painting.” Yes, that would do. He’d believe that.

  His eyes said he didn’t believe it for a second, but he didn’t push. “Painting, huh? You like to paint?” He’d finished cleaning up and moved to sit next to her. He leaned back on his elbows on the blanket and looked at the sky. “What do you like to paint?”

  “I’m not very good at it. I just like to play around.”

  “I didn’t ask if you were good at it. I asked what you like to paint.” He patted the blanket next to him. “Come on, lay back and look at the sky. Tell me about painting.”

  She eyed the spot next to him, now with some sand on it.

  He chuckled. “I promise sand won’t bite. Or ruin your top. Or your hair. Live a little.” He pointed to the sky. “The sun is setting. The sky is gorgeous.”

  Kate blinked. The man lying next to her was gorgeous. And it scared her to death, the feelings welling up inside. Funny thing though, tonight she felt safe. Relaxed. She couldn’t recall the last time those words had crossed her mind.

  Careful to swipe some of the sand away, she laid back.

  “See? That’s not so bad now, is it?”

  Kate’s body was on the blanket but her feet sat just beyond in the sand. She wiggled her toes, letting the grains get caught between. The top layer was warm but colder the further her feet dug down.