"Did you make a wish?" he asked.
"Yes. That the house would magically restore itself. What about you?"
He smiled and then brought her hand up to his mouth slowly, and kissed it. "That you'll come back tomorrow."
She rolled her head to look at him. "I will, Will." And then she burst into giggles.
"I think you've had enough," he said, pushing the wine bottle across the table.
"I think it's empty anyway."
"It is." Her eyes floated to his lips as he spoke, over the length of his body, casually relaxed in the patio chair.
"I haven't been this relaxed in ages," she sighed. She crossed her legs, noticing but not caring that her dress caught and she was revealing a good deal of her thigh.
"I'll be right back," he said, and kissed the top of her head as he passed.
She didn't ask why or what for, but watched him walk away with a dreamy, content smile on her face.
He seemed to keep more of a distance when he returned with two cups of coffee. He talked of practical things while she wanted to remain in the airy, romantic moment. It wasn't working and he slowly brought the mood back down to reality, occasionally holding her hand or allowing a longing stare that sent her heart pounding.
When the moon was high over the trees and washing the deck in a blue glow, their conversation had run short with silences growing longer and longer.
She heard footsteps and turned her head.
"Well, well, some things never change," her mother said. "Drunk on a deck with a boy." She grinned, teasingly.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Katie asked and then sat bolt upright. "Is Jacob okay?"
"He's fine. Will called me to come get you. Said you were in no shape to drive home."
She turned her head slowly toward him and spoke through her teeth. "You called my mommy to come pick me up? What am I, seventeen again?"
"I want to see you home safely." He walked over to her and held out his hand. "Don't be angry." She took it and stood.
"Besides," he said as he leaned in close to her ear. "I wasn't going to be able to restrain myself for much longer."
His throaty growl sent jolts of electricity throughout her whole body. Kissing her hand in farewell, he asked, "So, I'll see you tomorrow?"
She looked up at him thru her lashes, licked her lips and stepped closer. She adored the look of agony on his face. "I'll see you tomorrow, Will. Sweet dreams." With a kiss on the cheek, she turned away realizing that the chase was really quite fun after all.
The next morning Kate woke up with a slow, dreamy smile, stretching luxuriously in the bright sun. How long had it been since she'd woken with a smile on her face, she couldn’t remember. Despite a mild headache, she felt invigorated and new. She grinned even wider when she realized that in the light of day, and without the effects of wine, she still wanted Will. Very much.
Covering in a light robe and trying to tame her hair, she padded downstairs to find Jacob bouncing on his grandmother's knee, chewing and slobbering on his fist.
"Hey, sweetheart," she said and kissed his downy head. Her mother stared at her with an anticipating grin, following her every move. She poured a cup of coffee and glanced over her shoulder. "Why are you staring at me, Mother?"
"Did you have a good time?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you for coming to get me," she said. Despite feeling juvenile, she knew she couldn’t have gotten herself home.
"Will was quite the gentleman to have called me. I'm very impressed. Any other man would have had your skirt up around your ears with you in the state you were."
"Mom!" Her eyes darted to Jacob.
"Oh, he can't understand me. And I'm only stating a fact."
She sat back in her chair and stirred cream into her coffee. "Yes, he was a complete gentleman."
"Are you going to see him again?"
"Well, I have to get my car."
"I'll drive you over there. And then me and Jacob can run into town and get some ice cream."
"He's too young for ice cream."
"Frozen yogurt, then." She stuck her tongue out at Katie and Jacob copied her. Katie laughed.
"You're going to spoil him into a terror."
Vicky shrugged. "That's what grandma's are for." Jacob started pounding on the table, and knocked the sale papers off the top of the Sunday paper. Katie glanced, then did a double take.
Vicky stiffened and reached for the paper. "I meant to throw this out before you got up."
She pulled the paper from her hand and her eyes flew over the article, her mouth hanging open.
“Cedar Hollow's Alleged Black Widow Caught in a Love Triangle.
According to a police report, a 911 call was made from the home of Katie Johnson around eleven o’clock on Friday night. Police were called out to quell a domestic disturbance when William Anderson walked in to find another man in Katie Johnson's living room. A fight ensued and the other man was taken to the hospital for head injuries. The police report indicates that Katie Johnson claims the suspect forced his way into the house and attempted to force himself on her, however the police found no evidence of forced entry into the home and Katie Johnson did not request to be taken to the hospital. Which leads this reporter to wonder what Katie Johnson, supposedly mourning the loss of her husband who died under suspicious circumstances just weeks ago, was thinking, caught with two men in her living room?
Anna Stockard.”
Katie looked up slowly; her eyes burning. "I'm going to kill her," she said through her teeth.
"I wouldn't go saying that too loudly, dear. Granted you aren't a suspect, but let's not go doing things that would make you one.
"There has to be a law against this," she said, holding up the paper. "Reporting news is one thing, twisting it into garbage and lies are another."
"Go yell at the editor. Or the owner."
She sat back, crossed her arms and crossed her legs, bouncing one viciously. "Why, so she can write an article about how I am mentally unstable and need to be medicated? Not likely. I can't give her any more ammunition."
She groaned and covered her face with her hand. "Poor Will, getting caught up in all this."
"If he cares about you, it won't matter. In fact, it might help to have a champion in your corner."
"A champion? Mom, are you reading medieval romances again?"
She shrugged apologetically. "You know what I mean. Two are stronger than one."
Katie sighed heavily. She wanted to be one, with Will, but after all this…did he?
Chapter 22
Katie felt cheated of her good mood morning as her mother dropped her off at Will's cabin. She watched them drive away, hoping that her mother didn't indulge Jacob in sweets to the point where he's be sick, or up all night.
She heard the door to the cabin creak open and turned. Will stood on the threshold. She grinned shyly and climbed the steps. Screw that stupid newspaper. Looking at him now, she felt just as convicted as she had the night before.
She walked right up to him and took his face in her hands. "I want you," she said. His smiled broadened and he slipped his arms around your waist.
"You don't know how happy that makes me to hear that."
She kissed him, careful not to fan the flames to the point of spontaneous combustion. Just a titillating low sizzle.
"Are you really surprised? Did you think I was so intoxicated that I wasn't able to make rational decisions?"
"There's nothing rational about love."
She froze at the “L” word. "And it isn't so much that I thought you weren't sincere, it was more this morning’s paper. I thought it would sway you."
"I saw that. I'm just so sorry you're being dragged into this."
"I could care less, Katie. That twit can write about us all day long, it doesn't change how I feel."
"I'm glad," she said and kissed him again, quickly.
"Want some coffee?"
"Sure." He hesitantly let her go and went to the kitche
n. "Do you have a headache?" he asked.
"A mild one when I woke up, but not now."
He grimaced. "I do."
"What do you have planned for today?"
"I have to catch up on a few things I didn't get to yesterday, and I have to get ready to take a small trip." He looked down at her with a pout.
"Oh. Will you be gone long?"
"Just overnight. I'll be back Tuesday."
"That reminds me. Are you still interested in helping me track down the woman who wrote the journal I found?"
"Sure. Did you finally finish it?"
"I did and the ending was…whoa. Let's just say I really want to know what happened to her.
"Tuesday afternoon, then? I can pick you up."
"Why don't we meet there?"
He gave her a sidelong glance.
"I was going to go into town to get my hair cut anyway. I wouldn't want you to be bored waiting for me."
He narrowed his eyes as if determining her honesty.
"Look, Will, it's not that I want to hide it, er, us. It's just maybe we could keep things on the quiet. Just for a bit."
He didn't look like he loved the idea, but relented, handing her a cup of coffee.
"Maybe you could come over for dinner again on Wednesday?" he asked.
"I'd love to."
"After we work on the house?" His eyebrows went up.
"Yeah, I guess I'd better get started on that." It seemed like an insurmountable job to undertake and, if she were being honest, the last few days felt good being away from the place. She wished she could sell it as is, even just to break even.
His dog ran through the open door and straight to Katie. She was a massive, slobbering, tail wagging mess as Katie bent down and paid her some attention.
"Okay, Tuesday library, Wednesday work and dinner," she said.
He hugged her tight and she melted into his warmth. Inhaling deeply, she smiled. "What is that scent you wear?"
He pulled back and plucked his shirt, sniffing it. "Do you like it?" he asked.
"Yes, it smells amazing."
He laughed. "It's called, Secret Weapon."
"You're not serious."
"I am. It's at the mall."
"Well, I love it," she said, leaning into his neck to inhale again. "It's one of the first things I noticed about you. You walked by and that amazing smell hit me like a ton of bricks."
"Well, then, it lives up to its name."
"Do me a favor and stock up, okay?"
He smiled and went in for another kiss. Katie stopped it before she became too breathless. The kind of kisser Will was, that didn’t take long.
"I wish I didn't have so much to do today," he said, nuzzling her neck.
"That's okay. I've got things I should do as well."
"Like what?" he asked, lacing his fingers behind her back as he looked down at her.
"Well, I thought I'd go get my things from the house. I only packed a small bag for us."
"You're going alone?"
"Yeah."
"I wish you wouldn't."
"Will, it’ll be fine. It's broad daylight."
"Just, please…don't go alone."
"I don’t want to take my mother there. It represents everything I've ever done wrong and I don't want her to see it. Besides, she's out filling Jacob with frozen yogurt and heaven knows what else. She'll be awhile. I need my stuff."
"Then I'll go with you."
"No, I'm not going to delay your work anymore than I have." She stopped and thought, chewing her lip. "I know. The Judge. I'll take him. He said he'd be over for lunch. He can help me."
"Alright, fine. I just don’t want you going there alone. At all."
"Okay," she said, grinning. She liked someone feeling protective of her. Being her champion. She made a face.
"What's that for?" he asked.
"Nothing. Just something my mother said. I better go."
"You didn't finish your coffee."
She glanced at it. "And if I do, that will lead to another and another and you will have a completely unproductive day."
He shrugged as if he didn't care.
"C'mon, Will." She leaned in and gave him a kiss, turning up the heat just enough to make him anticipate seeing her again.
"I have to go," she whispered.
He walked with her to her car and opened the car door. "Is it too corny to say I'm going to miss you?"
"No, that's sweet. I wish you didn't have to go. I'll miss you, too." She went up on tip toe and gave him another peck.
"See you Tuesday."
She waved and pulled away, feeling something was just a little out of place.
It weighed heavily on her mind as she arrived at her mother's house. She smiled when she saw the Judge's car parked in the driveway.
He sat in the kitchen with files and folders spread out on the table.
"No rest for the weary, eh?"
He looked up and grinned. "Nope." He took a second glance at her and removed his glasses. "Katie, you look downright…happy."
"Well, I am. This mess of a life of mine is coming together piece by piece."
"Glad to hear it."
"Listen, I know you aren't officially my stepfather yet, but I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you."
"Sure, anything."
"I was wondering if you'd go over to my house with me so I can get some more of my things."
His face darkened. "It's not that I'm afraid," she said quickly. "Will just asked me not to go over there alone."
"Good man, that Will."
She grinned, blushing slightly.
"Sure, I'd be happy to. I'd rather put this work off anyway, if it's all the same."
"Thanks."
They stepped inside Katie's house. The Judge took a long look around. He shoved his hands in his pockets, unsure of what to do. The lamp lay shattered on the living room floor and the blood stain from Kade's head had dried. Katie glanced at it in disgust.
“What do you plan on doing with everything you're not bringing to your mom's?”
Katie shrugged. "Donate it? Burn it? I'm not sure." What she was sure of, is that she wanted to start over completely. She had no desire to keep anything from her old life.
"I'll just get another suitcase from the garage."
"Want some help?"
"No, I've got it."
He nodded, feeling useless.
She turned on the flickering light and hoped Will knew something about electricity. She could hire that out, she supposed. The garage reminded her most of Tom and she was quick to get in and out.
Inside, the Judge was inspecting a hole in the wall.
"It's going to take a lot of work to get this place saleable."
"I know. Will is going to help me."
"You know, Katie, I can't help but feel like I should apologize."
"For what?"
"For performing your marriage. I should have refused."
"Could you have done that?"
"Sure I could have. And I should have. I felt it was wrong in my gut when I did it."
"We would have found someone else, you know. Even if you had refused."
He nodded. "I know. But still…" He grew quiet and solemn looking around the neglected house. "I should have tried to talk to you, at least."
"It's not your fault. It was mine. I was stubborn. Pig headed, even. I wouldn't listen to anyone and even if you had tried to talk to me it would have only made me more determined."
"I know. But I've felt guilty for it ever since. Even without your mother's scathing rants."
Katie grinned. "I can only imagine."
"It was brutal." His lips curled into a wry smile. "She is so fiercely protective of you."
"I know."
After packing hers and Jacob's clothes, the Judge helped her get his crib and changing table into the truck. Everything else, as far as Katie was concerned, she could walk away from and never look back.
Chapter 23
Katie bounced Jacob gently on her shoulder at dinner. "He looks happy as a lark," she said.
"He loves frozen yogurt. He was so precious, smacking his lips and then grunting for Grandma to feed him more."
"He's not too young, I hope. Can't they develop allergies if you feed them regular food too early?"
Her mother brushed off her concern. "Your father was feeding you and your sister bits of treats before you had teeth," she said, smiling at the memory.
Katie was happy to see that the Judge didn't change stature or expression at the mention of Vicky's late husband. He did, however, change the subject.
"I was thinking, Katie, why not have a yard sale? That way you might be able to raise a little money toward the repairs," he suggested.
She grimaced. "I don't think there's anything of much value for that. I think I might donate it. Or start a new burn pile. Plus, I don't want people gawking. I don't think they'd show up to buy, but to poke around simply out of morbid curiosity."
"Well, what if I had a sale here. There's a lot of stuff I've been meaning to get rid of. We could bring over some of your things and mix them in…no one would be the wiser."
Katie nodded. "That might work."
"Any word on the insurance policy?" The Judge asked.
"Until I'm cleared, officially, they are holding the check. It's not a lot anyway. I was going to put it all into fixing up the house."
"Will you move back in then?" her mother asked.
"No, I'm going to sell it."
Her mother smiled. "I think that's a good idea. You can stay here as long as you want, you know."
"I know. Thank you. But it won't be forever. I'll get another place with the profits, I think."
"Have you thought about what you're going to do for income?"
Katie didn't take offense to the question, it was a realistic one. She couldn't live and eat for free at her mother's forever, especially knowing that the Judge would be proposing soon. And the money she would make on the house wouldn't last forever. She frowned. "Not yet. I guess that's the next decision I have to make."
"You could go back to school," her mother suggested.
"No. Every divorcee and widow goes back to school.” She grinned. "Plus, I hated it the first time. I doubt the second would be any better."
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