Not what I expected. His guess would have been she was walking through a pet store just for fun, then came across the puppies, only to fall in love with a cute and cuddly eight-week-old, not even knowing what a giant she would one day grow into. I wish I had been right. Since he hadn’t guessed her secret, he was confident no one else had either. Apparently you’re not as easy to read as others. Katherine carried herself with the confidence one expects from a Marine, yet in brief moments he saw something else, a sign that she was fragile. Had she intentionally let him in to see that side of her? And if so, why? Maybe she’s going through this alone. That thought felt like a punch in the gut. No one, especially someone so . . . sweet should be alone. She needed someone to be there for her, someone besides her dog. He could provide her a temporary distraction, but that was all. What was I thinking bringing her here? First sleeping with her then inviting her to spend two weeks at his place, both poor choices with the information he just learned. The time would allow him to get to know her better, but what comes after that? He didn’t do relationships. Nothing even close to anything that resembles one. These next few weeks he would need to be very cautious not to cause her pain, at least not more than she already carried.
Even though she didn’t have PTSD, she had demons that haunted her. Drew knew at that moment he would do anything within his power to ease that pain. But grief wasn’t something that could be cured with money. This was about to take him to a place he thought he never would go, deeply and personally involved.
“You should consider it.” Was all he heard her say.
“Consider what?” He didn’t want to admit he had only been only half-listening since she’d dropped that news on him, and he’d begun his plan of action for the next few weeks.
By the shaking of her head, it was evident he hadn’t fooled her one bit. “A dog. I know it wouldn’t be the same, but you would be surprised what great company they are. You won’t be so lonely.”
Lonely? Me? That’s funny. He was far from lonely. Any time of day or night he could pick up the phone and call the endless list of women waiting to be with him. I am not lonely. “I don’t think a dog would fit into my lifestyle right now.” Very tactful, Drew.
“A little late since you said she could come along.”
“I wouldn’t have said she could come if I didn’t want her here.” I already figured you were a package deal. This is so not me. Why am I being so accommodating? She needs a different man, not me.
Puzzled she said, “I thought the lifestyle you were talking about was your home. That dogs might not be welcome.”
It was the first time he actually thought about his penthouse. It was not child—or dog—proof. One nice thing about a bachelor pad was you can fill it with whatever you want and don’t have to worry about someone else knocking it to the floor. Lately, he had been collecting ancient Chinese artifacts excavated from the Three Gorges Dam, which were thousands of years old and deemed priceless. It’s questionable if he actually should be in possession of these items, but that had never stopped him. In the past, he had never had anyone except his closest friends over, and they were not about to broadcast it to anyone. Can’t put them up in a hotel now without sounding like a total jerk. He loved to take a risk, but leaving that collection out with Blossom running around was a loss he wasn’t willing to take. Not much time, but he could manipulate time.
“It has been a long flight. Why don’t we take her for a walk around Central Park?” Drew asked while texting his maid what items to pack away pronto. Better safe than sorry.
“That sounds wonderful. I have always wanted to see it. Believe it or not, this is my first trip to New York.” Katherine smiled. “I think that is a perfect way to start this adventure.”
His last-minute change in plans seemed to kill two birds with one stone. Just the way I like it.
She was exhausted. When Drew suggested a walk in the park, she’d thought maybe five or ten minutes. More than an hour later they arrived back at the limo. KJ could picture herself on a morning sunrise run there. She loved to walk and run, but right now her feet were killing her and all she wanted was to soak them in a hot bubble bath for hours. Next time wear flats. She had tried to drop subtle hints, but Drew never picked up on them. Guess he’s not that observant.
The doors finally opened to his penthouse, and rude or not, the first thing she did was kick off her heels and let out a sigh of relief.
Drew appeared to be searching the room for something before turning back to her. “Why don’t you make yourself at home in here while I get us something cold to drink? What would you like?”
“A bowl and a glass of water,” KJ said. He arched a brow, and she continued with a smile, “The bowl for Blossom, the glass for me.”
The sound of the bowl on the tile in the other room brought Blossom to attention. “Okay, girl.” She bolted from KJ’s side and headed for the kitchen. Now left alone in the living room, there was only one thing she wanted to do. Walking over to the white leather couch, she collapsed into it. Closing her eyes, she regrouped. The last few days had been emotionally strapping. Please let coming here be a wise decision.
“Comfortable?”
KJ was startled by the sound of his voice behind her. Normally she was more alert to her surrounding, yet she hadn’t heard him return. When did I get so jumpy? It wasn’t fear she felt, but when he was close by her senses were heightened. “I think I have jet lag.”
Rubbing her shoulders while standing behind the couch, he said, “Why don’t I show you to the bedroom and you can rest for a while. I have some work I need to get done anyway.”
A short nap sounded heavenly right now. “I would appreciate that.”
He led her to what was obviously the master bedroom. Her luggage had already arrived and was waiting for her. KJ was tempted to ask if there was a guest room, but she wasn’t a child. She knew the score when she’d accepted his offer. No man invites you to stay with him for a few weeks in the spare room. I would be disappointed if he had. If Drew hadn’t just told her he had work to do, she would have invited him to join her on the bed. Unfortunately, it looked like she was on her own.
“I’ll be in the living room with Blossom if you need anything.” Kissing her on the forehead, he added, “Now sleep. We have the entire night ahead of us.”
Hmm, that sounds promising. She watched Blossom follow Drew out of the bedroom before he closed the door. Since when did she start listening to anyone but me? KJ knew her dog was a great judge of character. With her accepting Drew, KJ relaxed even more. Pulling back the comforter she lay on the bed. Oh God, this is soft. What had she expected, a mattress from the bargain basement? Even the sheets were satiny smooth. She wasn’t sure if it was how tired she was, or the bed itself, but within minutes her eyelids closed and she was fast asleep.
Chapter Eight
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KJ found sleeping a challenge since returning to the States. Either she couldn’t go to sleep or she would wake every hour in a cold sweat not knowing why. She didn’t know how long she had slept, but when she woke she felt rested and refreshed, two things that had become almost unfamiliar to her. Overseas, she had learned to sleep through the sound of gunfire and shelling. Once home, the lack of noise left her with only one thing: her own thoughts. KJ told herself it was only a matter of time before she would be back to normal. Normal can change with the effects of time and events. Two years. Two years without my sister, my best friend. How can she be gone?
Until meeting Drew, she had begun to think the empty shell of a person she was would be there to stay. Somehow he’d been able to break through her barrier, and when she was with him she was someone totally different, someone able to laugh and smile without it being forced. Guess being with Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky rubs off on a person. If only it were so easy. If only it would last. Her time here was short, two brief weeks then back to Napa, back to the way things were before. A chill ran through her; she never wanted to be back in that emotional place agai
n. No, she was here now and was going to make the most of it. When or if she returned, she wasn’t going to be the same person. Not if I can help it. Time to move forward, KJ.
The curtains in his bedroom were still open and the bright lights from the city below lit the room as though it were daylight. She could hear horns honking on the street far below. Why had she thought this place quiet? Was I that tired or had I been that comfortable? Either way, she wasn’t being a very nice guest, taking up his bed and leaving him to watch her dog. Rolling over onto her side, she breathed in the sweet musky scent of him that still lingered on the cool pillowcase next to her. Heavenly. Closing her eyes again, she could almost feel him curled up behind her, his warm breath against her ear. Her thoughts brushed away any exhaustion and were quickly replaced with a growing desire to be held by him again.
She was tempted to stay in bed, wait for him to come looking for her, and get what she longed for. Hot, wild sex. She felt a twitch of yearning between her legs. There was no denying it: she missed and needed his touch. It had been less than twenty-four hours, yet her body was already yearning for more. She never let physical needs control her actions, yet here she was on the East Coast in Drew’s bed. The last few days proved one thing—she couldn’t resist him. Not that I have tried. Throwing the comforter to one side, she reluctantly pulled herself away and off the bed.
For the first time, she looked around the room. It was very masculine, filled with a large bed, a television, and a lounge chair. No clutter of any kind. The man knows how to keep a room; I like that. Then she remembered who she was dealing with. Probably a maid.
Standing there wasn’t going to do any good, so she opened the door and headed to the living room. Fully expecting to see Drew, she was surprised to find it vacant. Where could those two be? Drew hadn’t provided a tour of his home, and she wasn’t one to snoop. Sitting and waiting for his return appeared to be her only option. Earlier she hadn’t taken the time to take in her surroundings, this time was different. Large, masculine furniture filled the room, but it was more what was missing that caught her eye. Not a picture of a friend or family anywhere. Not on a wall or a table. There didn’t appear to be anything personal at all. It looked more like a showroom than a living room. If she had to describe it, she’d say it was cold.
Interestingly, that hadn’t been a word she would have ever associated with Drew. He may be many things—funny, relaxed, and sexy as hell—but cold? Never. Maybe he’d just moved in and hadn’t unpacked? Shaking her head in disbelief, she leaned back on the couch, making herself comfortable, ready to wait until they decided to return. It didn’t take long before she began to fidget. She was used to being on the move all the time; sitting in absolute quiet wasn’t her cup of tea. Scanning the room again, she hoped to find a book but would settle for a magazine. My barracks had more clutter.
As KJ tried to nestle in the welcoming couch again, she remembered leaving her cell phone on the coffee table when they first arrived. Thank God, because I stink at sitting still. Eagerly, she hopped off the couch and walked over to where she remembered leaving it. How had I missed seeing it before? She started to scroll for Drew’s number when she heard a familiar sound coming from the far side of the room. Looking around she saw nothing. I may be distracted enough to miss my phone, but not Blossom. Listening intently, she was disappointed as all she could hear was car horns from the street below. A clock on the mantle chimed. Two a.m.? Where could they be?
With her phone in hand, she headed back to the couch when she heard it again, louder, more defined. This time it was an unmistakably deep, playful bark. Looking around again, she noticed a door slightly ajar that appeared to lead outside. KJ wasn’t one who ever considered herself easily scared, however the ride up to the sixtieth floor in a glass elevator had made her legs tremble, though she’d covered it well by playing off her shoes were killing her. Not a total lie. The thought of now being outside of the penthouse that high up wasn’t something she was sure she was ready for. I think I watched too many action movies where someone falls or is pushed to their death. With a soft, nervous laugh she wondered if it was too much to ask that they stay inside the entire time. Probably. Hearing Blossom’s playful bark again, KJ closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and summoned all her courage. Please let it be enclosed. Opening her eyes again, she headed to the open door.
The rooftop looked entirely different from what she had envisioned and absolutely opposite of what the inside of the penthouse had looked like. An elaborate lush garden surrounded a softly lit stone waterfall. She would have been tempted to sit on one of the many chairs and enjoy the serenity of the moment, but once again Blossom’s bark called to her. Following the wooden plank pathway, she found her way to an open area. There was a sight worth waking for. Drew, standing with his back to her, wearing only swimming trunks. She was about to call out to him when she watched him throw a football in the opposite direction. Off to the side, she saw Blossom take a running leap into the air and catch the football before plunging into the pool.
Walking over to stand behind Drew, she said, “I was worried that I’d left you two to fend for yourselves, and you might be bored.” KJ laughed as Blossom exited the pool and came right over to sit in front of Drew, dropping the ball at his feet. “Guess I called that one wrong.”
Drew ignored Blossom, turned to KJ, and wrapped an arm around her waist. “You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t want to wake you.”
That she had been. If only I could always sleep like that. “Thanks. Guess I had a touch of jet lag.” Picking up the football, she tossed it for Blossom. Never being good at sports, the football didn’t have the pretty spiral effect and land in the pool like it did for Drew. Instead it went far to the left, bounced off a potted plant, causing it to come crashing to the ground before it found its final resting place, a bed of assorted flowers near the wall.
Deep laughter filled the air. “Good throw.”
Way to go. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe it did that.” Stepping away from him, she tried to head to clean the mess she had just made.
Drew reached and took hold of her hand, pulling her back to him. “Leave it. I’ll take care of it in the morning.”
KJ wasn’t used to anyone taking care of her, not for big or small things. She and her sister had been on their own for most of their adult lives. Usually, it had been the way they’d liked it, each choosing their own path—she, the Marines, and her sister, an exotic dancer. “You have a high-risk profession, and someone could grab you off the street getting out of those clubs so late at night,” KJ had told her. Never had she worried about her sister falling ill and losing the battle to cancer. Life can be so damn unfair. All those years of nagging her about what she should do instead of just loving her for who she was and enjoying what time they had. Hindsight. I hate being so alone all the time.
Unconsciously her brow furrowed, and unspoken pain filled her eyes as she fought hard against the tears, refusing to let them fall. He didn’t bring me here for this.
His expression softened. “Are you okay? You’re very quiet.”
Faking smiles and pretending to be happy was something she had become very good at. Even in the Marines she had mastered the skill of presenting what others wanted to see. Control. Strength. Detachment. Drew wasn’t as easily fooled as others had been. It was like he could look into her eyes and see right into her soul. It was unnerving to say the least. If she turned and met his gaze, she knew the truth would be revealed. Keeping her back to him, she answered, “Just admiring your beautiful garden and hoping I didn’t kill any of the flowers.”
“Glad you like them.” Still she didn’t turn. “Katherine, there’s no harm done.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly. Raising his mouth from hers with an irresistibly devastating grin, he winked suggestively at her. “Since you are rested,” he nodded in the direction of what appeared to be a Jacuzzi hot tub in the midst of trees, “care to join me?”
Would I ever. It was the
perfect distraction she needed right now. She didn’t know what life was going to be like when she got back to Napa, but for now . . . “I don’t have my suit on.”
His lips curled, looking over her seductively. “Even better.”
With his hand still on her waist, he led her away from the pool to the waiting hot tub. Standing amongst the trees that provided privacy from onlookers from the towering skyscrapers above, KJ watched Drew as he removed all his clothes in a deliberately slow and sensual manner. Each movement was meant to excite her, and it did. He was magnificent, pure male perfection—broad shoulders, muscular biceps, chest, and abs. Her eyes raked boldly over him only to stop when she saw his manhood coming to attention. KJ had to fight the overwhelming need to reach out, touch and taste him. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips.
Pulling her gaze away, she raised her eyes to meet his. Only then did she notice he was watching her intently. Her body ached for his touch. KJ reached for the bottom of her T-shirt and lifted it over her head, tossing it into the pile of his clothes on the floor. Unsnapping her shorts, slowly she unzipped them and wiggled her hips so they slid off.
The Billionaire's Jackpot: Betting on You Series: Book Four Page 6