Dedication
This book is dedicated with love to Margaret Higgins Pelligrino—wife, mother, attorney, friend and…the most courageous lady I know. We’ve come a long way from that sunny day on the Summer Wind when writing was just a dream.
This one’s for you, Peg.
Chapter One
“Lordy, Kati Rose, you’d better come quick! All hell’s broke loose!” Bessie’s voice edged up in panic as she skidded through the swinging doors that led into the kitchen.
“Now what?” Kati asked, looking up from the custard she was mixing.
“Mr. Billings and Vera are at it again! She’s hollering her lungs loose because he brought that old hound dog in with him. She’s threatening to call the health inspector!”
“Again!” Kati sighed in exasperation. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her to quit her jawing before her false teeth fell out.”
“That was very diplomatic of you, Bessie,” Kati said, ducking her head to hide a smile.
“Don’t know what she’s yapping about. Poor Beauregard’s too old to bother anybody. Besides,” Bessie huffed, “he’s got a better disposition than Vera will ever have.”
“And I suppose,” Kati inquired, arching one auburn brow, “that you found it necessary to point that out to her?”
“Sure did,” Bessie proclaimed proudly. “It’s the truth, ain’t it? Oh, and I almost forgot, there’s a handsome cuss out front, says he’s a friend of your brother’s. He’s asking a whole lot of questions ’bout the diner. Not that you can hear him too well with all the commotion going on.”
“A friend of Patrick’s?” Kati asked in alarm. “What did you tell him?”
“I didn’t tell him anything!” Bessie announced, clearly insulted that Kati would even think such a thing.
Sighing, Kati shook her head in exasperation. “Bessie, I don’t have time for this nonsense today. The meeting at the bank took longer than I expected, and I never had a chance to talk to anyone about that extension on my loan. I’ll take care of Vera and Mr. Billings. As for the stranger, I’ve had my fill of Patrick’s freeloading friends. The last one that was here helped himself to almost four hundred dollars. My four hundred dollars. And the one before him thought I was running a free boarding house. It almost took an act of Congress to get rid of him. Patrick may own half this diner, but I’m the one running it and worrying about it.” Sighing, Kati set the pan of custard into a bowl of warm water and slid it into the oven. “This blasted oven,” she complained, popping the temperamental door closed with her knee. “Now.” She turned her attention to Bessie, absently wiping her hands on her apron. “I don’t have time to put up with any more of Patrick’s freeloading friends. You’ll just have to get rid of him.”
“No, sir,” Bessie said firmly, shaking her gray head. “Not me. I’ve seen his kind before. I’d rather tangle with Vera.”
Kati looked at her in surprise. “What’s so special about this one?”
Bessie shifted her ample frame uncomfortably. “Well, for one thing, his voice sounds like it rumbled over from the next county, and for another…well, you’d better just come have a look.”
Muttering under her breath at this latest complication, Kati marched across the spotless kitchen to peer through the window of the swinging door.
Chaos would hardly describe the scene. Vera, dressed impeccably as always in a suit, hat and gloves, was engaged in a heated debate with Mr. Billings, who was cradling the poor hound dog in his arms, out of harm’s way and Vera’s reach. Kati scanned the diner. It was then that she saw him. Even sitting down, he was too darn big to miss.
Her enormous emerald eyes widened and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. “Damnation!”
“I told you so, Kati,” Bessie said smugly, trying to peek over Kati’s shoulder.
Lord, he was big. And broad, and deeply bronzed, with a shock of black hair that tumbled recklessly around an exceptionally handsome face. A blue work-shirt stretched tautly across shoulders that looked a mile wide. Faded denim-covered legs that seemed to go on forever. Kati inched upward, stretching her spine so she could see the rest of him. Lord, she thought, her eyes widening, his booted feet looked like snowshoes! She suddenly understood Bessie’s reluctance to tangle with the man. Self-preservation was high on her list, also.
He was undoubtedly the most attractive man Kati had ever seen, but that didn’t stop her temper from flaring. She didn’t need another freeloader looking for cash or a place to crash. Handsome or not, she fully intended to get rid of him. Pronto.
“Think he’s looking to borrow money?” Bessie whispered.
Kati shook her head. “I’m not sure, and even if he is, he’s out of luck. He’ll just have to step to the back of the line. If I don’t get an extension on that loan…” Kati chewed her bottom lip. “I’m almost two months behind on the mortgage payment now, thanks to Patrick’s sticky-fingered friend!”
“What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to find out what he wants,” Kati announced, yanking off her apron and dropping it to a heap on the gleaming counter. “But first we have to separate Mr. Billings and Vera.” Dragging a hand through her auburn hair, Kati pushed through the swinging door with Bessie right on her heels.
“Mr. Billings,” Kati called, ignoring the stranger for a moment. “Your egg custard will be ready in about an hour. Why don’t you take Beauregard to the park? If you bring him around back, I’ll have Bessie give him a nice bone.”
Mr. Billings tried to squeeze out of the booth past Vera who refused to budge. Hands on hips, Vera stood firmly planted in front of him.
“Kati Rose!” Vera’s high-pitched whine scratched at Kati’s nerve endings. “How do you expect decent folks to enjoy their meal when you allow that over-grown rodent free rein in your establishment? Never seen such conduct in all my born days.” Vera sighed dramatically. “Why, when I was in the theater in New York—a civilized city, mind you—this type of behavior would never be allowed.”
“Theater!” Mr. Billings gave a loud snort and glared at Vera over the top of his spectacles. “The closest you ever came to the theater, Vera Wilson, was selling popcorn at the movies on Saturday afternoon. And who are you calling a rodent?” he yelled, pushing his nose into Vera’s startled face.
“How dare you!” Vera cried, fluttering her hand to her forehead. “How dare you speak to me like that. You—you—opprobrious heathen!”
“What’d she call me?” he asked Kati out of the side of his mouth.
“Now, now,” Kati soothed, trying to hang on to her patience. “I’m sure we can settle this. There’s no sense saying things we’ll be sorry for later.” Out of the corner of her eye, Kati saw the stranger slide off his stool and head in her direction. Instantly annoyed, she turned pleading eyes toward Bessie. She could only handle one problem at a time.
“You gotta wait your turn,” Bessie told the man, giving him a good poke in the arm in case he hadn’t heard her. She hustled him to a booth and poured him a cup of coffee.
Kati dragged her eyes from him, sanity overruling her curiosity. Vera and Mr. Billings were playing tug-of-war with the poor dog.
“That’s enough,” Kati yelled, causing the two of them to stop and gape at her.
“There’s certainly no reason to raise your voice, Kati Rose,” Vera scolded, fluffing her hair indignantly. “Letting animals in here, and now raising your voice. I don’t know what’s come over you lately. Ever since that brother of yours ran off leaving you to work the diner, you’ve been mighty testy.”
“I agree with you, Vera.” Mr. Billings nodded his head and turned his gaze toward Kati. “You know you have been mighty cranky lately.”
Mr. Billings patted Vera’s a
rm. “Bo and I are going for a walk. Would you care to join us?” He nodded his head toward Kati and lowered his voice. “We’ll come back when she’s not feeling quite so peaked.”
“Why, Mr. Billings,” Vera preened, “how kind of you to ask. I do believe I’d like that. Did you know in Europe, animals are allowed everywhere?” Vera giggled girlishly and Kati rolled her eyes. These two fought like cats and dogs almost every day, yet let someone come between them and they’d stick together like flies to glue.
After taking Mr. Billings’s arm, Vera turned to Kati, her eyes soft and full of sympathy. “Perhaps you should consider meditating, dear. It will free your body of all hostilities. It’s not good for you to keep everything boiling up inside.” Vera’s eyes grew dreamy and she sighed in remembrance. “It’s a trick I learned from one of my acting teachers while I was in New York. I studied with the best, you know.” She patted Kati’s cheek. “Try it, dear, you’ll see. It will cleanse your spirit and soothe your karma.” With an airy wave, Vera and Mr. Billings sailed out the door, leaving Kati shaking her head.
“What’s wrong?” Bessie asked from behind, causing Kati to jump.
“My hostilities are boiling in my karma,” she muttered under her breath.
“Makes sense to me.” Bessie nodded toward the stranger. “One problem down. One to go.”
Kati’s emerald eyes widened and she looked at him suspiciously. He was lounging in the booth as if he belonged here!
She was going to make short work of him today, she thought darkly.
“Go check the custard,” Kati instructed Bessie, moving toward the man. “I’ll get rid of him.” Pushing back a tumble of auburn curls, Kati approached him warily, stopping a good distance from the booth.
“Can I help you?”
He lifted his head and Kati found herself staring into the most glorious blue eyes she had ever seen. He was more attractive up close than she’d anticipated. Her mouth grew dry as his gaze slowly swept over her, from the top of her unruly auburn curls, across the white blouse and past the faded jeans to linger on her tattered sneakers.
A smile twitched at his mouth. “A little more coffee would be nice.” He lifted his cup to her and Kati glared at him. Another freeloader, she knew it! If she started waiting on him and serving him free food, she’d never get rid of him.
Yanking the cup out of his hand, Kati stormed behind the counter and grabbed the pot left over from breakfast. Sloshing some cold coffee into his cup, she returned to the booth and banged the cup down in front of him. Tapping her foot impatiently and trying not to stare at him, she waited while he took a sip.
“This coffee is terrible,” he announced, and Kati reached out and snatched the cup out of his hand.
“Since you don’t want any more of my coffee, perhaps you’ll tell me what you do want?”
One black brow rose and his eyes danced merrily. “Do you treat all your customers so courteously?” he asked casually, pausing to roll up the sleeves of his shirt.
“Listen, Mr.—”
“Kane. Lucas Kane.” He held out his hand and Kati stared at it as if it were a snake ready to strike. Her eyes caught a flash of something on his arm. A tattoo, that much she knew for sure. She tried not to stare, but her curiosity got the best of her and she squinted, trying to make out the words.
“Born to Raise Kane,” he drawled slowly, and Kati’s startled gaze flew to his. Her breath caught unexpectedly and she felt annoyance streak through her.
“Mr. Kane,” she said sharply. “I have work to do, so if you don’t mind, would you please state what your business with my brother is, so that I can get on with my business?”
“Ahhh, my business. Well, Mabel…” Leaning back against the booth, he inclined his head to study her from a different angle.
“My name’s not Mabel,” she snapped, a little off balance at the way he was looking at her.
He frowned in obvious confusion. “Who’s Mabel?” he inquired, and Kati ground her teeth. Just because the diner was called Mabel’s didn’t mean there had to be a Mabel. That was the name of the diner when she purchased it. She bought the place from a man named Bruno, and he’d never seen hide nor hair of anyone named Mabel, either. Everyone in town knew who really owned the place, so there didn’t seem much point in changing the name. Besides, new signs cost money, money better spent elsewhere, not that she intended to explain all of that to him.
“Would you please state your business?” Kati demanded, her patience sorely strained.
He smiled pleasantly. “I guess you could say my business is your business.” Kati narrowed her eyes to stare at him suspiciously.
“What the devil are you talking about, Mr. Kane? I don’t have time to play guessing games with you.”
“Call me Luke.”
“I’ll call you a lot more than that if you don’t hurry up and tell me what you want!” Kati threatened, trying to ignore Bessie who was waving frantically from the kitchen.
He lifted his finger and beckoned Kati closer. Puzzled, but anxious to learn what he wanted, she leaned down so he could whisper in her ear. “You know,” he said softly, his warm breath fanning her hair, “you are mighty testy. Perhaps you should try meditating. Maybe your karma is out of whack!”
Jerking upright, Kati glared at him, not at all amused by the mischief in his eyes. “What do you want?”
“Food,” he said simply. “But after that coffee, I don’t know if I should risk it. I’m not too fond of food poisoning.”
“Food poisoning!” Kati bellowed, glaring at the man. How dare he insult her diner. “I’ll have you know the food in here is excellent. Not that you’re going to get any of it!”
“Kati Rose!” Bessie hurried in from the kitchen, rolling her eyes and jerking her head backward to let Kati know that Everett, the president of the town’s only bank, was right behind her. “Everett’s here. Says he got your message and he wants to talk to you.”
Everett cleared his throat as his eyes connected with Luke. Kati wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or not, but the dour banker seemed to pale at the sight of the handsome stranger. Handsome, large stranger, Kati amended silently.
“Afternoon, Kati Rose. I’m sorry I missed you this morning. Had important banking business that needed tending to.” Everett glanced quickly at Luke, and then back at her. “Could we sit down and talk?”
Kati smiled warmly and took Everett’s arm. Everything was riding on this meeting. Everett was a proper man who took his banking business seriously. Somehow, she had to convince him to give her an extension on her loan. Kati guided him to the next booth, away from Lucas Kane’s prying eyes—and ears.
“Could I have a ham sandwich and a fresh cup of coffee?” Luke asked Bessie. Kati whipped her head around.
“No, you cannot have a ham sandwich and a cup of coffee,” she hissed, glaring at him. Luke smiled, not at all fazed by her annoyance.
Everett slid into the booth and sighed. “What a day it’s been, Kati. A cup of your coffee might be nice.”
“Don’t you dare give that man anything,” Kati instructed Bessie, pointing to Luke.
“Excuse me?” Everett was frowning and Kati reached out and patted his hand.
“I wasn’t talking about you, Everett. Now, what were you saying?”
“Why can’t I have a sandwich?” Luke asked her from behind.
“Do you mind?” Kati whispered fiercely, turning to give him a look that should have felled him on the spot. “I’m trying to have a private conversation here. A conversation that has nothing to do with you.”
“Kati, are you listening to me?” Everett was looking at her strangely and she tried to give him her full attention. It was hard with Luke breathing down her neck.
“If I apologize for insulting your cooking,” Luke whispered hopefully, “then can I have a sandwich?”
Kati pretended not to hear him. “Go on,” she urged Everett with a smile, trying to ignore the warmth shimmying down her neck from Lucas Kane�
��s closeness. “I’m listening to you.”
“Kati, I’m not certain we can give you another extension. You’re already two months behind as it is.” Everett looked at her sadly and Kati’s nerves tightened.
“I’m sorry,” Luke said in her ear, sounding anything but. “Did you know you smelled like vanilla?” he whispered huskily, inhaling deeply. “It’s nice. I like it.”
Feeling unaccountably flustered, Kati turned to glare at him and was caught up short by his nearness. Her pulse quickened. Luke was so close she could see the mischief dancing in his eyes, see the laugh lines etched around his full mouth. What a nice mouth, she thought distractedly, then quickly rechanneled her thoughts.
“Would you please quit sniffing me?” she hissed. With that, she snapped her head around and tried to pay attention to Everett. It was difficult.
“I’m sorry, Kati Rose,” the banker said, closing his briefcase. “You do understand, don’t you?”
“Since I’ve already apologized, now can I have my sandwich?” Luke asked hopefully.
“No!” she bellowed, hitting the table with her fist. “You can apologize until hell freezes over! But it won’t—” Kati stopped abruptly and her eyes widened in alarm. “No, Everett, wait—please—I wasn’t talking to you. Honest. I was talking to him!” Kati jumped up and whirled, pointing to Luke, but it was too late.
Everett was gathering up his papers, his chin set in a defiant angle. “Kati, I have tried very hard to be patient during these trying financial times. I know it’s been hard since your brother left; but really, I think your attitude needs to be improved.” Scowling, Everett bolted from the booth and hurried toward the door with his briefcase and Kati’s papers clutched in his hands.
Remorsefully she watched him slam out of the diner. Everett was gone, along with her only chance for saving the diner.
Clenching her teeth, she turned and advanced toward Luke. “You!” she seethed. “Are you happy now?”
“I’d be happier if I had something to eat,” Luke grumbled.
“Do you know what you’ve just done?” Kati bellowed, raising her fist in his general direction, and wondering if a knuckle sandwich would satisfy his appetite. “You have single-handedly ruined my business!”
Kane and Mabel Page 1