Kane and Mabel

by Sharon DeVita

  “What do you mean, the top or the bottom? I want them both. Put that stuff down!” she demanded, moving across the room and yanking things out of his pocket. Ignoring her, Luke leisurely moved around the kitchen, confiscating more items.

  “What are you doing? Stop that!” Kati cried, grabbing his arm. She could feel every inch of his muscled forearm, and despite her anger, a tingle licked up her skin. She snatched her hand free, absently wiping her palm on her apron.

  “I’m leaving, just like you told me to, but you certainly can’t expect me to leave without getting something for my investment?” One brow rose as his amusement increased. “Since I do own half this diner, plus two months’ mortgage payments, it’s only fair that half of the diner goes with me. I’m sure you’d agree. After all, you seem like a reasonable person, even if you are a bit cranky.”

  “Cranky!” Kati glowered at him. How dare he! “I am not cranky,” she defended hotly, knowing all the while she was but unable to help herself.

  His dark brows grew together in concentrated thought. “Most of this stuff will be easy to move, but I don’t know how I’m going to get half the stove out. Have you got any suggestions?” Smiling, Luke continued tucking things under his arms as he waited for her response.

  “You can’t—you can’t—” Her eyes widened as he turned to look at her. “You can’t possibly be serious!” Kati sputtered.

  “Can’t I?” His blue eyes danced as they fastened on hers. Kati held her breath as silence hung heavy in the air. Lord, what had Patrick done to her? He’d bartered his half of the diner to a madman!

  “The way I see it, Kati,” Luke continued, “I can either go, or I can stay. The choice is yours. But if I go, half the diner goes with me.”

  “That’s blackmail!” she hissed fiercely, allowing her anger to boil over.

  “One might look at it that way,” Luke mused, his smile growing brighter. “But I prefer to think of it as protecting my investment.”

  Kati stared at him in annoyance, thoroughly confused. “Why? Why on Earth would you, a man who admittedly knows nothing about a diner, insist on staying, especially when you know you’re not wanted! I don’t understand.” Kati shook her head and Luke sighed. Somehow, he had the feeling that this wasn’t the time to tell her that his money wasn’t the only thing that suddenly was of interest to him.

  “You don’t have to understand, Kati,” Luke said simply. “It won’t be the first time I’ve not been wanted, but be that as it may, the choice is yours. I’m willing to stay and help out in any way I can. You just tell me what to do. If you want me to leave, I’ll leave, but—” He waved his arm around the kitchen. Words weren’t needed. Kati knew full well his intention. Her anger flamed in the face of reality, and a dash of sanity took over.

  Kati paced the length of the room, trying to clear her cluttered thoughts. If this man did legally own half of her diner, well then, she hated to admit it, but maybe he did have a legal claim to half of everything in it. And right now, she couldn’t afford to take the chance that he would up and walk off with her equipment. How on Earth could she operate? She certainly didn’t have the funds to start replacing things, not with the current state of her finances. No, that was simply not a viable option.

  If keeping her diner, and keeping it intact meant letting Lucas Kane stay, well then, she’d just have to swallow her pride and let the blasted man stay! But if he thought for one moment she was going to help him or teach him anything, he had another guess coming This was her diner, and while it may not have been much in other people’s eyes, it was all she had. And she hadn’t worked her fingers to the bone trying to keep it afloat so she could turn it over to the first man who walked through the door. It was hers, she thought fiercely. And hers alone. She didn’t want to share it, she realized darkly. She wanted, deserved to own it all herself. But for now, she had no choice but to go along with him. At least until she could figure out something else to do.

  “Mr. Kane, considering I have no choice in the matter,” she stopped, spitting the words out like bullets, “you may stay.” At Luke’s relieved smile, she rushed on. “However, don’t think for a moment that this is a permanent arrangement. I fully intend to have my attorneys check out that document.” Kati failed to add that the only attorney in town was Wilfred Barnwood. Wilfred was nearing sixty, semiretired and slightly hard of hearing. Of late, the only activity Wilfred engaged in was playing gin rummy in the park every afternoon. He was a wonderful caring man, but Kati wasn’t certain he could deal with this kind of complicated legal matter. She, however, wasn’t about to tell Lucas Kane that.

  “By all means, please have anyone you like check it out.” Luke set down his cache of equipment and pulled the wrinkled paper out of his back pocket. “I’m sure your attorneys will confirm this is a duly executed agreement.” He grinned at her. “And please, call me Luke.”

  Kati snatched the paper out of his hand. Her fingers brushed his, and she tried to ignore the jolt of warmth that engulfed her.

  “Kati?”

  “What!” Kati refused to look at him, not liking the intensity of his blue eyes as they locked on hers. She pretended to be engrossed in the legal document, which she couldn’t make heads or tails of.

  “Something’s burning,” he said softly, pointing to the temperamental oven.

  “Oh, no!” Kati whirled and yanked the oven door open. Smoke billowed through the kitchen as she pulled the second batch of burnt custard free. “If you want to be useful, Mr. Kane, then I suggest you start by fixing this oven. Since the diner is half yours, then half the problems are also yours. It’s only fair,” she couldn’t resist adding a bit smugly.

  Kati dumped the second batch of custard into the garbage, cursing her brother, egg custard and Lucas Kane all in one breath.

  “Fix the oven?” came the tentative reply, and Kati bit back a smile. Being part owner of a diner might not be exactly what Lucas Kane envisioned. It just might be easier to get rid of the man than she thought.

  “Yes, the oven. You know, this white piece of equipment that we bake in.”

  Luke frowned and bent down to glance cautiously at the smoking appliance. He was so close his husky male scent infiltrated her breathing space. Lord, he smelled sweeter than her maple syrup.

  “What’s, uh—what’s wrong with it?” Luke asked, his eyes searching hers.

  Kati dragged a hand through her hair, fearing she couldn’t stop the smile that was threatening to break loose. If he could only see the look on his face. “If I knew what was wrong with it, I would have fixed it myself.”

  Luke shifted uneasily. If she had asked him to tear down a wall, that he could do. But fix an oven? “But, uh, Kati, if we don’t know what’s wrong with it, how can we fix it?”

  Kati smiled for the first time. “Not we. You. You’re going to fix it. I don’t care how. But I want this oven fixed.” She paused deliberately for effect. “Tomorrow would be fine, Mr. Kane.” She refused to use his first name. Keeping things on a more formal basis would make it easier for her to deal with him, easier to keep him at arm’s length. There was something about the man that disturbed her, and it didn’t have anything to do with his ownership papers, but more to do with the man himself.

  “Tomorrow?” Luke echoed dully, scratching the back of his neck and hesitantly peering down at the oven again. For a fraction of an instant, Kati felt a twinge of remorse. It really wasn’t fair to expect him to fix the oven. Admittedly he didn’t know anything about running a diner.

  On the other hand, she reminded herself, he did insist on full partnership rights, and with those rights came responsibilities as well. How he handled himself and the situation just might let her see what the man was made of. Remorse quickly vanished, replaced by a need to see if Lucas Kane was ready to back up his mouth with action. No doubt he would be gone quicker than her blueberry muffins on a Saturday morning when he realized he would actually have to work.

  “Yes, Mr. Kane, tomorrow. Do whatever you ha
ve to, but tomorrow is Friday, and for six years Fridays have been perch and baked macaroni day. I certainly can’t bake macaroni or much else if the oven isn’t fixed, now can I?” She couldn’t help the grin that spread across her lips as Luke let loose a low whistle.

  One brow rose pleadingly. “Tomorrow?”

  Kati nodded her head. “And since it’s almost four,” she said, tapping her watch for effect, “I suggest you get cracking.”

  Luke simply stood there for a moment, scratching his head and glancing from her to the oven. The air crackled with electricity, but Kati refused to back down. If things worked out as she expected, by this time tomorrow Lucas Kane would only be a bad blemish on her memory.

  “Do you have a tape measure?” Luke asked suddenly, his face brightening.

  Taken aback by his strange request, Kati frowned at him. A tape measure? He was going to fix her oven with a tape measure? This man apparently didn’t have both his oars in the water. But what did she expect from one of Patrick’s friends?

  When she didn’t answer him, Luke turned, yanked open a drawer and began to rifle through it. Sighing in exasperation, Kati reached out and slammed the drawer shut, nearly catching his fingers.

  “Mr. Kane.” Exasperated, she drew the words out slowly. “I know you don’t know anything about running a diner, or repairing an oven, but I can tell you from first-hand experience, a tape measure is hardly the tool you’ll need.”

  Luke leaned his hip against the counter and looked at her carefully. “You said you didn’t care how I fixed the oven, so let me do it my way. Just this once, all right?” His engaging smile only made her more wary.

  Resentment tightened her body and Kati boldly met his gaze, swallowing nervously as a wild tingle warmed her body. Instinctively she took a step back, wanting nothing more than to put some distance between her and Lucas Kane. She never thought of the kitchen as particularly small, but with this man in it, it seemed miniature.

  “Just this once?” he prodded softly, reaching out to brush a wayward strand of hair from her face. His touch caused her nerves to squawk in silent alarm.

  “All right!” She fumed taking another step back. “Do it your way. Just remember what I said,” she threatened, ignoring the amusement dancing in his eyes. “I want the oven fixed by tomorrow.”

  “Aye, aye, chief.” Luke gave Kati a mock salute as she turned on her heel and stormed through the swinging door. Scratching his chin absently, Luke stared long and hard after her. She was beautiful, but Lord, that disposition of hers!

  A thought suddenly occurred to him and he threw back his head and laughed. No wonder she was being so churlish. How would he feel if some stranger suddenly showed up and announced he was part owner of Kane Construction? A reluctant smile tugged at his mouth. No one would have the nerve. Well, he mused, on second thought, maybe Kati Rose Ryan would. Somehow, he had to convince her that he wasn’t going to harm her or her diner. He might even be able to help. And from the looks of this place, she could use some help.

  “You’re not going to get very much done, standing there grinning and daydreaming,” Kati scolded as she walked back into the kitchen carrying a tray full of salads.

  “Here, let me help you.” Luke reached out and tried to take the tray from her hands.

  “I don’t need your help,” she hissed, holding on to the plastic tray for dear life and resenting his presence. Help her, indeed! “I’m quite capable of handling things on my own,” she said pointedly, giving the tray a good tug to release his hold. The force of her jerky movement caused the salad bowls to slide precariously to one side. Luke reached out, and his big hands quickly grabbed the tray, steadying it.

  Kati lifted her embarrassed eyes to his and felt a hot flush creep slowly up her face. Maybe he was only trying to be polite, but if he weren’t underfoot and in her way, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place. Swallowing hard, she averted her gaze. When he looked at her with those eyes, she felt so—so—twitchy.

  “Thank you,” she said finally, because it was the only polite thing to do. “I—I—I—do you think you could get out of my kitchen now?” If she ever hoped to get any work done this afternoon, she had to get him out of her way, and out of her vision. He was definitely a distraction. She needed some time alone, some time to think. And she couldn’t very well do it with him watching her every move.

  “I’ll be out front if you need me.” Luke crossed the kitchen, letting the door swing shut softly behind him.

  “Need you!” Kati snorted in disgust at Luke’s retreating back as she slammed the tray of salads down. What would she need him for?

  How could Patrick do this to her? Kati wondered dismally as her eyes pooled with tears again. Her brother had destroyed her nice, safe world in one foolish, foolish move. Why on Earth would he put up the diner as collateral on a loan? And why on Earth would Lucas Kane give him one? Kane might be handsome, but he obviously wasn’t too bright. Giving Patrick money was like giving a thief the keys to the vault. Lifting her apron, Kati dashed at her damp face.

  She had no doubt Lucas Kane was telling her the truth. But now, the problem was how to get rid of him. The last thing in the world she needed was another partner. Patrick, her own flesh and blood, was bad enough, but a stranger who knew nothing about the business—well, that was asking too much even of her!

  This diner was hers, and hers alone! she thought fiercely. She was the one who worked it six days a week, making sure everything ran smoothly. And she wasn’t about to let some stranger, no matter how attractive, come in and start interfering! She had to find a way to get rid of him!

  “Kati? You all right?” Bessie peeked around the door, her brows furrowed in concern. Bessie was Kati’s self-appointed guardian and stuck her nose everywhere, whether it belonged or not. But Kati loved the woman dearly.

  Kati forced a smile. No sense worrying Bessie. “I’m fine. Just trying to figure out what I’m going to do.”

  “Do? What’s to do? Seems to me you’d welcome some help around here. That Kane fellow can’t be any worse than Patrick. Your brother never did do anything around here but cost you money.”

  “Bessie!” Kati was shocked, never expecting Bessie to take Lucas Kane’s side. “What on Earth am I going to do with another partner? One who doesn’t know the first thing about the business, yet?”

  “As it stands right now, Kane’s already pulled his weight by paying the back mortgage. At least we don’t have to worry about being evicted. Seems to me that’s something to be grateful for.” Bessie sniffed. “Just saw him out front, says he’s going to see about fixing the oven. Maybe his coming is a blessing in disguise.”

  A shudder of rage raced through Kati. “A blessing? The man thinks he’s going to fix my oven with a tape measure, and Bessie, have you forgotten my brother’s other friends? The first one stole four hundred dollars from—”

  Bessie raised her hand in the air. “Honey, this Kane fellow seems different somehow. Sure is a handsome one, and Kati, he genuinely seems to want to help. Why don’t you give him a chance?”

  “Handsome!” Kati snorted in disgust, refusing to admit that she indeed found Lucas Kane handsome. And attractive. “What has that got to do with anything? As to giving him a chance—for what? So he can steal from me, or take my diner away?” Kati shook her head furiously, fighting back tears again. “Not a chance, Bessie. He may be part owner of this diner, but not because I want or need him. He’s the last thing I need right now. The sooner I can get rid of him, the better.”

  “Ladies?” Mr. Tibbits’s voice floated through the screen door and all thoughts of Lucas Kane and the problems she was facing fled for the moment as Kati turned to face the portly man. When it rained, it poured, she thought, swallowing back a curse and forcing her lips into a polite, if tight smile. The Kaline County health inspector gave her the willies. He was always patting her, or brushing against her, or looking at her in a way she found strangely offensive. She always had the feeling he was more inter
ested in inspecting her, rather than the diner.

  He hadn’t actually done anything, at least not anything that Kati could complain to his supervisors about, but just his mere presence was enough to set her nerves on edge. As if they weren’t on edge enough today.

  “How nice to see you both,” he purred softly, “particularly you, Kati Rose. May I come in?” Kati and Bessie exchanged glances. As much as she wanted to, Kati couldn’t very well tell him he couldn’t come in. As the owner of a restaurant, she was subject to unannounced inspections from the county health department whenever they so desired. It just seemed like ever since Tibbits took over this territory, she’d had an inordinate number of inspections.

  He opened the door and attempted to enter, but Kati put her arm out, blocking his path. “I’m sorry, Mr. Tibbits,” she said firmly. “You know I don’t allow smoking in my kitchen.” It had been a running battle between them. The smell from his cigar lingered in the air for hours, permeating her food, and no matter how she tried she couldn’t get rid of the stench. She always suffered from a pounding headache after one of his visits, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the cigar or the man himself.

  Mr. Tibbits’s beady eyes narrowed as he clamped his lips firmly around the slimy stub of his cigar. His eyes wandered a leisurely path over her. Kati grew increasingly uncomfortable when she realized where his eyes were staring. She deliberately crossed her arms over her chest.

  Taking one final puff, he tossed the cigar to the ground, stepped on it and sauntered into the kitchen.

  “Want me to stay?” Bessie asked, frowning at the man as he slowly walked around the room.

  “No, that won’t be necessary,” Mr. Tibbits answered before Kati could open her mouth. “I just have a few things to discuss with Kati.” His mouth curved upward again. “Privately.”

  Not liking either his tone or his words, Kati straightened her spine. “Mr. Tibbits,” she said, trying to keep a firm grip on her growing temper. “I believe my employee was speaking to me. Unless you have some health objection, I would prefer to give my staff directives.”