Kane and Mabel

by Sharon DeVita

  “Sorry,” he said smartly, giving her an apologetic wave. Kati decided not to let the man get to her.

  “Bessie, it’s been pretty quiet in here all afternoon, but it’s almost the dinner rush and I’m sure we’re going to start getting busy. Why don’t you go on out front?”

  Bessie hesitated, looking from the man to Kati. “Go on,” Kati urged with a smile. “Everything will be fine.”

  Giving the man a none-too-pleasant look, Bessie turned on her heel and pushed through the door, muttering softly under her breath.

  “Now,” Kati said firmly, annoyed at yet another irritation in an already irritating day. She crossed the room to stand a good distance away from the man. “What is it that you wanted?”

  Cocking his head to one side, he smiled crookedly. The look on his face caused a flash of fear to rock her.

  “You,” he said simply.

  Chapter Three

  Kati blinked, not wanting to believe what her ears had heard. “I beg your pardon?”

  Mr. Tibbits inched closer to her. A skitter of alarm skated up Kati’s spine, but she quickly dismissed it. She was overreacting, she chided herself, backing up against the counter.

  Mr. Tibbits was a perfectly harmless, middle-aged man, with a generous middle, an unpleasantly personality, and a faint odor about him that no amount of cologne could erase. That certainly didn’t mean he was going to harm her, did it? Perhaps because of all the confusion today she had misunderstood him. She had been overreacting all day, she realized belatedly.

  “I see you haven’t gotten that oven fixed yet, Kati,” he said softly.

  “Tomorrow,” she stammered, ducking around him. “The oven will be fixed tomorrow.”

  “That’s what your waitress told me the last time I was here.” He moved up behind her until she could feel the heat of his breath on her neck.

  “It really will be fixed tomorrow,” she insisted, praying her voice wasn’t trembling nearly as badly as her insides were, while moving out of his range again. “I’ve— I’ve spoken to someone about it today and they’ve assured me that it will be fixed tomorrow.” Lucas Kane better make good on his promise, she thought darkly.

  “I could write you up for it, Kati.” He moved in behind her. He was so close his words danced off her neck. Gritting her teeth, Kati inched away from him. She would not beg, she told herself firmly. If he wanted to write her up about the oven, then let him. If he wanted to fine her, or close her down, so be it! She would not stoop to begging. Not to anyone. Not for anything.

  “Word has it that you’ve been letting animals in your diner. County takes a dim view of that, Kati.” If he was deliberately trying to egg her on, he was doing a good job of it. Her temper flared and she whirled to face him, cursing Mr. Billings, Beauregard, and Vera, who no doubt had reported her.

  “For your information, Mr. Tibbits,” she snapped haughtily, “animals are allowed in the finest establishments in Europe.”

  “Perhaps,” he said slowly, his voice cold and unfriendly. “But this ain’t Europe. Something like that, well, I might have to close you up for good. For the good of the public’s health, of course.” His thin lips parted in a smug grin.

  Of course, she thought dully, staring at him and trying to figure out what was going on. He was after something, it was as clear as the mole on his face. “What do you want?” she demanded, feigning bravery.

  “Well, I suppose I could be persuaded to overlook these offenses. Not that they’re minor, mind you. They’d sure take a lot of overlooking.”

  Resisting the urge to slap the smug look off his face, Kati finally realized what he wanted. “Mr. Tibbits,” she said coldly, looking him square in the eye. “If it’s money you’re after, you’re out of luck. I don’t have any.” There, now that he knew she wasn’t about to offer him a bribe, maybe he’d leave her alone.

  He slowly licked his lips. “There are other things besides money in this world, Kati Rose.” His eyes went over her again and a sinking feeling began to spread through her limbs. It suddenly hit her what he was after. If she were a man, she’d deck him! How dare he!

  She’d play dumb, she decided, at least until she could think of something better to do under the circumstances.

  “What other things?” she asked, frowning. “I’d be happy to send some food home with you for your family if you like.” Even to her own ears she couldn’t believe how ridiculous that sounded.

  His steady gaze made her pulse quicken in alarm. “Food’s not quite what I had in mind.”

  Her temper quickly overruled her tongue. “And just what exactly did you have in mind?” One brow rose as she dared him to answer.

  He lifted his hand, running his fingers slowly down her bare arm. “Well, let’s just say what I had in mind is a bit more personal.”

  Enough playing cat and mouse with this creep. She was going to make him say it out loud. And when he did— “How personal?” she demanded. “Could you be more specific?”

  “I think what the man had in mind was you served up on a gleaming platter.” Luke was standing in the doorway, and from the look on his face, Kati knew he had heard most, if not all of the conversation. A heated rush suffused her cheeks at being caught in such a position. “Is that about right?” Luke asked softly. A rush of fierce protectiveness rose up in him, catching him unaware. Seeing this man paw Kati, all his instincts leaped to life.

  She tried not to show the relief she felt at his sudden presence. She didn’t need him, she assured herself. She was perfectly capable of handling things on her own, without Lucas Kane sticking his crooked nose where it didn’t belong.

  Mr. Tibbits dropped his hand from Kati’s arm and looked at Luke suspiciously. “And who might you be, son?”

  Luke crossed the room, wedging himself between Kati and the inspector. Kati glared at Luke’s broad back. Arrogant, interfering man. Why didn’t he just go away and leave her to her business? She was perfectly capable of handling Tibbits, and anything else that happened to come her way. Did she look like she needed a bodyguard?

  “I’m not your son,” Luke said slowly, his voice tight. “And the name’s Kane. Lucas Kane.” His words were low, his tone deep. Tight control echoed on each and every syllable as his voice boomed around the tension-filled room. Instinctively Kati knew that if Lucas Kane ever lost his temper, it wouldn’t be a pretty sight.

  Tibbits’s lips tightened and he looked around Luke to her. “Kati Rose, perhaps you ought to tell this young man who I am.”

  “His name is Tibbits,” she announced, tugging on Luke’s arm until he tilted his head to look at her. “He’s the county health inspector,” she whispered frantically, clutching Luke’s sleeve. “And he can close me down, so would you mind staying out of this?”

  Tibbits’s eyes glinted smugly as he shoved a cigar in his mouth and lit it. Ignoring her, Luke promptly yanked the cigar loose from the man’s lips. “You’re a health inspector,” Luke scolded, dropping the cigar to the ground and stomping on it with his booted foot. “You should know smoking is bad for your health.”

  Kati groaned inwardly. Hell’s bells! Now Luke had really done it. She had no doubt Tibbits was going to write her up and close her down. Pronto. Why hadn’t Luke left well enough alone? She could have strangled him! Why must the man interfere in things that didn’t concern him?

  Tibbits’s face grew livid. “Young man,” he said menacingly, pointing his finger in Luke’s face. “You’ll be sorry for that. One word, that’s all it will take to close this place down.”

  “Jamison,” Luke said softly, looking as if he was deep in thought. “Is Ralph Jamison still head of the County Health Department?” Confused, Kati tried to peer over Luke’s shoulder to see what was going on, but Luke was just too darn tall, so she gave him a poke in the back just to remind him she was still there. The man had suddenly taken charge, and he didn’t even know what he’d taken charge of! And she deeply resented it.

  “You know Jamison?” Tibbits inquired in
a suddenly small voice. His face paled noticeably.

  Luke rocked back on his heels and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Sure do. We go way back. Tell me, Tibbits, how do you think Ralph will feel when he learns that you’re using sexual harassment on the business owners of this county? The female business owners?”

  Tibbits snatched a faded hanky from his back pocket and began to mop his brow. “I—I—uhm, I’m sure you’ve got this all wrong, Mr. Kane.” He mopped his brow faster. “I surely didn’t intend to give you the impression I was trying to—that I was—” He stopped abruptly and glanced at Kati who glowered at him.

  Lying weasel, she thought disgustedly. He wasn’t even man enough to admit what he had done.

  “Kati, do you think we’ve misjudged this man’s intention?” Luke asked, turning to flash her a quick smile. She had to admit, the man had a glorious smile.

  “I’m not really sure.” She frowned. Let Tibbits sweat for a while, she thought vengefully. Maybe he’d think twice about trying this with some other woman business owner who was at his mercy.

  “Really, Kati Rose,” Tibbits gushed, his voice pleading. “I truly am sorry if I gave you the impression I was trying to…well…you know.”

  “Yes,” she said firmly, looking him square in the eye. “I do know. Now I want you to know. If you ever try anything like that again, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

  Tibbits nodded his head furiously. Obviously he had gotten her message.

  “Nor will I,” Luke told Tibbits, clamping his large calloused hand down solidly on the other man’s shoulder. “And believe me, I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” Luke’s meaning was clear, his words hanging heavy in the silent room.

  Shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, Tibbits waited for Luke to release his shoulder. “I’m sorry about the misunderstanding, Kati Rose,” he said softly, mopping a line of perspiration off his upper lip. “Now that I know things are in order,” he paused to cast a glance at Luke, “I probably won’t have to be coming around so often.”

  “What a shame,” Kati said sarcastically, her anger and resentment at the man still intact.

  “Well, I really must be going. Make sure you get that oven fixed, now.” Tibbits stuck out his hand to Luke who blatantly ignored it. “Good day.” Tibbits hustled himself to the door, turning back now and again just to make sure Luke wasn’t following on his heels.

  Heaving a sigh of relief, Kati whirled on Luke, fire dancing in her eyes. “What the hell did you do that for?” she demanded. “I’m perfectly capable of handling things on my own. Do I look like I need a keeper?”

  “As a matter of fact, it might not be a bad idea,” Luke told her with a wicked smile. “You didn’t seem to be handling things too well when I walked in,” he reminded her, and she flushed. He was right. If he hadn’t come in just when he did, she didn’t know what she would have done; short of bopping Tibbits over the head with a pan, which was certainly no solution.

  She just wasn’t used to having other people take care of things for her. She was used to doing everything—for everybody. Why had she allowed Luke to take over the situation? She wished she knew. The fact of the matter was he had, and she was just a bit resentful. She had a feeling Lucas Kane was the kind of man who was used to being in charge, used to having his orders carried out. But this was her diner. Hers, she thought fiercely! And she wasn’t about to start taking orders from him, papers or no papers!

  Still, she thought grudgingly, he had gotten her out of a potentially ugly situation, and she probably should thank him. It really was the only polite thing to do, under the circumstances.

  “Luke,” she said, forcing herself to be polite and hating it all the while. “I want to thank you for handling Tibbits.” Deliberately she averted her gaze. Looking directly into Luke’s eyes was just too disconcerting for her shattered nervous system. At least for the moment. “I must admit I was very fortunate to have you come along just when you did, not to mention the fact that you happened to know Tibbits’s boss. What was his name?”

  “Jamison—and I don’t know the man. As a matter of fact, we’ve never met. I wouldn’t know him if he danced naked right here in this room.”

  Kati almost choked. “What? What do you mean you don’t know the man? But, I thought you told—you said—” Luke held up his hand.

  “I know what I said. I know Ralph Jamison’s name but nothing else about him except the fact that he’s head of the Public Health Department for Libertyville.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s all there is to it. It was just lucky, I guess.”

  “Do you mean to tell me you bluffed Tibbits?” Her voice was incredulous.

  A loud booming laugh erupted from Luke’s chest, and Kati’s temper flared. She certainly didn’t see what was so funny, particularly when it was her business that had been at stake. What if Tibbits had called Luke’s bluff!

  “I really don’t see what’s so funny. I could have lost everything because of you!” she huffed.

  “We,” he corrected gently. “We could have lost everything and, Kati, I never would have lost the bluff. I deal a great poker hand.” Luke looked at her, his expression serious. “I think we should talk,” he said abruptly, and Kati ran her damp palms down her apron and averted her gaze.

  “What’s to talk about?” Anxious to avoid any more confrontations, she turned and moved around the kitchen in a flurry of activity. She could handle this man when he was the enemy, but when he was on her side, she wasn’t so sure. She had to keep moving, keep thinking.

  Luke clamped his hand down on her shoulders, halting her movements. “Kati,” he said gently, turning her around to face him. “You move faster than a Kansas City twister. Now stand still and look at me.” He lifted a hand to tilt her chin upward. “I think we got off on the wrong foot,” he admitted with a lopsided smile that softened her resentment. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he said softly, running his thumb along the delicate skin of her jaw.

  Kati blinked. “Then why are you here?”

  “I already told you, Kati. I’m your new partner.”

  “I don’t want a partner,” she said glumly, lowering her gaze to study one of the buttons on his shirt. It wasn’t going to be so easy to get rid of him, she realized belatedly.

  “Tough,” Luke said, stroking her chin gently.

  “But I already have a partner,” she protested, feeling ridiculous because she was now talking to the man’s broad chest. And enjoying it. “I can tell you from experience that it won’t work.”

  “It will,” he said firmly. “You may have had a partner before, but—”

  “There’s no buts about it, Mr. Kane. I don’t want or need another partner. I can handle things perfectly fine on my own, without your help.”

  “No, you can’t,” he said, and her angry gaze flew upward. The look in his eyes caused her pulse to play hopscotch.

  “Oh, can’t I?” she snapped, her eyes blazing in challenge.

  Luke sighed heavily, his massive shoulders moving against the fabric of his shirt. “Face facts, Kati, you’re running this place single-handedly, but the truth of the matter is, you’re not running it, it’s running you. You’re behind on your mortgage payments, you’ve got an oven that doesn’t do much except belch smoke, you’ve got inspectors crawling all over the place—” Luke stopped abruptly as she blinked back tears.

  “Kati?” Luke’s voice caressed her, washing over her with a heated warmth. “I know you don’t like the idea of having me around, but if you’ll just give me a chance, you’ll see I can be helpful.” It suddenly meant a great deal to him to have her believe him. Neither Patrick nor his lost money seemed as important as having this woman’s trust. He had a feeling she didn’t give it easily, or often, and for some reason it made it all the more important to him.

  Kati glared at him. “Mr. Kane, the last time I allowed one of my brother’s so-called friends to be helpful, he helped himself to four hundred of my dollars. That’s why I’m
behind in the mortgage payment, and why the oven’s not fixed yet! Not because I’m as incompetent as you’ve so graciously suggested!” She didn’t know why, but the idea that Luke thought she was a blundering idiot annoyed her. She wanted him to know that the reason everything was going to pot was because she had trusted another one of her brother’s friends. She was not about to make the same mistake again. Particularly with this man. Especially with this man!

  Luke looked at her incredulously. “You think I’m going to steal from you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re going to do,” she defended hotly, dragging a hand through her hair.

  “I hate to be blunt, Kati, but you really don’t have much worth stealing. A broken-down oven is hardly what I’d call a marketable commodity.” Luke pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the moisture on her cheeks. The gesture was so sudden and unexpected Kati looked up at him, trying to ignore the tenderness in his eyes. “Give me a chance, Kati, that’s all I ask. Just a chance. Under the circumstances, I really don’t think you have any choice. I do own half of this place,” he reminded her.

  As if she could forget! She studied his face, looking for some clue, some hint as to why he was doing this. Why on Earth would he want to be part owner of a diner?

  “Why?” she asked abruptly. “Why do you want to stay?”

  Luke shrugged his shoulders. “I want to help. And why shouldn’t I? I have a vested interest in this place. If the situation were reversed, wouldn’t you expect to stay?”

  She stared doubtfully at him for a moment. He had a point, she realized darkly. It wasn’t his fault that Patrick had sold him a bill of goods. How could she just throw him out on the street? He did own half the diner, so how could she simply dismiss him just because she didn’t want him there? She couldn’t. She may be a lot of things, but unfair or unjust she wasn’t. Lucas Kane had just as much right to stay and work the diner as she did. All the man wanted was a chance.