She would never be vulnerable again. Never, she reminded herself firmly. Not for this man, not for any man. She could not and would not allow herself to depend on someone, to need someone, and then be devastated when they up and disappeared.
Luke’s gaze was searching her upturned face, probing, asking. Kati’s eyes slid closed, trying to hide the emotions tearing through her.
She had to remain calm, but it was hard. He was so close, her heart thundered in her breast. Never had she reacted so strongly to a member of the opposite sex.
Instinctively Kati knew that Lucas Kane was a different kind of man. He was the kind who needed to be in control, to call the shots, to have someone lean on him. Just from her response to him, Kati knew, Luke would be too easy for her to lean on. Now, it was more important than ever to get rid of him. The sooner the better.
“Kati, we have to settle this if we’re going to work together,” Luke said quietly, and her eyes flew open in panic.
“That’s just the point, Luke,” she said gravely. “We’re not going to work together.”
“Yes, we are,” he countered smoothly, sliding his thumb across the delicate skin of her jaw. His touch caused the tight rein of control she had on her emotions to slip a notch, then another, as his feathery-light touch delighted her skin.
“I don’t want you here!” she said in exasperation, feeling more panicked by the moment and trying to pretend that his touch wasn’t affecting her.
“I know that,” Luke said kindly. “But I’m staying.” Luke was so close his breath whispered across her cheek. Frightened at the way the man made her feel, Kati realized she had to put some distance between them. Now. Before she did something foolish.
Lifting a hand to Luke’s chest, Kati slowly began inching backward, but Luke matched her step for step.
“Luke,” she finally managed to say as her back pressed against the swinging door. “I want you to know—” She stopped to draw a deep, shaky breath. “I want you to know that this has got to stop.
There will be no more repeats of last night,” Kati announced firmly, hoping her voice was stronger than her willpower. “We’re—we’re business partners,” she stammered, trying to ignore the shivers that bumped along her spine. “Nothing more.”
“Kati Rose,” Luke murmured, dipping his head close to hers. “I guarantee you that what’s going on between us has nothing to do with business.” Gently, he bent his head until his mouth was hovering just over hers. Their breaths mingled and her vulnerable heart jumped slightly in her chest. “What’s between us is personal,” he whispered. “Very personal.”
“There’s nothing between us,” she stammered weakly, trying to take another step back. But she couldn’t. The blasted door was at her back. “What do you want?” she asked suddenly, instantly regretting her words at the look that softened his features.
“I want you, Kati,” he said softly. There was something sad in his eyes. Something a bit forlorn that caused the walls of her heart to ache.
There couldn’t be anything between them, her mind raged. He was the enemy! Too bad she forgot to tell her body that, she thought hazily.
“Luke—”
“Kati Rose!” Bessie yelled, pushing the swinging door into Kati’s back and sending her tumbling awkwardly against Luke. Instinctively his arms went around her to steady her. For an instant she was pressed against the hard, muscular length of him and her pulse jumped wildly.
“You’d better hightail—” Bessie stopped abruptly when she caught sight of Kati in Luke’s arms. A satisfied smile lifted her lips, and Kati stiffened.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” Kati stammered, trying to extract herself from Luke’s embrace and stop the heat that was flooding her cheeks.
“Yes, it is,” Luke countered wickedly, ignoring Kati’s attempts to get free and keeping his arms firmly around her.
“Will you be quiet,” Kati hissed, pushing him away and trying to gather her floundering composure. “What’s the matter?” Kati asked Bessie, hoping it was something drastic so she could escape the confines of the kitchen. And Luke.
Bessie walked a circle around them, grinning and looking like there was a lot more than met the eye here, and she wasn’t leaving until she figured out just what it was.
“Bessie?” Kati prompted impatiently.
“Vera and Mr. Billings are at it again,” Bessie announced on a long, pain-filled sigh.
“Damnation!” Kati muttered, dragging a hand through her hair and trying to inch farther away from Luke without being obvious. “Now what? Don’t tell me Mr. Billings brought Beauregard in with him again? If Tibbits gets wind of this, he’ll close us down for good,” she cried.
Luke’s brows rose a fraction, and his eyes darkened in humor. He silently mouthed a word that Kati didn’t understand. She was too fascinated with the soft fullness of his lips, too busy remembering what he had tasted like to pay attention to what his lips were saying.
“What?” she demanded irritably.
“Us?” he said smoothly, and Kati swallowed a groan. Damnation! She had used the term us without even thinking. Slip of the tongue, she assured herself, glaring at him and feeling as if she had just stepped into the spider’s lair. An innocent mistake that meant nothing. Absolutely nothing. This was her diner, and hers alone, she reminded herself. Well, it would be once she got rid of him!
“If you two could stop your sparring for a minute,” Bessie scolded, looking from one to the other, “I’ll tell you what they’re fussing about.”
They both turned to stare at Bessie.
“That’s better.” She patted her gray head. “Poor old Beauregard’s home getting his beauty sleep. Those two are arguing about who’s gonna sit in that corner booth. I tried to tell them there are two corner booths, but for some reason they both want to sit in that one. You know how they are. Whatever one wants, so does the other. They’re worse than babes. Those two aren’t happy unless they’re fussing about something,” Bessie said pointedly, looking from Luke to Kati, as if she were speaking about them. “From the looks of things, I’d bet my pay they’re ready to go the best two out of three, and I’m sure not gonna get in the middle of it.”
“All right.” Kati sighed, jamming a wad of hair back with her hand. “I’ll handle it.” She turned and strode toward the door, but Luke reached out his hand and stopped her.
“Why don’t you let me handle it this time?” His gaze held hers and for a moment silence hung in the air as Kati’s mind raced. Vera and Mr. Billings didn’t take kindly to strangers. Particularly interfering strangers.
“All right, Luke,” Kati said, trying not to smile. “You take care of it, I’ll get started in here.” For an instant she felt a twinge of guilt. It really wasn’t fair to saddle Luke with her two most difficult customers. On the other hand, she reasoned, if the man wanted to be her partner, he might as well start learning right now.
Bessie waited until Luke was out of earshot before turning to her boss. “Kati Rose Ryan!” Bessie scolded, shaking her finger at her. “Now why’d you send him out there to deal with those two lunatics? You know how they feel about strangers.” Bessie shook her gray head. “Honey, they’re gonna chew that boy up and spit him out.”
“I know,” Kati said, grinning.
“Then why’d you—” Bessie stopped abruptly. “Why you little stinker!” Bessie chuckled softly. “Still trying to figure out a way to get rid of him, aren’t you?”
“I don’t need another partner.” Kati sighed heavily, knowing that wasn’t the only reason she had to get rid of Lucas Kane. “But I guess I’m just going to have to put up with him until he tires of the endless chores. I give him a week on the outside,” she said confidently, crossing the room to peek through the little window of the swinging door.
“But, Kati, surely you must know the man’s intentions are honorable,” Bessie protested. “Why, he even bought us a new stove.”
“Just because the man bought me a new stove, doesn’
t mean I trust him,” Kati said airily. “What’s the old saying? Beware of men bearing gifts?”
Bessie chuckled softly. “Honey, that’s not the way the saying goes.”
Kati frowned. “It’s close enough.”
“Now what are you doing?” Bessie asked, trying to peek over Kati’s shoulder.
“I want to watch the fireworks,” she whispered, pressing her nose against the glass. “If I know Vera and Mr. Billings, Luke will be hightailing it back in here any second wondering why on Earth he didn’t just stay where he belonged.”
“And you’re gonna be enjoying every moment, aren’t you?” Bessie asked, inching closer so she could watch the goings-on too. “Lordy, Kati Rose, that’s terrible.”
“I know,” Kati said affectionately, tossing Bessie a smile.
“What on Earth is that boy doing?” Bessie asked in bewilderment, trying to shoulder her way closer to the window so she could get a better view.
Kati’s smile vanished. “I don’t know.”
Luke was wedged between Vera and Mr. Billings. If Kati’s eyes weren’t deceiving her, Vera was smiling up at Luke. Bowing formally at the waist, Luke took Vera’s weathered hand in his and gallantly kissed it. A faint tinge of pink rose to cover Vera’s cheeks and her false eyelashes flapped like a flag in the breeze.
“What is he doing!” Kati hissed, her eyes widening in shock.
Vera took Luke’s arm and allowed him to escort her to another booth in the corner. Luke bent and whispered something into Vera’s ear that made the woman giggle girlishly. Fluttering her fake eyelashes, Vera preened up at Luke, a look of total adoration on her face.
Bessie whistled softly. “I don’t know what he’s doing, honey, but from where I’m standing it looks to me like he’s charming the pants off of her. He sure must have a way with words. Haven’t seen Vera flap her lashes that much since Fred the deliveryman told her she reminded him of Clara Bow.”
“A way with words, indeed! Look out!” Kati cried, jumping back from the window and nearly knocking Bessie over. “He’s coming. Look busy,” she hissed frantically. “I don’t want him to know we were watching him.” Snatching a rag, Kati intently scrubbed the already-gleaming counter. She pretended to be absorbed in her chore, but her attention and her ears were on the door.
“Well, I think we’ve taken care of the problem with Vera and Mr. Billings,” Luke announced confidently. “I don’t think we’ll have any more problems with them.”
Kati looked up at him, her face full of innocence. “Oh? What happened?”
Luke grinned and scratched the back of his neck. “They were fighting over who was going to sit in that booth. The suggestion that they share it didn’t exactly draw applause. So I told Vera since she and Mr. Billings were both such good customers, it was only fair that they each have their own special booth. I assigned Vera that booth in the corner. Told her it was the best seat in the house, booth number one so to speak, and the only one befitting a lady of her great importance.”
Bessie gave a gleeful snort, and Kati looked at him suspiciously. Aha! she thought. He’s been here less than twenty-four hours and already he’d alienated Mr. Billings, one of her best customers. Surely that should convince the man he wasn’t cut out for the diner business.
“I’m sure Vera loved that, Luke,” she said reproachfully. “But I don’t think Mr. Billings is going to be too pleased to know you gave the supposedly best booth in the house to Vera. He’s one of our best customers, too.” Rocking back on her heels, she smiled happily. This was going to be easier than she had first thought.
“Not at all, Kati. To tell you the truth, Mr. Billings loved the idea, since I assigned him a booth in the other corner and told him he had the best seat in the house.”
“What!” The smile slid off her face. “You mean to tell me you convinced each of them they had the best booth in the house?”
“Sure did,” Luke announced without a bit of remorse. “They both think they have booth number one and they’re both happy as clams. Now let’s hope that neither one finds out about the other,” he whispered with a wink.
“I don’t believe it!” Kati muttered, shaking her head.
“I’ve got to get back out there,” Luke said brightly, trying not to smile at the look on her face. “Vera even offered me a place to stay until I got settled. She promised to tell me all about her days in the theater.”
“She what?” Kati’s face became a full-fledged scowl. This was not at all how things were supposed to turn out.
Grabbing an apron, Luke slid it on and headed toward the door. “Oh, by the way, Kati?”
“What?” she muttered glumly.
“The next time you want to keep an eye on me but you don’t want me to know—” he paused to flash her a knowing smile, “—don’t leave your nose prints on the glass.” Lifting his apron, Luke wiped an imaginary smudge off the little window. Whistling softly, he pushed through the door.
“That—that—” Words failed her. At the moment, Kati couldn’t think of a word appropriate enough or nasty enough to call Lucas Kane.
“Kati Rose?” Bessie shoved her hands in her uniform and smiled, her gray eyes dancing wickedly. “I’ve got a feeling getting rid of Lucas Kane might be as easy as getting a long-legged chicken to lay hard-boiled eggs.” Chuckling softly, Bessie sashayed out the door, leaving Kati alone with her frustrations.
Chapter Five
“Gonna hide out here in the kitchen the rest of your life?” Bessie inquired, backing into the room with a tray full of dirty dishes.
“I’m not hiding!” Kati declared indignantly, knowing all along that’s exactly what she was doing.
But Luke was out there, in her diner! Still seething in frustration at the way Luke had outmaneuvered her with Vera and Mr. Billings this morning, Kati had dug her heels in and tried to throw herself into her work. But it had been hard. How was she supposed to concentrate or do any work with the man constantly underfoot? Luke kept turning up everywhere. At her elbow when she fried bacon, behind her when she slid biscuits into the oven and underfoot when she had ventured out front. If he smiled at her, or flashed that endearing grin of his at her one more time, she was going to scream! That smile could charm a baby out of its bottle!
Kati had tried to spend as much time as possible in the kitchen, venturing out front only when absolutely necessary. It was as if the battle lines were drawn and the door was the only thing that separated them. The kitchen was hers, the front serving area his. And that’s the way she wanted it to stay. At least until she figured out a way to get him out of her diner and out of her life. Permanently!
If Lucas Kane thought his charm and disarming tactics were going to soften her, he was in for a rude surprise, she thought firmly. Surely she had grown immune to such tactics, hadn’t she? Her brother Patrick was the best at charming and disarming, and no doubt he could probably teach Luke a thing or two.
“No need to get huffy, Kati. I was just asking.” Bessie slid the tray of dishes onto one of the counters and mopped her brow with an exaggerated gesture. “It’s sure been a hot one today.” Bessie sighed heavily and something in her voice caused Kati to look up at her.
“Is something wrong, Bess?” Kati’s brows gathered in concern as she looked at the woman carefully. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Nothing for you to worry about. I’m just feeling a little weak.”
Kati’s glance narrowed on the woman. Weak? Bessie? The woman was as healthy as a horse, and just about as stubborn. She’d never been sick a day in her life.
Bessie poured herself a glass of cool lemonade and downed it in one gulp, then mopped her brow again. “We’ll be needing some more biscuits pretty soon,” she announced, her voice strained and a bit pain filled. “The dinner rush nearly cleaned us out.” Bessie paused to fan her face, and Kati looked at her again.
“Bess? Are you sure you’re all right?” Wiping her hands on her checkered apron, Kati leaned over and felt Bessie’s foreh
ead. The woman jumped back as if she’d been burned.
“No need worrying yourself about me, Kati Rose. I’m sure I’ll be all right.” Grabbing a load of clean dishes, Bessie shuffled toward the door, moving in slow motion. “Don’t forget about those biscuits, now.”
“I’ll bring some out as soon as I’m finished here,” Kati returned, her mind full of worry as she resumed peeling potatoes.
Maybe it had been too much to ask Bessie to initiate Luke into the routine of the diner, Kati thought with a twinge of guilt. She had asked Bessie to do it because she didn’t trust herself to be around the man. The things he did to her nerves! The man’s mere presence seemed to scramble her wits! There was something about him that caused her femininity to cry out.
If the truth be known, Kati wasn’t quite sure who she was more annoyed at, herself or him! It wasn’t just her temper that responded to the man. She caught herself listening for the sound of Luke’s voice, or for his footsteps, or looking for his black head every time she ventured out front. Every time Luke did come into the kitchen, her heart would pound and her pulse would race.
Even when he wasn’t in the room, the faint masculine aroma of him lingered in the air, driving her senses to distraction. She was letting her hormones overrule her reasoning, Kati decided, growing annoyed at herself all over again. She didn’t have time for this nonsense.
“I simply don’t!” she muttered, swiping at the potato again.
“They say people who talk to themselves have quite interesting conversations,” Luke said from behind, causing Kati to scream. The potato and peeler went flying in the air.
Clutching her racing heart, Kati whirled around and glared at him. “I was not talking to myself,” she snapped. “I was talking to—”
“Your potato?” he suggested helpfully, trying without success to squelch the grin that was threatening to break loose.
Kane and Mabel Page 6