“Patrick, you wanted to see me?”
“Kati Rose.” Patrick blushed and Kati got the feeling this was going to be another one of Patrick’s schemes. She decided she had better sit down.
“I, well—I’m—going to head over to Kansas City…”
“You’re leaving?” Kati’s face fell. “But, Patrick, you just got here. And what are you going to use for money? You know very well I don’t have any!” Kati clenched her teeth, trying not to show how furious she was with her brother. He had sailed back into her life, totally disrupted it, and now he announced he was leaving, without even caring whether she might need his help or not. Luke had been right, she thought sadly. Maybe it was time that she started letting Patrick handle things on his own. If he wanted to leave, broke or not, she’d let him. It was time she made it clear to him, she was no longer going to bail him out of trouble. He was going to have to stand on his own two feet. It was time for Patrick to grow up.
“Kati, don’t worry, I don’t need any money.”
Kati rubbed her head. It wasn’t her problem anymore, she decided, forcing herself not to interfere. If Patrick was going to learn to stand on his own two feet, there was no better time than the present. She wasn’t going to ask where he had gotten the money. As long as it wasn’t from her, she wasn’t going to worry.
“All right, Patrick. But this time, you’re on your own. You’re my brother and I love you, but I’m not going to bail you out of any more jams. Understand?” Patrick blushed and then nodded. At least he knew the score, she thought tiredly.
“I’d better get going.” Patrick stood up and kissed her cheek. “Bye, Sis,” Patrick said softly, then walked out the door.
Kati stood staring after him. Patrick was gone again and she was left all alone. Bessie had Wilfred. Mr. Billings had Vera. And what did she have? She had her independence and her diner, and Kati knew it would never be enough.
“Oh, Luke,” she murmured, glancing around the empty diner as tears filled her eyes.
“Kati Rose! You’d better come quick, all hell’s broke loose!” Bessie’s voice rose in panic as she skidded into the kitchen.
Kati glanced at her. She had dealt with her brother and Vera, Mr. Billings, and even old Beauregard today, and Kati wasn’t sure she could handle anything else. Or even wanted to.
“Now what?” she asked without looking up, trying to concentrate on the pudding she was attempting to make. As far as she was concerned, all hell could break loose, so long as it didn’t bother her or require her attention. Right now, it was an effort just to handle herself.
“There’s a construction crew out front. They’re blocking all our parking spaces and barricading our street.”
“And?” Kati prompted, knowing she hadn’t heard the worst of it.
“And there’s a man out front says he’s got to talk to you right away!”
“Damnation!” Kati muttered, grabbing a towel to wipe her hands. “Bessie, calm down. I’ll handle it,” she said with more confidence than she felt, even though she didn’t want to deal with anything right now. All Kati really wanted to do was curl up in her bed and have a good cry.
“You’d better hurry up,” Bessie encouraged, grabbing Kati’s arm and dragging her toward the door. “Come on, now. I don’t like the looks of this.”
“Bessie!” Kati protested, allowing herself to be pulled along, despite her tiredness. Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath and swung through the door. Kati came to an abrupt halt. Her gaze skipped across the patterned linoleum floor, up past the worn work boots, which were planted firmly in the middle of her diner. Her eyes skipped up the long legs encased by worn jeans faded nearly white in places, up and across the blue work-shirt stretched across shoulders that seemed a mile wide. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to reveal bronzed muscular forearms. And a tattoo.
Luke. Her breathing slowed, and then kicked in again. Her back went up immediately.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. Oh, Lord, he looked so good. Her eyes caressed him, loving him, missing him.
“I came to talk to you,” he said softly, reaching out a hand to brush a curl from her cheek. Kati recoiled from his touch, torn between throwing herself at him and tossing him out on his ear. If Luke touched her, she’d be a goner. Kati wasn’t as strong as she thought she was. She knew it. But judging from the look on Luke’s face, he knew it, too.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Kati said firmly, turning on her heel and attempting to storm away. Luke caught her around the waist, and the breath went out of her in a whoosh as he scooped her up off the floor and threw her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.
“Lucas Kane!” Kati roared when she got her breath back. “Put me down!” She pounded on his back, but he paid her no mind. Ignoring her, Luke marched toward the door.
“Put me down!” she screeched again, pounding on his hard hat now in order to get his attention and let him know she meant business. “Bessie! Call the police!”
“Sorry,” Bessie called back, smiling broadly. “I don’t seem to recall the number. Besides, Kati Rose, you know I never stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“Bessie,” Luke called over his shoulder. “Mind the diner until we get back!”
“Sure thing,” she called, and Kati lifted her head to glare at her.
“Traitor!” Kati yelled, furious at the soft chuckle that shook the woman’s frame.
Luke kicked open the door with his booted foot and marched outside. “I’m going to put you down, Kati,” he warned. “But only if you promise to hear me out. Okay?” She gave him another thump on his back, and he took that as her answer. Gently, Luke let her slide the length of him and set her on her feet on the sidewalk. Kati immediately turned to bolt, but Luke grabbed the back of her blouse and reined her in.
“Let go of me!” she hissed, twisting and trying to slap his hands away. “Haven’t you done enough? Leave me alone.” Tears threatened the back of her eyes, and she bitterly swallowed them back.
“I told you once before, Kati,” Luke said, grinning. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, glaring up into his handsome face.
“Well, honey,” he queried, smiling down at her and brushing the tangled hair out of her face. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Besides kidnapping me?” she countered, her voice loud and furious. Luke chuckled softly and hugged her close. She struggled to break loose from his arms. She couldn’t very well think or do much else with him so close. Her breath caught. Giving herself a mental shake, Kati tried not to let the man affect her. But it was hard.
“Is this about right, boss?” one of the workmen called, and Luke turned to the sign above the diner, keeping his arm carefully around her.
“That’s perfect, Ralph. Just perfect.”
Kati glared at Luke. “What’s perfect? What on Earth are they— Luke! Stop them! They’re taking down my sign.” Fuming, Kati started toward the man. “Don’t you touch my sign!” she yelled, fully intending to do bodily harm to the sign remover if she got her hands on him. Luke grabbed the back of her shirt again and held on tight.
“Kati Rose.” He sighed and tried to hide the smile that was threatening to break loose. “If you’ll just be patient—”
“I don’t want to be patient,” she cried, twisting around to slap at his hand, which was clutching the back of her. Again. “I want to know why those men are taking down my sign. Who gave them permission?”
“I did,” Luke returned smoothly, enjoying the fury that crossed her face.
“How dare you!” she hissed, giving him a good whack on the arm. “Haven’t you done enough?”
“Kati Rose!” Vera hurried up the street. “What are you doing to Luke now? Why are you hitting him?” Vera was dragging Mr. Billings by the arm, and he in turn was dragging poor Beauregard by the leash as man and dog struggled to keep up with a hurrying Vera.
Kati sighed. What was she doing to Luke? That was the pot calling the kettle black!
“Leave ’em alone, Vera!” Bessie called from the doorway. Puffing out her ample chest, Bessie looked fully prepared to throw herself bodily between Luke and Vera in an effort to let things be.
“I’m glad you’re all here,” Luke said, looking at the assembled group with a smile and grabbing a tighter hold on Kati’s shirt as she struggled to get away. Wilfred was peeking around Bessie and vying for doorway space in order to see. Vera, Mr. Billings and Beauregard were standing there watching. And waiting. “You can all see our new sign,” Luke continued.
“What do you mean our new sign?” Kati hissed. Standing on tiptoe, she glared into Luke’s amused face, trying to ignore Vera and Mr. Billings who were now trying to hang on to her every word. “This is my diner, Lucas Kane,” she yelled, poking his chest for emphasis after each word. “And my sign. You keep your darn hands off of it.”
“It’s not your sign, Kati,” Luke said softly. “It’s ours. Look.” He pointed to the new sign that was just being hoisted out, and Kati’s eyes widened as the new name registered.
Kane and Mabel’s
The assembled crew broke into applause as the beautiful new sign was set in place, and Kati whirled on Luke, tears filling in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, trying to talk around the lump in her throat and then promptly snapped her mouth shut again, fearing she would only start blubbering. At one time, the new sign would have brought tears of joy and euphoria, now the sight of it only brought a decided sadness of what could have been. Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she was powerless to stop them.
“Lucas Kane, you leave my sign and my diner alone,” she cried, her words trembling across her lips. How dare he touch her sign. Hadn’t he done enough?
“It’s not yours,” Luke corrected. “It’s ours.”
“Patrick paid you back the money, and I have the papers for the diner,” Kati snapped. “So how could the diner be ours?”
“You had the papers for the diner,” he corrected, puffing a wrinkled wad from his jeans pocket. “Yesterday, Patrick and I made a deal. He sold me his half of the diner outright.”
“What!” Kati grabbed the paper out of Luke’s hand and read carefully. Her eyes rounded in stunned surprise as the anger flew out of her in a rush. “Luke, you can’t be serious? You didn’t really pay Patrick this much money for his share of the diner?” She could have bought a shopping center with what Luke had paid Patrick for the diner. And still have change left over.
Smiling, Luke nodded. “I would have paid any price, Kati, any price at all. I’d have given Patrick anything to have the diner.”
“But, Luke, you gave Patrick ten times what the diner is worth!”
“I know it,” he said hurriedly. “But I told you, the money doesn’t matter. What matters is you,” Luke said tenderly, draping an arm around her.
“You had no right,” she cried, slapping his arm away from her shoulder. How could she think clearly with him so close, with him touching her? The man’s mere nearness scrambled her brains, and she needed to think now. To sort things out.
“Kati Rose, what on Earth is wrong with you? You shouldn’t be yelling at Luke like that. Why, my dear girl, you’re going to hurt his feelings.” Vera reached out and patted Luke’s arm. He turned to flash Kati a wicked smile.
“I’m going to hurt a lot more than just his feelings,” Kati muttered under her breath, glaring at the three of them. It wasn’t enough that she had to deal with Luke and a bunch of strange workmen. Now Vera had to get into the act, too. She glanced around, adding Bessie, Wilfred and even old Beauregard to the list.
“Come on, Kati.” Tucking her under his arm, Luke guided her behind the pickup truck so they could have some privacy.
Swiping at her eyes, Kati gathered her dwindling fury. “Luke, how dare you—”
“Kati,” Luke said tenderly, backing up against the truck and lifting a thumb to wipe her tears. “Shut up!”
“How dare you—I will not—” His lips came down on hers, fast and hard. For a moment she struggled, trying to push him away, but Luke caught her hands and trapped them to his chest, hauling her close so she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak and couldn’t wiggle away.
A low moan gurgled deep within her throat and without thinking, only feeling, Kati’s arms went around him, her fingers sliding to tangle in the dark strands of his hair.
Luke’s breathing was ragged as he slid his mouth from hers. “Now not a word until I’m finished, all right?” Wide-eyed, Kati stared at him. “All right?” he prompted, dropping another kiss to her unsuspecting mouth, and she finally nodded. She’d hear him out, listen to what he had to say, and then—then—she’d send him packing, with his new sign!
“I did loan Patrick the money, and when I first came to Libertyville it was to wait around for him. I knew sooner or later he’d show up and then I’d get my money back. When he put the diner up as collateral, I never dreamed I’d end up wanting the place, or working it. But that was before I met you.” He lifted his hands and gently cradled her tear-streaked face. “From the moment I met you, Kati, I knew I wanted you. You were so different, so special. For the first time in my life, I feel like I belong.” He glanced around at the familiar town. “I belong here in Libertyville, with you. We belong together. I love you, Kati Rose.”
Sniffling harder now, Kati clutched the front of his shirt and buried her face in it, her mind swirling. Luke loved her. Then why hadn’t he been honest with her from the beginning? Oh, Lord, she wanted to send him away. But she also wanted him to stay. She didn’t know what she wanted. Except Luke.
“Why didn’t you just tell me the truth, Luke?” she asked, not lifting her face, and trying not to sniffle. “Why?” Her voice was cracked and muffled.
“Kati Rose, if you remember correctly, I had my hands full just trying to get around all those barricades you kept throwing up in my face. You were so certain that I was a threat to you, your diner and your independence. I worked hard trying to prove that you didn’t have to be afraid of me, that you could trust me.” Sighing heavily, Luke ran a hand through his hair. “I guess I blew it,” he said sadly. “I never meant to hurt you, Kati. All I want is another chance.” She lifted her head and met his gaze. His eyes were filled with love and with regret.
“Oh, Luke,” she said, her breath catching in her throat.
“I love you, Kati, more than I’ve ever loved anyone.” Instinctively, she raised a hand to caress his face to erase the pain she saw reflected there. “I never meant to hurt you,” he said again, and her heart went out to him. “Can you give me, give us, another chance?”
Lord, she loved him so much, she loved everything about him. Could she afford not to give him a chance? He was everything to her. Everything.
“Despite what you think, Kati, you do need me, as much as I need you. I was afraid if I told you the truth you’d throw me out on my ear. Which, if you remember, is exactly what you did.” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “After you threatened to shoot me,” he reminded her, and Kati chuckled softly, wiping away her tears.
“Kati?” Luke was looking at her with such love in his eyes, she felt her knees weaken. “Will you forgive me?” he whispered, and she hesitated only a moment, realizing finally how much she really did need him.
Nothing was any good without him. She loved him and she needed him, and she was going to take her chances. Luke was everything to her. She nodded.
“And will you…” Luke stopped, his eyes caressing her face.
“What?” she whispered, feeling slightly breathless as he slid his arms around her and drew her closer. Luke’s mouth found hers and desire tore through her. Kati arched close to him, feeling her body tense and tighten in response to him. She needed him and he needed her, and she knew no matter what, she had to take a chance. She had to. Oh, Lord, she loved him so much. She clung to him, burying her head in the soft pad of his shoulder and held on tight.
<
br /> “Will you hurry up and ask her?” Bessie yelled, leading the parade coming around the side of the truck to watch the goings-on.
“It’s getting hot out here!” Mr. Billings grumbled, mopping his brow.
“You’re not going to yell at Luke anymore, are you?” Vera asked in concern, obviously not caring in the least that yelling wasn’t what was on Kati’s mind at the moment.
Kati and Luke looked at the assembled crowd, then at each other, and burst into laughter.
“This isn’t exactly how I planned this,” he whispered. “Kati Rose Ryan,” Luke said softly, “will you marry me?”
“Say it louder,” Wilfred called. “We all couldn’t hear you.”
“You weren’t supposed to,” Kati called back.
“Kati Rose, don’t get huffy, now,” Bessie called. “What’s going on?” she asked, trying to inch closer and being very obvious. “Well?” she demanded, planting her hands on her hips.
Kati looked at Luke and burst out laughing. “Luke asked me to marry him.” Kati smiled at Luke, her heart bursting with love.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Bessie demanded. “Answer the man!”
Kati looked at all of them—Bessie and Wilfred, Vera and Mr. Billings, and even poor Beauregard, who flopped to the ground in boredom, yawning loudly and covering his eyes with his furry paws, clearly put out with all the noise and goings-on.
“You know,” Kati said happily, sweeping them with a glance. “I love all of you. Even if you are the nosiest customers a body ever had.”
“Well!” Vera huffed. “I never—”
“Yes, you have,” Mr. Billings piped in, giving Vera a sidelong glance that caused her to blush.
Kati slid her arms around Luke and looked up into his face. She was so happy, she wanted the whole world to know it.
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