“I know.”
“And you don’t have Tucker’s papers yet.”
“Right.”
“So, what’s so important it has to be done tonight?” He glanced at his watch, still keeping her back pressed to the door.“It’s ten o’clock.”
“It is? I’m sorry, but you have to go.” She pressed her hands against his chest and gave him a hearty push.
“Katherine, what’s going on?”
“I promised someone I’d help them with something tonight.”
“It can’t wait?”
“No, it can’t, but can you?” She reached out, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled his forehead against hers. “I’m free tomorrow, all day.”
“Is that so?”
“Mm hm.” There was no way she’d let him leave mad, the way he had two days ago. She wanted more than anything to lead him upstairs and keep him there until morning. But she’d made a promise and had to follow through. She ran her fingers up and down his spine, and he shivered in response. “How about I come over to your place tomorrow at, oh, say four?”
“Make it two.” He threw all his weight against her and devoured her mouth, as if to remind her of what she could look forward to tomorrow.
Gravel crunched under the Buick’s tires as Kate slowly rolled down Brody’s driveway the next day. She had slept late and woken to find a sweet text from Brody.
Since you didn’t knock at two AM, I realized you meant PM. Come over ASAP.
After receiving the text, she hurried to get here, knowing he was anxiously awaiting her arrival. The last time she’d been here was at twilight, when she couldn’t fully appreciate the beautiful landscape. The farm consisted of rolling hills, thick hardwoods, and acres of dormant fields, which she imagined grew lush with vegetation in the summer.
She parked in front of a large garage, cut the engine, and was surprised Loretta hadn’t come out to greet her with her tail wagging, barking wildly. She climbed out of the car and looked around, trying to get her bearings while turning full circle. Even in the early winter, his farm was stunning. The house was painted pale gray with white trim and black shutters, exuding a hominess she hadn’t recognized during her nocturnal visit. In daylight, the house looked much larger than she remembered.
As she approached the house, a cold shiver of wariness coursed through her body. It was too quiet. The only sound she heard was the winter breeze rustling the branches of the evergreens dotting his yard. Where was he? And why didn’t she hear Loretta inside? The garage doors were down, none of his vehicles were in sight, and the place looked deserted. After a quick glance over her shoulder, she stepped onto the porch, walked to the front door, and pressed the doorbell. Expecting a loud bark, even the sound of footsteps approaching the door, all she got was silence. After a minute, she gave up.
He knew she was coming, so where was he? She walked down the opposite side of the porch and into the side yard—the opposite side from where she’d peeked in his windows. She took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, cold air, but it didn’t calm her jagged nerves. Ever since last night, she couldn’t shake the feeling someone was following her.
The “friend” she had helped last night was Ashley, the abused woman she’d met at the Thanksgiving dinner. Kate assisted in getting her and her four kids to a safe location, and now she had an ominous feeling. What if someone was watching her right now? Maybe those headlights last night belonged to someone other than the police. Something wasn’t right about this and the longer she stood in Brody’s yard with no sign of him, the more concerned she became. The infernal silence was scaring her. She dialed his phone number and waited for him to answer. The call immediately went to voicemail.
She walked back around the house toward the driveway, hoping to find his truck coming down the lane. Another cold tingle rushed up her spine, putting her on alert. What if Ashley’s husband knew she had been the one to usher his wife and children out of the house and to the safety of a shelter? What if he had hurt Brody? The sooner she was back in her car with the doors locked, the better she’d feel until Brody got home. As she rounded the corner, she heard a sound. Were those footsteps behind her? Just as she was about to turn around, a stranger appeared in her periphery and a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
TWENTY
“What the fuck?” Brody curled into a fetal position, trying to ease the searing pain in his back. “Jesus.” He coughed a couple of times and rolled onto his knees. “Why’d you do that?”
“Brody?”
“Who the hell did you think it was? Are you crazy, woman?” Taking a deep breath, he wondered if he would be able to stand up. What the hell was the matter with her? She wasn’t kidding when she said she knew tae kwon do.
“Oh my god, it is you.” Kate dropped to the ground beside him and gathered his face in her hands. Her eyes bugged, seeking recognition, then she threw her arms around his neck, toppling him over to his back. “I’m so sorry.”
“Ouch. You already threw me to the ground once.”
“I’m so sorry.” She frantically covered his face with kisses and smoothed back his hair. “I’m sorry. Where’s your beard? Your hair’s shorter.”
“I decided to clean up a little.” While he lay flat on his back with his arms stretched out beside him, he took a couple of deep breaths as he assessed the damage. He didn’t feel sharp pains in his back, so maybe if he stayed put a few minutes, he’d be able to get up. “Wanted to surprise you.”
“I didn’t know it was you. You look completely different.”
“Remind me to warn you the next time I shave.”
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
He was now. Kate stretched out beside him and snuggled up against him, laying her warm hands against his bare face. Maybe he should keep acting injured so she’d keep up the TLC.
“I’ll be better once you roll over on top of me.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her and got a punch in the arm in return. “Ouch. Are you trying to kill me?”
“You asshole. You scared the stuff out of me. Who sneaks up on someone like that?” She popped up and brushed the backside of her jeans. “Where have you been? It’s eerie out here, so quiet. And where’s Loretta?” She glared down at him long enough that he started to question who was the victim here. “I thought something happened to you. This is no joke.” She kicked the bottom of his boot and stormed away. “Stop laughing.”
“I can’t help it.” He rolled on his side and slowly got to his feet. She was pacing back and forth, her arms crossed over her chest. “Come here. Don’t be mad.”
“I am mad. This isn’t funny. I was worried and scared.”
“Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. “I should have told you I was shaving this morning.” He lifted her hair and planted a few kisses on her neck. “I just thought you’d like my surprise.”
“Not when it involves sneaking up on me.”
“Trust me. I’ll never sneak up on you again.” He pressed his cheek to hers. “I might not survive it the next time.”
She dropped her arms and turned to face him, shaking her head while examining his face as if it were the first time she’d seen it. She brushed the back of her hand over each of his cheeks and rubbed her thumb over his lips.
“Amazing.” She leaned back and cupped his face in her hands. “I can’t get over the difference.”
“Good difference or bad difference?”
“Just different. It’s like I’m with another person.”
“How about I remind you that I’m the same guy?” Before she could respond, he enveloped her in a tight hug and covered her lips with his. Any anger she may have been holding on to dissolved as she pressed herself against him and matched his kiss with equal fervor. After several minutes, they pulled away but stayed locked in each other’s arms.
“We good?” he asked.
“We’re good.”
“I’ll never question your ability to pro
tect yourself again.”
“Smart man.” She gave him a quick peck on the lips and then stepped back. “So, where were you? Where’s Loretta?”
“I was on the phone up on the deck and Loretta went to the dog park in town with Liza.”
“Oh, the pergola—or should I call it the ‘cowboy hideout?’” She reached out her hand. “Show me.”
“First, let’s go inside. You’ll freeze to death in that thin jacket you’re wearing.”
Brody led the way through the front door of his house and Kate was immediately hit with a cozy, at-home feeling. She stood in the foyer and looked at the beautiful oak staircase and natural carved woodwork. To the left was a formal dining room with an antique mahogany table covered in an inch of dust. Not much of an entertainer. Noted. He led her down the hall into a great room where a large stone fireplace filled most of one wall, flanked by windows on either side. This wasn’t the room she saw through the window that night.
“Let me find a warmer coat for you. It’s a little windy up on the deck.” Brody walked through a doorway that led to the kitchen and she took a moment to get her bearings. She knew the room she’d seen him in was on this side of the house. After turning a half circle, she saw a closed door behind her and knew this must be it. Since he was nowhere in sight, she tiptoed to the door and peeked inside. She found it—the room where she had seen him shirtless at the computer. The wall with the window was covered in thick, acoustic foam panels, as was the wall opposite it. Fascinated, she stepped inside to discover what must be his studio.
“Looking for something?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice and could feel the heat in her cheeks. She’d been caught snooping again.
“I was, um, just looking around. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Does this room look familiar?”
“As a matter of fact—” He was looking at her with a wry grin. “It does. I confess.” She threw up her hands and shrugged her shoulders. “Is this a studio?”
“Yeah. I write in here and record demos.”
“So this is where all the magic happens, huh?” She strolled around the room, taking in all the little details she’d missed that night. There was a shelf with several awards and framed photos.
“Not the only room,” he said.
She spun around, caught his impish grin, and thrilled at his silky voice and overt innuendo. He might not look like the mountain man she’d come to know on the outside, but he was still the same sexy man she was finding harder and harder to resist. They had all day, no need to rush things. Right now she wanted to know a little more about the songwriting side of the man she was coming to think of as endlessly multifaceted.
“Tell me about these awards.” She moved closer to the shelf and drew in a breath. “Brody.” She picked up a golden gramophone and read the plaque. “So this is your Grammy for best country song.” Beside it was another Grammy dated two years after the first. “And another for best pop song.” She had done extensive research on him, but was still dazzled by his success. “And a couple of CMA awards.” She turned around and found him at his desk with his back to her. He was leaning over the computer, checking emails. She crossed the room and turned him around to face her.
“You’re so…so accomplished.”
“It’s no big deal.” He sat on the edge of the desk and tucked his hands in his front pockets.
“No big deal? It’s a huge deal.” She latched onto his upper arms and looked into the deep brown eyes.
“Does it change anything?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice soft.
“If I never get another one? Would it make a difference?”
The pain was evident on his face and she wondered where these emotions were coming from. He should be proud of his success, maybe even a little boastful. She couldn’t understand why he felt he couldn’t achieve the same level of success now.
“Not at all.” She came a little closer and rested her hand on his cheek. “I’m impressed. You should be so proud of yourself.” She draped her arms around his neck.
“It’s just, all those awards were with the help of my partner, Kyle. I doubt I could’ve done it without him.”
“You could have and still can.” She stopped, realizing this was the very thing she’d said the night of their big fight. The last thing she wanted was to upset him now that everything was so good between them. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t mean to push. The most important thing is that you write again—you’re so talented.”
“Actually, it’s okay. What you said to me that night helped get my lazy ass back to work. I’ve been writing a lot.”
“That’s great. How does it feel?”
“Feels great. It’s going well.”
“Anything you’re willing to show me?” She raised up and glanced over his shoulder, noticing a smattering of papers strewn across his desk with handwritten lines.
“Are we still talking about music?” He stopped her trek toward the desk with a crooked grin.
“It all depends.” She snatched the first sheet her fingers could reach and quickly skimmed the stanzas.
Let’s just keep it simple,
No plans, no promises, that’s the deal.
We’ll spend some time together,
Without hearts to break or steal.
See, I can make it simple,
Down to the cold bare facts.
Your gorgeous eyes, your pretty smile,
Makes my heart go off track.
The simple truth of the matter is,
She mumbled the words aloud. “Mm, interesting. Did I inspire you on this?”
“Maybe.”
“And the simple truth of the matter is…what? Care to complete that sentence?”
“Not at all.” He tugged the hem of her jacket and tucked his arms inside. “It’s still a work in progress.” His arms tightened around her waist and his eyes locked with hers. “If you have no further questions.”
“Hmm. I guess music can wait.”
Like a bull let out of a stall, he grabbed her and locked her in a kiss before she could even take a breath. It was as if he’d kept that kiss secreted away all day and it needed to get out. She pressed herself tight against him, marveling how in only a day’s time, things had changed between them.
Eventually, he loosened his hold and playfully patted her tight jeans.
“Let’s go.” He grabbed a down jacket off the desk chair. “Here. Wear this. You’ll be warmer.”
“Is it yours?” She slipped her arms inside the thick coat and zipped it closed.
“No, it’s Travis’s. He left it here when he was working on my hot water heater.”
“What? Another business?”
“I told you he had too many to mention.” Brody held out his hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Ready?”
He led her through the great room, into a modern kitchen with oak cabinets, granite countertops, and a stainless steel commercial oven. So the mountain man cooks? Before she could get a good look, he dragged her through the back door onto a screened porch, which she’d somehow missed the night she was here. Cushioned wicker furniture was gathered in a circle and she could just imagine a warm night, having drinks with friends by candlelight while soft music played and crickets chirped. She shook her head, scattering the image away.
“It’s up this way.”
They crossed a narrow yard and Kate looked up at a steep slope where tall, sturdy wood beams held a wide platform extending out of the hillside. A wooden staircase built into the hill wound up through a thick canvas of trees.
“This is where I got all the firewood. It took me over a year to clear this path and set the framework.”
She was speechless. This had to have been a huge project and she couldn’t imagine him doing it alone. Her thighs began to ache halfway up the stairs, but Brody climbed effortlessly. Finally, they reached the top and they stepped onto a huge deck, covered partly with
the pergola Tucker mentioned. It smelled of new lumber and fresh forest. She let go of Brody’s hand and walked toward the front of the deck.
“Be careful. I haven’t finished the railings yet,” he said.
“It’s beautiful.” She had thought the view from the front yard was pretty, but it was no comparison to this. “The view is spectacular.” Not only could she see the mountains in the distance and the winding river, but she could see downtown Highland Springs as well. “What made you decide to build it?” He came up beside her and draped his arm over her shoulder.
“I needed something to focus on when I came back from New York.” She detected sadness in his voice and again, that faraway look in his eyes. He dropped his arm and sat on the edge of the deck, letting his legs dangle over the side. The sun was beaming on his hair, picking up natural golden highlights. She inched toward the edge and had a sudden case of vertigo. He turned and held out his hand, then jumped up to help her.
“Sorry about that. I’m so used to it up here I forget how scary it can be.”
“I’m okay now.” Kate settled on the lip of the deck and took a deep breath of fresh mountain air. “This is amazing.” She looked at Brody, who was wordlessly gazing out across the valley. He turned to her with a serious expression.
“No, you’re amazing.” He tilted her chin, kissed her softly, and she melted again. She felt a hot, rushing wave and thought she could get used to this. Now that she’d put her career on hold, all she seemed to think about was Brody. In a moment of clarity, she felt her cheeks flush from the fear of where this might lead and she pushed him away. They needed to slow down.
“Are you okay?” He studied her face, his brow furrowed.
“I’m just, um, a little warm.” She unzipped the down jacket. “The sun is really strong.” When she opened the coat, a red plastic lighter fell out of an inside pocket. “Oh, does Travis smoke?” She reached inside the pocket, thinking she’d find a pack of cigarettes, but instead she pulled out a thick, perfectly rolled joint.
“You could say that,” Brody said, chuckling as he reached for the joint. He started to tuck it inside his pocket, but she stopped him.
Whatever You Say_A Highland Springs Romance Page 17