“It was a start. A good start. And we have you to thank for it.”
“Me? Really?”
“Don’t sell yourself short, young lady. You’ve managed to soften some pretty hardened hearts with your smiling face and generous nature.” Katie’s heart skipped in pleasure, knowing Vance and his dad had finally had a normal conversation. Chuck held out his hand and pulled her up. “Come on, soldier. Day’s half-gone. Time for you to face your challenges. Call me once you’ve settled in, and I’ll bring dinner over,” he said as he escorted her to the door.
Encouraged by his faith in her, she managed to squash the dread of confronting Vance and her parents. “Thanks. For everything.” Katie went up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek, when the front door blew open. There on the threshold stood her favorite pirate, blocking her exit and gnashing his teeth.
“What the hell is going on around here?” Vance practically growled.
“Katie stopped by for a glass of iced tea and a visit,” Chuck said in a matter-of-fact tone, as if this was an everyday occurrence. Okay, yeah, it had been kinda every day.
“I’ve been looking all over for you. Are you leaving?” He pierced her with a fierce gaze.
Her nod was unsteady. “Y-yes, but it’s not what you’re thinking—”
“Good. Because your room has been packed up, you’re not answering my texts, and the Ardbuckle twins have shown up and informed me they’ll be helping out for the next three weeks. Which makes me think you’re leaving. What am I missing?”
“Um, I’m moving out—”
“Because of last night. Instead of talking to me. Why?” His eyes narrowed dangerously, and she knew that expression from the hours she’d spent mooning over his handsome face. He would not be happy with her answer.
“Partly. Last night made me realize what I’ve been putting off for far too long. It’s time I confront my dad and quit my job—”
Vance took an aggressive step forward. “I’m going with you. You’re not going home and facing your parents alone.”
The very fact that he had no faith in her ability to handle the situation strengthened her resolve. “No. I don’t want your help. And I’m not going home.”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Her take-charge pirate wanted to jump in headfirst and fix things. Katie couldn’t allow him to run her over. “I’m moving into a rental property…right here in Harmony, and I’ll be dealing with my family over the phone.”
Surprise snapped his head back. “Rental property? Don’t be ridiculous. Look, if you need your space…fine. You can have the whole damn house. I’ll stay in the loft. You won’t see me unless you want to. I’ll keep the Ardbuckle twins around to manage the kids. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
Katie knew this would be hard for him to understand, since he never suffered from low self-esteem or questioned his purpose in life. “Tempting, but I can’t accept. I need…no, I want to be on my own, to figure things out.”
“Why? Being on your own is overrated. Believe me, I know. Kat, I want to help you. You shouldn’t have to confront your parents alone. I don’t want them hurting you. I should be there—”
“No. This is my war. My job. You…you concentrate on finishing this book and turning all of them into blockbusters.” A flicker of something she couldn’t quite define flashed across his face.
“I don’t give a damn about the book. The book is not important. The only thing important to me is you.”
Her stomach hollowed out at the expression of frustration on his face. Katie scoffed to hide her own churning emotions. “Don’t be ridiculous. Your book and career are important, and you can’t stop because of me. I’d never forgive myself. Besides, I’m going to be busy—” Katie stopped midsentence as she spied Chuck’s subtle head shake from the corner of her eye.
Alert, Vance caught the same exchange. “What’s going on here? What are you two plotting?” As if it suddenly dawned on him, he crossed his arms and widened his stance, becoming a human blockade. “When did you two become so friendly? Last I checked, you barely knew each other.”
“Katie and I have been well-acquainted since she first arrived,” Chuck said in a calm tone.
“Really?” Vance’s sarcasm was not lost on her.
She hastened to explain. “We met by accident the day I went for a walk, and your dad invited me—”
“And you never told me? Why the hell not?” His voice escalated.
“Because I asked her not to.”
Vance went from angry to hurt as his rigid shoulders slumped. Katie’s gaze darted nervously between the two men, grasping for something to say to make this right. She came up empty.
“I made her promise. I was being cautious and paranoid.” Chuck gave an apologetic shrug. “Old habits die hard. So sue me.”
Several beats passed, and Katie feared the recent goodwill created between father and son would blow up like a powder keg touched with a lit match by Chuck’s challenge.
Vance drew a deep breath. “Okay. I guess I deserve that.”
Chuck seemed satisfied, grunted, and then excused himself, allowing them some privacy, which Katie appreciated.
Then Vance turned his intense scrutiny on her. “Why are you doing this? You have a home. My home. It’s yours, and everything in it is yours…including me. Especially me. Don’t do this. Don’t run away from us.”
Guilt, ugly and raw, riddled her insides. “Give me time. Don’t you see? This is my fight I need to win all by myself.”
Vance plowed all ten fingers through his tousled hair. “No. No, you don’t. Ask my dad. It takes thousands of troops to win a war.”
Despite her heart plummeting at the desperate tone in his voice, she stiffened her spine. No time like the present to build that backbone…one vertebra at a time. “My struggle to become happy with myself is a personal battle. Mine and mine alone. I appreciate your wanting to fight it for me, but if I’m ever going to be comfortable in my own skin, I need to take a stand.” Vance reached for her, but Katie backed away. In a stronger voice, she added, “More important, I need to respect myself. And I need to handle my family. If I let you run interference for me, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. And you’ll end up resenting me…for being weak and never taking charge.”
The hurt in his gaze made her heartsick. Vance snagged her hand, capturing it within his strong, warm grasp. “I could never resent you. Ever.” His thumb making small circles across her skin almost brought Katie to her knees. “I don’t agree with you, but I’ll respect your wishes. Will I ever get to see you?” He looked as if his world was shattering. Katie knew, because she felt the same way.
She shrugged her shoulder. “It’s a small town. We’re bound to see each other.”
“When can I be with you?” His meaning was not lost on her.
Her tangled, mixed emotions unsettled her. Physical passion. A yearning to be one with this one man for the rest of her life. She heaved a huge breath. “You’re making this as hard as possible.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “I’m not the one moving out. You still haven’t answered my question.”
Katie moved in and wrapped herself around his solid body, pressing her cheek to his hard chest. Taking comfort in the beating of his steady heart. His warmth seared straight to her soul. “I can’t give you an exact date.” She had no idea how long this personal journey would take. A lot of broken pieces needed gluing back together. Vance had wrapped his arms around her and squeezed so tight that Katie didn’t know where he ended and she began.
“Anything I can do to speed up the process?” he murmured, kissing the top of her head.
Katie smiled against his light blue cotton polo shirt, breathing in his clean, masculine scent. “Finish your book.”
“Will you come home if I finish the book?”
“Finish the b
ook, and then we’ll talk.”
“And in the meantime…what do we do about our relationship?”
Katie caught the taut line of his jaw and the grim set to his mouth. “We put it on hold,” she whispered. Vance cursed under his breath. “Patience, my love. On both our parts.”
Vance studied her for a few moments as if weighing his next argument. Cupping her face with his hands, he surprised her with a gentle kiss. A brush across her lips. An acceptance, so to speak. “Okay. We do this your way.”
* * *
“You did the right thing,” Chuck said, standing next to Vance as he watched Katie drive away in her classic Mercedes. Away from him. Away from their home. Away from everything he believed in.
“Then why do I feel as though I’ve been shredded by a turboprop propeller, and my heart has been ripped from my chest?” Vance swallowed hard. Every fiber of his being rebelled against this plan of Katie’s. He hated the thought of her dealing with her dad alone. Katie had been fighting her own battles her entire life. Vance should be there backing her up. But what choice did he have? Arguing her off the ledge would only make him look more like an ass than he already did.
“You’ll survive. You both will.” Chuck clapped a hand over Vance’s shoulder. Grateful for the company, Vance still felt funny baring the secrets of his soul to his dad. They hadn’t exchanged twenty words over the last five years until earlier today. But it felt good to confide in someone, and his dad would keep his trust, of that Vance had no doubt.
He stared down the now-empty dirt road and didn’t know whether to congratulate himself for not kidnapping Katie and locking her away until she came to her senses or to shoot himself for agreeing to this asinine idea of hers. He shook his head. “Women…there’s no understanding them.”
Chuck gave a low chuckle. “Katie needs all the love she can get, and you’re the right man for the job. Give her the time she needs to find herself, and I think she’ll surprise you.”
“I’ve got nothing but time,” he muttered.
“I don’t think so.” Vance arched a brow at his dad. “Seems to me the sooner you finish your book…the sooner you get her back.”
Vance scrubbed a hand over his face. The damn book. The deadline was eating him alive. He had to finish. Katie was right. Finding the time to focus was imperative. But he had so much more to tell her. Like how he’d told Walter everything about Tad and how Katie felt betrayed. And Vance wanted to reassure her he’d never hurt her again. And to prove it, he’d dumped the rights to selling his books to McKnight Studios. Katie meant more to him than some lousy, sappy Hollywood movie version of his stories. Last night, after hearing how Tad Pimp had sold him out in front of Katie, Walter had gotten real quiet on the other end of the line. Vance thought maybe he’d start putting his daughter first, before another shady business deal. Maybe. He didn’t know for sure. They hadn’t actually ended their conversation on a high note.
“I guess you’re right.” Vance dreaded heading home. Without Katie, everything felt out of whack.
His dad said, “If you need another place to get away, you can always come here. I’ll be happy to clear out.”
“Whoa.” Vance choked out a disbelieving laugh. “Who are you? And what have you done with my dad?”
“Trying to help. That’s all. You looked like someone shot your best huntin’ dog.” Chuck’s cynical arched brow mirrored Vance’s.
“I get it. Quit acting like a sap and grow a third nut. Right?”
“Your heart aches over not being able to help Katie. That’s only natural. And I’m serious about offering up my place. Dottie and I can take over with the kids to help you out.”
“You and Dottie, huh?” Chuck shifted, leaning his strong shoulder against the wood porch column. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” For Chuck’s sake, he hoped like hell Dottie Duncan would not become a permanent fixture in his life. No one deserved that. Vance cut his dad an assessing glance. The silence grew between them, and Vance recognized Chuck’s unreadable military expression. He didn’t make general by giving anything away.
“Okay. Minding my own business. Thanks. I might take you up on your offer.” Vance inhaled deeply, catching the faint scent of the pine trees surrounding his dad’s property. He started down the steps. “I better be shoving off. The kids are probably force-feeding the Ardbuckle twins cockroaches by now.”
He was halfway across the front yard when his dad called out, “About your books…”
He stopped and listened…hard.
So hard he thought his brain might pour out of his ears.
Chuck regarded him with honest eyes. “You give an accurate, vivid account of heroes, renegades, and brothers. Very gripping tales of courage under fire. You’re extremely talented.”
His lungs seized. “You’ve read my series?”
“Yes. Thanks to Katie.” Chuck smiled, brightening his entire face. “She sure has a way about her. Anyway”—he motioned with his hand—“go on. Don’t let me hold you up. You’ve got a book to finish. And I’m looking forward to reading it.”
Slack-jawed, Vance watched his dad disappear into his house before he could say thank you. His dad read his latest series and really liked it. Despite standing there looking like the town fool, pride soared through Vance, making him want to pound his chest like Tarzan.
Chapter 25
Katie closed the door to the small but roomy closet where she’d hung the last of her clothes. Her nose twitched at the pungent smell of cedar. Harmony wasn’t exactly a hotbed of rental places. She’d been lucky to land this incredible old bungalow, beating out two other offers in a neighborhood on the other side of town, near Main Street. She squeezed her eyes shut, missing Vance’s spacious master bedroom and luxurious bath. And the light and airy loft with its white-painted wood floors, king-size bed, and oversized shower for two. But what she really missed was the hunky, sexy, and sometimes pushy guy crowding her space in bed and hogging all the hot water in the shower.
Chuck had stopped by earlier with take-out food from the Dog, so she was set for dinner.
Katie lifted her cell phone from the top of the antique wood dresser and drew in a deep breath. A bead of sweat trickled between her breasts. Her brother Sam had texted earlier, saying her parents would be home later. It was now later. The moment of truth. Pushing her heavy braid over her shoulder, she tapped the screen of her cell and listened to the phone ring.
“Hi, Dad,” she said, easing down on the chintz-covered love seat.
“Katie? Where are you? I’ve been worried sick.”
“Same place I was the last time we talked. Harmony, North Carolina.”
“About that…it’s time to come home. I don’t think the location scout position is working out like we’d hoped. Your mother and I have something much better in mind for you.”
Katie pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Um, I don’t think so, Dad.”
“What do you mean? Just a minute”—Katie heard some rustling on the other end of the line—“Crystal! Katie’s on the phone”—more rustling—“I’ve put you on speaker so your mother can hear,” Dad said.
“Katie, dear? It’s your mother. When will you be home? There’s a new exercise craze…Trapfit. Have you heard of it? You exercise on a trapeze. Like the circus. It really builds upper body strength, and you’ll lose weight—”
“Mom, Dad…I need you to listen.” Katie pressed two fingers into her twitching eyebrow.
“Crystal, hush up. What is it, Katie?” Dad had silenced Mom, and for once, Katie was grateful his command was obeyed.
“I’m not coming home any time soon.”
“What?”
“I’m quitting McKnight Studios, and I’m staying in Harmony.” Katie could feel the tension, even over the phone. It was like waiting for lightning to strike.
“I don’t understand. Walter, did
you hear what she said?” Katie could hear her dad’s silence loud and clear. “Katie, why are you doing this? Are you sick? Do you need a doctor?” Mom asked.
“No, Mom. Listen…I’m doing this for me. I need time to think and to figure out who I am and what I want.”
“You’re Katie McKnight, and we can give you whatever you want. This is another one of those rash things you’re always doing. Like taking all those pictures.”
Katie rolled her eyes. “It’s called photography, and it happens to be something I love.”
“Walter, are you hearing any of this? What is she talking about? Our daughter is living in some crazy town—”
“Let me handle this,” her dad said in a hushed tone. “Katie, your mother and I think it’s best you come home and resume living here with us.” Oh, hashtag hell no. “I’ve enrolled you in the accounting program at the community college. We think this would be a fine career choice for you.”
Katie bolted out of her seat and started pacing the hardwood oak floors in the tiny living room. “Accounting?” Katie almost laughed at the absurdity of his suggestion. “I have a degree in education, in case it slipped your mind. Whatever gave you the idea that I’d be interested in accounting?”
“It’s a respectable career. You can make a good living. There’s no money in education—”
“No! No more. Dad, this is not up for discussion. I’m not some pawn or some lowly intern you can order around at your whim. And I’m no longer sitting quietly and allowing you to handle my life. I’m not becoming an accountant. If I want to start a bottle cap collection or weave placemats out of pine straw, it will be my choice and my career.”
“Kathryn, you’re distraught. Let me send you a plane ticket. It’s better if we have this discussion in person.” Yeah, so he could browbeat her into doing his bidding.
“Dad, there’s nothing to discuss. I’m telling you, I plan to stay here in Harmony and—”
“Doing what? Have you taken leave of your senses?” Mom shrieked. “Your home is here in California. Not…not all the way across the country in some hillbilly hick town.”
Sweet Southern Bad Boy Page 28