Chapter 6
Kat watched her younger sister park and step out of her little Honda Civic. Julie was an inch taller than she was, which had always grated on Kat’s nerves growing up, and a little tanner, thanks to her morning yoga routine, which she did outside. Even so, people had always mistaken them for twins. They were nearly identical, on the outside at least. Personality wise, they were worlds different.
Julie’s gaze flicked toward the window.
Spotted. Straightening, Kat guessed she had to help with her sister’s bags now. There couldn’t be more than a couple. Julie was only staying for a weekend because she had to get back to her job as a yoga instructor at her boyfriend’s health club in Charlotte.
“Julie!” Kat was surprised by the genuine enthusiasm that rolled off her as she bounded down the steps and toward the car in her driveway.
Setting her bags down, Julie opened her arms, looking genuinely happy to see her, too. Of course, Julie was always happy to see everyone. Other than Val, she didn’t have any enemies. Growing up, Kat would’ve said that her younger sister was perfect, or as close to perfection as it came.
“Hey, sis!” Julie stepped back and gave Kat an assessing look. “How are you?”
With a close-up look, Kat could ask the same. “I’m good. You?”
Julie brushed her hair from her face, seeming to breathe in the air around her. “The drive was a long one, but it feels good to be home.”
That was a statement that Kat never thought she’d hear her sister say. Julie had gone away to college right after high school and, while she was religious about making the obligatory holiday visits, she rarely came back to Seaside otherwise. Which raised all kinds of questions about what she was doing here now. Before Kat could ask, though, Julie popped the trunk of her car and Kat stared with her mouth agape at the one, two, three, four…six bags in the trunk. A car this small shouldn’t even hold six bags.
“Let’s just get these to my room and then we can catch up,” Julie said, heaving a duffel bag over her shoulder.
Her room?
Kat had envisioned Julie taking the couch. There was no spare room here. Unless Julie stayed in the master bedroom, where John’s things still resided. Kat hadn’t slept there in over two years—since she’d been notified that he was killed in action. That room had been theirs together. How could she sleep there knowing John was never coming home?
Julie’s gaze lowered as Kat twisted the engagement ring on her finger, the concern etching itself deeper into the fine lines of her face. Then she lugged another bag on her shoulder and started walking toward the front door.
Kat followed her inside. “Just how long will you be staying exactly?”
As if she didn’t hear her, her sister continued walking down the hall, poking her head into both rooms, and then heading inside the master. “I assume you’re using the one that looks lived in, so I’ll camp out here if that’s okay.” A smile brightened her face as she plopped down on the king-sized bed and looked at Kat.
“You can’t stay in this room. And please get off the bed,” she said, her tone becoming the one she used when disciplining her students—polite but pointed. She refused to put Julie’s luggage down in this room. It was off-limits.
“This was your room with John,” Julie said, not budging. Her eyes tilted sympathetically.
Kat hated when people’s eyes slanted in pity. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?” Julie asked, the slant diving deeper.
“Looking at me like I’m not okay. I am okay. Just because I don’t use this room, or that bed anymore, doesn’t mean anything.”
“I know.” Julie nodded. “Have you even touched this bed since he’s been gone?”
Not since she’d gotten the call from John’s sobbing mother, informing her that they’d identified his body. “Please, just get up,” Kat snapped, trying her best not to sound like a royal bitch. “You can sleep somewhere else. I’ll give you my room and I’ll take the couch.”
Julie stood, shaking her head. “I’m not kicking you out of your own room. If anyone is taking the couch, it’s me. The couch will be perfect, actually.” She lifted her bags and started back down the hall. “Are you at least going to therapy?” she asked.
Kat didn’t answer. Work was her therapy. And Val.
“You never were good at taking care of yourself. Too busy taking care of everyone else around you,” Julie continued.
Kat huffed, doing her best to keep up as Julie strode directly toward the kitchen. “I’m taking care of myself. You don’t even live here. You have no idea if I’m taking care of myself or not. Which I am.” Kat rested her hands on her hips, her brows lowering as she watched Julie open the refrigerator and peer inside. “What are you doing?”
“Seeing just how well you take care of yourself.” Julie glanced over her shoulder. “You’re living off cold pizza and mustard?”
Point taken.
“Kirk’s pizza is the best,” Kat said weakly, as if that were a viable defense.
“Well, we’re going out to dinner tonight anyway, right?” Julie shut the fridge and leaned against the counter. “We’ll work on finding you that rebound guy tonight and get groceries tomorrow. It’s a wonder you’re still breathing.” Her sister winked playfully.
“I’m the older sister. I’m the one who is supposed to be making sure you’re okay.”
Julie’s smile wilted only slightly. “All good.” Her catchphrase for as long as Kat could remember. Everything was always “all good.” And Kat usually believed her. But Julie was suddenly home, and the dark circles under her eyes made Kat wonder at the reason.
“How soon do the bars open in Seaside anyway?” Julie asked, flashing a wicked grin.
“Only one bar in Seaside, remember? Heroes. And I believe it’s open right now.”
“Good.” Julie headed toward her suitcase. “I’ll freshen up, we’ll grab a bite, and then we’ll work on getting you laid.”
Kat spewed the drink of water she’d just sipped onto the floor in front of her. “Who said anything about having sex?” Kat asked.
Julie chuckled, looking her over. “Sis, you are wound tighter than a forty-year-old virgin. But okay, fine.” She held up her hands in surrender. “You can start by getting wasted drunk tonight and we’ll advance to orgasms another night. How’s that?”
Kat’s shoulders relaxed a notch. Drunk sounded nice. “Perfect.”
—
Micah reluctantly walked through the door of Heroes, Seaside’s only bar. It was a popular hole-in-the-wall that catered to the local military. How had Lawson talked him into coming here after the dinner from hell, when Ben had stared at his lettuce like eating it was some new form of torture? He just wanted his kid to be happy. Was that too much to ask?
“Ben’ll be fine with your aunt. Aunt Clara is awesome.” Lawson bumped his shoulder, seeming to read his mind. “You need some time off to unwind.”
Drinking wasn’t Micah’s idea of unwinding. Unwinding was tilling dirt. Riding his mower. Fishing. “Aunt Clara?” Micah teased. “She’s my aunt, you know? Not yours.”
Lawson shrugged. “What happened to what’s mine is yours?”
“I never said that.” Micah frowned. “And keep your voice down. You’re making us sound like an old married couple.”
Lawson’s gaze skimmed over him. “Nah. You’re not my type, bro. Bar or table?”
“Table.” Micah hated the bar. The bar was for people who wanted to talk about their problems. And while Jeff, the regular bartender here, was a good listener, Micah wasn’t in the mood. He’d rather drink and listen to Lawson talk.
Truth be told, he’d really rather go home.
They headed toward a round table in the back corner, as Lawson scanned the room for women. Micah guessed he’d be ditched within the hour. Then he could nab Ben and maybe catch the tail end of a game on TV.
Settling into his seat, Lawson whistled under his breath. “Don’t look now, but a smokin’ hot brunette just walked through the door.”
Micah turned to look.
“I said don’t look.” Lawson shook his head, and then flashed a charming smile at the waitress standing next to him. “I’ll just have a Coke to start with, sweetheart.”
The young woman flushed as she nodded. “And for you?” she asked, smiling at Micah.
“A beer, please.” Turning, he looked at the woman who’d just walked in again. “That brunette you have your eye on looks familiar. I think she works at Ben’s school.” He watched the woman join a table with two other women and his mouth went dry. “Kat.” And another woman who looked a lot like Kat. He hadn’t started drinking yet, and he was already seeing double.
“I spotted her first, buddy. But because you saved my life in the desert—”
Micah faced Lawson. “Her name is Val, and I’m not interested in her. I know her friend. Don’t look—” His words came out as Lawson craned his neck to stare at the table of women.
His head bobbed approvingly. “Which one is yours? She-Ra or Cinderella?”
“She-Ra?” Micah asked, lifting a brow.
“Yeah. You know. Princess of Power.” Lawson waved a hand. “I’m guessing you’re into Cinderella. She’s more your type, all sweet and innocent looking.”
“Cinderella? Your man card is in jeopardy right now, man. Her name is Kat Chandler. She’s Ben’s principal.”
Lawson’s smile grew as he rubbed his hands together. “Ben told me about her the other night. Said you like his principal a lot. Emphasis on a lot.”
The waitress set a beer in front of him. “Ben wants me to like her a lot. He feels guilty about Nicole. Thinks I’m lonely.”
Lawson drank from his Coke. “You are lonely. Why don’t we buy a round for the pretty ladies over there? I can’t decide between Val and She-Ra. She-Ra looks pretty kickass in a sexy-as-hell way. I’ll leave Cinderella for you, though.” His brows bounced playfully.
Micah started to peel the label on his bottle. “I’m not buying Ben’s principal a drink.”
“This isn’t school, it’s a bar. And she’s not a principal right now, she’s a woman. A fairest-of-them-all specimen,” Lawson said, mixing up his fairy tales—not that Micah would admit to knowing the difference, much less point that fact out.
Micah leaned back in his chair and nursed the beer in his hand. “What are we? Twelve?”
Lawson waved the waitress back over. “Three refills of whatever the ladies over there are having.”
“Got it.” Scribbling on her notepad, she flushed again as she met Lawson’s eyes. It was enough to make Micah gag. Women fell over themselves around the guy, acted like he walked on water.
“It’s the cowboy hat,” Micah said, when she walked away.
Lawson grinned. “Whatever works. You can borrow it sometime if you want. If you’re feeling like you need a little help in the romantic field.”
Screw tiny sips. He took a huge gulp from his beer. “I don’t need help. Thanks.”
“Uh-oh. She’s bringing the drinks over.” Lawson grabbed a menu and pretended to read, lifting his gaze, none too casually. “They’re looking at us,” he said through the corner of his mouth.
Micah turned in his chair and met Kat’s eyes. Wow. Lawson was right. She wasn’t a principal tonight. She looked…like a goddess. Or, yes, Cinderella with her pale skin and flowing blond hair that hung past her shoulders.
And there was no man in sight. This was the second time that he’d run into her outside of school and she’d been without a guy. She obviously had one. Women didn’t just wear diamonds on their left ring finger for no reason. Whoever the hell her fiancé was, he was lucky to get to take her home. So why wasn’t he guarding his territory? Maybe her fiancé was in the military and deployed, he considered, which made him feel even shittier for checking her out.
She-Ra, as Lawson had deemed her, stood up and headed in their direction. When she got to their table, she leaned forward, bracing her hands on the table in front of her. “Thanks for the drinks, guys.”
She was thin, but light muscles twisted up her arms. It wasn’t a look that Micah normally found attractive, but, considering she was a clone of Kat Chandler, it worked.
She stuck out her hand and shook both of theirs. “I’m Julie Chandler. That’s my sister, Kat, and her friend Val.”
Lawson was in full charm mode. “I’m Lawson and this is my buddy Micah. Are you ladies all alone tonight?” he asked.
With a smile, her gaze landed on his cowboy hat. “Hopefully not for long. Want to join us?”
Micah started to say no, but was stopped short by Lawson’s “Hell, yeah.”
A moment later, the five of them sat comfortably around the other table.
“We keep running into each other,” Kat said, leaning over to him as Lawson captured Val’s and Julie’s attention.
“Great minds think alike.” It had come out smooth, hopefully charming, but then Micah shook his head. “Actually, this wasn’t my idea. To be honest, I’d rather be at home with Ben.” He looked at Kat. “No offense. You’re beautiful company.”
Her hair swept across her face as she glanced down to look at her hands. “Thank you. And this wasn’t my idea, either. Val and Julie decided I needed a night out.”
“Why is that?” he asked.
A shadow of emotion crossed her expression as she looked at him. “Oh, you know. I work too much, I guess.”
“We’ve talked about that, Kat,” he said, taking another sip from his beer, and motioning toward her ring. “When you get married, you’re going to have to rearrange your priorities.”
Her smile faded.
“Sorry, just saying. I know this from experience. Ben’s mom loved her work more than she loved us. The relationship was doomed from the beginning.”
Shit. By the look on her face, he’d really stuck his foot in his mouth. He tried to backpedal. “I’m sure your marriage will be different, though. And he’s a lucky guy.”
Maybe he did need to wear a damn cowboy hat, because his charm was nowhere to be found right now.
Lifting her beer for the first time since he’d sat down next to her, she took a sip. And another. Then she took such a long pull on her bottle that Micah wondered if she’d pass out from the lack of oxygen. After several more swigs, Val and Julie stopped to watch her, glancing at Micah in question.
“What did you say to her?” Val asked, accusations etched all over her face.
“He didn’t say anything,” Kat said, raising her voice. “I need another drink.”
As if on cue, the waitress came with bottles for everyone except Lawson, who took another soda.
“If I said something—” Micah leaned in close to her, catching the scent of her perfume. Damn. She smelled amazing.
“You didn’t.” Rolling her lips into one another, she kept her eyes on the drink. “It’s just, well, I’m not engaged any longer.”
“Oh.” His gaze lowered to her ring.
With a shrug, she looked around the table. “That relationship is in the past, and I’m moving on.”
Shit, shit, shit. He’d really screwed up this relaxing night out for her. He wasn’t sure what the story was, but he was starting to suspect it was the reason behind the haunted look he sometimes saw in her eyes. His hand found hers under the table and he offered a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“You didn’t know.” She forced a smile at him and looked at Val and Julie again. “But tonight isn’t about that. It’s about catching up with my two favorite women, and enjoying a few drinks.”
“That’s not exactly what I had in mind,” Julie said, lifting her brows.
Kat wobbled a little on her seat, and Micah instinctively placed a steadying hand on her back. The touch zinged through him, and, yeah, he could think of some things he’d rather do than drink, too.
Grabbing the fresh bottle that the waitress had placed in front of her a moment earlier, Kat held it up to the group. “Well, drinking myself into oblivion is exactly what I have in mind.”
—
The room was spinning as Kat tried to focus on Micah’s mouth. He was saying something, but his hand on her thigh was very distracting.
And why had she just told him she wasn’t engaged? That opened all kinds of doors. Now there’d be questions, and answering questions when you were drunk was never a good idea.
She looked across the table at her sister and friend, who were laughing hysterically at something the other guy had said. What was his name again? All she could remember at the moment was the kiss that she’d shared with Micah the other night. It’d been a nice kiss. Better than nice. That kiss had set off fireworks inside her, lighting up places that had been dormant far too long.
“Kat?”
“Hmm.” She blinked heavily at Micah and felt that dorky smile crawl through her cheeks. Great, just great. She’d never be able to face him again, which was too bad. She kind of liked this sexy lawn keeper.
“I think you’ve had too much to drink.” His brows hung heavily over his chocolate fudge eyes.
“Yum.”
“Yep.” He nodded definitively. “I’m taking you home right now.”
All conversation stopped and everyone at the table turned to him.
“I’m taking her to her home, and I’ll be going back to mine.” Micah cleared his throat. “Ladies, you don’t have to finish your night quite yet. I can vouch for my friend here. He’ll get you home just fine,” he said, leveling his gaze at Lawson.
“And who’ll vouch for you?” Julie asked, looking at Micah. “How do we know you’re not going to take advantage of my sister while she’s falling all over herself?”
“Hey!” Kat objected. “I’m not falling over.” She swayed on her chair as she waggled a finger. “And I can vouch for Micah. He’s a perfect gentleman.”
Val’s gaze narrowed on Kat, her lips lifting lightly at the corners. “I’ll vouch for him. Micah should definitely drive Kat home tonight.”
And either Kat’s vision was jumping from all the alcohol, which was possible, or Val’s eyebrows waggled over her mischief-filled eyes.
Kat shook her head. Val thought they were leaving to rip each other’s clothes off—or at least that’s what she was hoping. But she was wrong. Raging hormones or not, Kat couldn’t sleep with Micah. She barely knew him, and he was a parent who also happened to work for her. She’d have to be a lot drunker than this to cross those lines.
“Are you ready?” Micah asked, turning to her and smiling.
“I can’t just leave. I’m the reason we’re all here.” Her words slurred on top of each other, as she looked across the table at Val again. “I can’t just leave you.”
“It’s fine. Really. I’ll call you tomorrow and you can complain about how awful your headache is. Because it’s going to be painful.” Val smiled as if the thought were a pleasant one.
Kat shifted in her chair, and then relented. “Fine.” Going home sounded good actually. She tried to stand before both feet were flat on the ground. Rookie-drunk mistake. The heel of her shoe got caught on the leg of the chair, and her body flung to what would’ve been the floor, if Micah hadn’t been standing there. Instead, her head hit the hard rock wall of his chest.
He pulled her up gently and steadied her on her feet. “I’ll help you to my Jeep.”
She nodded, feeling sick as her head started to spin faster. “Okay. I guess. See you at home, Julie.” Her words sounded slurred even to her own drunken ears. How much had she had to drink? She couldn’t remember, which was a bad sign. She remembered the first three drinks, and those were buried under several more.
Micah’s arm hugged her waist tightly as he helped her exit the bar and walk through the parking lot.
“You’re strong,” she said, giggling. Yep, she’d be mortified in the morning. This thought started her laughing hysterically.
Leaning her against his Jeep, he held a hand to her stomach to keep her from tipping over while he unlocked the door. His hand resting just south of her waist lit a fire low in her belly. She was hysterical and turned on, and every other contradicting emotion. Definitely in no condition to be interacting with co-workers and parents of her students.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Nothing. It’s just, I’m wasted.” She laughed even harder. “I never get wasted.”
“Good to know.” He started to guide her to the passenger seat. When she tried to step up, she wobbled out of control and his strong arms wrapped around her again. “Okay,” he said. Then with one quick motion, he lifted her off the ground and placed her into the seat of his vehicle.
“Have you thought about that kiss?” she asked, as he leaned in close to fasten her seatbelt. She couldn’t control what was coming out of her mouth. “Because I have. A little.” She started laughing again. Val had warned her that she was a horrible drunk, and evidently, it was true.
“What have you thought about it?” he asked, his voice low and bristly. Her buckle snapped into place with a loud click. He could step back now, but he didn’t.
And she didn’t want him to. What was the point of being drunk if you couldn’t say and do what you wanted, and then apologize for it in the morning? No one blamed a drunk, they blamed the drink. “I thought that I liked it. The kiss. It was amazing.” She held her breath as he lingered in front of her, his hand still resting on the seat’s buckle.
“I thought the same thing.”
“You did?” She swallowed thickly, as her heart rode up her throat.
His brow lifted. “You sound surprised.”
“I’m out of practice.” She nibbled on her lower lip, drawing his gaze there. Then his gaze flicked back to her ring. Just the thought squashed the flutterings in her chest, leaving a deep ache that vibrated with the alcohol. “He’s been gone for two years,” she said.
Micah’s brows pinched together softly.
Explaining about John in her state wasn’t a good idea, though. She might start crying, which she didn’t do in front of others anymore, and right now all she wanted to do was forget everything but their kiss. That she wanted to remember. “You could kiss me again,” she said softly.
His smile deepened and, damn, he smelled good.
Leaning in closer to her ear, his hot breath melted her as he whispered, “Kat, you’ve had too much to drink. I’m taking you home now.”
Before she could process what he’d said, he stepped back and shut the Jeep’s door, the sound as offensive as if someone had crashed cymbals in her ears. A moment later, he reappeared on the driver’s side and cranked the engine, another sound that made her wince.
She closed her eyes, unsure of what to do with her drunken emotions.
“If I kiss you again, I want to be one hundred percent sure it’s what you want. Not because my almost ex is walking up and you want to help me out. Not because you’ve had too much to drink and want to escape.”
She suddenly felt very tired, as the Jeep Cherokee headed out of the parking lot. “So, you are going to kiss me again?” she asked. Before she could hear his answer, though, her eyes closed and the sounds of the road and his voice, and the blood thundering in her head, blurred together. She remembered their kiss, the feel of his stubble roughly brushing against her cheek, and the way he had smelled like pine and fudge brownies.
No, wait. His eyes reminded her of fudge brownies. He didn’t smell like them.
Her eyes fluttered open. Yeah, she was definitely going to regret tonight in the morning. Especially the part where she’d offered to kiss him and he’d rejected her. She’d really regret that part.