Chapter 8
Paint dripped onto his cheek. Goddamn it. He should have hired this done. But he needed to keep busy so he’d decided to paint the office himself. Not long ago, he’d pictured Katie helping him get the place ready, choosing furniture, artwork. But that wasn’t going to happen now.
It took him four hours to paint the whole place. As he finished, a truck pulled up out front. Guys got out and began to unload from the back end. He’d ordered standard office furniture that was in stock. A man came to the door and Will opened it. “Delivery for Kirkland. That you?”
“Yes.”
“Can you sign here?”
Briefly he scanned the document. Everything was there. He signed.
When they brought the first box in, Will frowned. “That says desk on it. I paid for everything to be assembled.”
The big burly guy frowned down at the order. “Doesn’t say so here.”
“Damn it.”
“You want it anyway?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
All the desks arrived in boxes. Chairs and filing cabinets didn’t need assembly. But the two sideboards and all the tables were in boxes too. When the movers left, he went to open the first desk and he realized he didn’t have a box cutter.
He raised his eyes to the ceiling. “What did I do to piss you off?” he asked God.
He dropped down on a chair. He’d made a mistake with the furniture. He’d either have to assemble all this or call the store and pay for someone to come back and do it. He kicked a box. Katie would have made this fun, laughing at his mistake. Helping with the assembly. Making jokes and making plans. He raked his hand over his face then realized they had paint on them. God help him, nothing was right without her.
* * *
Kate woke up at two p.m. the next day. She’d worked last night but was hoping today she’d hear something from Thomas. She gave him an ultimatum and he didn’t like that. Still, she hadn’t conceded.
Will would have been proud of her for standing up for herself. He liked that in a woman. Except for five days ago when she stood up to him. The jerk!
Forget about Will. Start thinking about what you’ll do if Thomas doesn’t agree to your promotion . She got out of bed, made coffee and sat down at her computer. She typed in, Help Wanted and scrolled the ads: teachers, nurses, office assistants. Her gaze snagged on one. Wanted, licensed private investigators. Newly opened branch of Investigator Solutions, to employ fully trained PI personnel . She recognized the phone number.
God, she missed him. And he’d made so much progress on getting the business up and running without her.
Well, she’d made progress too. She’d made a move to make her life better by giving the chief her terms and by confessing her misery to Mary. Also, by fixing up this dump of an apartment. The problem with the latter was she needed to make more money in two months.
They would have celebrated her standing up for herself. With sex. With dinner out, maybe. With having fun.
The phone rang. She saw the precinct’s number. Please let this go right.
She cleared her throat and clicked on. “Donovan.”
“Chief Thomas here, Lieutenant Donovan.”
* * *
Will turned over in bed again and checked the time. It was midnight. He was exhausted from his grueling day but couldn’t sleep. Instead, he tangled the covers and twisted the sheets for an hour.
“Damn it.” Lying here would drive him nuts. Bounding out of bed, he dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt Katie had told him was sexy on him. He stuffed his feet in his sandals, got his keys and headed out.
He’d get a drink somewhere and lose himself in the liquor. On the way, he got that feeling again, a hunch. Not an omen, this time, but something else. He found himself driving to Al’s on the outskirts of town. When he arrived, he chided himself for coming to the place where everything started with Katie. He went inside anyway. The bar was hopping. Lots of guys. Not many women. He grabbed a stool and ordered a manhattan. As he sipped, he surveyed the interior.
Had he expected her to be here? What an idiot. Still, he got up and wandered to the backroom.
And stopped dead in his tracks. There she was.
* * *
Katie had come here to wallow in her misery. She’d dressed up and done her hair. Maybe she’d go home with the guy sitting across from her. The thought made her ill. She sipped her gin. And tried to listen to him about sports.
Then she heard, “Hey, honey, I’m sorry I’m late. I had to get the kids settled.”
“You got kids?” the guy asked.
“I—”
“Would you mind?” Will said, gesturing to the chair. “Me and the little woman don’t get out much.”
The guy stood, scowled, then stalked away.
He sat.
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
He asked, “So, what’s a nice girl like you doing in a joint like this?”
She said, “I’m celebrating. I got my lieutenancy back.”
His face lit with pleasure. “That’s great, Kate. Good for you.”
“I saw online you were opening your office soon.”
“Yeah, it’s almost ready.”
“Huh.”
Again the silence.
Hell, he’d go for broke. “None of it was fun, though. Not without you.”
She blurted out, “The first person I wanted to contact when I found out about the promotion was you. I miss you so much, Will.”
He grasped her hands across the table. “Me, too, love. I’m sorry I was stubborn. So macho about what I did.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t rational about all that. The chief said he restored my rank in part because of all the material he had to get together for you.”
“I’m glad. I should have asked you about it first, though. Forgive me?”
“If you forgive me.”
Her smile was sun bright. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” His voice lowered. “I want you so much.”
“For just sex?”
“Not anymore.”
* * *
Will was breathless when he came down from the last orgasm. He saw she was, too. He grinned. “Damn, sweetheart. You are something else.”
“So are you, buddy.”
“Ready for another round?”
“I think I need a breather.”
He laid by her side on the same pillow and took hold of her hand. “I can’t believe we’re here together.”
“In some ways, I can’t either.”
“I—” His phone rang.
“It’s probably some applicant. I can get it later.”
She reached for his phone as it was on her side table. Glanced at the ID. “Oh, my God. It’s the White House calling.”
“Answer it. Put it on speaker.”
She clicked on. “Will Kirkland.”
“Hello, Kirkland.” President Mahoney’s voice.
He heard Katie gasp.
“Yes, Mr. President. What can I do for you?”
“Come back to my detail.”
“What?”
“I’ve been recuperating for a month. I’m finally back in the swing of things. I knew you weren’t guarding me, but so much else kept me from doing anything about it. So, what do you say? Want to come back to the PPD?”
Katie handed him the phone, rolled over and swung her feet to the floor.
He thought of their lovemaking. When they said words of commitment. He circled her waist to keep her there but she broke his hold and left the room.
“Will, are you still there?”
“Yes, sir. I am. I won’t be able to come back to the Secret Service. I’ve made commitments in Westwood. A new job. A new girl.”
The president laughed. “Well, hell. I should have called sooner.”
“No, sir. You shouldn’t have.”
“Good luck, Will. Have a happy life.”
He found Katie in the workout room sitting on a bench. “I should have known better.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Did you think I’d say yes to the president?”
“How can you not?”
“I told him I’d made commitments here.”
She started to cry. Put her hands over her face.
He eased them down.
“Thank you, Will.”
He smiled. “Why don’t you show me how much you appreciate it.”
She grinned through her tears, then surprised him by pulling him down to the mat.
“Get ready for a wild ride.”
“Ah, sweetheart, I’m ready!”
She started to pull off his shirt. “Hold on a second.” He grabbed her hands. I need to tell you something.”
“Now?”
“Yes. I love you, Katie Donovan.”
Her eyes moistened.
“None of that,” he teased.
“I love you too, Will. I really love you.”
“That’s all we need.”
* * * * *
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