Chapter 19 #2
Well, she was only doing what he recommended.
Her laughter echoed against the structures and trees that surrounded her as she stumbled through the snow.
She squealed with excitement when she heard him crashing after her.
As much as she’d like to believe she could escape him, she knew better.
Leo’s legs were longer and he had more stamina than she did.
He would catch her.
And perhaps she could have extended their little chase if she hadn’t looked over her shoulder to see how far back he was. Her hair whipped around her face, and she screamed just before he made contact with her.
Leo practically tackled her to the ground, turning himself so he landed beneath her in the freshly fallen snowbank.
Their combined laughter was the most wonderful melody she’d ever heard.
His arms were wrapped around her and after their laughter subsided, they were left staring into each other’s eyes.
He lifted a hand to her cheek and she leaned into him.
“Did you have a good girls’ day with Jane?” he murmured, his thumb trailing against her chilled skin. His hand was surprisingly warm.
Kat nodded. “It was nice to get out and do something fun. I never really had friends I could do that with in New York.”
“Really?” He frowned. “Why not?”
She rolled her eyes before pulling away and settling into the snow at his side. They both stared up at the bright blue sky overhead. “No one understands the complexities of my job or why it’s so important to me.”
“And Jane does?”
“Of course she does. She’s sorta me but the cowboy version.”
He snorted. “Don’t let her hear you say that. She’s the furthest thing from being a cowgirl.” Leo turned his head to look in her direction. “But I suppose she is a western version of what you do. She has to juggle a lot, too.”
Kat rolled her lower lip between her teeth. “I wonder how she does it.”
“How she does what?”
She shifted onto her side and rested her cheek in her hand as she propped up on her elbow.
“The balance. She does so much with the charities and supporting Noah with all his ventures. And she told me she wants to start trying for kids. I never thought it was something that was possible.” Her confession was more of a surprise to herself than anyone.
Was she really admitting that she wanted to have it all?
That it could be something worth trying?
Leo reached out and tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear. “Anything is possible, Princess. You just need the right people to support you.”
Maybe he was right. Goosebumps erupted along her skin despite the warm clothes she was wearing. She didn’t like to think her father was incapable of supporting her mother through her desires, but it was a possibility.
“I wonder if we opened a branch out here… it if would be possible for me… too.” That confession was supposed to stay locked up in her head—it was definitely not meant for Leo’s ears.
But based on the surprise and blatant excitement she read on his face, she couldn’t deny that he’d likely been hoping for her to admit she wanted to stay.
It was too late to pull those words back from being out in the world, but Kat didn’t think she would even if it was possible.
Leo shot up to a seated position. “You mean that?”
She sat upright as well and he pulled her into his lap. Kat laughed, her arms around the back of his neck. “I do.”
“You’d really open a second location? Move out here?”
“Well, it’s not a sure thing, Leo—”
“I know. But it’s an amazing idea. You’ve said yourself it’s a pain to have to travel to the west coast when you have to deal with clients out that way. It would be easier if you had offices out this way, right?”
“Right…” she drawled. The smile on her face was beginning to make the muscles in her cheeks ache.
“Then you should do it. Fight for it. Your dad would need someone to run the location out this way. And Chaz could have the one in New York.”
She hadn’t thought about it that far, but Leo was right about that, too. There would be no need for an arranged marriage. She wouldn’t have to fight Chaz for the lead position. This was a brilliant solution to a lot of things she didn’t like about her job.
Leo gripped the back of her neck and pulled her closer. He pressed his forehead against hers. “I want you here, Kat. I want you to stay with me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. He’d never been so open about how he felt about her. Neither one of them had confessed their feelings beyond acknowledging that they were present. Was he suggesting that his feelings ran even deeper than she’d expected?
Heart flipping at the notion, she pulled back and framed his face with both of her hands. It would have been so easy to tell him that she felt the same way. But there was one niggling thing that held her back.
She could bring the job out here and she didn’t doubt she would love it. But would she be sacrificing the rest? Living in New York was more than just the job. It was the lifestyle. The hustle and bustle of being around so many people. Wouldn’t she miss it?
Shoving aside those pangs of doubt, she forced a smile. “I’ll see what I can do.” With that, she pressed her lips to his and allowed herself to get lost in his touch.