Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Time was running out.
Leo cursed under his breath when he entered the house. He could already tell that Kat wasn’t in the kitchen for dinner. She’d taken to avoiding eating with them. Their roles had reversed. Thankfully, his mother wasn’t insisting that he speak to her about what was happening.
She looked worried most of the time, but she kept her nose out of it.
He moved toward the kitchen despite knowing Kat wouldn’t be there. It had been a week and a half since Simon’s party. And since that night, Kat refused to be alone with him, making a quiet conversation impossible. What they had to discuss wasn’t something everyone needed to know about.
Just as he’d expected, the only person in the kitchen was his mother. She hummed softly to herself as she loaded dishes into the dishwasher. There were four places at the table, but the food wasn’t out of the oven yet.
Leo leaned against the doorway, arms folded as he considered what Kat would do if he threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes in order to make her eat with them.
“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably not a good idea.”
His focus shifted from the table to his mother. “And why do you say that?”
“The crease between your brows. You’re clearly plotting.”
Leo scoffed, turning his attention back to the table. “Serenity finally get sick of feeding Reese at her place?”
The flat look his mother gave him made it clear she wasn’t going to respond to his question. Reese had been back since a couple of days before Simon’s birthday but he’d been spending the majority of his time at his fiancée’s place, which suited Leo just fine.
There was nothing worse than having to deal with a blissfully happy brother who had finally gotten the girl of his dreams. Leo was thrilled for his brother, he really was. Serenity and her two boys were everything to Reese and the man deserved to be happy.
But seeing that happiness firsthand was tearing Leo apart inside—especially since Kat refused to talk, refused to look at him, even.
His mother was facing him now, wiping her hands dry with a small towel. “Perhaps I can convince her to come to supper since your brother will be here tonight.” She winked. “Peer pressure being what it is.”
Leo hated that was what it might take to get Kat to be in a room with him. Was there a chance that he could get his mother and brother to abandon their plates early enough that Kat would be forced to speak to him alone?
At this point, he’d do nearly anything to get her to just speak more than a couple of words to him.
“Good luck with that. She’s become an expert at avoiding being within ten feet of me at all times.”
His mother’s pitying frown was the last thing he wanted to see. So he backstepped into the hallway and headed for the front door. He’d get some fresh air and pray that his mother was successful.
Leo heard her voice before he entered the kitchen.
She’d done it.
His mother had actually gotten Kat to slip away from the confines of her room. Leo stopped just before entering the kitchen, his ears straining. Kat’s voice was soft—too soft to make out any words. He could hear his brother’s quiet cadence as well. It sounded like they were getting along.
Jealousy reared its ugly head.
No, he didn’t think that his brother would attempt to steal her away. Reese only had eyes for Serenity.
The jealousy stemmed from the fact that Leo couldn’t get Kat to speak to him. Look at him. Heck, be in the same room as him.
Leo closed his eyes and drew in a calming breath. Everything would be okay. Kat had come out of her room. She still had a couple more weeks on this project before she planned to leave. He was certain there were still loose ends to tie up.
All he had to do was get her to agree to one conversation.
Hating the way his hands shook as he moved closer to the door, Leo forced his mind to remain calm.
It was almost laughable, the way he was acting right now. He’d never chased after a woman like this before. Love didn’t come easily, and he was too impatient most days to put in the work.
But from the very beginning he had.
He’d put in the work even if it had been misguided. All those times he’d inserted himself into her life when she’d first arrived. Leo had been a fool not to see it for what it was.
This went beyond fascination.
It went beyond obsession.
Leo was in love.
And the reason his hands were trembling had everything to do with the fact that he felt her slipping through his fingers.
All eyes turned toward him and conversation halted the second he stepped into the room.
Leo’s own gaze locked onto Kat. A mixture of relief, pain, frustration, and…
love erupted within him, nearly knocking the wind from his lungs.
He wanted to seize her in that moment and give her a little shake to make sure she understood the torture she’d put him through over the last several weeks.
He wanted to pull her into a crushing hug and kiss the crown of her head to assure her that he wasn’t going to give up on her and whatever she was dealing with whether it was fear or anger—he’d make it right.
He’d make amends for the stupid mistakes he’d made in going to her father.
Leo could see he’d royally messed everything up in his quest to secure what he wanted.
Kat’s steady attention on him didn’t waver. Not as he marched across the room and pulled out the chair beside her. Not as he settled into his seat. And not when he leaned in close to her and murmured, “We’re going to talk about this.”
“Not now,” was her only curt reply.
“I don’t care when. But we will. You can’t avoid me forever.”
Kat muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, “Watch me.”
He scowled before turning his focus to his mother. “Smells good, mom.”
Reese cleared his throat, but Leo wasn’t about to give his older brother any of his attention.
The guy didn’t know what it was like dealing with a woman like Kat.
Reese had been lucky in that department.
Serenity was sweet and soft spoken. The only roadblock between her and Reese had been her children and the loss of her late husband.
Nope. Reese didn’t know a dang thing when it came to wooing a woman who was as stubborn as that bull Bo had sold to the ranch on the outskirts of town. That animal gave everyone a run for their money.
Kat was as stubborn as they came. She’d had her mind made up about her life at the age of nine and there was no derailing her.
Reese cleared his throat again.
“Are you okay?” Kat asked.
At that, Leo shot his brother a sharp look. Reese lifted his brows as if to warn Leo from doing something stupid.
Too late for that.
“Been busy, Kat?” Leo ground out. “I seem to recall you telling me we could have a certain conversation.”
“Leo…” his mother warned. “Not at the dinner table.”
Kat stiffened at his side. This time she kept her eyes trained on her food.
“It’s been a couple of weeks. I figured it was important enough—”
“This lasagna is very good, Sonya. You’ll have to give me the recipe before I leave.”
Leo gripped his fork in his hand so tight the metal dug into his palm. “And when is that, exactly?” At this point, he didn’t care if he sounded like he was ready to murder something. He’d arrived at his wits’ end with Kat and her avoidance game.
“When the project is complete,” she said quietly.
“That’s not an answer.”
“Leo,” his mother snapped. “Stop attacking her with questions. Can we just share this meal in peace? I’m sure Kat will give you a few moments after dinner. Isn’t that right, Kat?”
All eyes turned to the woman at Leo’s side, and he could tell in that exact moment what Kat was thinking.
There was no way she’d allow herself to be cornered by him. She was likely planning on slipping away from the table early when he was distracted so she wasn’t forced to hear him out.
Well, fat chance of that happening, sweetheart. I’m going to make sure you follow through with our little talk whether you like it or not.
Kat squirmed in her seat and her face flushed a bright red color before she gave the smallest nod known to man.
“See? There. Kat will clear the air after dinner.”
Leo glowered at his mother for enabling Kat. He could feel Reese’s warning glare burning holes in his face. If Leo wanted to ensure that he’d get what Kat owed him, he’d have to be two steps ahead of her at all times.
Then it hit him. He knew exactly how to do that.
When the room had gone quiet and those seated at the table weren’t eating as much, Leo pushed away from the table.
“I’m going to head to the bathroom. Wait for me?
” He’d directed the question to Kat if only to throw her off.
The fact that she looked relieved only confirmed his suspicion.
She wouldn’t wait for him. She was going to slip up to her room the second she had a chance.
Well, she wouldn’t like what was waiting for her when she got there.
It only took five minutes for the door to Kat’s room to quietly open and shut. It was dark in her room until she flipped on the lights. Then she turned around and clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream.
Slowly, Leo rose from where he sat perched on the edge of her bed. He cocked his head at her like the predator he was as he stalked toward her. “I thought you said you’d wait for me.”
Kat pressed against the door, her hands flush with the wood. “Leo,” she whispered breathlessly, her eyes flashing with fear, “I already told you this was over. I didn’t want to cause more pain than I already had. You went too far. Everything has changed.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Leo only stopped moving when she was pinned between him and the door. He stared down at her, searching her face, reveling in her beauty. “It’s not over. You can’t tell me that what we had meant nothing to you. That would be a lie and you know it.”
Her breathing was more uneven now. Each rise and fall of her chest drew his attention. This wasn’t fear. It was… anguish. Whatever she was thinking, feeling, it hurt her.
Leo reached out and pushed her chin upward with his knuckle. “Talk to me, Kat. What happened in New York?
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he muttered. “You said yourself that everything changed.”
Slowly, her lashes fluttered as she stared up at him. “Everything and nothing has changed. Our plans. They’re not going to happen. I’m going back to New York. You’re staying here—”
He couldn’t handle hearing her say such things. The fear in his chest was all consuming. He couldn’t lose her! His lips crushed down over hers, stealing her next words. She wasn’t going to run from him. Not after all the progress they’d made to be together—to work past their differences.
He heard the sound of the slap before the sting of her palm against his cheek registered. Leo’s head snapped to the side then he slowly turned his dark gaze back to the woman he loved. “Kat,” he growled.
“No,” she whimpered, “no more talking. No more kissing. I told you it was over. You know that my career is the most important thing to me and if I can’t bring it out here, then there is no chance for us.”
“You can’t actually believe that.” Dang it! Why did his voice crack? Why couldn’t he keep his emotions in check? Leo could feel the burn of her rejection building behind his eyes and deep in his chest. She just needed to feel his love for her better, more clearly.
He moved to kiss her again, but she turned her face and whispered, “I’m engaged.”
That stopped Leo cold. His spine stiffened. His hands curled into fists.
No.
She was lying.
This was all a ploy to get him to let her go. It had to be.
Kat’s eyes were still shut tight when she continued. “To Chaz.”
And just like that, she shoved the dagger into his heart.
“You—you’re—don’t do this,” he pleaded.
“It’s already done,” Kat whimpered.
“No.” Leo stepped back, digging both hands into his hair as he turned away from her. “No, you’re lying.”
“I’m not.” This time, her voice sounded hollow—nothing like the woman he’d fallen in love with. “I’m engaged to Chaz because that’s what will be best for me. For the company.”
He whirled around to stare at her.
Shock.
Disgust.
An all-consuming pain that roared like the fires in the underworld itself.
Leo shook his head.
“I think you should leave,” she whispered.
He let out a dark laugh. “Why?”
“Because. Like I said, it’s over.”
“It’ll never be over,” he snarled moving closer to her.
She scrambled away from the door until she was on the other side of the room. Holding up her hand, she glared at him, fire in her eyes. “Leave, Leo. Now.”
“You’re making a mistake,” he ground out. “Can’t you see that?”
She refused to speak, but those dark eyes remained fixed on him.
His heart was shattering into a million pieces, and she was the cause of it. Couldn’t she see the damage she was doing to him? To them both? A pained growl burst from his chest as he reached for the knob and yanked the door open, then slammed it shut.
That was not how their conversation was supposed to go. He needed to regroup. Then he’d try again. Leo refused to give up on her.