Chapter Eight
The next morning, Katie woke in her own bed, stretched, and then winced as her sore muscles protested.
Ry and Jed had given her quite a workout last night, but she’d enjoyed every second of it.
Well, almost every second. Her panic over the blindfold had been the only downside of the night.
But they’d both been so understanding of her fear.
She glanced at her open bedroom door and let out a shaky breath.
She was still off-balance just remembering that night.
Slipping out of bed, she padded nude to the bathroom and turned the shower on.
After a few minutes, she stepped in and sighed. The hot water caressed her skin, helping her sore shoulder muscles relax. Katie stood there, letting the water slide down her body before picking up the shampoo bottle and pouring some out.
She wondered what Ry and Jed had planned for tonight. She’d been a little embarrassed she’d fallen asleep on them last night. But after three orgasms, her body needed the rest.
She’d woken around eleven to find the men on each side of her, their hands resting on her stomach, both sound asleep.
She had taken a few minutes to study them.
Ry, with his raven hair mussed and his jaw relaxed for once.
Always in charge, always the one to take control.
Asleep he looked almost angelic, and she was hard-pressed not to caress his face to show him control was overrated.
Then there was Jed. His dark brown hair, longer than Ry’s but just as silky.
When he was awake, his blue eyes always twinkled with mischief.
He was gentler than Ry, but he also liked to take control at times.
It was no wonder these two were as close as any two men could be.
They’d grown up and lived together after Jed’s mother died.
They were more than friends—partners in crime and all hers.
“Katie,” her grandmother yelled through the bathroom door. “Breakfast in ten minutes.”
“Okay, thanks.” Katie washed the soap out of her hair and turned off the shower. Her grandmother had been awake when she arrived home last night. But all she did was smile and tell Katie to sleep well.
After drying off, she dressed. Her leg muscles protested as she went down the stairs, but the smell of coffee and pancakes—along with a growling stomach—urged her on.
“Gran, breakfast smells delicious.” Katie poured herself a cup of coffee and then kissed her grandmother’s cheek.
“Well, you’re going to need your strength.”
Katie’s coffee cup hit the table with a thunk, and she stared at her grandmother. “Wh—what makes you say that?” Oh damn, what did her grandmother know?
“Oh, sit down.” Gran waved her hand, and Katie sat before her knees gave out. Gran set a pile of pancakes in front of her. “Now, eat them all, and we’ll talk.”
Crap. How was she going to eat now? But her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since dinner last night, and even then, she hadn’t eaten much. Grabbing the syrup, she slathered it on her pancakes and dug in.
The real maple syrup made her groan around a forkful. It had been a long time since she’d had real syrup, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d gain weight. Time to start exercising again. Not that she wasn’t getting enough exercise with Ry and Jed.
Heat flooded her veins, and she glanced at her grandmother. How much did she know? Or was she making educated guesses? Katie finished her breakfast, stood up, put her plate in the sink, and got another mug of coffee. Somehow, she figured she might need it.
Her grandmother sat back in her chair, staring at her, and Katie fought not so squirm. “Okay, out with it, Gran.”
“Ry and Jed.”
Katie started to choke. Gran stood, but Katie waved her back down. Wheezing, she stared across the table. “What about them?” she squeaked out.
“Those two boys have grown even closer since you left, Katie. They were both heartbroken when you went to New York City without a word.”
What could she say to that? She had left them and chased after a dream she could never achieve. “I’ve apologized to them.”
“That’s a start. I know why you went to New York with your father.” Gran’s lips pursed as if she tasted something sour. “And while you haven’t told me why you came home, I can guess.”
“Gran, it just didn’t work out.” She almost winced at the sweetness of her own voice. Truth be told, Randall was as bad as her gran sensed, but he was still her father.
“That’s all water under the bridge. I just want you to know that Ry and Jed won’t take your defection in stride this time. They’ll come after you.”
Katie shifted in her chair. What did Gran know? “Umm, Gran…”
“Katie, I know all about those boys and their parents. No business of mine. But those two are now men and not the boys you remember.” Gran fanned her face with her fingers. “Don’t make the mistake and think you can wind them around your little finger like you used to.”
“No kidding.” She burst out laughing at the grin on Gran’s face.
“Aren’t you concerned that I’m with both of them?” Katie’s voice shook a little, but she had to ask.
“No.” Gran patted her gray hair before she took her plate and cup to the sink. “Those two love each other.” Gran faced Katie. “I’m aware of their relationship. They’ll treat my Katie right or answer to me.”
Katie jumped to her feet and enveloped her grandmother in a hug. Gran understood. “Others might make nasty comments.”
“Posh. Old biddies if they do. You do what is right for you and your heart. That’s all I ask.” Gran patted her on the back. “Now, there is one other thing we need to discuss.”
“And that is?” She took a step back and eyed her grandmother warily.
“Sheila Reynolds came into the tea shop yesterday.”
Katie nodded. Gran had run the tea shop in town since Katie was sixteen; she’d even worked there after school.
“She mentioned you were trying to find some office space.”
That was it? Relief poured through her veins. “Yes, Gran. I need to set my accounting business up. I have clients I need to take care of, and I’m sure there are people here in town who could use a good accountant and tax person.”
“I think it’s wonderful.” Gran clapped her hand together. “But you don’t need to look for office space. You can use the office here in the house.”
Katie blinked. “But Gran, that was Grandpa’s office. You haven’t touched it since he passed.”
“I cleaned it out last year. Papers gathering dust and such. It was time to do it.”
“But…”
“Hush, child.” Gran waved her hands. “I want you to use it. There’s no sense in you spending good money when there’s a perfectly good office here.”
Her grandmother’s face blurred as Katie’s eyes filled with tears. Her grandfather had been a math teacher before he retired, which was where Katie got her love for numbers. “Oh, Gran.” Katie threw her arms around her grandmother.
“He’d like having you in his office, doing a job you love.” Gran patted her arms.
“Thank you, Gran.”
“Nothing to thank me for. Now, off with you.” Gran sniffled and pushed Katie to arm’s length. “I’ve got to get to the tea shop, and I bet you’re eager to go into the office.”
“Yes.” Katie kissed her grandmother’s cheek and made her way across the house to her grandfather’s office. She threw open the French doors and sighed.
It still smelled like tobacco and the cheap cologne her grandpa used. The large oak desk needed a good polish, but that was the easy part. She was going to need a good chair, file cabinet, and internet access for her business. While Gran had internet Katie need to have her own.
She’d warned her clients she’d be out of touch, and if it was an emergency, they could call her.
Every time her phone rang she’d check the caller ID.
If it was her father or ex, she ignored it.
If it was a client, she answered it. She’d change her number, but it was one she had before she left Felton’s Creek.
Which reminded her that she needed to check her messages.
She turned her phone off last night and needed to turn it back on.
She deleted six voice mails without even listening to them.
The seventh one—from Dr. Pam—caused a smile to crease her lips.
She finished with the voice mail, deleted it, and went to her missed calls list.