Chapter 5
“I’m not understanding the issue, son. You think Kat is great, but you want nothing to do with her? Is that right?”
“Yes. No. Not really.” I rake a hand through my hair, messing it up completely, but right now I can’t be bothered to care. How is it this hard to explain?
“I do think she’s great. She’s wonderful with Addy and with the rest of you. She’s smart and kind and about a dozen other things that I could stand here and name, but I just can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” I groan in annoyance at his question, because that's really what it boils down to.
He found a way to make it sound simple, but it’s anything but.
“Both.” I fall back into the chair in the upstairs lounge. I hadn’t been looking to have this conversation exactly, but I needed to say something. I know they see the way I look at her; hell, even I know it, but that’s all it is and might be all it ever is.
“Why?”
Again, with his simple questions, yet still he manages to cut right to the root of the issue.
“I don’t know.” I sag into the chair, feeling defeated and annoyed with myself.
How do I expect him to help me if I can’t even explain what’s bugging me?
This was a stupid idea.
I push to stand, rubbing a hand down my shirt to smooth out any wrinkles I might have just caused, and turn to leave.
“Is it because of Natasha?” Father’s voice is quiet, just loud enough for me to hear him, but it feels as though he shouted.
The weight of them settles on me hard enough that I’m unable to move, my mind whirling as I try to think about it, about her.
It’s not something I do often. Why would I want to deal with the pain that she inflicted not only on me but on the rest of us?
It’s not fair to Kat or the rest of them, but that is the problem. I knew it even before he brought her up; I just didn’t want to admit it.
I still don’t, but I don’t have to. I know it’s written all over my face; I can tell by the way he’s looking at me.
Damn it.
Natasha is in the past. They all found a way to get past what she did, so why can’t I?
“Um…”
My head snaps up so fast I feel my neck cramp, but I ignore it as I look to find Katherine standing near the stairs.
She doesn’t meet my eyes, which is probably for the best right now.
Instead, she looks down at her feet, her hand wrapped tight around the banister, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, and the smallest wrinkle in her brow.
Beautiful.
“What is it, Cherry?” I hear my father rise from the armchair and cross the room to stand at her side. I watch as he tucks a finger under her chin to force her gaze up to meet his.
“Don’t do that. Don’t hide away and act like you don’t have every right to be anywhere in this house and speak your mind. This is your home too.”
He’s right. Kat has every right to be comfortable here.
This conversation wasn't meant for her ears exactly, but that's my fault. I should have paid better attention. I’d gotten pretty good at avoiding her, but in the last week or so, things had changed. Knowing where she is suddenly matters to me, even if not to ensure I avoid her.
“Um, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. I was headed up to tell you both that dinner is just about done.”
“Nobody thought you were eavesdropping,” I quickly assure her before my father can.
Everything about Kat confuses me, but I know for sure I don’t like that look on her face. Even if she never wants me, I want her to be happy here.
Oh…
Maybe I do know what the problem is after all.
She looks up then, and her green eyes shine as her lips turn up in just a hint of a smile that feels like it’s just for me, and my heart races, beating double time, as my throat becomes thick.
“I was just going to suggest we write something up. I know she went after your name and money, but those things don’t matter to me,” she says in a rush before looking up at my father, and, damn it, if she doesn’t look at him like he hung the moon.
She looks at each of them like that, and as much as it scares the hell out of me, I still wish I could have that with her.
But why would she ever want that with me when she has all of them?
“I’d actually rather not have the money.” She glares at him, and while it’s playful, I know she’s telling the truth. Kat is the only person I’ve ever met who truly hates gifts and the act of giving money. She about lost it when Nathan gave her access to his black card, and not in a good way.
“Yes, yes, that part isn’t negotiable, though, love. What do you mean by ‘write something up,’ though? What did you have in mind, like a contract?”
Father seems very intrigued by her suggestion, and honestly, so am I.
Why would she suggest this, unless…
No, that can’t be right.
“Yeah, a contract would be perfect. I don’t get any claim to anything, no matter what might happen with relations in the house.” Her cheeks turn the most adorable pink color as she says it, and I watch as Father’s eyes zero in on it, too.
“A contract sounds great.” The words are out of my mouth before I can think better of them. Her head snaps in my direction, and this time the smile on her face is radiant, her eyes wide and hopeful.
I’m so fucked.
“I’m not sure I like that. It almost makes this,” he waves a finger between the two of them, “sound like a business transaction.”
He's not wrong, but when her face falls, he’s quick to backtrack.
“But we can have Nate write something up to see. Maybe it won’t be so bad.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, and it might not be to her, but I know better.
I know my father. I know just how stubborn he can be, and for him to give in so easily just to ensure she’s happy.
I’ve never seen him like this with a woman before, not once in my whole life.
She claps before throwing her arms around his neck with a happy little squeal that leaves him smiling that dopey grin they all seem to get with her.
He doesn’t hesitate to wrap her up in his arms, pulling her close and pressing a kiss to her neck, which only makes her squirm and him laugh when she can’t escape.
Finally, he lets her go, looking more than a little proud of himself even when she smacks at his chest.
“You’re terrible,” she hisses as she pushes some of her loose hair from her face, and I hear the slight hint of laughter. Something tells me she isn’t used to any kind of PDA, much to her dismay.
“I sure want to be,” he says in a low growl, wrapping a hand around her waist and yanking her toward him until they're chest to chest and she’s once again squirming to get away.
This time, he doesn’t let her go, instead pressing his lips to her hard enough that I know her lips will be red and swollen, but judging by her little moans, I’m going to go out on a limb and say she doesn’t mind.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say she’s enjoying it.
“Dinner,” she mumbles against his lips, the word coming out half jumbled.
“Dad.” My voice comes out deeper than it was a moment ago, thanks to their display, but it does the trick. Father pulls back, even if he does it with a huff of annoyance as he glares at me over Kat’s head before looking back down at her.
“After dinner, you're mine,” he tells her before gesturing her toward the stairs she’d only just come up a few minutes ago.
“Oh, um, Nathan said—”
“Nathan can share,” he assures her before swatting her ass to get her moving. She scurries down the stairs, and he only takes a moment to wink at me over his shoulder before he’s quick to follow her.
Katherine is nothing like Natasha; their relationships are unique as well.
Maybe there’s hope for the future we wanted after all.
I almost feel silly about needing something like a contract, but I can’t lie; it settled something in me. I guess now we just have to wait and see what Nathan can work up with that brain of his.