15. Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Adam
I stare at the phone, willing it to ring, but at the same time hoping that it doesn't.
I shouldn't have let Katie kiss me—but how could I have stopped her? The memory of her green gaze, her smile, the blush that swept across her cheeks when she realized what she'd done… she had never looked more beautiful. Rejecting her was never an option.
But, she's Jon's daughter. It's one thing for him to bring me into his family and treat me like a son most of my life, expecting me to be like a brother to his girls. It's another thing entirely for him to approve of me being in a relationship with one of them.
How the hell am I going to explain this?
"Hey, Coach. I don't know how or when it happened, but I'm in love with Katie. You know, the daughter who, no more than a month ago, couldn't stand the sight of me. Yeah, that daughter."
What will he think? That I've lost my ever-loving mind, that's what.
What will he say? Stay the hell away from my daughter.
I didn’t even have the courage to face Katie last night—or this morning.
What am I going to say to her? Kissing you was a mistake?
But it wasn’t a mistake. I’d been dreaming of that moment since the first day I saw her at the house. She was furious, spitting fire, but she looked so damn beautiful.
All grown up.
A woman.
The hotel I’m staying in has a gym that closes at ten, so I change into shorts and lace up my running shoes. Maybe a few miles on the treadmill will clear my mind, but what I desperately need right now, no amount of miles is going to give me… courage. I pick up my phone and dial.
"Hello," she says, her sweet voice wrapping around me. In that moment, I realize that my love for her is the only courage I need to face my mentor, my friend, the closest thing I've ever known to a real father.
"I miss you," I say, unwilling to leave anything unsaid.
"I miss you too," she replies, and I can hear the smile in her voice. "Loren just left. She came over to find out what’s going on between us."
"What is g oing on between us, Katie?" I ask, my voice laced with hesitation.
"I don’t know," she admits. "I really wish you were here so we could talk."
"I'll be right there," I say, reaching for my keys.
"No," she interrupts softly. "Please... that’s over a three-hour drive. Please don’t come."
"I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye this morning," I say, the guilt stinging my chest. "I didn’t want to wake you."
"I waited for you last night," she says, "but I didn’t want to seem desperate, so I went to bed at ten."
I smile at the thought of her waiting for me. "Do you forgive me?" I ask, my voice filled with regret. "I’m sorry I’ve been acting so weird."
"Yeah, you’ve been quiet," she observes. "Do you regret what happened the other night?"
"No," I reply without hesitation. "Never."
"Good," she says, her tone lightening. "I don't regret it either. And to be honest, I can’t wait to do it again."
"I’ll be right over!" I exclaim, as a rush of excitement floods through me.
"No, no," she says, her voice soft but firm. "Just come home as soon as you can, okay?"
***
As busy as the last few days have been, they've felt long. I miss Katie like I miss breathing. Going from spending all day with her to not seeing her at all has only solidified how I feel about her—and I’m done denying it, to myself or anyone else.
Dinner at Aaron and Julie's every night has been a bit of a distraction, but even then, I can't stop talking about Katie.
At night, I look forward to heading back to the hotel and calling her before bed.
Business at Linder Realty has picked up since Katie started working there, and she’s been just as busy as I have. During our phone calls, we give each other a full rundown of our day, leaving nothing out.
"Dad’s ready to retire," she says tonight. "He hasn’t come out and said it directly, but he’s talking about long vacations more and more, which means I’ll be the one in charge."
"Are you okay with that?" I ask, knowing she’s more than capable of running the firm on her own.
"It’s a little daunting," she admits. "But I’ve learned so much working with Dad. It might not be easy, but I know I can do it."
"I know you can," I say. "I’ve seen you in action—running the office, handling buyers, sellers, and realtors. Jon must be so proud of you."
"Thanks," she says. "You know, I haven't told you this, but it's been nice having you at the office. When Dad isn't there, I know I can count on you for support and to bounce ideas off of. I really appreciate that."
"You're welcome," I say. "I've enjoyed every second of it."
"Me too," she says, and I can almost picture her plucking at the frayed cuffs of her yellow sweater.
"I only have a couple of projects to visit in the morning," I say. "I'll be home before five. Can I take you out to dinner?"
"Is this a date?" she asks, her tone teasing.
"Absolutely!"
***
I ring the doorbell, my nerves just as intense as the first time I saw her again. But this time, instead of the white and yellow roses I brought that day, I’ve chosen red—leaving no question about what this date means.
"Why didn't you let yourself in, silly?" she asks, holding the door open.
"This is a date, remember?” I say, handing her the flowers. "I couldn't just walk in."
She smiles, and I can't help but admire how truly breathtaking she is. Her black hair falls over her shoulders in waves, framing her beautiful face. Her eyes are the deepest shade of green I've ever seen. She's wearing little makeup, allowing her freckles to peek through. Living with her has given me plenty of opportunity to confirm that each one is still accounted for, and tonight, they're taking center stage. She's wearing a teal dress that accentuates her trim figure, and I can't help but let my eyes sweep over her, admiring everything that makes her irresistible, flawless.
"Red roses," she says, before closing her eyes and inhaling their scent. "For me?"
Meeting her gaze, I lean in and whisper into her ear, "I've missed you, Katie."
When I wrap my arms around her and lift her off her feet, she squeals before laughing, wrapping her arms around my neck and melting into me. As I breathe in the light scent of her perfume, it hits me—this is what I've missed most these past few days. I can't stand being away from her.
She pulls back gently and looks at me, her hair falling around us like a veil, surrounding us in an intimacy that is overwhelming—intense and perfect. "I missed you too," she whispers, her words reaching deep into my soul.
***
The night is cool, and as we leave the restaurant, I suggest a stroll down Main Street. The shops are closed for the night, but the street is brightly lit by the lamp posts lining the sidewalk and the glow of the full moon.
"Do you want to sit for a bit?" I ask Katie when we reach the Village Bandstand. We settle on the steps, and I notice how she instinctively shifts closer, her body leaning into mine. As if searching for warmth—or maybe something more. I take her hand, and she lets me, her fingers curling around mine like she’s found exactly what she was looking for.
"Katie," I begin, wanting to get something off my chest while still holding on to the closeness of the moment.
"Hmm," she murmurs, resting her head against my shoulder.
"If everything goes according to plan," I continue, "we should be closing on the condo this coming week."
"Right," she says, her nearness both distracting and exhilarating—reminding me why this decision matters so much.
"I think I should move out," I say, feeling the instant tension in her body. She pulls away slightly, her gaze locking onto mine, but she doesn’t let go of my hand.
I take that as a sign to press on. "Katie," I murmur, her name more of a plea than a word. "You might not know this, but you've become the most important person in my world."
"I know," she says, then rests her head back on my shoulder. "Why do you want to move out?"
The tension melts from her body, and I exhale in relief. She’s not angry or defensive. She trusts me—proof of how far we’ve come.
"Because you're Jon's daughter," I begin. "His opinion, trust, and approval matter to me. Can you understand my dilemma?"
She squeezes my hand, her touch grounding me. "Yes, but Dad trusts you," she says. "He wouldn’t have suggested you move in with me if he didn’t trust you completely. And I trust you too."
I turn to face her fully. "Katie." Her green eyes meet mine, open and trusting. I take a breath and say the words I've been holding in my heart for years. "I love you. I want to do this right."
A slow smile tugs at her lips, but her gaze remains intent. "And what exactly is ' this ' you're referring to?" she asks, searching my eyes for the answer.
"I've told you how I feel," I say, needing her to be completely honest with me. "Do you think there's a chance that what we have could become more with time?"
She looks away, as if searching for the answer in the distance. When her gaze returns to mine, it’s earnest, open—beautiful.
"I don't need more time," she says. "I spent years looking for reasons to hate you. I was consumed by thoughts of you and how you had wronged me. My family kept telling me I was the one who was wrong, but I didn't listen." She chuckles softly as if recalling a memory. "Dad always had what we called ‘Adam updates’—yeah, at least once a month. Even if I didn't want to hear it, our conversations would inevitably circle back to you. The truth is, as hard as I fought to know nothing about you, Dad made sure I knew everything. And as much as I hated it, I never had a valid reason to dislike you. The more time passed, and the more Dad shared, the more I had to admit that you were pretty amazing. It infuriated me."
I chuckle, thinking of all the "Katherine updates" I sat through.
"What?" she asks, shooting me a smile.
"Your dad shared plenty about his pride and joy, too," I say.
"I heard," she says, laughing. "According to Laila and Loren, you know all about my dating life."
"Let's see," I begin. "Besides what you've told me, I know you went out with Adam Trent from Trent Hardware in Albany—and that you couldn't see a future with him because he shared a name with your archenemy."
"I feel horrible," she says, shaking her head. "I can't believe how stubborn I was. But believe it or not, there's a bright side to all of this."
"Oh yeah?" I tease. "Do tell. I'm all ears."
"Well," she says, a small smile playing on her lips. "Think about it—if I had let everyone convince me I was wrong, I would have grown up seeing you as part of my family. You'd be like a brother to me. That's not what I want."
"Tell me what you want," I say.
She squeezes my hand and leans into me before whispering, "I want you."
I smile, but I don't interrupt her. I want to hear every word—to let her express every thought and feeling.
"It's clear to me now that my feelings about you were misplaced," she continues. "I’m the only one to blame, and I'm sorry for how I treated you. But I’m glad I never saw you as a brother. In the last few weeks, all the anger, resentment, and envy I carried for so long have dissolved, and my feelings have transformed into something else."
She takes a breath, her voice softer now. "I love you, Adam. I wish I could tell you the exact moment it happened, but something deep inside tells me I’ve spent the last six years waiting for the day you’d come home—because my heart knew something my mind refused to accept. I love you, and I think I’ve loved you for much longer than I ever imagined."
I lift my hand and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger as they graze her skin, my eyes drinking her in. This new energy between us is pure—clean, untouched by fear, anger, or resentment. Her eyes shimmer with emotion, and when she smiles, it's sweet and unguarded. She leans into my palm, closing her eyes as if savoring every second of our touch.
"I have to move out, Katie," I say, hoping she'll understand. "I don't need to live with you to know that what I feel for you is strong, solid and forever. I don't want to put any of it in jeopardy by rushing it."
"Okay," she whispers, putting her head back on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her and pull her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, knowing that tomorrow, I'll have to speak to Jon.