Chapter 16 Kat
KAT
My room is much darker when I’m finally able to peel my eyes open. The wave of exhaustion that hit me in the car was unexpected. I’d barely changed out of my clothes before I collapsed on my bed.
I have so much to do.
I don’t even want to think about it.
Pulling myself from the covers, I stretch and then shuffle toward the bathroom to freshen up. I still have bags under my eyes but they’re less pronounced.
Gotta take the wins where I can get them.
Moving back into my room, I trade my sleep shorts and tank for leggings and one of Colt’s baseball tees from college. It’s my favorite, perfectly soft and worn.
Feeling refreshed, I’m halfway down the stairs when I hear a woman’s voice and then Tom’s, and my hackles rise as I nearly stomp into the kitchen.
And stop short.
The woman at my island is stunning with almost black hair and flawless skin. She’s dressed in designer workout clothes that I’d bet my life savings have never seen a gym, and she’s smiling at me.
“How’d you sleep?” she asks as Tom turns from the stove to face me.
“Fine, thanks,” I start but I’m not looking at her. I’m looking at Tom and he better start talking.
“Kat, this is Emerson Andrews. Her father and uncle built Andrews International from the ground up, and she currently deals with short- and long-term real estate investments.”
Emerson slides off her stool and offers me her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Tom bribed me with Alfredo in return for manual labor.”
I shake her hand and return her smile as Tom pulls a couple of plates from the cabinet. “Emerson is going to help with the bags.”
“Oh, that’s—”
“No problem at all,” she says as if she’s not running a billion-dollar company. “I’m happy to help.”
“She’s also early,” he says pointedly. “I thought you would be up before she got here so I could explain.” He places two plates on the island before turning his full attention back to me. “We need help to get this done, and Emerson doesn’t need to be vetted.”
“I’m also really fun,” she says around a mouthful of pasta, a moan spilling from her lips as she does a little dance on the stool.
“She’s family,” he says, the rest of it cut off by her well-timed aww and a groan from him in response.
It’s adorable.
And even though this was the weirdest thing to wake up to, it’s also really sweet.
Thoughtful.
Maybe Emerson and I won’t end up being best friends but we could be friends, and he trusts her and that alone has me dropping onto the stool next to her. She bumps her shoulder into mine and grins.
“This is my favorite. Isla and I were spoiled there for a while.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, swallowing my own bite and the accompanying moan because wow, this is good.
“We did family dinners a lot with my cousin and Uncle Cullen, Tom, and Royce. Oakey would cook and—”
“Oakey, huh?” I tease and he points his fork at me.
“No. The only two that get away with it are Emerson and Isla.”
Emerson giggles as she shoves another bite into her mouth. “He’s so easy to rile up.”
He sighs but it’s full of affection and my heart squeezes, a tendril of jealousy floating through my veins.
Why can’t I have that?
It’s a question with a complicated answer and one I won’t be able come up with tonight…and that’s okay.
Because tonight, I’m going to enjoy whatever this is, for as long as I can.
“Twist it like this,” Emerson snaps at Tom, holding the twist tie in her hand and exaggerating the movement as I try, and fail, not to laugh.
He glares at me. “My hands are too big. Give me the bookmarks and the other things and you,” he says pointedly at her, “can tie the bags when they’re ready.”
“Fine.” She huffs and then winks at me and there’s no question about how she’s so successful in what she does.
She’s charismatic and stunning yet still so nice.
We joke and laugh as we fill the bags, sorting them for the two school events and then Saturday’s signing. It takes hours but not nearly as long as it would have taken me to do them by myself.
I like the company, and no matter what happens once all this is done, I can’t go back to the isolation. I’ll join a book club or something.
Meet people.
Put myself out there.
Because I can just be Kat Harrington, lover of scones and homemade sandwich bread, killer of all plants despite how hardy they are, and hopeless romantic despite my heart having been trampled time and time again.
“I cannot thank you enough for all your help,” I tell Emerson, my heart damn near bursting out of my chest.
Because I mean it.
“It was so much fun and we’ll have to get together when you’re free. Do you like weekend brunch? My cousin and I used to go, but she moved and fell in love and has babies with a huge behemoth of a man.”
Tom sighs and I can’t help but giggle as I hand her the stack of books I just signed for Isla.
It was the only thing she was willing to take as payment for the hours we spent dealing with stuck-together bookmarks, bags that wouldn’t open, and of course the little twist ties that had Tom cursing up a storm all night.
“I would love that,” I tell her, warmth spreading through me at the invitation. She takes my number and we say goodbye, Tom walking her out with the leftover pasta and a shake of his head.
“Got everything you need?” he asks when he reappears in the kitchen, after engaging the locks and the alarm with a fluidity that’s oddly sexy.
“Yes, thank you. Tonight was…perfect. I needed it and Emerson is amazing.”
“She and Isla gave me hell as they were growing up…never let me be too serious.”
“Looks like she hasn’t lost her touch at least.”
“You’re not wrong and I’m glad you had fun. You deserve it.” Clearing his throat, he motions toward the boxes. “Is there anything else you need tonight? I have to check in with the team and see where we’re at.”
“No, of course. I’m great. I’ll probably head up and do a little work too.”
“All right, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Tom.”
“Good night, Miss Harrington.”