Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Present Day…
They were just friends.
They’d decided together. It was one night. No strings. Happy for right now.
Friends.
Which was why there was no way Andy could be suggesting what Kat thought he was.
Even if that’s exactly what it sounded like.
“Are you suggesting what I think you are?”
Kat refused to look away from his gaze. Andy’s pupils dilated; his tongue darted out and licked his bottom lip.
Oh yes, he was absolutely going to suggest what she thought he was.
And if he didn’t, maybe she should. Because…Wh y. The. Hell. Not?
The connection between them was still as strong as it had been two years ago. Stronger, maybe. And if she was feeling it, she most likely wasn’t alone.
She swallowed hard as Andy reached a hand toward her. “Interesting as in?—”
“Hey, kids!”
A shower of dirt sprayed up next to them, and it took Kat a moment to realize the creator of the mess was her oldest brother Chase and his fiancée, and her best friend, Annie.
Kat slipped her sunglasses back into place, using the opportunity to come to her senses. Whatever Andy had been about to suggest—even if it was exactly what she’d hoped for—it was probably for the best that he didn’t. The situation wasn’t any different. He was still her big brother’s best friend.
She risked a glance at Andy, who thankfully wasn’t looking in her direction. When she finally turned to Annie, her best friend was watching her with a very knowing look.
Probably because no matter what Kat had told Annie after her trip to Vancouver, her friend wasn’t stupid. Despite the fact that Kat insisted she was well and truly over Andy, Annie knew Kat better than that.
Kat raised her eyebrows in Annie’s direction and pressed her lips together before looking at her oldest brother. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Craig texted and said he was sick. He felt bad about your bike day being thrown for a curve. ”
“But it seems you bounced back, no problem.” Annie wiggled her eyebrows.
Kat shot Annie a look, but her friend only laughed. “I didn’t know he was coming.”
“It was kind of last minute.” Andy shrugged. “But I’m always glad to get out for a ride. Too bad Craig had to miss, but Kat graciously agreed to keep me company.”
“I’m sure she did.” Annie grinned, and Kat muttered under her breath.
She would kill her friend if she mentioned anything to Chase about the whole situation with Andy. Fortunately, her big brother appeared to be just as oblivious, and she would know, because Craig wouldn’t be the only brother pissed off to know the truth.
“Well, how about riding a few trails with us?” Chase asked. “I’m probably not nearly as good as you, Kat. But I’ve been pushing myself a little lately. It could be fun.”
It probably would be fun. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d ridden with her oldest brother. He’d moved away when she was pretty young and besides a few forced family holidays throughout the years, they hadn’t spent much time together at all. She was definitely in for a little sibling time. “Sounds good to me.” Besides, having a few people around to act as a buffer between her and Andy wasn’t a bad idea. “Is that okay with you?” She glanced at Andy.
The intense look in his eyes from a moment ago was gone, replaced with a look that could only be described as indifference. Had she imagined whatever had transpired between them a few moments ago?
She must have, because Andy not only didn’t look bothered by the interruption of Chase and Annie but happy about it.
“The more the merrier.”
Oh yeah, any connection between them must have been imagined.
“Besides.” Andy winked. “Having you both here might not make Kat feel quite so bad when I kick her ass on this next one.”
“You wish.” Kat tightened her helmet and rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses.
“Don’t go too crazy,” Chase said. “Nobody’s allowed to get hurt before the family meeting.”
Kat’s chest tightened at the mention of the meeting. She’d been waiting for what felt like forever for this meeting.
“If Craig’s sick, won’t you have to postpone the meeting anyway?” Annie looked between them, and Kat’s heart sank.
“He promised he’d be better.” She blew out a breath as she accepted what her brother’s illness meant. The waiting would continue. At least for a few more days.
“Sorry, Kat.” Chase put a hand on her shoulder. “I know you’ve been waiting for your?—”
“It’s fine.” She shook off her brother’s touch. They all knew how much she’d been looking forward to her chance at hearing the terms their deceased father had set out for her in his will. “There’s nothing we can do about a stomach bug.” She straightened her shoulders and pasted a smile on her face that she hoped made it look like the delay didn’t bother her. “Now, are we going to ride or just stand around all day on our bikes?”
Andy was the first to move. He winked at her and nudged her with his elbow, almost knocking her off-balance. “See if you can keep up, Kitty Kat.”
Before she could react, Andy was gone in a cloud of dust. Without further hesitation, she jumped on her seat, pushed off on the pedals, and headed down the trail.
Behind her, she heard Chase and Annie’s laughter, and she knew they would be right behind. Not that they were likely to catch her. It may have been awhile since she’d been on her bike, but her skill was so deeply embedded in her, that it didn’t matter. She leaned into each turn like a pro and pumped her legs hard on the flats, lifting at the right moment to jump over a rock or tree root.
It was harder than she expected to catch up to Andy. He was just as good a rider as he’d always been. His skill only fueled her.
Kat made a split-second decision to try to overtake him on the trail. It was risky since the path was narrow as it cut through the trees. But she knew there was an opening coming up where the trail widened just a little. But she’d have to be quick.
She pumped her legs harder, narrowing the gap between them until her front wheel was close to his back wheel.
There was no way she was going to let him beat her. Not when…well, when it was so damned easy for him to pretend like there was nothing between them .
The truth hit her like a brick.
That was exactly what was bothering her. Despite the fact that it had been her idea and they’d agreed to just be friends. That was before. Before she’d seen him again and annoyingly still had the same feelings for him.
She pushed herself harder, knowing even as she did that she should ease up and let him stay in the lead. But before the thought could take root, the path widened, and her opportunity presented itself.
Before she could think better of it, Kat pushed hard on the pedals and surged forward. She risked a glance at him as she passed Andy, and was just about to cut back onto the trail in front of him when she noticed a fallen tree in her path.
Shit.
She was going too fast to stop. There was nowhere to go. She jammed on the brakes, but it didn’t matter. A second later, her front tire crashed into the tree, and she was flying through the air.
It wasn’t until she was airborne that she second-guessed her plan, but then it was too late. Worse, a moment later, when she landed—hard—she realized that her little plan to overtake Andy had likely just cost her first place in the race only she knew they were having.
When Kat appeared in his peripheral, Andy couldn’t believe his eyes. Not that he should have been surprised. She always had been competitive, and he recognized the flash in her eyes as he’d taken off. No doubt, she was determined to beat him down the hill. And they hadn’t even made their wager. It was too bad, too, because he was pretty sure that each of their terms of engagement would have been more than worthwhile.
Sadly, that line of competition vanished when the others showed up, which was definitely for the best. After all, Kat was still Craig’s little sister. And Chase and Asher’s, too. That hadn’t miraculously changed. They’d all accepted him like family. His job wasn’t to pursue her or lead her on with false hopes for something he couldn’t give her, even if he wanted to. His job was to protect her. Just like a big brother would.
Only he was not her big brother.
Still, that was exactly why he eased onto his brakes when he realized what she was trying to do, which was to make a very dangerous pass on a trail that wasn’t designed for overtaking. And she was going way too fast to safely handle any obstacles that might come up.
Including the fallen tree that they both saw at the same time. Fortunately for Andy, he’d already slowed enough that when he slammed his hands down on his brakes, he had just enough time to stop before hitting it. Kat wasn’t so lucky. Or maybe she really did think she was invincible. Either way, she hit the log straight on and went ass over teakettle over her handlebars into the trees and brush.
“Kat!” Andy dropped his bike on the path, leapt over the log and dropped to his knees next to her. “Holy shit. Are you okay?”
She was lying facedown in a bush, her head dangerously close to the trunk of a pine tree. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she groaned.
“Are you okay?”
Kat tried to roll over, so as gently as he could, Andy helped her to her back. He didn’t miss the wince of pain as she changed positions. Her sunglasses had flown from her face in the crash, and she had chunks of mud and dirt on her cheeks and eyelids as she slowly fluttered them open and looked up at him. “What just…did I…”
“I think you thought you might be able to fly,” he said with a chuckle. “And for a moment, you did. It was the landing that wasn’t so hot.”
She scowled and moved to smack him, but gasped in pain instead.
“Where does it hurt?” Andy instantly went into caretaker mode. He scanned her body with trained eyes.
He pushed the memory of the last time he let his gaze track over her naked body out of his head. If there was ever an inappropriate time to let his mind wander into that dangerous territory, this was it.
“Is it your wrist?”
“I think so.” She nodded and held out her left hand. “I must have landed on it.”
Andy tugged his gloves off and cradled her arm gently in his hands. “What about the rest of you? Anything else hurt? ”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Without removing her biking glove, Andy prodded her wrist gently. Kat gasped, and when he looked at her, he saw the glisten of tears in her eyes. She was trying hard to be brave, but he could see how badly it hurt.
Andy glanced around, but Chase and Annie obviously had the good sense not to follow them down the trail they took and no doubt were waiting for them at the parking lot.
“I can call for EMS,” Andy suggested. “Or if you think you can walk down, we?—”
“I can walk.” Kat’s lips were pressed together in a line.
She was stubborn, that was for sure. It was one of the things that was so great about her. Still, he wasn’t about to let her walk out of the trails if she had other injuries.
She must have seen the hesitation in his eyes, because she quickly added, “Honestly, Andy. Nothing else hurts. Just my wrist. I can walk just fine.”
He contemplated calling EMS anyway, but ultimately, he decided to try it her way. “Okay,” he said reluctantly. “Let’s get you on your feet before we make any decisions.”
A few minutes later, Andy had gathered up her bike—which miraculously didn’t have nearly as much damage as its rider—pulled Kat out of the bushes, and dusted her off. He wouldn’t admit it, but Andy took full advantage of the fact that she had a sore wrist to help her brush the dirt off her.
With Kat cradling her injury, Andy was left to negotiate both bikes out of the trails. Neither of them moved quickly, but fortunately, they weren’t far from the parking lot where the others were likely waiting. As soon as they got close enough, Andy abandoned one of the bikes, jogging one ahead, before circling back to grab the other.
Andy directed Kat to sit on an overturned log while he quickly went to tell Chase and Annie, who were already loading their bikes onto their bike rack, of the accident. It took a bit of convincing, but finally, Chase and Annie agreed to let Andy take Kat to the medical clinic to have her wrist looked at without making a big deal of the crash so Kat didn’t feel embarrassed.
Judging by the way Annie winked at him, Andy was fairly sure that Kat had told her friend all about their happy for now night in Vancouver, and that Annie obviously did not disapprove. Not that he had time to think about what that might mean. He had one thing to do now, and that was to take care of Kat.