Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
It was only a short drive from the big house where Andy left the Carlson family, back to the plaza and Kat’s apartment. But by the time he parked his car and picked up his phone, he had at least a dozen messages from Charli’s real estate agent friend, Jess, with listings for him to choose from.
He chuckled and was about to turn his phone off to ignore them altogether, when a call came in. He answered with a shake of his head and laughed out loud when the woman on the other end of the line introduced herself.
“I thought it might be easier to just give you a call,” Jess said. “I don’t mean to be so forward, but Charli?—”
“Is pushy.” Andy grinned. He started to walk from the parking lot through the pedestrian-only plaza where Kat’s shop was, with her apartment over the top. “I think she’s more excited about me moving back to Trickle Creek than I am. ”
“She did seem pretty enthused,” Jess agreed. “I’m sorry if I’m overstepping, Andy. It’s just she made it sound like you were pretty serious, and in this market, it’s really important to be on top of things.”
Andy stopped under the gazebo and looked up at Kat’s apartment. It was still too early in the evening to see any lights on inside, but he knew she was up there. He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking and how she was feeling about the letter her father had left her. He’d meant it when he told Craig he’d be there for her no matter what she needed, and he was eager to get up there to see how he could help.
“It’s fine,” he said to Jess. “And you’re right, I should probably give it a little bit more thought.” He started walking again and let himself in the door that would take him up to the apartment.
“I have a lot to show you. But I think it would be better to get a feel for what exactly it is you’re looking for first.”
Andy stopped outside the door. “Sounds good. Why don’t we meet for coffee? It’ll be nice to put a face to the name.”
“Great. I’ll send over some options, and we can go from there.”
Andy ended the call and tucked his phone away before turning the door handle and letting himself in. “Kat?”
“In here.”
“Hey.” He wasn’t sure what to expect when he walked into her living room, but he didn’t expect Kat to be lying flat on the floor of her living room with her arms and legs outstretched. “Kat?” He stood over her with a tentative smile on his face.
She didn’t answer, but opened one eye and then closed it again.
Andy dropped his car keys on the coffee table before shoving it over to make room for him to lay down next to her.
Andy stretched out on the hardwood floor and closed his eyes. They stayed that way without speaking for a few minutes before he slowly reached his hand over and threaded his fingers through hers.
He squeezed gently just to let her know he was there for her and wouldn’t rush her or pressure her into talking if she wasn’t ready. Andy couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to go through the emotional roller coaster that Kat and her brothers and sister had been through with Michael Carlson’s death.
It was never easy to lose a parent, but what Kat was going through was next level.
When he heard what sounded like a sniffle, Andy turned his head and saw a tear slip down her cheek. Still, he waited, and a moment later, her eyes fluttered open.
“You okay, Kitty Kat?”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
He tugged her hand and pulled her toward him, until she was lying with her head on his chest. Having her in his arms felt like the most natural thing in the world. She fit perfectly as he wrapped his arm around her back and stroked her hair.
They didn’t speak, the only sound Kat’s soft sobbing.
“It’s going to be fine,” he said after a moment. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to do it alone, okay? I’m here for you. No matter what.”
Kat lifted her head and looked up at him. His heart clenched at the sight of her tear-streaked face. More than anything, he hated to see Kat sad.
“You’ll help me?”
Andy shifted, so he could sit up, but still keep his arm around her. “You know I’ll help you, Kitty Kat. Whatever you need. I’ve got you.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again. Finally, a sad smile took shape on her lips. “I appreciate that, but I know you have a life to get back to in Vancouver, and I?—”
“Don’t worry about that.” It didn’t feel like the right time to tell her his news, but he needed her to know he wasn’t going anywhere. Even if he hadn’t taken the job, there was no way he could leave her now. Not when she needed him.
“But you?—”
He silenced her with a finger to her lips. “I promise you, Kat. I’ll be here for you, whatever you need. Don’t worry about anything else, okay?”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you. You know that.”
The surge of love he felt for her in that moment threatened to overwhelm him. It wasn’t often that Kat Carlson let down her guard at all, and it was even rarer when she asked or accepted any offer of help.
He reached out and rubbed his thumb gently over her cheek to dry her tears. She closed her eyes and, in that moment, with all her defenses dropped away, she looked so vulnerable. The bravado she normally wore like armor was gone. It was just Kat.
Andy leaned forward to close the gap between them and pressed his lips gently to hers in a soft kiss.
Kat let herself sink into the kiss.
His lips on hers felt good. It felt safe. He felt safe.
And she believed him when he said that everything would be okay.
His presence gave her that. From the moment he’d come in and laid down next to her, she’d felt like everything might be okay.
“You look confused.”
Andy reached for her, but she pulled back. As much as Kat would love to fall into Andy’s arms and his kiss and…maybe more, it wasn’t the right time.
She shook her head. “It’s just a lot to take in.” It wasn’t a lie. “I’m trying to sort out all of this.” She waved her arm around. “My dad gave me a list of things to complete.”
“I heard.” He shrugged before he explained. “I stopped by the big house before I came back. I have to say, your family is all…well…”
“Wait.” She held up a hand with a laugh. “Don’t tell me. Asher is freaking out because I left without showing them the list.” She bit her bottom lip. “And maybe Chase, too. They’re a lot more alike than either of them would care to admit.”
Andy laughed, because they all knew it was true.
“Charli and Craig are probably defending my right to have some time alone. But secretly, they’re also freaking out because nobody really knows how I’m going to react to all this.”
She knew her brothers and sister well.
“You’re not wrong, Kat. That’s exactly what’s happening over there.”
“I know.” She shook her head and moved into the kitchen. More than anything, she needed a drink.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think they have anything to worry about.” Andy followed her and pulled two wine glasses out of the cupboard when he saw her go for a bottle of red.
“You don’t?” She twisted the top off and poured them each a generous glass before leaning back against the counter.
“Not at all.” He took a sip of his wine, and she tried not to look at his lips when he licked a drop from them. “You’re a strong, capable woman, Kitty Kat.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t sound all that strong or capable when you call me that. ”
He looked directly at her. “Does it bother you?”
Kat shook her head.
“Good,” was all he said.
She took a drink of her wine and let it roll around her mouth for a moment before swallowing. “You really think I’m strong and capable?”
“Absolutely. It doesn’t matter what’s on that list—you’re not going to have any problem knocking it out.”
“Did you mean what you said about helping me? Or were you just saying that because it’s what I wanted to hear?”
Andy set his wine down and closed the distance between them before grabbing her hand. “I will never say things just because I think it’s what you want to hear.” He squeezed her hand. “I only say what I mean, Kat. I’ll never blow smoke.”
“So you’re really going to help me out?” She wiggled her eyebrows in an effort to lighten the mood, because what she really needed was to let the heaviness of the afternoon go. “No matter what’s on the list?” She forced herself not to think about the final item. She’d focus on the manageable things, like jumping out of airplanes or off bridges.
“No matter what,” Andy agreed without hesitation. “I told you I would, and I will. Especially since you’re kind of crippled right now.”
Kat narrowed her eyes and resisted the urge to smack him with her cast. “This thing is coming off soon. And you know it.”
“So, you don’t want my help? ”
She shot him a look and moved to the kitchen table. “I want you to agree before I tell you what’s on the list.”
He retrieved his glass of wine and pulled out the chair across from her. “Done. I agree.”
“Just like that?”
He shrugged. “I meant it when I said it, Kitty Kat. I’m here for you. No matter what.”
She lifted her wine glass and looked over the rim. “How do you feel about jumping out of an airplane?”