whipped cream into old-fashioned sundae glasses. Then she layered chocolate-chip cookie bits with more whipped cream and when they were finished, they too went into the fridge. She would drizzle raspberry syrup over the top of the frothy dessert just before she served it.
When the meal was done, she glanced around the temporary kitchen, checked her watch and realized thatRafe would be arriving any minute. So she raced to the bathroom and checked her hair and makeup. Stupid, but she felt like a teenager waiting for her first date to arrive.
Nerves bubbled in the pit of her stomach and a kind of excitement she hadnât felt before hummed through her bloodstream. Staring at the woman in the mirror, she gave herself a little pep talk.
âYouâre going to have fun, Katie Charles. For once in your life, youâre not going to think ahead to tomorrow. Youâre going to enjoy tonight for whatever it turns out to be.â She nodded abruptly and pretended she didnât see the flash of nervousness staring back at her from her own eyes. âHeâs a nice guy. Youâre both single. So relax, already.â
Easier said than done, she knew.
But there was nothing wrong with a little fun.
Right?
Â
âYou find out anything from the family?â Rafe asked his brother as he steered his truck down Katieâs street.
âNot a damn thing,â Sean assured him, his voice crackling with static over the cell phone. âI talked to Tanner, but since he and Ivy got married, heâs pretty much useless for picking up stray news. All he talks about is their latest ultrasound picture.â Sean sighed in disgust. âSeriously, youâd think they were the only people in the universe to get pregnant.â
Rafe let that one go. He was glad for their brother Tanner. Ivy was a nice woman and against all odds, she was turning Tanner into a halfway decent Christmas-tree farmer.
âThen,â Sean said, âI called cousin Jesse. But the only thing he knows about Katie Charles is that he favorsher macadamia-nut-white-chocolate-chip cookies. His wife Bella says the peanut-butter ones are best, but their boy Joshua likes the chocolate fudge.â
Rafe rubbed a spot between his eyes and took a breath. âAnd I care what kind of cookies they like, becauseâ¦â
âBecause thatâs the only information they had and now I want a damn cookie,â Sean grumbled.
Rafe scowled as he pulled up outside Katieâs house. He parked and slanted a glance at the setting sun reflecting off the gleaming front windows. âSomebody in the family knows her and I want to find out who.â
âWhat do you care?â Sean snorted a laugh. âI mean, seriously dude, youâve known her for what, a week? Whatâs it to you if she hates the Kings?â
âI donât like it.â
âYouâd think youâd be used to it,â Sean said. âThere are plenty of people out there who feel the same.â
âNot women. â
âGood point.â Sean sighed and said, âSo, this is part of why you find her so interesting, huh?â
âMaybe.â He didnât even know. But Katie Charles was hitting him in places he hadnât known existed. And she kept doing it. One look out of those green eyes of hers and his mind filled with all sorts of damn near irresistible images.
And it was lowering to admit that if she knew he was a King, sheâd slam her front door in his face and heâd never see her again.
âFine. Iâll go back to the drawing board. Hey, Iâll call Garrett,â Sean suggested. âHe loves a mystery, so if he doesnât have the answer heâll find it.â
Sean was right. Their cousin, Garrett King, ran a security company and liked nothing better than delvingfor secrets. If anyone could find out who was behind Katieâs feelings about the Kings, it would be Garrett.
âAll right, good.
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