As it turned out, of course, the only thing special they shared was that they were both in love with Cordell.
Grumbling under her breath, Katie let the old, hurtful memories fade away as she focused instead on the evening to come. She spooned fresh 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 that Rafe 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 hadn’t felt before hummed through her bloodstream. Staring at the woman in the mirror, she gave herself a little pep talk.
“You’re going to have fun, Katie Charles. For once in your life, you’re not going to think ahead to tomorrow. You’re going to enjoy tonight for whatever it turns out to be.” She nodded abruptly and pretended she didn’t see the flash of nervousness staring back at her from her own eyes. “He’s a nice guy. You’re both single. So relax, already.”
Easier said than done, she knew.
But there was nothing wrong with a little fun.
Right?
“You find out anything from the family?” Rafe asked his brother as he steered his truck down Katie’s street.
“Not a damn thing,” Sean assured him, his voice crackling with static over the cell phone. “I talked to Tanner, but since he and Ivy got married, he’s pretty much useless for picking up stray news. All he talks about is their latest ultrasound picture.” Sean sighed in disgust. “Seriously, you’d think they were the only people in the universe to get pregnant.”
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.
“Then,” Sean said, “I called cousin Jesse. But the only thing he knows about Katie Charles is that he favors her macadamia-nut-white-chocolate-chip cookies. His wife Bella says the peanut-butter ones are best, but their boy Joshua likes the chocolate fudge.”
Rafe rubbed a spot between his eyes and took a breath. “And I care what kind of cookies they like, because…”
“Because that’s the only information they had and now I want a damn cookie,” Sean grumbled.
Rafe scowled as he pulled up outside Katie’s house. He parked and slanted a glance at the setting sun reflecting off the gleaming front windows. “Somebody in the family knows her and I want to find out who.”
“What do you care?” Sean snorted a laugh. “I mean, seriously dude, you’ve known her for what, a week? What’s it to you if she hates the Kings?”
“I don’t like it.”
“You’d think you’d be used to it,” Sean said. “There are plenty of people out there who feel the same.”
“Not women.”
“Good point.” Sean sighed and said, “So, this is part of why you find her so interesting, huh?”
“Maybe.” He didn’t even know. But Katie Charles was hitting him in places he hadn’t 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, she’d slam her front door in his face and he’d never see her again.
“Fine. I’ll go back to the drawing board. Hey, I’ll call Garrett,” Sean suggested. “He loves a mystery, so if he doesn’t have the answer he’ll find it.”
Sean was right. Their cousin, Garrett King, ran a security company and liked nothing better than delving for secrets. If anyone could find out who was behind Katie’s feelings about the Kings, it would be Garrett.
“All right, good. Thanks.”
“You busy? I’m taking the jet to Vegas tonight. Why don’t you come with me? We’ll hit a show, then wipe out the craps tables.”
Rafe smiled. Ordinarily, he’d have appreciated the invitation. But tonight, he had something better to do. “Thanks, but I’ve got plans.”
“With the King hater?”
“Her name is Katie, but yeah,” Rafe said tightly.
“She doesn’t know who you are, does she?”
“No.” Irritation hummed inside him again. He’d never before had to disguise himself to be with a woman. Hell, if anything, the King name had women clamoring to get near him.
“Great. Well, pick me up some cookies before she finds out you’re lying to her and you ruin what’s left of our rep with her.”
Rafe hung up a second or two later, his brother’s words ringing in his ears. He dismissed them though, because there was no way Katie would find out Rafe’s last name until he was good and ready for her to know. And that wouldn’t be until he’d romanced her, seduced her and shown her just how likeable he really was.
Then he’d tell her he was a King. And she’d see how wrong she was. About all of them.
But for now, he was enjoying himself with a woman who didn’t want anything from him beyond barbecuing some burgers.
He got out of the truck and headed for the house. But before he reached the porch, Katie rushed out the door and skidded to a stop when she saw him. Her curly red hair was loose around her shoulders and her long legs looked tan and gorgeous in a pair of white shorts. Her dark green T-shirt made her eyes shine as she spotted him. “Rafe, I’m so glad you’re back! Follow me!”
She sprinted down her front steps and past him, headed toward her neighbor’s house. She rounded a white picket fence with bright splashes of flowers climbing across it and headed up the driveway. Rafe stayed right on her heels, his mind already racing to possible disasters. Someone dying. Someone bleeding. He reached into his pocket and gripped his phone ready to dial nine-one-one.
Adrenaline pulsed through him as they rushed up the drive to the front porch of a small, Tudor-style cottage with a sloping roof and leaded windows.
“What’s wrong?” he shouted.
“Nicole needs help!”
The front door of the house swung open as they approached and a harried woman with short, blond hair and a toddler on her hip sighed in relief.