“Did you play sports, Kat?” Chase asks, and her eyes fly to mine.
“Uh, no.”
“Well—” I begin, but she cuts me off.
“No,” she repeats, and I sit back, sip my wine, and smile at her. I won’t tell her secrets tonight. Before long, dinner is over, dishes cleared, and we’re sitting around the fireplace, finishing our drinks.
“This is a beautiful space,” Mom says with a smile. “I would live out here.”
“I love it too,” Kat says. “Mac reads to me out here.”
“Wait.” Chase holds his hand up and sets his glass down. “Mac reads to you?”
“Often,” Kat says with a nod. “It’s romantic.”
“It’s something,” Chase says, shaking his head. I know he’s going to give me shit for this for years.
“Do you have a girlfriend?” Kat asks Chase. He raises an eyebrow.
“Not at the moment.”
“Well, let me tell you, if you read to a girl, you might have one. It’s sexy, and sweet, and much better than just watching SportsCenter together.”
“Don’t knock SportsCenter,” Chase says with a smile.
“I’m ready for both of my boys to settle down,” Mom says. “I would love to spoil some grandkids and see them both happy.”
“Don’t look at me,” Chase says, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m happy not having kids.”
“What about you, Mac?” Mom asks.
I sit back, watching the woman I’ve fallen in love with. “I’d consider it. With the right woman.”
Her eyes widen, and she stands quickly, changing the subject. “Who wants dessert?”
“Me,” Chase says, smiling at her. She walks into the house to get the strawberry shortcake she made earlier. “I like her.”
“She’s so great,” Mom says with a smile. “I’m so happy that you found each other.”
“Yeah, don’t fuck it up,” Chase says, earning another glare from Mom. “We all know that you go running in the other direction when things get serious.”
“Not this time,” I reply as Kat walks back out onto the terrace. “Not this time.”
“Wake up,” Kat whispers right into my ear, pulling me from sleep. “I want to show you something.”
“We start many mornings like this these days,” I reply, and rub my hands over my face. “But it’s usually me waking you up.”
“I never went to sleep,” she says with a shrug. “It happens sometimes. But you have to see this sunrise.”
I frown and pull some shorts on. “Why didn’t you sleep?”
“Because my brain wouldn’t shut off. It happens a lot.”
“Not since I’ve known you.”
She stops and bites her lip. “True. I do sleep well with you. I don’t know, I just had a lot on my mind last night.”
I pull her against me and wrap my arms around her, hugging her close. “Are you okay?” I whisper.
“I’m great,” she replies, but doesn’t pull away. Her arms are locked around my waist and her head is pressed to my chest, and it’s like heaven. “But I really want you to see this before it’s gone.”
“Okay. Lead the way.”
She takes my hand and pulls me through the loft, out to the terrace, and to the railing. The sky is lit up in orange, red, and purple.
“This was worth getting woken up for.” I kiss her head and smile down at her. “Were you out here all night?”
She nods. “Reading.”
“I figured. Do you want to go to bed?”
She smiles and shakes her head. “No, I want to walk down the street for some coffee.”
She’s in a happy mood, and for not getting any sleep she’s bright-eyed and energetic, and it’s completely charming.
“Anything you want,” I reply before kissing her softly.
“And then I want to come back here and make love.”
“Perfect.”
Chapter Fifteen
~Kat~
“This has been the day from hell,” Mia says as she walks into my bar, sits on a stool next to Riley, and leans her elbows on the smooth wood. “I hate today.”
“Tell me about it,” Riley says, and sips her wine. “If one more asshole tries to leave here without paying their check, I’m going to sucker-punch them in the neck.”
“That’s not good for public relations,” I reply with a snort. “I can see the headline now: ‘Restaurant Owner and Marketing Manager Charged with Assault.’”
“Hey, we’d probably get more business,” Mia says with a smile. “Can I please have a glass of wine?”
“Of course.” As I turn to pour Mia a glass, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Mac: How was your day?
I grin as I pass Mia her drink.
“That’s Mac,” Riley informs us all.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“From the corny grin on your face.”
Long day. Ready for it to be over.
A few seconds later, he replies with Mind if I go down to your place for a bit?
I shrug. Knock yourself out. Key under the mat.
I send off the reply, and since we’ve just locked up, I pour some wine for myself and walk around the bar to sit with the girls. “I love my job, you guys. You know I do.”