Page 38 of Keep On Loving You

The surge of love he felt for her in that moment threatenedto 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.Hefelt 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 stoppedby 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 strongorcapable 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.”

---