Page 50 of Welcome to Forever
Jack wore a deep frown. “He didn’t really have a choice. Sports are Kimberly’s life.” He looked at Kimberly sitting at the table. “If I were you I’d tread lightly, though, Principal Chandler. Maybe let Kim off on a shorter sentence. The mayor doesn’t take kindly to losing battles.”
Micah remembered that the race with the mayor’s last competitor hadn’t been pretty. “It’s two weeks,” he said without thinking. He stepped closer to Kat and she looked up at him with surprise.
She turned back to Mr. Markus. “He’s right. And look at her. She’s already made a friend out here.”
“A disabled boy?” Jack shook his head. “Be glad the mayor sent me instead of coming out here himself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? That disabled boy happens to be my son.” Micah crossed his arms and stared the suited man down like a misbehaving grunt.
“No offense, Mr….?” Mr. Markus waited for Micah to introduce himself.
“Sergeant Micah Peterson,” Micah said tightly. “And Principal Chandler is the one who makes the rules at this school. Not you and not Mayor Flowers.”
Mr. Markus shifted uncomfortably with Micah’s tone of voice. “I understand that. It’s just”—he lowered his voice—“Kimberly will raise havoc in that house until her father has no choice but to stir up trouble. That’s how she is. And I have to say, I’m not sure I could stand up to Kimberly that well, either.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to the little girl seated at the table with Ben.
“She looks harmless,” Kat said, knowing better.
“Trust me.” Mr. Markus straightened and waved as Kimberly noticed him. She immediately grabbed up her book bag and said a quick goodbye to Ben. Ben’s gaze lingered after her as she walked briskly to the mayor’s assistant. The brief joy Micah had sworn he’d seen on Kim’s face was now gone, replaced by a grown-up look of annoyance.
“This place sucks,” Kim declared, loud enough for everyone to hear her. “I need to talk to my father right now.”
Micah and Kat watched the two walk away.
“I don’t know about you, but I won’t be voting for Mayor Flowers next year. If he can’t control things at home, he certainly shouldn’t be in charge of the town of Seaside,” Micah said.
Kat laughed. “He was a respected member of the military. He’s a veteran. I’d say he’s handled quite a lot.”
Micah shrugged. “Speaking of veterans…”
She turned her body toward his. “Speaking of veterans…”
He smiled. “I’ve never looked forward to hanging out with a bunch of retired military more in my life.”
Her lips curved slightly. “Me, neither.”
Kat frowned at herself in the mirror that night.
“Stop obsessing. You look gorgeous.” Julie laid back on the bed and watched her. “You must really like this guy.”
“He’s a friend.”
“Uh-huh.” A wicked smile spread through Julie’s cheeks. “No sex for two-plus years, Kat. It’s time.” Her voice carried a teasing quality that reminded Kat of their younger days, sharing a bedroom and every detail of each other’s lives.
“You’re immature. You know that?” Kat said, just as she would’ve back then.
Kissy sounds followed her as she walked toward the bathroom and closed her sister out. “Let me know if the doorbell rings.” Behind the door, Kat leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, forcing herself to take a slow, relaxing breath. She had to admit, the no sex thing for two years was starting to get to her, which was why she was thankful Ben would be with them tonight. That would ensure that her hormones stayed in their cage. There would be no chance of hot, clothes-ripping sex in the back of Micah’s Jeep tonight, even though she’d fantasized about doing just that several times recently.
Heat singed through her veins at the images in her mind. After the threat of retaliation from the mayor, sex would be a great release. But not with Micah. She already had feelings developing for him and she wasn’t ready. Physically, yes. But emotionally, not yet. She twisted her engagement ring.
No sex.
She nodded to herself and went to the mirror to comb her hand through her hair one more time, then turned as the doorbell rang across the house. Here went nothing.
Or everything.
Kat opened the bathroom door and headed down the hall toward the sound of Micah’s deep voice greeting Julie.
