Page 30 of Katherine's Last Hope
“Are you all right?”
She sighed then forced a small smile. “I’m fine. Just not used to manning the grill. That was always Theo’s job. He guarded it like he’d been anointed by God himself as chief barbecuer. Sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologize for talking about Theo. He’s a part of your story, of Ollie’s story, forever. He deserves to be remembered.”
Tears clouded her eyes, and she reached a hand out for him.
He wasted no time in slipping his palm in hers then closing his fingers around her slender hand.
“Thank you. For everything,” she whispered.
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles. “I told you. I’ve got you. And I don’t mean just keeping you safe until whoever is after you is caught.”
Breaking his hold, he left her slack jawed and hurried into the kitchen.
He let out a long, shuddering breath as he found plates in the cabinet and grabbed silverware from the drawer. Hesitating beside the wine rack, he considered grabbing a bottle of white but left it untouched. He needed a clear head, and he didn’t know if she even drank alcohol.
Hell, there was a lot he didn’t know about her. The thought excited him, made him want to spend time discovering all hecould about her. But he couldn’t appear too eager. Had to match her pace as they figured out their shit.
He carried everything outside and placed it on the table. “What about a drink?”
“Any chance you have a beer?” She wrinkled her nose in the cutest way.
“Beer, huh? I pegged you as a white wine kind of woman.”
She narrowed her gaze, lips curved just enough for her dimples to appear. “I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not.”
“Take it any way you want, but I’ll grab the drinks while you decide if you’re offended.”
She threw her head back and laughed, the sound combining with Ollie’s giggles as he tossed the ball across the yard for a very happy Bailey.
Returning to the kitchen, he found the refillable water bottle Ollie’d used earlier and filled it with ice water then snatched two bottles of his favorite American ale from the fridge. As he stepped outside, Katherine placed the cooked chicken on each of their plates, humming a sweet melody he couldn’t quite place. Task complete, she faced the yard. “Ollie, time for dinner. Wash your hands please.”
Ollie ran after Bailey. “But Mom. Bailey and I are playing. I can’t eat now.”
Cody didn’t want to step into the middle of their argument but knew exactly how he could help. He set the drinks on the table.
“Give me a second,” he said. Popping back inside, he left the door wide open and filled Bailey’s food dish with her dinner.
“Hey! Where are you going?” Ollie’s voice carried inside seconds before Bailey sprinted into the kitchen.
“Good girl,” Cody said then stuck his head out the door. “Dinner time for her, too buddy. Might as well wash up and eatwhile she’s busy. Plenty of time for you two to play when you’re both finished.”
“Okay!” Ollie sprinted up the stairs and ran past him to the bathroom.
Katherine stood with her fists anchored on her hips. Grinning, she shook her head. “You’ve got all kinds of tricks, don’t you?”
“You don’t even know the half of them.” He cracked open one bottle then handed it to her before doing the same to his. He hoisted it in the air and waited for her to tap the neck against his. “To happiness, no matter how we find it, no matter where it takes us.”
“To happiness,” she repeated, then took a sip of her beer.
He took a long pull of his own, the bitter liquid cool and refreshing as it slid down his throat. Joy like he’d never known settled into his bones as he took in the view. The Smoky Mountains a majestic backdrop for the beautiful woman at his table.
Ollie ran back outside and hopped in his chair. “Looks yummy. Thanks, Cody.”
“You’re welcome, bud. Dig in.”
He held onto the joy, but just underneath it was a new kind of fear. One that told him he could get used to dinners like this—the three of them together, enjoying each other’s company. And if anything happened to take it away, it would break his heart.
