Page 197

CHAPTER 5

ERIC SPENTTHE afternoon catching up with Hugh and discussing the setup of the foundation scholarship while futilely trying not to think of Kat. She and Brianna had been chatting and laughing and carrying on with the kids just outside the open window, drawing his attention at every sound of her sweet voice. Kat’s laugh was so carefree and full of life, and it tweaked his heart at every turn with a whisper of familiarity.

“Dude, you’re fading out on me here,” Hugh said.

“I was just thinking about something.”

“You mean someone?” Hugh lifted his chin toward the window.

“There’s something so familiar about her. I feel like I know her, Hugh. It’s weird as shit and a little unsettling.”

“Unsettling in a bad way? Because as I mentioned last night, the vibes you two give off are not at all unsettling.” He pushed from the table and retrieved two bottles of beer from the fridge, giving one to Eric.

“Thanks.” He opened the bottle and took a swig, then sat back and crossed his ankle over his knee. “I feel like I know her. She reminds me of this girl I knew as a kid.”

“Hey, stranger things have happened,” Hugh said. “Ask her. Maybe it’s her.”

No way was he asking Kat if she went to Camp Kachimonte. He’d snuck into the camp the summer he’d turned nine, when he’d needed a reprieve from his stoned parents—and, embarrassingly, when he’d needed to eat. His parents weren’t big on providing for him as much as feeding their drug habits. Hugh knew about his parents, but what he didn’t know was that Eric had snuck into the camp cafeteria most afternoons that summer. He didn’t have many distinct memories of those afternoons, as most of them blended together in a jumble of fear and shame, but three instances stuck out in his mind. Once when he’d stopped a big kid from picking on a younger boy, and a little doe-eyed, blond girl who couldn’t have been more than five or six years old had told him that he was the bravest boy she knew. The second time was when that same little girl had dropped her ice cream sandwich in the dirt and he’d snuck into the kitchen after it was closed to get her a new one. She’d told him that he was the kindest boy she knew. Those things shouldn’t mean much to a nine-year-old boy, but Eric hadn’t received many accolades when he was growing up, and he’d held on to those little golden nuggets of praise and used them to pull himself through the harshest of days.

“No. There’s no way it’s her, and it was a long time ago. She reminds me of her, that’s all.”

He thought about the third, most powerful memory, the one he revisited most often. Not for the praise, but for the look in the little girl’s eyes when she’d said the words that to this day he still struggled with. He’d been swimming in the lake a good distance away from the kids from the camp when he’d seen the little girl flailing in the water. He’d been caught a few weeks earlier sneaking into the camp, and when the police had brought him home, his stoned father had taken the belt to him. He knewwhat was waiting for him if he got caught again, but when he’d seen the little girl go under, he didn’t hesitate to save her. He dragged her up to the beach and turned her on her side, the way he’d seen the lifeguards teaching the older kids during one of their safety lessons. She’d spewed water, coughing and gagging, and when she’d finally sat up, her tear-soaked eyes had widened and she’d pressed two tiny palms to his cheeks. He could still feel the pressure of them on his skin.You saved me. You’re my real-life hero, she’d said before pressing her lips to his. She was a little girl, and there was nothing sexual about the kiss. It was a frantic, relieved expression of gratitude, but when the counselor saw them, his eyes had blazed with fury and a chase had ensued. Thank God Eric was a fast runner. He’d scaled the fence and taken off like a bat out of hell. He’d had lots of practice running in those early years—and he’d spent every day since trying to escape his past.

HAL BRADEN CAMEthrough the patio door and scooped little Christian into his arms, pressing his lips to the squirming boy’s forehead. He was a formidable man at six foot six. Even at almost seventy, he had a commanding presence, with shoulders that filled a doorframe, a barrel chest, and a deep, gravelly voice that rivaled Clint Eastwood’s. He was a man made of love and loyalty, having raised six children by himself after losing his young wife to cancer, and Kat loved him dearly. He’d not only embraced Brianna and Layla like they were his own flesh and blood, but he’d welcomed her into their tight-knit family, too.

Layla ran from the table where they’d been sitting and hugged him. Holding Christian in one arm, he leaned down and kissed her head. “How’re my favorite girls?”

“We’re about ready to do our photo shoot,” Brianna said. Today they were taking candid photos and headshots of Kat forher promotional materials and website. She could still hardly believe her business was coming to fruition.

“Are you ready to go see Uncle Rex and Auntie Jade?” Hal asked.

“Yes! Yes! Uncle Rexy said I can ride his new horse!” Layla ran to Brianna and hugged her goodbye.

“Take your riding boots, Layla, and tell Auntie Jade I said not to pump you full of chocolate this time.”

“Aw, Mom. Auntie Jade says you can’t rule me when I’m there. I’ll go get my boots.” She ran for the door, and Hal laughed.

“You might as well give that up, darlin’. Jade’s got a bun in the oven, and she’s bubbling over with mama love. Let her spoil the child a little.” Hal settled a hand on Brianna’s shoulder and kissed her head the same way he’d kissed Layla’s.

“Well, paybacks will be fun, I suppose,” Brianna said. “I’ll sugar up her little muffin baby and then give him or her back buzzing with energy.”

“That’s what family’s for. Love ’em up the best you can. No harm in that.” Hal turned his dark eyes on Kat and spread his large hand on her shoulder. “How about you, darlin’? You have a beau on the horizon?”

His use ofdarlin’touched her heart, and she realized it was the same endearment Eric used for her. She wondered how much time Eric had spent with Hal over the years.

As if on cue, Hugh and Eric sauntered outside. They were both gorgeous men, but heck if Eric didn’t make her weak in the knees even though she was sitting down. He was still barefoot, with a beer in one hand and a crooked smile hovering somewhere between scorching and volcanic. Was she the only one who felt his potent masculinity like a vibrator set on high?

“Not at the moment, Hal,” she finally answered as Eric took the seat beside her, bringing a heat wave with him.

Hal’s knowing eyes shifted between the two of them. “Uh-huh. Well, don’t you worry, darlin’. Your heart’ll lead the way.”

“Pop, are you preaching love again?” Hugh put an arm around his father’s shoulder and kissed his son’s pudgy cheek.

“Preaching truth, son. Preaching truth. I’m taking the kids over to Rex’s now so y’all can get on with your evening.”

“Thanks, Dad. You sure you don’t want to go to dinner with us after Bree and Kat wrap up their photo shoot?”

“I’m going to hang around here in case Rex and Jade need me to take over. Christian here loves his grandpappy something fierce, right, Christian?” Hal kissed the little boy’s cheek, and Christian giggled. “You kids have a good time.” Hal patted Hugh on the back and smiled at the others as he said, “I love y’all, though.”