Page 22 of Operation Annulment (Silent Phoenix MC)

twenty

Nate

I pull into the driveway next to my brother’s truck. He’s known for dropping by unannounced, and it doesn’t hit me until I park in the garage that Kate’s here now, too.

Fuck.

I didn’t exactly reach out to alert my family that I was married. I take a deep breath and open the door.

“Well, well. If it isn’t my big brother?” Garrett leans back in one of the dining room chairs, an empty plate in front of him. And in typical Garrett fashion, he’s chewing on the end of a toothpick.

We share many of the same features and were often mistaken for twins when we were younger. Then I got tattoos and grew out my facial hair while he remained clean-cut and tattoo-free.

“Garrett, I didn’t know you would be stopping by tonight.”

He winks at me. “Your lovely bride was home and invited me to stay for dinner. We tried to wait for you—” he pats his stomach, “but it was impossible to resist.”

I open my mouth to reply just as Kate walks in. Her hair is piled up on her head, and she’s wearing a baggy sweatshirt that’s slipped off one shoulder. In a word, she looks amazing.

Her face lights up when she sees me, and she comes over and wraps her arms around my waist.

All my frustration from seeing Dakota and dealing with Jess evaporates.

Kate stands up on her tiptoes and presses her lips against mine. I’m sure she meant it as a peck, but I lock my arms around her back and devour her.

The sound of a throat clearing pulls us apart. Garrett’s now got his feet propped up on the table. “So, now that you’re home. How’d you end up married without any of us knowing about it?”

Kate reluctantly lets go of my t-shirt. “I’m just going to get you a plate. I’ll let you two catch up.”

I swipe his feet off the table and sit down across from him. “We went to Vegas—it was a small ceremony. I did the ‘big wedding shit’ before. It was nice just to have something low-key.”

Garrett shakes his head. “Really? Has she been married before? Because I don’t know a lot of women that would be okay with that.”

“She’s fine with it.”

He glances toward the kitchen before turning his attention back to me. “Look, cut the shit. Kate seems like a great person. She makes a lasagna that could compete with Mom’s and that rack?—”

I stand up so quickly that my chair crashes into the wall. I grab Garrett by the collar of his button-down shirt, yanking him across the table toward me. “Do not finish that sentence.”

I release him, and he sits back down, rubbing at his throat. “Jesus, Nate. Calm the fuck down. I was going to say that the rack in your oven was sparkling clean. Not a drop of lasagna was spilled. See? You freaked out for nothing.”

I rub my hands on my pants, feeling like a prick. I’m usually an easy-going guy, for the most part. I don’t know what it is about her that turns me into this. “Sorry, Gar?— ”

He cuts me off. “Apology accepted. And I just want you to know that, given the chance, I’d motorboat the shit out of your wife’s tits.”

He’s out of his chair and in the kitchen with her before I can react.

I’m going to murder him.

Kate comes back in with a plate of lasagna and salad and a big grin on her face. “Is everything okay? You look upset. Did you have a bad day at work?”

I shake my head. “I’m fine. Just tired…” I trail off as Garrett strolls back in and drapes his arm around Kate, his fingers moving dangerously close to being snapped in half by me.

He’s doing this because he’s pissed that I got married behind his back. I get it. I do. It doesn’t change how I’ll react if his fingers slip any lower, though.

I tap my fingers against my leg. “Babe, come sit with me; tell me about your day.”

She slides onto my lap and turns her face toward me. “It was great. Most of my patients want my advice, making me feel like I’m making a difference.” She shifts to get comfortable, and I’m suddenly rethinking having her sit on me as her ass brushes against the front of my jeans.

Garrett sits down across from her. “Do you have some that don’t want help? Why would they bother showing up?”

She leans forward. “Well, believe it or not, some people treat therapy as a dress rehearsal.”

I take a bite of the lasagna and Garrett was right, Kate can cook. This might even be better than my mom’s cooking—not that I would ever tell her that.

He wrinkles his brow. “What does that mean?”

She laughs. “It means that some people are sociopaths. They are incapable of feeling empathy for others. They learn how to react appropriately by mimicking the behavior of those around them. Some of my patients will use our time together as a confession—looking for my reaction. If I react in a way they deem appropriate, they’ll probably use it on someone else.

I also have patients who tell me nothing but lies. ”

Garrett shakes his head. “That’s bizarre. God, what I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall. I bet you’ve got some good stories.”

I like observing Kate like this. I can see her passion for her job in how her face lights up as she discusses it. Without thinking, I press a light kiss against her shoulder. “What do you say, babe? Do you have any crazy stories you can share with us?”

She blushes and bites the corner of her lip as she mulls it over.

“Okay. I’ve got this one patient. We’ll call her Carmen.

She became obsessed with her best friend’s husband, stalking him to learn his habits.

She used her friendship to gather intel, and then she drove a wedge between the two of them?—”

Garrett chuckles and takes a sip from his water bottle. “God, that sounds like your ex, Nate.”

It does sound like Jess. I’m disgusted by the thought that there might be more women like her.

Kate stands up and takes my plate. “I’m feeling a little sleepy. I think I’d better call it a night. I have another long day of unpacking ahead of me. Garrett, should we wake Daniel up?”

“Yeah. I need to get him home.”

I feel like an ass.

Of course, Kate would be uncomfortable talking about Jess. I stand up and take the plate from her hands. “Let me clean up. Go ahead and go to bed.”

She leaves me and Garrett standing in the dining room, staring at each other uncertainly.

“I think that went well.”

I grab him into a headlock. “The fuck is wrong with you, dickhead? She doesn’t want to hear about Jess. And keep your goddamn hands off of her.”

He reaches around me and grabs hold of my ear, pulling me off of him.

“Daddy?” Daniel stands next to Kate, taking in the spectacle before him.

We immediately release each other and straighten our clothing. Garrett scoops Daniel up, and the little boy immediately lays his head against his shoulder.

“C’mon, little guy. Let’s get you home and into bed.” He turns back to Kate. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner. Daniel and I had a great time.”

She gives him a side hug, embracing Daniel in the process. “Anytime. It was great to meet you both.”

I walk him out to the truck. “You can’t say anything to Mom or Dad. Not yet. We’re still trying to sort this out ourselves.”

Garrett gets Daniel fastened into his car seat, and his little eyes drift shut almost immediately.

He closes the back door and turns to me.

“What do you mean you’re trying to sort this out?

You’d be a fucking toolbox to end things with her.

She’s shown more affection for you in the last few hours than Jess ever did. ”

I shake my head. “Things aren’t that simple. Jess is sick.”

Garrett claps his hands. “Good. Maybe she’ll die, and whatever fucking spell she has over you will be broken.”

I pop my neck to relieve the building tension. “Don’t say that. Don’t be an asshole. I’m not interested in getting back together with her. I’m just worried because she’s all alone.”

He shakes his head angrily. “She’s alone because she chose to fuck half of Lubbock when she was married to you. It’s karma, Nate. Open your fucking eyes. Look, I won’t say anything to Mom about this, but don’t screw this up.”

I stand in the bathroom doorway, watching Kate shower. It’s taking everything in me not to strip down and join her. We might have a piece of paper that says we’re married, but this relationship is still in its infancy.

She hums, and I can see her body clearly in my mind. I’m having flashbacks to our first night together, and my resolve is slipping.

Fuck it.

I drop my jeans and kick them across the floor, adding my shirt and boxers to the pile less than a second later. I gently pull the glass shower door open, freezing when I see her hand between her legs.

She wasn’t humming—she was moaning. I’m just debating whether to stay or go when her body goes taut, and she whispers my name.

My motherfucking name.

I’m a goner. Everything Garrett said is spot on. I’d be a fucking idiot to let her go. Her body shudders and stills, the water running like rivers over her skin.

I pull her back into my chest, and she exhales softly. “That was so fucking hot, babe.”

She turns her head to the side and looks up at me. Her cheeks are tinged with pink, and I can’t decide whether it’s from her orgasm or embarrassment. “You weren’t supposed to be in here.”

I laugh softly. “Well, I’m sure as hell going to be in here from now on. You should know that the showerhead is detachable in case you need it for those hard-to-reach areas.” My hands drop from her arms down to her stomach.

“Nate…”

I slide one hand lower, and she stops me. “Wait. You said we were going to take it slow.”

I groan against her neck. “That was before I saw you doing that.” She can’t expect me to think rationally after that performance. All the blood is in my dick.

“So, ask me something.” I move my hand lower, and her voice goes shaky. “Um, get to know me.”

I nip at her earlobe. “Oh, I am getting to know you. Let’s try this—you asked me for my favorite food earlier. What’s yours?”

I slide one finger inside of her, and she moans again. “I—I like—um?—”

I slow my movements. “C’mon, Katy girl. Don’t keep me in suspense. ”