Page 24 of Promise Me, Katie (Bennett Sisters #1)

“I didn’t know that,” Katherine said. “But I guess it makes sense. Mom usually insists that Daddy bring everyone new to the department over for dinner. Wait… did they meet Julia and Libby?”

“No, it was just me. I went there the day before you and I met.”

Matthew remembered being led through the big house by Katherine’s mother as she showed him countless photos of her children and grandchildren, sharing stories along the way.

“It was nice,” he added. “But they seem so different. It made me wonder how they met.”

“High school,” she said, then smiled at the thought of her parents and how fate had brought them together.

“Daddy’s family came from Glasgow, Kentucky, around the same time my mom’s family came from a town called Whitby in Yorkshire County, England.

Both my grandfathers were engineers who relocated their families to Windsong to work in the pulp and paper industry during my parents’ sophomore year.

Just two fish outta water, destined to meet, is what Daddy says. ”

Matthew smiled. “I think we understand the destined-to-meet part.”

“I think so, too. Any chance she made you roast beef for dinner?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Just a hunch. Sunday roast happens to be a Ginny Bennett sign of approval. She must’ve heard good things about you.”

“I’d never had Yorkshire pudding before.”

“Did you like it?”

“Maybe too much. I’ve been craving it ever since. I never knew such a thing existed. I always thought a Yorkshire was a yappy little dog.”

Katherine laughed. “You’re not the first person to say that.”

“Was it your mom that got you into cooking?”

“Yes and no. I actually think it’s part of my genetic code. Both my grandmothers are amazing cooks. They’ve entered cooking and baking competitions my entire life. If they’re not competing, they’re preparing to compete.”

“Sounds serious.”

“You have no idea. Mama is what we call Daddy’s mom.

She follows tried-and-true family recipes and rarely lets you step foot in her kitchen.

She’s always been a strict believer in Southern hospitality, so for her, even though we’re family, we’re still considered company, and company doesn’t lift a finger in Mama’s house.

On the rare occasion that she does let you help, it’s only to do simple things like peel potatoes or shuck corn.

And she’s real particular about how even those things get done. ”

“What about your mom’s mother?”

“That would be Nan. She’s a lot more easygoing.

Whenever we went to her house, she would always teach me something new or ask for my opinion about flavor combinations.

But most importantly, she taught me to never give up even if I burned something or forgot an ingredient.

She cooks a lot by instinct. You know, a pinch of this, a handful of that, kind of thing.

I guess you could say that both of them are an inspiration to me.

Lots of old-school, made-from-scratch kind of cooking. ”

“I’m sure they’re very proud of you.”

“That’s what they say.”

“Well, you should believe it,” Matthew said as Katherine yawned again. “You should probably get some sleep.”

“I know, but I like talking to you.”

“What else do you wanna talk about?”

Katherine thought about it as she burrowed even deeper into the blankets. “Do you think you’ll ever want more children?”

“Whoa!” Matthew chuckled. “That was quite the change in topic.”

As she tried to apologize, he stopped her. “Yes, I would like to have more children. But I could understand if you didn’t. Not to mention, Libby would probably love to have you all to herself.”

“Matthew…” Katherine’s eyes filled with tears.

“Is it okay that I said that?”

“I love that you said that.” She smiled, snuggling into his arms and falling asleep.

Around two a.m., Katherine awoke to the sound of Libby making noise in the next room. Quietly, she slipped out of Matthew’s embrace and off the bed to go check on her.

“You don’t have to do that,” came a voice through the darkness, causing Katherine to jump.

“Oh my gosh, you scared me.”

“Sorry, I thought you knew I was awake,” Matthew said, turning on the bedside lamp. “She usually falls back to sleep on her own.”

“What if she needs something? Like a diaper change or a drink of water. What if she had a bad dream?”

“If something was wrong, she’d be much louder. More than likely, she just wants to play.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“Yeah, that’s my fault. Before we moved here, the department was short on manpower, so I covered a couple of second shifts, but I hated missing bedtime, so I started to wake her up when I got home. I didn’t think a few nights here or there would make a difference.”

“Children are creatures of habit.”

“Yeah, in hindsight, it wasn’t my greatest idea.”

“Do you mind if I go rock her to sleep?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to… but I’d like to.”

“Okay,” Matthew agreed. “Let me know if you need any help.”

“We’ll be fine,” she said, giving him a quick kiss. “Try to get some more sleep. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Turning off the lamp and leaving the room, Katherine tip toed down the hall, and peeked inside Libby’s bedroom door. As it creaked open, the sound caught Libby’s attention and brought her to her feet.

“Time for sleep, baby girl.”

Katherine’s excited heart beat even faster as she picked Libby up, along with a soft pink blanket from her crib.

Lulling a baby to sleep was such a wonderful feeling.

It was intimate and calming in a way that nothing else could compare.

A realization not lost on Katherine years ago when she was a new mother.

And certainly not lost on her now as she held Libby Brandon in the big rocking chair.

Something about those tiny, trusting eyes looking up at her and the smooth, rhythmic motion of gliding back and forth soothed Katherine’s soul. She missed this more than she realized.

Taking care of Libby earlier that day, she hadn’t slowed down long enough to enjoy that wonderful powdery baby smell or study her tiny cherubic features. Now, all she could do, in the warm glow of the nightlight, was gaze down at the adorably sleepy toddler in her arms.

“Close your eyes,” Katherine whispered, as her heart flooded with wonderful memories of motherhood.

Of course, no one could ever replace her little Addison.

Yet, in that moment, rocking Libby back and forth, she felt an overwhelming peace that was helping to heal some of the broken parts of her heart.

From his room, Matthew heard the rocking chair slow to a stop, and he got the feeling that the gentle lullaby Katherine had been humming to Libby might’ve put her to sleep as well.

“Katie,” he said softly, after putting Libby back in her crib. “I’m going pick you up and take you back to bed with me, okay?”

“Hmm?”

“You fell asleep.”

“What time is it?”

“Almost two thirty.”

“That’s all?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. “She fell asleep fast.”

“You both fell asleep fast.”

“Oh,” she said, squinting at Libby in her crib. “Did you get any more sleep?”

“I will once you’re back in the bed with me.”

Katherine sighed as Matthew lifted her from the rocking chair.

“Mmm… do you even know how sexy you are?”

Matthew grinned. “Sexy, huh?”

“Yeah, reeeaaally sexy.”

After putting her back in his bed, Matthew watched as Katherine rolled toward his side of the mattress. She wasn’t at all what he’d expected, and he found himself drawn to her more than he imagined he ever could be.

Between her sleepy confession, her open and caring heart, and the rounded curves of her body, a part of him wished they didn’t have to wait to be together.

“Aren’t you coming to bed?” she rasped, her eyes opening just enough to search for him.

“Of course I am,” Matthew said, laying down and drawing Katherine into his arms. When he pressed his lips to her forehead, the innocent kiss quickly turned into something more.

Soon, his kisses went from delicate and sweet to hungry and intense, and her excitement reached its peak when he lowered his mouth to bite the sensitive skin of her neck.

“Oh, Matthew, I want you so much,” she whispered in his ear, taking her turn to kiss, lick, and bite the warm skin of his neck.

“Maybe we should stop.”

“So soon?” she teased, threading her fingers through his hair, then turning his head to expose even more of his neck. As her teeth pressed against his skin, he gasped at the surprise of her boldness.

Pulling away, he said, “We have to stop, or I won’t be able to.”

But Katherine’s searching eyes saw the passion she’d been trying so hard to provoke in him. “Can’t you see how much I want you?”

With a ragged sigh, Matthew’s eyes rolled back in his head. “You’re not helping, Katie.” His voice was weakened by the need to give in to his deep-seated desire for her. “Not at all.”

“Should I be sorry?” she asked, knowing she was pushing him to the edge. “What if I’m not?”

In one swift motion, Matthew rolled Katherine onto her back and covered her with the length of his body, holding her hips in place and pressing himself against her.

“When, Matthew?” Katherine pleaded the moment she was able to catch her breath and come halfway to her senses. “When can we be together?”

“Soon.” He rolled away to stare at the ceiling, willing his breath and pulse to slow as he desperately tried to ignore his body. “We’ll be together soon, I promise. But for now, we should get some sleep.”

Still consumed by the heat between them, Katherine drew in a long breath to calm her racing heart.

She didn’t really want him to stop but knew it was the right thing to do.

They needed sleep, and they needed to wait.

And even though she knew it was for the best, sleep was the last thing on her mind.

Because if Matthew could make her feel this good from kissing, it seemed only natural to imagine how good it would feel for him to make love to her.

“I really like your lips,” she said, turning her head to stare at them. When she bit down on her own lower lip, Matthew inhaled sharply.

“Katie…” he whispered her name as if it was his way of pleading for mercy.Then he reached for her, pulling her against his chest and turning off the light. “It’s time to sleep.”

But as soon as they were comfortably snuggled into each other’s arms, she spoke, making him smile at the shy reluctance in her voice.

“Matthew…”

“Yeah…”

“You really are very sexy.”

“And you, Katie, are verytempting.”