Page 51 of Promise Me, Katie (Bennett Sisters #1)

Matthew took a breath and started over. “I know you’re hurt, and I know you’re mad. But believe me, I am more sorry than you could ever know.”

“Furious,” she muttered into her cup.

“What was that?”

“Furious, Matthew,” she snapped, rising from her seat to confront him. “I’m furious.”

Matthew visibly winced. Tears of frustration with himself and the fear of losing her dampened his eyes. Had anyone told him that his sweet little Katie would become this outraged woman, he would’ve never believed them.

“I’m sorry that you’re furious,” he said as gently as he could, stepping toward her.

“Don’t do that,” she warned. “Don’t you dare do that to me.”

“Do what?”

“Don’t use that voice with me, Matthew. Don’t think I don’t recognize that little game. With that syrupy sweet, soft tone of voice and the ever-so-careful choice of words.”

Katherine’s gaze was so stern it sent a worried shiver down his spine.

“No one gets to play games with me anymore. Not even you. That part of my life is officially over.”

“Are we over?”

Matthew held his breath, afraid she’d say yes. Fearful that her answer would come out so fast and so certain that there was no way of fixing what was now between them. The horrible distance over the past few days was already more than he could bear.

“Are we officially over, Katie?”

“My name is Katherine,” she said, her voice just above a whisper.

“But you’re my Katie.”

She shook her head as fresh tears streamed down her face. “Don’t say that.”

“But it’s true.”

She shook her head again.

“You’ll always be my Katie. That’ll never change.”

“ Everything has changed. Can’t you see that?”

Matthew moved in even closer. Each step he took in her direction was more cautious than the last, and Katherine put her hands up to stop him. “I told you, Matthew, save it for the bank robbers and kidnappers.”

“I’m not trying to play you. I’m just trying to get close to you.”

Matthew took the last remaining steps between them. Reaching for her arms, he held on to Katherine with enough strength not to hurt her,but also to let her knowhe wasn’t about to let her get away again.

“Look at me,” he pleaded, his head lowering to draw her gaze up to his. “Katie, please look at me.”

Hesitating, Katherine wanted so much to be strong. She didn’t want to be drawn in again just because she was sad, lonely, or tired of missing him. Or because in the short time they’d been together, she loved him more than she ever thought she could love a man.

Even as she was fighting her gaze from lifting, she felt herself weaken under the touch of his warm hands against her skin.

“Please.” Then Matthew waited patiently for her to respond.

“You did hurt me.”

“I know, sweetheart, and I’m sorry for that,” he said, his heart flooded with renewed hope as he pulled her into his arms. Cupping the back of her head in the palm of his hand, Matthew held Katherine against his chest as his eyes lifted toward heaven, and his soul gave a silent prayer of thanks.

“But I’m still mad at you,” she insisted, even though the fortress around her heart had started to crumble.

“Not furious?”

“What?” she whimpered, distracted by the smell of his skin and the warmth of his touch.

“You said you were still mad at me. Does that mean you’re not furious anymore?”

Katherine tried not to laugh. “I could be.”

“No,” he soothed. “We don’t need any more of that.”

As Matthew loosened his grip on Katherine, hoping to touch his lips to hers, she pulled free from his hold, used the ends of his shirt to dab her eyes, and then wiped her runny nose, giving him a take that sort of smile, as Matthew couldn’t help but laugh.

“All better?”

“For now,” she warned. “Unless you make me cry again, then I’ll have to get really snotty.”

Matthew looked down, inspecting the dampened edges of his shirt. “Would that be figuratively or literally?”

“You don’t wanna know.”

“Oh, my sweet Katie. No, I do not,” he said. “Not figuratively and definitely not literally.”

Standing in each other’s arms seemed to heal them from the inside out. But it wasn’t long before the easy drawl of her father’s voice interrupted them.

“I take it you two are doin’ better?”

Once again, Katherine felt the weight of shame for her behavior. She loved her family more than words could ever express, and she never, for any reason, ever wanted to disappoint them or let them down.

“Is it okay to give my baby girl a hug?”

Once Matthew let go of Katherine, she turned and ran to her dad.

“I’m sorry,sir. I’m so, so sorry.”

“There, there, baby girl.” Tears welled up in the Chief’s eyes as he kissed the top of her head. “And what have I told you about that sir nonsense.”

“Yes, Daddy.” She nodded against his chest. “But I really am sorry.”

“I know you are, and so am I,” he said, then eased his hold to stare down at her, his expression stern.

“But you owe your mother an apology, young lady. I don’t care how old you get, ya don’t get to run off like that and scare your mother.

She’s a good woman and didn’t deserve that.

She had nothing to do with that whole business. ”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“And you nearly scared the life outta me, hittin’ that glass door and tearin’ out of the parking lot like you did.”

Katherine wanted to reassure him with a smile, but the overpowering quiver of her lip made it impossible.

“And it wasn’t okay to tell your sisters not to talk to us either. We were worried sick.”

Katherine nodded her reply. She could see the worry in her father starting to subside even before he wiped both of his eyes with the heel of his hand.

“I know, and it won’t ever happen again. I promise.”

After Jerome led Katherine back to Matthew, he clapped Matthew on the back and said, “I’m sure you two need some time alone. So, I’ll see you back at the station in a few days.”

When Matthew tried to protest, Jerome wouldn’t hear of it.

“I hear there’s a nasty bug goin’ around.

” He winked. “You two oughta hole up for a few days and get yourselves better. Justin and I can manage things at the station, and I know Mom, the girls, and Florence wouldn’t mind pitchin’ in around here a little longer.

You know, they’ve done a pretty good job so far.

Actually, your mother has really enjoyed herself. ”

“Interesting...” Katherine said, and her father chuckled, shaking his head.

“You could call it that if you like.” Jerome smirked. “Now, you two get outta here and get yourselves better.”

When they tried to thank him, he only waved it away and turned to walk out. “Take care of my baby girl, Matthew.”

“Will do, sir.”

When Jerome was gone, Matthew looked down at Katherine and smiled. His eyes were tired, and his heart was wounded, but his soul was soaring. “Can we go home now?”

“Which home is home?” Katherine asked. “My home or your home?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Matthew said, leaning down to kiss Katie. “Home is where you are.”