Page 27 of Keeping Katie
I want to ask more questions. I’ve pretty much blabbed my entire life story, but I don’t know anything about him. Now isn’t the time, though.
“Yes.”
“Good girl,” he murmurs.
Then he bends down and presses a feather-light kiss to my forehead. “Sweet dreams, princess.”
Katie:Can we get together? I have a bazillion questions.
Chloe:LOL. I’ve been waiting to hear from you. Grady dropped off some muffins for me and told me you were napping. It was cute. He got all growly when Bash tried to eat one.
The corners of my lips twitch. Jealousy isn’t supposed to be hot, but there’s something about Grady getting all possessive that’s sexy as hell. He seems chill, but I have a feeling he’s quite intense.
Katie:He showed up when I was in the middle of panic baking.
Chloe:Ooh, girl. Panicking over him?
Unable to wait for answers, I press the call button.
“Hey,” she says.
“Yes, totally panicking over him,” I blurt out. “This is a lot. He’s a lot. I feel like a mouse being stalked by the cat.”
“It’s hot, right?”
“Chloe!” I squeal.
She bursts out laughing. “Listen, these guys are a bit unconventional. They don’t live by a set of rules. They do what they want. When they find someone they want, they go after them. The second Bash got permission from my brother, he was all over me, completely unrelenting.”
“You’re supposed to be making me feel better.”
“I’m trying. Just listen. I’m getting there. They’re animals. Really good-looking animals. But they’re also protective, and they treat us like we’re royalty. Just give him a chance. You’ve spent the last fifteen years taking care of your parents. They were wonderful people, but because of their illnesses, you always came second. Maybe you should let Grady take care of you now.”
That does sound wonderful. The way he showed up and took control when I wasn’t able to think clearly? That was exactly what I needed. He took my choices away from me, but only for my own good.
“What about what they…do. For work,” I say slowly, trying to figure out how to bring it up over the phone.
She sighs. “I’m not going to pretend it’s not scary. They face risks. It’s dangerous. But they’re also smart.”
I rub Pancake’s ear between my fingers, my mind running in circles. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it.”
“Uh-huh. I bet you will. You’ll be thinking about that hot Irishman making you scream,” she taunts, giggling.
Heat spreads over my cheeks as I grin. I’m sure with the outline in his pants I saw earlier, he could definitely make me scream.
“Thanks for working at the shop for me. I’ll write you a check tomorrow.”
Chloe snorts. “Love the change of subject, and no, you won’t. I had fun. I wouldn’t mind taking a shift once in a while.”
My heart squeezes. “I’d like that.”
“Oh, Tom stopped by. Bash almost blew a vein when I hugged him.”
Laughing, I roll my eyes. These guys are over the top. And the fact that I like that about them is a bit frightening.
“Who are you talking to?” Grady asks in the background.
“Katie,” Chloe answers.