Page 20 of Catch
Instead of answering, I stood, keeping hold of her hand so she had no choice but to stand with me. She was at least a foot shorter, and for a second, she just looked up at me, quietly, like she was waiting for something.
Anddamn, I wanted to kiss her. It was what moments like that were designed for. But she didn’t need me pulling a stunt like that.
She wasn’t there to find a man to kiss her. She was there to findherself. And even though I’d seen her clearly from the start, she still needed time to catch up.
“I’m headed to bed,” I finally sighed, stepping back, breaking whatever tension was pulling us in. “Another day ahead of me searching for akidnapped pop star.”
“Pop star?” she gasped, laughing. “I couldnever.”
“Rockstar?” I hedged.
“Maybe.”
“How about a southern songbird? Or a hillbilly hitmaker?”
“How about a good old-fashioned country girl wholovesto sing?”
“Well, whatever we’re calling her, I have to pretend to look for her all day tomorrow, and it’s gonna beexhausting.”
“Poor thing,” she crooned dramatically as I backed toward my bedroom. “I’ll write asadsong about it.”
Chapter Eleven
MILES
SUNDAY DINNER
It feltlikemonthssince I was last at Sunday dinner, listening to West bitch about the butter I got on his fancy suit.
In reality, it had only been aweek, and hestillwasn’t letting it go.
“I have a meeting as soon as I get back to Atlanta tonight,” he warned. “Get anything on my clothes, and I will personally shove your head in the toilet and flush.”
“Like aswirly?” I laughed. “You’d give me aswirly?”
“And what kind of meeting startsthatlate on a Sunday?” Easton asked, shoveling a forkful of tuna patties and rice into his mouth. “Did youpayfor this meeting? Does she workby the hour? Will she spank?—”
“Easton!” Grams gasped, smacking his arm as I nearly choked on my drink.
West exhaled hard, his patience wearing thinner by the second. “I didn’t make all this money by only workingnine-to-five.”
“Speaking of all your money,” I cut in, waving my fork at him. “I’m gonna cancel the guy we hired to repaint the front porch.” All conversations screeched to a halt. Every set of eyes snapped to me. “I’m in the mood to do it myself,” I added, shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal.
“Ever since Iboughtthat house,” West laughed, “your only interest has beenlivingin it. Why the sudden change?”
Normally, I’d tell my brotherseverything. Even Jesse and my wide-eyed grandparents would get the full rundown. But Loxley’s secret wasn’t mine to tell. Keeping my promise to her meant keepingeveryoneaway from the house while she was there. Which meant keeping the painters away.
What did I know about painting a porch?
Nothing.
But I’d figure it out, or at leastpretendto until Loxley was gone, then conveniently change my mind. It wasn’t like I was in a hurry to get it done. The deal was that I’d live in the house for a couple of years while West had it revamped. Then I’d move out so he could sell it.
I’d never liked being out in the middle of nowhere by myself, away from whatever may be going on in town. But with Loxley there, I wasthankfulfor the privacy. She made it feel less like a cave and more like a home.
Then again, Loxley wouldn’t be there forever. She’d leave when the time was right. And I’d be alone out there again.
“Earth to Miles,” Gramps huffed, knocking me out of my thoughts.
