Page 66 of Hers to Marry
Chapter 20
In an effort to shield herself, Kat had deleted Drew’s number. After searching through email messages between herself, Parker, and Drew, she found it. Now she was too scared to text him. What could she say?Sorry I lost touch with you for six months? I had to focus on my work. She would sound just like Parker.
And that didn’t turn out well.
Actually, it sounded like it had been the perfect solution—at least for Parker. Whether or not Drew had been satisfied with their breakup was a different story.
Instead, Kat decided to go to the spot on the lake to see if he had returned to build his home. When she arrived at the location, she saw a mailbox and a gravel drive. She smiled. So he did come home. Didn’t he? Susie hadn’t been much help, saying he’d been in and out of town. Kat’s mother had said Muriel wouldn’t tell her a thing because she was still mad at Kat for leaving town for so long and without so much as a goodbye.
Kat turned onto the drive, wishing another person hadn’t built here instead. It would be awkward to show up at the door looking for the love of your life and find someone else living there. She’d be labeled a crazy stalker psycho.
Kat’s eyes widened when the home came into view. It looked exactly like he had always said it would be. High-end log structure with three stories, a wrap-around front porch, and the front door in the softest yellow pastel.
She had picked that color when they were kids after spotting a yellow flower in a field and falling in love with the color and shape. They had agreed it would be the perfect color for the front door of their home.
He remembered…
Kat parked her car and walked up the beautiful stone steps that led to the porch. Rocking chairs and a hanging swing made a sitting area off to her left. She stopped and stared for a minute to take in the furnishings and the planters that hung off the porch railing. Everything looked as picturesque as the lake behind the home. Her eyes stung as her heart filled with joy for Drew.
“I got the home.”
Kat whirled and saw Drew leaning against the front doorframe. She didn’t even hear it open.
“Hi, Kat. I heard you come up the drive.”
She tried several times to say hello, but the word was stuck between her tongue and the roof of her mouth. Drew was dressed in plain jeans and a white t-shirt. His signature five o’clock shadow curved up his cheeks to his reddish-brown hair that looked slightly longer than it had been before she left. Her eyes trailed down his fitted shirt that hung over his waist.
Mouthwatering.
Like her desserts.
“Kat? What’s got your tongue?”
She had hated that joke when they were kids. “Hi,” she forced out.
He grinned and came forward. “Hello, beautiful. You look incredible.”
She did? She wore a navy blue pea coat with a matching hat. Underneath, she only managed black leggings and a long dark, blue top.
Drew laughed at her expression. “Yes, you do. Are you going to come inside? It’s a little chilly.” He rubbed his biceps. “I’m getting cold. It’s warm in here.”
Kat forced her feet to work. When she reached the door, he scooped her up into his arms and buried his face in the side of her neck.
“I missed you,” he breathed. “I…I thought you were mad at me.” He pulled back, uncertainty in his eyes.
“No…not mad at all. You bought me a bakery. How could I be mad?”
He smiled. “You still want it? Susie’s been over there a lot lately.”
Kat nodded. “She’s been helping me. I’m going to open it now that I’m back.” Kat ducked her head. “I didn’t know what to say after I left.”
“Doesn’t matter now. After you left, I went to London—”
“I just saw Parker in New York,” Kat rushed to say. “I’m…I’m not sorry you two didn’t work, but I am sorry if you’re still hurt.”
Drew chuckled. “Not sorry, huh? Thanks. What kind of a friend are you?”
Kat swallowed, wetting her drying throat as the words played in her head. She worked up the courage to say them. His arms were still firmly around her waist, and she had her hands locked at the nape of his neck. The longer she rested against his warm body, the more at home she felt.
