Page 76 of One Touch

She was mine.

Heads were going to roll when I found out who left the tools out for her to trip over.

“My palms and knees hurt, but I got to my feet, and when I yanked open the door, there was no one there.”

Images of a knife-wielding Kate looking brave but scared flashed through my mind.

“The lights Lee installed were on,” she continued. “I thought maybe it was a raccoon or stray dog or something.”

“Raccoons don’t talk. Or try to open door handles.” Fun fact. Raccoons can open doors, but I didn’t need to provide that oddly specific nightmare fuel when she was already freaked out.

“Exactly.” She nodded. “Then I heard squealing tires as they kicked up gravel and sped away. It all happened so fast.”

“You didn’t see a vehicle or how many people there were?”

Kate shook her head and looked at where my fingertips were digging into her thighs. I softened my grip but couldn’t seem to let her go. “I think they were parked up the road, because I didn’t hear the car start, just them burning rubber as they drove away.”

“Did you call the police?”

She shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “I came here.”

I pulled her into me. “Good. You did good, Katie-girl.”

I couldn’t ignore how witnessing her pain and fear had unleashed something feral inside of me. A deep, frightening part of me that would stop at nothing to keep her safe.

Kate’s wobbly sigh nearly broke me. I held her closer to me, whispering tender reassurances and letting my lips brush over the soft strands of her hair.

When I finally felt like I could speak without losing my shit, I pulled back to look at her face. “You’re staying here.” Her plush mouth had opened to protest when I swept my thumb across it and continued: “You’re staying. Leaning on me doesn’t mean you’re not strong. You chased trespassers off your property with a knife, for Christ’s sake.” I let my fingers trace the delicate lines of her face. “It was probably just an overeager reporter trying to get a scoop.”

It was a lie and we both knew it. No reporter cared that much about a historic property, but for the time being, we could pretend until more information came to light.

I rubbed my hands up and down her thighs to comfort her. “It’ll also keep your brothers from stepping in, because you know once they find out about this, they’re going to be all over you.”

Kate pouted as the truth of my words sank in. She knew damn well each of her brothers had an overprotective streak when it came to her. Her privacy and autonomy would shrink tozeroif they thought there was a chance she was in any kind of danger.

Finally, she lifted her chin. A spark of steady determination replaced the wariness in her eyes as she sighed and settled her shoulders. “I could use a drink.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

KATE

“Yo,Catfish Kate. Can I get you anything?”

I tamped down an eye roll as I turned to see Lee looking me over. As Beckett had predicted, as soon as word got out about the incident at the house, my brothers were all over me. Wyatt texted so often it was a wonder he had a job at all. He’d even sicced Lark on me, and she was incessantly trying to set up more “girl time.” Duke was constantlyjust swinging by, and Lee hadn’t worked a shift at the fire station all week and opted to be up my ass instead. Top it all off with the lookie-loos who made it their business to stop me in town and ask endless questions.

The only place I found peace was in the quiet comfort of Beckett’s obnoxious beach house.

“All good!” I infused my voice with as much cheeriness as I could muster when really I wanted to punch Lee in his stupid face.

“Okay, well, I brought you a lemonade anyway.” He lifted a can of my favorite drink and shrugged.

Ugh, why is it so hard to stay annoyed at him?

“Thanks.” I sighed. “You can put it over there.” I pointed to the freshly polished bar top as I readjusted the tripod to peer through the new digital camera I had purchased.

When Lee didn’t move from behind me, I turned to him again, my eyebrows up. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I just ...” He tucked his hands into his pockets and sighed. “I’ve been thinking. The house is getting close to being done, you know? I was just making sure you’re sticking around when it’s all over.”

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