A Love We Deserve (True Love Book 2) (13 page)

Chapter 14

Katie

“I’m so happy to hear the good news. You make sure and listen to your hot therapist and he’ll have you better than ever in no time!”

Brian called for Jason, but I just had to congratulate him. Jason said with proper rehab, his leg should heal well. Next season shouldn’t be a problem. No one works harder than Brian, they’ve all been saying. Melanie’s been trying so hard to find out about him being as subtle as she knows how. I see right through it. I still can’t tell if she likes him or just feels badly, but I don’t care. I’m making this happen. I couldn’t dream of two people more suited for one another; they just have to see it for themselves.

Brian has been like a caged animal. He’s been with Jason everyday either doing his exercises or just hanging around. He desperately needs something to do. An idea popped into my head when he was at our house the other night.

“Brian, I have a proposal. If you’re looking for something to do, we could use some help around the shelter. I know you can’t lift anything, nor would I want that responsibility on my head, but we could use someone there for the building supervisors. We have a great crew of guys working on it, but sometimes they have questions that we just can’t or don’t have time to answer. It all needs to be wrapped up in time for the opening on October 3
rd
. What do you think? You can come and go as needed, and it would be an enormous weight off our shoulders.”

He lights up like a Christmas tree.

“I would be honored! I’ve been so impressed with all the work you guys have done, and I can’t think of a better cause to help with. Just tell me where and when, and I’m there.”

I didn’t run this past Jill or Melanie. I know Jill will think it’s a great idea, and I didn’t want to give Melanie a chance to kill it. I know being around him will be uncomfortable initially, but she’ll have to get over it. We do need his help.

On Monday morning, we gather with the staff for our weekly meeting. Oh, crap. She’s
really
going to kill me now. She looks like hell. Her hair is tied haphazardly on her head, no make-up of any kind, and it would seem she worked out in that outfit, or slept in it, and didn’t change or shower. She slams her laptop and notebook on the table. She’s in a mood, and shoots us all a deadly look.

“Sorry for the gorgeous appearance, but I was busting my ass all weekend trying to get all of this together. You realize I have been doubling as the crew chief supervisor for our construction crew, too? I have a life, guys, not much of one, but I do. I have permits still pending, and we can’t move forward until they are taken care of.”

She’s shuffling papers around and Jill and I give each other a quick glance.

“Well, we do have good news, Melanie. Brian Eyre…”

She cuts me off.

“Kat, I don’t give a shit about your precious Brian! Do you read me loud and clear? I knew if I asked about him, you were going to continue to throw it in my face. I’m sorry he got hurt, but I’m done. No setups, thank you very much.”

Her timing couldn’t be worse. Brian is standing right behind her. I asked him to come and meet everyone at the meeting, and then he could take over the permit paperwork and meetings she had today. He doesn’t seem surprised at her outburst since this is the third time he’s seen one.

“Good morning, everyone! I hope I’m not late. I’m still having a little trouble driving with this stupid thing.”

He points down to his soft cast on his leg.

“No excuses, though. Next time I’ll leave earlier. I know we have a lot to do, and some of you seem a little anxious. That’s what I’m here for, to help ease your anxiety and get this project to the finish line. I want to personally thank Katie for including me. It means a lot to me in a number of ways. I won’t let you down.”

Everyone is stunned into silence, each for their own reasons. The office staff, due to his looks; Jill, because I hadn’t yet told her; and Mel, well, Melanie for her own obviously mortifying reasons. He walks to Mel’s side of the table, and picks up the notebook she slammed down.

“Do you have a moment to go through this with me? I promise, just five minutes and you won’t have to speak to me again. I’m a quick learner.”

I give him credit. He could have handled the situation differently, but he chose to remain a gentleman. She clears her throat, and waves a loose piece of wild hair out of her face. She follows him out of the room like a punished dog: head down, tail between legs.

He holds the door for her, and slowly closes it after she enters. I sneak over and peek through the open window so I can hear the conversation. He pulls up one of the office chairs and spins it around to sit on it backwards. He places the notebook quietly on the nearby table, and waits. Melanie is trying to act like nothing has happened, but she can’t quite pull off cool nonchalance. She looks down and he’s staring at her with hurt eyes.

“What? Look, I can’t apologize enough for how many times I’ve put my foot in my mouth. I’m embarrassed, and thoroughly humiliated. There, are you happy?”

She stands with her hand on her hip.

“I don’t know what I’ve ever done to you. I know you don’t treat everyone this way. I talked to Katie, and she defended you to hell and back. I had hoped when I texted you, you would respond so we could get together and talk about it. I did have a reputation at Georgia. I was quiet, and when you’re quiet people like to fill in the blanks. I was labeled an asshole, and I didn’t stand up to change that perception. Truth was, it kept me out of the limelight and I was able to focus better. Some things just follow you no matter how fast you run, I guess.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t deserve an explanation. I was rude, period. You have nothing to apologize for. I guess I just haven’t been myself lately.”

“OK, it’s over. Now, can you bring me up to date so I can get started?”

* * *

“You’re dead!”

Oh shit. She’s running at me from the room where she and Brian were talking. I bolt into her office and hide under her desk. I’m tiny enough to fit in the space for her chair. She sees me and starts to laugh uncontrollably.

“You suck!
Today?
Of all days?”

She grabs her shirt and points to her hair.

“What did you talk about? Did you apologize to him finally?” I ask as I crawl slowly out from under the desk. I still don’t fully trust she won’t rip my hair out.

“He tried to apologize to me, kind of. I did say I was sorry. I can’t fucking believe my luck. I don’t say one word about him for weeks, and then,
boom
! He hears me talking shit right in front of him. He seemed less than interested to hear anymore though. He was all work. Has he said anything to you about me?”

“Well, yes, he has. He asked me if you were always like that, and I said no. I’ve apologized to him for you enough for two lifetimes. I think that’s why he’s curious. Why him? Why just be a bitch to him?”

She turns around to look and see if we’re alone. She’s not making any more mistakes.

“Because I like him, OK? I don’t know when it happened, but I’m really attracted to him. I guess my bitch brain switched on when I saw him talking to that girl at your dinner party. I was alone, and it was never more obvious to me that at that moment. I was jealous that they were talking. It’s still no excuse, but I think I was a little angry with myself about it. I have no business liking a guy like that who would never go for me. I think I was also a little hurt that you and Jason didn’t think I was a good match for a nice guy.”

“What the
hell,
Melanie? You freak out when I set you up, you’re mad at me when I don’t! See?? Kill the messenger. No, thanks. I didn’t tell you about his coming to work here because it just went down. I didn’t tell Jill either. We won’t see much of him, because he’ll be at the worksite mostly. It really didn’t matter. And you’re welcome, by the way. I did it mostly to lighten your load since you have a life and apparently none of the rest of
us
do.”

She starts to cry, and walks over to hug me. We both stand there for a long time, hugging and crying. Jill walks in, and turns right back around to leave. We both know what the real issue is. She’s lonely, and likes someone she thinks hates her. That’s never a good feeling.

The next couple of weeks run like clockwork. Brian helped so much, and the shelter will be ready ahead of schedule. We even came in under budget, so we’re going to throw a thank-you party for those who donated. The shelter opens on Saturday, so we send out a note to our benefactors inviting them for cocktails on Friday night to celebrate. Jill decorated the lobby, giving us the day off before the cocktail party. She’s been so grateful for everything and everyone, she wanted to do this on her own. Melanie and I treat ourselves to some much-needed salon time and both have our hair done. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent any time on my appearance. It seemed a bit frivolous while we were working to set up a homeless shelter, but it feels good to look good. I know Jason will appreciate the effort.

She and I arrive early to see if we can help. Of course we should have known; Jill has all the decorating and setup completed. All we have to do is wait for our guests. Jason’s meeting us later with Brian. He has a rehab session in the afternoon, and he wants a chance to shower and change. Mel and I are bored, playing at the makeshift bar cart Jill has set up. I play bartender and prepare something for Melanie that resembles the color of a cup of water used by a child to clean his paintbrush. It smells strong, but she can handle it. Probably needs it after the last few weeks. I toss a cherry on top for fun.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jason and Brian come in. Jason still takes my breath away. He is wearing his fitted black slacks, with an open-collared shirt under his sport coat. Clothes fit him so well; he looks like a runway model. Brian looks great, too. He has thicker muscle than Jason, so he wears broader-cut clothing. Still fits him damn well though. He’s wearing a navy-blue sweater that really highlights the blue in his eyes, and some really expensive jeans. Good looking pair of boots, too. I wonder if that’s his personal style or if he needs help shopping? I’ll have to ask him sometime.

I wave them down, and Jason sees me. Brian’s face lights up when he sees Mel. She does look stunning tonight. That may not last long if she keeps drinking like she is. I’d better make her drinks weaker.

“Hi, gorgeous ladies! Is this where we get our beverages?” Jason asks so cutely, I could eat him up.

“Well, sir, we do have a bartender here, but I’ll be happy to oblige. What are your needs this evening?”

He gives me a look that means business. I think my panties just incinerated.

“I think you know my needs better than anyone. If we weren’t around all these people I’d let you take care of them the right way.”

He smiles at me, and I feel my damn cheeks turn forty shades of red. Melanie chokes on her drink, and Brian turns his head and whistles like he didn’t hear a thing. Jason and I might have to cut out of this place early tonight.

“Excuse me, dear friends, but my husband has needs and I want to hear all about them.”

I drag him away from the bar, a good excuse to leave Brian and Mel alone for once. Please, God, keep her shoe out of her mouth!

* * *

Melanie

Oh Lord, he looks fine. That body, it’s almost a sin to cover it with clothing. Why can’t men today walk around like gladiators in those little skirts and bare chests? He could do that outfit justice. Of course, what he’s wearing now is showing his physique pretty well, too. He smiles as they approach, and gives me a quick look of approval. I think I wasn’t supposed to notice that though, because he did it when he thought I couldn’t see. That’s encouraging. Katie and Jason leave the two of us to go and talk. They are the sweetest married couple I know. They adore each other, and still have the major hots for each other, too. I blush when they start their repartee around me. I don’t think they care who’s around to hear it; when they’re hot, they’re hot.

“Are those two always like that?”

Brian looks enviously at his friend.

“Oh, you have no idea. Some days I have to hose them down. They cherish one another. My parents never had a marriage like that. How about your parents? Are they still happily married? I’ll bet they’re really proud of you.”

“Nope. Not happy. My mom is proud of me. Is there food here? I’m starving, haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

Well, that was a strange turn away from the conversation. I won’t push it. It’s clearly a hot-button issue for him.

“Yes, there are finger foods. Not much though. Would you like to grab a bite after the cocktails? My treat. It’s the very least I can do to try to make up for how I’ve acted.”

“Yes, I would. I’d like that a lot Melanie, thanks.”

He takes a long sip of his beer, and the look he gives me is intense. And, there it is. The response my body is conditioned to give. My cheeks flush, and I feel a gradual warmth between my legs. He must think I’m so innocent that I blush when a man looks at me. If he only knew what I’ve been doing at home while fantasizing about him, he’d be the one blushing. He smiles at my pink cheeks, and we walk over to the group that is assembling in the main lobby. Jill is about to speak.