A Solitary Romance: Book 1 in the Only Love Series (8 page)

Before he could reply, Katrina's cell buzzed.  She snatched the phone from the table where she'd placed it earlier, and saw Kiki's name flash across the screen.

"Excuse me," she said in a huff, tapping her cellular.  Her mother ingrained good manners in her from an early age, and taking calls or messages from mobile phones at the table was a definite
no no
.

Decided to call it a night.  You kids have fun. - K

"Everything okay?" Robert asked.

Now what do I do? 
His question didn't register as she wondered how to extricate herself from the bar without it looking like a retreat.

"Katrina!  Is everything all right?"  He raised his voice, a concerned look replacing his grin.

"Yes, yes.  Kiki's gone home.  I'm going to follow her example.  I really am beat.  Have a nice weekend."

She got up and walked from the bar, not looking back.  She fought the urge to run from the building but maintained a slow, proper gait instead.  The cold evening air felt wonderful against her skin after being cooped up inside all night.  A rule follower, she punched the
Walk
button at the intersection and waited for the light to turn, even though there wasn't a car on the road.

Drawing long, deep breaths of oxygen into her lungs, she looked up, hoping to see some stars in the clear night sky.  The city's brightness all but obliterated any heavenly bodies.  Katrina remembered viewing a dark velvet universe carpeted with twinkling pinpoints of many colors on a camping trip to Yosemite.  Frigid temperatures required coats and blankets, but her mother still insisted they join the evening ranger walk.  James had crept up behind her on the trail, prompting a scream when he grabbed her from behind, the scalawag.  She'd never witnessed a sight like that before or since.  Kate could detect red, blue, and yellow in the light cast off from the stars, and they filled the sky to the extent that it appeared more twinklers existed than inky black empty spaces.

Lost in thought, she didn't enter the crosswalk when the light changed.  By the time she became aware of red lights flashing at her, she determined to push the button again and wait.  She didn't hear the man approaching from behind.

"Where you headed all alone?"

The cold tenor of his voice alerted her to real trouble.  How foolish she'd been, standing around on the street.  She told herself to stay calm, not to show any fear.

"The lady's not alone." She heard Robert's voice, hard and threatening, before she had the chance to address the stranger.  She released a sigh of relief and turned to face the men.

A hooded, short figure stood sideways between her and LaSalla.  Short but with a muscular build and visible tattoos on his neck, he frightened Kate.  He could be armed.  She watched as Robert took a step towards him.

"Move on," her new boss commanded.

The man glanced from Katrina to LaSalla, and Kate caught a glimpse of his hate-filled eyes.  She prepared to scream for help.

"Hmph," the man puffed and walked away at a slow pace.

  Robert advanced on Kate, putting himself between her and the would-be attacker.  He placed his arm around her and asked, "You all right?" without taking his eyes off the man. 

"I am now."

When the stranger disappeared around a corner, LaSalla turned his attention to Katrina.

"What were you thinking, standing around here at night, daydreaming?  You could have been hurt, or worse!"  The angry tone in which he addressed her made Kate shrink from him.

"I was thinking about the stars in Yosemite and—"

"Good God, Woman!" he interrupted.  "Where's your car?"

She realized how foolish star gazing must sound here, in downtown LA, late at night on a deserted street corner.  He must think her an imbecile.  Robert grabbed her elbow and manhandled her across the street.

"The car's in our garage," she managed to say, her voice small and meek.

The comment seemed to abate his anger a little, and he loosened his grip on her arm.  She could hear his ragged breathing coming in short gusts.  Her own heart pounded with the nervous energy one experiences after a close escape.

"I would have walked you out, you know," he said, his tone controlled but gentle. 

She figured he wanted to yell at her like a drill sergeant.  Didn't he say he'd spent time as a Marine?  She couldn't remember.

He continued, "But you bolted out of there like a house on fire, and I had to pay the bill.  Thank the Lord I decided to check on you."

"Oh, I guess we did stiff you," she replied, pausing to look at his features.

His granite jaw loosened as he broke into a chuckle, and she laughed too, the nervous, raw giggle one produces after a crisis has passed.

"It's all right.  I don't do
Dutch
, even on a double date.  But, I will be collecting from that rascal, Chuck."

They laughed again, and Robert shifted his hand from her elbow to her shoulder, draping his arm protectively around her.  When he caught sight of her car, he asked for the keys and opened her door.  All at once, Katrina began to tremble, the night's events hitting her hard.  She braced herself against the auto's frame, willing the shaking to stop.  He stared at her intently while she averted her own gaze, embarrassed.

"Come on.  Get in the passenger seat." He placed his arm around her waist and pulled her away from the vehicle.  Walking her around the car, he added, "You're not fit to drive.  I'm taking you home."

Chapter 6
-Make Coffee, Not War-

Kate didn't protest as he helped her into the car, closed her door, then jogged to the driver's side.

"Thank you," she whispered as he drove from the garage.

"Hey, don't fall asleep on me now!  You've got to give me directions."

A ten minute drive with no traffic, the trip took even less late at night.  Seven minutes later, he pulled her car next to the curb and insisted upon walking her to the apartment.

At the door, he said, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"No.  I can't trust what you might offer up at the next department meeting."

"What if I give you my word not to mention it?  It's late, and I could use a cup of coffee before I drive home."

"Well, I do have a machine, but I don't know how to use it, and—"

Before she could finish, he slipped by her, saying, "Where is it?  I can teach you how to brew coffee."

She followed him inside and realized he'd already located the kitchen.  She could hear him laughing.

"What's so funny?" she said, joining him.

"This," he said, pointing to a single cup coffee maker.  "You really haven't learned to pop one of these little cups up here, push down on the handle and press
brew
?"

"I'm glad I can provide you with some amusement," she said, smiling.

"Why did you buy it if you didn't intend to use it?"

"A gift from my dad.  I do intend to use it. I've just never gotten around to it."

She watched Robert's features as what looked like a wistful expression passed across his face.

"Where are your cups, and what about cream?  My stomach can't take black coffee anymore," he said.

"I don't have any cream, but I think there's some milk in the fridge," Katrina said as she stretched to pull two mugs from a high cabinet.

She didn't see Robert's eyes admiring her backside, but she sure felt them.

"Got any food in this joint, Kate?  I'm starving."

"Didn't you eat at dinner?"

"No, I was too busy worrying about how Chuck might screw up William's tribute party."

"All I've got are some old saltines and chocolate."

She pointed to a cabinet next to Robert.

"That will do," he said, reaching for the crackers and a candy bar.

"Here's the milk and sugar, if you'd like that."

The coffee machine made a noise as if it was letting off steam.  He removed the cup, stirred in a hefty amount of milk and sugar, and handed the drink to Katrina.  Then, searching through her mini cartons he chose a flavor for himself and started the process again.

"See, you put the water in back here," he instructed as he filled the machine from the tap.  He added, "Go sit down, and I'll join you in a minute."

Kate followed his orders, taking her place at the small kitchen table she'd purchased for the apartment.  When Robert joined her, carrying the cracker box and pieces of chocolate, he smiled ear to ear.

"You gave me a scare tonight, Katrina.  Promise you won't daydream so much when you're out and about."

"I'm not a day—" she protested, but he interrupted.

"And I never asked you out.  I know, I know."

Why is this man forever getting under my skin?

He continued, "Let's agree to disagree on the dating issue, all right?  Can I just put that to bed?"

He held up a piece of chocolate, as if it would be a reward for her obedience.  She could only nod.  His low voice sent shivers through her entire body, and the way he said
bed
thrilled her.

"Good.  And you'll be more careful?" he asked, reaching for her hand.

Katrina nodded again.  His calloused fingers skimmed hers before he turned her hand over and gave her the candy.  He allowed his thumb to trace over the fleshy part of her palm as he took a gulp of his coffee.  The corners of his mouth curled down into a
Not bad
expression as he pushed his eyeglasses back to the bridge of his nose.  Then he crammed several saltines in his mouth.  Katrina's breath grew uneven, but her new boss didn't notice.

"So, tell me about what you've been doing since you left Wood and Associates," she asked, after composing herself.  Her curiosity got the best of her.

Robert looked pleased, if his smile was any indication, and continued eating the crackers.

"Well, after getting my CPA license, I went back to grad school for an MBA.  Then, I went to work for an investment bank before joining my dad's company."

"What kind of business was that?" she asked.

"Dad had a boutique advertising agency.  Small but mighty client base, that sort of thing.  Mostly old school guys."

"Oh."

"I enjoyed working with my father, but some of the things I witnessed while serving in the Marines kept calling me back to other parts of the world.  Dad was nearing retirement age, and knew my heart wasn't in the business, so he decided to sell.  After that, I traveled for two years with an organization called Peace Workers.  I spent time in Haiti, rebuilding an orphanage destroyed by that terrible earthquake, and constructing a church and a small hospital in South America.  I traveled through parts of Asia on my own, as well."

"Where did you learn the construction business, Robert?"

"Oh, here and there as a teenager with summer jobs.  And of course, I got a lot of experience during my four-year stint with the Marines."

"Where did you serve?"

"All over.  Our military is stretched pretty thin these days, so I didn't stay in one place for more than six months."

"Did you see any active duty?" she almost whispered.  She knew from discussions with her brother than not everyone cared to discuss these experiences.

"Some."  He left it at that, then drained his cup.

Katrina decided there was more to this man that met the eye. 
And what meets the eye is a lot!

"Sorry, did you say something, Kate?"

She realized she'd mumbled her thoughts aloud. 

"Nothing.  You've led, uh, an interesting life, Robert."

"I hope I didn't bore you," he said, raising an eyebrow.

The man looked downright rakish.

"Not at all."

"I'd better get going.  Are you going to be all right?" he said, rising from the table.

She watched him use his cell phone to call a cab, confirming her address.  Then, he took their mugs to the sink and washed them with hot, soapy water.  He grabbed a dishtowel and dried the cups before placing them on the counter.  Katrina observed, stunned, as her new boss performed simple housework.  He tossed the empty saltine box in the waste can before heading for the door.  She followed him, prepared to say good night.

The man stopped abruptly and turned.  Katrina found herself inches from her new boss.

"Those crackers expired six months ago, and as far as I can tell, they were the only real food in the house.  No wonder you're always on the verge of passing out.  You need to eat more, Katrina."

"The expiration date didn't seem to bother you," she retorted.  "And I'm not always about to faint either.  The other day was a fluke."

"You wouldn't have such trouble concentrating if you had better nutrition," he added, dismissing her comments.

Katrina found it strange standing so close to a man in her home—especially this man.  Everything about him disturbed her, from his palpable masculine presence and aggravating comments, to the way he clenched his granite jaw and how she felt at his touch.  She didn't bother responding to his last remark, tired of the strain of arguing with him.  Instead, she drank in every detail of Robert LaSalla and chose to ignore his words, not difficult in these close quarters. 

He brushed a long golden brown strand of hair from her shoulder and once again examined her necklace, drawing even closer.  Kate froze and focused on keeping her breathing steady and her pulse from racing out of control, which only managed to make her aware of his scent, that masculine, woodsy aroma.  She fought the urge to close her eyes, lace her fingers behind his neck, and fall into his arms.

Robert released the pearls, which fell against her clavicle with a thud.  Quality fakes are heavy.  He took a step towards the door, opening it before pausing to look back at her.  She hadn't moved.

"I'd tuck you in, but
that
I would have to report to Harriet Reynolds," he said, flashing a parting smile before leaving.

His low, jagged tone did strange things to her.  She locked her door and retreated to the bedroom, hoping to get some sleep.

Hours passed before slumber overtook her.  She'd had a narrow escape tonight in more ways than one.  Acting rashly downtown, she'd put herself at risk, and later, back in the apartment, she had almost thrown herself at her protector.  She'd vowed never to be that kind of woman . . . the kind of female who flocked around Robert.