“Don’t worry. I’ll keep him out of trouble.” Eric winks.
Once we’re at the house, I take a shower and get dressed.
“I’m gonna have dinner at Katie’s tonight. You’re more than welcome to come eat with us, or you can grab something on your own if you’d rather.”
“Nah, I ate only a couple of hours ago while I was at the deli. I’ll drive you there and stake out from the car just in case there’s any suspicious activity. Forgot to mention earlier that I’m running a background check on Brittany and Loretta. I also have a friend in Vegas who’s digging into their financials and cell phone history.”
I raise a brow, shocked he’s able to do all that. Instead of asking questions and getting answers I don’t want to know, I change the subject. “Alright, well, text me if you get hungry. I can bring you some leftovers.”
Eric smirks, patting my shoulder. “Not my first rodeo, Noah. I’ll be fine. I’ll text you if I see or need anything.”
Before we leave, Eric walks around the house, then lets me know it’s safe to come to the car. The drive over is uneventful, and admittedly, I do feel safer with Eric close by. As soon as Katie answers the door, I pull her in for a hug, and her body molds to mine.
“Hey, baby. I’ve missed you.” I press my lips to hers. We’ve texted and talked on the phone all weekend, but I haven’t seen her in person since last week.
“I missed you more,” she whispers, moaning against my mouth.
“Noah!” Owen’s voice breaks us apart, and we realize we almost lost control.
“Hey, bud. How’s it goin’?” We bump fists, and he smiles.
“Good. Did you see another Star Wars movie was released on Disney Plus?”
We all walk to the kitchen, and I inhale the smell of Katie’s food.
“No, I didn’t. Guess we’ll have to watch it this weekend.” I grab the plates from the cabinet and set the table as Katie takes the casserole from the oven.
“Yes!” Owen cheers. “I’ll make sure we’re stocked up on popcorn.”
“Alright, time to eat,” Katie announces. “Owen, grab the silverware please.”
“I’ll get some glasses,” I say.
Once we’re seated, we dive in. Owen does most of the talking while Katie and I sneak glances at each other. As much as I enjoy hanging out with him, I’m dying to be alone with my girl before I have to leave. Though I’d much rather sleep over, it’s best if Eric and I are in the same space.
“But Mom, I’m not even tired,” Owen whines around a yawn.
“Oh really?” she muses, then reminds him to go brush his teeth.
Once he’s tucked in for the night, I help Katie pick up around the house and wipe down the counters.
As she rinses the dishes, I wrap my arms around her from behind and nuzzle my face into the softness of her neck.
“You know what sounds really good right now?” I whisper in her ear.
“A hot shower, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, and binge-watching Netflix?”
I chuckle. “I could get on board with that. Perhaps we should start with the first and go from there?”
Katie dries her hands before turning and wrapping her arms around my waist. “I know exactly where it’d go.”
The corner of my lips tilts up. “Only if you seduced me.”
She giggles, tilting her head so I can capture her mouth. “Hmm…might be a good chance of that happening.” She lowers her hand to my erection. “Though, I think you’ve made my job easy.”
“Mmm…don’t tease me, woman. I’ve been dreaming of your mouth on me for days.”
“Take me to the shower, and perhaps I can help make that a reality.” Katie smirks, and I immediately lift her and walk us to the bathroom, where she most definitely helps me out.
Chapter Nine
KATIE
Even though Eric’s been in town for five days, I still find myself looking over my shoulder and waiting for Brittany to appear. Since she’s been MIA, I’m paranoid as hell about what she’s planning next.
My mother has been picking up Owen every day after school, so I decided to tell her what was going on with Loretta. I spared her the details she didn’t need to know and wanted to make sure she didn’t mention it to Owen or speak to Loretta. I have no doubt she’ll eventually reach out to Mom because after learning she lied to me about the money, I’ve sent her calls to voicemail. I’m pissed because for a moment, I believed her.
“Hey, you heading out? I’ll walk with you,” Missy says, poking her head into my office.
I check the clock. “Not yet. I have about ten more minutes of stuff to do.”
“Okay, see ya tomorrow then! Thank God it’ll be Friday!” She releases a whoop-whoop, and I chuckle, waving goodbye.
Once I’ve cleared my inbox and tidied my desk, I grab my bag and lock my office door behind me. I check my texts and smile when I see Noah’s name on the screen. Just as I’m about to unlock my car, I notice Loretta standing next to it, waiting for me. My adrenaline spikes, and I go into overdrive as I check my surroundings.
“Katie.” She wears a defeated expression.
“What’re you doing here?” I ask, keeping my phone tight in my palm just in case.
“I wanna see my grandson,” she states.
Arching a brow, I place a hand on my hip. “Which one?”
She narrows her eyes. “What do you mean? The only one I have.”
I scoff, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. “You sure about that?”
“What on God’s green earth are you talkin’ about, Katie?”
“Well, seeing as Anthony is Gabe’s son, I was just wondering which grandson you were talkin’ about.”
“Wha-I have no idea what you’re—”
“Don’t insult me, Loretta,” I interrupt. “I’ve put the pieces together. Brittany was one of Gabe’s mistresses, wasn’t she?”
She inhales a sharp breath as if she’s debating on coming clean or not. If she knows what’s good for her, she better.
“Yes, she was. He got her pregnant, but Elliot and I didn’t know until after Gabe passed.”
“So that’s how you knew her and why you teamed up with her to kill Noah?”
She balks. “What? Of course not.”
“Explain the twenty grand then. And don’t you dare lie to me this time.”
“Katie, let’s sit down somewhere and talk about this,” she pleads.
I look around the parking lot. “I’d rather not. There are cameras back here just in case.”
“You really think I’d try to hurt you?”
“I’d say never until someone started coming after Noah, and then you withdrew the same sum of money that Brittany paid a hit man. It’s not hard to figure out what’s going on. He’s responsible for Gabe’s death, and you and Brittany aren’t happy he’s back. He took away your only son and Anthony’s father.”
“Katie, I really don’t know anything about someone trying to kill Noah, but yes, I did give Brittany that money. Years ago when she gave us proof that Gabe was her son’s father, we paid her to keep quiet and leave town, knowing how it’d look and all.”