“None whatsoever. But, if I’m expected to service you adequately, I need sustenance.”
“Then, it only seems fair to let me make you breakfast. You know, for the servicing and all.”
He shook his head but continued to smile. “Not today. Sam’s already got stuff ready to go. I’m just going to check on the dogs and pick it up.”
Her lips formed a pout, and she sighed dramatically, which made him smile even more.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.”
Kate took the opportunity to take care of her personal needs and change the sheets—no easy feat with only one working arm. She knew he wouldn’t be happy about that, but he was just going to have to deal with her helping.
~ * ~
“So, are we going to talk about it?” she asked as she bit into a crispy slice of scrapple.
“About what?”
“The fact that I can’t have kids.”
“I guess we should.” He gave her a small smile. “But it’ll be a short discussion.”
“Why is that? Don’t you want kids?”
“Not particularly, but it doesn’t really matter because I can’t have them either.”
His comment from the night before—the one she’d forgotten about until a minute ago—now made sense.
“Active-duty injury,” he said after clearing his throat. “Everything still works, obviously, but I only shoot blanks.”
She nodded in understanding. “I have a hormonal condition that makes it practically impossible to conceive naturally.”
“Does that bother you?”
“I’ve come to terms with it. Does it bother you?”
He shook his head. “To be honest, it’s kind of a relief. I’m not sure I’m good father material.”
“But you are perfect boyfriend material,” she told him honestly. “Clarification: my perfect boyfriend.”
The look in his eyes stripped her right down to her very soul. It was as if the final tumbler had clicked into place, and she knew she would never, ever find another man as perfect for her as Chris Sheppard.
~ * ~
The next few days were some of the best of her life. While Chris was working, she spent her days with Sam and Sandy and the dogs. Her nights were spent with Chris in a bubble of domestic bliss. They laughed. They talked. They made love.
It was perfect.
Until real life forced its way into her happy bubble and threatened to ruin everything.
Chapter Thirty
Mad Dog
Mad Dog knew something was wrong the moment he walked into the Sanctuary kitchen. That was where he’d found Kate each of the last few days, and today was no exception. The difference was, she usually had a smile on her face.
She looked up from her phone, not with her eyes lighting at the sight of him, but her brows pinched. “I have to go back.”
Shit. “Is it your father?”
“No, he’s fine, but he might not be if I don’t get down there soon. Can you drive me?”
“Of course.”
He looked to Sam for an explanation, but she just gave a slight shrug. Apparently, she didn’t know what was going on either.
They walked to his trailer, where he helped Kate pack her bag. He didn’t want her to go. Yeah, he knew it was selfish. He didn’t care. The only consolation was, she seemed just as displeased about heading back as he was.
He waited until they were in the truck and on their way down the mountain before he asked, “Kate, what’s going on?”
“My sister Karyn and her wife flew in from California this morning.”
That didn’t sound so bad. “That’s a problem?”
“Not in itself, no. But Karyn went to my house, and when I wasn’t there or at the store, she called my cell. I didn’t answer because we were, uh, busy, and then I forgot all about it. Karyn got worried and called the house to find out where I was.”
Things were beginning to make sense.
“You didn’t tell them you were with me, did you?”
“It didn’t come up,” she said quietly, her gaze on her lap. “I’ve been texting every day, getting updates on my father. He’s doing well. I didn’t want to jeopardize that by getting my mother worked up again.”
Mad Dog understood that Kate’s reluctance was based solely on her father’s well-being and not because she approved of her mother’s bias. They’d talked about what had happened at the hospital, and Kate had been quite clear on that.
“Where do they think you’ve been?”
“At home, I guess.”
He put two and two together and came up with, What the fuck? Kate had been in a car accident, and no one had bothered to walk across the street to check on her? To see if she needed anything or just spend some time with her? That was shitty, no matter how he looked at it, and even more so if it was because Kate was seeing him instead of the weasel.
“They had no reason to think otherwise,” she continued, as if reading his thoughts.
He grunted. No wonder Kate was so appreciative of the little things he did. She wasn’t used to it from anyone else, and that pissed him off.
She must have sensed his displeasure because she squeezed his hand and said, “Hey, it’s okay. It’s not a big deal. They’re just accustomed me taking care of myself; that’s all.”
That didn’t make it right. Kate was one of the kindest, most unselfish people he’d ever met. She deserved better, especially from her own family.
He pulled into her driveway and parked behind a classy-looking rental SUV.
“That must be Karyn’s,” Kate guessed.
He grabbed her bag from the back and came around to the passenger side to help her out, feeling eyes on them as he did so. Looking up, he found a woman watching from Kate’s window.
“That’s Amanda,” Kate said, following his gaze and waving.
“How did she get in your house?”
“Karyn knows I keep a key in a flowerpot on the back porch.”
They would be having a discussion about personal safety later.
The door opened, and an attractive, tanned brunette greeted them. “Hi, Kate and handsome male friend.”
Kate laughed and accepted her gentle hug. “Hi, Amanda. This is Chris. Chris, my sister-in-law, Amanda.”
“Nice to meet you, Amanda.”
“You, too, Chris.”
A tangy, spicy aroma filled the space.
“Mmm, what smells so good?” Kate asked.
“I thought you might not feel like cooking tonight,” Amanda said, “so I raided your freezer and made dinner. You still like Korean, right?”
Mad Dog immediately liked this woman. The fact that she’d done something thoughtful for Kate already made her better than everyone else he’d met.
“I love it! But you shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.”
“No trouble. Plus, it gave me something to do while Karyn was off, dealing with the family stuff.”
Kate’s eyes softened. “You’re part of this family, too, Amanda.”
Amanda offered a small smile. “It’s probably better I stick to the sidelines, especially with your dad just getting out of the hospital. Less stress for everyone, am I right?”