Redwood Bend (Virgin River #18)(61)

“So, where are you going?”

“Not sure,” he said with a shrug. “I passed by Riordan’s and they’re full up. Even that funky little trailer he let me have for a week is in use.”

She just stared at him for a minute. “I don’t think you should drive…”

“I’ll be okay,” he said, handing her the ice pack.

She groaned in resignation, handing it back. “You can have the couch. I’m going to get my children in bed before they see you. If you sneak into my room tonight, you’d better be coming to get me because the house is on fire or you’re going to live to regret it. Are we clear?”

He looked down. “Can I take off my boots? Or should I be ready to run?”

“You take off anything else, you better run,” she said, and she turned away from him, going upstairs. She hustled the boys into their room before they noticed him. And then the door to her bedroom closed.

Dylan felt the sunlight, then he felt the eyes. He opened one of his to four brown ones. “Y’know, you guys are sometimes a little creepy. The way you do that.”

“Did you have a sleepover again?” Andy asked.

“And forgot your pajamas?” Mitch added.

“I had a sleepover,” he said. “I was feeling a little wobbly and your mother thought maybe I shouldn’t drive.”

“She said you had an accident,” Andy shared.

“That’s right,” Dylan said. “Ran right into a big, stupid fist.”

“Boys, go to the table,” Katie said. “Your waffles are ready.” When they left and she looked at Dylan, she made a face. He was more swollen and the skin around his eye was definitely black-and-blue. “The color is setting in,” she informed him. Then she picked up four empty beer bottles from the top of the trunk. “Go ahead and help yourself to a beer.” She carried them into the kitchen.

He followed. “I’ll be glad to replace them. I had a little trouble sleeping. Did you have trouble sleeping?”

“Sleeping seems to be one of my gifts lately,” she said. “I slept like a dead person. Would you like an egg or something before you leave?”

“Coffee would be nice,” he said.

When she turned away from him to grab a cup, he eyed her backside. She was wearing some thin summer knit sweatpants that fit loosely around her h*ps and a short shirt, leaving her midriff exposed. He remembered her as tiny, but today she was looking thin. When she turned toward him with a cup of coffee he asked, “Have you lost weight, Katie?”

“I told you, I had a little bug. I’m not completely over it, but almost…”

“Katie,” he asked, stepping closer. “Did I do that to you?”

“Probably,” she said. “Egg?”

“Let me take you out to a big breakfast,” he said.

“Boy, guilt really works on you, doesn’t it? I’m going to have a little cereal, not feeling like a big breakfast.”

“You’ve gotten too thin,” he said. “Makes me want to feed you. And hold you.”

“Wow, that’s real talent,” she said. “You know how to make a woman feel unattractive and desired in the same sentence. Do you want an egg or are you on the way out?”

He tilted his head. “Have you always been this cranky? Could you be a little nicer, please? Your brother beat me up and I’m concerned about you.”

“I’m really just fine,” she said in a calmer voice. “Meet me on the porch.” She grabbed her glass of juice and headed out the door. She sat in one of the chairs and when he sat down beside her, she winced again just looking at him. “What are the chances Conner looks as bad as you?”

“I think he won,” Dylan said.

“Lord. Men.” She cleared her throat. “Listen, Dylan, I apologize if I’ve been less than friendly. But just how many times do you think I want to go through withdrawal? Because seriously, I am not interested in a close casual friendship with benefits. It’s not who I am. I’m not comfortable with that kind of relationship.”

“Did Charlie ask you to marry him after the first week?”

“No,” she said. “After the first week he said he couldn’t live without me. It was after the second week he begged me to marry him. But that has nothing to do with us, with now. Now I’m a mother first and I’m feeling a little protective. I’m not a good mother if I’m worrying about how some man feels about me.”

He felt a smile come to his lips. “That’s very reasonable.”

“Thank you. No regrets, but I’m not getting involved with you. Again.”

“I understand. But you don’t hate me?”

“I don’t hate you. I’ll never hate you. After all, I loved you for three years when I was a girl. And that was before I even slept with you.”

He smiled wider. “What if I wanted to be friends? Without benefits?”

“Big talk,” she said. “We have history. We’d probably end up in the sack and I’d just get hurt again.”

He took a thoughtful sip of his coffee. “Katie, I’d never deliberately do anything to hurt you.”

“You know what? I believe you. But I’d end up hurt just the same and you’d be fine—off meeting up with old movie star girlfriends, et cetera, while I sit here alone in the woods wondering what happened. And the boys…”