Shameless(20)

“For what? You don’t have anything to apologize for,” he says gruffly. “I’m sorry I upset you. Here you are, working your ass off, and I hurt your feelings.”

I peek at him over my shoulder. He’s standing in front of the sink, bracing himself on the counter. His head is bent.

“Really. I’m fine. I got a good night’s sleep and feel better this morning.” Not true, but he doesn’t need to know that. I stand up to face him. “We’re cool. I promise.”

He turns around, his eyes soft.

Reaching for the baby, I brush her bangs out of her face. “I’ll do what I can to set you guys up so when you’re flying solo you don’t crash and burn.”

He gives me a sad smile.

I motion toward Izzy’s bottle with a grin. “And I promise not to let you drink breast milk again.”

He grimaces but then a genuine smile breaks through. “That would be much appreciated.”

Desperate for something mundane to talk about to lighten the mood, my eyes land on the three bins along the opposite wall.

“Mm, before I forget, we recycle.” I point to the back of the kitchen. “I’ve color-coded and labeled everything, so even a Neanderthal can figure it out. I drop off the blue one at the recycling center every week. And we also have more green bins outside for leaves and tree limbs. But really, I’d love to learn how to compost.” Those last words come out slowly as I notice the expression on Brady’s face that’s etched in hard lines.

He arches a brow. “Are you calling me a Neanderthal? You know, just because I ride a motorcycle and sport some ink doesn’t mean I’m missing a frontal lobe.” His deep voice rumbles through me.

“What?” My eyes bulge. “No. God, no. I just... I mean... I’m so sorry if that’s what you thought I was saying. I would never think that. Ever.”

His deadly-serious expression suddenly morphs into a smile. “I’m kidding. But that was for letting me drink breast milk.”

I stare at him, my jaw slack. “Not. Funny.”

He laughs, pointing at me. “You should’ve seen your face.”

Pressing my hand to my chest, I will my heart to slow down. Calmate. “Okay, haha. Hysterical.”

That’s when I study his beaming smile. The way his eyes crinkle with amusement. That unfiltered laugh.

Holy smokes. That dimple.

Trapped by his gaze, I smile back like an idiot until the awkward silence is noticeable. Speak, Katherine. Say something. “So, um, I need to head to the grocery store to get a few things for Bella. My car is out of commission, and Mel always let me borrow her truck. Would it be okay if I use it?”

His expression turns serious again. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know, but I thought I should ask.”

“Kat, you’ve lived here longer than I have. You don’t need my permission to borrow Melissa’s car.” He rubs his neck. “What’s wrong with yours?”

I grab my coffee and take a sip. “Not sure. I hadn’t driven it in a while, and it barely got me to the farm when it died. I’ve been saving up to get it repaired.” I cringe, hating how it makes me feel like a kid when we had two cars but neither of them worked.

“Where are your keys?” I stare back at him, and he tilts his head forward. “So I can take a look at it.”

Oh. “That would be really awesome. If you can fix it, I will totally pay you.”

He frowns. “Don’t be ridiculous. Keep your money, Kat.”

His cell phone rings down the hall, and he strides out of the room. Kat. He’s been calling me Kat this morning.

No one calls me that. Before this biker boy drove up, I’ve always been a very prim Katherine, the girl who stays in on Friday nights and does homework. The girl who always does what she’s told. The girl who’s… boring.

Kat sounds like she has a social life and throws caution to the wind. Like she dances on bars and tosses back shots. Like she lets hot guys work on her car.

I think I like Kat.





13





Katherine





The next morning, I drag myself to my laptop. While I know what to expect when I open my email, it doesn’t make finalizing the funeral arrangements any easier. Brady reviews the print out with a stoic expression and signs off on everything, even the ridiculously expensive flowers.

I want to cheer him up, but I haven’t a clue what to do besides make sure he eats and hand him an occasional cup of coffee. He sounds worried sick about his father. I can’t imagine what he must be going through right now, so I try to be as upbeat as possible.

And maybe, wanting to cheer him up is a little selfish on my part because I love seeing him laugh. His green eyes warm, and his shoulders relax. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, that one dimple comes out and taunts me.

Needing a distraction from thinking too much about my new housemate, I return to my laptop to finish the logo for Mel’s new honey-lavender lotion. I have no idea if Brady will continue making Mel’s bath and body products, but it seems wrong to stop the design now. I’ll finish, and he can do with it what he will. I’m no graphic designer, but I had to do so many graphics for the senator’s campaign that I got pretty decent.