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Or the Witch steal her right to have a healthy tree in her yard.
Gen pulled her hair into a ponytail and got out the buckets, sponges, and cleaners. Later she'd hit the store for pillows and bedding. At least he'd be comfortable. She needed some groceries, too, so she could cook a nice dinner. Maybe pork chops with an apricot glaze.
Gen hit the music on her iPod and set to work.
"YOU'RE MOVING IN TOGETHER?"
Kate squeaked out the words and fell down onto the purple chair. They were in the counseling room, going over some of the most important characteristics in order to match up a couple. After cleaning and shopping, she'd gone in for her shift, needing work as a distraction. Funny, she'd gone from endless hours on her feet at the hospital to trying to fill her time so she didn't implode. But she was determined to look at the change as an opportunity. Work had become her crutch and a distraction from the real truth.
"Not together like a couple," she quickly corrected. "As friends. Just until I convince him I'm safe from David."
Her friend studied her, blue eyes thoughtful. "Do you think he'll try and hurt you again?"
Gen shrugged. "No, but Wolfe isn't convinced. It was easier to let him do the 'I am man, let me protect the little woman' thing rather than fight him. Besides, I was a little freaked out. It'll only be a short time."
"Actually, I think it's a great idea. You know you could've moved in with me, Slade, and Robert though, right?"
Gen laughed. Robert was a paraplegic pit bull Kate had rescued from death, and the sweetest dog on earth. Slade had fallen in love with both Kate and Robert in a two-for-one deal. "Two doors down? Thanks, but I'll pass. Besides still being stuck next to our nightmare neighbor, I'd rather be living with someone not having sex."
"Is she bothering you again? I swear that woman has a telescope to spy. Do you know what she did to me last week? Left a paper bag of doggie doo on my porch. The note said, 'If you leave it on my lawn, I give it back.' As if Robert would ever stoop to poop on her property!"
A strangled laugh rose to her lips. "Poor Robert. Verily would be so much better without her. Think she'll ever move?"
"Who knows? The senior citizen center wouldn't take her. Not after the Jell-O incident. Does she still want your tree cut down?"
Gen nodded. "I now term it the Tree of Spite."
Kate laughed. "I love it. At least it blocks her view. She's gonna freak when she gets a look at Wolfe."
"It'll be so worth it."
"Back to the sex." Kate pointed to the files on her desk. "The faster you fill out the questionnaire and sign on as a client, the faster we'll get you hooked up."
Gen hesitated. "Wolfe said I'm not ready. Suggested I lie low for a while."
"Is he jealous?"
"No! He's just a worrywart. Kind of an older brother thing. But not."
Kate seemed to analyze her words but remained silent. "You've been in an abusive relationship for two years. I don't think it's a bad thing to experiment with the dating world. It's been over a month since the wedding, and I think dating will be good for you."
"That's what Arilyn said. As long as it's safe and I take it slow, I'm willing to try." Gen examined her nails, bitten short again, and gathered the courage to ask the question haunting her. "Did you ever feel the touch with me and David?"
Gen knew she crossed a line. They had all made a pact no one would ever use Kate to test a connection with the men they chose. Kate expressed fear in giving her opinion and not allowing them free will. She'd broken the rule only once, confessing to Kennedy that she was meant to be with Nate. Of course, the circumstances were different. Kennedy had believed she wasn't meant for love, and almost lost Nate forever. But Gen knew her question was different.
Kate sighed. Sadness glowed in her eyes. "No. But I only had one opportunity to touch both of you at the twins' birthday party. That was when I realized I had lost the touch. I never tried again, so I really don't know."
Her shoulders slumped with relief. She was glad. If Kate had experienced the touch between them, it would've made her even more confused about why they couldn't work. "I remember that day," Gen murmured. "He took me by surprise when he asked me to marry him. I never expected him to do it in front of my family."
"I think it was another control move. To make sure you didn't say no." Kate shifted in the chair, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. "In fact, I noticed you glanced at Wolfe before you said yes."
"I did?"
"Yeah, you did. Why?"
Gen turned away from her friend's probing gaze. God, she'd wanted to forget. The man she loved and wanted for so long finally proposed, and before she gave her answer, she'd needed to look into Wolfe's eyes. He'd been standing on the edge of the crowd, face hard and frozen. What had she wanted from him? Approval? A smile? Or something else?
Their gazes locked, and raw heat licked at her nerve endings--a promise and threat in those aqua depths that scared her. It had all happened so fast. For one crazy instant, she opened her mouth to tell David no. But something passed, and Wolfe turned away, and her family was staring, with David on bended knee, and she said the only word she could, and thought she wanted to.
Yes.
"I don't remember." Kate's silence was almost worse than the lie. Guilt struck, but she didn't want to think about that day ever again. "Can I ask one more question? And then I promise to never say another word."
"Sure."
"Did you ever feel the touch with me and Wolfe?" Kate jerked. Shock radiated from her in waves. Why had she asked such a stupid thing? She didn't want to know. They were friends, not soul mates. "Forget it, you don't have to answer. My brain is mush from lack of sleep last night."
"No."
Gen held her breath. "No, you haven't?"
"I sense a connection with you both, but never had the touch. I'm sorry."
Gen forced a laugh. "Don't be silly, I never expected you to. I'm still not sure why I asked."
"I think you do, sweetie."
She refused to analyze her comment. Gen smiled brightly and grabbed the files. "I'm going to input this into the computer, and then Kennedy is taking me to a makeover session so I can see what goes on behind the scenes."
Kate nodded, allowing the retreat. "Let me know if you need anything. We're trying to plan a girls' night out this weekend. You in?"
"Absolutely. Cocktails and gossip is exactly what I need."
She went back to work, trying to ignore the rush of disappointment. Maybe in some screwed-up way she was dealing with her breakup by spinning odd fantasies about her and Wolfe. Sure, the kiss had been wonderful, but they'd never repeat it. They treasured their relationship too much to cross the line into sex, especially if there was no future for them to fight for. Kate had never felt the touch. Therefore, they were never meant to be more than friends. And this was good.
Very good.
sixteen
I DON'T LIKE BRUSSELS sprouts."
Gen glanced over and noticed the toddler's sulk. With his tattoos, piercings, and massive muscles, it fell a bit flat. "Tough. They're good for you. You'll like the way I make them." She pulled the pan out and tested them with a fork. Deliciously crispy on the edges, they tasted like heaven with the olive oil and seasonings. She'd learned early that roasting anything makes it tasty. "Can you double-check the biscuits? I tend to burn them."
He popped open the
toaster oven and peered inside like it was a Scooby-Doo! mystery. "They're kinda brown."
"Shoot. Turn off the oven, please, and put them on that plate over there."
His large hands fumbled a bit and she held in a laugh. Wolfe dominated the small kitchen by his looming presence, but seemed a bit intimidated by each task. She swore he'd learn to cook a few things while he stayed there. He needed some survival techniques in the domestic zone. He figured out they needed butter, fished around, and put it on the table. The mismatched china and uneven glasses would've given David a heart attack. When they first got together, she was a disaster in the kitchen, preferring takeout or a bowl of cereal for dinner. He'd quickly divested her of that attitude, insisting she needed to cook a homemade meal in preparation for their family and upcoming dinner parties. Soon she was able to set a stunning table, with silverware in its right place and the napkin neatly rolled up. She'd stopped burning most things, learned to follow a recipe, and resented every moment when David ate the first bite, waiting to proclaim his opinion.
Gen smiled at the messy place settings, chipped dinnerware, and cramped pine table covered with the assortment of pans lined up. It was . . . perfect. Even the burned biscuits yelled a big fuck you to her ex-fiance. How many times had he clucked his tongue in disappointment at her inability to serve a decent biscuit?
Personally, she liked them crispy. But she still burned them. "Sorry about the biscuits."
He snorted. "You kidding me? The last time I had biscuits was back in Italy. I always liked them burned a bit anyway."
Gen laughed, her heart a bit lighter. "Me, too." She poured two glasses of Chianti and sat down to eat. Wolfe bent his head and closed his eyes. She watched in fascination at the humble act of honoring his food. When he grabbed a biscuit and slathered butter on it, he caught her staring.
"What?"
"I never noticed you saying grace before."
A tinge of red flushed his cheeks. Another thing she loved about him. Big and bad, playboy millionaire, with a tendency to blush. Did it get any better than that? "Mama Conte always said every meal is a gift. There was a time in my life I had to scramble for food on a daily basis. I ate from the garbage a lot. After eating home-cooked meals awhile, it didn't take much to give thanks for getting out of the shit that was my life."
