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The thought of Avery led her not to the clinic but to the Robinson family meal last night. Katie had been so nervous about meeting Gavin’s parents, but they’d been warm and welcoming.
And Cooper—what an unexpected way to meet Gavin’s brother. He’d flirted with her on the cliff and was probably embarrassed about that now. But no, he hadn’t meant anything by it. It was just his way of taking her mind off the situation—and it had.
Still, last night as she’d been trying to sleep, their conversation filtered back in pieces. Guilt nipped at her. She shouldn’t be thinking about her time with Gavin’s brother. On the other hand, wasn’t it normal to relive a harrowing event? It was the mind’s way of processing it.
It had probably been a little early in the relationship to meet Gavin’s parents—she and Gavin had only just become exclusive. Still six dates weren’t nothing. He was her first real boyfriend since college. Now that Spencer was gone, she had to make more of an effort. She craved attachment and let’s face it, she and Spencer had been a little codependent. That sure hadn’t done much for her love life.
Sweat trickled down her back. It was already a humid ninety-five degrees.
She gave the soil one final pat and stood, pausing a moment until the dizziness passed. Okay, she could take a hint. She’d take it easy the rest of the day—right after she watered her flowers.
As she entered the house the cool air brushed her skin, a welcome reprieve. She loved her new home, a little Craftsman-style bungalow. Loved having a house all to herself. Growing up at the Clemsons’ she’d always shared a bedroom with two or three other children. When she’d gone to Duke on scholarship she shared a dorm with roommates. And after college she and Spencer had shared an apartment in Asheville.
But this house was all hers. She hadn’t had to do much whenshe moved in. She covered the age-yellowed trim with a fresh coat of white and painted the walls cornflower blue. Now it was perfect. The entire house sported original wood floors, complete with the nicks and scars that gave it lovely character. Light poured into the kitchen from the back of the house, puddling on the newer granite countertops and gleaming off the white cabinets.
She reached into the hardware store bag and retrieved her new watering pail. The outdoor spigot wasn’t working, so she put the pail under the faucet and turned it on.
Water spewed out, hitting her in the chest.
***
Quick in, quick out.
Cooper pulled into the vacant driveway, grabbed Kate’s phone, and exited his truck. Empty flower flats and gardening tools lay next to the walk leading to the house. He hoped those had been there awhile. She should know better than to do yard work with a concussion.
A neighbor’s dog barked from the backyard. It was a nice street, only a few blocks from where the trail crossed through town. He rarely got a call from this neighborhood.
Kate’s sunshine-yellow bungalow with white trim looked like her: bright and homey. He envisioned her doing the yard work, blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail, a smudge of dirt on her cheek.
He scowled at his thoughts.Quick in, quick out.
The porch was barely big enough for the one chair and tiny round table topped with a flowering plant. He lifted his hand and knocked, his foolish heart pounding at the thought of seeing her.Stupid.
Gavin’s girl.
Maybe if he told himself that enough times his heart would buy in. He rolled his eyes at the thought. This was so unlike him. He’d never really been hung up on a girl. As Avery often reminded him it was usually the other way around.
He peeked through the window. It appeared that the light was on at the back of the house. Could just be the sunlight though.
If she wasn’t home he’d leave the phone on her porch with a note. Probably what he should’ve done to start with. He also could’ve left it with Jackie, the sheriff’s office’s administrative assistant, and had Kate come in and pick it up. But she didn’t have a car at the moment.
He knocked again, louder.
A muted squeal sounded. “Come in!”
He turned the handle and pushed open the door.
“Help!” Katelyn called over the sound of gushing water from somewhere beyond the living room. She let out another squeal.
He charged toward the sound. “Kate?”
“In the kitchen!” She mumbled something.
He made it through the living room in four quick strides.
Kate was on the floor, halfway inside the cabinet beneath the sink. Water spewed from the tap.
“Argh! This dumb, stupid—”
