Alexander, Kalissa - Katlynn in Training (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (2 page)

Chapter Two

The coffee Justin made tasted good and went well with the sugar cookies he placed on a delicate china plate in front of her. He was the perfect host in every way. He had even taken her on a quick tour of his condo that he shared with his brother, Jeremiah. Unlike hers, it had three bedrooms instead of just two. Being on the end of the building meant more windows, a larger outside deck, and an additional bathroom. She was surprised at how much larger it was than her own.

She liked the brothers’ decorating style. Dark-brown leather sofas, chairs, and matching end tables gave the room warmth. It was a manly décor. However, there were splashes of coral and blue in the paintings on the walls that matched the pillows that were scattered here and there around the room. It was a comfortable combination that she found quite inviting.

“I hope you like the coffee. It’s Jeremiah’s special homemade blend. I’m better at baking the cookies.”

“The coffee is very good and the cookies are delicious. I’m impressed. It’s just what I needed”

“Thanks. I hoped you’d say that.” He returned to the kitchen and came back with another plate of cookies. This time there were peanut butter and chocolate chip.

“Oh, my God, I really shouldn’t, but I have to have one of those.” She pointed to the chocolate chip cookies.

She wasn’t acting when she closed her eyes and made a face of pure delight. “These cookies are fabulous. Do you and your brother hire out?”

“For the right price”—he smiled seductively, taking a bite out of his own cookie—“I could be bought. Not so sure about my brothers, you’d have to ask them.”

Giggling, she popped the rest of the cookie into her mouth. She wasn’t quite sure where the conversation was going, but she liked the slightly flirtatious banter. Something she usually shied away from. “I’m hooked. But you said brothers. I thought it was just you and Jeremiah?”

“Right now it is, but my older brother, Jarred, is coming to visit us for the summer.”

“How nice. I take it you’re close.”

“Very close. It seems weird that Jarred’s back home and we’re here. But the economy is bad everywhere, especially in the small town in Wyoming where we grew up. After Dad died, my mom sold the ranch and moved closer to my sister in town.”

“So you have a sister, too. Is it just the four of you or are there more?”

“Just the four of us.” He smiled.

“I guess Mr. Anderson probably told you I was an only child. I’m envious of your siblings.”

“He did. And I’d be lost without them, but I’m sure being an only child has its advantages, too.”

“I used to think so, but now I would give anything to have a brother or sister to talk to. You’re lucky.”

“Yes, I am. But when you lose someone you love, it’s never easy regardless of how many people you have in your life. We each handle it differently. And when my mom ended up selling the ranch, we all had our opinions. At least you were able to make all the decisions without having to discuss your every move.

I take it you didn’t want her to sell,” she said, feeling the pain she had seen flicker in Justin’s eyes.

“No, I didn’t, but Jeremiah and I had college loans and Jarred had just started up a new Internet company that he had sunk all his capital in, so our cash flow wasn’t good or we would have bought the place from her. My sister had just given birth to her first child, so she wanted Mom closer to where she lived. Besides that, it was unfair to ask her stay there when the memories of Dad were everywhere. She needed to move.”

“You must think it strange that I moved back into my mom and dad’s condo.”

“No. Like I said before, everyone handles loss differently, and obviously for you it made sense to move into what was your parent’s home.”

“It’s not like this was my family home. I never really had a family home with Dad in the military. We just moved too much to really put down roots and make any one place feel much different from the other. My parents only bought the condo when he retired.”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me. I understand, believe me.” He smiled, touching her hand briefly. “Personally, I’m glad you decided to move here. Most of the neighbors in the development are older. It’s nice having someone who’s not on social security as a neighbor.” He laughed.

“It’s nice for me, too.” She smiled back into those blue eyes that held hers with what she thought might be more than a neighborly interest.
He just feels sorry for me.

Whether his doting on her was pity or not, she had to admit she felt a lot better since Justin had knocked on her door. Instead of wrapping herself up in unhappiness, she was sitting in a bright and cheerful kitchen with a very attractive man who was making it easy for her to forget her own troubles even if only for a little while.
I really like him.

“Does your brother cook, too?” she asked, pushing the plate of cookies away, knowing if she didn’t, she’d eat another and another until the plate was gone.

“Jeremiah, cook?” he choked out. “Other than coffee and a scrambled egg when he’s desperate, he hardly ever turns on the stove. I’m the domesticated one. He makes dinner by memorizing phone numbers off takeout menus. However, he does have a knack for fixing things.”

He made her laugh. It felt good. “You two are perfect neighbors for a single girl who has never been known for her culinary talents or fixing a leaky faucet.”

“I’m sure you have talents, too.” It was an innocent statement, but not so much when she observed his eyes lower to her breasts that she had always wished were smaller before he looked back up into her eyes once again. She felt her breath catch in her throat as her nipples hardened. What was happening to her? Justin was entirely too entertaining and, she gave herself a much-needed mental kick, a stranger who was just being kind to her.

“I’m afraid unless you want me to write a how-to manual for you once you’ve given me the directions for your recipe for success, I’m pretty useless.” She couldn’t help but reach for one more cookie that she brought to her lips, but before she took a bite, she said, “Possibly even a cookbook for some of the best cookies I’ve ever eaten.”

“Now that’s something to think about, and please,” he said warmly, “eat as many cookies as your heart desires. I enjoy seeing a pretty woman enjoy my cooking, especially one who could use a little fattening up.”

“Are you saying I’m skinny?” she asked, a little taken aback. Did he think her unattractive? Normally she wouldn’t have cared, but the way she was responding to Justin was anything but normal. Again, her therapist’s words came back to her. Possibly the mood swings she had mentioned also included her libido. Not something she had anticipated.

“No,” he said quickly, his face turning slightly red. “I shouldn’t have said that. If I’ve insulted you, I’m sorry. I think you’re perfect, more than perfect.” Again his eyes moved over her body appreciatively.

“Don’t worry, Justin.” She smiled, wanting to ease the tension she felt generating between them. “I know I’ve dropped a few pounds lately. Until now, food has been of very little interest to me.” The truth was she couldn’t remember the last time she had a real meal or indulged in anything sweet. Of late, she had to force herself to eat.

“Look, I don’t know what your plans are for tonight, but if you’re up to it, and I haven’t totally put you off with my comment about your weight, I would love to cook for you, and it’s not to try and fatten you up,” he said, his eyes now looking directly into hers. “Jeremiah gets home around sixish, and dinner is usually around seven. I would really love for you to meet him.” He looked at her hopefully, that smile that she found so inviting lighting up his face once again. “Let me make it up to you for being such an oaf.”

Her first response was to say no, but other than some crackers and cereal that were packed away somewhere, she had nothing to eat and hadn’t even thought about dinner. Besides, she didn’t want him to think she was still offended, and it would be a good way to get to know Justin better, and meet his brother.

“You’re being so nice to me.” She looked down at her hands. “I can’t thank you enough for the invitation. I would love to have dinner with you and your brother. I hope he doesn’t mind.”

“Mind? Are you kidding? Once he hears that I’ve met you, he’d be pissed off at me if I didn’t invite you.”

“Okay then, I wouldn’t want him to be”—she laughed—“pissed off at you.”

“I know.” He smiled. “My mom hated it when I said that. Sorry about that.”

“Nonsense. I was just teasing you.”

“Oh, you were.” He smiled back at her. “So you do have a sense of humor.”

“On occasion. You seem to bring out my more playful side. Thank you for the invitation.”

“You’re most welcome.”

“I really should be going. I need to unpack the bedroom or I’ll be sleeping on the floor tonight. I’ll be back around six then?” His eyes locked with hers. She felt her heart beat a little faster. He was looking at her rather intently.

“Would you like some help? I’d be more than happy to if you need me.”

“No. But thank you for offering. I have to do this myself. I’m not even sure where to begin, but once I get started I’ll be fine. Not that I wouldn’t like an extra set of hands, I just think you’d be standing around watching me trying to figure out where to put things and that would be a waste of your time.”

“Well, if you’re sure.” He smiled, his light-blue eyes holding hers warmly.

“I am, thanks. Are sure you really want to have me for dinner tonight?” She grinned.

“Yup.” He grinned back. “Cooking for you is going to be fun.”

He took her empty coffee cup along with his to the sink where he rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. Katlynn pushed herself away from the table and the cookies that were still calling her name. Justin followed her to the door with a bag that he handed to her. “Don’t eat these before dinner.” He laughed. “See you tonight, Kat. I mean Katlynn.”

“You can call me Kat if you like.” No one had ever called her Kat, even when she was younger. She liked the way it sounded coming off Justin’s lips. He made her sound fun and carefree, nothing like the woman she really was. She felt his eyes watching her as she opened her front door. She wanted to turn and wave, but something held her back. She was acting totally out of her norm, and regardless of how charming her new neighbor was, he needed to be kept at bay. All she needed was a friend and nothing else. It wouldn’t be smart to take their relationship beyond friendship. When that happened, in her experience, it usually ended badly. And where would that leave her? She would be living next door to a man she would need to avoid, and that was not what she needed or wanted. No, the plan was to be good neighbors.
So why did he have to be so damned nice and good-looking to boot?

Chapter Three

Justin watched Kat walk the few short steps back to her door and shut it behind her before he closed his. She seemed slightly shy and unsure of herself, both were qualities he found refreshing in a woman whose physical attributes he also found attractive. She was quite lovely with a flawless complexion, long blonde hair, and blue eyes that were surrounded with the thickest lashes he had ever seen on a woman. Although, in his mind, she could stand to gain a few pounds, she was more than well endowed from what he had glimpsed through her loose blouse. Most women with a body like hers would have been flaunting it, but she appeared to have no desire to draw attention to a body that could more than whet a man’s appetite with desire. He found her intriguing.

He slid his cell phone out from the pocket of his jeans and called Jeremiah. “Hey, brother, how’s your day going?”

“I have to leave for court in a few minutes. Is something wrong? Did Mom call?”

“Everything’s fine, and no, Mom didn’t call. I just wanted to be sure you would be coming home for dinner.”

“Why, you find some lovely little filly for us to mount tonight?”