Dark Escort (11 page)

“I think they would since he’s been dead for five years.”

***

After Joey left, Katarina and I walked to the restaurant.

“Is this okay?” she asked. “The closest place is ten minutes away.”

“This is excellent.” I put my arm around her waist as we headed inside and reached a table. I was in a daze as I moved. I pulled her chair out then sat across from her. I stared out the window and didn’t look at the menu. My mind was swarming with thoughts.

Katarina was a widow.

Now everything was making more sense. She refused to love again because her love had already come and gone. Now I felt stupid for assuming it was anything else, like a bad relationship or an abusive boyfriend.

Something like this should change the way I feel. Katarina had already loved and lost, and her experience was so different than mine. I’d never even had a girlfriend.

But it didn’t change the way I felt.

While I was sad Katarina lost the man she loved, I thought there was a real possibility she and I could have something. The chemistry was there. I felt it when we slept together, and I know she did too. The friendship was there, and we had formed a companionship that was comfortable and fun. I probably wouldn’t feel this way if we hadn’t already crossed paths, but we had. She was the only girl who caught my attention, married or not married.

But this would be extremely complicated.

I wanted to talk to her about it but I didn’t think now was the best time. We were in a public place and she was at work. Picking at an old wound wasn’t smart until we were alone together.

“Cato?” She stared at me with a raised eyebrow. The tone of her voice suggested she had said my name several times before I noticed.

“Hmm?” I stopped thinking about her husband and how he died. Was it an unusual illness? A car crash?

“You okay?” she asked. “You seem…somewhere else.”

“Sorry,” I said. “I was just thinking about…work.”

“And what about it?” she asked.

“We have a meeting coming up.” I totally pulled that out of my ass.

“Okay.” She looked at her menu. “I thought Joey said something stupid to you.”

No, nothing stupid.

“What did you talk about while I was gone?”

Uh…
“Amy.”

“Is he really into her?”

No. He’s still into you
. “As far as I can tell.”

“Good,” she said with a nod. “I’m glad to hear it. Joey deserves a great girl. He’s one of the best guys I know.”

And he’s obsessive and territorial. Since she wanted to marry me, I didn’t see the harm in keeping the truth from her. It seemed to make her feel better so I let it go.

“I wasn’t expecting you to join me for lunch.” She stared at me like she wanted an explanation.

“I missed you.” I gave her a smile that she both loved and hated.

She rolled her eyes dramatically. “I’m sure you did.”

“A lot, actually.” That was the truth. “Want to go paintballing this weekend?”

She stared at me blankly like she hadn’t understood me. “What?”

“Paintballing,” I said. “You’ve never been?”

“You can’t figure that out based on the look on my face?” she said sarcastically.

I chuckled. “Me and the guys are going. I want you to come.”

“I’ll pass.”

“I’m not taking no for answer.”

“I don’t even know how to do paintballing.”

“You don’t
do
paintballing,” I said, trying not to laugh. “You
go
paintballing. And you didn’t know how to skydive and you did that just fine.”

“But that was freefalling,” she argued. “Anyone can do that.”

“Come on, Milkshake. You’re a smart girl. You’ll figure it out.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Cato. But no thank you.”

“Wrong answer,” I said. “You’re coming even if I have to drag you.”

“I’d like to see you try,” she said threateningly.

“I’m at least a hundred pounds heavier than you,” I argued. “You’ll do as I say.”

“And I’ll stab a pen in your throat and deflate your lungs.” She gave me a confident look like she wasn’t bluffing.

I smiled. “That’s pretty hot.”

Both of her eyebrows shot up. “I just threatened to kill you.”

“I know…that’s hot. If you’ve got this much of a backbone then you’ll be great at paintballing. Other girls will be there too if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“What other girls?” she asked.

“A few of my friends have girlfriends,” I explained. “They’re attached at the hip. I can’t get them to do anything unless they bring them along. Annoying…”

“I don’t even know how to play.”

“I’ll teach you.”

She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.

I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “You want to know what I like about you?”

She watched my face intently. “What?”

“When you get out of your comfort zone, you’re a lot of fun to be around. And I like that side of you.”

“You can have fun with any other girl.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said. “You’re the only girl I want to have fun with.” I knew I was getting into dangerous territory but that didn’t stop me.

She tilted her head to the side. “Are you hitting on me?”

I shrugged. “What if I am?”

“I can never tell if you’re joking.”

I shrugged again. “I’ll tell you after we go paintballing.”

“No. Before.”

I stared her down and held my silence.

“Cato?”

“Give me your word you’ll go paintballing with me and I’ll answer your question.”

“I don’t need to give you my word,” she said. “I never lie.”

I laughed even though I wish I wouldn’t. “You’re paying me to be your boyfriend. I’d say you’re a big damn liar.”

She shook her head. “That’s a special circumstance. And I will go paintballing with you.”

“No matter what answer I give?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” I said. “Yes, I’m hitting on you.”

A slow smile stretched her lips. “You’re going to get fired, you know that?”

“I can’t get fired. I’m a partner in the business.”

“You’re going to piss off Danielle.”

I shrugged. “I piss her off all the time anyway. This is just another thing to add to the pile.”

“She looks like she has a good backhand.”

I absentmindedly rubbed my cheek. “She does. I know from experience.”

“Then maybe you should stop hitting on me.”

“I would if you would stop flirting with me.”

Katarina gave me an incredulous look. “I don’t flirt with you.”

“Yes, you do,” I said firmly.

“When?” she demanded.

I leaned over the table and grabbed her neck. Then I pulled her lips to mine and gave her a crushing kiss. My hand rested on her neck and relaxed the hold so she could pull away if she wanted to.

But she didn’t.

I moved my mouth against hers, tasting her. She reciprocated, releasing a gentle breath inside me.

Then I pulled away to the sound of our lips breaking apart. I gave her a triumphant look.

She looked dazed, like she wasn’t sure what just happened. Her lips were slightly parted and her hair was a little messy from where my hand had been. She was speechless, and she grabbed her menu without looking at me.

I rested my elbows on the table and gave her a smug look. “Point proven.”

She finally regained her voice but her eyes still looked like they were on a cloud. “Kissing isn’t flirting.”

“Then what is it?” I asked. “A step past flirting.”

“You kissed me. I didn’t kiss you.”

“Give it time,” I said smugly.

“I don’t understand you,” she said seriously. “You could have any woman you want so why are you trying to go after a client?”

“The heart wants what it wants, baby.”

“But I told you I don’t date.”

“Why not?” I asked.

She looked down at her menu and dismissed me.

Why wouldn’t she just tell me? It was nothing to be embarrassed about. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve been dating.”

“What?” she asked. “Paying for your services doesn’t count.”

“And what about all the times we hung out without the exchange of funds?” I asked. “There’s been quite a few, and now we’re going paintballing.”

“That’s not a date,” she argued.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Listen to me, Cato.” She put her menu down. “I don’t date. Period.” Anger flashed across her eyes, and I knew this was something she was particularly defensive about.

“Well, you like me and I like you. Let’s give it a shot.”

“I don’t like you,” she said with disdain.

“I’ll kiss you again if I have to.”

“Yes, I’m attracted to you,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t mean I want anything with you.”

“I beg to differ.”

She slammed her menu down. “Knock it off, Cato.”

“No. I’ve been patient with you but it’s clear you need a push.”

“A push?” she asked. “No, I don’t.”

“You can’t hide from the world and refuse human contact,” I snapped. “Life is too short to live in misery, and you need to show me that backbone again and look the world in the eye and conquer it. You’re stronger than this, Katarina. Put yourself out there and give love another chance.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” she whispered.

“I know you deserve to be happy. Stop shutting yourself down, and let someone in. If you cracked your heart open, just a smidge, you would realize what you’re missing out on.”

“I don’t have a heart to open,” she said coldly.

“You do,” I said firmly. “I know you do. You really want to live the rest of your life this way, going from meaningless fling to the next meaningless fling? There’s a lot more out there and you’re missing out on it. Give me a chance, Katarina. You won’t regret it.”

She stood up. “I’m done with this conversation and your services.” She walked off and exited the restaurant.

I sighed as I watched her go. I’d never been in this situation before and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. I’d never wanted a woman like this before, let alone a widow. But I wouldn’t give up. I wasn’t sure why I liked her so much, but I did.

I walked to her office and walked passed her secretary’s desk without stopping at her protests. I walked inside then locked the door behind me. Her secretary tried to turn the handle but it wouldn’t budge.

Katarina stood at the window and looked across the vineyards her family owned. She didn’t turn to face me.

I put my hands in my pockets then came to her side. I looked out the window with her. “It’s a beautiful view.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “It can be distracting sometimes.”

“I can imagine.”

She still wouldn’t look at me.

“Katarina—”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” She held up her hand. “You’re wasting your time on me. Trust me.”

I watched her face, noting the brightness in her eyes as they reflected the sunlight. “I don’t agree with that.”

“It’s the truth. I don’t want to fire you because of all the work we’ve already done but I will if I have to.”

I didn’t call her bluff even though I wanted to. I gave her a false sense of security and let her calm down while we looked out the window together. Katarina was good at controlling her emotions. Just a moment ago, she stormed out of the restaurant. But now she was calm and quiet, albeit still upset.

I did something very dangerous but it was the only thing I could think of. I grabbed her hips then scooped her onto her desk. Then I stood between her legs and kissed her.

Katarina’s lips were immobile, practically frozen. Her hands were by her sides, not touching me.

I continued to massage her mouth, trying to ignite a spark of life within her. My hands moved to her waist and I pulled her flush against me, feeling the burn of our bodies.

Then her lips brushed passed mine with delicate tenderness. She tilted her head as she did it, exposing more of her mouth to me.

I took what she offered and kissed her harder. My hand dug into her hair just like before, and I fisted it like I never wanted to stop. I yanked on it gently and pulled her head back, exposing her mouth and throat for me to enjoy.

Her hands moved up my chest and she found the buttons of my shirt. She unbuttoned each one then felt my naked skin. Her fingers moved over the grooves of my abs and my chest. Then they moved to my shoulders and squeezed.

I pulled her skirt up and felt her smooth legs. I loved how toned they were. I wanted to kiss every inch of her and taste the familiar sweetness at the apex of her thighs. My lips left her mouth and I trailed kisses down her jaw to her neck. I ravished her and listened to her breathed hard while I did all the things I already knew she liked. My hands moved to her breasts and I groped them outside her shirt, remembering their perkiness and roundness. A quiet moan escaped her throat, and I loved the way it sounded. Everything was the same as that night. Nothing had changed despite the passage of time.