Her Backup Boyfriend (Entangled Bliss) (Sorensen Family) (12 page)

She smiled. “No. Payton didn’t mind. She’s not like her mother. Used to love coming over for sleepovers, just to get away. We’d camp out in a tent in the backyard and stay up way too late eating Red Vines and reading each other contraband romance novels that I’d found in Grams’s closet. I got lucky when I met her.”

He imagined a younger, more gawky Kate, with long red braids like in her grams’s picture. Mischievous. Funny. Undoubtedly sarcastic. But with a heart of gold.

Until people like the Vaughns and the Langfords came along and ripped away her self-worth. Made her doubt herself.

That wasn’t going to happen at this party if he could help it. If he left Kate with one thing, it would be that she really was worth more than all of them. And that the little girl with the freckles and toothy grin was still inside. Ready to find happiness. A fearless happiness.

If she would only let herself.

But instead, he said only, “I’d say you both got lucky.”

…

“Promise me you’ll give this guy a call, Dominic. I’ve seen his work and it’s great. He promised to work something out for a reasonable price.” She paused and her voice turned suspiciously soft. “It’s time. Dad will understand.”

Cruz entered the room and placed a coffee on Dominic’s desk and went to his own.

“Yeah, yeah. Got it, Benny. Email me the details. Look, I’ve got to go. Cruz just got in and we have some numbers to go over.”

He dropped the phone to the desk as he heard Cruz laugh softly. “Numbers, huh? And she actually bought that?”

Dominic ignored him and looked down, trying to remember what he’d been doing before his sister had called. She was really pushing him to get a website going for his business. Not that it was a bad idea, and it certainly was something he’d been thinking about for some time, but…

It was a big step.

He had to be sure Sorensen Construction—and his dad—would be okay before he jumped ship.

“What does Kate think about all this?”

Dominic looked up to find Cruz watching him. “About what?”

“Don’t play dumb. About your future, whether you’re staying here, opening your new business, going back to school… I’m assuming you are serious about her, considering it’s been years since you brought anyone around to meet the family.”

“Hasn’t really come up.”

Cruz’s brown eyes beamed into him and Dominic shrugged.

“You’re seeing some fancy attorney at some pricey downtown law firm and your career, your future,
hasn’t really come up
?” Cruz sat back and folded his arms in front of him. “I knew something was suspicious about the timing of this whole thing, what with Daisy needing an attorney and your sudden infatuation. You’re full of shit. Level with me. What’s going on?”

Damn. He’d never been able to get anything past Cruz, and he guessed he should count himself lucky they’d made it this far. He shook his head. “Fine, you’re right. I met Kate, like I said, because I was going to work on her house. But then we both discovered that we had some…issues in our life and that maybe we could help each other out.” Dominic explained the details of the agreement to Cruz, who just shook his head and looked at him like he was an idiot.

“This isn’t going to end well, you know. When Mom and everyone find out this was part of a scam, they’re going to kill you.”

“I don’t see why they have to find out. People break up all the time. When the time’s right, we’ll amicably break up and move on.”

“You’re delusional.” This time Cruz cracked a smile, his eyes more sympathetic.

“How’s that?” Dominic sat back and waited.

“I saw the way you two looked at each other at dinner the other night and if you think this is just a business arrangement, then you’re an idiot.”

Dominic was silent. He couldn’t convincingly deny that he was attracted to Kate and that she had recently taken a leading role in all of his fantasies. What that meant wasn’t something he was ready to think about just yet.

“I’m a grown man, so I’ll figure it all out.”

“Fine. Dad’s surgery is Friday morning. Have you and Kate worked out whether she’s going to make an appearance at the hospital? You know, to show support as a dutiful and loving girlfriend?”

He hadn’t thought about it. But Cruz made a good point. Man, this thing was trickier than he’d expected. But he’d figure it out. He glanced at this watch. Well, whatever lies he had to tell would be worth it since, as they were speaking, Daisy was meeting with Kate and getting the help she and those kids needed.

And if it meant he had to spend a little more time with the beautiful Kate, then so be it. It was a burden he was more than happy to bear.

Chapter Twelve

“I’ll have my assistant file the divorce petition and motion for a temporary order with the court no later than tomorrow,” Kate said early Wednesday afternoon. “The temporary hearing will be scheduled before one of the commissioners soon after, and my assistant will give you a call with the date, so be sure you call that number and schedule a time to attend the divorce orientation before then. There’s no reason you and the kids should have to wait any longer for your husband to start making the child support payments you’re entitled to.”

“Thanks, Kate.” Daisy nodded, her eyes still as sorrowful as they’d been when Kate first met her, but there seemed to be a new gleam in their brown depths. Hope, maybe. She was dressed in a pretty wraparound dress and heels, her black hair long and flowing. One thing was for certain—once Dominic’s sister was ready to start dating, Kate couldn’t imagine she’d have to wait long for some lucky guy to swoop in. She was beautiful.

“Like I said, you’re doing me a favor, too, so I’m just glad we could both help each other. Although I think I’ll enjoy making your husband squirm a little more than usual.”

“Good. Because honestly? I’m through mourning for him. Waking up this morning, I think I had my first taste of anger.” This time Kate saw a more steely, determined look in her eyes. “But really, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help. It’s almost fortuitous that you came into our lives right now. I know that I haven’t seen Dominic look so happy, so relaxed in some time. You’re good for him. I can tell.”

Kate dropped her eyes, uneasy with the guilt casting a shadow over her. When she and Dominic talked about this plan, she hadn’t thought any farther than getting everyone to believe they were a committed couple. She hadn’t thought about how she’d feel having to look these loving, friendly people in the eye and continue to perpetrate a lie. How they’d feel if they discovered it was all a sham. And how attached she’d get to all of them. Wishing they were her family.

Daisy stood, unaware of Kate’s conflicting emotions. “I better get going. I’ve got to pick Paul up from kindergarten and drop off a few more résumés. Will we see you at the hospital on Friday?”

Kate searched her memory for what Daisy was referring to. “I’m not sure yet about my schedule…” she said, hoping the answer was satisfactory.

“I hope you can, even for a minute. I’m sure Dominic played down the whole thing, but I bet he’d love it if you stopped by as a show of support. I know Mom probably would as well. She’ll be such a wreck—you should have seen her in those days when it was touch and go with Dad. They’re everything to each other.”

Dominic’s dad’s surgery. She had heard some mention about it, but she hadn’t realized it was this Friday. She had never asked. Another wave of guilt hit her. Even if Dominic hadn’t mentioned it, what kind of girlfriend—not to mention friend—would she be if she didn’t try and make it? “I’m conducting a pretty big deposition that’s scheduled to go Thursday and possibly into Friday as well. I’ll try my hardest to break away.”

“Well, I hope we’ll see you.”

Daisy waved and walked to the door. A male figure appeared in the doorway, and they sidestepped each other as she made her way out.

Michael. What did he want?

“Morning, Kate.” Michael took a couple steps in, his hands in his pockets. “Meeting with a new client?”

“Something like that. It’s a pro bono case. A custody and divorce matter.”

“Are you sure a pro bono case—especially a messy custody and divorce one—is something you should be taking on right now?” Michael’s brows furrowed in concern, and his tone became soft and protective. Something she remembered well. The feeling of someone watching out for her. Caring. Only now, his concern wasn’t comforting. It was…annoying. “Even with Nicole’s help, you have to be pretty stretched right now, preparing for tomorrow’s first round of depositions and those in the coming weeks, not to mention your other clients. And this McKenna case is important to your career.”

No, Michael was being downright condescending. Had he always been like this? “I’m not taking on anything I can’t handle, but thanks for your concern. Was there something you needed?”

He stayed standing, shifting his weight to his other leg. “No. I just know that you start taking depositions tomorrow and I remember how you get when you’re in preparation mode. Since I was heading down to the coffee shop, I thought I’d see if I could get you your usual.”

She crooked her head to the side. What was this about? He hadn’t stopped by to get her a coffee since they were a couple. “Is everything okay with you, Michael?”

For a moment she wondered if there was some trouble in paradise with Nicole, but then dismissed that. She’d seen Nicole briefly this morning, preening and flashing that rock around like it was the Holy Grail or something. Smug in her confidence that she’d won the guy.

“No. I was just realizing we never have a chance to really talk anymore. You know, like we used to?” He jangled some loose change in his pockets. “How’s the progress on your house? It’s strange to think of you in this new place, a place I’ve never even seen. With a guy that’s not me.”

She sat back in her chair and savored the moment. Because she was nearly certain that what she was hearing was jealousy.

It was good to see the emotion on someone else for a change.

“Things are going better than I expected. How did your painting project go?” Nicole had seemed intent on getting rid of every last vestige of Kate and Michael’s relationship.

“Oh. That. Well, I don’t really have the time to take on that kind of project right now. So Dominic and you. Seems pretty serious. But what do you really know of this guy? I mean, I know it’s really not my place to interfere, but even in the brief time I’ve met him, I just get this vibe from hi—”

“You’re right. You don’t have any right to interfere in my personal life. And because you only just met Dominic is precisely why you have no idea what you’re talking about. But the issue is moot, Michael. I’m not discussing who I am or am not seeing with you.”

She managed to say this calmly, even though as she spoke, the embers of her anger were being stoked. He had no right to say anything about her life. He’d left
her
, not the other way around. But she didn’t want an argument today—she had neither the time nor the energy. “I’ve got a lot of work here. If that’s everything…”

“Just don’t let this guy distract you. I’ve heard the talk, and it seems like you’ve impressed all the right people so far, and if you play your cards right, you could be this firm’s next junior partner.”

Long after Michael left her office, Kate sat musing about what had gone wrong between them, and more importantly, what he meant to her now. In all these months since their breakup, she had secretly hoped that Michael would realize he had made a mistake by breaking things off—because what his parents thought shouldn’t matter when it came to love—and he’d come back to her. Like in some movie.

It had taken seeing that ring on Nicole’s finger to make her see reality.

But lately, he’d been showing an interest in her, an interest she’d feared was gone forever. And she honestly couldn’t decide if she was pleased or annoyed.

She remembered Dominic’s question, about whether she’d take Michael back if he asked. She really couldn’t say. She’d thought they were going to be together forever, make a future together, and when he’d been too afraid to stand up to his parents and instead begged off, she’d been devastated. The wound had been deep, and she hadn’t thought she’d ever get over him.

But now, it was as if some of that love and adoration had been replaced with righteous anger and, to be honest, disgust. Disgust that he hadn’t been strong enough to stand up for her. It was like the veil had been ripped away and she could see Michael for what he was. Human, filled with faults, of course, but also weak, and frankly, selfish and arrogant.

She shook her head. This was wasted time. It wasn’t like he was beating down her door, anyway. Not really.

Dominic, though. Her heart swelled uncomfortably for a moment as she thought about his smile. His charm. His natural ability to make her feel happy and good about herself.

Not to mention that freaking amazing body and the way his lips made her forget everything about their plan and think only about him. All of him.

Crazy.

That’s what that line of thinking was. Dominic and she were so…incompatible. He needed someone without her baggage, someone sweet and loving and ready to devote herself to him entirely. Something she couldn’t do. Not if she was going to be appointed to a judgeship before she was fifty. Forty-five if she was lucky.

And she needed someone as rational and practical as her. Someone who wouldn’t make her want things like the big family, the all-consuming love and lust that being with him would demand.

…

“The first thing you want to do before you ever try this,” Dominic said later that night while Kate sipped tea from her perch on a bar stool in the kitchen corner, looking sexy as hell even if her smile told him she was only humoring him, “is to make sure you have the main breaker off. You don’t want to know what it’s like to have a bolt of electricity surge through your body.” He stood on the top step of the stool with wires woven between his fingers. The idea had been to show her how to install a new light fixture. Although he had to admit he might be showing off, just a little bit.

“You do realize I’m just humoring you here. Like I’d ever try to do something like this on my own.”

“Well, continue to humor me for another minute, if you don’t mind,” he said and climbed down before walking over and turning the breaker back on and then returned. “You want to do the honor?”

She moseyed over to the switch and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her rear end as her hips moved tantalizingly. She flipped the switch and the sparse kitchen was flooded with a soft glow from the new light.

“I love it,” she said with wonderment as she stared around her and then back up to the light, and he felt that stupid skip in his chest as he watched her reaction. “I can’t believe the progress you made on the bathroom today, getting the Sheetrock up already, and you still had time to do this. Benny’s right. You really should get moving on getting that website up, starting your own business. You’re so talented.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet. This is grunt work. Wait until you see the final creation.”

“Okay, Dr. Frankenstein. So why haven’t you? Gone out on your own yet?”

He gave her wary look. “Have you been talking to my brother?” He shook his head. “I just wanted to wait until the time was right. Things with my dad can be…complicated.”

“Yeah. Most everything related to family is complicated.” She slid back on her bar stool and grabbed her tea. “Try me.”

He went to the fridge and pulled out of the beers Kate had started stocking for him. “Want one?” he asked and held it up toward her.

She looked down at her now empty teacup. “Yeah, sure. Thanks.” He pried the cap off and handed it to her, did the same with another one and took a pull, leaning against the fridge.

“When Cruz and I were growing up, my dad loved to bring us to the job sites, show us what was what. As we got older, he had us do some odd jobs until we were competent enough to work side by side with him and the crew. He never made it a secret that one day he wanted to change that sign from Sorensen Construction to Sorensen and Sons.”

“What happened?” Her blue-gray eyes pierced him with their intensity, and he wondered if this was what it felt like to be the opposing counsel.

He wouldn’t stand a chance.

He took another long pull, the cool liquid slipping down easily. “I like my work, but it was the beauty, the symmetry behind the construction—the drafting and design—that really intrigued me. I didn’t want to just follow blueprints. I wanted to create them based on my own design. Dad was okay with me going to the community college, getting my drafting certificate. That could be useful in the business. But when I finally had the courage to tell him I didn’t want to just work the construction end of things, that I wanted to go to school to be an architect, it kind of hurt him. Don’t get me wrong, when I got into the program, he was all sorts of proud. But I could see that he was also sad at realizing his dream of having a business with his sons wasn’t going to happen. Then he got sick, and you know the rest.”

She tapped her fingertips on the counter. “But he won’t be sick forever, and if things go well Friday—
when
they go well—you can start to get back to doing what you want to do. Your dad will understand.”

“It’s not that he won’t understand.” He paused and walked over to the kitchen island, standing across from her and meeting her gaze. “These past few years, having me back on board, he’s been so damn happy. I’m not sure how he’ll take hearing that I’m leaving again.”

She leaned forward and placed her hand on his arm. A simple touch, one to offer comfort, but his arm was itching where she touched it. Liking it too much. “From what I saw of your parents, they both really love you guys. Your dad may be initially disappointed, but I’m sure he only wants your happiness. With time, I’m sure he’ll be happy for you.”

“Yeah. Well, all the same, I think I’ll wait until after he’s on the mend before I get the ball rolling. When I know he can handle it.”

She nodded and took a measured sip of her beer. “I met with Daisy,” she said, thankfully changing the topic of discussion.

He smiled. “I know. And she loved you. Mom said that she seems more rejuvenated. Ready to embrace the next stage of her life. And it’s all thanks to you.”

“Easy there. Like I told her, we don’t know how her husband’s going to react to her petition or what his angle will be in all this. It could get ugly and long, with a few setbacks along the way.”