can a dog,” Larry said darkly.
“That’s horrible,” Kat said, truly outraged. But she laughed anyway.
Larry seemed mildly surprised that she’d laughed. “But true.”
“You’ve obviously never been around children.”
He looked off to the water as if suddenly interested in the fleet of fishing boats tied up along the wharf. “I’ve been around enough of them to know I need to avoid them. Oh, don’t look at me as if I’m a monster.”
“Thank goodness your mother and father didn’t think that way.”
“They did. That’s why we were sent away to school when we were seven and why when we were home, we had a governess. My parents were exceedingly intelligent.”
Kat stopped and looked up at him. “This explains everything,” she said.
“Explains what?”
“You’ve never been in love, have you?”
“Of course I have,” he said quickly.
“And you didn’t feel loved by your parents,” Kat went on as if he hadn’t responded. “A child who’s never felt love…”
“My parents loved me,” he said, clearly losing his patience with her.
“A man who’s never been in love…”
“You really are beginning to grate, you know.”
“And books without a soul,” she said triumphantly, having a wonderful time baiting him. She didn’t mean a single word that was coming out of her mouth.
“You’re insane.”
“But right,” she said and then started laughing when she took in his horrified expression. “My goodness, I didn’t mean it. I was just teasing you. I do that.”
“No. No, you’re right,” he said.
“No, I’m not. I’m sure your parents sent you to school because they wanted the best for you because they loved you.”
He shook his head, denying her assurances. “No. They sent us to school to get us out of their hair.”
“I was only teasing you.”
“And I haven’t been in love. Not really. I was just a boy then. I thought at the time I was in love, but look at me. I’m thirty-four years old and unmarried, and I have no real desire to get married. I have no one. I’m a shell. Vacant. Soulless, like my books.”
“For God’s sake, Larry, I was just kidding,” Kat said, exasperated.
And then he grinned, and she knew. He’d been playing her, reeling her in like a trophy fish.
She quirked one eyebrow. “Are you finished?”
“I believe so.”
“You are oh so witty.”
“I do try.”
She smiled up at him, and he smiled back, and in that split second, the attraction meter flew off the scale, which made her realize she’d better be very careful with Larry Kendall. Because not only did he have that accent and killer looks, but he could also make her laugh.
“I still think you should keep an open mind about kids,” she said.
Larry shrugged as if he didn’t care or really hadn’t given it much thought.
“I suppose not everyone is cut out to be a parent,” she conceded. “You were nice to that little girl though. You didn’t have to buy her another cone and charm yourself to the front of the line,” she pointed out.
“I just wanted her to stop the racket.”
Kat gave up badgering him. Brian hadn’t had any huge desire to have kids either. She needed to meet someone who wanted children as much as she did. She wasn’t thirty yet, no clocks ticking, but Kat knew kids were going to be part of her future.
They were walking past a T-shirt shop, and Kat stopped. “Perfect,” she said and walked into the store. Five minutes later, she was back holding a large tank top with a cartoony great white shark emblazoned on it. Out of its mouth was poking a furry black tail and the words “Sharks Eat Black Dogs.”
“Very anti-establishment,” Larry said dryly. “It’s perfect.”
“I knew you’d think so,” Kat said with a grin, right before she clutched his arm in horror. “What time is it?”
He looked at his wrist watch and grimaced. “You’re late.” When Kat began to dash off, he held her arm. “Let him wait.”
Kat swallowed. “Right.”
“Are you certain you don’t want to take him back?”
“Yes.” She chewed on her lower lip. “I just wish he didn’t want to talk to me in private.”
And then Larry did something Kat would never forget. He took her face in his large hands and gently made her look into his eyes. “You are the toughest girl I’ve ever met. If you can’t resist him, then you weren’t meant to.”
She nodded, mesmerized by his intense gaze. “I wish I were as confident as you. I’m not as tough as I look.”
He laughed, let her go, and the moment was over. “I didn’t say you looked tough. You look as tough as a puppy.”
“A pit bull puppy?” she asked with mock hope.
“That’s the ticket. Now let’s send this chap packing, shall we?”
Chapter 5
Lawrence hovered on the staircase just in case Katherine needed him. He heard only the low murmur of her voice and a single “Please, Kat” from the boyfriend. Frankly, he didn’t know what could be taking so much time. “Get out, I never want to see you again” would take about five seconds to say. They’d been in there for nearly a half hour. He realized with a small start that he was actually worried about her. He hadn’t been worried about anyone but himself in such a long time—it felt slightly foreign, and it reminded him uncomfortably of a time when he’d routinely put himself last. He was just about to sneak down to see if he could hear something of the conversation when he heard footsteps.
He watched from the stairs as the two of them walked to the door, and he silently scooted up a couple more steps to keep out of sight.
“You’re wasting you time, Bri,” he heard her say.
“Not if there’s a chance I’ll get you back.”
“You won’t. I told you. I’m sorry, but there’s no going back after what you did. I’d never trust you again. Do you really want to live that way? I know I don’t.”
He tried to pull her to him, and Lawrence had the undeniable urge to throw himself down the stairs and physically heave the man out the door.
“Stop it. It’s over, Brian.” She said those words with far more kindness than she should have.
“I can tell in your eyes that you don’t mean it.”
“I mean it. If I have to, I’ll get a restraining order.”
“Bravo,” Lawrence said softly, smiling at her spunk. He knew she was tough.
“I haven’t done anything to warrant a restraining order, and you know it.”
True enough, Larry thought with regret.
“Just leave me alone.”
“Please, Kat. I love you. I made a mistake. A huge, horrible mistake.” The guy actually started to cry, and for the smallest moment, Kat’s face crumpled, but she gathered herself together remarkably quickly, given the fact Brian was