Courting Katarina Read online

  “Yeah, me, too. We have some catching up to do.”

  She swallowed. “I’d say so—you’ve grown a goatee.” She grinned. “It looks nice, very stylish.”

  Ron wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her as if there wouldn’t be another chance. “What do you think?”

  Think?

  He lifted her hand to his beard. “If you don’t like it, I’ll shave it off.”

  Stunned by his offer, Katarina shook her head. “No, I’m sure I’ll get used to it. Come on in, let me show you around. You’ll stay in the loft.”

  “Do you have a table for me to set up my laptop?”

  “No, but maybe I can find one in Kevin’s things.”

  He headed immediately to the dining-room table and pushed the flowers to one end with her grandmother’s china.

  “Not there, Ron. It’s all ready for us to eat,” Katarina protested.

  He glanced at it a minute, then back to her. “It’s okay, it won’t take up much room. And this way, we can go over your books while we watch a movie.”

  He was oblivious. She resigned herself to sharing her romantic dinner with a movie and talk of investments and growth plans. “Great. What was I thinking?”

  The weekend was uneventful. He kept up with his work, and suggested she stitch while they watched movies. Before he left Sunday evening, Ron took her to the grocery store to stock up, since she had no car.

  He wanted to help her business succeed. He was only encouraging her to catch up on the work she’d missed while she’d been on that awful trip. It didn’t really matter that they hadn’t gotten around to an evening walk through the beautiful neighborhood, or talked about anything more revealing than whether she liked his beard. He had been considerate enough to offer to shave if it bothered her.

  Katarina struggled with the disappointing aspects of his trip. She hoped next time he’d feel up to going to dinner with Kevin and Emily and Ricky. That they would have time to go to the mountains for the day. Something other than stay at home.

  She tried to convince herself that it wasn’t fair to compare Ron to Alex. So what if the house hadn’t fallen down around them? There was more to life than excitement. Being with Ron was…comfortable and secure. But if Ron was exactly the kind of man she needed, why did she feel more confused than before?

  Chapter Twelve

  Alex turned the key and walked into the house.

  “Emily?” Katarina’s cheerful voice echoed from the beamed ceilings.

  “Katarina?” he mumbled. What’s she doing here? Alex glanced to the empty driveway and back toward the kitchen. Dinner smelled heavenly. The dining-room table was set for company, complete with a bouquet of flowers in the middle. The Boy Scout strikes again.

  Katarina’s voice rang out urgently. “Kevin?” There was a crash, followed by a yelp and the rush of water from the faucet. “Who’s there?”

  Alex cleared his throat to speak. He turned and looked at the door. This wasn’t at all what he had expected. He didn’t dare leave without saying something. If only Kevin had answered his phone last night. He dropped his bags and headed toward the kitchen.

  “I don’t know who…” Katarina rushed around the corner wielding a huge black pan over her head.

  As she took a swing at him, Alex stopped it with one hand and wrapped the other around her so she didn’t lose her balance. “Whoa.”

  “Alex?” Katarina gasped.

  Still stunned that he’d just about been branded with a cast-iron skillet, he yanked the pan from her hands. “Hi. Welcome home would have been fine.”

  She stumbled back. “What are you doing here?”

  “I might ask you the same thing.”

  Hands on her hips, Katarina straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I live here. What’s your explanation?”

  He turned his back to her and muttered under his breath just as Kevin, Emily and Ricky walked through the front door.

  The way everyone looked at him, you’d think he was a ghost returned from the dead, he thought. The only one who didn’t appear confused was the little boy flying toward him. “Uncle Alex!”

  Alex knelt to greet his nephew and swooped him into his arms. “Hey there, sport. How are you doing?”

  “Great! I knew you’d come back,” he insisted. He gave Alex another tight bear hug. “I just knew it.”

  He had obviously been the subject of more than one conversation in the past two weeks.

  “Sorry, things took longer to clear up than I expected,” Alex said, focusing on Kevin.

  His brother had a half smile on his face. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d decided against helping me out after all. I thought you meant a couple extra days, not weeks. Where have you been?”

  He couldn’t go into everything now. “I’m sorry. I tried to leave messages when I could get to a phone, but your machine kept cutting me off. Why don’t I fill you in tomorrow?”

  Emily broke in by giving Alex a hug. “It’s good to see you, Alex. Sorry about the answering machine. We replaced it this morning. I’m afraid Lego pieces don’t agree with the machine’s diet.”

  Ricky jumped into his daddy’s arms and nuzzled Kevin’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Ricky. Mommy’s teasing. Look at her smile.”

  “Katarina, can I help you in the kitchen? The Stroganoff smells delicious.”

  Alex looked over his shoulder to see Katarina turn and retreat into the kitchen with her sister following. Kevin set Ricky down and asked him to help his mother, then motioned for Alex to join him outside. Alex set the cast-iron skillet on the counter, then followed Kevin.

  The door closed behind them, and Alex spoke before his younger brother could say a word. “I did mean a few extra days, Kevin. Something came up while I was there that threw a monkey wrench into my plans.”

  “And in two weeks you couldn’t find time to call?” Kevin took a deep breath and stared him in the eye.

  “I was on a couple of fires.”

  “I can’t have a foreman who disappears in the middle of a contract, Alex. We’ve been through this before. If you want to fight fires, that’s great. I know you love it.” He paused, crossing his arms over his chest. “Things have taken off, and I could definitely use an experienced hand. However, I’ll find someone else if you don’t want to fill in. But when I need you, I need you here. Maybe it’s better this happened right off the bat.”

  Alex wished there were a way to explain the sudden changes he’d been through in the past month. Now wasn’t the time. There was no way he was going to admit to Kevin the problem was that Alex thought he’d fallen in love with Katarina. Next thing he knew, Kevin would tell his wife, and then Emily would tell Katarina. Then she’d bolt like lightning back to that “almost fiancé” of hers. “I’m in. Don’t worry, Kevin. I’m through fighting fires. It’s time I settle down.”

  Kevin quirked his eyebrow. “Settle down?” A sudden smile spread across his brother’s face. “This—” he made an all-encompassing gesture with his hands “—is all about a woman? Why didn’t you just say so?”

  All of a sudden, Alex realized what Kevin was thinking—that there was someone back in Montana that he’d been working things out with.

  Alex shook his head. “You have this all wrong.”

  Kevin slapped him jovially on the shoulder. “I guess you do have a few things to fill me in on, bro. Another MacIntyre brother breaks the pact.” The front door opened and Emily called them for dinner.

  Alex felt the tension in the room when they entered. “I didn’t mean to barge in on anything. I’ll just leave you all to enjoy your evening. I’d better be finding a place to stay.” He picked up his bags and headed back out the door, before Kevin changed his mind about being mad over his late arrival. The last thing he needed tonight was to put his foot in his mouth again.

  “You can’t leave now.” Emily stopped him. “Join us for supper. We can settle living arrangements while we eat.”

  Kevin looked at him, then Katar
ina. “We haven’t had a chance to move my stuff completely out, so Katarina’s things are mostly on the main floor. If you don’t mind my junk, Alex, you can use the upstairs for now. You and Kat could share the kitchen and living room.” Everyone moved to the table except Alex.

  “There’s plenty of room for both of you. After all, you’re practically family. And neither of you is really ready to sign a lease or commit to a long-term arrangement,” Emily added. “This will buy you both some time to get settled.”

  Had his brother and sister-in-law really suggested he share the house with Katarina? Were they totally blind? Or maybe he was the only one who could see the obvious, that he was crazy to even entertain the thought of him and Katarina together.

  “We had this same argument with Kat,” Emily pointed out. “It’s silly to waste all this space.”

  They were right—there was more than enough room in the seventies-style passive solar home. The loft upstairs consisted of a spacious master suite, an oversize bath and a den that overlooked the living area below.

  On the main floor, the great room was the central hub, flanked on one side by the kitchen, formal dining area and a breakfast nook, and on the other side by two bedrooms and a bathroom. The utility room also served as a mudroom, connecting the garage to the kitchen.

  It might work temporarily. “Well,” Alex said, still thinking. He took a deep breath. A man could get used to this life pretty easy, Lord. If it’s not meant to be, I’d just as soon hightail it out of here now, before anyone gets hurt.

  Katarina was silent. Had been since he arrived. It seemed obvious that she didn’t like the idea. As if she could read his mind, she interrupted his thoughts. “There’s plenty of Stroganoff left from Ron’s visit, Alex. Have a seat and help yourself.”

  Their eyes met. She smiled, revealing none of her previous annoyance. Had he simply surprised her with his arrival? Or was she truly not bothered by Kevin and Emily’s suggestion? “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not.”

  “Good, I’m glad that’s settled,” Kevin declared.

  The comment could be taken several different ways, Alex realized when Katarina looked at him in shock. They obviously had a few more things to discuss on the housing issue. At least he had Emily and Kevin convinced that it was a done deal.

  “Dinner smells great,” Alex offered as they sat down. The conversation moved toward each of their respective lives, with no mention of Katarina’s job. When the room became suddenly silent, Alex realized they were waiting for him to fill them in on what he’d been doing for the past two weeks.

  He hesitated. “Since I missed the refresher course this spring, I went ahead with that, just in case.”

  “Just in case?” Kevin echoed. “In case what? I thought we just cleared that up. You said you’re done fighting fires. I hope to keep you busy enough to give that up altogether.”

  “You know Alex, a real Boy Scout—he’s always prepared for any emergency.” Katarina laughed at her repeat of the insult he’d thrown at Ron.

  Alex laughed, hoping her jab was enough to end Kevin’s questions. “You have to admit, my planning paid off.”

  Katarina’s blue eyes brimmed with laughter. “That’s a matter of opinion.”

  “And how did your interview go?” Alex took a bite of rice and followed it with a strip of beef.

  “Just say ‘I told you so’ and get it over with.”

  Alex looked around the table, each looking at their dinner. “What happened?”

  “You blew her big chance,” Ricky proclaimed.

  All eyes turned to the little boy as his mother shushed him.

  “It was just like you said—it wasn’t in God’s plan, I guess,” Katarina corrected.

  Alex looked at her, wishing everything about that trip had gone differently. “I’m sure another window will open, Katarina.”

  Emily set her fork down. “Of course it will.”

  “Until then, I’ve a backlog of orders to keep me busy. Another boutique signed a contract for a monthly shipment. I’m taking applicants for an assistant, by the way. If anyone knows of a good seamstress…” Katarina pushed her chair away from the table. “Would anyone like some strawberry shortcake?”

  The evening came to an early close after the dishes were done. “I’ll see you at the office, first thing in the morning?” Kevin added as he walked out of the house.

  “I’ll be there.” Alex closed the door behind them and looked again at his bags. “I’m not sure this is the best plan, Katarina. Maybe I should find a hotel until I can get an apartment.”

  Katarina backed away and leaned against the stair railing. She stuffed her hands into her shorts pockets. “Why did you come back?”

  What did he dare say? Because I think I love you seemed a bit premature. “Two weeks ago you asked me what gave me any right to preach to you about God’s will. I was going to turn Kevin down—keep on fighting fires—but I couldn’t. I kept getting this feeling I was needed here, for what exact purpose I have yet to figure out. Who am I to question God?”

  His comment seemed to amuse her. “You could have saved yourself the effort,” she said defensively.

  He smiled in return. “And why’s that?”

  She defiantly tucked a lock of that honey-blond hair behind her ear. “Because I can take care of myself. And that includes my faith.”

  Alex wanted nothing more than to point out the error of her thinking, but bit his tongue. He had to leave that in God’s hands. “Then I guess that answers one question, doesn’t it?”

  Katarina crossed her arms over her breast. “What’s that?”

  “Silly me, I wondered if He had in mind to bring me back here for you. Thanks for clearing that up.” Alex picked up his bags and headed toward the stairs to the loft, catching the look on her face.

  Katarina’s smile faltered as he brushed past her. “I’m glad we’ve made that perfectly clear.” Her gaze locked with his momentarily, the fire still simmering between them.

  Who does she think she’s kidding?

  “This is a temporary situation,” he assured her.

  “Of course it is. I’ll be glad to keep my things in the two bedrooms down here, if you’ll please offer the same for the upstairs. We do our own laundry. Fix our own meals, wash our own dishes…”

  It appeared Katarina actually believed this could work. Didn’t she have a clue what he was feeling for her? “I wouldn’t consider anything less than sharing the housework, fifty-fifty.”

  “If you’ll show me how to run the mower, I’ll be glad to help with the lawn work.”

  He stared at her. “Sure. I’d be glad to. You’re positive you don’t mind me bunking here?”

  She shrugged. “Why should I mind? You’re my brother-in-law’s brother. We’re practically related. Oh, one more thing, no more sneaking into the house and scaring me half to death.”

  “Sorry about that. If I’d known you were staying here, I’d have called first.” So, today I’m a brother. I guess it beats being her father. Is this considered progress, God?

  The tone of Katarina’s voice stopped his prayer short. “It’s not like there could ever be anything between us, right?”

  God, help me out here. Katarina is one fire I haven’t a clue how to douse. I tried walking away, and You told me to come back. Someone has mountains to move here, and I hope You don’t think I’m going to do it alone!

  Chapter Thirteen

  Katarina disappeared into the garage to pour slip into the doll molds and fire a batch of porcelain arms and legs. An hour later, she went out to the gazebo to enjoy the fresh air and try to push thoughts of Alex from her mind. Who am I trying to kid? Even a thousand miles didn’t help. Even when he was in Montana, Katarina had found herself thinking of him, wondering what he was doing and if their disastrous trip had anything to do with him staying away.

  Getting Alex off her mind was going to be impossible with him sharing the house. Why didn’t she just tell
him she didn’t want him here? Because it’s his brother’s house. If anyone should leave, it’s me.

  She’d just paid the deductible on the car insurance, sent out another mailing for Kat’s Kreations with a second change of address in as many months, and rented a box at the post office so she wouldn’t have to go through all of this again. No, her leaving was out of the question. She’d just have to make the best of the situation. After all, it was only temporary. Sharing a house didn’t oblige her to become best of friends.

  How was she ever going to explain this to Ron? Or would he even care, for that matter? He hadn’t been bothered by her traveling with Alex, simply annoyed that she had kept him waiting all night for her phone call.

  Katarina closed her eyes. Was Emily right? Did she unconsciously hold others at an arm’s distance to protect herself? How could she ever trust anyone with her heart again when the one man she’d thought she could trust above all others had walked away? Would memories of her father’s leaving ever stop tormenting her?

  Katarina recalled her earlier conversation with Alex, and his claim that God had brought him back to Springville. She’d felt a momentary spark of hope, despite the warnings her mind kept sending her heart. What did you expect, Kat, him to fall on one knee and proclaim his undying love? Not a chance. Katarina set the swing in motion again, watching threads of clouds drift past the full moon. Keep playing it safe, Katarina. Stick with Ron. Sometimes boring and predictable are best.

  Inside, a small voice affirmed Emily’s observation. Keeping people at arm’s length was the only way she knew to keep from getting hurt. She’d let James break through the wall to her heart, and he’d betrayed her. She blinked back tears, despising how weak they made her feel. Tears that reminded her of the day her daddy left. That rekindled her feelings of worthlessness, loneliness and fear.

  “Katarina.” A door inside the house closed, then another, and Alex called her name again.

  If You’re listening, God, I beg You to get Alex out of this house. The porch light went on, and he repeated her name. Katarina pulled the hearing aid from her ear so she couldn’t hear him and closed her eyes as if doing so would hide her from Alex. She held still, hoping not to draw his attention.