Courting Katarina Page 2

  A loud knock resounded through the room. “Mrs. MacIntyre,” came the groom’s seductive voice. “Are you ready to toss the bouquet?”

  Emily opened the door and greeted her husband. “Don’t forget, you have to toss the garter, too.”

  Kevin gave his wife a lingering kiss. “Then we’d better get back to our guests.” Kevin looked at Katarina as she passed through the door. “You okay?”

  Katarina looked at Kevin, suddenly seeing Alex instead. She blinked the image away, then set her shoes on the floor and stepped into the flats as she walked. “I’m just dandy, thanks.”

  Chapter Two

  Alex washed shaving cream from the windows of Kevin’s hunter-green pickup with the wand at the car wash while his new nephew and the best man, watched.

  Bryan looked at his watch. “We’d better hurry—they should be ready to leave soon. I think Alex got it all off, don’t you, Ricky?”

  “Yup, looks pretty clean.”

  The best man laughed. “You’re too kind, Alex,” Bryan said as he opened the door. Ricky jumped into the cab of the truck. “Do you know how many newlyweds Kevin has sent off for their honeymoon in a decorated car?”

  Alex slid the wand into the tube and flipped the switch off. “Nice has nothing to do with it.” Alex winked. “I don’t want to take any chances of damaging the paint. I don’t need a repair bill hanging over me. Where are they going for their honeymoon?”

  The men climbed into the truck and closed the doors. “You don’t actually think he’s going to tell me, do you?”

  Alex turned the key in the ignition and pulled forward. “Well…” He paused, eyeing the orphaned little boy his brother and new sister-in-law had officially adopted at the end of the wedding ceremony. After all these years, it was a shock to see one of the MacIntyre brothers actually married. “Surely they told someone where they can be reached, didn’t they?”

  Silently Bryan raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

  As if the four-year-old understood, he interjected, “Auntie Kat is ’sitting me, Bryan, ’member? And Uncle Alex promised to take me for pizza. Can Katarina come with us? It wouldn’t be nice to leave her home alone.”

  Alex wanted more than anything to ignore the question. He was most likely the last person Katarina Berthoff wanted to spend time with after he’d snapped at her. It wasn’t like him to be so short of patience, but he’d tried to find out what had happened, and how he could help. She’d ignored him. How could he help if she wouldn’t talk to him?

  Of course, then he’d hauled her out from under the table like some brute and embarrassed her. “Well, Ricky, we’ll have to see how your aunt Katarina feels about that first.” He certainly wouldn’t mind a dinner with his sister-in-law’s charming sister, yet he wasn’t sure she’d agree.

  “She might get lonely.”

  The two men looked at one another and laughed, obviously of the same opinion that Katarina would probably relish a few minutes of solitude after two days alone with the talkative little boy. Alex pulled into the driveway that led to the exclusive restaurant perched on a bluff with a view of town. Emily and Kevin exited the Dutch-style building and looked around for the truck. Alex paused for a minute, enjoying the momentary look of panic on his brother’s face.

  Alex slowly pulled forward and stopped just in front of the bride and groom, opening his door just as Emily invited all eligible women to gather for the bouquet toss. Alex unbuckled Ricky’s seat belt. “What a ridiculous tradition,” he muttered. “They don’t actually believe catching a bouquet can predict the next bride-to-be, do they?”

  Bryan chuckled, “Need I remind you, Emily caught Laura’s bouquet merely five months ago?”

  “Coincidence.” Alex tried to ignore the shrill screams of excitement and pleas for Emily to throw the wildflowers. As she did, he stole a quick glance at Katarina. When had the gangly teenager turned into an alluring young woman?

  Alex tugged at the knot of his tie and unfastened his collar button, then looked up. The wildflowers were caught in the tree. On the other side of the truck, his brother jumped up and knocked them loose.

  Alex batted the bouquet away when it dropped in front of him. The screaming resumed as the bundle glided directly into Katarina Berthoff’s hands.

  She stared at it as if it were a kiss of death instead of a prediction of marriage. He couldn’t help but smile as Lisa, the bride’s youngest sister, arched her eyebrows and gave Katarina a hug.

  Wishing he could crawl back into the truck and drive away, Alex walked over to his youngest brother and repeated his earlier question. “They don’t actually believe this stuff works, do they?”

  Adam laughed. “Doesn’t really matter, does it? Takes two to tango, and I’ve had enough toes stepped on to stay off the dance floor permanently.”

  “Those city women are what made you run back to Granddaddy’s ranch?”

  His brother looked indignant. “You must be kidding. That ranch has been my dream forever. You should know that. But there’s one thing a guest ranch doesn’t need. Women.”

  Alex chuckled. “Give it time, and you’ll be singing a different tune.”

  He glanced at Katarina again, imagining her in a white lace gown, holding her own bouquet. Would the owner of Kat’s Kreations put together as fancy a wedding for herself?

  Adam’s voice pulled Alex from his daydream. “So, brother, what’s kept you from tying that proverbial knot? Will we be adding one more plate to the Christmas table this year? Or are we going to hold strong to our bachelorhood?”

  Alex looked around at the variety of couples in the crowd. If he were only in a different line of business, the first thing he’d do was find himself a wife and start a family. After all, he was thirty-five already. Where had the time gone?

  As long as he was fighting fires, he wasn’t husband material. Six-month stretches away from home were no way to make a marriage work. No way to raise a family. Not for him, anyway. In his eight years as a smokejumper, he’d seen more marriages fall apart than stay together. “Don’t count me in for Christmas. Who knows where I’ll be by then.”

  “Bachelors, gather around,” called Kevin. “Your turn.” With much ado, Kevin seated Emily in the wicker chair, retrieved the garter from his wife’s leg, turned around and tossed it over his shoulder.

  Adam slapped Alex on the back. “It’s headed right for you, bro. Better run quick.”

  Alex shook his head and laughed as he saw the blue-and-white lace sailing directly toward him. “No way! You’ve got the wrong guy.” The last thing I need is a woman to complicate my life right now. “Wrong guy,” he repeated, staring at the frilly garter in his hand.

  The competing bachelors gathered around. With Adam in the lead, they not so gently “guided” him to Katarina. “Now you put it on her,” Adam explained.

  Katarina’s eyes grew huge and the color drained from her cheeks. Someone gave Alex a blatant shove and he stopped short of running into her. He looked at Katarina and shrugged. “Do you mind?”

  She leaned forward, lifting her ear closer to his mouth. Wildflowers. She smelled like a forest before a fire. Was it the bouquet in her hand, or some carefully concocted perfume? Or his imagination? He didn’t dare explore the answer.

  “What did you say? I didn’t hear you over all the noise.” Katarina’s voice held a mixture of shyness and teasing. There was something warm and enchanting about her. If he didn’t get this over with, the crowd wouldn’t give him a minute of peace for the rest of the afternoon. Katarina was trouble with a capital T. He could tell that already.

  She was too young. Too sensitive. Too beautiful to be alone all summer long while he jumped out of planes, wondering where the next forest fire would take him. Worried that he might not make it home at all.

  He wouldn’t be the man responsible for placing worry lines on that innocent face.

  “I asked if you mind?” he said into her ear, inhaling deeply. It was definitely her perfume.

  Katarina nod
ded slightly, obviously too startled by the suggestion to offer any objection. She paused, lifted her chin and met his gaze. He nodded, and she sat down. Her flowered skirt flowed around her feet and dusted the ground.

  Alex knelt on one knee and swallowed the lump in his throat. His heart raced as if he’d just bailed out of the Twin Otter at fifteen hundred feet. He’d take jumping into a forest fire over this any day.

  She lifted the edge of her skirt little more than an inch above her ankle, challenging him to go through with it. The crowd roared, hooting and hollering suggestions. He had no intention of following any of them. He just wanted this to be over.

  As he slid the garter over Katarina’s ankle, he watched a dim flush return to her pale and beautiful face. He stopped at her calf, noting the heated gaze that passed between them. Trying to mirror the light mood of the crowd, he forced a smile.

  “You’re off the hook,” Katarina leaned close to say. The glint of humor shone in her blue eyes as she tucked a stray blond hair behind her ear. “I’m as good as engaged already,” she added with a coy smile.

  “And what makes you think I want to be on the hook?”

  Chapter Three

  The wedding festivities ended and the family dispersed. Alex watched Katarina with mixed emotions. She and her sister gathered the last of the flower vases from the tables and placed them in a crate. He should have his head examined for flirting with her.

  What exactly does “good as engaged” mean, anyway? He pushed the question aside and concentrated on figuring out a way to make peace with the bride’s sister. He strolled over and stopped in front of her. “Can I carry that to the car for you?”

  “I can manage.” Katarina stacked the crate on a flat box, then deliberately turned away. “Lisa, would you find Mom and Ricky? We’re ready to go.” Katarina’s voice held a tone of defiance.

  He had obviously made her plenty mad. Who knew exactly what it was this time? There were more options than hamburgers on a fast-food menu.

  Lisa eyed the load her sister had prepared. “You sure you can handle all that?”

  Katarina hoisted the teetering load off the table. “I do it all the time. No problem.”

  Her feistiness reminded him of a kitten—delicate, adorable and determined. She rested her chin on the edge of the crate to stabilize it.

  “Okay, I’ll be right back,” Lisa said, eyeing Alex. Lisa hesitated, shrugged her shoulders, then disappeared around the corner.

  Sidestepping to get out of Katarina’s way, Alex matched her gait step for step. “There’s no reason for you to carry all that. I’ll be glad to help.”

  “I don’t need any help. But thanks anyway.”

  Despite her protests, he took the crate of wildflowers from the stack and waited for her to lead the way. “I’d rather carry it than clean up the mess when all this crystal breaks.” He took a deep breath and realized the wildflowers weren’t aromatic. Certainly not the inspiration for Katarina’s perfume.

  “It would have been perfectly fine.” Katarina marched past him, her flowered skirt billowing in the breeze. She stepped outside, and her hair glistened in the sunshine.

  She shoved the box into the back of her station wagon. Alex set the crate into the one empty space left. The remains of Katarina’s gown hung in the back seat.

  It wasn’t his fault, he reminded himself. Nonetheless, he felt responsible. “I hope your dress isn’t ruined.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Here, at least let me pay to have it mended.”

  She laughed softly. “Trust me, it’s beyond repair.” She stood straight and met his gaze. “However, nothing’s ever a total loss.” Katarina waved her hand, as if to shoo away his guilt and his wallet. She reached into the car, grabbed a box marked Cake Top and moved it to a more secure spot. “The dress will be much more practical once I shorten it, anyway. I can always use the scraps of fabric for my dolls.” She rambled on while rearranging supplies inside the car.

  Alex watched Katarina tuck a strand of her chin-length hair behind her ear. He could almost imagine smelling her perfume, and took another whiff, disappointed that he couldn’t pick up the scent again. As Katarina chattered on about possibilities for that piece of fabric, she almost convinced him he’d done her a great favor in tearing the gown.

  “I hope I didn’t embarrass you today. I wasn’t sure how to get out of that ridiculous garter charade.” He chuckled. “Who makes up these traditions, anyway?”

  “These traditions are fun, for one thing.” A momentary flash of disappointment crossed her face. “And once in a while the predictions actually come true. Just look at Emily and Kevin.” She slammed the hatch closed.

  “What did I say this time?” Why it mattered that he understand why she was so irritated he didn’t know. He’d be gone in a few weeks and they’d probably never see each another again. He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what? Ruining a perfectly beautiful day and turning a joyful celebration into a circus?” She choked out the words, then cleared her throat and forced a smile. “Don’t think another thing of it. It was a no-win situation. We survived.”

  Though he’d meant the comment as a joke—to make light of the awkward situation—she’d taken his ridicule seriously. Couldn’t she see that he’d been kidding? It was impossible to deny his attraction to the icy-blue-eyed, honey-blond woman who could brighten any day with her cheerfulness. Which made it even worse that he was the one person who’d taken her smile away. “I was joking.”

  Katarina let out a soft sigh of frustration. She must have had a long week. She looked up at him and wrinkled her nose as she squinted from the bright sun. “I suppose I should apologize for seeming less than grateful for your help earlier. That broken chair certainly wasn’t your fault.” She rushed through the statement and turned away, obviously uncomfortable with him for some reason.

  “Don’t mention it.” He didn’t want to discuss that again. “Well,” he said with regret, “I guess I should just get right to the point. I have a small favor to ask.” If the woman didn’t want him around, so be it. He needed to get back to Kevin’s house. “My brother and sisters leave in the morning, and we’d all like to spend some time with Ricky before they leave.” He explained their impromptu barbecue, terribly uncomfortable with not inviting her. “I’ll make sure I have Ricky back home in time for bed.”

  “I’m sure that would be okay with Kevin and Emily. Mom and Lisa need to be in Denver to catch their flights in a couple of hours, so I’ll have him change clothes and bring him right over.”

  Lisa ran out of the building and nearly tripped on her bridesmaid gown. “Ricky’s in a tree and can’t get down!”

  Alex hurried after Lisa. “Where are they?”

  Katarina closed up the car. “Boy, is this day going downhill fast,” she muttered. She quickly caught up to them. “Why did Mom let him climb a tree?”

  Lisa led the way past a tall hedge of lilacs around the park’s perimeter. “Mom said he needed to run off some energy. She took him to the playground. Apparently he’s a monkey. Before she could stop him, Ricky was above her head. Need I remind you that we have to leave in an hour?”

  Katarina shook her head. “I don’t need a reminder, or another lecture….”

  Lisa hiked her dress up to her knees, struggling to keep up with Alex’s long stride. “Maybe we should call the fire department.”

  Katarina stopped. “Good grief, how big is the tree?”

  Alex pulled his tuxedo jacket off as he walked, and tossed it to Katarina. “Here, hold this for me.”

  She looked at him wide-eyed. “What are you doing?”

  “I plan to get our nephew out of that tree, before this day gets any worse. We’ll get him down, don’t worry. No need to call anyone yet.”

  Before she could argue, Alex handed her his rented shirt, tie and cummerbund.

  Katarina watched as Alex approached the huge maple where her mother stood. Katarina’s hands covere
d her mouth and she let out a small squeal. Ricky was nearly as high as a second-story window. “Oh, no.”

  Alex placed his hands on his hips and looked up. He spoke to the four-year-old in a deep and calming voice. “How you doing, Ricky?”

  “He won’t talk to me anymore,” her mother answered. “I think he finally realized how high he is. He hasn’t moved in several minutes.”

  Alex acknowledged Mrs. Berthoff’s comments. His eyes remained fixed on Ricky. “Do you want me to come get you?”

  Katarina tried to quell the quickening of her pulse as she admired Alex’s control. His voice was gentle. Reassuring. Confident.

  Ricky nodded. His knuckles were white as he clung to the small branches. Alex looked at the tree and reached up to the lowest limb.

  Lisa squealed.

  Katarina grabbed his arm. “You can’t go up there. Wait. Let us call for help.”

  “I’ll have him down before they can even get here. Don’t worry. I do this all the time.” He placed his hand on hers, and her heart skipped a beat. “Just in case, you can send up a little prayer.”

  “You rescue little boys all the time?” Katarina couldn’t help wanting to know more about Alex MacIntyre. Even if she shouldn’t.

  “Not exactly. But don’t worry.”

  “What exactly does ‘not exactly’ mean?”

  “I’ll explain later.”

  Katarina felt the strength in his hand and let out a sigh. The look in his blue eyes was of total confidence. “God, please bring both Alex and Ricky down safely.”

  He patted her hand and locked his gaze with hers. There was a tingle in the pit of her stomach. Did I really say that out loud?

  “Thank you.” His deep voice faded. “Now leave it in His hands. I’ll be back down in just a bit.”

  Stunned back to reality, Katarina whispered to her sister and mother, “He makes it sound like a walk up the stairs.” Pulling her gaze off Alex, she looked at her nephew’s short legs straddling the branch, his arms wrapped around it with equal intensity. “Here comes Uncle Alex, Ricky.” Katarina watched Alex climb the huge old tree with finesse. “What in the world do you do for a living?”