Not Quite Mine (Not Quite #2)(30)
Author: Catherine Bybee

Katie pulled her hand away from Dean and lifted her napkin to her lips. She hoped he couldn’t see the pain behind her eyes. She attempted a smile and dropped her napkin. Instead of hitting her lap, it fell to the floor. As she bent over to pick it up, Dean did the same.

They both stopped midway and looked at each other. His eyes searched hers and time simply stopped. No, it went in reverse. He placed his palm on the side of her face and drew her in. His lips brushed over hers in soft, even sweeps.

“Oh,” she murmured as she reached and glided her hands over his chest. The thick feel of him under her palms felt right, familiar. He teased her lips open and pushed inside. His taste and scent flooded her, bringing back every wonderful memory of their brief, passionate time together. Unlike the fire and impulse they had before, this kiss was one of calm warmth and desire.

Warning bells screamed inside her mind. She’d barely survived him the first time. Playing emotional roulette with him now was dangerous. Even if it felt damn good to be in his arms again.

Dean must have read her thoughts and slowly ended their kiss. He left her light-headed and dizzy. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Katie.” He dropped his forehead to hers and spoke in hushed tones.

“This isn’t smart,” she said. She had a baby at home. One who needed to stay hidden until she located Savannah’s mother. Diving back into Dean’s arms, no matter how warm they were, could jeopardize everything. “We shouldn’t do this…for so many reasons.”

“Like what?”

“We work together.”

He kissed her again, briefly. “You’re fired,” he teased.

“You can’t fire me. You don’t pay me.”

He reached for her lips again, and she pulled away.

He dropped his arms from her shoulders and let her go. “I won’t push,” he told her.

She looked past him and drew in a deep breath. “Thank you.”

As he picked up their lunch mess, he said, “If you want to kiss me again, my office is right in there…and the door is always open.”

He could always make her laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You do that.”

Dean kept out of her way for the rest of the day. The task was easy when he could still taste her on his lips. She’d responded to his kiss. Kissed him back, even. The act thrust him into the past to the first time he’d ever touched her. Like this time, she’d met his lips and didn’t pull away. They were all limbs and flying clothes back then. Years of pent-up want exploded until they were both spent and staring at the ceiling. It had been glorious.

Although Dean wanted glorious again, this time things were going to be different. Slower.

“Dean!” He heard a familiar voice yelling from across the shell of the hotel lobby and turned to greet his best friend.

“Jack, you son of a bitch.”

“No denying that,” Jack said. They shook hands and followed it up with a man-hug.

“You look good.” Tanned, rested, and Dean needed to add, sexed.

“Good doesn’t cut it.”

“How’s the ole ball and chain?”

“Jessie’s bound to tie you to your chair with duct tape if she hears you calling her that.”

Dean wiggled his eyebrows. “Oh, bondage. Didn’t think you did the kink, cowboy.”

Jack punched Dean’s arm. “Jessie’s good. She missed Danny, though. Next time he comes with us.”

“Honeymoons aren’t supposed to include kids.”

“I hear ya.” Jack turned full circle and took in the room. It had changed a lot in the weeks he’d been enjoying his bride. “Looks like everything is coming along.”

“Only a few small setbacks. The roof isn’t complete and that’s holding up some of the construction on the west end. Most of the exterior walls are going up. I think we’re about a week, maybe two, away from all the plumbing and electrical to finish up. On the inside at least.”

“Good, good.” Jack’s vision of a more family friendly hotel to add to the empire his father had already built was brilliant. Where The Morrison was a five star vision of opulence, Jack’s hotel would be a five star vision of family affordable opulence.

The project had been in the early planning stages and ground breaking about the time Maggie had left him, which gave him what he needed to get over her. He’d thrust himself into his work and quickly through his messed up personal life.

“I noticed a convertible in the lot. Katie’s?”

“Yeah. She’s been in the office all day.”

“How’s she doing?”

Dean licked his lips, tasted her again. “Good. She’s had some innovative ideas, ones I think you’re going to like.”

Jack stood closer and lowered his voice. “How is she really? I mean, she wasn’t acting herself before the wedding.”

Dean rubbed his chin. “I’m not sure what’s going on, and I understand why you’re worried, but she seems fine to me.”

“You know her better than most so I’ll take your word for it.” Jack started to walk toward the door. Dean stopped him.

“Jack, wait up.” If things were going to be different with Katie this time, then it started here…with her brother.

“Yeah?”

“About Katie…”

Jack narrowed his eyes. “What about her?”

Oh, hell! This would be so much easier with beer. He glanced around the room and decided they didn’t need an audience. “Let’s go in and say hi, then go grab a beer.”

Jack tilted his head to the side. “There something you need to tell me?”

Dean nodded. “Yeah, but trust me. We need beer.”

Chapter Thirteen

In Jack’s defense, he waited until the both of them were sitting behind a booth in a bar and halfway through a beer before he asked. “Are you going to tell me what’s up with Katie, or are you going to make me guess?”

Dean followed the condensation along the side of his glass with his finger. “You and I have been friends a long time.”

“Yes, we have.”

“I’d never do anything to jeopardize our friendship.” Yet even as Dean uttered these words, he knew that wasn’t completely true.

“Why do I get the feeling that you’re about to say the word ‘but’?”

Dean debated how much he should tell Jack, how much Katie’s brother needed to know to understand where he was coming from. The truth was, he was tired of hiding…of lying to his best friend about something as important as Katie.