The flat look his mother gave him made it clear she wasn’t going to respond to his question. Reese had been back since a couple of days before Simon’s birthday but he’d been spending the majority of his time at his fiancée’s place, which suited Leo just fine.
There was nothing worse than having to deal with a blissfully happy brother who had finally gotten the girl of his dreams. Leo was thrilled for his brother, he really was. Serenity and her two boys were everything to Reese and the man deserved to be happy.
But seeing that happiness firsthand was tearing Leo apart inside—especially since Kat refused to talk, refused to look at him, even.
His mother was facing him now, wiping her hands dry with a small towel. “Perhaps I can convince her to come to supper since your brother will be here tonight.” She winked. “Peer pressure being what it is.”
Leo hated that was what it might take to get Kat to be in a room with him. Was there a chance that he could get his mother andbrother to abandon their plates early enough that Kat would be forced to speak to him alone?
At this point, he’d do nearly anything to get her to justspeakmore than a couple of words to him.
“Good luck with that. She’s become an expert at avoiding being within ten feet of me at all times.”
His mother’s pitying frown was the last thing he wanted to see. So he backstepped into the hallway and headed for the front door. He’d get some fresh air and pray that his mother was successful.
Leo heardher voice before he entered the kitchen.
She’d done it.
His mother had actually gotten Kat to slip away from the confines of her room. Leo stopped just before entering the kitchen, his ears straining. Kat’s voice was soft—too soft to make out any words. He could hear his brother’s quiet cadence as well. It sounded like they were getting along.
Jealousy reared its ugly head.
No, he didn’t think that his brother would attempt to steal her away. Reese only had eyes for Serenity.
The jealousy stemmed from the fact that Leo couldn’t get Kat to speak to him. Look at him. Heck, be in the same room as him.
Leo closed his eyes and drew in a calming breath. Everything would be okay. Kat had come out of her room. She still had acouple more weeks on this project before she planned to leave. He was certain there were still loose ends to tie up.
All he had to do was get her to agree to one conversation.
Hating the way his hands shook as he moved closer to the door, Leo forced his mind to remain calm.
It was almost laughable, the way he was acting right now. He’d never chased after a woman like this before. Love didn’t come easily, and he was too impatient most days to put in the work.
But from the very beginning he had.
He’d put in the work even if it had been misguided. All those times he’d inserted himself into her life when she’d first arrived. Leo had been a fool not to see it for what it was.
This went beyond fascination.
It went beyond obsession.
Leo was in love.
And the reason his hands were trembling had everything to do with the fact that he felt her slipping through his fingers.
All eyes turned toward him and conversation halted the second he stepped into the room. Leo’s own gaze locked onto Kat. A mixture of relief, pain, frustration, and… love erupted within him, nearly knocking the wind from his lungs. He wanted to seize her in that moment and give her a little shake to make sure she understood the torture she’d put him through over the last several weeks.
He wanted to pull her into a crushing hug and kiss the crown of her head to assure her that he wasn’t going to give up on herand whatever she was dealing with whether it was fear or anger—he’d make it right.
He’d make amends for the stupid mistakes he’d made in going to her father.
Leo could see he’d royally messed everything up in his quest to secure what he wanted.
Kat’s steady attention on him didn’t waver. Not as he marched across the room and pulled out the chair beside her. Not as he settled into his seat. And not when he leaned in close to her and murmured, “We’re going to talk about this.”
“Not now,” was her only curt reply.
