They heard the raised voices before they reached the door to his office. The privacy blinds were drawn, which wasn’t exactlyunusual but at this time of the morning, her father usually had them open.
Kat could feel Chaz’s concerned gaze locked on her, but she didn’t offer him anything in return. Just as she reached the door, two large security officers pushed past her, causing her to stumble back against Chaz’s chest. His hands immediately found her waist and she yanked herself away from him.
Her worst fears were confirmed when the two uniformed men practically dragged a larger-than-life cowboy from her father’s office. He didn’t see her immediately. His eyes were spitting fire, and he was dressed in one of the nicest suits he owned. The only indication that he wasn’t from here was that Stetson on his head.
“I’m not going anywhere, Jerris. You and I both know she’s not happy. She’ll never be happy here. She’ll never be happy withhim,” he spat. That was when his eyes locked with Kat’s. There was a brief moment of surprise, followed by guilt, that then morphed into determination. Even as he was dragged toward the elevator, he looked every bit the man she’d fallen in love with.
Leo didn’t call out to her or demand to speak to her even as his eyes remained locked on her, even as he was shoved into the elevator and the doors closed between them.
“You okay?” Chaz murmured. His hand grazed her arm and she jerked away from him. She’d been incapable of tolerating even the most platonic touches from him lately.
“Fine,” she snapped. Then she marched into her father’s office. “What was that about?”
Her father stared down at the street. The building was tall, but they could still make out the people who scurried below. Shemoved closer to him and came to his side, mirroring his folded armed stance.
“Why did you have him dragged out of here like a criminal?”
The man who had raised her didn’t bother looking in her direction. His voice was flat and unfeeling. “Because he is. He didn’t make an appointment. He was trespassing.”
She scoffed. Then her eyes found him down below. He was thrown from the building and he stumbled back a few steps before tugging on his suit jacket and straightening. Then he lifted his head. It would be impossible for him to see them up here. Even still, she couldn’t help the way she wanted to shrink away from the window at his penetrating gaze. “Why did he come?” It was the only thing she could muster as she continued to watch him.
True to his word. Leo wasn’t leaving. He’d set up shop across the street on a bench—just sitting there, watching the building.
“It’s no concern of yours,” her father murmured. Then he turned to face her. “There’s that event tonight. Are you still planning to attend?”
It wasn’t like she had much of a choice. Her father made it a point to attend as many charitable functions as possible. It was the easiest way to stay in the good graces of the city at large.
She sighed. “Yeah, Chaz and I will be leaving straight from work. I have my personal shopper bringing my dress.”
Her father nodded then turned his attention back to the cowboy watching the building. Technically there was nothing they could do about him. He wasn’t on company property. Kat could tellthat it irritated her father more than he wanted to let on that Leo could camp out there if he was so inclined.
“Maybe you should let him say his peace,” she murmured.
“He already did. I didn’t agree with his sentiments.” He offered her a strained smile. “Come on, we’re late for that meeting. I’m sure our clients are wondering where we are.”
Kat didn’t knowwhat to expect when she exited the building later that night. She was wearing a dress that hugged every one of her curves. The slinky black fabric spilled around the floor at her feet despite the three-inch heels she wore to match.
When she exited the building, her eyes snagged on Leo immediately.
He shot up from his bench and took a step toward her. Then he froze. She glanced down the street both ways with a heavy sigh then picked up her skirt and strode toward him. Leo’s hands twitched at his sides as his gaze roamed over her body before finally landing on her face.
“What are you doing here, Leo,” she demanded.
“I’m going to win you back.”
She tossed back her head with a sharp laugh. “And you thought that cornering my dad would be the best route?”
“I’ve tried everything else.”
She wanted to know what he meant by that, but he cut her off when he closed the distance between them and took her hand in his. Her heart leaped into her throat at the contact.
“I’ve missed you, Kat. I know I’ve been MIA for the last couple of months while I was getting my head on straight, but I’m here. And I’m not leaving without you.”
She laughed again, and this time it almost sounded manic. “Do you even hear yourself? What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that I’m in love with you, Kat. Deeply. Unabashedly.Crazyin love with you.”
Her head refused to work in that moment. She likely looked like a complete fool as she stared at him with mouth agape.
