Rick reached across the table and touched her arm. “Katie, I’ll have a search warrant by tomorrow. We’re gonna bury those bastards,” he promised.
Joseph found himself praying that Rick could make good on his promise. He wanted nothing more than for Katherine to exorcise every demon from her childhood, and he would do whatever it took to help her.
Chapter Thirteen
KATHERINE
Joseph opened the door. “Go get prettied up. We’re going out.”
Katherine entered the apartment, tossed her purse on the table, and turned to Joseph, a hand on her hip. “Going out?” she asked with a raised brow. “Out where?”
“We’re done with finals. You’re about to put a nail in your dad’s coffin. It’s time for a little fun.”
Joseph locked the door and walked to the living room. He turned on the TV and plopped down on the couch. “Is it gonna take you long to get ready?”
“Get ready for what?” Katherine asked.
“Dinner, first. Then, dancing and drinks.”
Katherine laughed. “You dance?”
“No,” Joseph scoffed. “I’m gonna drink. You're gonna dance.”
“Figures,” Katherine muttered.
“Go.”
“All right, all right.” Katherine giggled and hurried to the bedroom. Joseph was right. She’d worked hard all semester, and Rick was on the road to take down her father. It was definitely time for a little fun.
It only took Katherine a half hour to get dressed, but you would think it took hours the way Joseph stared at her.
“What?” Katherine exclaimed. “I didn’t take that long.”
“No, sweetheart, but it wouldn’t take long for you. You go to bed and wake up gorgeous.”
Katherine smiled. She’d worn the tiny red dress she picked, hoping it would make Joseph a little less gentleman-like. Her cheeks warmed. So, she knew she was blushing.
“Thank you,” was her shy response, leaving her feeling awkward.
Joseph was ridiculously sexy in blue jeans and a fitted black shirt. Like the sun, it was dangerous to look directly at him. Had she had more courage, she would have run to him, tore the shirt from his body, and begged him to make her a woman. A complete woman.
“Joseph, you looksogood.”
“Yeah?” He grinned and moved closer. “You think so?”
Katherine nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to his hard body. He lifted her chin with a finger and pressed his lips to hers. Katherine exhaled and melted against him.
He broke the kiss and gazed at her through hooded eyelids. “I wanna take you to bed,” he rasped.
Joseph’s hand slid slowly down her back to cup her ass. Katherine could feel his hardness pressed against her stomach, and the smirk he brandished hinted that he knew she could feel it.
He took a step back and gripped the prominent bulge in his jeans. The very sight of him had Katherine’s panties clinging to her wetness.
“For now, we’ll start with dinner,” he said with a mischievous grin.
* * *
