“Come on, Kate. Why are you always so combative?”
Katherine narrowed her eyes and used her free hand to push him away. “I don’t like you, Larry.”
Larry placed his face uncomfortably close to hers. “Well, you better start liking me because I’m your future.”
She caught a whiff of the alcohol on his breath and moved toward the stairs. Larry could be a monster when he was drunk.
Before she reached the first step, he grabbed her by the elbow.
“Come here. Pay me some attention.”
“Fuck you, Larry!” Katherine spat. “Don’t touch me! You’re not my goddamned future!”
He wrapped his fingers around her arm and pulled her against him. “Watch how you speak to me, Katie!”
“Go to hell, Larry!”
She snatched away from him and stomped up the stairs.
To hell with her parents' party. Larry’s presence was all she needed to get the hell out of there. She was grossed out enough to make her escape.
Chapter Three
KATHERINE
Katherine turned the knob and entered the Gold Coast mansion. She walked through the foyer, greeting the few people she recognized. The crowd thickened when she entered the living room.
“You made it!” Laverne squealed, moving toward her with open arms, grinning from ear to ear, happy to see her. And very drunk. “What about your parents’ party?”
“I ditched it.”
Laverne laughed unusually loud and threw a heavy arm around Katherine’s shoulder. “Atta girl!” she slurred. “Come on. Let’s get you a drink.”
Laverne pulled her toward the kitchen, where they found a table holding a keg of beer and several bottles of wine. Since she was in a beer kind of mood, Katherine filled a disposable cup, took a sip, and trained her ear on the soft jazz floating in the air. She sang along with the lyrics of one of her favorite songs.
“Every child belongs to mankind's family
Children are the fruit of all humanity
Let them feel the love of all the human race
Touch them with the warmth, the strength of that embrace.”
“Children of Sanchez,” came from behind her.
The familiarity of the deep, masculine baritone made her skin warm.
Katherine turned around and looked into a beautiful set of flawless emeralds. Joseph Storm was the kind of man that could stop a girl’s breath—tall, muscular, and ridiculously handsome. And, on top of everything else, he smelled delicious.
“Hi, Joseph,” she greeted shyly. “You know Chuck Mangione?”
Joseph nodded with a slight grin. “Yes, ma’am. I am a fan.”
Katherine smiled. “Me too.”
She gestured toward the table. “Drink?”
Joseph raised his cup to show her he already had a drink.
