“It’s late, Joseph Storm,” he pointed out with a frown.
“I realize that, sir. I came to return Katherine’s lost purse.”
Her dad’s brow knitted, and he looked to Katherine. “Lost where?”
Joseph turned to Katherine, curious as to how she would answer, but the look in her eyes gave him pause. She seemed completely repulsed by her father’s presence. Joseph couldn’t help but wonder if she was still affected by what had occurred at Nate’s or if her father really repulsed her. He didn’t have a father, but when he did, he had never looked at his father like that.
Well, he had...
Once.
* * *
KATHERINE
As if her dad’s presence wasn’t bad enough, the pretentious way he was eyeing Joseph was utterly disgusting. Joseph had risen to greet him with a handshake. He was very polite. Yet, her dad looked at him like he was trash. Katherine had had enough.
“I lost it at school. Your presence is not necessary. You can go back to bed,” she told him. She stepped out from behind the bar and grabbed Joseph’s hand. “Come with me.”
She practically dragged him out of the parlor and down the hall. They went through the kitchen, out a set of patio doors, and she led him to a furniture set that was well-lit by the lights in the swimming pool.
Katherine took a seat on the patio chair and welcomed Joseph to the chair next to her. He sat and crossed one long leg over the other. Now that she had him away from her father, she didn’t quite know what to do or say next.
“It seems you don’t like your father very much.” His bold words killed the awkward silence.
Katherine chuckled and shook her head. “No, I don’t like my father very much.” She forced a smile and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “What about you? Do you like your dad?” she asked before he could ask her why she didn’t like her father.
Sadness flashed in his eyes so fast that had she not been staring into his beautiful eyes, she would have missed it.
“My father is dead.”
“I’m sorry, Joseph.”
“It’s fine,” he responded with a wave. “It was a long time ago.”
“Well, your mom sounds like a great person.”
Joseph smiled. Joseph hardly ever smiled. The sight of his plump sexy lips, framing brilliant white teeth, nearly caused her to swoon.
“She is,” he responded euphorically. “My mom is great.”
Katherine felt an instant pang of envy. The feeling he seemed to get when thinking of his mother was foreign to her. Nothing about Elizabeth Chase elicited the warm and fuzzies. To say their relationship was strained would be an understatement. Her mother was shallow, superficial, and often very cold.
Joseph’s smile faded, and he frowned as if reading her thoughts. “You don’t like your mom, either?”
“I could say I did, but it would be a lie,” Katherine responded honestly.
Joseph parted his lips. She knew he was about to inquire about her relationship with her parents, so she cut him off with, “But, a twin, huh?” The thought of two tall, dark, and handsome specimens of perfection was exciting. “That must’ve been interesting growing up.”
“Not as much as you’d think.” Joseph chuckled. “He got me in trouble a lot.”
Katherine smiled. It must've been nice to have a sibling. Growing up, she often wished she had a big brother to protect her from the monster under the bed.
Joseph looked down at his watch. When his eyes returned to her, a feeling of sadness washed over her because she knew he was preparing to leave.
“It’s late. I should go.”
Katherine stood, quickly and uncoordinated. “Oh?”
