There it was again. That constant edge of worry that she’d done the wrong thing. It was beginning to grate on him, but Harry didn’t let any of that show as he smiled and shook his head. ‘I was awake anyway and thought we could have a cuppa before you leave.’
Kat nibbled her bottom lip. ‘I thought I’d go in early and try and talk to Dad again.’
‘You don’t need to do that, Kat. Not for me, at least, if that’s what you’re worried about.’ He closed the distance between them and put his arms around her. ‘Hey, look at me a minute,’ he urged softly when she ducked her head into his shoulder. She met his gaze and the worry he read in her pretty eyes made him want to punch something – like her stupid father on the end of his stupid bloody nose. He pushed the anger down until he could deal with it later. Losing his temper might give him an outlet but it would only add to the burden of guilt he could see was already weighing her down hard. ‘Your dad is going to do what he is going to do, regardless of what you want.’
She shifted against him as though trying to escape from the truth of his words. ‘I can still speak to him. He listened before when he gave me that extra time off.’
Harry suspected it was more likely that it was easier for Gavin to carry on sneaking around with his plans without Kat around quite so much, but he kept that to himself. ‘He still went ahead with that viewing on Saturday, and you told me yourself he hasn’t been honest with that area manager bloke about who he’d get to run the second franchise.’
Kat sagged against him like a puppet with cut strings. ‘I have to try, Harry.’
He hugged her to him, tightly. ‘No, you don’t. All you have to do is go in and do your hours and come home to me again. Our bid is looking fantastic after all your hard work this weekend, so I reckon it’s time to push the button on it. I’m going to speak to Russ and arrange a meeting with him next Monday afternoon so we can present it to him. You and me, together.’
Her head rocked back, her eyes wide with panic. ‘Next week? But there’s still so much I need to do with the bid!’
Harry raised his hands and cupped her face. ‘It’s perfect as it is.’ He lowered his head and kissed her. ‘You’re perfect just as you are.’
When he pulled back she was smiling at least, though he could still feel the tension vibrating through her. ‘There’s still a couple of tweaks I want to make.’
He laughed. ‘Of course there are.’
Her shoulders heaved up and down as she took in a deep breath and when she looked at him again there was an air of acceptance about her. ‘We’re going to do this.’
‘We are.’
He kissed her again. ‘So, how about that cup of tea?’ Kat hesitated and just like that the churning in his gut was back. ‘If you want to get going, it’s fine. I’ll make one and take it back to bed with me.’
Kat went up on tiptoes and put her arms around his neck as she pressed a kiss to his lips. ‘Sorry, I just like to get in early and sort myself out.’
‘It’s fine. I’ll see you later.’
Harry closed the door behind her and let out the sigh he’d been holding in. Had she meant anything she’d just said to him or had she just been trying to please him? He trudged into the kitchen and flicked the kettle on. He’d only got as far as fetchinga clean mug and dropping a tea bag into it when there was a knock on the front door. Assuming it was Kat, he hurried to answer it. ‘Did you forget your key?’ he said with a teasing smile as he opened it. His smile froze at the sight of Chloe. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘We need to have a chat. I can’t stay long as I need to get to work.’ She placed a hand on his chest and gave him a gentle push. ‘Let me in, will you, I’m freezing. I’ve been lurking outside waiting for Kat to leave.’
Harry stepped back out of the courtesy long ingrained in him by their ma and pa. ‘If you’ve come to give me a lecture about me dating Kat, I don’t want to hear it.’
Chloe rolled her eyes as she kicked off her court shoes on the mat. ‘Well, tough, because I’ve got things to say.’
The only way he was going to get her out of his flat again was to either physically remove her – and he doubted his shins would enjoy that – or let her say her piece. ‘Kettle’s just boiled, come through.’
Chloe perched on one of the kitchen chairs, all neat and professional in a dark suit and pink blouse combo. He never usually saw her in ‘work mode’ so it was odd to see all her vibrancy and energy buttoned up. Harry set a mug in front of her then sat opposite, his own mug clutched between his hands. ‘I really, really like her, Chlo.’
His cousin smiled. ‘I should bloody well hope so!’ She picked up her mug, blew on it then set it back down again. ‘And I’m not here to give you a lecture, whatever you think, but Kat’s my best friend and I want to make sure you know what you’re dealing with.’
Harry set his own drink down and propped his chin on his hands. ‘I know all about her mum and dad, if that’s what you’re worried about. She told me what happened with Mr Bradley at school and about her mum hassling your dad too.’
Chloe closed her eyes for a second. ‘Telling her about that was the worst day of my life.’ She looked up at Harry. ‘They’ve really messed her up, Harry. I was so relieved when she moved in with Issy because it felt like she was finally putting some distance between herself and their toxic nonsense.’
Harry leaned back, understanding at once why Chloe had felt she had to speak to him. ‘And you’re worried if things don’t work out between us that Kat will feel like she has no choice but to move back home?’
Chloe nodded. ‘She needs to be free of them, full stop.’
‘I’ll make you a promise. If Kat and I break up then I’ll move out and she can keep the flat.’
Chloe’s eyes widened. ‘Where will you go?’
‘Mum and Dad’s or I’ll go and kip on the sofa at Matt and Ed’s. I can even bunk down at Ma and Pa’s if it comes to it, though it might be a bit of squeeze now Rick and Anya have moved in. The point I’m making is I’ve got plenty of options.’ He shrugged a shoulder. ‘Not that I’m going to need any of them because I’m not going to fuck this up, Chloe. No way, no how. Kat means the world to me.’
