Free Homeward Bound by Kat Attalla Page B

his lip, she felt the blood rush to her face. But to his credit, he knew when to stop. "Would you like to come for dinner today?"
    Kate feigned indifference. "It's rather last minute. I'll have to check my date book to see if I'm free."
    He arched his eyebrow, challenging her claim. "How many people do you know here, Kate?"
    "Well, it is Sunday. Palm Sunday. I have to go to church. And then I have a date with a Dutch Boy," Kate said.
    Chloe twisted her long braid in her fingers and stared off thoughtfully. "There're no people from Holland here."
    "She's talking' about paint, Chloe," Jake clarified, not fooled by her little play on words. "We'll expect you at six for dinner. And you might want to find time in your busy day to do the neighborly thing and bake one of your mighty fine cakes, ma'am. After all, that is what one does when one wants to fit in."
    Judging by his quick departure the evening before, she would guess Jake did find her cake 'better than sex'. "I'll have to see what time mass ends."
    "Can I go with you, Kate?" Chloe asked.
    "May I," she corrected automatically. "And that's up to your father."
    She deliberately left the ball in Jake's court. Sometimes she sensed an animosity in him for the easy rapport she had with his daughter. When they were alone, they got along great, but around his family, she swore he felt jealous.
    Chloe looked to her father for confirmation. "May I?"
    "I don't think it's a good idea," Jake said, the smile now faded from his face.
    "But you said the only reason I couldn't go before was because you needed the truck. Kate will drive me. Please, Dad?"
    "Go if you want, Chloe." He shrugged, but Kate could tell he didn't like it. She would deal with Jake's temper. "But only if you finish your chores, young lady."
    Chloe lifted her hand to her forehead and saluted him in a dictatorial fashion. "Yes, sir." She skipped across the wet grass, slipping and giggling the entire way.
    Kate waited until she disappeared into the barn before turning back to Jake. "You're angry."
    "You're wrong. I'm concerned, that's all."
    "About her being with me?" Once again Jake showed his true feelings for her. She was fine for a fling, but she shouldn't aspire to be part of his family.
    She kicked at the blanket, still tangled in her feet, frustration making the situation worse.
    With all the skill of a gymnast, he hopped the rail to give her an unwanted hand. "If I was worried about her being with you, she wouldn't be going. When are you going to stop taking everything I say the wrong way?"
    "When you start saying what you mean," she snapped, bending down to unhook the last corner from her ankle. The rest of the quilt fell from her shoulders and she shivered, half from the cold and half with anger.

 
 
    * * * *

 
    Jake’s second attempt to help Kate met the same chilly rebuff. He tried, but he couldn't stop from laughing at her. Although nothing could mask her beauty, the dark circles under her eyes made her look just like a soft, cuddly raccoon.
    "Somebody didn't sleep well, and then she got up on the wrong side of the bed."
    "Did you make a special appearance to patronize me?"
    "Me?" He put the quilt around her and pulled her closer. "You've had an attitude since you saw me this morning. Come on, Lollipop. 'Fess up. What's the problem?"
    "I'm not Lollipop."
    "Oh, no?" he asked, running his finger inside the collar of his shirt. He pulled the cotton fabric back to reveal a red mark on his neck that wasn't left by the vacuum cleaner. "What do you suppose was the cause of this?"
    She lifted her shoulders in an innocent gesture of confusion. "Liver spots?"
    "Do you have any idea what Trevor had to say when he saw this? He's still rolling on the bathroom floor. I didn't know it was there until he so eloquently pointed it out."
    "Would you believe I wanted to be able to tell you apart?"
    "No."
    "I'm a vampire?"
    "They only come out at night. Try again, Lollipop."
    "I don't know. I don't remember doing it. You