Not Quite Mine

Dean forced himself to stand. “No more high heels, Katie. I mean it.”

“Whatever.”

“I mean it.”

She glared at him now. “I don’t hear you telling anyone else around here what they can and can’t wear.”

“No one else tries to walk on heels the size of a number two pencil.”

She sat forward, but didn’t stand.

Feeling better, my ass.

“Fine, no more stilettos. Now what did you want?”

He fished out the pacifier from his pocket and handed it to her. “I saw this in your car.”

She took to her feet and her face swept of all color. “My car?”

“Yeah, the little red convertible outside? Someone you know have kids?” Like maybe Ben? He thought but didn’t ask.

“Ah, no…er.”

“Maybe the person who rented it before you had kids.”

Katie kept looking at the pacifier in thought. “Yeah…maybe.”

If Katie wasn’t acting at all normal…Mike’s voice called inside Dean’s head. Katie wasn’t acting normal. She stared at the binky as if it had legs and was crawling up her arm.

“Is this why you called me in here?”

Dean leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “I wanted to ask you about this fountain idea you blew past Steve yesterday.”

“Oh, is that all? OK,” she said sitting back down.

“Katelyn, are you all right?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine. The ankle bites a little, but it isn’t that bad.”

“No, not the ankle. I mean…is there anything going on you want to talk about?”

“Like what?” She sent him a puzzled look.

“I don’t know…you tell me. Is something wrong?”

She looked away, her eye twitching. “What could be wrong? I like what I’m doing here, the guys seem to like me. It’s hot out, but not like Texas. Everything’s great.”

“Great.” She did not lie well.

“About the fountain…” Katelyn changed the subject and went on to tell him her ideas. Which he had to admit, he liked. She didn’t ask for a bigger budget, but Dean knew it would triple the cost of what they had previously planned.

“I need to check this with Jack, see if he likes it.”

Katie smiled. “Tell him to ask Danny’s opinion.”

“That wouldn’t be playing fair. He can’t say no to that kid.”

The grin that played on Katie’s face met her eyes and stayed there. How long had it been since he’d seen her that lit up? “Kids have that effect on people.” She hesitated and then said, “You should know that. You have a nephew. How is Robert anyway?”

“Getting big,” he told her.

“Isn’t Syrie pregnant again?”

“Yep. Has a couple more months to go.”

Katie was still smiling. Maybe she’d come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t have kids of her own. The last time they’d talked about kids, it was right after the doctor had given her the bad news. It was the only time Dean had seen Katie cry.

“Boy, is she gonna have her hands full.”

“Our mom plans on staying with them for a couple of weeks after the baby is born. Help her get used to dealing with two.”

“Oh, good. She’ll need that.”

Dean’s heart cracked. Obviously the memory of their child, the one that didn’t make it past the first trimester, no longer haunted Katie. He still felt the loss like it was yesterday.

Katie stood. “Give them my best when you talk to them.”

“I will.”

She started for the door and grabbed the back of the chair for support. Dean shot to her side and slid an arm around her waist. “I thought it wasn’t that bad.”

“Hurts more when I first get up,” she said, excusing away his concern.

She leaned into him and let him walk her out. Dean hated the fact that she was hurting, but warmed with her being in his arms.

Only a class A ass**le would enjoy this, he told himself.

“You should go back to the hotel, rest your ankle.”

Although he took the brunt of her weight, she still sucked in a breath as she tried to walk. “I’m OK.”

She stepped again and moaned.

“The hell!” He lifted her in his arms and told her to hold on.

He carried her through the door and barked at Jo. “Get the door. Katie’s going home for the day.”

Jo jumped up and cleared the path.

“I can walk, Dean.”

She rested a hand on his chest but didn’t push away.

“Take tomorrow off,” he told her as he walked down the steps of the trailer and over to her car. “If it’s only a sprain, it should feel better after the weekend.”

Her forehead rested beside her hand on his chest and Dean’s heart kicked hard. God he missed this. Missed her.

“You win,” she told him. “It hurts like a bitch.”

He chuckled. “Need me to drive you home?”

“No. I drive with my right foot, not my left.”

He gently placed her inside her car. His hand rested on her thigh as he spoke. “Have someone help you up to your room.” He didn’t like the sound of that. “You know what, I’ll go with you.”

“No! I’m fine. I think Monica’s home. I’ll give her a call; find out if there’s a doctor I can see.”