Wherever She Goes (Psychic Seasons, ReGina Welling [novels to improve english TXT] 📗

arm with Zack’s, the two of them turned and made it all the way out the door before the first burst of laughter escaped.

“Pookie-bear?” Kat wheezed and doubled over.

“Snuggly-ugams? Did you see the look on his face?”

“No, I didn’t dare to look.”

“I don’t think we fooled his mother though.”

“I don’t care; it was her underhanded way of doing research for a book she’s writing about how people cope with tragedy.” Suddenly, Kat didn’t find the experience quite as amusing. “She could have just asked, I would have talked to her about it but this was beyond the pale.”

Grasping her arm companionably, Zack led her toward the parking lot and his car. No police cruiser tonight, he was driving one of those compact hybrids that ran on gas or electricity. Gustavia wasn’t the only one in the family concerned with the environment.

Without thinking much about it, Kat rested her hand on Zack’s where it curved against her arm. His guard was down and without that prickly exterior, she felt very safe around him. Protected.

Being a gentleman, he opened the door and waited to close it behind her. She took a glance around the car’s interior expecting it to be utilitarian but was surprised to find it comfortable though not overly luxurious. She detected a hint of new car smell.

It wasn’t until Zack had circled back to the driver’s side and slid into his seat that she realized he had just put aside whatever plans he’d had to take care of her.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I just ruin a date? I’ll just call Julie or Gustavia and wait here. Go back inside and have your dinner.” Kat laid a hand on his arm and gave a little push to add emphasis. “I didn’t mean to derail your plans.” A tiny wisp of envy surged up inside her at the thought of him on a date.

“No, it’s fine. My parents have a standing dinner date here every other week and I join them whenever I can. It’s no big deal.”

It would have been a big deal to his sister who had been, until recently on the fringe of her own family dynamic—partly by choice and partly based on a series of secrets and misunderstandings. All of that had been cleared up but Kat felt surprisingly defensive on the part of her friend.

“What about Gustavia? Is she invited to these dinners or is she left out again?”

“Sheath the claws, Kitty Kat. It’s a family thing; she’s obviously family so she shows up when she can.”

Calling her Kitty Kat garnered him a raised eyebrow, but she let it go and settled back in her seat.

“Speaking of dinner, we’ve missed ours. I could go for a slice of meatloaf.” He glanced over at her, “You up for it? I know a little pub that does this killer gourmet version. But I warn you, it’s addictive.”

“I’ve already ruined your rep in front of Kevin, are you sure you want to be seen with me in another public venue?”

“Have a heart. I’m half starved. Wasting away to nothing.” His stomach gave a loud grumbling noise to prove the point.

Casting an eye over his muscular form, she doubted he was in any immediate danger but decided to take pity on him anyway. “Take me to the meatloaf, but if you call me Pookie Bear again, retaliation will be swift and painful.

_,.-'~'-.,_

One hand companionably grasping hers, Zack led Kat into Hang. Housed between a barbershop and an auto parts store, the pub seemed out of place in the short, brick-fronted row of connected businesses.

If the smell was anything to go by, the food was going to be as good as promised and probably explained why Zack was a regular visitor. That much was obvious the minute they walked through the door.

A man about the size of a small bear, nearly as hairy and probably just as strong barked out, “Hey Roman,” and stepped around the bar to greet Zack with a brutal looking handshake and a clap on the back that might have knocked a smaller man to his knees before turning his attention on Kat.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed when the big man turned toward her, a welcoming grin on his face, Kat could see that the smile lines around his eyes were deeply etched. He held out a hand the size of a baseball mitt and introduced himself, “Name’s Kane and you are?” He eyed her speculatively then glanced over at Zack.

“I’m Kat.” Was all she had time for before he yanked her into a hug, lifting her nearly off her feet, and planted a great smacking kiss on her cheek.

Zack grinned and watched Kane urge Kat onto a stool at the bar before bellowing toward the kitchen area at the rear of the small pub. “Molly, get out here and see what Zack’s brought with him.”

“Be out in a minute,” yelled a feminine voice, her words punctuated by the rattling of some pans..

“Hey Moll, got any meatloaf back there?” Zack called back to her.

“Course I do. I’ll bring you a plate.”

“Bring two.”

“Two?” Judging from the surprised inflection Kat had the feeling she was about to fall under intense scrutiny.

“You’ll sit here and keep me company.” Kane pronounced before stepping back to draw a foaming pitcher of beer and deposit it on the nearest table. “Unless you want a table, something cozy in the back?” The big man put a lot of innuendo into the question.

“Right here will be just fine.” Kat spoke from her bar stool before Zack could answer. Tonight he had given her a glimpse of the playful man under the mask of responsible authority he normally wore. Curious to learn more about both, she thought Kane might be an excellent source of information. It was obvious there was more than good customer relations between them.

“How do you know Zack? Did you grow up together?”

Kane’s belly laugh startled Kat with its sudden noise.

“Not exactly,” and then the burly man went on to explain how a misspent youth