Chapter 5: KAT

That night I called my mom for our nightly chat. My mom is my sounding board whenever my mind becomes overcrowded.

"So how's the new job sweetie, you like it?"

"It's fine, mom, pretty easy, but guess what. So this guy calls today and he's as rude as you want to be, he just rubbed me the wrong way you know, so I kinda let him have itª"

"Wait a minute, you did what?"

"I put him in his place, next thing I know he's showing up there."

"He didn't hurt you, did he baby?" I hated the panic in her voice.

"No, mom, let me tell you. So anyway, turns out he's this Uber rich old coot with the manners of a wildebeest, but guess what, he gave the boss a contract to supply him with bikes for all his ventures and apparently there are a ton of them."

"Like, he works with Hollywood and racing circuits here, and in Europe, among other things. He said he liked my style, and that's why he finally decided to give Colton the contract."

"Colton, ooh....... first name basis already, is this Colton handsome?"

"Mom... that's what he wants to be called."

I won't be telling you about the sir conversation.

"Are you having fun, baby?"

"I'm fine, mom, promise."

"You'd tell me if something was bothering you, right?"

"Yes, mom, besides, dad's here, everything's fine. I like my new job, and Jared's there which makes it easier. My truck's almost ready, so I should have a little more freedom soon. Right now I'm pretty much stuck in the house, but that's cool. Not much to do around here anyway... wait a minute mom, someone's on the other line."

I put her on hold and clicked over.

The number didn't look familiar, but it was local.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Katarina?"

"Uh, yes?"

Why did this voice sound familiar, and not, at the same time?

"This is Elena Lyon, we spoke earlier today."

"Oh, hi."

Why the heck was Colton's mother calling me? Please lady, don't ask me any leading questions, please, please, please.

"I bet you're wondering why I'm calling when we've never even met. I got your number from Jared, he's such a good boy. Anyway I'm calling to invite you personally to our annual barbecue picnic on Monday. I know it's short notice, but I didn't know about you until today, so you can't refuse."

"I won't take no for an answer, besides there's nothing else to do in this town on that day. Everyone comes to my little get-togethers, and you'll have a great time, great food, nice company; what more can you ask. Besides, it'll be a great opportunity to meet the wives of the guys you work with, so it'll be wonderful."

"So I'll see you at about one, we like to start early, and make a whole day and evening of it. If you need a ride that's okay too. I can certainly arrange that for you, so we're set then, yes?"

"Uh, sure, okay." Geez, the lady's a steamroller. I hurried her off before she had me agreeing to God knows what, and for some unknown reason, my heart was beating unusually fast.

"Mom, can I talk to you later?"

"Sure baby, everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine I just have to do something."

I hung up with my mother and fell back against the bed. A barbecue picnic with people, and from the sounds of it, lots of people. No wonder my heart was beating out of sync.

What a way to throw yourself into deep end Kat. Oh well, you can't change your mind now and offend the boss's mother, so it's sink or swim time.

***

ELENA

***

Ha, my son thinks he can outsmart me, good luck with that. The boy has always been a bit too brainy for his own good, but nothing beats a mother on the hunt for a daughter-in-law and grand babies.

Shoot, Stacy had already declared herself out of the running since her and Em had been trying for years without success, and she refused to try artificial insemination, and Carol was nowhere near ready.

Anyway, my girl Char might be a crackpot but she knows her stuff. My son had the nerve to lie to me repeatedly over dinner last night, he'll pay for that.

'No, mom, I didn't meet any girls today.'

Ha, he's been telling that same lie for ten years now, so I wonder how on earth he got his reputation as a cad if he wasn't meeting girls.

Of course he doesn't know, that I know about such things, but women talk, and some of the things I've heard about my one and only baby boy are not fit for mixed company. He's his father's son after all.

Well, according to Jared this Katarina is young in years but very smart, we'll just wait and see. She sounded sweet as pie on the phone, and I hope I'm not disappointed when we finally meet.

***

KAT

***

I went in the next day wondering if his mom had said anything to him about the invite. All night I tossed and turned like a crazy person, thinking about things I hadn't let cross my mind in quite some time, like what should I wear.

I got cold bumps just thinking about it. It had been a while since I'd worn anything other than a gunny sack, my protective shield.

I'm coming to realize that it's silly. In my head I know that, but it's getting the rest of me to go along with it that's the problem.

Oh well, if push comes to shove, I can always wear one of dad's old flannel shirts and some sweats. Classy Kat.

Well if my biggest problem was what to wear, then I'd say I was making progress. A few months ago just the thought of being out in public surrounded by all those people would've sent me into shock.

I heard voices coming from the game room. That's the room the guys hung out in, and ate or played pool and video games, when they were having down time.

There was even a kids' corner, and when I'd asked Colton about it, he'd told me in his gruff way 'bitches got shit to do sometimes, so their old man brings the kid in, and we take turns watching over the little tykes.'

I went down to the room to see what was going on, since I'd done my morning's work and was bored out of my mind. I get into trouble when I'm bored.

The men were having some sort of powwow, it looked like, because everyone was here. Colton stood in front of them giving out orders for some upcoming riding event.

The way he stood with his arms folded across his muscular chest, and his legs braced apart as he looked down at his men like a king with his subjects, did something to me.

It might sound weird, but I wanted to worship at his feet. I'd never seen a more beautiful human being in my life. Too bad he would eat me for breakfast and keep going.

Men like him didn't fall for girls like me, if only. He turned that piercing green gaze on me as if sensing my scrutiny, my inner turmoil.

His eyes traveled up and down my body before settling once more on my eyes.

"Something on your mind, Sloane?"

Eeek, I just soiled my panties.

I should start charging him for those. A girl could only go through so many panties before she ran out.

"Well!"

He hardly speaks, but he sure does get his point across. I think one of his hard glares is worst than a shout.

"Going back to work, sir."

Oh shit, I remembered the sir thing too late as I made a bee line for the office.

I could hear the soft drone of his voice as he continued speaking to the men before there was a line of footsteps tromping back to the shop.

It wasn't long before the door was opened and you know who came in.

Working here, take your sexy eyes and bitable ass on down the hall thank you very much.

"What are you thinking about now?"

"Uh...excuse me?"

I hate this stupid bun. If I wore my hair down, then I could hide behind it, but with my hair pulled back like this he could see my blush.

"You're blushing again, do I make you nervous or something?"

I was shaking my head before he was through, and why was that? I'd just realized that he didn't make me nervous at all, and in fact this whole place made me feel safe. I had no doubt it was because he was here. Weird.

Funny, I hadn't even thought of it until now, but my dad and Jared were the only two males I'd been able to spend any time around without going into panic mode.

The thought made me smile, maybe, just maybe, I was healing.

***

COLT

***

What the fuck is she smiling about now. I think Jared sold me a lemon, I just can't figure out what the hell is the issue. When she isn't blushing like a medieval virgin, she's tearing into someone or smiling for no damn reason.

"Are you trying to make me crazy?"

"No sir...uh...uhm... nope."

She shook her head again.

"I'm going to start tallying up those sirs and hold them for future payment. Now was there something you needed before?"

"No...ahem...no, nothing."

She is one strange duck, and now her voice sounded like she was strangling.

Where the fuck is Jared, I'm gonna kick his ass. His 'little sister' was driving me nuts, and she kept me up all night wondering about her, the fuck, that's not my style.

Besides, I don't have time for some little wilting flower with split personality disorder, or whatever the fuck.

"What's going on with you and Jared?"

Real smooth Lyon, why don't you just drag her by her hair into your lair.

"Jared, like what?"

Good, she didn't seem to pick up on the undertone of pissed off in my voice.

One of the reasons I'd been up all night was because of that little byplay I'd witnessed between those two yesterday.

"Forget it, I'm in the shop." I turned and left before I made an even bigger ass of myself.

I don't know why she was getting to me, she wasn't even my type. Except for those eyes of hers she didn't really have anything going for her, and she wore her hair like an old school marm. Her clothes were less than anything approaching attractive, and she is nuts.

Not a very enticing combination, so why the fuck was she the only thing I could think of for the last twenty four hours? Fucking Jared.

Instead of going to the shop, I decided to go for a ride and clear my head. There was no point in staying around here with her so near, and I wouldn't get anything done anyway.