The Best for Last (7 page)

Everyone except Steve, apparently
.

She placed her head between her hands and let what he'd just said sink in. “Do you know how embarrassing this is?”

“Now, Kitten, there's no reason to be embarrassed. I'm a man and I know how other men think. I just want to make sure this guy isn't going to hurt you.”

Her birthday might be in two days, but she suddenly felt ten years older. “Daddy, please let me take care of this, okay?”

He sighed. “I don't know—”

“
Promise me
you aren't going to talk to Steve,” she insisted. She wanted to be angry. She
was
angry! But a part of her was also touched. Wasn't this what fathers were supposed to do? Look out for their daughters? Even though this daughter didn't want to be looked out for. Plus, this was his special day. The day they were bonding as father and daughter, groom and best man. No, she couldn't be totally angry with him.

He looked at her sadly. “All right, I won't say anything to him, but I want you to know that Sharon and I will always be here for you. No matter what happens.”

#

Kitty drove up to the McMansion with the fabulous view of the beach. Sometimes, she forgot just how stinking rich Steve was, but looking at this house was a reminder that the man she lived with was loaded. Not that he acted like it. Steve lived like a regular guy. He drove a pickup truck (albeit a nice one), cooked his own dinners, and even did his own laundry (along with hers, thank God).

Yes, he was good looking, too, but that wasn't the reason she'd fallen in love with him. It was all the little things about him. Like the way he pretended to dislike Viola's cat when she knew he secretly left treats for him in their backyard (the real reason Armand hung around their driveway!), or how he'd go bowling with his uncle Gus's team when they needed another player, even though he hated the game.

But most especially, it was the way he made her feel. Like she was the only woman in the room. On the planet. In the universe.

He had to love her
.

No matter what anyone else thought of him and his supposed intentions. Not Shea and Pilar and the rest of the Bunco Babes or Betty Jean Collins or even her own mother or father. She'd let her friends and family get to her. But no one else was in a relationship with Steve Pappas, except
her
.

She'd thought about tonight all day long and she'd come to a decision. She was going to tell Steve she loved him. It was what she should have done last Thursday night after she'd come home from Bunco. So what if she was the first one to say it? A part of her was nervous, and yes, even a little afraid. But deep down in the very core of her marrow, she was positive that he loved her, too.

She parked her car in the driveway and mentally prepared herself for the other part of tonight's conversation. After what her father had told her yesterday, she had no choice but to tell Steve that the entire town was talking about them. It simply wasn't fair that he didn't know.

He must have heard her car drive up because he met her at the door. “What took you so long to get here?” He grabbed her in a long hug and kissed her, making her bones melt in relief.
He had to love her. He just had to.
“Have we ever been apart this long?” he asked, ushering her into the oversized foyer.

Kitty took a quick look around the house. She'd only been here a handful of times but the place looked completely different. Steve hadn't liked it, but Terrie had had the house staged when it first went on the market with a Versailles-type gaudiness that had made Kitty giggle when she'd first seen it. But gone was the leopard print rug in the living room and the big golden mirror with the cherubs. In their places were a simple leather sectional and a few coastal-style pieces that suited the interior nicely.

“You've been busy.”

He raised a brow. “You haven't seen anything. Half the fixtures in the kitchen have been replaced.”

Speaking of the kitchen… The smell of onions and garlic hit her empty stomach. She hadn't eaten since breakfast so she should be starved. But she was too nervous to think about food.

“What's for dinner?” she asked anyway.

“You.” He grabbed her by the hand and started dragging her toward the first-floor guest bedroom, a room Kitty was all too familiar with.

“Hold on, tiger,” she said, laughing, but it sounded strained to her.

“For what?” He reached beneath her edge of her skirt and ran his palm up the back of her thigh then gave her ass a thorough squeeze. “Do you know it's been over a week since we've had sex? I don't know about you but I don't think I can wait until after dinner.”

She didn't want to wait till after dinner, either, but she couldn't just jump in bed with him right now. “We need to talk first.”

He groaned. “What? Did the napkins for the reception not come in?” he joked. He wore faded jeans and a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers T-shirt. He was also barefoot and hadn't bothered to shave this morning because his five o'clock shadow was heavier than usual. He looked so sexy right now she could almost cry.

She thought about the best way to start what was probably the most important conversation of their lives.
I love you. Do you love me?
Sure, it sounded simple. In theory. Maybe she'd scribble it down in a note like grade school. She could even draw him a box.
Please check off one of the following:
YES or NO.

“Did you know my father has invited half the town to the wedding?” she blurted. Okay, maybe it was best to ease into the conversation with something a little less threatening. “Well, not half the town, but the Babes and some of the Gray Flamingos. Betty Jean included. Speaking of which, she said something to me about a card she'd given you. How she was sorry but a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do. Do you have any idea what she was talking about?”

“Maybe,” he said cryptically. “Although the hell if I understand it.” After a few seconds, he shrugged. “It was a business card for a hair salon that belongs to her niece. But I tossed it.”

“Betty Jean wants her niece to cut your hair?”

“Betty Jean wants her niece to do a whole lot more to me than just cut my hair.”

“
What
?”

“That was my reaction, too. Do you know what she meant by it? Hell, she knows we're together. Right?”

Kitty felt her cheeks go pink. That skunk! Betty Jean thought she and Steve were breaking up and she was already trying to introduce him to her niece. And to think, Kitty had helped her fill out the paperwork to refinance her house. There was gratitude for you!

“Of course Betty Jean knows we're together, it's just… Okay, so remember last week after I came home from Bunco and you asked how the night went and I told you, kind of jokingly, that we'd talked about you?”

He looked at her funny. “Yeah.”

“Well, it wasn't a joke. We did talk about you. Nothing terrible. It's just…the girls wanted to know more about our relationship.”

“I hope you told them it was none of their business.”

“Kind of.”

“Kind of?” He sounded angry. Which startled her. She'd expected surprise, annoyance, even amusement, maybe. But not anger. Not when she hadn't told him the bad parts yet. This was going to be a lot harder than she'd envisioned on the drive over.

“Is that why Frida was acting so weird the next morning when I went in The Bistro to get coffee?”

Kitty nodded.

He didn't say anything. He walked into the kitchen, so she followed him. He took a pan off the stove and set it aside on the counter. “We should eat before this gets cold.”

He wanted to eat?

“Steve, did you hear what I just said out there?”

“Sure, I heard you. It's okay. I understand.” Gone was the flash of anger she'd witnessed out in the living room. It had been replaced with a wooden expression that she'd never seen on him before.

“What's wrong, baby? How are you feeling right now?” she asked.

“Why the hell does everyone want to know how I feel?”

Kitty blinked. Where was this coming from? “What's wrong with you? I'm only trying to make things better between us.”

“Why do you think things need to be better?” he shot back. “I think things are pretty fucking fantastic the way they are. Don't you?”

“Considering you're living here and I'm living with my father and soon-to-be stepmother and that we haven't really talked in almost a week, I'd say no, things aren't so fucking fantastic.”

“Maybe if we actually
fucked
, it would be.”

It was as if someone had taken a giant scooper and hollowed her out, taking all her organs with it.
Breathe, Kitty, you have lungs in there somewhere
.

He looked shocked by his own words. “God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that.”

“Maybe dinner isn't such a good idea,” she whispered. “I'm not really hungry anymore.”

“Neither am I,” he said wearily.

What was happening to them? A week ago, they'd been perfectly happy. But maybe it had all been an illusion.

He had to love her.

But then, he didn't really have to, did he?

CHAPTER SEVEN

T
he scene at The Harbor House's private dining room made Steve's palms grow damp. And not just because it was July. Today he was officially hosting the rehearsal dinner for Kitty's father and his soon-to-be wife.

Sharon's family had come into town this morning for tomorrow's wedding. This included her two daughters: Ginny and her husband Greg, and Mallory and her husband Frank. Or was it the other way around? Whatever. They were a busy bunch. Between them, they had five kids, ranging from a month-old baby to a four-year-old. There was also a sister, a brother-in-law and a couple of assorted cousins. Kitty had arranged for a couple of her friends to stay at the house and watch the kids, which had earned her major points with Sharon.

Today was also Kitty's thirty-sixth birthday and the anniversary of their first night together. He'd wanted to make today special. He'd made it special all right. The two of them had barely said three words to one another throughout dinner.

He glanced over to see her sipping a glass of wine, talking to Sharon's sister. She looked incredibly beautiful tonight in the little black dress she'd worn just last month when they'd been here for a spontaneous romantic evening.

Everything had been going so well between them this past year. How had he managed to fuck it all up despite his best attempts to avoid just that?

Last night, he'd come close to telling her just how messed up he was. Instead, he'd clammed up and let her walk out the door. He could hear Joanna's voice in his head telling him that unless he faced his greatest fears, he was doomed to repeat history. At the time, it had sounded like something out of a bad fortune cookie.

He'd put in a call to Joanna to ask for an emergency session today, but she still hadn't gotten back to him. Some shrink she was. What if he was the type to jump off a bridge or something?

“Steve, my man!” Frank slapped him on the back. “This is quite the party! Care to join The Gregger and me in a cigar on the patio?”

The Gregger
stood over by the French doors that led directly out to the beach. He grinned and held up a couple of stogies.

“Maybe later?” Ordinarily he wouldn't have minded a little male bonding time with Kitty's slightly drunk, soon-to-be stepbrothers-in-law, but the waitress was signaling to get his attention.

“Cigars are so nasty. I'd much rather have dessert,” Sharon said, catching the tail end of their conversation. Her arm was looped around Alan's. They already looked like a happily married couple and Steve was genuinely glad for them. “Thank you so much for this lovely dinner, Steve.”

“Yes, we appreciate it,” Kitty's father said stiffly.

If Steve were a betting man, he'd say that despite the polite veneer, Alan Burke wasn't his biggest fan at the moment. Not that he blamed him. If he were Kitty's father, he'd probably beat the shit out of him.

“It was my pleasure,” Steve said. “Excuse me, but I need to take care of something.” He made his way to the other side of the room to speak to the waitress.

“We'd like to go ahead and serve dessert,” she said. “Normally, in a rehearsal dinner, this is the point where the guests make the toasts. Would you like us to serve champagne for that? We have several varieties—”

“Sure. Pop out the good stuff and keep it flowing.”

She looked pleased. “Very good, sir.” He'd spared no expense tonight. An open bar, appetizers, and the full menu. She and the rest of her staff were going to be looking at a very nice tip. He'd even hired a limo to take everyone back home so no one had to be the designated driver, although as the host, he'd limited himself to two glasses of wine with dinner and no hard liquor. Just in case.

He turned around to find Kitty standing in front of him. It was the first time tonight they'd been in a position to talk semi-privately.

“Hi, there,” he said. His voice sounded gruff and scratchy, like he was nervous. Probably because he was. The last time he'd been nervous around a woman had been…never. Well, maybe back in the sixth grade or something. He wished he could whisk her away for a week. Just the two of them with no one else around. Maybe he could still make that Hawaii trip work.

“Hi, yourself.” Her hair was pulled back in a bun, but a few loose fiery strands had worked their way down her cheek. A pair of diamond stud earrings, exactly one carat each, shone brilliantly in her delicious earlobes. A surge of male pride flared through every cell of his body. And not just because she'd chosen to wear the earrings tonight. She was the most gorgeous woman in the restaurant. He had to fight the urge to reach out, grab her into his arms and tell her…and tell her
what
?

Going to see Joanna was supposed to make everything easier. Clearer. Instead, after just one session he felt more messed up than ever. She'd called it progress. He called it bullshit. But she'd laughed and said she would see him next week. At this rate it was going to take forever before he could “embrace his feelings” as Joanna put it. Maybe he could get on some kind of accelerated therapy plan.

“Everything is really beautiful tonight, Steve,” Kitty said softly.

“Not as beautiful as you. Kitty—”

“Not now,” she said. “Everyone is sitting down for dessert. We'll talk later. Okay?”

He nodded, relieved. At least she still wanted to talk to him. He took his seat back at the long banquet table that had been set up for the occasion. Alan and Sharon sat in the middle. Kitty sat next to her father with Steve on her other side. The guests were served their choice of Key lime pie or chocolate lava cake and the wait staff began popping bottles of champagne and pouring them into the elegant flute glasses.

Greg was the first one to stand up. He clinked his fork along the side of his glass to make sure he had everyone's attention then raised the glass in the air. “I'll make this short, sweet, and simple. To Alan and Sharon, who both deserve a world of happiness!”

Everyone murmured their approval then raised their glasses in agreement.

Next came Ginny, who got all weepy and said something about no one ever replacing her father in her heart, but she was glad that her mother had met such a great guy. The rest of her toast buzzed by Steve's ears. Mainly because at this point, Mallory, too, had started crying and then before everyone knew what was happening, Sharon was hugging them both and even Kitty's dad had a tear in his eye.

Joanna would have a field day with this group.

He shifted around in his chair, wishing he'd had something a little stronger than just the couple of glasses of wine to drink tonight.

Then it was Sharon's sister's turn and then finally, the groom himself stood up to make a toast. Alan cleared his throat. “Today, I consider myself the luckiest guy on the planet. I have the great fortune to be surrounded by the two most important people in my life. My beautiful daughter, Katherine, who came screaming into the world thirty-six years ago today, and Sharon, the woman I can't wait to make my bride. I'll be honest; never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this day would ever come for me. Kitty will tell you that, there for a while, I had a bit of an unsavory reputation as a playboy.” As if on cue, Kitty nodded in an exaggerated manner, causing the room to chuckle politely.

“All that changed the day I met this gorgeous woman.” He reached out and placed his hand on Sharon's shoulder. “But it wasn't just the outer woman I was attracted to, although all you have to do is take one look at her and see why I became a blithering idiot around her.” Sharon blushed furiously.

“It was the inner Sharon who stole my breath away. Her gentleness of spirit, her intelligence, her fierce kindness…put all together I never had a chance. No guy should ever be this lucky. But damn if I'm going to complain.” Everyone laughed, and then he raised his glass high in the air. “Please join me in toasting my beautiful Sharon!”

“Here! Here!” Everyone began clinking their spoons against the crystal flutes.

“I think they want us to kiss, hon.” Alan bent down and smacked Sharon one on the lips and everyone clapped and laughed again.

“Who's next?” Greg said.

“A toast from the host!” Frank yelled, causing Greg to laugh at the rhyme.

“
Toast
…
toast
…” they chanted like a couple of frat boys.

Okay. He had this. He'd anticipated the need for some kind of statement tonight, so he'd rehearsed one. Short and sweet and to the point.

He signaled for the waitress to refill everyone's glass then smiled at the occupants of the room. “On behalf of Kitty and myself, I'd like to thank everyone for joining us tonight to celebrate tomorrow's nuptials. To Sharon and Alan, best wishes, and may you always be surrounded by the love of your families.” He took a sip of his champagne, signaling that the toast was over.

He waited for the prerequisite polite applause, but instead, Greg shouted out, “That's it? What about
you
, dude? Let's hear about you!”

What about him?
He was about to sit down, but then the spoons began clinking again.

“When are you and Kitty gonna tie the knot?” This time it was Frank doing the shouting.

He could feel Kitty stiffen beside him. He wished he had one of those cigars now so he could stuff it down Frank's big mouth.

“Aw, c'mon, give a guy a break, huh?” He hoped that would elicit a few laughs and that would be the end of it.

“Let's make it a double wedding tomorrow!” Greg yelled.

“
Yeah
!” Frank chimed in.

Mallory and Ginny and the rest of the family looked mortified.

Why hadn't he cut those clowns off two bottles ago?

“So, after dinner tonight, there will be cigars on the patio and there's dancing in the restaurant's main room, if anyone is so inclined.” He sounded like a damn fool making some kind of public service announcement, but at this point he'd say just about anything to shut those idiots up.

“You're not getting off that easy, Pappas!” Greg laughed.

He gazed around the room. Even the wait staff seemed mesmerized, frozen in their tracks as they waited for him to crash and burn.

His chest erupted in flames. Maalox. He needed some stat. Or Tums. Or a fire extinguisher. He'd take whatever he could get.

Kitty firmly placed her hand over the sleeve of his jacket and urged him to sit down. Then she stood up. “Now, now, let's all play nice here.”

The room laughed and Steve felt some of the acid eating away at his chest ease off.

“The truth is
I'm
the one with the cold feet. But can you blame me? I mean, look at this guy. Okay, so he's good-looking and rich, but a girl has her standards, you know?” There was more laughter and this time even her dad had a grin on his face. “But if I ever stoop low enough to make things permanent with him; you'll all be the first to know.” She raised her glass. “Now, please, let's make one final toast to the stars of tonight, to my dad and to his lovely Sharon!”

Afterward, Kitty couldn't meet his eyes. The limo came and everyone piled in, except for himself and Kitty. He hadn't seen her since she'd excused herself from the table shortly after the toast.

He'd blown it. Totally and completely. She might be able to fool everyone else in the room, but not him. And now she'd taken off.

He had to find her and make things right again.

#

Kitty walked as fast as she could in her heels, until she couldn't walk anymore, so she slipped them off, letting the still warm sand squish between her toes. The weather had cooled off, but it was still July, which meant the air was thick with humidity. Her hair had probably exploded into Chia Pet territory. Not that she cared.

The night couldn't have gone any better. Or any worse. The limo had taken everyone back to the house or to their respective hotel rooms in Destin. She'd declined a ride, however. She was simply too wound up to go home.

“You saved my ass in there.” Steve's deep voice came from behind to cut through the darkness.

She turned around to find him standing just a couple of feet away. He still wore his jacket, but he'd taken off his shoes and socks. It was no wonder she hadn't heard him. Had he followed her out to the beach? After that fiasco of a toast (thank you, Greg and Frank, future stepbrothers-in-law, extraordinaire!) she wouldn't doubt that he needed a walk to blow off some steam. After all, that was exactly what she was doing.

“It's such a cute ass, I couldn't help myself.”

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress trousers. The moon was full, allowing her to make out clearly the weary expression on his way-too-handsome face. He'd worked hard to make tonight a special event and she was grateful for that. But he'd also made it perfectly clear by that awful toast that…that what? It wasn't his fault that he'd been put on the spot like that. After all, she hardly expected him to declare his love for her in public. At least not the first time, anyway. Steve was an immensely private man. She got that. It was part of who he was and she loved him. But what on earth were they going to say to one another to make it all better?

“I haven't had the chance to wish you a happy birthday yet,” he said.

Her fingers automatically went up to touch her new diamond earrings. “They're unbelievably gorgeous. Thank you.” This morning around ten, a delivery truck had arrived at her office with two dozen red roses along with a card and a small blue box from Tiffany's. It was a wonderful gesture, but not the gift she'd really wanted.

“That's not the end of your present, you know.”

“It's not?”

“Not even close,” he said.

He pulled her against his chest and kissed her, and because she wanted it too, she didn't protest. She opened her mouth and his tongue slid in, familiar and exciting at the same time. Kitty sighed and threw herself into the kiss. She couldn't fight it anymore. She wanted him. She always had and she always would. Maybe this would be enough for her. Or maybe not. She only knew she wasn't ready to let go of him yet.