Until Next Time (The Shooting Stars Series) (27 page)

Katherine hurried after him and snatched it before he could throw it into her kitchen trash.

“I won’t wear it if you’re in town but this is my favorite t-shirt when I’m not feeling well,” she insisted in irritation.

“It looks like one you stole from your dad and have worn to rags. Come on, Katherine, you’re an adult now; it’s time to dress like it.”

“I do, however, sometimes, I just want to be comfortable and this is my favorite shirt when I do,” Katherine folded it and put it back with her clothes. “It’s loose, soft, and comfortable.”

“It’s a rag.”

“Why does it matter, Derrick? If I want to keep an old, worn out t-shirt because I like to lounge around in it, what does it matter? I told you I wouldn’t wear it when you’re home.”

“As my wife, which you will soon be, you will represent me, our family, and the business we will be starting together. I don’t want you looking like a vagabond.”

“No one is going to see me in it, Derrick.”

“I’ll put you soft, silky clothes that will be both feminine and comfortable.”

“I’ll wear things like that for you; this I will wear for myself,” she assured him and smiled as she stacked her now folded clothes back in her basket.

“When are you are going to buy some real lingerie instead of those Wal Mart specials?” he asked as she put her bras and panties into the basket.

“I guess I better do so before our wedding,” she returned.

“I want to see you in pretty things,” his gaze slid over her.

“You aren’t seeing me in any of it as yet,” she reminded.

“Not yet.” His gaze suggested he was starting to think about it.

“Can I expect silk from you?” she teased.

“Sorry, I’m a straight cotton guy,” he shrugged.

“I see. You get to be comfortable; I have to be a fashion plate,” she laughed. “I am going to buy you some silk boxers, or maybe bikinis,” she teased.

“I won’t wear them,” his expression wasn’t amused.

“Come on, be a sport,” she laughed.

“Seriously, Katherine, don’t be foolish.”

“You won’t wear special under clothes for me? Maybe something in a leopard print,” she moved to kneel on the couch beside him; her eyes were still bright with amusement.

“Katherine, quit acting like a twelve year old girl. Of course I won’t wear such ridiculous clothing; I have my dignity.” He looked angry.

Katherine felt almost as though he had slapped her. She had been trying to have fun and somehow she had instead made him angry. She considered how she was kneeling on the couch and realized she was being childish; she pulled her feet out from under her and settled onto her rear.

“Sorry,” she offered.

“That’s better,” he smiled at her. “It’s getting late. I should probably go home and get some rest and let you do the same. I want you fresh for our date tomorrow evening.”

“Of course,” she nodded and forced a smile. She gave him a good night kiss at the door and deflated, returned to cleaning up her house. At the door to her bedroom, she almost turned around and curled up to sleep on the couch.

Katherine worked well into the night to get her room clean and the picnic she wanted to take to Adam prepared. She finally fell into bed and an exhausted sleep.

***

The next morning, Katherine made sure the lump on her head was hidden by her hair and dressed to go and visit with Adam. All the way to the center she checked her rear view mirror to make certain she wasn’t being followed. Upon arriving, she had her ID ready and was waved on back. She smiled as she watched Adam approach.

“Hey, Kaitlyn,” he hugged her.

“Hi, you look to be doing better,” she noted.

“I’m feeling better; I’m even beginning to like this place,” he admitted. “What is all this stuff?”

“This is a picnic,” she informed him and lifted the basket.

“You trying to fatten me up?” he asked with a wide smile and watched her nod. “How was your week, you look tired?”  Adam asked as he led her into the gardens and to a picnic table.

“I was up too late last night,” she admitted without explaining. “And tonight I have a date.”

“I would tell you to watch yourself, but with Derrick I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” he teased.

“Adam, what do you have against Derrick? You’ve never even met him,” she said in exasperation.

“I’ve never liked guys like Derrick,” he shrugged.
“He has you, that’s reason enough.”
He didn’t say it aloud.

“It’s unfair to pass judgment without meeting him,” she informed him.

“You’re right. I’m sorry, Kaitlyn. Have fun tonight and watch yourself,” he offered with a cheeky grin.

Katherine couldn’t help smiling; this got a real smile from Adam.

“Why can’t I stay mad at you?” she demanded.

“It’s all my charm, you ladies can’t resist it,” Adam wiggled his eye brows at her.

Katherine was laughing now.

“Adam Ellington, what am I going to do with you?” she asked him with a sigh.

“Find me a home?” he returned.

“What?” she frowned.

“I need to find an apartment,” he shared.

“I’ll see what’s available,” she offered. “May I make a suggestion?”

“What’s that?”

“Lose the bleached hair and chip on your shoulder strut.”

“Hey!”

“Sorry,” her smile belied her words.

“You’ll have to help me; I’ve forgotten how to be normal.”

“Well, Adam, you’ve never been normal, but I’ll do my best.”

“Are you going to feed me, or insult me all day?” he asked her.

She smiled. “Both. Tell me something?”

“Is that safe? You might use it against me.” He was giving her a mock glare.

“Ha, ha. Do you know how to sit at a picnic table?”

“I thought this was fine,” he shrugged. He was seated on the table, his feet on the bench.

Katherine smiled and climbed onto the table before scooting the food containers out of the way.

“What’d you bring?”

“Some tuna fish, chips, cake...nothing too fancy, but it’s all good, I promise. I fixed it myself.”

“Then it would have to be good,” he smiled at her. She smiled back and handed him a plate loaded with food.

They ate quietly a moment before Katherine got her nerve up to ask Adam a question.

“If a woman, one you were involved with, bought you leopard print underwear would you wear them?”

Adam froze midway in tearing a bite off his sandwich and gave her a concerned look. “I didn’t know your taste ran that direction.”

“I’m not sure they do. Could you just answer the question?” She hoped she wasn’t blushing.

“Sure,” he shrugged. “I’d even model them. Why?”

“Apparently Derrick wouldn’t,” she muttered with a frown.

“You bought him leopard print underwear?”  Adam gave her a sideways look.

Katherine snorted and shook her head as she slapped her hand over her mouth. “No! No,” she shook her head. “It was a conversation we were having. I was joking and being silly and he took offense.”

“Over leopard print underwear?”

“He…he was saying I needed to buy lingerie, more or less, apparently he doesn’t like my underclothes…” Katherine watched him look away. “I wasn’t wearing them! I was folding them,” she corrected his assumption.

“Anyway I said that I’d get some before we married and I kind of joked around that he should wear something…never mind,” Katherine leaned forward, propped her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands.

“And he got upset?”

“Yeah,” she spoke through her hands.

“So he can tell you what to wear but you can’t tell him what to wear.”

Katherine sat up, sure she was still red, and considered what he was saying.

“I guess that’s kind of….yeah. I don’t know. I was being silly but he seemed offended. I just wondered if I had crossed a line. It’s not like I asked him to wear them under his Armani.”

“He wears Armani?” Adam looked as though he had a bad taste in his mouth.

“Yeah,” she winced.

“Wow.”

“He’s…he’s very proper. He’s a good guy though; I don’t want you to think otherwise,” she quickly added the last part.

“I’m sure he’s nice, otherwise he’d wear leopard print under his Armani,” Adam teased; Katherine felt heat fill her cheeks again.

“I am sorry I ever asked,” she sighed. “I just thought maybe I was out of line.”

“No, Kaitlyn, you weren’t out of line. If you can’t joke and laugh with the man you are going to marry who can you laugh and joke with?” he asked her.

Katherine frowned as she considered his words. Derrick was a great guy. Was it really a deal breaker that they didn’t laugh together very often?

***

Katherine had enjoyed a wonderful day. She had spent much of it with Adam and was relieved to see him making a comeback. Now she was in her favorite little black dress and on a date with the man she loved and was going to marry.

“I tried calling today; where were you?” Derrick asked as she looked over her menu.

“Um, I have a friend who is going through a hard time right now and I went to offer moral support,” she offered as an answer. “I’m afraid my discretion is needed at moment.”

Derrick frowned at her. “That’s well and fine but as your fiancé do you not think you can let me in on it? There shouldn’t be secrets between a man and wife, Katherine. Secrets don’t benefit a relationship and they don’t suit you.”

Katherine knew there was some truth to what he said and felt guilt flood her. Still, she was unwilling to chance Adam’s recovery. “I won’t keep this one for long, I promise,” she offered and watched him frown.

“We need to finalize our date, Katherine. It’s time we settled when we want to be married.”

Katherine waited for excitement to fill her and felt only hollow. His desire to set the date felt more like a claim in the face of her evasiveness than impatience to be with her.

“Right, um, which date were you leaning toward?” She knew he would he would have one he favored over another; he always had an opinion.

“I think June twenty-third; does that work for you?”

“June sounds nice,” she agreed. “Where do you want to honeymoon?” she asked him.

“I priced some chalets in the Smokies. Neither of us needs to be away from work very long,” he smiled at her.

“I was hoping to go somewhere I’ve never been,” she admitted.

“Really, Katherine, are you determined to pick a fight?” he demanded. “Don’t be a brat, besides we dated in those mountains.”

They had dated in those mountains? Katherine almost threw her head back and laughed. He had suggested they visit Cade’s Cove one day and had spent about fifteen minutes putting on bug repellent before they started walking to one of the structures back off the road. They had never made it before he swore the bugs were eating him alive and had turned back.

Her memories of the mountains included another man, one whose arms she had slept in after a day of hiking and driving through those same mountains.

“Katherine,” Derrick’s sharp tone penetrated her thoughts and yanked her back to the present. She blinked at him in surprise. “Your order?”

Katherine was startled to realize the waiter had arrived. She gave her order to the waiter and handed over her menu.

“Dressing?” the waiter asked.

“Italian,” she supplied. Italy, there was a honeymoon destination.

“Katherine, I don’t know where you mind is tonight but I wish you would keep it in the present. I passed up another business trip so we could settle the wedding date and make our plans.”

“Sorry, I’m…I got lost for a moment,” she finally managed. She wanted to tell him if he felt that way he could go catch a damn plane. She fidgeted with her engagement ring and assured herself that they were both tired and grumpy. He’d only just arrived in town from business and she’d had a late night. They would sort it all out.

“Sorry we’re late,” Annelise offered her son her cheek.

Katherine looked to her fiancé for an explanation; none was forth coming. This was supposed to have been a quiet evening for two or so she had thought.

“No problem, Mom. I wanted to let you know that Katherine and I have set a date. We will be married June twenty-third of next year,” he shared with a brilliant smile.

“Good, it’s about time you settled the date,” Mason beamed in approval.

He looked like an older version of his son, only with brown eyes. Derrick had his mother’s blue eyes. His mother looked like an ice princess tonight. She was dressed in a silver sheath, her white blonde hair; it wasn’t natural, brushing at her chin. The ice princess impression was aided by the fact that her smile seldom reached her eyes.

“How are you dear?” Annelise asked Katherine.

“I’m doing well, Mrs. Shaw,” she returned. “How are you?”