Welcome to Forever (17 page)

Kat lifted one shoulder. “He's got a talent for science. And teaching. He even showed them pictures. Said his seedlings are bigger than yours because he reads to them.”

“Already showing up his dad. My plants are some of the best in these parts, I'll have these kids know.”

“And that's why it's so amazing that Ben's are twice as good. It's scientific proof,” she said, sounding just like Ben.

Micah laughed. “I don't even want to tell you what other scientific proof Ben's been coming up with these days.”

Her forehead wrinkled as she looked at him.

“Apparently, Ben is proving that you and I are the perfect match. He's got a list.”

This made her laugh.

“Hey. Don't act like it's so funny. The list is pretty damn convincing,” Micah said.

“Yeah?” Her gaze locked on his, and suddenly there was heat radiating between them. By the look in her eyes, he could tell she felt it, too.

“Yeah,” he said. His gaze slid to her hand and hung on the barren ring finger.

She pulled a gold chain with the ring dangling from it from under her blouse. “Baby steps. It's not because of you, though,” she said quickly. Then she cleared her throat. “Or it is a little, but don't worry. No strings attached.”

“Right.” And he hadn't been able to think of anything other than what the strings weren't attached to for the past ten days. Sex. Mind-blowing, wake-up-in-the-morning-with-a-full-blown-hard-on sex. He resisted the urge to pull her to him and run his hands down her body. This wasn't the time or the place.

His attention on her broke at the sound of screaming children.

“Fight!” Ben pointed in the direction of Sam, one of the newest members of the club, and Jacob.

Micah took off running and threw himself between them, pushing them apart with his hands. “What do you guys think you're doing?”

“He called me a wuss!” Sam screamed.

“No, I didn't!” the other kid, Jacob, insisted, his face red and dirty from the near fight.

Micah looked at Kat, who was standing beside him now, and then back to the boys. “All right. What exactly did you say?” he asked Jacob. “Not that it matters. Fighting is never the way to solve your problems.”

“I said he was
acting
like a wuss. I didn't say he
was
one.”

“You see!” Sam said. “He's not my friend.”

Kat stepped up beside them. “We're all friends here.”

Even to Micah, it sounded like a movie-of-the-week line. “You don't have to like each other, but you can't call each other names. And no more fighting. That's what got you here in the first place.”

Sam stared at his feet. “What's wrong with here? I like staying after school and working in the garden.”

Micah frowned. “This is supposed to be punishment.”

“You could just beat him. That's how my dad punishes me.” Now, Jacob was looking at the ground.

Micah exchanged another look with Kat. She'd be calling the school's social worker later about that comment, no doubt. “Well, then how about this? You can keep coming and helping out after school as long as you want. But if you call each other names or start another fight with anyone, I'll have to put you back in that classroom with Mrs. Burroughs, writing sentences on the blackboard.”

The boys groaned.

“All right, you two,” Kat said. “Apologize to one another.”

Sam shrugged. “I'm sorry if you are,” he told Jacob.

“I'm sorry if you are, too,” Jacob said.

Micah nodded. Fair enough. “Back to work, boys. Fifteen minutes until your parents get here.”

Sam started to walk away, then turned back to Micah. “Did you mean it when you said we could keep coming? Even when our time is up?”

Micah nodded. “I'd hate for you to feel like you had to cause trouble just to get yourself back in the group.”

Sam's face brightened. “Thanks.”

Kat touched Micah's arm softly when the kids had gone back to their tasks. “I think you missed your calling, Sergeant Peterson. You're awesome with these kids.”

“Not to brag, but I'm pretty awesome at all my jobs.” It was supposed to be charming, but her body stiffened, and her shoulders were suddenly tense.

Yeah. She hated the fact that he was a Marine. He could only imagine how she'd look at him on Saturday when he took her to the Marine Corps ball. She'd be surrounded by uniforms. Every place she turned, she'd be faced with a reminder of what she'd lost. So far, she'd only seen him in uniform once. Most of the time they were together, he wore holey jeans and a white T-shirt while riding a lawnmower.

Or he wore nothing while she was riding him.

Things would probably change between them after Saturday's date.

He swallowed. He wasn't supposed to care. They'd agreed to no strings attached. But the more time he spent with her, the more a newfound hope began to bristle up inside him where there'd only been an empty, robotic existence over these last few years, working full-time and being a single father to a child with special needs.

He felt like he was coming alive again, living for something other than his responsibilities. He was beginning to need Kat, and that felt really good. And really terrifying at the same time.

Kat sat on her bed and stared at her reflection across the room. Why in the world had she agreed to go to the Marine Corps ball with Micah? She felt like shoving the silky black dress back in the closet and feigning sickness. She'd be surrounded by Marines. Memories of the events she'd attended with John would be everywhere.

“You okay?” Julie stood in the doorway, watching her.

Kat attempted a smile, but it fell flat. “I'm glad you're here. I've never been any good at getting dolled up.”

Julie took a step inside. “Well, the first step is hair and makeup.
Then
you put the dress on.” She lifted the dress from Kat's lap and hung it on the back of the closet door.

Kat turned at Val's voice in the doorway.

“Ladies.” Her friend's smile was devilish as usual. “Shall we get started?”

Kat's hands folded on her chest. “I didn't know you were coming. I thought you had something else to do.”

“Well, now I don't.” Val plopped a large duffel bag on the bed.

“What's that?” Kat's eyes widened as Val pulled the zipper, revealing a host of beauty products. “Am I so ugly that I need that many cosmetics?” She looked up at her best friend, whose smile deepened, poking soft dimples in her cheeks.

“No. You're beautiful. But tonight is special. It's just like Cinderella going to the ball or something.”

Julie nodded in agreement. “Definitely. And you of all people deserve a Cinderella moment.”

Kat smiled sincerely this time. “You girls are wonderful. You know that?”

Val and Julie looked at each other. Since Kat hadn't known that Val was coming, Julie and Val must've conspired together to make this happen. They'd hated each other since high school, but now, maybe they could become friends. Especially since her sister was staying.

“Okay.” Kat looked between them. “Anyone bring the Xanax?”

Val lifted a bottle of starter wine. “This'll have to do. Only half a glass before you go because you're wearing heels, and you're clumsy in heels.” She angled Kat toward the mirror and started to work, brushing Kat's thick, blond hair off her face and pinning it to her head so that she could curl one piece at a time. In their reflection, Kat looked up to meet Val's eyes. “You're a good best friend,” she said quietly. “I wish we'd been better friends growing up.”

“You're the best best friend.” Val's brush snagged on a knot of Kat's hair.

“Ouch!”

“Oops. Sorry.” Val met her gaze in the mirror. “And me, too. Think of all the trouble we could've caused back in the day.”

Kat shook her head. “I never got in trouble.”

“All the more reason we should've been friends. You could've kept me in line, and I could've gotten you to walk on the wild side a little. A perfect match.”

Right. Just like Ben had declared she and Micah were.
A perfect match.

“What's next?” Kat asked after Val had fixed her hair and Julie had worked magic with makeup.

“The things that go under the dress,” Val said, already walking toward Kat's dresser. She got lucky on the top drawer and held up a pair of granny panties. “Is this all you have?” she asked.

“Really?” Julie said, lifting up another pair. “This looks like something Mom would wear.”

Kat snatched the undergarments and tossed them back in the drawer. “I have sexy underwear, too.” It's just the sexy underwear were reserved for when she'd been with John. She couldn't wear them with another man. It wouldn't be right. It'd—

Julie held up a hand. “Stop right there. Your brain is working too hard. I'll be right back.”

Julie left and returned a minute later, holding up a tiny, black thong with the tags still on it. “I bought these for myself the other day. They're brand-new and they're all yours. I certainly won't be wearing them.”

Val smiled approvingly. “Those are exactly what that black dress needs underneath.”

“The dress is staying on tonight,” Kat said, only partially convincing. She took the thong anyway. Because her clothes never seemed to stay on when she found herself alone with Micah. He seemed to have that effect on her. And after the ball tonight, she would definitely need a distraction of the sexual kind. “Fine. I'll wear these,” she said.

Micah pointed a finger at Ben as he reached for Aunt Clara's doorknob.

“I know, Dad. Listen to Aunt Clara and Uncle Rick. In bed by nine-thirty.” Ben looked at Clara with a small smile that Micah wasn't supposed to be able to interpret. Yeah, he remembered being a boy at Aunt Clara's house. She'd always let him stay up at least an hour later than he was supposed to. And she'd never made him eat his dessert after dinner—he got to have it first.

Micah pointed a finger at his aunt, whose eyes widened a little. “You. Thank you.”

Her expression softened. “Anything for my favorite nephew. Stay out late. All night. I've got Ben until tomorrow after breakfast.”

“Yay!” Ben squealed from the kitchen table where he was supposed to be doing his homework. Micah knew the pen would stop moving as soon as he closed the door, though.

He nodded, slipping on his dark navy jacket. It was adorned with golden medals that he'd earned during his three tours in the desert. “How do I look?”

Uncle Rick entered the room as he posed the question. Pulling off his John Deere ball cap, his uncle nodded. “You look like a man who's been wrapped so tightly around a woman's finger, you can't hardly see straight.” He chuckled under his breath, eyeing his wife. “I know this from experience.” He pointed at his glasses. “I haven't seen straight since her.”

Clara tsked. Then she shooed Micah out the door. “You look great. Just remember what I told you.”

Micah nodded, even though he didn't need his aunt's advice in the dating arena. “Yes, ma'am.” Glancing at Ben, he said, “ 'Bye, son.” Shutting the door behind him, he headed toward the Jeep. Kat should be ready by now. He didn't want to keep her waiting too long. But if she wasn't ready, he didn't mind. Tonight was about her, not him. Kat deserved to be treated right. What had Aunt Clara said? Treat her like one of his roses? Not that he planned on watering her, but he understood what Clara meant. Handle Kat with care. Admire her.

Micah smiled to himself. He'd always liked the idea of having family nearby. Being a military brat, he and his parents had moved throughout his childhood. He'd never gotten to know his cousins. Not really. And he'd never had a friend long enough to want to buy a school yearbook.

He sat behind the wheel and drove the short distance to Kat's home. He noticed two other cars as he pulled into her driveway, recognizing one as Val's. She always parked next to Kat in the school parking lot. He guessed the other car belonged to Kat's sister, Julie.

Great.
There would be three females greeting him when he rang that doorbell. He sucked in a deep breath, reminding himself that the night was about Kat. That was his mantra. If she was happy, the date would be good. But Kat deserved better than good. Going to a military event wouldn't be easy for her, and agreeing to be his date was above and beyond her principal duties. At this point, if she had backed out of going to the ball, he'd still be helping with the after-school program. He liked the kids and it was something he wanted to continue doing after he was out of the Marine Corps.

He pulled on the collar of his dress blues jacket, making sure it was in place, then pressed the doorbell, hearing a scurry of female commotion inside.

The night is about Kat. About Kat. About—

She opened the door and his mind went blank. She was all he could see. All he could think about. Yeah. He definitely wouldn't have a problem following his aunt's advice. The night was definitely all about Katherine Chandler.

“You, um…” Words stuck in his throat. Julie and Val were staring at him. That didn't make this easier. “You ready?” he asked again, getting his thoughts out this time. All three ladies nodded, which brought a smile to his face. He was only taking the one. His gaze moved back to Kat. Whatever her female posse had done tonight, they'd somehow improved upon perfection.

She stepped forward and turned as Val stuffed a glittery clutch bag in her hand. “Have fun.
A lot
of fun.”

Emphasis on “a lot.” Micah reached for Kat's hand. Yeah. He was going to take his aunt Clara's advice on revolving the night around Kat. He couldn't divide his attention at this moment if he tried.

“You look amazing,” he said as he helped her get into the Jeep.

She pulled her dress safely inside, then looked up. “Thank you. But it's not me. It's Julie's and Val's handiwork.”

“It's you,” he said, closing the door and walking around to the driver's side. As they drove, he listened to Kat's nervous chatter about her sister's and friend's efforts to get her ready for the ball.

“I've never been good at dressing up,” she said. “I skipped my high school prom.”

“Yeah?” He glanced over. “Why is that?”

She shrugged. “No guy. No dress.”

“I find it hard to believe you couldn't find a guy to be your date.”

She laughed. “I didn't say that. I just couldn't find one that I wanted to spend an entire night with.”

They entered Camp Leon and the conversation suddenly lulled.

“You all right?” he asked, wondering for the millionth time if this was a bad idea. Yes, he'd needed a date for tonight, but asking Kat to be here with him was asking a lot. His gaze went to her hands, wringing absently in her lap.

She looked over and nodded unconvincingly. “Yes.”

“I can turn around. We can leave and just go have fast food.”

“In this?” She gestured toward her fancy dress and heels, forcing a laugh. “Really, Micah. I can do this. It'll be fine.” The small smile stayed stamped on her lips, as if trying to convince him, and maybe herself, too.

She was tough. He'd give her that. It was one of the things he admired about her. He wasn't buying her tough girl act, though. Inside, she was terrified. He could see it in her eyes. It was the same fear he'd glimpsed when she'd first seen him in uniform at the school.

He was about to make the call and just turn the Jeep around. There was no way he was letting Kat go through with this for his sake. It was idiotic of him to let it get this far. “Listen,” he said, lifting his foot off the gas pedal.

She reached over and placed her hand on his, as if reading his thoughts. “This is something I want to do. I need to do. I want to prove to myself that I'm strong.”

He divided his attention between her and the road. “You don't need to convince me. I already know that.”

A real smile, not forced, bloomed this time. “I can do this.”

After a long moment, he nodded. “Okay then.”

The parking lot for the Pavilion Center was crowded as they pulled in, and more vehicles spilled in behind them. He parked the car and reached across the seat to squeeze Kat's hand. “You say the word and we're out of here, though. You promise? Leaving wouldn't make you any less strong.”

She focused on their interlocked hands and then squeezed back. “Promise.”

They got out and began to walk among the other couples, the women wearing fancy gowns of every color. Kat bumped up against him as they walked. He suspected it was the heels, but maybe some part of her enjoyed staying close to him, too. Or maybe, being here just made her need to be closer, which he was happy to oblige. He protected the people he cared about, and he cared about Kat.

“Hey.” Micah stopped before leading her inside. “Thank you for coming with me.”

She arched a brow. “Like you couldn't find a number of women to volunteer for the job.”

His mouth quirked. “I'm usually the type to come alone. Easier that way.”

Tilting her head, she revealed the long curve of her neck. “But not this time?”

“This time, being with someone, with you, feels right. So thanks.” He faced the building again, then slid a glance in her direction, holding out an elbow. “Shall we?”

She released a wobbly breath and straightened. She was tough, just like the pink lily in his garden. Compared to everything she'd been through in the last two years, attending the Marine Corps ball was a cakewalk.

“Ready,” she said.

The breath whooshed out of Kat's body as she stepped through the entrance of the Pavilion Center. It was like stepping back into the past, only John wasn't with her.

Micah's grip tightened on hers. Okay. She could do this.
Maybe.

“Just say the word,” he reminded her.

She nodded and forced another smile. Her face was already starting to hurt from all the fakery. But someone had once advised her to “fake it until you make it” and she'd found that to be good advice. It'd gotten her this far.

Micah's gaze hung on hers for a long second, his dark eyes revealing that he wasn't buying her brave act for a second. “Do you want some punch?” he asked.

She nodded, hoping to God it was spiked.

“It's not spiked if that's what you're thinking,” he said with a sexy smile.

Her mouth fell open. “How did you know?”

An easy laugh escaped his lips as he pulled her toward the table of treats. “Because I wondered the same thing my first time at one of these events.”

This wasn't her first ball, though, she wanted to say, taking the cup he offered her. She took a timid sip and then gulped it, hoping the sugar would cause a kind of euphoria that would make her forget where she was. She glanced around at all the couples in their dress blues and sequined dresses. She'd never really enjoyed an event like this, even before John's death. It'd always felt like a lot of pressure to look just right and to make sure you said hi to all the right people. Heaven forbid you forgot someone's name or got his or her rank wrong.