Hard to Resist - By Kara Lennox Page 0,46

at work.

She’d moved into this tiny apartment as a last-resort emergency solution, and she’d allowed herself to get way too comfortable here. She’d told herself it was the best situation she could find, a rationalization that had worked for a while. But now a White Cliffs town house was available.

She’d erased the message from Sandy Taylor, but she still had the woman’s business card somewhere. She dug through her purse, found the card and dialed the number before she could change her mind.

Unfortunately, Kat could only reach Sandy’s voice mail, but she left a message saying that she definitely would take the apartment. Samantha wouldn’t be pleased about moving away from Ethan or Winnie or Jasmine next door. But she would come around once she realized she would have her own room again, as well as a swimming pool, a playground and lots of other kids to play with.

This was the only sensible move she could make. Kat was grateful for the wiring crisis, because it had pushed her into doing what she ought to have done in the first place.

Sometimes she regretted being a StrongGirl.

When it grew dark and the power tools in the garage went silent, Kat sought Ethan out. If she put off telling him of her plan any longer, it would be that much harder. She brought him a glass of cold lemonade.

“I have some good news,” she said. Because, well, it was good news. A few weeks earlier she would have been ecstatic to snag one of these town houses. “A woman called from the White Cliffs town houses. It’s that new complex they built over in Bishop Arts—remember, I pointed them out to you a couple of weeks ago?”

Ethan, who’d been packing away his tools, went still. He looked at her intently and made a small nod.

“They’ve got a corner unit available. And they’ve got a fantastic deal running—first month free, discounted rent for a year. It’s ideal, much nicer than my old place.”

“You’re moving.” He looked so crestfallen, Kat wanted to take back what she’d just said. But she had to do the sensible, practical thing.

“Living in your garage apartment was only meant to be temporary,” she reminded him. “If you hadn’t offered it to us, I don’t know what I would have done. And we’ve really enjoyed living here. But the place is much too small for two people and a cat.”

“I know it is. And actually, the problem is worse than I thought. Some of these walls have asbestos in them.”

“Oh. Then I guess the sooner we move, the better. But it’s not far—only about a mile away.”

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.” He took a long sip of his lemonade. “Now I can postpone this project, which is getting huger by the minute. I’ve got a test to study for this week. But you’ll want me to help you move, right?”

“Yes, Ethan, I would love your help.” Virginia would be proud of her.

Kat was relieved he wasn’t trying to talk her out of moving. But the note of resignation in his voice bothered her.

* * *

“GOOD SHOT, PRISSY!” Otis patted Priscilla on the back as she walked up to the dartboard at Brady’s to retrieve her darts. “You been practicing. You still can’t mop a floor worth beans, but the dart game is definitely improving.”

Ethan was glad to see Otis and Priscilla getting along better. In fact, all three of them were starting to be accepted. It was a slow process, and there were a few holdouts who continued to offer snide comments or ignore the rookies altogether. But at least they weren’t pariahs at Brady’s anymore.

“Basque, you playin’?” Otis asked. “Loser buys the winner a burger.”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure.”

Ethan took his turn and made some of the worst shots of his life, to several hoots and rude comments. “Guess it’s not my night,” he said, and he headed for the counter to buy Otis his burger.

Priscilla followed him. “You seem a little preoccupied tonight.”

He shrugged.

“Everything going okay with Kat?” Priscilla asked, watching Ethan with keen interest.

It was hard to get anything past Priscilla, and he figured she would keep badgering him until he told her, so he did.

“I asked her to move into my house. I have three bedrooms, so there’s plenty of room.”

Priscilla smiled. “Cool. Unless… She didn’t turn you down, did she? Her little place is cute now, but it must be cramped.”

“She turned me down flat. She offered me an array of excuses, ranging from wanting to maintain