promised herself to stay clear of. All for different reasons. Federal agents, doctors, traveling salesmen, bartenders, and MC members. The last brought the kind of trouble she didn’t need or want.
So why was she drawn to Gunner?
“Here you go.” He pulled out her chair before taking his own seat. The small gesture meant a great deal to Kat. More than it should.
Her father used to open doors for Teri, pulled out her chair, did everything he could to show her mother how much she meant to him. Then one day, it was over. No warning. No discussion. Just over.
Katrina cut into her steak, not wanting to think about what kind of man Gunner would turn out to be. “This is great. Did you learn to cook from your mother?”
Swallowing down a bite of salad with his beer, he shook his head. “Mostly my father. Mom is a great cook, but it was Dad who took the time to explain how to prepare a perfect steak, the best way to smoke ribs, how to cook corn on a grill. He made me pay attention to the details.”
“He did a great job. Is he still alive?”
“Both parents are. They have a farm in Nebraska. Been married almost forty years.” Chewing the last bite of steak, he leaned back, stretching out his legs.
“Sounds wonderful.” And it did. Her parents had enjoyed wonderful for a while before her father had blown it apart. “Do you have siblings?”
“Two brothers, two sisters. All younger. What about you?”
“One younger brother. Brady is fourteen.” Thinking about him, she grinned. “He’s a great kid.”
“I’ve met your mother at Robbie’s. Are she and your father still together?”
Shaking her head, a deep sadness washed through her. “Not for years. He, uh…met someone else.” Before he could respond, Katrina stood, picking up their plates. “You ready for pie and ice cream?”
“Sure.” Gunner followed her, the salad bowl and steak platter in his hands. He wanted to ask more questions, but they’d have to wait.
He tried to convince Katrina to leave the dishes, but she refused, so they shared the task. “How do you like working with Janie?” Gunner closed the dishwasher door, leaning his hip against the counter.
Drying her hands, a grin spread across her face. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve always loved working in the soil. The type of plant doesn’t matter. Janie’s given me stacks of books to study and online courses to take. She says I have a gift for planning gardens.”
“From the ideas you’ve given me so far, I’d say she’s right.” Gunner retrieved the ice cream from the freezer. Placing slices of pie in two bowls, they added scoops of ice cream to each.
They took their bowls outside, staying until the sun disappeared over the western hills. Checking the time, and even though Katrina wasn’t ready to leave, she stood.
“I should get going. I’m working the early shift tomorrow and want to get started on your plans.”
Gunner followed her out to the front, opening the door to the junker she drove. “Do you work Monday?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I’m coming by to get your car and take it to our shop.”
She backed up, shaking her head. “What? No, Gunner. I can take care of my own car.”
Crossing his arms, he smirked. “Do I need to make this a condition of hiring you to plan the landscape?”
“That’s blackmail.”
“Yep, it is. I’ll come by the nursery Monday. The Brethren have an auto repair shop. All I want to do is check it out, make sure it’s safe.”
She blew out a breath. “If that’s all. You need to know I don’t have money to do anything to it right now.”
Dropping his arms, he nodded. “No worries, Kat. I’ll let you know if we find anything.”
“All right, then.” Before she could stoop to get into her car, his hand moved behind her neck, drawing her to him for a brief brush of his lips across hers. Pulling back, his mouth twisted into a grin.
“I’ll see you Monday, Katrina.”
Chapter Four
Absently touching a finger to her lips, Katrina stared at the computer screen, the same as she’d been doing for almost an hour. Frustration gnawed at her. The ideas for Gunner’s front planting bed were right at the tip of her consciousness, refusing to break free.
“This is not a difficult design, Kat.” Her whispered words accomplished nothing. All she could think about was the brief kiss, wondering why he did it, and what it might mean.
“How’s it going, Kat?” Janie stepped into the front office,