“Or you could work at the restaurant,” Alli says, reaching across the table toward me, but stopping short of touching my hand because this isn’t really a date. Not really.
I say something, not sure what, and she laughs in that high-pitched giggle of hers. It’s ridiculous. I’m not that funny and Katherine knows it. She’s never been afraid to give me that deadpan look that says, You seriously did not just say that.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a sudden movement. Natalie’s on her feet and dragging Katherine out with her. Katherine gives me one pained look of betrayal before she disappears through the door, without ever having ordered a meal. It hurts, but it’s also a relief.
Alli is studying my face while I study my napkin. “Well, that’s good,” she says. “Kate’s gone.”
I glance up.
A close-lipped smile slowly spreads across Alli’s face.
I return my focus to my napkin and shred it into a million little pieces.
Chapter Forty-Two
Bennet
Oh, for the love of God and all that is holy! Will she never give it a rest? Apparently, Katherine’s brilliant plan for today is to stalk me by taking Lucy on a not-so-casual walk on the beach. My beach. They’re not fifteen yards from my cottage, and Lucy doesn’t even need walking. She and Sam run this island like they own it.
I don’t understand it. If she has something to say to me, why doesn’t she just come out and say it? Instead she’s back to this ridiculous shadow game. If she thinks I’m going to make the first move on this conversation, she’s mistaken. It has to be her. I already know what I want.
The only good thing about today’s play is that I’m sitting on my deck, hidden behind the ivy-covered deck rails. In other words, I can see her, but she can’t see me. It’s a relief to be able to watch her again, this time without any consequences. Like conversation. Or looks of betrayal.
The other night at Paddy’s was a steak knife to my heart. A newly sharpened, serrated steak knife. The kind on the TV infomercials that can cut through soup cans.
The wind is tugging at Katherine’s long, white dress, hugging all her luscious curves. She’s wearing that red scarf in her hair again. Shit. Goose bumps spread across my bare chest. It must be the wind, I think—lying to myself, because I can see the shape of her legs through the thin material and it’s all I can do not to catapult myself off the deck and take her right there in the sand. I miss her touch. The taste of her on my tongue. The way she makes me feel so self-assured.
I close my eyes and breathe steadily, subconsciously adjusting the front of my jeans. A second later I crack open my eyes just enough to be able to see through the vines. She’s launching bits of driftwood into the lake for Lucy. I’m surprised to see Lu wade in after them—her compulsion to retrieve must be trumping her aversion to the water.
They’re both close now, no more than fifteen feet. Katherine ties the scarf tighter and fluffs out her long dark hair. It’s hanging between her shoulder blades. It seems like it’s grown since I last had my fingers tangled in it.
When Lucy comes back to shore after Katherine’s last throw, she shakes the water out of her thick coat. Katherine shrieks in response, then shoots a nervous glance in the direction of my deck. Lucy barks playfully, and Katherine’s got to know that—if I’m home—there’s no way I can’t hear that.
She’s still staring in my direction, and I hold myself still. Did something give me away? She can’t possibly see me. Oh, shit. My guitar is lying on the deck. From the angle where she’s standing now, she’s got a clear shot of it. She knows I’d never leave it outside if I wasn’t here. With a sigh, I remove all doubt.
“Why do you have to make everything so difficult?” I ask, loud enough to be heard.
“I-I—” Katherine stutters. I can’t actually hear her, but through the gaps in the vines I can see her mouth moving. Whatever confidence that red scarf was supposed to give her, she’s lost it.
Did she think she wouldn’t get caught? Did she think she could be within a quarter mile of me and I wouldn’t notice her? Nice try, D’Arcy, but you’ve got no game.