Page 27 of Keep On Loving You
“Pill?” Andy asked when a few minutes later he walked her to the door.
“A painkiller,” she explained. “It will knock her out so she can get some solid sleep and heal. Hopefully, everyone is feeling better for the meeting tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine.” From the couch, Kat lazily raised her good arm and dropped it down.
Charli chuckled. “It looks like you might have to help her up to bed.”
“Don’t worry,” Andy said. “I’ll take good care of her.”
Charli stood up from grabbing her bag and stared at him. “I know you will, Andy.”
She looked at him so intently, for a moment he was certain she was going to call him out on exactly how well he was caring for Kat.
Instead, Charli smiled her trademarked bright smile. “Symon said he’s been chatting with you about the job as the head trainer and staff physiotherapist for the ski team.”
Andy glanced behind him, but Kat was out of earshot. “I didn’t want to say anything until it was official.” He nodded. “But, I’m hoping we can work out the details. It would be really nice to be back in Trickle Creek after all these years.”
“Sorry.” Charli reached for his arm and squeezed. “I didn’t know it was a secret.”
“It’s not.” He shrugged. “But until I know it’s official?—”
“Say no more.” Charli held up a hand. “Your secret is safe with me. But I do hope it all works out. Craig will be so pleased to have you back, not to mention how excited a certain young lady would be.”
It took Andy a moment to realize Charli was talking about Craig’s daughter, Meri, and not Kat. Although he couldn’t help but hope that Kat would also be happy to hear he was moving back to town.
The job would be a huge career move for him. But the fact that the position was in Trickle Creek, where Kat Carlson was, had only sweetened the offer.
“I’d love to be able to see more of little Meri,” Andy saidsmoothly. “And of course, Craig, too.” He chuckled, and Charli laughed.
“Of course.” She flashed him another bright smile. “And hey, I know the real estate market can be kind of tricky in town right now. I have a good friend who is a top agent. She’ll be able to find you something absolutely perfect. And she’s pretty cute, too.”
Charli winked, and Andy shook his head with a laugh. “I don’t know if I’m really in the market.” He didn’t bother specifying whether he was talking about a house or a girlfriend.
“Trust me,” Charli said. “She’s perfect for you. Her name is Jess. She’s brunette, attractive and fun. She’s really involved in a beach volleyball league, too. I think you’ll really like her.”
It definitely sounded more like a setup than a real estate connection. Still, Andy didn’t want to be rude to Charli. And it wasn’t as if he could tell her that the only woman he was interested in dating was asleep in the next room. “She sounds great.”
“She is.” Charli beamed. “I’ll text you her number, okay?”
Andy nodded. “I think I’d like that.”
“Promise me you’ll call her.”
“I will.” Hopefully, things would be finalized soon, and he truly would be looking for a more permanent place in Trickle Creek. Not that staying with Kat wouldn’t have some benefits, too. Another shot of desire at the memory of what they’d been about to do in the bathtub earlier racedthrough him, and he worked hard to keep the reaction off his face.
Charli reached behind her for the door handle. “Take care of our girl, Andy. I’m sure we’ll see you soon.” Charli gave him a quick hug, and she was gone.
Andy’s head spun in her wake.
It took him a moment to regain his senses and pull his thoughts together before returning to the living room. He leaned up against the door and took deep breaths, exhaling slowly.
That had been close. Too close.
And for what?
The little game he’d been playing with Kat put everything at risk. As an only child, Andy never had a close family growing up. His mother died when he was young, and his father might as well have died when she did. He spent the next fifteen years drinking and hiding from his life until finally, the year after Andy graduated, he drove his car into a tree, an empty bottle of whiskey on the seat next to him. Hisfamilyhad always been the Carlsons. All the siblings had adopted him as one of their own, and he valued that connection more than anything.
If any of the Carlsons ever found out about hissituationshipwith their baby sister, they’d be beyond upset. And he knew exactly who would lose if that happened.
