Page 79 of Keep On Loving You
“It’s nothing official,” Asher said. “But first was Chase and Annie.” He pointed in their direction. “And then Charli and Symon finally decided to face their feelings. And now look. They have Poppy.”
“Right, but they already knew?—”
“And Craig and Lucy.” Asher cut her off. “The two of them found each other because Craig was required to hire a nanny.”
Craig draped his arm around Lucy, who dropped her head to his shoulder.
“And of course, I got lucky when Dad made it so that I couldn’t work anymore and the love of my life jumped into my truck.” Asher kissed Noa on the cheek.
Under any other circumstances, Kat might have found the whole scene sweet.
But there was nothing sweet about her entire family planning an elaborate setup with a man who she had no romantic interest in while the man she actually had feelings for sat directly across from her at the table. Especially considering that man was currently upset with her fornottelling her family about them.
Everything was such a mess.
“So you all thought that maybe I would get thislove bonus,” she used air quotes, “if you helped it along?”
Charli opened her mouth to agree, but she must have sensed that Kat was only barely containing her anger, because she quickly closed it again.
“Because you all think I need help when it comes to dating?” Her voice rose. “Or maybe you thought that if youchosewho I dated that you could make sure he was good enough for me?” She glared at her brothers, who’d done nothing but chase men away her entire life because they didn’t measure up to some ridiculous standard they’d made up in their heads. “Did it ever occur to you that I am perfectly capable of handling my own love life?” She swallowed hard and purposely avoided looking at Andy, who no doubt had a very different opinion on whether or not she washandling her love lifeor not.
Her appetite gone, Kat threw the napkin on her plate and stood. “Can I talk to you for a minute, Kane?” She held out her hand to her shell-shocked friend, who nodded and followed her inside.
“Umm.” Kane glanced behind him the moment they were safely inside. “I think I might have walked into something.”
“I’m sorry.” Kat sagged against the kitchen counter. “You didn’t deserve to be caught up in that. My family is…well, they are full-on crazy is what they are.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Kane laughed. “But it might bepartly my fault. I did kind of tell Asher I was interested in you.”
She opened her mouth to set him straight, but he beat her to it. “Don’t worry. I know you don’t feel the same way.”
“I think you’re a great friend, Kane.”
He stepped closer to her and took her hand. “And I think you’re a great friend. I hope that hasn’t changed?”
“Not as far as I’m concerned.”
“Friends then?” He held out his arms for a hug.
“Definitely.” She moved into his embrace. “Friends.”
It would be so much easier, so much less complicated if it was Kane she had feelings for.
Kat blew out a breath and was about to step out of his arms when an angry voice said, “Am I interrupting something?”
He’d never been a jealous man. But Andy had had just about enough of Kane Nelson putting his hands onhiswoman.
He worked to relax his jaw and unclench his fists. It wouldn’t do any good if he got into a goddamn fistfight in the Carlsons’ house.
“Andy?” Kat stepped away from Kane, but the other man must have sensed Andy’s anger and put himself between them. “What are you?—”
“You know why I’m here, Kat.” He stepped closer. “Icame to make sure you were okay after…” He waved his hand behind him. “After that ambush.”
“She’s fine.”
A sound dangerously close to a growl slipped from Andy’s throat. Maybe a fistfight was exactly what he needed after all.
“Kane.” Kat put a hand on the other man’s arm. “It’s fine. Andy and I…well, it’s fine.”
