Page 19 of One More Kiss
Jasmine
“Move your hiney, missy,”I snapped at Kate. She’d been hovering. Well, not just Kate; Jenna tended to be around all the time, too.
“You need to sit down—”
“What I need to do is scrub my toilet.”
“Mama, you have a broken arm—”
“So? I’m not dead.”
“Can’t you just rest a minute?” Kate asked, exasperation lacing her tone.
“Katharine Rose—”
She raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. With a shock, I realized she was trying not to laugh.
“You used to quake when I said that,” I said on a sigh.
“Well, now, I’m the one full-naming kids.” She smiled. “And don’t worry, they quake for me. It’s all in the tone, and I learned from the best.”
I shook my head but I smiled, too. This girl. I was so proud of her. “It’s just a bathroom, Kate. I’ll be ten feet down the hall.”
She pursed her lips. “Last time I was out of shouting distance, you got hurt.” Her lip quivered. “I don’t like how that made me feel, Mama.”
“You and me both, Katie Rose.”
She hated that nickname but didn’t comment, which told me how worried she still was about me. “Don’t worry. Cam’s installed more cameras, and he’s made a list of people who are allowed on the property. I even saw a couple of his guys on ATVs patrolling the property. No one’s going to hurt me, sweetheart.”
I grimaced as I rubbed my biceps. This is why holding back on details mattered, but I didn’t want my girl to know what that lowlife snake Frank said…or did to me. Even now, weeks after the bruises faded, the feeling of powerlessness rose up, trying to choke me.
Kate hugged me. “I’m glad you popped him one, Mama.”
“Never thought I’d need to hurt another person,” I said.
“Yeah, well, you stood over him like a Valkyrie, eyes blazing. I never knew a lamp was such a good weapon.”
“Last time I attempt a date.” I was done. Clearly, romance wasn’t for me.
“Can’t say that I blame you.”
“Great. Now, I’m going to clean my bathroom.”
I tried to dart around her so I could get to the stairs. Kate, though, was nimble and managed to stay in front of me.
I threw up my hands and groaned.
A knock sounded on the door, surprising me.
“Are you expecting anyone?” I asked Kate.
She shook her head, then headed toward the kitchen where there was a screen with the camera feed of my front door. “Have fun, Mama,” Kate yelled. Then I heard her leave out the back.
“What on earth…”
Another knock. Clearly, the person there was someone Kate knew well. I slunk toward the door. When I opened it, I gasped.
“Steve?”
