tried not to think too much about the kiss that Lance had given her at the sign-in table. She just kept her sunglasses on and her head down as she stood in the sand, playing—of all things—beach volleyball.
Lance was serving and he was very good at it. But then he was good at everything he did. And he was built for sports. Though most of the men who worked for Brody Oil and Gas were in shape, no one looked better to her than Lance Brody. She remembered last year when he’d taken his shirt off to give it to her.
He was built like an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter and from what she had heard of his past, he’d grown up hard with a father who liked to fight.
“Kate!”
She turned around to face the net just as the ball came toward her. She lifted her hands not to hit the ball but to protect her head. She really hated playing these kind of games.
The ball bounced off her, heading toward the ground, when Marcus dove to the sand to hit it up. Joan took the ball and spiked it over the net.
Kate was shaken by her near miss and decided it was time for her to stop playing. “I’m going to sit out.”
No one objected and she felt good about that. She sat on the sidelines where she watched the rest of the game and she talked to some of the families of workers who’d been with Brody Oil and Gas since Mitch and Lance had taken over after their father’s death.
A lot of people commented on her new look, telling her how nice it was. She thanked them. She was starting to get used to how she looked and no longer saw a stranger in the mirror.
She grabbed a bottle of water as the game ended with Lance’s team victorious. She handed the water to him and he hugged her close. “We won.”
“As usual,” she said, with a smile. This was one thing she’d really miss about Lance. When they were at his house, she never felt like his secretary.
“Winning is what I do best,” Lance said.
“Very true,” she said, thinking that was probably one of the things that drew her to him. He just had a positive attitude and kept on going until he achieved what he set out for.
“Walk with me up toward the house.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to talk to you. Do you have all the fireworks set up for us?”
“Yes. Exactly as they were last year. I have the music cued and the deejay is ready to announce everything for you.”
Everyone wanted to talk to Lance and though he had asked her to stay with him, she soon found herself drifting to the outside of his circle. It was then that she spotted Mitch at the welcome table with Lexi Cavanaugh.
The woman was beautiful and sophisticated and everything that Kate wasn’t. She’d be the perfect match for Lance—being a senator’s daughter, she knew how to socialize and work in the community. Brody Oil and Gas was always looking for ways to give back to the communities where their refineries were. And Lexi would be a conduit to that.
“Join me for a beer?”
Kate glanced over at Marcus. He had two Bud Lights and held one of them out to her. She smiled and took it. “Thanks for saving me from that ball earlier.”
“No problem. You definitely looked like you were out of your league.”
She shrugged. “I figured I should play at least one time before leaving.”
“So the rumors are true,” Marcus said. He tipped his bottle back and took a long swallow of his beer.
He was an attractive man, she realized. He was tall, at least six foot five, and had a neatly trimmed red beard. His hair was longish on the top but cut neat in the back.
“Yes, they are true,” she said, sipping her beer.
“I think it’s safe to say we are all going to miss you,” Marcus said.
“I doubt it. There will be someone else in Lance’s office keeping you guys all organized.”
“But that person won’t be you,” Marcus said.
“I’d take that to heart but you didn’t even notice me until I had my makeover,” she said, looking at him closely. As attractive as Marcus might be, he didn’t hold a candle to Lance.
“True enough. But that doesn’t mean I’m not telling the truth now.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Marcus said.
“Why was I invisible before?” she asked. “It was more than clothes and glasses, right?”
Marcus took another swallow of his beer. “It was more than that. I think it was your attitude. You weren’t invisible exactly, I’d say you were more of the girl next door, you know? Just a comfortable woman who we didn’t see as a sexual being.”
“But now you do?’”
“Yes, now I do. I can’t speak for anyone else.”
Kate nodded looked away
“I’m not the man you wanted to notice you, right?”
She shook her head. “You’re a good-looking guy but not the one for me.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Well, there is justice in the universe. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used almost that exact line.”
That made Kate laugh. She gave Marcus a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to walk away. And she stepped right into Lance who had been standing behind her.
Lance took Kate’s arm and led her away from Marcus. He’d never felt so enraged before. He wanted to be the man who made her laugh and smile—not Marcus.
“Are you okay?” Kate asked.
“I… no, I’m not okay. I don’t like you flirting with Marcus.”
“Why do you care who I flirt with?” Kate said, a flash of anger in her eyes.
Because she was his. But he knew that wasn’t true, couldn’t be true because he’d given another woman his ring.
A woman that he was quickly realizing he could never marry. Lexi was not what he needed in a woman. She didn’t arouse his passion. But passion could lead to jealousy and Lance couldn’t afford to be out of control, to be like his father. Maybe that was the right answer, then. Maybe Kate would be better off with a guy like Marcus, and he should marry someone who didn’t get him all riled.
“Damn. I know I don’t have any right to say something like that, but I want you, Kate. And I think you feel the same,” he said.
She flushed but didn’t try to pull away. “I do. I think you should know I’ve been attracted to you for the longest time.”
“Good.”
