“I haven’t yet said that we’re going.”
Anya tilted her head up to meet her gaze. “Oh, come on, Kat. You know you want to go. You like Grant. We all do. Let’s go to Texas.”
Her little sister wasn’t so little anymore. Katrina uncrossed her legs and stretched out alongside Anya on the bed, unable to fathom how long her sister’s legs were now. She remembered a time when Anya would huddle with her in the bed, and they would read stories together.
It wouldn’t be long now before Anya would be going off to college. She wouldn’t need Katrina anymore. She wouldn’t be in her life as much.
That’s what growing up was all about.
Maybe she was overthinking this whole thing with Grant. She had to constantly remind herself that the kids weren’t little—or as impressionable anymore.
Maybe she wasn’t worried as much about how the kids would feel after breaking away from Grant as she was herself.
She grabbed a piece of Anya’s hair and gave it a gentle tug. “I’ll … think about it.”
“You keep saying that. But you know you want to go as much as we do.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Really. And what makes you think that?”
“You like Grant.”
This was a topic she didn’t really want to get into with her sister. “Yes. I like Grant. But you do realize there’s a difference between liking someone and having a serious relationship with them.”
Anya rolled her eyes. “I’m not a kid anymore, Kat. Of course I know the difference. And you know I don’t have a boyfriend. Who has time for that nonsense? I’m going to college after next year. I don’t even want to think about the drama of boyfriends. Dating is one thing. Relationships are a whole other package of cookies.”
Out of the mouths of babes. “Indeed they are.”
“Not that you would know since I’ve never seen you bring a guy home before. Until Grant.”
“I didn’t exactly bring him home. He showed up at the apartment.”
Anya shrugged. “Same thing. Why? Don’t you like him … I mean like him, like him? Like in the boyfriend way?”
In some ways, she was having a very adult conversation with her sister. In other ways, she had to remind herself she was still talking to a teenager. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Oh, really. And how would you differentiate between some guy you’re hanging out with and having a boyfriend?”
Then again, her sister was very perceptive. Very smart. And sometimes quite irritating. “I’m not defining my relationship with Grant with you. I haven’t even defined it with him.”
Anya picked up her hand and squeezed it. “Maybe you should. Maybe there’s something there between the two of you. You know, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you fell in love with someone.”
Yes, definitely too deep now. She tapped her finger on her sister’s nose. “And you should let me get back to my book.”
“So … about Texas?”
“I’ll get back to you.”
Anya sighed and climbed off the bed. “Whatever. Let me know when you decide.”
When she looked up to watch Anya leave, she saw Grant leaning against the doorway.
“Talk her into it, will you?” Anya said to Grant. “She’s being stubborn and vague.”
“Good night, Anya,” Grant said.
“Night, Grant.”
Anya left the room, and Grant shut the door. Katrina wondered how much of their conversation he’d heard.
“Second thoughts about Texas?” he asked. “Or is it just you and me?”
Obviously, he’d heard plenty. “I don’t know. She wants me to define our relationship.”
He came over and stretched out on the bed.
“Do you feel the need to define it? Because I don’t.”
She couldn’t help but admire the wide shoulders, the incredible chiseled biceps, or his amazing legs. But she also realized there was a lot more than physical chemistry attracting her to him.
Maybe if it was just a sexual attraction this would be easier. They could have their fun, and then go their separate ways.
But there was such a depth to him that went beyond the hot body and physical talent. He was smart and funny and he not only liked her, he liked Leo and Anya, too. The bottom line was, she enjoyed being with him.
And for her, it meant a lot.
“I guess it requires no definition. We’re enjoying each other’s company at the moment. Isn’t that enough for now?”
“I think it is. I’m fine with taking things slow, Kat. And it’s nobody’s business—including your sister’s—what’s going on between us.” He cupped her foot, began to rub it. Just a simple gesture but it fired up the heat of pleasure, and also relaxed her at the same time.
Decision made, she supposed.
“I guess we’re going to Texas, then.”
He looked up at her and the fire she saw in his eyes flamed her.
“Glad to hear it.”
She wasn’t sure if she’d just made a good decision, or a really bad mistake.
She supposed she’d find out in the next week.
In the meantime, Grant pulled her down and covered her body with his, his kiss smoldering hot, awakening the fire that was always barely banked around him.
Then all thoughts of anything but him went entirely up in flames.
TWENTY-FIVE