AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re paying for your teacher’s help, too, aren’t you?” he said, keeping his voice low enough the others wouldn’t hear.
“No.” She didn’t look at him.
“Kaitlyn,” he began as she started to place dishes in the dishwasher.
“Not all of it,” she amended, still not meeting his look. “Just…the gap his insurance doesn’t cover.”
“Does he even know?”
Her head came up then, and her gaze was fierce. “No. And he won’t.”
He couldn’t stop himself and reached out to stroke a finger across her cheek. “That’s where it comes from. The love in those pictures you took, blowing the premise of that article to pieces. It comes straight from you.”
She seemed to shiver under his touch. That simple reaction sent a blast of heat through him he hadn’t felt in…he didn’t know how long. If ever. He—
“Pecan pie for dessert.”
Ry’s head snapped around. His mother’s voice held nothing but her normal cheer, but he didn’t miss the speculation in her eyes as she looked at them. And a touch of regret, as if she were sorry she’d interrupted. So was he.
Maybe.
But it didn’t really matter—the moment had passed. Kaitlyn quickly finished putting her dishes in the rack and escaped. There was no other word for the way she almost scampered out of the kitchen.
“Rylan?” his mother asked quietly.
“What?” It came out a little sourly.
“Anything I should know?”
Your timing sucked, Mom. Or maybe it was the best.But he only smiled. “You already know everything, don’t you?”
“An illusion I work hard at.” She was looking at him in that intent, sees more than she lets on way he’d grown up with. She glanced toward the table where Kaitlyn had retaken her seat, then looked back at him. “I think I quite like her.”
“It’s mutual,” he said. “She…doesn’t know anything about a mother like you.” He hesitated, but decided Kaitlyn had already said the basics in front of her when she’d told Lucas. “Her mother got out of that house fire, leaving Kaitlyn behind without a thought. Her father died going back in after her, because he didn’t know she’d gotten out a window.”
His mother’s eyes widened with every word. And he knew he wasn’t wrong about the sudden sheen of moisture in those beloved blue eyes. “That poor child,” she whispered. “It’s a wonder she’s even functional.”
“More a testament to her strength.”
He knew what his mother would think if he told her the rest, that Kaitlyn was paying for that same heedless mother’s rehab yet again. And knew that her help for the man who had set her on the career path she obviously loved would seal the deal. But those truly weren’t his stories to tell; he wouldn’t betray her confidence. That off-the-record he’d asked for, in his mind at least, went both ways.
They spent another hour around the table over the pie. His mother was going out of her way to include Kaitlyn, and Ry knew she’d come down firmly on her side. Then Sydney drew Kaitlyn, who said she had never been further from North America than Mexico, into the conversation with tales of her world travels.
“How long will you be here?” Sydney asked. “I’d love to talk to you about updating some of the photos on our website.”
Kaitlyn looked startled. “I…we’re only supposed to be here for a week.”
“Not we,” Sydney said, as if she’d already drawn her own conclusions about Jillian. “You. Can you stay after that, and talk to me about it?”
“I…of course,” Kaitlyn said, looking a little stunned.
Rightfully so, Ry supposed. After all, The World in a Gift was a global operation, a big name. It would be a huge opportunity, and a very impressive line on her résumé. Not to mention that he knew Sydney paid her people well. And he felt a burst of affection for his soon-to-be sister-in-law. And before he could figure out why her helping out Kaitlyn made him feel that, he was derailed all over again.
“Then you must join us next week. Wednesday night,” his mother pronounced suddenly.
Kaitlyn looked startled. “Join?”
“We and a few friends are having a private party at the Last Stand Saloon. The annual ‘survived the holidays’ gathering.”
