Always Been You

When Katherine looked sharply at him, his dark brows lifted innocently, knowing Katherine was uneasy about his presence. He patted a space on the couch beside him. “Come on, Kathy, sit down. Jensen said he can handle setting the table”

Katherine sat beside her father and studied the depths of her wine glass, feeling like a broodmare. Of course she had feelings for Jensen… But she didn’t want to rush into things so fast and her family’s assumption was a bit alarming. Her father studied her. A blush stained her cheeks. Defensively, she met her father’s contemplative gaze. He winked.

“It’s good to see you on your toes,” Jonah said. “Jensen too. Most women fall all over him. I know. You both are meant for each other… Always have been. Only you could make him walk on eggs.”

“Don’t make too much of our dinner together, Dad,” Katherine warned.

Her father’s mouth tilted upward, reminding Katherine of her brother. She smiled inwardly. “I know him, Katherine. You forget he has been here, even after you left. He’s got the same determined look he gets when he’s talking to me about work or fighting a corporate battle or bidding for a choice piece of property. There is something in the wind, dear. He loves you”

“Dad,” Katherine began. “It’s been two weeks and a few days. We haven’t gone that far. You really are making too much of a simple dinner”

“Sure, honey. Sure” he agreed easily. “Tim tells me Jensen coaches him sometimes”

Katherine nodded and he continued. “You are a fine mother, Kathy, honey. But have you ever thought about how lonesome life can be for an only child… Without a father… And you too”

Katherine narrowed her eyes. “Dad, would you mind if we talked about something else?… Anything else… Even fishing is allowed at this point”

“Nope. Sure don’t” Jonah replied. “Haven’t been fishing lately. Was actually thinking of taking Tim with me sometime and hopefully now, my other grandkids from you”

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Katherine sought to direct the conversation elsewhere, but her father used every excuse to bring the topic back to more grandchildren and getting a husband. She breathed a sigh of relief when Jensen stepped into the room bearing the large platter of food she had left in the kitchen.

“Okay” Jensen said. “So I knew I said I could handle this alone, but you two could have come outside and kept the cook company.”

“Like anyone is gonna believe that you did the cooking” Katherine said and Jensen grinned at her.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Jonah laughed. “My ticker doesn’t like rain storms. Even under a patio roof. Besides, Katherine and I have been talking about you”

“Dad..” Katherine began.

“Really?” Jensen said. “What have you been talking about?”

“You know, the two of you. Obviously you both have been seeing each other” Jonah replied.

“Yeah… But have you convinced her yet that I’m a perfect catch?” Jensen asked, smiling at Katherine’s uncomfortable look. He and Jonah didn’t seem to mind her discomfort at all.

“If she doesn’t know that already, Son, then you are not the man I think you are”

Jensen laughed loudly. Katherine blushed and Jonah led the way to the table.

Dinner consisted of fish, steaks, baked potatoes, and a tossed salad. “My wife is a good cook…. But so am I. We Kavell men know how to hold our own. Katherine is amazing at it too”

“Yep. I know that. How could I not” Jensen said.

“Good,” the older man stated. “My daughter is amazing. You’d better latch on to her” Jonah said.

Jensen stared at Katherine’s stricken face. She stared back at him. They were talking about her like she wasn’t right there with them.

“How do you suggest I do that, Jonah?” Jensen asked.

Katherine’s father laughed. “I don’t want to further embarrass her. Look, she is already pink” He lifted his glass in a toast. “To you both” he said. He looked from Jensen to Katherine and back again, his eyes sparkling.

Automatically, Katherine lifted her glass and drank. Jensen leaned back in his chair and slipped a hand to her knee beneath the table.

“I didn’t really make anything fancy tonight.. Didn’t have the time” Katherine said. “I was rather busy last night and I didn’t have time this morning either. Jensen took care of the fish and steak”

“It’s really good… All of it” Jonah glanced at Katherine as Jensen’s hand slipped upward, closing about her upper thigh. “Something wrong, honey? Indigestion?” he asked.

Katherine could not gracefully dislodge Jensen’s light grip. “No. Absolutely nothing. The dinner was actually very good” She looked sharply at her father when he snorted, then decided it was a smothered chuckle after all.

“I really enjoyed myself tonight..” Jonah said. “That’s because I really like teasing Kathy. But three is a crowd and we have to get on with it, don’t we, Son”

“Get on with what?” Katherine asked suspiciously.

He shrugged and pressed his hand intimately against her. “Relax Katherine” Jensen whispered in her ear. “Your Dad just means he requires a lot of rest and wants to go home. You are overthinking everything”

———————————–

After Jonah Kavell left, Katherine felt as though the tide had sucked the sand from beneath her feet. She faced Jensen. “I can’t believe Tim isn’t home yet. I knew he was gonna end up playing. I have to call Claire. Let me clear the table first”

He regarded her steadily, the dark, sensuous fire in his face drying her throat. “Relax. I’m sure Tim is fine and it isn’t even late yet. As for the plates.. It can wait… I don’t think I can ” he murmured. “But… You should go ahead and call Claire, because I know you will be uncomfortable and worried until you do”

Katherine grinned at him and went to make the phone call. When she was sure that Tim was indeed at Claire’s, she returned to the room.

“Is Tim alright?” Jensen asked.

“Yeah.” Katherine replied. “She said they were already having dinner when Tim arrived so she convinced him to stay. He will be back soon.”

“Told you there was nothing to be worried about…. Dance?” Jensen asked.