Kate laughed. ‘He is very lucky. But he comes with baggage. About five and half feet of baggage in the form of an ex-wife who plays helpless and uses their kids to try to break us up.’
‘Bitch!’ Mara said.
‘Word.’ Kate nodded.
‘So you’re not letting her, right? Women like that don’t deserve tasty bits like him.’
‘He could be a total asshole for all you know. I could have been the secretary he was fucking on the side.’
Blondie looked her over and shook her head. ‘No you’re not. You don’t look like the type to take any shit. And you’re hot enough, but in charge, you don’t need to steal anyone’s man.’
Kate shrugged and snorted a laugh. ‘Good to know, thanks. And no, as a matter of fact, I’m done letting her get to me. Ladies, enjoy the day. I’m off to procure caffeine for me and my tasty bit. Keep your standards high, the right guy is out there. Even if he comes with baggage.’
Truer words were never spoken, she realised as she walked towards the tiny coffee bar in the lobby. He was, without being overly mushy about it, the best thing in her world. He got her. He respected her. He wanted to be with her and she saw how much he loved her in everything he did. All that made him worth it. Made the work of accommodating his stuff into a working relationship worth the struggle and the effort.
The Pickles thing would be a problem, but, while she was being honest and all, she was hotter, smarter and not Eve. As a woman, Katherine was far better suited to a man like Charles than Eve was. He needed a woman who would push back, who did for herself, but allowed him to do for her too. The doing was a gift, freely given, not expected or a burden.
It was his connection to Eve through the kids that Kate found so difficult to get over. Having children with someone was a million times more intense than just about anything else you could do with a person. Katherine couldn’t compete with what Eve was on that level. She wasn’t jealous of Eve romantically or sexually, but it was that level of intimacy and connection Eve would always have with him. For a while when she first got to know his daughters, all she could see was that they were a physical manifestation of Charles Dixon loving another woman enough to create life with her.
Kate wanted to have his children. So much at times it was hard not to blurt it out. It wasn’t as simple as just going out and getting pregnant. She was very much aware, though, of the children he already had. And the part of her who wanted that with him also realised those girls needed a while to be used to the idea. And she loved them, not only because they were Dix’s kids, but they were both pretty exceptional people. He loved them, and she respected that and held it in a place of deep importance. She had fears that Eve would attempt to turn them against her, knew it would most likely cause tension when they moved in together. As much as she wanted to avoid that, she wanted to be with him, and he continued to feel hurt when she put him off about it. Her priority was him and she had to make a choice and do her very best to do things right.
He didn’t love Eve. Hadn’t in a very long time. He did love Kate and she knew that quite surely. They would have children someday, there was time for that. There was no reason to feel threatened, and continuing to hold him off about moving in together and marriage only meant that bitchface won and he still felt hurt and rejected.
And as for bitchface, Eve had a reckoning due and Kate had a few ideas on how to make it happen. Kate would not be out-manoeuvred by a cow like Eve Dixon. No way. No how. It was like necessary for freedom, justice and the American way or something not to let that skank beat her.
His hands encircled her from behind, his body fit against hers as his lips found her temple. ‘I’m not sure I want to know what you were thinking about just now. That look often spells trouble.’
She shrugged and handed him his coffee. ‘Not for you, gorgeous. By the way, two hot women and I objectified you when you went up to the room. They asked if I shared. I had to decline. They thought you were a Dom here for the con.’
He laughed and the way his eyes crinkled at the edges made her all gooey. ‘Awesome. Did you make out while you did it? Cause you can totally do it again, or describe it to me in great detail. As for the Dom thing? You like it when I tell you what to do.’
‘In bed. We didn’t make out, but I can make up some salacious stories for you later on. They were both hot and told me you were a tasty bit. They’re very right. Doesn’t mean I’m going to share you. With anyone.’ She sucked down the rest of her latte and tossed the cup. ‘Come on. I have a dress to buy.’
The street was busy, full of revellers not bothering to wait until midnight. He walked close, his arm around her shoulders and she felt good. Comfortable and loved.
‘Where are we going?’
‘Leah and I hit the mall, I bought stuff, but not the right dress for tonight. I browsed the shops in the hotel, but all these big luxury hotels have boutiques now. I thought I’d check out a few.’
‘Wherever you go, darling, I will follow. I need to escort you everywhere it seems, there are a lot of horny men in Las Vegas who
