"Will you be atthe funeral tomorrow, Kate?" Russ ignored the snort that came from Cade.
"Of course I will.Your father was good to me and I have to say my farewell the same as everyoneelse does." Her voice wavered and she lifted the serviette to cover hermouth, coughing.
"It should be aninteresting day," Cade said. "I wonder how many locals will come outhoping we don't stick around?"
"Why would anyonedo that? Hell’s teeth, Cade. Your father was well liked, at least by peopleoutside his family. I'm sure they aren't thinking along those lines. Besidesthey wouldn't know about the terms of the will anyway." Kate shook herhead and frowned at him.
"I wouldn't put itpast some of them to have had a word in the old man's ear." He glancedover at Kate, his dinner forgotten while he toyed with his wine glass."So, tell me again how you managed to worm your way around him?"
"Cade, stop itnow!" Russ turned to Kate. "Don't let him goad you. Ignore him,please Kate." Russ was mortified at his brother’s behaviour and from thelook on Kate's face, she was too.
"If you’resuggesting I did anything sleazy to get this job, you are mistaken. Your fathertook me in and offered me a job when I lost my parents. And just so you know, Ihad to work my arse off to keep it too." She stood and glared at Cade."I would never sleep with a man to get what I want, unlike yourfloozies do. I think better of myself than that. Funnily enough I havestandards, Cade. Something you know nothing about." She placed her napkinon the table. "Excuse me." Kate walked out of the dining room withher head held high.
"You idiot."Russ glared at his brother.
"Fuck you, yousanctimonious prick. You know nothing, Russ. The way you let people walk overyou and do what they want, it's just plain sickening."
"You don't knowwhat you're talking about," he replied. A sinking feeling clutched at hisstomach because he knew Cade spoke the truth.
"Yeah I do. Yousigned everything over to that bitch of a wife just to save yourself anargument. Don't try to deny it. You already said as much this afternoon."He took another drink, draining his glass. "It's no wonder you havenothing, brother. You’re a total walkover. I refuse to be like that. If I wantsomething, I'll take it."
"Kate's not like that.You know she isn't." Russ pushed his plate away, his appetite gone."She’s had to work for what she has."
"Yeah, sure. Shehas her foot in the door, buddy, and there is no getting rid of her. Just watchshe doesn't get her claws into you too."
"We are friendsand that won't change. You need to take a good hard look at yourself, Cade.You've turned bitter and it doesn't look good on you." Russ stood."Excuse me." He walked from the room as his brother’s laughterfollowed him.
He made his apologiesto Essie on his way through the kitchen. She tsked and headed for the diningroom, a frown on her face. Hopefully she would give Cade a talking too. She wasthe only one who could get him to listen. The only one who wasn't charmed byhis smile and good looks.
Russ walked outside andaround the back of the house. He could see the lights on in Kate's house andheaded across the lawn. He knocked on the door and stood back waiting for herto answer. Just when he lifted his hand to knock again, the door opened and Katestood there, tears drying on her cheeks.
"Hey."
"Kate, can I comein?" He lifted his hand and wiped away the dampness on her cheek.
"Sure." Shestood back and Russ stepped into the converted house. The last time he’d beeninside was when he was hiding from his father amongst the dark, almost derelictrooms. Now the old cottage was filled with light and feminine furniture. He wasaware of her gaze following his as he looked around the tiny lounge into thekitchen.
"Wow, this isfantastic."
"You didn't cometo look at my decorating, Russ. What do you want?" She sniffed and wipedher nose on the back of her shirt sleeve.
"Katie, I'm sorryhe’s such a jerk. I guess he hasn't changed as much as I’d hoped." Russwatched as the tears welled in her eyes again, trickling down her face. Heopened his arms and she fell against his chest, sobbing. He kissed the top ofher head and soothed her with soft words of comfort as she sobbed her heartout. When her cries turned to soft hiccups, he held her away from to look downat her face.
"Hey, he isn'tworth it. There has to be someone else out there you could fall in lovewith."
Kate laughed bitterly,pulling away from him. She walked into the lounge and dropped onto the couch,reaching for a box of tissues on the coffee table in front of her. "Youwould think so, wouldn't you? But no, stupid me has chosen to allow the teenagecrush to rage away worse than ever."
"I don't think weget a choice in who we fall in love with." He moved over to sit downbeside her.
"I'm sorry, Russ.This must be hard for you." She blew her nose and grabbed another tissue.
"I can cope withit. Things weren’t good for a while, so it wasn't as though I never saw itcoming. I must remember to be more careful in future." He looked down whena ginger cat rubbed against his legs. "What have we here?" Russpicked up the cat and it rubbed its face against his chin.
"Wally, the onlyman who can treat me like I'm just there for his benefit." Kate reachedover and tickled Wally under his ears. "Thanks for trying to make me feelbetter. I appreciate it, Russ. I'm sorry I ruined your dinner."
"I kind of lost myappetite too, listening to Cade rave on. The guy has some serious issues. Guessit comes with the fame, although I don't really understand it." He turnedand leaned back on the couch watching the cat walk over to Kate and smooch upto her.
"Thanks forletting me cry on your shirt." She gave a
