First Comes Love (New Castle Book 1) Read online

  “Now, he’s asked Dawson to attend Easter dinner with us next Sunday. I’ll expect you to wear something appropriate and Mia will need a new dress. I’m taking her shopping tomorrow on our outing and I’d like you to join us.”

  Son of a bitch! The only thing worse than talking to her mother, was shopping with her. “I have clothes, Mom.”

  “You’re clothes are old and Dawson’s a successful young man. He’s used to moving in high-class circles with sophisticated young ladies. You’ll need something classy that hides your curves. How are you doing with your weight, anyway?”

  Kat dropped her head into her palm. No one needed to tell her she wasn’t perfect. She was quite aware. She didn’t have Jade’s perky boobs, her mom’s trim waistline, or Mia’s vibrant hair, and no amount of envy would change that. What she did have was an unremarkable chest, love handles, and hair that resembled Buckwheat without the help of a flat iron and a good amount of conditioner.

  It took years to convince herself that stretch marks were a mother’s badge of honor and her freckles built character, but her mom could still cut to her core with one quick question. Vivian assumed it was Kat’s life’s ambition to be a size two, which she’d never been. Even at her best she was a size twelve. And since Mia, she’d maintained a comfortable size fourteen-sixteen.

  Regardless, she made a point to hide how much her mother’s words still hurt. “Um, I look the same as I did last week, Mom.”

  “Well, if you eat extra healthy this week and drink plenty of water, you could lose a couple pounds by next Sunday.”

  Kat said nothing as she picked at a hangnail. Ignore her. She’s superficial. There are more important things than a person’s weight. Vivian always seemed to attack her pride as an attempt to make her more agreeable, weaker, something Kat had spent years trying to build a tolerance against.

  “I’ll be picking up Mia tomorrow morning at nine. Be ready. We’ll start at Nordstrom’s and take it from there.”

  “Fine, but Mom, I do have things to do tomorrow. I won’t be able to shop all day. Why don’t we meet you at Nordstrom’s and when we’re finished, you and Mia can go about the rest of your day and I can do my running around?”

  Vivian was quiet for a minute and Kat, knowing her mother, interpreted her silence as irritation “I don’t understand why you can’t do your running around on another day. Is it so much to ask that you spend a day with your mother?”

  And here comes the guilt.

  “I rarely see you and only get to see Mia on Sundays.”

  Kat gaped. “That’s completely your choice, Mom. You’re welcome to visit whenever you want. We’re home every night and I’m sure Mia would love to have you over more.”

  “You know your house is too small for company.”

  “My house is fine. It may be too small for a dinner party, but it’s certainly large enough to have you and Daddy over once in a while.”

  “That’s my point, dear. You’re getting older and eventually will want to entertain in your own home. If you married a successful man, you could afford a bigger house and do these things. Anyway, I have to run. I was simply calling to make arrangements for tomorrow. I’ll meet you at Nordstrom’s at nine, if that’s the most you can offer. Give Mia my love.”

  As Kat hung up the phone she rubbed her temples in an attempt to prevent the oncoming headache that always followed a conversation with her mother. “Why couldn’t I have normal parents?”

  Kat was cleaning up after dinner when she hit the switch for her garbage disposal and it made a god-awful noise. Sharp metal scraped and suddenly silenced.

  Bracing her palms on the lip of the sink, she stared into the dark hole. “Shit.”

  “Momma, that’s a bad word. You gotta give me a quarter,” Mia reprimanded.

  “Sorry, baby. I’ll get you one as soon as I fix this.”

  She turned on the spray faucet attachment to dislodge whatever was jamming the disposal and hit the switch, but nothing happened. Reaching under the sink, she pressed the reset button, but that didn’t work either. “Mia, can you get me the flashlight out of the hall closet?”

  “Okay.”

  Mia left her coloring to rush off to her aid. She was always such a good little helper. A broken garbage disposal wasn’t the end of the world, but it also wasn’t something she could afford to replace at the moment. Hopefully it was a simple fix.

  Mia returned with the flashlight and Kat shined it down the drain. Something dark was lodged in the grinder.

  “What’s wrong, Momma?”

  “Something’s stuck in the drain.”

  Reaching into the drain as far as her fingers fit, she ignored the slimy potato peels clinging to her wrist and grazed the object, but couldn’t grasp it. An aggravated breath huffed past her lips as she removed her arm and flicked off the slimy bits of food.

  Retrieving her toolbox from the closet, she searched for pliers or something that could grip the object, but there was nothing. Letting out a frustrated groan, she bit at her thumbnail. “Tongs!” Jumping off the floor, she slid the toolbox back on the shelf.

  Mia stood in the kitchen as Kat sifted through the utensil drawers. When she found them she fed them down the drain, but they still didn’t reach the obstruction. She tried rotating her hands, but the handles simply wouldn’t fit. “Damn it!”

  When Mia didn’t correct her language, something she always did when Kat let a curse word slip, she looked at her daughter. She stood, head bent, gaze on the floor, as she wrung her hands in unnatural silence.

  “Mia, do you know what’s wrong with the sink?”

  She rubbed her toe on the floor, still not looking at her.

  “Mia, did you put something in the sink that shouldn’t have been in there?”

  She nodded.

  “Can you tell Mommy what it was?”

  She mumbled something that sounded like, “My wiswa tree”.

  “What?”

  Lifting her teary gaze, she took a deep breath. “My wizard was dirty, so I tried to wash him. But he fell in the hole.”

  Kat sighed. “Mia, you know you’re not allowed to play at the kitchen sink.”

  “I’m sorry I broke your sink, Momma.” A tear rolled down her cheek and the sincere sadness in her voice nearly shattered Kat’s heart.

  “It’s okay, but don’t do it again. This sink is very dangerous. I need to figure out how to fix it so Dr. Stevens doesn’t have to call a plumber. We need to think of something long enough to grab the wizard. I need a tool that pinches.”

  “I know! You can borrow one from Tyson. He has lots of tools. He’ll give you some.”

  “Good idea.” He would definitely have a tool she could use. “Okay, why don’t you go watch cartoons? I’m going to run over to see if Tyson’s still working. You stay here and don’t get off the couch.”

  “Okay, Momma.” Mia dashed into the living room and flicked on the television.

  Relieved the Adams Construction truck was still parked in the driveway, she quickly walked down the sidewalk. Does this guy ever go home?

  No music played and the yard was empty. “Tyson?” No one answered so she knocked on the door. Nothing. She knocked again, anxiously glancing back at the house.

  Did she shut off the stove? Shut the broom closet? Visions of Mia waiting on the couch mixed with fears of her climbing up the shelves of the closet filled her with anxiety. She didn’t like leaving Mia alone for more than two minutes. Her hand rose to knock one last time when the door suddenly opened.

  “Kat?”

  Words. She needed words.

  Tyson stood—shirtless—in the doorway wearing only jeans. Her gaze fixated on his bare feet. Breathing in his clean scent, she noted traces of soap, the green, expensive kind. Her mouth went dry as she looked up and found herself eyelevel with his dark nipples.

  “Is everything okay?”

  He was standing so close her mouth opened, but nothing came out. “Uh…” She shook her head. Pull it togeth
er, Kat! “Yeah, I wanted to see if you had a long pair of pliers I could borrow.”

  “Sure, they’re in my truck, let me throw on shoes and get them for you.”

  He disappeared for two seconds and reappeared wearing a pair of slip-on canvas boat shoes. Was he staying there while renovating? Did the owner know?

  He stepped close and she froze. What was he doing?

  He softly chuckled, his large hands pressing into her shoulders. “Pardon. I need to get by.” Her eyes widened as he briefly squeezed her shoulders before letting go.

  She took a jolting step back as the smooth flesh of his abdomen brushed her arm. The light scent of beer was faint on his warm breath.

  God, what is wrong with me?

  At the truck he sifted through a canvas lined bucket. Kat waited on the lawn, careful not to get too close. He probably thought she was such an idiot.

  “Here ya go.” He handed her the pliers.

  “Thanks, I gotta run. Mia’s in the house by herself. I’ll bring these back soon as I’m finished.”

  “Take your time.”

  She jogged back to the house. Mia was still sitting on the couch. “You okay, kiddo?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, good. Why don’t you pick out a movie so Mommy can fix the sink? We’ll have to take a tubby in the morning.”

  “Cinderella?”

  “Sure.”

  She changed Mia into her pajamas, situated her on the couch with her blanket, and started Cinderella. Kat tried the pliers, but couldn’t un-jam the wizard. She was sitting on the floor, her head stuck under the sink with a flashlight, tools scattered around her, when there was a knock at the door. Twisting, she whacked her head on the disposal bin.

  “Mother Fudrucker!” She rubbed her head and crawled out from under the sink.

  Mia’s footsteps pattered to the window and she shouted, “Tyson!”

  Kat froze. She quickly smoothed her hair back and brushed her fingers over her face. Very aware he was in her territory, she took her time standing and getting to the door, fussing with her shirt, and frowning at the smudge of something on her shoulder.

  Taking a steadying breath, she unlatched the deadbolt and gently nudged Mia away from the door.

  “Hi, Tyson!” Mia greeted from beside her hip.

  “Hi, Mia.”

  He raised a brow and held out a leather belt full of tools. “I figured you might need some help.”

  “Oh. Uh…”

  Did she really want to impose on the new neighbor’s construction guy? Would he expect to be paid for his time? Should she even involve him in their personal affairs?

  Oh for Christ’s sake, get a grip, Kat! It’s a garbage disposal for crying out loud, not a therapy session.

  “Thank you. Please come in.”

  He apprehensively stepped over the threshold. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I was weighing my options, thinking if I could fix it. I mean, you work in construction, so I’m sure you’ve installed, like, a thousand of them, but I’m so worried that the wizard broke the damn thing. I tried my hands, tongs, pliers, but I can’t get the wizard out of the hole and—”

  “Whoa, whoa, you lost me at wizard. Why don’t you tell me what the problem is?”

  “I dropped my wizard down the hole,” Mia said.

  “The garbage disposal,” Kat amended. “Mia dropped a plastic, toy wizard down the drain and I can’t get it out. The mechanism froze up and I hit the reset button, but it’s jammed.”

  “I see.”

  He walked to the sink and the air seemed to siphon out of her small cottage. Tyson was too big for her home. She’d never had a man there before aside from Dr. Stevens or her father. His presence totally threw her off kilter.

  “Well that should be easy enough to fix, but first things first. You never reach into a jammed garbage disposal.”

  “I made sure it was off—”

  “Never.” He tilted his head attempting to look stern, but his dimple gave him away. “Who’s to say the piece won’t spin after you un-jam it? You could lose a finger that way.”

  Kat raised a brow at the dramatic reprimand and Mia gasped at the mention of losing fingers. Keeping her tone level for her daughter’s sake, she agreed. “You’re right. I won’t do it again. That’s exactly why little girls aren’t supposed to play at the sink.”

  “Good. Now, let’s see this wizard.”

  “Mia, take your milk and go sit down and finish your movie before bed.”

  Mia headed into the living room and Kat cleared away her tools to show Tyson the issue. “It’s on this side,” she said, leaning over the right basin of the sink.

  She shined the flashlight over the hole as Tyson looked in the drain. With their heads so close together she scented his deliciously exotic cologne. Slowly, she turned. His shaved head was completely smooth, not even a shadow of stubble. She took an uneven step back and cleared her throat.

  “Well, your hands are definitely smaller than mine. So if you couldn’t maneuver the tools through the hole, then I definitely won’t be able to. Looks like the base is going to have to come off.”

  “Is that difficult?” The idea of him going through so much trouble didn’t sit well with her or her wallet. Maybe she should just tell Dr. Stevens in the morning.

  “No, I’ll have it working again in no time.”

  He dropped to his knees and dug through his tool belt. Ripples of muscle formed under his t-shirt as he pulled out various tools, not an ounce of fat on him. Every nook and cranny was so defined even his clothing couldn’t camouflage how fit he was.

  Her shoulders subtly rotated as if that could relieve some of the tension low in her belly or soften the tightening skin beneath her bra. Maybe she should get a job in construction. Then her mom wouldn’t think she was such a fat cow.

  He pulled out his own flashlight and paused before ducking under the sink. Those dark almond shaped eyes stared up at her and all breathing stopped. “You don’t have to sit here. Go spend time with Mia. I’ll get you when I’m finished.”

  He probably realized she was gawking at him again. Good God, she was turning into a deviant. “Um, okay.” She awkwardly hitched her thumb toward the next room. “I’ll be in the living room if you need anything.”

  “Sounds good.” He ducked under the sink and gave her a phenomenal view of his ass. Holy mother of sweetness!

  About a half hour later, Kat sat watching Cinderella with Mia on her lap when Tyson stepped into the living room

  “I have good news and bad news.”

  Kat put her finger to her lips and motioned toward Mia’s sleeping face. She gently slid her daughter onto the couch and motioned him back toward the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, she leaned her hip against the counter, and braced for the worst. Hopefully, it would only be a minor setback. Her financial situation did not allow for overly expensive emergencies.

  “What do you want first, the good or the bad?” he asked.

  Kat rubbed her forehead. “The good, I guess.”

  “The garbage disposal is fixed.”

  She exhaled in relief.

  “The bad news is I don’t think Merlin will be doing spells again anytime soon.” He held up a mutilated piece of plastic and she laughed, causing his smirk to turn to a full smile—dimple and all.

  “Well, I can deal with that. Here, let me throw that away.” She took the toy from him and dropped it in the trashcan.

  “This is a nice place you have here. You’re a little bit of a control freak, aren’t you?”

  She faltered as her neck stiffened in offense. Slowly turning, he looked around her kitchen as he stretched, gripping his hands behind his head. His shirt slightly rose at his midriff, exposing his trim waist. He seemed utterly unfazed that he’d just insulted her.

  “What did you say?”

  “I, uh, noticed you have little labels under the sink for where things belong, sponges, dish soap, disinfectant.” Likely noticing that he offended her, he held up
his palms. “Hey, I’m not judging. Really. It’s cute.”

  “Cute?” Since when was compulsiveness cute?

  “Yeah, cute. Really, Kat, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

  Her face heated. “I’m a little weird. Jade calls me OCD, so I’m a little sensitive about it. It really is a disorder I have. I mean, it’s not like a doctor’s diagnosed me or anything like that. I just figure, having Mia and all, it’s easier to keep things controlled and organized.”

  “That makes sense.”

  She nibbled her lip and looked down. Should she pay him? Offer him something to drink? Her toes twitched as an awkward silence fell between them. She sensed him watching her.

  “And Mia’s father…”

  Her gaze jerked to his. That was the last thing she expected him to mention.

  He shook his head. “Never mind, that really isn’t any of my—”

  “Mia’s father is out of our lives. She’s never met him and he only saw her when she was two days old. Last I heard he was in Japan.”

  “Japan?”

  “Yeah. He’s in the military.”

  “So you’re okay with him not taking responsibility for his actions?”

  She shifted. “Mia was the result of both our actions, but she’s my child. She doesn’t need a father for me to be a good mother.”

  “Very true.” He studied her and she fought the urge to fidget. “How old were you when you had Mia?”

  “Eighteen.” Her gaze turned challenging as she braced for his reaction.

  His dark brows arched. “That’s pretty amazing.” Nodding, he crossed his arms over his chest, appearing open and at ease.

  Unused to flattery, his praise made her self-conscious. Falling back on old defense mechanisms, she brushed off his compliment by minimizing herself. “Hardly, I do what hundreds of moms do every day. I don’t have the luxury or patience to wait for some rich man to sweep me off my feet and make everything easy. Although, that’s what my mother’s hoping for,” she joked.

  “Do your parents help you out?”

  “Uh, no. Not exactly. Other than taking Mia on Sundays, they aren’t really involved in my life. They never really got over the disgrace of me getting pregnant in high school.”