Read Online Waiting for You by Heather Huffman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heather Huffman
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event she put together out east, right?”
“In Boston.”
“If it were anyone other than Kate, I’d think it odd.”
Karise waited for him to expound, but he didn’t. “How so?”
“That she brought you back with her despite not really knowing you. And honestly, that you agreed.”
Some of the joy had just been taken out of Karise’s brisket. “In the short time I’ve known Kate, she’s been one of the truest friends I’ve ever had.”
“Ah.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe you’re just kindred spirits.”
“Maybe.” Karise forced herself to smile in return before making a beeline to the farthest corner of the party. All sense of belonging had been stripped away in that short conversation, leaving Karise to feel like a silly fool who had no business being in these people’s home.
Presents were opened. Ponies were ridden. Cake was cut; Jonathan wore as much of it as he consumed and squealed with delight after painting his father’s face with icing. By the time Kate whisked the birthday boy away for his bath and bed, Karise was emotionally exhausted. She was about to slink back to the guest house when Aidan approached, carrying his sleepy daughter.
“I think we’re all partied out.” He planted a kiss on top of Zoe’s head before resting his chin there.
“She has the right idea.”
“You want to snuggle in my arms?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Sleep.”
“You want to sleep in my arms?”
“I want to sleep in my bed.” Karise was battling between amusement and irritation. At least his antics had eased her self-pity.
“I could come back after I tuck Zoe in.” The tone in his voice told her he was teasing.
Karise knew she wasn’t going to win with the particular mood he was in. “Goodnight, Aidan.”
“Hey Karise,” he called softly when she would have walked away. “Thanks for today. Zoe really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it.”
“I meant what I said; I can always use friends.”
“You’re killing me.”
She stood on tiptoe so she could lean over Zoe to brush a kiss on his cheek. “See you around.”
“Killing me,” he reiterated to her retreating back.
C HAPTER S IX
KARISE MIGHT HAVE GONE to sleep that night dreaming of Aidan, but the next day she’d awoken with a renewed determination not to become entangled. To that end, and to prove herself worthy to Jack Cooper, she threw herself into her work. It seemed the surest way to keep her mind off men – both the attractive kind and the butthead kind. Whenever one would creep his way into her thoughts, she would dig a little deeper into the task at hand.
She’d debated leaving for about half a minute before setting the thought aside. Kate was a grown woman and she wanted Karise here. If Jack didn’t, he needed to take that up with his daughter. Still, it bothered Karise to her core that someone who didn’t know her was choosing not to like her. At least she’d earned William’s disdain.
The further she got into the house project, though, the more she began to question the wisdom of her choice. Doodling sketches of houses was entirely different from designing a working home, which was entirely different from designing an office building. The whole process was taking longer than it should have because Karise kept running into roadblocks. Just about the time she’d think she was finished, she’d meet with Kate only to find out the two hadn’t been as in sync as she’d thought.
There was also the consideration that she didn’t have any builder contacts in the area. After running into several dead ends, she circled back and decided to start with the builders she knew out east in hopes that one of them could point her in the right direction.
Adding to the stress was the mountain of zoning laws and codes she had to relearn since moving to a new area and field. Sometimes, at the end of the day, she’d collapse on the couch. Brain-fried, she’d stare at the blank television screen and wonder what
“In Boston.”
“If it were anyone other than Kate, I’d think it odd.”
Karise waited for him to expound, but he didn’t. “How so?”
“That she brought you back with her despite not really knowing you. And honestly, that you agreed.”
Some of the joy had just been taken out of Karise’s brisket. “In the short time I’ve known Kate, she’s been one of the truest friends I’ve ever had.”
“Ah.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe you’re just kindred spirits.”
“Maybe.” Karise forced herself to smile in return before making a beeline to the farthest corner of the party. All sense of belonging had been stripped away in that short conversation, leaving Karise to feel like a silly fool who had no business being in these people’s home.
Presents were opened. Ponies were ridden. Cake was cut; Jonathan wore as much of it as he consumed and squealed with delight after painting his father’s face with icing. By the time Kate whisked the birthday boy away for his bath and bed, Karise was emotionally exhausted. She was about to slink back to the guest house when Aidan approached, carrying his sleepy daughter.
“I think we’re all partied out.” He planted a kiss on top of Zoe’s head before resting his chin there.
“She has the right idea.”
“You want to snuggle in my arms?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Sleep.”
“You want to sleep in my arms?”
“I want to sleep in my bed.” Karise was battling between amusement and irritation. At least his antics had eased her self-pity.
“I could come back after I tuck Zoe in.” The tone in his voice told her he was teasing.
Karise knew she wasn’t going to win with the particular mood he was in. “Goodnight, Aidan.”
“Hey Karise,” he called softly when she would have walked away. “Thanks for today. Zoe really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it.”
“I meant what I said; I can always use friends.”
“You’re killing me.”
She stood on tiptoe so she could lean over Zoe to brush a kiss on his cheek. “See you around.”
“Killing me,” he reiterated to her retreating back.
C HAPTER S IX
KARISE MIGHT HAVE GONE to sleep that night dreaming of Aidan, but the next day she’d awoken with a renewed determination not to become entangled. To that end, and to prove herself worthy to Jack Cooper, she threw herself into her work. It seemed the surest way to keep her mind off men – both the attractive kind and the butthead kind. Whenever one would creep his way into her thoughts, she would dig a little deeper into the task at hand.
She’d debated leaving for about half a minute before setting the thought aside. Kate was a grown woman and she wanted Karise here. If Jack didn’t, he needed to take that up with his daughter. Still, it bothered Karise to her core that someone who didn’t know her was choosing not to like her. At least she’d earned William’s disdain.
The further she got into the house project, though, the more she began to question the wisdom of her choice. Doodling sketches of houses was entirely different from designing a working home, which was entirely different from designing an office building. The whole process was taking longer than it should have because Karise kept running into roadblocks. Just about the time she’d think she was finished, she’d meet with Kate only to find out the two hadn’t been as in sync as she’d thought.
There was also the consideration that she didn’t have any builder contacts in the area. After running into several dead ends, she circled back and decided to start with the builders she knew out east in hopes that one of them could point her in the right direction.
Adding to the stress was the mountain of zoning laws and codes she had to relearn since moving to a new area and field. Sometimes, at the end of the day, she’d collapse on the couch. Brain-fried, she’d stare at the blank television screen and wonder what
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