Wet(27)

Feeling numb and confused, Katy turned from Adam and made her way back to her cottage, only to find Granddaddy Errol standing on her front porch. He looked guilty about something and more than a little concerned. That was when she noticed the reporters on the street. She’d been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t noticed how antsy and excited they’d become. Deputy Veinotte had to employ the help of a few more men to keep them in line.

“What?” she asked when her gaze locked on Errol’s.

“You’d better come inside, lassie.”

Her grandfather led her to the sofa and told her to have a seat while he flicked on the news. Katy felt the color drain from her face as she listened to the perky blonde reporter state that Kathleen Wilson’s return to Whispering Cove was simply a marketing ploy.

After all, who didn’t love a juicy story about young love, especially when the male lead was a heroic firefighter? She then went on to report that with Kathleen’s ratings dropping, speculation was that she and her publicist had planned the whole event, and now with the public’s interest piqued, every network wanted a piece of Kathleen Wilson. The reporter then announced that Kathleen had, in fact, renewed her contract.

“Oh no,” she put her hand over her mouth, thinking how quickly the word had spread, and before she could talk to Trent. “Trent must have seen this.”

“Everyone’s seen it. But Trent heard about it the other day. Apparently some reporter tipped him off. Told him you were using him. I overheard the whole thing.”

Katy’s jaw dropped. “He never said anything.”

But that must have been why he’d been so distracted. Her stomach knotted and she couldn’t help but wonder if, now that an official statement had been made, he’d torn out of town so he could leave her before she had a chance to leave him. Again.

“I didn’t mean for it to go down like this, Katy.”

She turned her head to see Errol. “What are you talking about?”

“I tipped off the reporters.”

Katy jumped to her feet. “You did what?”

“Thought it might help you see who really cared about you.” He looked so sad and remorseful, Katy’s heart went out to him. He gave her a sheepish look. “I’m old, Katy. Sometimes my ideas aren’t so well thought out.”

“Business wasn’t really down at the Seafarer either, was it?”

He shook his head. “Nah, just wanted to get you home, lassie. Just wanted to show you where you belong.”

Honestly, she couldn’t fault her granddaddy for that. He loved her, cared about her and wanted only what was best for her.

Like Trent.

“The fires?” she asked

“Yup,” he admitted. “I was responsible for them too.”

Katy shook her head in dismay. “Don’t you understand the danger involved? You could have…”

Her granddaddy cut her off. “You were never in any danger, Katy. Not with Trent looking out for you. Besides, Adam was in on it with me.”

“Adam?”

“Yeah, he wanted you two together as much as me. Hell, the whole town knows you two belong together.” He gave a long, heavy sigh. “Dammit, girl, you’re the only one who doesn’t know where you belong.”

Emotions swelled inside her. “I know where I belong,” she said softly.

Just then her door flung open and she turned to see Trent standing there, his eyes were dark and stormy, his mouth tight, set in a fine line. The torment on his face tore at her heart. He looked so lost, so vulnerable, so much like he had ten years ago when she told him she was leaving town.

“And where might that be, Katy?” he asked.



When Katy didn’t answer, Trent stepped through the door. “Well, where might that be?” he asked again.

“Trent, I’m sorry.” Pained blue eyes met his as she took a tentative step toward him.

His mind raced, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. “Sorry? What are you sorry for?”

Her mouth turned down in a frown. “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

The room around him began to spin and a sick feeling welled up in the pit of his stomach as she apologized to him. “So what they said is true?” he managed to get out around the lump in his throat as he shook his head, still unable to believe it.

“No, of course not. Well, not all of it.”

He narrowed his gaze, hope rushing through him. “Which part is true?”

“The contract part.”

Trent raked his hand through is hair. Chaos erupted inside him and his mind raced. “You really signed it?”

She nodded quickly.

“Katy,” he began, perplexed.