HellKat (12 page)

“Please don’t take anything personally tonight. Okay? They can be a tough crowd.”

He lifted her chin. “Hey, I’m a big boy. I’ve had to handle plenty of tough crowds. This’ll hardly be my first rodeo.” He stroked her cheek. “Don’t you worry about me.”

Given his history, she understood the truth in his statement, but apprehension still nibbled around the edges. Her real concern had less to do with Tucker and more to do with the uneasy certainty her family would disappoint her tonight.

****

The private elevator opened to the spacious penthouse foyer with its Italian marble floor, gold leaf moldings, Renaissance art, and glimmering crystal chandelier. Kat’s throat tightened. A museum, not a home.

Tucker bent down. “Sure I’m dressed okay?”

“Absolutely.” She smoothed his jacket front. “You look terrific—very handsome.” She kissed his cheek, then wiped away the smudge of lipstick. “If anything, you’re overdressed. I told you before, it’s always business casual for family-only dinners.”

“Ms. James, may I take your coat and purse?”

“Hi, Stewart. Yes, thank you,” she said, as Tucker helped her shrug out of her coat. “Is anyone else here yet?”

“You’re the last to arrive. Everyone is gathered in the main dining hall, Ms. James.” He answered the question on her face. “They all arrived a bit earlier than usual.” Kat’s heart ticked up a few beats.

“And you, sir? May I take your jacket?”

Tucker held his hand up. “I’m just fine, thanks.”

Stewart gave a curt nod, then turned on his heel.

A familiar laugh and voice echoed in the distance, causing a dart of disquiet in Kat’s chest. Why would he be here? As she and Tucker made their way deeper through the old world decor, Sarah James stepped into the hallway, her hand draped comfortably inside Grant Collins’s bent elbow. Kat stopped dead in her tracks; Tucker stiffened beside her, his hand moving to rest at her lower back. Sarah James didn’t miss a beat, not the least bit ruffled. Kat’s stomach sank. This had already started off worse than she’d expected.

“Kathryn, darling, look who stopped by to say hello.” The words dripped like syrupy-sweet honey off her deceitful red lips, her adoration directed at Grant. Kat shifted blame between her mother and her visibly uneasy ex. However, she quickly surmised one thing: Grant had had no part in this setup, the apology evident in his eyes. He’d probably been trying to make a quick exit once he got wind of the grand scheme. Grant stole a quick glimpse of Tucker, and then offered a tight smile to Kat.

“I really must be going, Sarah,” Grant said. He did his best to break away from her clutches.

“Oh, Grant, I really wish you would stay. It’s been too long, and I have so enjoyed catching up with you.” He shook his head, the discomfort growing on his handsome face. “Well, all right, then. If you must,” she said, her dramatic disappointment worthy of Broadway. “I’ll see you out.” Sarah escorted Grant down the hall without acknowledging or speaking to Tucker.

Kat found the air difficult to breathe as anger and disappointment expanded in her chest.

Tucker’s warm hand slid around hers. “It’s okay.”

Her mother brushed past them.

“Mother!”

Sarah halted but did not turn around. Kat released Tucker’s hand and stomped up behind her. “How could you be so rude? This isn’t the way to start things off, Mother. He’s a guest.
My
guest.”

Sarah faced her daughter. “This is
my
home. I will set whatever tone I wish, with
whomever
I wish.” The insult was loud enough for Tucker to hear. Then she turned and continued her determined stride down the hall. Kat gawked after her in disbelief, watching the flouncing chiffon as her mother retreated around the corner.

Sarah James wanted to play hardball tonight, huh? Ordinarily, Kat would be game, meet them all head-on, but with Tucker in tow she wasn’t sure that was a good idea.

He deserved better.

She startled from Tucker’s gentle caress at her shoulder. “We’re not going in there. We’re leaving.”

As she attempted to make her exit, Tucker pulled her to face him. “Don’t give them what they want, Kat. It’s way too early to fold.”

“I’m not going to subject either one of us to whatever rudeness my mother, or anyone else, has planned.”

Tucker’s focus skipped past Kat and he chuckled as he seemed to replay the past in his head. Then he brought his wise eyes back to hers, looking more determined than ever.

“They’re not gonna throw anything at me I haven’t already dealt with; trust me. This’ll be a walk in the park compared to movin’ into John Diamond’s house when I was a boy. Or the media frenzy his kids stirred up these past few years.” As he stroked her face, his features softened. “You’re strong, and they know it. Don’t let ’em break you, Kat.” She wrapped her arms around him, squeezed his body to hers. “I’m the only one who gets to do that.”

His husky words sent a tickle up her spine.

She pulled away, her expression shrewd. “Temporarily, of course.”

The inside joke made them smile.

“Wouldn’t want it any other way, sweetheart.”

His words, his support, brought unexpected relief. Relief that, for the first time, someone would be at her side when she confronted her family. Someone as strong as she was, experienced in blocking cutting words meant to tear a person down, cause self-doubts. She knew then and there: he was worth whatever hostilities awaited them next.

She only hoped he’d feel the same about her after tonight.

A crystal chandelier splashed its muted glow around the lavish dining room, casting long shadows across marble sculptures, rare paintings, and designer topiaries. The James clan chatted on the other side of the room as a server offered hors d’oeuvres. The room fell silent as all attention, and judgment, landed on Kat and Tucker. Kyle stood off to one side sporting an encouraging grin. He nodded his head in tacit support, urging her on.

“Good evening, everyone.” She made deliberate eye contact with each family member—except her mother. “I’d like to introduce Tucker Williams.” She squeezed his hand tight, smiled up at him, then returned her attention back to the unfriendly group. “The new man in my life.”

Huffs, sideways glances, and muffled comments greeted them. Not outstretched hands, friendly smiles, or even the charade of manners.

Still holding Tucker’s hand, Kat introduced her father and two oldest brothers along with their high-maintenance wives. Before she could even utter Kyle’s name, he’d bounded around the table to shake Tucker’s hand and slap a hearty pat on his back.

“Nice to meet you, Tucker. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you from my little sister. Contrary to the opinions of some,” he cleared his throat, “I trust her judgment. Just keep her smiling, and you and I will get along just fine.”

“Thank you, Kyle. I intend to make her smile as much as possible.”

Out of the corner of Kat’s eye, her mother whispered to her father.

“Katie, you forgot to introduce your mother.”

“I didn’t forget. It was intentional.” The sisters-in-law gasped in unison. “Mother made it quite clear in the hallway, she has no desire for an introduction.” Kat’s stare landed without apology on her mother. Sarah James appeared to work hard not to shrink under Kat’s scrutiny and the sting of public embarrassment.

Henry James blustered, his face shaded red, but he recovered quickly. He then introduced his wife to Tucker. Sarah seemed frozen, barely able to glance in Tucker’s direction as he nodded and smiled politely.

Nervous chatter resumed on the other side of the room. Kat, Tucker, and Kyle formed their own alliance. Kat listened and delighted in the effortless way Kyle and Tucker exchanged stories and laughs.

She could feel the daggers in her back from the enemy camp, hear their muffled discontent. Then she zoomed in on the table, skipped along the formal table settings, an arrangement of tiered plates lined on three sides by an array of multiple forks, spoons, and knives. Wine glasses, champagne flutes, and water goblets rounded off one corner of each setting, with a bread plate and butter knife at the other. There were even name cards—
Grant
boldly displayed on one of them. Kat’s disappointment escalated to a new level.

Sarah James lived for pomp and circumstance, but this level exceeded the norm for one of their routine family gatherings, holidays excluded. Clearly, her mother had rigged a test in hopes of embarrassing Tucker. Her family was apparently hell-bent on exploiting the differences between them, ready to cheer from their ivory towers when he floundered. They wanted to make him feel as uncomfortable, as unwelcome, and out of his element as possible.

Resentment swelled inside her.

Then something else registered: her father and brothers were wearing suit jackets and ties. They never dressed up for these informal dinners. What happened to business casual? She released some tension with an aggravated huff and shook her head. She should’ve let Tucker wear his dress shirt and tie like he’d wanted.

Then she noticed Kyle’s loosened collar and missing tie—a remnant peeking above his jacket pocket. Kyle met her questioning expression with a wink as he tucked the tie fully into his pocket. Tucker’s wide, warm hand slid around her waist and pulled her closer as she gave her handsome brother a grateful smile and mouthed
thank you
.

Her heart ached at the thought of him moving to the opposite coast. Might as well be a world away.

Epic fail. Without guidance, Tucker had navigated the obstacle course of fine china, silver, and crystal arranged before him with the poise of upper-crust breeding. Mother must be so disappointed. An uncontrollable grin spread across Kat’s face.

This man continued to surprise her with the way he moved with unhurried ease past her usual defenses, all the while luring her deeper into his world with less and less struggle from her.

He was sneaky that way.

As she sipped dessert wine, Parker sat across from her, judged her with those black, calculating eyes she’d never trusted. He watched her as if he were waiting, planning ... What? What the hell had she ever done to him? He never had an answer when she asked.

Kat refused to lose to her aloof brother. This was their game, after all. The only meaningful way in which they communicated: the stare down. Who would blink first? Who would look away first? The diversion had always ended in a tie, an outside force halting their competition, pulling one of them away with a question or a nudge. This time their mother ended the showdown. Parker dragged his eyes from Kat’s to answer the question posed to him.

A strong, warm hand covered her knee, slid midway up her thigh. Her attention shifted to Tucker and the curious look on his face, the question about Parker and her in his expression. She took his hand in hers and squeezed, shook her head, nothing for him to be concerned about.

Dinner conversation had primarily focused on bland news stories, political events, and the charities and fundraisers her sisters-in-law headed. Then talk of prep schools, universities, and the grad school admissions of the older children, followed by a lengthy and quite serious discussion of the potential pairings for her unsuspecting nieces and nephews with the offspring of other suitable high-born families.

Kat couldn’t help but wonder if they still had discussions like this about her. Certainly not. She had to be past her expiration date at this point. She accidently snorted at the thought, drawing unwanted attention and judgmental glares.

She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. Please continue. It’s riveting.” She and Tucker exchanged conspiratorial glances. Kyle clasped his hands and pressed them against his lips, no doubt to conceal a traitorous grin.

“Do you find something
funny
, Kathryn? Perhaps you should share it with us.” Sarah James’s voice cut like a cold steel blade.

No surprise. Tearing up Grant’s name card and then tossing the shredded bits like confetti had not gone over well before dinner.

“No, Mother, nothing to share. Because I haven’t found one thing funny tonight.” The two women locked eyes. With the exception of Kyle, the James clan had ignored Tucker, and Kat too. Well, she’d had her fill of the cold shoulder.

Sarah’s posture stiffened further, her head tilted. “I’m so sorry we haven’t entertained you this evening, Kathryn.”

“I’m sorry too, Mother. You have no idea how sorry.” Tucker gripped Kat’s hand under the table. The tension in the room thickened. “I didn’t come here tonight expecting to be entertained, but I did come here expecting common decency, good manners, and respect. Standards you’ve always demanded of others.”

Henry James’s tired voice bellowed from the other end of the table. “How long will you be in New York, Mr. Williams?”

“That’s exactly what I’d like to know,” said Charlie, his tone arrogant as he tossed his linen napkin on his empty plate.

Tucker zeroed in on Charlie’s smug face. “I don’t live by arbitrary deadlines.” He paused and cocked his head. “I plan on staying as long as I want.”

Charlie huffed and glanced over his wife’s coiffed head to exchange a bemused glance with Parker.

“Don’t you have a company to run back home in
Montana
?” He snickered. “Or maybe someone else does the heavy lifting for you … while you clean out horse stalls.”

The death grip Tucker had on Kat’s leg prevented her from diving across the table. His jaw flexed, but the man did not look ruffled.

“If you’ve got somethin’ to say to me, Charlie, then be a man and spit it out.”

Charlie’s mouth fell open. “Who exactly do you think you are? Using that tone with me in
my
family’s home.”

“I’m the man you clearly have a problem with. And it looks like you’re the man who’s been picked to run me outta town. So get on with it. Let’s just get this song and dance over with right here, right now, in front of everybody. Then we’ll all be on the same page after tonight.” He held his hands up. “I’ve got nothin’ to hide. How about you?” Tucker’s question sounded more like a subtle threat.

Charlie appeared uncomfortable. He glanced around the table, shoring up his support. Kat stole a quick glance in Kyle’s direction. He seemed mesmerized with apparent admiration for Tucker. Charlie loosened his tie and shrugged out of his suit coat and handed it off to his wife, Cecily. The two men stared at one another, playing a game of chicken.

Charlie broke the stalemate. “I’m sure you can understand why we would have concerns with any man Kat brings into our family. It’s only natural we would be cautious, reserved in our acceptance.” Charlie angled forward, sleeves rolled up for serious business. “You have to admit there is a lot of,” his face contorted, “
unpleasantness
surrounding you. Your
family
, or families as it were, don’t seem enamored of you, which makes me wonder why we should be.”

Tucker remained silent for a few beats, probably contemplating the long road ahead.

“I see. You’re one of those people. The kind who like to talk without actually sayin’ anything. I’m supposed to guess, let you lead in a dance of words without you having to roll around in the mud. You don’t like to get dirty—at least not when people are watching.”

Tucker cut off Charlie’s sputter.

“So, reading between the lines, I’m guessing you’ve bought into the media hype John Diamond’s kids pedaled to anyone who would listen. The time you’ve taken to be my judge and jury probably amounts to a few clicks on a keyboard by one of your secretaries. You decided I was out before I ever walked in, because you don’t like the way the reins of Diamond Industries were handed over to me. You think I didn’t deserve it, being a bastard son and all,” he paused, “as opposed to just being a bastard.”

The air sucked out of the room, leaving behind a crush of silence and slackened jaws.

Tucker had come out swinging, gloves off.

This wasn’t the laid-back Tucker Williams to whom Kat had become accustomed. No, the man next to her believed the best defense was a killer offense. She hadn’t expected it, but in retrospect, maybe she should have. He’d come up against this type of bias most of his life. He probably went around locked and loaded, ready to strike. Oh yeah, he really had been to this rodeo before, many times.

Charlie recovered without missing a beat. “Oh, I assure you it was more than a few clicks on a keyboard.” He waited a moment, his demeanor arrogant. “Are you planning on running Diamond Industries into the ground with your tree-hugging ventures? Looking for someone,” his eyes skipped to Kat, “to shore up your cash flow so you can continue to
play
at being a businessman?”

Tucker leaned across the table with a mocking grin. “What’ve you got against trees, Charlie? You don’t like clean air? Or is it clean water you have a problem with?”

Charlie looked perplexed but shook it off. “It seems to me you’re one of those extremists. You probably buy into all the hype about climate change.” His hands flew up, then landed hard on the table. “Well, of course, you do. You push for environmental legislation every chance you get in your state. You’re for regulations that cripple businesses and kill jobs.”

Tucker chuckled. “Been drinkin’
that
Kool-Aid, huh, Charlie?” Tucker settled back in his chair. “I bet your Kool-Aid wasn’t made with the water from the Platte River, now was it?”

Charlie’s smug expression drained away, taking all his color with it. “Excuse me?” His voice was tight and dialed down.

“Want to place bets on whether the land your company owns in Nebraska, your factory that poisoned drinking water and polluted the river, becomes a Superfund site? Or maybe it’s just a line item in your financials. You know, a cost of doing business—killin’ wildlife and people, instead of jobs.”

“What!” Kat looked to Kyle for assurances, but he seemed far more engrossed with whatever he was pretending to scrape off the tablecloth.

Parker raised his hand to silence Charlie’s sputtering rebuttal. “The matter is under investigation. Nothing has been proven and you know that, Mr. Williams. For all we know ecoterrorists are to blame.” Parker’s crisp, articulated words had all the markers of an orchestrated sound bite, a sleight of hand, a deliberate distraction. “And
you
,” he directed his denunciation at Kat, “have never had any interest in the family business. I would advise you not to start now.”

Parker’s venomous tone startled Kat. Oh, she’d heard it before—when no one else was around to hear. But now he’d slipped and used it in front of others, an apparent crack in his veneer.

She brushed it off and stood her ground. “The mere fact you’ve just spoken more words to me than you have in years tells me I’m just in time. I don’t want to be involved in the business, but clearly, I need to know what the hell is going on. What
you’ve
gotten this family involved in.”

Her focus shifted to Charlie. “Do you believe the ecoterrorism spin?” He ignored her question, his apprehension evident, his attention aimed at Tucker.

Tucker filled in the blanks. “I don’t much care for the definition of ecoterrorism. I think it misses the mark entirely, maybe even intentionally. I think people who willfully decide to pollute and poison our lands, air, and water and then turn around and hide behind a corporate shield,” he pointed at Parker, “they’re the
real
ecoterrorists.

“And what do they do next, Parker? Why, they pick up and move, don’t they. Rename, rebrand, and reorganize. Isn’t that the strategy? Find some country with lax environmental regulations, if any. Someplace where the people are barely paid a livable wage and will do almost anything to put food on the table, like breathin’ in toxic fumes while they poison their piece of the world. But, hey, it sure does look good on the bottom line, doesn’t it? I bet you have a sizable budget for all the greenwashing you have to do.”

Parker’s impassive manner failed to hide the malice in his eyes.

“Your bleeding heart won’t find a sympathetic audience here, Mr. Williams. You should go back home—with your own kind.”

“I would, but I’m havin’ too much fun here.” His jaw ticked.

Charlie cut in, pointed a finger. “When are you going to grow up, Kat? Huh? This wasn’t funny when you were younger, and at your age it’s just pathetic. When are you going to stop running through men and embarrassing Mother like this? You let the best of them walk right out of here tonight.”

Kat huffed. “If you like him so much, Charlie, maybe you should run after him!”

Henry James’s hand slammed down on the tabletop, rattling the dinnerware and the guests. “Enough!” He slowly scanned the cowed group, forced their rancor to stew in stinging silence. “It appears to me some of you were clued in on tonight’s backdoor agenda, while others were left in the dark.” His sharp judgment landed on Sarah; she twitched under his allegation. “And it will be discussed—in private.”

Henry expelled an irritated breath and leaned back against his seat, arms extended before him on the table. He singled out his daughter. “You have always been independent, Katie. I respect that about you, I always have. I am proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished on your own. I’m glad to see my father’s work ethic, ambition, and self-reliance passed along to someone in this family.” He paused, admiration apparent in his eyes. “You are like a force of nature. Not everyone appreciates it. But I do.” A smile teased at the surface, and then faded away.

His dimming focus shifted to the man who’d had a target on his back before he’d even arrived. “And you,” he scrutinized Tucker, “I don’t know whether I like you, Mr. Williams. I’ll have to think about it, talk to my daughter. But I do know this: I like a man who speaks plainly, says what he means. So you’ve got that going for you.”