Caught in the Act (The Davenports) (33 page)

“I will. I promise. But first I need to know about Hollister.”

She wasn’t sure why, but he seemed intent on talking about Brody. So, fine. She’d talk. She crossed her arms over herself and shook her head. “I don’t know if what I feel matters that much. I messed up. A lot.”

“Yeah, I picked up on that. Good to know you aren’t perfect. Dad always acted as though you could do no wrong.”

Her expression dropped. He’d just brought up what she had to tell him about their dad. She slipped her arm through his and edged them both farther away from the crowd.

“There’s something you should know,” she began.

“Let me go first. I might have an even bigger surprise in store than you do.”

“I doubt it.” But then she thought about what he was implying. She narrowed her eyes on him. “Are you saying you know what I want to tell you?”

“That your father isn’t my father?” he asked. At her gasp, he nodded. “Yeah. I knew that.”

“How?”

“Right before I turned eighteen, Dad let it
slip
. We were arguing. He was pissed off because—” He abruptly cut off his words, and his eyes darted briefly away. When they returned, he shook his head before continuing. “We didn’t see eye-to-eye on a couple of things.”

She studied him, wishing he would tell her more, but knowing he wouldn’t. He’d made a lifetime of keeping his distance. “So he just told you?” she asked.

“He just told me. He acted like it came out accidentally, but it didn’t. He wanted me to know. He hated me for that.”

She couldn’t imagine getting such a shock, especially as a kid. Maybe she’d had blinders on toward her dad her whole life, too. But then, he had gotten a teenage girl pregnant. Clearly she hadn’t seen all that he was.

“Does that play into why you don’t come home much?” she asked.

He eyed her before answering. “You know it does.”

She nodded. How could it not? “What’s
your
secret, then?”

He looked over her head for a moment, as if looking for the quickest path out of there. But he didn’t leave. He once again brought his gaze back to hers. His eyes weren’t like hers and JP’s. They’d gotten the blue that had been passed down through generations of Davenports. That should have given it away years ago. Bennett’s were a sea-green.

“I know who my father is,” he said.

Her eyes went wide.

Then he nodded toward the stage. Toward Brody.

“You know how he didn’t want anyone to know he’s a Harrison?”

Cat turned toward Brody. It was as if the world slowed down. “Yes,” she said carefully.

“Neither do I.”

Oh. Fuck.

She turned back to Bennett. “Your father is—”

“Arthur Harrison.” He gave a little nod with the words. “I personally think you should
marry
Hollister. Keep it all in the family.”

“Oh, my God,” she whispered. What was wrong with her family?

Bennett smiled then, and suddenly she saw it. He had Brody’s eyes. Annabelle’s eyes.

She shook her head in disbelief. “He and Mom?” She swallowed. “Arthur Harrison and our mother?”

“That’s the story I hear. She cheated on our father right before they got married and didn’t tell him she was pregnant until after the
I do
s.”

“She slept with his family’s biggest enemy?” Cat stood in amazement at yet one more secret her mother had closely guarded. “No wonder she and Dad hated the name so much.”

“Makes sense. Dad did not sound like a fan when he told me.” He nodded behind her. “Here comes your guy. I’m going to go say hi to the others. Meet this long-lost daughter of yours.” He glanced over her shoulder once again, then winked at her. “Good luck.”

He left, and Cat slowly turned to find Brody. He looked so good. And he was her brother’s . . .
oh, God
.

“I’m glad you came,” Brody said. Hearing his voice calmed her instantly.

“I sort of had to be here,” she said. “It’s my project.”

He stared at her as if drinking her in. “That the only reason you’re here?”

“I don’t know. I also heard there was this Broadway play being performed tonight. Wanted to see what that was all about.” She lost the ability to act unconcerned and broke loose in a wide smile. “Congratulations, Brody.” She did not hug him like she wanted to do. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks.” He glanced away from her then, looking toward her family—who stood with his family and Patricia.

“How’s your week been?” she asked. She wanted to hear him talk, if nothing else. “Annabelle says she’s had a great time with you.”

“It’s been good.” He looked back at her. “I have a kid. That’s mind-blowing.”

“She looks so much like you.”

“And you. She’s gorgeous.”

Cat nodded. Her nerves had ratcheted up and she’d noticed that her hands were now shaking. She shoved them behind her back. “And Thomas?” she asked. “How’s that going?”

She knew Thomas had left town, but she wasn’t aware of the circumstances. Other than that his cover had been blown. He’d tried to fake his way beyond it, but no one had bought it. Brody gave her a look now, as if to say that she should know how it was going.

“He’s gone for good. And between him and your mom, I’m not sure if anyone in your great state of Georgia would elect either one of them.”

“I know. I think the governor is scrounging around, trying to line up a replacement in case the voters try to get Mom out before election day. It’s my understanding she’s not having an easy time of it lately.”

“You’re really not talking to her?”

“Haven’t since JP kicked her out of the house. I found out about”—she nodded toward their families—“Annabelle, and my brother made her leave before I could.”

They both grew silent then as they stood together and watched the others. Everyone was animatedly talking except his mother. She stood slightly apart from the others, in front of Stone, her shoulder leaned back into his chest. It was a comfortable kind of stance.

“You do know I quit paying him a week ago, right?”

Brody turned his head to her. “No,” he said slowly. “I did
not
know that.”

“Apparently he’s taking some time off this week.”

“But he’s here.”

Cat nodded. “With your mother.”

“He’s been staying out at her house.” The horrified expression on his face was hilarious.

“It’s not all bad. Maybe you’ll get a new dad soon. You could use that.”

His smirk was even funnier than his horror. “That’s not funny.”

“I thought it was,” she said drily.

They went back to watching, and Cat smiled now as Bennett lifted Tyler to his shoulders. Annabelle was dancing around with Becca, and the adults looked on with fondness.

“Our daughter is pretty amazing,” Brody said.

“She is.”

“Smart, too.”

Cat smiled at Brody. “She got that from her dad.”

He didn’t smile back. “How bad do you think we would have messed her up?”

Pressure built in her chest. “I’m almost afraid to imagine.”

“Yeah.”

They grew silent again. It was a more comfortable silence now. This was a weird conversation, but at the same time, it felt like just the thing that they needed.

“The kids say thanks for their coloring books,” she told him.

“They’re welcome. And their mom?” He peeked at her. “What does she say?”

“She said that she doesn’t do a lot of coloring these days, but when she does, she does try to stick outside the lines.”

He suddenly reached for her, turned her to him. His eyes were imploring. “I want to color outside the lines, too, Cat. I do. We both kept things from each other. We both messed up. But Annabelle pointed something out to me the other day. Something that hurt, actually.”

“What?”

“She said she wouldn’t have wanted us for parents.”

Cat hung her head. “She told me that, too.”

“I think she might be right.”

“I’m so sorry, Brody.” Cat couldn’t stand it any longer. She had to touch him. She put a hand on his arm. “If I could go back . . .”

“I know. I’ve thought about that all week. If we could go back. If only you would have told me. If we could have stayed together.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think
we
would have worked.”

“Why not?”

“It took me thirty-five years to see who my mother was. Don’t you think she would have played a large part in things? In us?”

They stared at each other, both thinking about the past. Both thinking about mistakes.

“I don’t want to do this without you, Cat. I don’t want to do
anything
without you.”

Cat’s eyes rounded in shock. Was he going to forgive her?

“Mistakes or not,” Brody continued, “and we’ve both made them—I want you with me. I can’t get past that. I’ve always wanted you with me.”

He paused and she sucked in a breath. “Brody—”

“Marry me, Cat? I can’t see anything else to do. I love you.”

Their daughter glanced over at them, then, as if she could sense what was going on.

“Are you doing this because of her?” Cat asked, afraid to believe it was real. She knew Annabelle wanted to see their romance as the Romeo and Juliet story the media had made it out to be—minus the poison and death ending, of course. But that wasn’t real. It wasn’t who they were.

“She wants me to marry you, yes. We talked about it. In fact, she pestered me to death about it. But she’s not the one who showed up here tonight with a ring.”

“You have a ring?” Cat gasped. She flicked her gaze over him. “On you now?”

“In my pocket.”

Her eyes zeroed in on his pants pockets. “Do I get to see it?”

“Not unless you say yes.”

She sighed. It was so scary. All of it. And she was terrified to hope. “Look around, Brody,” she begged. “Is this really what you want? I’m a mother. I have two kids.”

“You have three kids.”

She gave an agreeing nod. “I have three kids.”

“I want to make it at least four,” he told her.

Her heart dropped to her stomach. “You want a baby?”

“With you, I do. I want everything with you.”

“Oh, God,” she moaned. “You’re killing me here.”

“Then let me kill you for the rest of your life, Kitty Cat. We’ve wasted too much time already.” He leaned in close. “And I’m not just talking about wasting time not being together. I’ve missed you this week.” He took her hand and squeezed it hard. “My
body
has missed you this week.”

She shivered from his words. “Be careful. People are watching.”

“Then let them watch.” He glanced at the small shed where she knew the newly purchased lawn equipment was stored. “I wouldn’t mind if they watched us disappear in there for a bit.”

She glanced at the shed herself and felt her cheeks heat. Then she grew serious. She stared up at him. At the stubble she found so sexy. At the nerdy little glasses. She loved him so much.

“Do you really think we could make this work after all this time?”

He took her hand. “I think we have to. We’re meant for each other. I’m not sure we could survive another twenty years apart.”

She tended to agree. But there was one tiny matter she would need to share with him first.

“Before I answer,” she stalled, “there’s a teeny-tiny secret I have to fill you in on. It could change your mind.”

His eyes narrowed on her. “Another secret?”

“I know,” she moaned out. “You’d think we’d have them all out by now.”

“Why am I somehow not surprised?” Brody asked. He took a small step back and widened his stance as if steeling himself, then nodded. “Hit me with it.”

She couldn’t believe she even had to say this out loud.

“Apparently . . .” she began. She glanced at Bennett, then cringed. “Bennett. My
half
brother . . .”

Brody’s brows went up at the phrase.

Cat gulped. “Is also. . .” She dropped her face to her hands and mumbled, “I can’t even say it. It’s too much. Even for my family.”

Brody pulled her fingers from her eyes and peeked in. “What?” He looked concerned. “There’s nothing that could possibly be that bad. Unless you’re going to tell me something crazy like Bennett’s father is also Arthur Harrison.”

She stared at him unblinking, and he finally got it. His jaw came unhinged.

“You are kidding me,” he said.

“I’m afraid not.”

“That’s fantastic,” he shot out. And he even looked happy about it. “Your mother . . . all her complaining. Her keeping us apart.”

Cat nodded. “She takes the definition of hypocrite to a new level.”

He chuckled. “I would say that she does.” Then his laugh dropped, and he took both her hands in his. “See? We have to be together. We’re going to be in the news together forever anyway. Especially when that kid of ours finishes growing up. I think she’s going to be a politician.”

“Oh, she’s definitely going to be a politician. She might already be running for a position here.”

“Here?”

Cat’s smile bloomed on her face. Annabelle might get mad for spoiling her surprise, but Cat couldn’t help it. “Didn’t she tell you? She plans to attend St. Mary’s.”

“But she has a full ride at Brown.”

“She never wanted Brown. She talked to her mother about it, and Patricia is fine with it. Annabelle wants to get to know us better, too. And apparently she wants to take classes with you.”

“That’s incredible.” He laughed then, the sound rich and exciting, and pulling the attention of every member of their families. “And pretty damned perfect. Except for one thing.” He dropped to one knee. “Say yes, Kitty Cat.” He kissed the back of her hand and his eyes shone up at hers. “Marry me.”

She nodded then, smiling, and sniffed back a sob. She could see their families practically bouncing with excitement in her peripheral vision. “On one condition,” she declared.

“Really? You’re going to give me conditions? I should have the upper hand here.”

“Sweetheart, you’ll never have the upper hand.”

“Don’t I know it?” He winked and rose to his feet. “Okay, what’s the condition?”

“Take me for a ride in your red car again. I seem to remember it has this great backseat.”

He roared with another laugh, then pulled her in for a kiss. Flashes went off all around them, which only made him kiss her longer.