Seal All Exits (Tangled Web #3) (7 page)

Kiefer nodded.  It made sense and he should have known.  Johnny was a hell of a musician and he often brought fully composed songs to their work sessions, much like Kiefer imagined Beethoven or Mozart might have done hundreds of years ago, bringing completely composed symphonies for an orchestra to learn and bring to life.  He was still thinking about that while spearing some potatoes when Riley said, “We’re probably gonna go see my parents today.”

Katie said, “Make sure you do it later this afternoon.  We’re doing a big barbecue at one, and we have an announcement.  Everyone should be here by then.”

Riley smiled, “
Everyone?
”

Johnny said, “Yeah, the whole gang—Mike, Trent, all the guys.  Even Norberg.”

“Nice.  Then I guess we’ll have to go see the parents tomorrow.”

“Or this evening,” Katie offered.

Riley’s smile was lopsided.  “Yeah, well...let’s just say I’m not in a huge hurry to see the fam.”  He set down his coffee mug.  “Did you ever meet my parents, Katie?”

“Yeah, a couple of times.”

“Maybe not enough to know they’re low-dose people.”

Johnny started laughing.  Katie asked, “What do you mean?”

“They’re the kind of people you take in low doses.”

She smiled.  “Well, my mom and Johnny’s mom are coming for the barbecue.  You’re welcome to invite your parents too if you’d like.”

Riley laughed.  “Oh, yeah...uh...
no
.  I think not.”

They continued talking and laughing throughout the meal, and after some time, Mickey joined them.  Heather said, “Where should I put my dirty dishes?”  Kiefer wanted to ask if that was all she was going to eat—a half slice of grapefruit and a piece of bacon—but he kept his mouth shut while Heather and Katie chatted.

“The kitchen’s fine.”

“I can help you do dishes.”

“No way.  I’ve got my man to help me with that.”  Johnny smiled wide, the look on his face looking like there was no other place he’d rather be.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, but come back in about ten minutes or so because I want to give you the full-blown house tour.”

“Oh, yeah.”  When Katie walked to the kitchen with a couple more dirty plates, Heather turned back to Kiefer, her voice low.  “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

His curiosity was piqued and he definitely wanted to hear what she had to say.  “Sure.”

She grinned, her dimples prominent in her cheeks.  “Want to head outside for a little bit?”

“I’m game.”  The two of them took their coffee cups and juice glasses into the kitchen first, placing them right above the dishwasher where Katie asked.  Kiefer caught the look Katie gave her friend—raised eyebrows and sly grin—before the two of them walked out the door that led from the kitchen onto a huge deck butted up against the house.

They stepped out into the sunlight, and the first thing Kiefer noticed was how pleasant it was on this side of the house.  Either it was because it had been an hour since he got out of bed or it was because this was the sunny side of the house, but it was a good ten degrees warmer than the breeze that had been blowing in his window earlier that morning.  He drew in a deep breath through his nostrils, relishing the smell of the surrounding forest.  No matter what Heather had to say, he was going to relish being here with her right now.  Tomorrow, next week, an hour from now might not be anything he could predict, but for now, he was able to be with her, enjoy her, talk with her...this woman, the woman who had become his best friend, whether she knew it or not.

“It’s nice out here.”  Pretty lame for how wonderful it truly was.

“Yeah, amazing.”

They walked off the deck not heading anywhere particular and Kiefer said, “So what did you want to talk about?”

“Hmm.  I’m not even sure where to start.”

“No pressure.”  Kiefer looked up toward the mountain across the road.  It was covered in evergreen trees and the sky above was a light blue, clean and clear.  He could see why Johnny wanted to live here.  Regular worries were gone, far and away, and it was like regular shit just didn’t matter.

Heather stopped walking, so Kiefer slowed and turned to face her.  “Um...I have a proposal for you.”

He raised an eyebrow.  “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”  She drew in a deep breath and looked in his eyes, but he could tell it was hard for her.  “I, uh...I don’t want or need a relationship.  But I’m so glad you’re my friend.”

Kiefer smiled.  “Ditto.”

“So...just so we can get it out of our systems...why don’t we, uh, explore our attraction, but...when we leave here, things go back to the way they were.”  Kiefer drew in a long, slow breath.  Was she saying what he thought she was?  “That sound okay?”

Honestly,
no
, it sounded like a copout.  He thought some of telling her that, but he wanted her.  He wanted her to continue to be a part of his life and he also wanted to step it up a notch after what they had experienced last night.  This might be his only chance to convince her that a more intense relationship could be a good thing.  So he nodded.  “Yeah.”  On impulse, he took her hand in his.  He wanted to start
now
.

Heather had other ideas, though.  “Not here.”  Kiefer couldn’t help the look of confusion that he knew appeared on his face.  She let go of his hand but got a little closer, almost as though she were afraid someone would be able to hear her.  “If we’re going to go back to the way things were after this week, then I don’t want to give anybody here any bright ideas, and I don’t want to answer any questions or deal with any looks.”

He nodded, saying nothing.  He could live with that.  And that also gave him several days to see what he could do to change her mind.

Chapter Seven

HEATHER COULDN’T BELIEVE she’d actually suggested a friends-with-benefits relationship for the few days they were going to be together at Katie and Johnny’s.  She couldn’t help it.  Kiefer was irresistible and what made it worse was she knew what a sweetheart he was down to the core.  Now that she’d scratched that itch once...and it would be okay, as long as they went back to the way things were when they went back to their respective lives.

He really was gorgeous.  She knew him on the inside—sweet, thoughtful, and kind—but in person, holy shit.  He was one of the hottest guys she’d seen in recent memory, and even though they’d engaged in hot and sweaty sex (thus, fucking with low expectations), he’d been pretty damn good for having had a few drinks and not knowing a thing about her (well, not realizing he knew something about her).

At first, he’d seemed a little shocked, but he rolled with the punches and appeared to be okay with her proposition.  They’d started walking back toward the house when he asked, “So, uh…when do we meet, or…?”

She pursed her lips, trying to contain a smile.  Finally, she said, “I’ll find you later.  Sound okay?”

Kiefer still looked shell shocked but nodded his head as they walked inside the house.  She smiled at him before walking toward the kitchen to find Katie.  Her old friend was scrubbing a skillet when Heather walked in.  “Need any help?”

“Nope.  Just finishing up.”

“I thought your man was going to help you clean up.”

“He did, but when Sage showed up wanting some food, Johnny set him up and then he and Mickey went off to do something.  Don’t ask what.  I have no idea.”  Katie pulled the plug and rinsed out the sink.  “You ready for the grand tour?”

Heather grinned.  “I can’t believe there’s more to show.”

“Are you kidding?  I barely scratched the surface yesterday.  You have no idea.”

“Geez.  Then show me.  I can’t wait.”

Before leaving the kitchen, Katie wrapped her arms around Heather, embracing her in a hug.  “I’m so glad you made it here.”

“It’s been a while.  I feel like I’ve neglected our friendship.”

Katie started walking out of the kitchen while Heather followed.  “Are you kidding?  It’s
me
who’s neglected our friendship.  It’s just since Johnny…”  Katie smiled and shrugged, turning into the hallway where Heather’s bedroom was and, she assumed, rooms of their other guests.

“Like that’s surprising?  That’s natural.”

“Yeah, but I feel like—no, I
know
I’ve missed a
lot
with you.  I’m hoping we can catch up some while you’re here.”

Heather wasn’t sure what to say to that.  Yes, she hoped they could catch up, but she didn’t know that it would be possible with all the people who were staying there.  Many of them seemed to need Katie’s attention lots more than Heather did.  She smiled, though, and continued following Katie down the hall.

They turned and passed Heather’s room, and soon they were in new territory.  The hall ended—rather, it changed.  There was a door at the end of the corridor, but the hallway itself split, so that they could go to either the left or the right.  Katie looked at Heather and grinned.  “You’re gonna love this,” she said, turning the knob and opening the solid wooden door.

Heather felt the humidity before she walked in, but she was pretty sure her jaw dropped.  No, it really wasn’t a big deal to have a swimming pool at a house, especially in the neighborhoods where she’d grown up, but to have an Olympic-sized pool in the middle of a house that was disguised as a cabin—well,
that
was something.  And the surprises didn’t let up as Katie led Heather through what was beginning to look like a mansion.  There was a music studio—complete with recording equipment; a trophy room, in essence, where many of Johnny’s awards were showcased; a full-blown library that made Heather drool (and was a place she planned to visit at least once more before she left), a mini bowling alley (that Katie said was something Johnny had always said he wanted when he “made it”—because that was a sign of true wealth), complete with a bar and grill that appeared to have never been used.  There was even a small room dedicated to some unusual paintings and other artwork and various other rooms that Heather assumed would never or rarely be used by the couple.  There were no doors to the outside at the back of the house, so once they wound back around and began making their way to the front, once more past Heather’s bedroom, Katie said she wanted to show Heather a few things outside, and then she had to prepare for the barbecue that afternoon.

“Anything I can help with?”

“Actually,
yes
.  I’m nervous as hell and I’m afraid I’m going to forget something.”

Heather didn’t know why Katie was anxious; she’d been the perfect hostess thus far.  Outdoors, Heather was able to see Katie’s plans for the future.  On the deck was a grill that would be used that afternoon for hot dogs and hamburgers, but past there were Katie’s flowerbeds and an area where she planned to have a vegetable garden the following year.  She’d already begun putting her touch on the outdoor area with wooden benches and birdbaths, lawn sculptures and the like.  There was even a fire pit that Heather imagined would be wonderful in early fall but potentially dangerous if rain had been scarce in any given year.  Katie pointed up the mountain, telling Heather they owned several acres back, so if she wanted to take a walk in the woods, she was welcome to.  Until she came to the barbed wire fence, Katie said, she was on their property.

Heather loved how her friend and Johnny had fully committed to one another, and she could tell best by Katie’s everyday speech.  The fact that her friend talked in terms of
we
and
our
told Heather all she needed to know—that Katie and Johnny had, in essence, become one.

She was relieved that she ultimately thought Johnny was a great guy.

So she helped Katie prepare for the barbecue.  While Katie focused on making a huge batch of potato salad (enough that Heather began to wonder how many people had been invited), Heather prepared lettuce, tomato, and onions for hamburgers (a plate of each) and more chopped onions for hot dogs.  There was a lot involved, even though it was all low-key:  gathering all the paper and plastic supplies (napkins, paper plates, plastic flatware, and the like), all items that could be thrown away and didn’t have to be returned to the house—or
washed
, Katie’s main focus; locating condiments; making iced tea and lemonade; things like that that Katie didn’t have to elaborate on.  Katie also had a pot of baked beans on the stove that were starting to smell delicious.  Johnny popped in once and Katie asked him to get the watermelons out of the garage.  Heather’s heart flipped in her chest when she saw that Johnny recruited Kiefer to go with him…and she didn’t miss the look he gave her as they passed through the kitchen.

As the clock moved closer to one in the afternoon, more and more people showed up.  Heather didn’t know any of them, but most of them looked like they were involved in the rock scene one way or another…except the guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt and long shorts.  When Katie’s mother arrived, Heather felt bad, because she wouldn’t have recognized the woman if she had seen her out in public—of course, she’d only ever met her once and the picture Katie had hung up when they were roommates was of both her mother and father…taken when Katie was about ten years old.  One thing Heather
hadn’t
forgotten was how sweet and gentle Katie’s mother was.  After hugging her daughter and then even hugging Heather, she told Katie to put her to work.  All that was left was forming the ground beef into patties, and her mother got right on it.  Heather watched her for a few moments.  She envied Katie’s family life.  Yeah, her father had died some years back, but she had a loving family just the same.  Her mother loved her, not some image she thought Katie had to project.  Even Heather felt like Katie’s mom cared for her more than her own goddamn father.

But this day wasn’t for bemoaning the state of her family.  It was about supporting her friend and even enjoying Katie’s family and friends as though they were her own.

Katie started laughing and pointed out the windows until her mother and Heather looked.  Katie was giggling because somehow Johnny had roped Riley into running the barbecue grill.  Just as she’d made that comment, petite Erin wound up coming inside to fetch the hot dogs, cheese, and hamburger patties to take to her boyfriend.

Stone and his girlfriend also arrived just before one o’clock.  Heather asked Katie as her friend turned the burner off under the beans, “Where’d they come from?  I thought they were staying here with everyone else.”

“No.  Stone has a house just a mile or so away from here, but the rest of you guys live hundreds—or
thousands
—of miles away, and no way am I going to make you stay in a hotel when I have a place like this.”

“You kidding?  Your place
feels
like a hotel.”

Katie grinned and asked Heather to grab one of the bowls of potato salad to take outside.  The buns and everything else were finally out on the deck and it was just about time to start.  When they got out there, the sun beaming down and people all over the place, Heather noticed the tall, thin, graying woman standing next to Johnny, and she would have assumed, based on the fact that his arm was draped over her shoulder, that she was his mother, but the resemblance assured her they were definitely mother and son.  He had her nose and the same twinkle in his eyes.  They were both survivors, and Heather could tell that Johnny loved his mother very much.  It wasn’t until Katie said, “Lucille!” and rushed over to embrace the woman herself that Heather realized Katie cared for Johnny’s mom as much as she did her own.

It might have taken all morning, but as Heather looked around, absorbing the scene, she realized something big was happening…or was going to.  She didn’t know what.  As she loaded up her plate along with everyone else, her mind began circling. 
Oh, shit.
  Maybe Katie was pregnant.  Maybe Johnny was getting ready to do something else huge in his career.  Or, maybe, Katie was going to announce that she was going to start teaching.  She’d talked about wanting to do that when she and Heather had first met at school.  Or…

Whatever it was, it was going to be a happy announcement.  She could feel that…but it was big.

Or maybe Johnny and Katie had wanted to gather all their loved ones together because they’d missed them.

Still, the meal was light, full of laughter and joking and lots of talk of memories.  Johnny took the time to introduce everyone by name, but Heather forgot the names as soon as she sat down and caught Kiefer grinning at her.  Throughout the afternoon, though, she was able to figure out who they all were.  Three of the guys were from Johnny and Riley’s first band, Spawn.  The guy in the Hawaiian shirt was Mike, a guy who left right before they broke big, to attend Yale.  He was now an attorney specializing in corporate law and, when Johnny gave him shit about not being a drummer anymore, he told him he was doing something he loved.  Riley cracked a lawyer joke and Heather could see that these old friends loved each other dearly.  The other two—Trent and Norberg—were also from the original band and now belonged to another band she’d never heard of.

About the time Heather started wondering again what they were gathered for, Katie and Johnny both stood together at the end of the table and Johnny said, “You’re probably wondering why we invited you all here today.  Yeah, we definitely needed a reunion and we miss the hell out of you all, but we
did
have an ulterior motive.  We wanted to tell you guys first before we told anyone else.”  Yep, she’d been right—a big announcement.  She could barely contain herself, but she looked around the table and she could tell that no one else had any more of an idea than she did.  Katie looked up at Johnny.  Heather loved the expression on her friend’s face.  She was so in love with her man, and some part of Heather deep down wanted that for herself too but knew it would never happen.  She was happy for her friend, though, and dying of curiosity what they were going to tell everyone.  “Do you want to tell them?”

Johnny flashed Katie a devilish grin.  “I think I’ll let you do that.”

She beamed back and then turned to their friends gathered around two picnic tables on the deck that warm afternoon.  “Well, here goes nothing.  Johnny and I are going to get married.”

Riley laughed.  “Is
that
all?  I thought you guys were already married.”

Johnny smirked and then flipped Riley off.  Everyone else laughed.  Katie shook her head and said, “You’re a funny guy.  We’re going to get married next year.  Last weekend in April, here at the cabin, and you are all invited.  I know you’re all busy people, constantly travelling due to your jobs, but it would mean the world to us if you could fit us in your busy schedule.”

Johnny added, “And, like this time, you all have a place to stay while you’re here.”

“We decided against a big wedding, and we don’t want the press involved, so if you could keep it under wraps, that’d be great.”  Katie took a deep breath, as though the wedding day had already arrived.  Her mother was standing and kissed Katie on the cheek before she could say another word.  Johnny took her in an embrace, and his mother stood right behind his future mother-in-law waiting for a hug herself.  Katie continued.  “I told Johnny I wanted you to all be part of the wedding and he told me I was out of my mind, that you guys wouldn’t all want to be dressed up in monkey suits.”