“For a decade,” Chase adds.

“I won’t give up on him. Either you’ll give me the money I need or you won’t, but I won’t stand here in my own home and be lectured to by you two.”

“We won’t be giving you more money for his gambling,” I reply. “If you choose to leave, we will help you, and I won’t have you starve, so there’s that. But I will not pay for his gambling habit.”

“He’s your father,” she says.

“I don’t recognize him,” Chase says. “And we want nothing to do with him.”

“Get out of my house,” Mom says, glaring at both of us. “You have the means to help your family and you won’t. I’m ashamed of you.”

“That shame works both ways,” I reply, and walk out of the house and to my car. Chase is right behind me. I glance at the house, but Mom isn’t looking outside. The house is still.

“I can’t believe this,” Chase mutters. “We’ve never helped Dad gamble. What makes her think we’d start now?”

“I think it’s worse than she’s willing to say,” I reply, and drive away, feeling more helpless than I ever have in my life. “But I mean it, Chase. I won’t let her be homeless or hungry, but I will not give her cash.”

“I agree, brother,” he replies with a heavy sigh. “I need a drink.”

“I know a place for that.”

“Hi there, handsome,” Kat says with a wide grin when I pick her up for dinner later that night. She looks amazing in tight jeans, rolled up, and a blue blouse tied at her waist. Her hair is a riot of curls, pinned back on one side with a skull barrette.

“You’re gorgeous,” I say as I pull her in for a long, hot kiss. She tastes like candy. “And you taste even better.”

“I’ve discovered Mike and Ikes,” she replies with a laugh. “I’m addicted.”

“They’ve been around for a lot of years,” I reply, and lead her to the elevator.

“I know, but I’ve never had them. Now I can’t stop eating them.” She takes my hand in hers and kisses my thumb. “I’m happy to see you.”

“I’m always happy to see you,” I reply, and cage her in the corner of the elevator, kissing her madly. “I think I’m addicted to the candy too.”

She grins. “I’ll keep eating them, then. But it’s your fault if I gain a hundred pounds.”

“You’d be gorgeous at any size.” I lead her to my car. “Did you have a good day?”

“I did. I cleaned my condo, went to the grocery, spoke to my mom for a bit, and Riley and I went to get pedicures.”

“That’s a busy day. And it’s not even Sunday.”

“I know, I was surprised when Mom called, but she said she was missing me. It was kind of sweet.”

“I’m glad.” I smile over at her and pull into the valet parking at the restaurant.

“I didn’t wear anything fancy,” Kat says, eyeing the valet.

“I didn’t either. I’m pretty sure they’ll still park the car for us.” I wink at her, deal with the car, and escort her into the restaurant. It’s a steak house, but it’s not necessarily fancy. It can go either way.

We get settled at the table, I order a nice bottle of red, and reach for Kat’s hand when the waitress leaves with our order. “What else happened today?”

“Riley told me about this dude she went out with the other night.” Kat rolls her eyes and takes a sip of her water. “He sounds like a douche canoe.”

“Why?”

“Because he said he’d pick her up at seven, but got there at eight fifteen. Then, took her to dinner, but said he forgot his wallet, and then still expected her to have sex with him.”

“Please tell me she decked him.”

Kat laughs, sending a wave of electricity down my back. “No, but she did tell him to go fuck himself.”

“Good.”

“Riley’s not good at dating. I’m not sure why, but she seems to attract the losers.”

“Dating is rough,” I reply, and thread my fingers through hers. Our wine arrives, and we go through the motions of smelling the cork, tasting the wine, and then watching the waitress pour it into our glasses. “To you, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Thank God she’s chosen to hang out with a loser like me.”

She smiles and clinks her glass to mine, then takes a sip. “Yeah, you’re a loser for sure.”

Dinner is delicious, and goes quickly. But I find that most of my time with Kat flies by. She’s so damn interesting, willing to talk about anything and everything. And damn, if she doesn’t make me laugh. I want to spend more and more time with her, and that would have scared me off in the past.

Hell, it never would have entered my mind in the past.

I don’t feel scared with Kat. I feel . . . calm.

Just as we’re finishing our steaks, my phone buzzes in my pocket and I scowl at my mom’s name. “Damn.”

“Who is it?”

“My mother.” I hold her gaze as I accept the call. “Hello.”

“Hi, darling, it’s Mom. I just wanted to call and tell you I love you.”

I narrow my eyes, still watching Kat, and feel my grip tighten on the phone.

“That’s the only reason you’re calling?”