Cato Read online

  “You look stupid but you’ll be grateful you wore it.” He put the goggles over my eyes then handed me the gun.

  I stared at it, surprised how heavy it was. “I’m supposed to shoot people with this?”

  “No, you’re supposed to throw it at them.” He slammed the trunk shut and locked it.

  “You’re really sarcastic, you know that?”

  “And you’re damn fine.” He tore my mask off and gave me a quick kiss. “Now shut up and let’s go.”

  “Why don’t you shut up for once?”

  He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “You know exactly how to do that, Milkshake.”

  I smacked him in the arm playfully.

  We reached the entrance area and it was covered in dirt. The area had different trees and buildings for cover. It was an extensive course, easy to get lost in. People were already there, standing near an ice chest as they drank their beers and water.

  “Hey, assholes. This is Katarina.” He put his arm around me. “But call her Kat. Only I call her Katarina.” He turned to me and wiggled his eyebrows again.

  I rolled my eyes dramatically.

  “I’m Rhett.” A good-looking brunette shook my hand. “And this is my lady, Aspen.”

  She and I shook hands.

  He introduced me to the rest of his friends. Every one of the guys was too good-looking to be real.

  “They work with you and Beautiful Entourage, don’t they?” I asked.

  “How did you know?”

  “Because they are all hot,” I blurted.

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t check out my friends. I’ll cut off their arms so you won’t be tempted to look.”

  I nudged him in the side. “Are you actually jealous? I didn’t think someone so full of themselves could be threatened by anything.”

  He nudged me back. “With you I am. I don’t like to share.”

  “Hey, sweetheart.” The man Cato introduced as River stepped forward. “Ever wondered what it’s like to be with a real man?”

  Cato held up his gun. “I will shoot you right in the face if you touch her.”

  River held up his hands and chuckled. “Chill, dude. I’d just thought Kat would like an upgrade.”

  “More like a downgrade,” he said. “Because your dick is smaller than mine.”

  “Why are you checking out my dick?” River countered.

  I tried not to laugh. “Yeah, Cato. What’s that about?”

  “Don’t you gain up on me.” Cato shouldered his gun then pulled down his mask. “Are we going to do this or what?”

  “What are the teams?” Troy asked. “Harper is on my side.” He pulled a blonde into his hip.

  “I got Katarina,” Cato said immediately. “She’s never played before so if anyone takes advantage of her I’ll kill him.” He said it with complete seriousness.

  Troy broke up the teams, and there were four on each side.

  “Grace period of one minute.” Troy set the timer on the building. It was a large clock and it started to count down to zero.

  “Let’s go, baby.” Cato pulled me to the right and I followed him. I carried my gun, feeling awkward as I did it.

  We reached a tree that had a small building at the top. The only way to get to it was to climb.

  “Here we go.” He grabbed the trunk and started to climb. When he reached the top he looked down. “Do you know how to climb?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I know how to climb.”

  “Then get that fine ass up here.”

  I climbed to the top then joined him in the small shack. Cato picked up his gun then positioned it on the open windowsill. He took a knee and focused his gun. “We’ll pick them off like flies. Put your gun next to mine. This will be good target practice for you.”

  “Isn’t this cheating?”

  “No. It’s not my fault they’re stupid.” He stationed the gun for me then explained how to shoot it. Then he turned to me, a serious look in his eyes. “Okay, now let me explain something carefully. You’re going to have the strong urge to kiss me. As much as I would enjoy that, you can’t take off your mask, even for a second. If someone accidentally shoots you in the eye…it could be bad. You understand me?”

  “I’ll try to control myself,” I said sarcastically.

  “Okay. Good.” He turned back to the windowsill. “Alright, when someone runs by you’re going to aim and fire.”

  “But what if I hurt them?” I said immediately.

  “It’s just a paintball. It might hurt a little but they’ll be fine.”

  I held my gun at the ready.

  Aspen jogged by with Rhett behind her.

  “Shoot her, baby.”

  “Are you crazy?” I said immediately. “I’m not shooting her. She’s really nice.”

  He sighed. “When it comes to war, it doesn’t matter how nice the enemy is.”

  His words made me uncomfortable, and I knew exactly why. I tried not to think about it.

  “Shoot Rhett. He’s a guy. He can handle it.”

  I held the gun and aimed. I wanted to pull the trigger but I couldn’t. “I can’t do it…”

  “Why not?” He demanded.

  “I just can’t.”

  “Fine.” He aimed his gun and fired.

  Rhett immediately staggered back then fell down for cover.

  Everything played in slow motion for me. I saw the way Rhett was hit, the way he touched his side as he felt the paintball smack hard into his skin, and then the way he hit the ground as he tried to crawl to safety.

  My heart slammed hard in my chest and I felt sick. I started to sweat and feel faint. If I didn’t get out of the situation I would pass out. I fell back onto the floor then scooted back, trying to get space. “Stop! Don’t shoot. Stop.”

  Cato turned to me with confusion in his eyes. He left the gun at the windowsill then rushed to me. “What’s wrong? He’s not hurt!”

  I raised my hand. “Don’t come any closer.” I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged them. I breathed hard and tried to calm down.

  Cato did as I asked and didn’t come any closer. He just watched me. “It’s just a game, baby. No one gets hurt. It’s all just for fun.”

  I continued to breathe hard and concentrated on a crack in the floor. “I’m sorry…I just didn’t realize it would be like this…people shooting at each other.”

  “And what’s the big deal if it is?” he asked. “You’d have a lot of fun if you just tried. I can shoot myself and show you—”

  “Don’t.” I looked at him and commanded him with my eyes.

  “Okay, I won’t,” Cato said quickly. “But talk to me. Why are you freaking out right now?”

  I didn’t hesitate to tell him. “Ethan was a sergeant in the army. He was killed in combat.”

  Cato’s eyes fell then he dropped his face into his hands. “Fuck…I didn’t know.”

  “It’s okay,” I whispered. “I didn’t know this is how it would be. I’ve seen violent TV shows with guns and it’s never bothered me but…watching it happen in real life just freaked me out.” I continued to keep my knees to my chest and that seemed to calm my anxiety.

  Cato leaned against the opposite wall and lowered his hands. The battle went on around us, people were laughing and shooting at each other. It seemed distant now that we weren’t apart of it. “I feel like an insensitive jerk. I never would have brought you here if you told me that.”

  “I know, Cato. I probably would have come anyway. I didn’t realize how I would feel until it actually happened.”

  “We can camp out in here until it’s over.”

  “You should keep playing. I’ll be fine.”

  He gave me an incredulous look. “You’re really dense sometimes, Milkshake. I’m not going to leave you here by yourself. I’d rather be with you than anywhere else anyway.”

  The words touched me.

  “Now get over here.” He patted his chest.

  I moved between his legs then rested my back
into his chest. He wrapped his arms around me then placed a gentle kiss on my neck. I relaxed and didn’t feel scared anymore. I didn’t want to participate in the battle but the sound of the action didn’t get under my skin.

  “Your husband sounded admirable.”

  “He was.”

  “You don’t strike me as a military type of woman.”

  “Oh, I’m not,” I said immediately. “I never liked the fact he was in the military. Hated it, actually. But he loved it.”

  “How did you guys meet?”

  “I was in New York and he was on leave. We ran into each other at a bar. One thing led to another, and within two weeks we were saying the L word. And then a month later, he proposed. Everyone said it was too soon and we were rushing things but I didn’t care. Our relationship only lasted a year. But it was the best year of my life.” I’d had plenty of time to come to terms with his death. When I reminisced on our memories it didn’t bring me pain. I missed him and always would but I accepted reality, that he was in the past.

  “You guys sounded like a bunch of love struck teenagers,” he said with a laugh.

  “That’s a perfect description, actually. We were really young. But I don’t have any regrets.”

  “You shouldn’t.” He kissed my neck again.

  “I shouldn’t talk about him…” I realized my mistake. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  “You didn’t,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me when you talk about him.”

  “It doesn’t?” I asked in surprise.

  “Not at all. He was a big part of your life.”

  “I wouldn’t want to hear about one of your ex-girlfriends.”

  “It’s not the same thing,” he said quietly. “You’ve gotten to know me pretty well, so you’ve figured out I’m not much of a liar. I will tell you exactly what I think and when I’m thinking it.”

  I laughed. “That’s absolutely true.”

  “So, don’t worry about it. I asked about him anyway.”

  I held his hands as they rested over my stomach. “I was always hesitant to have another relationship because I assumed I would have to bury Ethan in the past and never think about him. I never realized he could still be part of my life.”

  “I’m glad you realized you were wrong.” He kissed my forehead, and his lips burned as they touched my skin.

  The last guy to have done that was Ethan, but it didn’t bother me that it was with someone new. For the first time, I was glad Cato was in my life. We crossed paths in the strangest way and we were thrown together like our worlds were meant to crash together. It could be the beginning of something great.

  And I had a feeling it was.

  Cato spared me the embarrassment of explaining why we didn’t participate in the game. He claimed he had a stomachache and needed to get home. Of course, the guys teased him mercilessly and called him a big pussy but Cato didn’t seem to mind.

  He took me back to my place then walked inside with me. “Next time we hang out with my friends, it’ll be a lot better. I promise.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  He walked to my refrigerator and opened it. “Got any beer?”

  “So, you choose to have manners when you’re paid to have them?” I noted.

  “Yep.” He kept looking. “So…I’m not seeing any beer.”

  “Because I don’t have any. I only have wine.”

  He closed the refrigerator and cringed. “Well, that needs to change. This isn’t a hospitalable environment.”

  “Then bring your own beer, asshole.” I sat on the couch and put my feet up.

  He chuckled then sat beside me. “I like it when you call me that.”

  I turned to him in surprise. “Then you obviously don’t know what the word means…”

  “I do,” he said. “But I like it because it’s really obvious you don’t mean it.” He nudged me in the side.

  “Maybe I don’t…but don’t give me a reason to start meaning it.”

  “I’ll try…but I doubt it’ll happen.”

  I shook my head and fought the slight rise of the corner of my lips. “Won’t your friends be upset that you’re dating a client?”

  “Yep. They’ll beat me down when you aren’t around. They’re jerks, but they do have manners when the ladies are near.”

  “I didn’t get that impression,” I said with a laugh.

  “Well, they do. They are good guys—when they want to be.”

  “You’re a good guy when you want to be.”

  He shrugged. “You caught me.” He grabbed the remote off the table and turned on the TV. “What are we watching?”

  “The Bachelor.”

  He gave me the most terrified expression I’ve ever seen.

  “Kidding.”

  He released the air he was holding in his lungs. “Don’t ever joke with me like that again.”

  “I actually prefer The Bachelorette.”

  “Don’t even joke about that.”

  I laughed. “What? It’s a good show.”

  “Watch whatever you want to watch, but not when a man is in the house.”

  “A man?” I asked. “Don’t talk about yourself like you’re super macho.”

  “I’m the most macho guy on the planet.”

  “You know what?” I snatched the remote then turned the show on. “We’re watching it.”

  “No!” He covered his face like he was in agony. “I’m going to combust into a ball of fire if you make me watch this.”

  “No, you won’t. Give it a chance.”

  “Milkshake, you’re lucky you’re hot.”

  I chuckled. “Shut up and be a man.”

  “Then I’d better leave and go cut down a tree or something.”

  “Shh!” I cupped his cheeks and gave him a kiss. “There. Now be quiet.”

  He gave a wide smile. “I can do that.”

  We sat back and watched the show. Cato seemed bored because he kept adjusting his position on the couch. But for the last few minutes of the show, he was leaning forward slightly, like he was on the edge of his seat. Then it ended before the bachelorette could make a decision on whom she wanted to date. “What?” he demanded. “It just ends?”

  “Until the next episode.”

  “She better not pick that blonde guy. He’s a douche.”

  I chuckled. “Sounds like you were interested.”

  “No,” he said immediately. “I just thought a pretty and smart girl like her shouldn’t end up with the loser.”

  “And why do you care?” I pressed.

  “I don’t,” I said immediately.

  “Someone’s a big chick flick loving girl.”

  “Am not.”

  I leaned toward him and gave him my best smile. “I think so.”

  He watched me then began to cave. “Okay, it’s not that bad…”

  “I told you.”

  “I suppose…”

  “Now what would you like to watch?” I handed him the remote.

  “Really?” he asked in surprise.

  “Yeah. We can trade off.”

  He held up the remote and examined it. “I have so much power…”

  I leaned my head on his shoulder then hooked my arm through his. “Pick something.”

  He put on South Park. “Is this okay?”

  “I like this show.”

  “You do?” he asked in surprise.

  “Yeah.”

  “Wow, you’re the coolest chick ever.”

  “Even though I watch The Bachelorette?” I questioned.

  “Well, that show isn’t that bad,” I said. “And yes, you’re the coolest chick ever.”

  I was signing documents when Cato came into my mind. He wasn’t my boyfriend but he was a guy I was sorta…dating…and that didn’t bother me like I thought it would. Guilt didn’t well up inside me, and I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong.

  But dating a nice guy was nothing like lov
ing one. I feared that would never happen for me. After you loved and lost, it was really difficult to feel that again. Cato didn’t seem like he expected anything from me, but I wondered if he would settle for my companionship and my general appreciation for him. Or would that be wrong to let him have just a part of me rather the entire thing?

  I wasn’t sure.

  My secretary’s voice came over the intercom. “Joey is here to see you.”

  I held the button down. “Send him in.”

  “Will do.”

  Joey walked in a second later, but he didn’t look like himself. He seemed irritable and down, like he just lost a big hand in poker to an enemy. He placed a folder on my desk then put his hands in his pockets. “Those are the contracts. Let me know if you need anything else.” He nodded then made his way toward the door.

  “Joey?”

  He turned back around. “Hmm?”

  “Everything alright?” He was a shadow of his former self.

  “I’m fine.” He turned back to the door. “See you later.”

  I knew he was full of it. “Joey, sit down.”

  He released a very loud sigh before he turned back to me. “I’m just having a bad day. It’s nothing worth talking about.”

  “Sit.” I sat in the chair beside him.

  His eyes still held his irritation. He sank into the chair next to me.

  “What’s going on?” We usually told each other everything. I wouldn’t say we were best friends, but we were close. We both knew so much about each other that it was hard to keep things hidden.

  “Amy dumped me.” He stared straight ahead and rested his fingers on his lips, his usual stance.

  “Did she say why?” I was bummed to hear this news. I’d hoped that Joey found a nice girl to settle down with. Apparently, not.

  “No, she didn’t.” He shrugged. “I’ve dated so many girls in this city and there’s either something I don’t like about them or something they don’t like about me. There’s never any middle ground. I give up. I actually give up.”

  “Don’t say that,” I said. “Just because it didn’t work out before doesn’t mean it won’t work out someday.”

  “Well, I’m tired of putting my heart through this to find out.” There was sadness and bitterness in his voice. “Finding the right woman is impossible and I don’t want to deal with it anymore. Now I need to find someone to settle down with so my parents will get off my back, someone I can call a friend and have decent sex with. Then I can stop worrying about it.”