Ch 7

Katelyn took her frustration with Randy out on the hotel room door slamming it closed as she entered the room.

"Whoa, what's got you fired up? Are you mad at me for last night?" Wade asked taking her by complete surprise. She had expected to find him still sleeping not sitting on the couch watching TV.

"I'm not mad at you. I made the mistake of checking work email in the elevator got annoyed," she quickly responded saying first thing that came to mind.

"Babe, stop getting upset you always make the deadlines. You worry too much," he reached out taking her hand pulling her on to his lap hugging her tight. "Anything I can do to relax you?"

"Just hold me," she whispered nestling against him.

"Everything will be ok Katy," he kissed her forehead caressing her back. He kept a tight hold on her feeling her slowly relax against him after a few minutes. His cell starting to ring made her slightly pull away from him. He checked who was calling showing her it was Chris. "Chris called woke me up while you were gone. He wants us to go to breakfast with Kelly and him then after we can take a walk on the beach before packing up. You feel up for that?"

"Sure, I just need a quick shower then we can meet them," she said as he answered the phone. "I'll be right back," she headed into the bedroom while Wade started talking with Chris about leaving for San Diego in the afternoon.

Katelyn showered and changed into her bikini from the night before. As she was finishing her makeup, her mind started to wander to how much fun she had with Randy in the ocean. She couldn't stop the smile from forming. She closed her eyes for a moment hearing his laugh remembering how tightly he held onto her. She opened her eyes letting out a deep sigh grabbing her light blue sundress sliding it on.

"What is wrong with me? I have to stop thinking about him. I have to concentrate on my relationship with Wade and figure out where it is going," she said to her reflection forcing thoughts of Randy away along with her smile.

Katelyn tried her best to pay attention to the conversation during breakfast. Every time she did get lost in her thoughts she would feel Chris's stare. He kept giving her the are you ok look and she would wink reassuring him everything was fine. The moment Wade went to pay the bill and Kelly excused herself to go finish packing. Chris swiftly moved sitting next to Katelyn.

"What's up space cadet?" he asked looking into her eyes seeing something was weighing heavy on her mind.

"Nothing just tired."

"Ha-ha very funny, let's try this again with a more direct question," Chris knew his sister too well. "Did Wade and you solve the living situation?"

"No, he isn't sure what he wants. He makes me feel like I'm the one pushing him when he keeps bringing up us moving in together then getting cold feet. He confuses me so much lately," Katelyn softly sighed glancing at Wade. "I keep telling him I just don't want to renew my lease then have to break it when he decides a few months down the line he is comfortable with us moving in together."

"Do you want me to talk to him?"

"Please don't I'll…," she stopped feeling like someone was watching her. She looked up right into Randy's eyes. She felt her breathe catch in her throat as she held his stare for a few moments. He started to come towards her then stopped shaking his head giving her one last confused look before walking out of the restaurant.

"What the hell? Is he still pissed at you for making him lose that bet?" Chris asked confused by the way Randy was acting towards his sister.

"Huh? What?"

"What's going on with Randy?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it," she pushed back her chair wanting to end the conversation.

"That was something. I'll just go ask Randy," Chris stood making Katelyn jump up grabbing his arm.

"No please don't Chris," she pleaded with her eyes. "I went running with Randy this morning we had a misunderstanding nothing to worry about."

"You're friends with Randy now?" Chris gave her a weird look.

"He gave me a ride back here last night. I remembered hearing he runs every morning so I asked to run with him instead of running alone. Is something wrong with that?"

"Katy, you should find a better running buddy. Randy is trouble you don't need. What misunderstanding did you two have? Should I be worried?" Chris gave her a concerned look.

"It was just silly misunderstanding about the way he acts sometimes. Nothing to worry about I can handle Randy."

"I am worried but we will talk about it another time," Chris said ending the conversation when he saw Wade returning. "Thank you for breakfast. How about leaving in two hours for San Diego?"

"Sounds good gives us time for a walk," Wade took Katelyn's hand as they left the restaurant.

"See you guys later," Chris gave his sister one last concerned look before heading to the elevators. Wade gently tugged Katelyn towards the door leading out to the beach. They walked in silence for a few minutes till Katelyn stopped putting her bag down.

"I brought towels just in case we get wet," she said making him shake his head.

"We won't need them taking a walk not a swim silly girl. Does it look like I'm dressed to go swimming?" he glanced down at his dark blue button up shirt and black khaki shorts.

"Hmmm I did come dressed for it," she took off her dress showing him her bikini. "Now to get you ready," she stepped closer to him undoing the buttons on his shirt taking it off of him dropping it on top of her dress. She ran her fingers down his chest till he gently grabbed her hands.

"I'm not in mood for swim. You can have my shirt but can't give you my shorts unless this is a nude beach," he grinned making her laugh. He leaned down kissing her deeply. "I'll gladly give them to you when we get back to the room," he whispered against her lips.

"I'll hold you to that," she said taking his hand leading him towards the water's edge.

"I'm sorry you had to sleep on the couch last night," he said taking her by surprise.

"How did you know I slept on the couch?"

"I woke up alone silly girl. I went searching for you found you on couch. I forgot you can't stand the cigar smell sorry babe," he squeezed her hand.

"It's ok Wade."

"It isn't ok. I want to wake up with you by my side not on the couch so no more cigar lounges when we travel together. You are going to keep traveling with me right?"

"Yes unless work prevents that," she stopped looking up into his eyes.

"How about hiring more help so you can travel with me all the time?" he asked caressing her face.

"We will see big guy," she stepped away from him not understanding how he easily asked her about traveling with him then would throw walls up about them moving in together. She waded out into the water trying to settle the turmoil inside of her before she said the wrong thing.

"Come back here," Wade called after her.

"Hmmm how about you come get me," she looked back at him playfully splashing water in his direction.

"Not funny Katy told you I'm not in the mood to get wet."

"All I did was splash you its not like I dragged you in the water with me," she said making him shake his head as she walked back towards him. "I was just tying to have some fun no harm in that."

"Silliness is for kids. I'm not into games and you know that," he said giving her a disapproving look.

"How dare you give me that look? You do like toying with my heart so don't say you're not into games. One minute you're talking about not wanting to move in then in next breathe you're worried about me traveling with you and waking up beside me. You're the master of the game of confusion," she let the words going through her mind slip through her lips without a second thought.

"Excuse me for being cautious, I've been married already. I know what a nightmare settling down can turn into. It's not a game for me. I love you but you will not force me into another hellish situation," Wade fired back staring down into her eyes.

"Damn it I'm not trying to force you into anything! You keep starting these ideas," she yelled making other people around look at them.

"You're acting like a brat. This is not the place or time for this discussion. I'll be packing when you feel like being an adult join me," Wade said before putting his sunglasses on storming back towards the hotel.

Katelyn refused to go after him. She turned away heading back to where her bag was. She slipped her sundress back on and put her sunglasses on hiding the tears glistening in her eyes as she slowly sat down on her towel. She let out a trouble sighed as a stray tear ran down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away refusing to let anyone see her sadness. She was so distracted she didn't notice Randy sitting on a blanket close enough to have heard what had happened between Wade and her. Her sadness touched him deep inside and as much as he tried to fight it he cared about her. He sat watching her wishing he could hear the thoughts going through her mind as she stared out into the ocean. When she stood up gathering her things, he quickly threw a towel over his head grabbing a book hoping she wouldn't see him. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't even look around as she headed back to the hotel. Randy followed her from a distance making sure she returned safely to the hotel. She suddenly stopped outside the hotel entrance making him freeze till he saw her reach into her bag pulling out her ringing phone. She started to nervously pace as she listened to the person on the other end.

"I'll catch a flight and be there as soon as can to help, don't panic. I can handle running the store and getting the alterations done don't worry. Just shut the shop down for the day and I'll be there tomorrow to open it back up," Katelyn said loud enough for Randy to hear as she headed into the hotel. Randy watched her go deciding in that moment that he was not going to stay away from Katelyn that he had to find out why she stirred such strong emotions in him. He smiled thinking of the perfect way to spend some time with her without Wade being around.