The Bass (4 page)

Chapter Five

Cateline woke with a cold foot and a crick in her neck. Attempting to
move, she discovered she was being weighed down. For a moment panic hit, and
she struggled to get free.

“Kitten, be still,” Shade’s voice reached through her fright.

Instantly, she did as he asked, and turned her head to look up at him.
Blinking, she squinted in an attempt to see through the gloom surrounding her.
“Where are we?”

“Amongst the greenery,” he said. His rough fingertips lightly brushed
over her cheek, pushing her hair back from her face. “You fell asleep in my
lap, and I feared for my life enough not to try moving you. I still quite
vividly recall what happened the last time I tried it.”

Rolling her eyes, Cat eased upright. “One lousy time, and you still
can’t let me live it down can you?”

“I still have the claw marks, kitten.”

She caught the white flash from his teeth when he smiled at her.
Smacking him lightly on his belly, she huffed out a breath. “I sincerely doubt
that. I didn’t draw any blood.” She’d made sure she hadn’t.

He sat up, and wrapped his arms around her while resting his cheek to
her shoulder. “What do you say we head upstairs to finish the night out in a
proper bed? We still the whole weekend left to talk.”

Lifting a hand she ran her fingers through his hair, and then over his
cheek to brush her fingers to his short beard. She liked the sensations the
trimmed hair created against her fingertips. “I think a bed is a great idea.”

Shade lifted his head enough to look into her eyes. He didn’t say
anything for a time. Then he brushed a kiss to her cheek, and pulling the throw
away from her legs, he helped her to stand. He grabbed something off the table
next to him before getting off the chair. Taking her hand, he led her through
the darkened house and up the stairs.

At the door to the room he’d given her, he stopped to look down at her. Some
light filtered down through the second floor’s hallway skylights. Not enough
for her to see his face, though. A shame that, she did love looking at him.
“Sleep well, kitten,” he said. Leaning in, he brushed a kiss to her cheek.
“I’ll see you in the morning.”

Cateline stood there stunned when he let her hand go and then moved up
the hall to the last door. Pushing through, he disappeared behind the wood
panel.
Well shit, that hadn’t quite gone like she hoped it would
.

Cat blew out a breath, and stepped into the bedroom. Shutting the door,
she headed for the bathroom to wash up and brush her teeth. Fifteen minutes
later she was back in the bedroom to stare at the bed. It looked like a great
bed, but it didn’t feel right to her.

Deciding to go with her gut before her courage fully fled, she headed
out into the hall. At Shade’s door, she didn’t knock. Slipping inside, she
eased the door shut, and padded quietly to the bed. She paused when she saw him
lying there on his back, the sheets down around his waist to bare his chest to
the faint light coming through the curtains not fully pulled, and an arm over
his eyes.

Cateline felt her doubts rising up as her last ounce of courage seemed
to run out the door. She should probably do the same. As she started to turn,
she froze when a warm male hand grabbed her wrist.

“Where are you going?”

His voice was lower, sexier, if that was at all possible. Since she
didn’t have an answer for him, and she didn’t know what she was doing in his
bedroom, she gave him a shrug. She stared down at his tanned fingers wrapped
around her wrist in a loose cuff.

Shade gave her arm a light tug before he wiggled over in the bed. He let
her go long enough to lift the blankets, and pat the spot he’d vacated. “Come
on, kitten.”

This was likely a bad idea, but she was already there. It was also what
she’d wanted. Climbing up on the bed next to him, she quickly snuggled down in
the warm spot his body had left on the sheets. Cat let out a breath when he
wrapped her up in his arms. Being in Shade’s arms was a familiar and comforting
feeling. Cat closed her eyes as she wiggled closer to wrap an arm around his
waist, throw a leg over his, and relaxed into his heat.

After tucking the blankets up around her back Shade pressed a kiss to
her forehead. “I’m here for you, Cat,” he whispered.

“I know.” Shade had, and would always be there for her. Cateline knew if
she’d ever reached out to him over the years, he would have found a way to drop
everything to come to her. He might seem standoffish to others, but she knew he
was careful about who he let in.

She should tell him. The longer she waited, the harder it seemed to be
to get the words out. In the dark, he couldn’t see her face, and therefore
wouldn’t see her shame. Now was the time to say her piece. And if he told her
to leave, she would. It would break her completely, but she would go.

“When you left I shut down,” she whispered. “Nothing my parents did
could reach me. I hurt in places no one could fix. A huge piece was suddenly
gone, and it left this gaping, aching hole deep inside.” Cateline hated
admitting it, but she had to be honest with him. She knew he’d understand.
Given how big his heart was, he’d probably hurt as much as she had during that
time period.

“High school sucked. I didn’t want to be there, and everything was fucking
hard in the beginning. I realized at some point that I couldn’t fail. You would
be pissed if I didn’t make it through it all, and do something with my life.
Despite their best efforts, I shut everyone out, my parents included, and
focused on getting through school. I studied, fought hard for the grades, and
passed with honors. It opened up many doors going into the next stage with
college.”

Cat took a deep breath before blowing it out slowly. Shade was stroking
her hair lightly as she talked. It was good. It helped to keep her focused in
the moment.

“College was a little easier, less familiar faces, and everyone back on
the same level playing field. The cliques were still there, but less obvious given
how many more people there were. I’ll admit the first year was scary. I decided
to live on campus, to immerse myself fully in the experience, and to get away
from the memories that were everywhere back home. Dad understood, and on some
level Mom did, too, but she didn’t like it. In my second year I met Justin.”

Shade’s hand stilled in her hair. Holding her breath, she waited for him
to say something, anything, but he didn’t. He took a breath before starting to
stroke her hair again. This was harder than she’d imagined it would be. Cat was
suddenly extremely glad she’d decided to tell him everything under the cover the
darkness provided.

“We both had full class schedules plus our jobs, but we’d meet up for
the occasional coffee, or snack on the go around campus. Before I’d gotten
through year two, my dad died, right after New Year’s actually.” Cat had to
stop to press her fingers to her lips. She’d always been a daddy’s girl, and
losing her father had hit her in a place she’d forgotten about for a long time.

“Shit,” he breathed out. “I’m sorry, kitten. Damn. If I’d known I would
have come back.”

Nodding she patted his chest lightly. “I know,” she choked out around
the tears. It took her a few more minutes to regather her shaky composure.
Finally, she was able to continue. “Mom sold the house, and gave me half the
profits. It allowed me to ditch one of the two jobs I was working and focus
more on school. She took the other half to fly back to Japan to stay with her
sister who was having some health issues herself. Mom’s doing well there. Has a
great circle of friends, and gets out a couple nights a week to enjoy herself.
Apparently she has a gentleman who’s been attempting to tempt her into going
out with him. No dice thus far.”

The chuckle he let loose was deep, and rich sounding. “Good for her. If
she doesn’t ever cave in at least she’s found reason to keep moving forward.”

“Yeah.” She took a deep steadying breath, and let it out slowly. “I’d
taken a semester off to help her get everything settled, and see her off. Plus
I needed the time to digest the loss. Justin was great, helping where he could,
and listening when I needed to talk. In my last year at school I bought a
lottery ticket on a whim. Totally in the moment. I ended up winning which blew
my mind. It freaked me right the hell out. It was a good sized pot. I took the
payout after thinking about it for a while. It was still sizeable, and has kept
me quite comfortable over the last few years. I put the majority away into an
account but kept a bit out for myself.”

She was getting off track, dragging her feet. Cat forced herself back on
topic. “After college I got a job, and Justin and I lost contact for a time. We
ran into one another a couple years later, and started to date officially.
Eventually we got married.”

The breath Shade sucked in had her flinching. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting
that,” he said softly. He paused as if waiting for her to continue. When she
didn’t he asked, “There’s more, isn’t there? Tell me, kitten. Tell me
everything there is to know.”

Taking a deep breath she tightened her hold on him, burying her face
against his chest as she clung to the only solid person in her life. “It was
great in the beginning. But then it all started to change.”
Wow. Talk about a
major understatement, Cateline.

Chapter Six

Shade heard the quiver in her voice, and he tightened his hold around
Cat’s body. Rubbing his cheek to her hair, he held on as tightly as she seemed
to be gripping him. “I’m right here, Cat.”

She sucked in a shaky breath. Her fingers curled into his back like she
was trying to get under his skin. “At first I thought I was imagining it. When
I asked him, he’d make a joke, and we’d both laugh. Then for a time everything
seemed right again. We were the happily married, perfect little couple.” She
lifted a hand to rub at her temple. “His hours at work seemed to increase which
he explained away with something that made sense at the time. There was a partner
who ended up retiring early for some reason or other, and they were looking to
fill the spot internally. He needed to show his dedication to the company, to
prove he had what it took to go that extra mile. But he’d come home smelling
like perfume, or more rumpled than a hard day in the office should have made him.
I had this gnawing, sick feeling in my gut, but I couldn’t prove anything. The
perfume could be explained away easily. I’d met coworkers who worked closely
with him in that department and nearly choked in the cloud surrounding a couple.
The clothes could have been him adjusting for comfort, and then trying to sort
himself out to something more presentable for when he got home.”

He was going to kill the bastard who had done this to her.
He held it together
for her since he knew she wasn’t done yet. Dropping a kiss to her hair, he
began to rub her back in slow, wide circles.

“The calls that ended as hang-ups whenever I picked up were the next
clues. But they were few and far between, making it easier to brush them aside.
Who hasn’t dialed the wrong number, and been embarrassed enough that they
haven’t said a word. Once the hushed conversations started, I confronted him.
He blew me off, called me crazy, and told me straight up that I had an
overactive imagination. But I knew he was lying. After thinking about it for a
while I hired a PI. He found out that Justin didn’t value the sanctity that are
the marriage vows like I did. He had four, four fucking women on the side. Two who
happened to be married no less. I’d had enough, I knew I had to get out, and I
had the proof to sway everything my way. Having the money didn’t hurt any,
money he couldn’t fucking touch, and money I gladly used to divorce him, and
ensure he was ruined in the process. When it was over I moved out here, and
never looked back. I still don’t know why I came here to L.A., but maybe I
hoped I could get lost in the crowds. Seeing you again though made me realize
I’d done it to get as close to you as I could, even if I didn’t call you.”

Swallowing hard against the anger burning through him Shade shifted his
hold to tip her face up. Gently he wiped at the tears on her cheeks before
pressing a light kiss to each cheek. “I am damn glad you came to that concert.
I’ve missed you something fierce these last twenty years. Every day I tried to
come up with a way to find you without ruining your life, or appearing like a
total creeper. And every day I’d hesitate because I was sure you were living
the life you’d always wanted and dreamed of.”

She shook her head, and gave him a small smile. “I couldn’t fill the
dream without the one person I always wanted to fill that empty slot. I thought
for a time I could make it work, that I could forget, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t
right, and I think he knew that more than I did. Not that it’s any excuse for
what he did.”

Somehow, someway, Shade was going to find the asshole who had stomped on
the vibrant Cateline Lyon he’d known, and make him pay. He didn’t know how yet,
but he was going to make the man rue the day he’d been born. Brushing a gentle
kiss to her lips, he forced himself to pull back, and tuck her head back under
his chin.

“I’m here now, kitten. We’ll figure out the rest in time. For this
moment I want you to let it all go, and sleep for me. I’m going to keep a tight
hold on you all night long. I will be the first thing you see in the morning,
Cateline. Sleep,” he whispered.

It took a while for her to relax, but Shade kept stroking her hair until
he felt all the resistance in her muscles let go. Her breathing shifted to the
slower rhythm that let him know she was out like a light. As tempting as it was
to get up to make a call to put things in motion, he couldn’t move. He’d made
Cat a promise, and he never broke his promises to her.

Except one. The only promise he’d ever broken to Cat. Yet another reason
his father wasn’t in his life any longer. If not for that man they might have
been on the same path through life. Instead they’d faced separate, different
paths to get where they now were. While he might not have become the bassist
for Victorious, he’d have had Cat in his life. His father had taken Shade’s
choices away, and Cat’s, too. Shade wasn’t exactly all for rational thinking
when it came to the woman in his arms. Where she was concerned everything, good
sense included, seemed to go out the window.

****

Shade woke to find Cat draped over him, and snoring softly. He couldn’t
stop the grin at the discovery. Lifting his head slightly, he took her in. Her
face was relaxed with her lips slightly parted. A leg, and an arm was tossed
over him to keep her anchored in place. Her hair was a bit messy with several
strands caught on his beard, and some wrapped around his neck.

Shaking his head, he pulled the hair loose before smoothing it back into
place. She muttered something under her breath. At the same moment her arm came
flying toward his face. Shade barely caught it before she punched him in the
nose.

“Damn it, kitten, watch the face.”

All he got was a grumble before she wiggled in closer to him. Then she rubbed
her cheek to his shoulder, and turned her face up toward his own. “Morning.”

“Morning, kitten,” he said with a smile. Cupping her cheek, he pressed a
kiss to her forehead. “Did you sleep well?”

“Mm-hmm.” Cateline stretched out with a yawn. Pushing up onto her elbow,
she shoved her hair back off her face, and stared down at him. Her face
tightened up as a wary look settled into place. “Are we good?”

Shade didn’t pretend not to know what she meant. Instead he nodded, and
pulled her in for a hug. “We’re fine, kitten,” he said against her cheek.
“Nothing you ever tell me could change how I feel for you. Never feel the need
to keep anything from me. Okay?”

Her entire body shook before she grabbed onto him tightly, and nodded.
“Okay,” she breathed out.

“Good, then let’s get our asses up, and in gear. I want to show you
around the compound before we head over to Jeremy’s for breakfast.”

“Your lead singer, right?”

Shade chuckled. “Oh boy, he is going to be crushed when he finds out you
had to get clarifications. And yes, for the record, I’m damn well telling him.”

She smacked his arm while drawing back to glare down at him. “You don’t
need to share that. The only reason I follow the band is because you’re in it,
Shade. The fact I happen to like the music helps too. You guys are good,
unbelievably good.”

He couldn’t stop grinned. “Still telling him.”

Cat smacked him again before throwing the covers over him as she moved
away. “You are a pain in my ass, Shade.”

Shoving the covers aside he watched her storm to the bathroom. She
slammed the door behind her but he could still hear her muttering. A moment
after the toilet flushed she threw the door open again. “Where might my bag be
at?”

Shade pointed to where he’d stashed it next to the dresser after she’d
fallen asleep. He’d had to pry himself loose from her hold, but he’d known
she’d need it come morning. With a delicate sniff she collected it, and
returned to the bathroom. Shaking his head, Shade slid from the bed to make it.
He should likely get some coffee in them both before they went anywhere. She’d
feel better with a little caffeine thrumming through her body.

“I’m going to make coffee, Cat. Come join me when you’re done,” he
called out.

He heard her say something, but he wasn’t sure exactly what it was. Figuring
it was better not to push her buttons too much more for one morning, he let it
go. It didn’t stop the huge grin he was wearing, though. He liked having her in
his home. Even if she was less than pleased with him over something he’d never
do anyway.

The woman should know better. Shade would never do anything to put her
in a bad position, or make her uncomfortable especially among his bandmates. He
wanted the other men to get to know her, and see why Shade adored her as he
did.

Pouring the water into the machine, he set the auto grind and stuck the
carafe in place before he started it up. While the coffee machine did its thing,
he went to check the fridge for creamer. He could survive without it, he didn’t
like it, but he’d survive. Cateline on the other hand, would not be happy
without her cream. And keeping her happy was high on his priority list.