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Paths of Righteousness

By Sharon K. Connell

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Chapter One
Pensacola, Florida

Butterflies filled Kathryn Kendall’s stomach. She sucked in a deep breath as she gazed up at the two-story stucco building. With a degree in business management and having finished at the top of her class, an administrative assistant position was nothing to worry about. But, her stomach continued to churn as she closed her eyes and reached for the bronze door handle. She could do this.

Kathryn smiled as the door closed softly behind her. She’d made quite a life for herself already. A mere two weeks after graduation, she had her own apartment and a job in a prestigious medical office, Kenner Family Medicine. Her adoptive family in Des Plaines, Illinois would finally realize she could take care of herself.

As she passed the lab area, a handsome man in forest green scrubs and sandy blond hair breezed by her with a cell phone glued to his ear. Her heart jumped as she caught a whiff of his woodsy cologne.

A few steps further, Kathryn glanced back. Mr. Gorgeous had spun around. He winked, raised his brows, and blew a soft whistle through his lips. She chuckled. Would the rest of the staff be as friendly?

The tall, bleached-blonde office manager named Grace met her in the hallway and led her to the front office. “Kathy, this will be your desk. I have new-employee paperwork for you to complete, and then we’ll have you dive right into the medical records.”

Kathryn took a seat at the desk. “Thank you.”

After Grace placed a pile of papers on the desk, she gave a warm smile and retraced her steps to the hallway.

As Kathryn filled out the forms, the man she’d seen in the hall approached. She glanced up into pale blue eyes, which pierced her heart.

A crooked smile formed on his lips. “I think Grace neglected to introduce us. I’m Mathew Pierce, the PA. You must be the new hire. Love that long, wavy blonde hair of yours. Reminds me of the color of honey.”

He held out his hand and Kathryn placed hers in it. As he squeezed, a twinge ran up her arm. Maybe this guy was too friendly. “I’m Kathryn Kendall.”

Mathew stood upright and darted out of the front office when Grace reappeared.

Kathryn finished the paperwork and followed her supervisor to the medical records room.

When lunchtime came, she sat alone in the lunchroom, her head buried in a book. Mathew blew into the room and, without a word, swung his leg over the back of a chair next to her. He smirked. She smiled and continued eating her sandwich.

“Kate, right?” He bent his head to the right and again raised his eyebrows.

She swallowed and took a drink from her water bottle. “Kathryn Kendall. We met this morning—twice.”

Mathew laughed. “Ahhh…a girl with a sense of humor. I like that. We’ll have to get to know one another. I like spunky.”

Had he really called her “spunky”?

“I’ll call you Katy.”

“I’d prefer Kathy, if you don’t like Kathryn.”

“No. Katy suits you better. Katy-bird.”

Her Irish temper rose up the back of her neck. She took in a deep breath and narrowed her eyes. She’d heard that every office had its annoying character. Mathew must be the one assigned here. “No. I’m afraid it’s not okay.”

She stood and left the room.

Mathew followed her to her desk. “Oh, come on, Kathy. I didn’t mean to offend you. You’re definitely one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen. Can’t blame a guy for trying to score some flirtatious points, can you?”

His lips pulled to one side as he raised his shoulders, palms up in front of him. Was this his way of apologizing? Then again, she’d probably been rude to him too.

She’d better make her disinterest clear right away, no matter what he did to her insides when he looked at her with those icy blue eyes and chiseled features. There were sure to be rules about employees getting involved. Why did she have to be attracted to a rogue like him anyway? “I didn’t mean to be rude and the flattery is— Look, we have to work in the same building, and I don’t want to cause any problems for either of us.”

His tongue traced the inside edge of his lower lip as he gazed at her and smiled.

Kathryn lowered her brows. Nervous habit of his, maybe?

Then he grinned. “Okay, Katy-bird.” He turned on his heels and swaggered off.

***

Kathryn shook her head as Mathew strode through the front office a few weeks later, making the rounds by each pretty girl’s desk. He’d still not managed to talk her into a date. A scoundrel. A cute one, but a scoundrel nonetheless. She laughed to herself.

The other girls considered him nothing short of an Adonis with his muscular build, high cheekbones, and aquiline nose. They talked of little else.

As he approached her, Kathryn returned his smile.

He sat on the corner of her desk. “Katy…sorry…Kathy. At the risk of being turned down again, would you pa-lease join me for dinner tonight? I discovered a great steakhouse, and I hate to eat by myself.”

“You? Eat alone? I can’t imagine you having that problem. Every girl in the building vies for your attention.”

He chuckled and leaned in. “Every girl?” He bounced his eyebrows up and down. “Maybe your eyes should be green instead of that beautiful shade of blue-violet.”

As he leaned closer to her, she rolled her chair back.

He whispered, “Doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in any of them. Not really.” He straightened his posture.

Kathryn quirked her mouth.

He crossed his arms over his muscular chest. “I’ve taken a couple of these girls out. Once. So why won’t you join me for dinner? It’s not like I’m asking you to elope or anything.” He grinned.

“Just dinner?” She twisted her lips to the side and considered the notion. “As co-workers?”

“Of course. I think we’d have fun. A few laughs, some good food. We’ll get to know one another.”

She bit her lower lip. He had proven himself to be a gentleman to her so far. Despite his flirting. “I guess we could have dinner. As co-workers.”

“Wonderful.” Mathew slid off her desk. “Write down your address, and I’ll pick you up at six.”

“I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”

“Oh, come now, Kathy. How do you expect a guy to be a gentleman if he doesn’t pick up the lady? Especially on the first date.”

Date? Yeah, guess it would be a date. She complied and wrote down her address on an index card, then handed it to him.

“You’d better give me your phone number too—in case I run late.”

She added her cell number, and Mathew swaggered to the hall.

Did he just snicker? Her brows pinched together. He’d better get it into his head that this wouldn’t become a relationship. They’d be two employees enjoying each other’s company after work. That’s all.

***

Kathryn brushed her hair and gathered a handful into the barrette at the back of her head, allowing the bottom tresses to hang loose. She and Mathew had gone out on a couple of dates, but he said this would be a special evening.

So far, he’d been a lot of fun. Not what she’d expected of a man so good-looking. Not once had he made demands of her or taken her somewhere she didn’t enjoy. Yet, something about him made her uncomfortable at times. Maybe the way he looked at her.

Did men practice that hungry stare? She sighed. Where would he take her tonight? She’d been wanting to go to the new movie advertised on TV.

The doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Mathew in jeans and a tight red T-shirt, which showed his chest muscles as he unzipped the leather jacket. He was dressed for comfort.

She glanced down at her lace-trimmed white blouse and purple skirt, then into his crystal blue eyes. “Am I overdressed?” Maybe a rodeo was in town.

His eyes widened. “Not at all. You look good enough to eat.” He snickered.

Why does he say such odd things? “I wondered, because you’re dressed so casually.”

“Yeah, well, I thought I’d take you for barbeque tonight. I’m such a sloppy eater with ribs. I chose to wear something that wouldn’t show stains. You can change if you’d like.” He shrugged.

“Okay. Be right back.” She headed for her bedroom.

Before opening the bedroom door, she glanced back. He had followed right behind her.

“Have a seat while I change.” She pointed to the couch.

Mathew smirked and turned. She entered the bedroom and locked the door. Strange. Wish he wouldn’t smirk like that.

After changing into a pair of faded jeans and a sky blue, Pensacola Beach T-shirt, she checked her makeup and joined him in the living room.

“Hey. Wow, I don’t think that helped,” he said and then offered a low whistle.

Kathryn flinched and pinched her brows together in confusion. “What do you mean?”

He bit his lower lip. “You look just as desirable in that getup as you did in the clothes you took off.” He grinned as his gaze travelled over her. “Let’s get some food.”

***

Kathryn gave a half smile and slipped into her jacket. She followed him out the door.

After their meal at the local Sonny’s BBQ, which Mathew seemed to rush through, he drove his white Honda back toward her apartment.

Guess there’d be no movie tonight. What happened to the special evening? Well, she’d go to the movie by herself tomorrow. A Saturday matinée would be fun, and she could do her shopping on the way home.

Her head fell back on the headrest. She stretched out her legs and smiled. Not a bad date, even if it was hurried. He must be tired from work.

When Mathew pulled the car around the corner onto her street, he drove past her apartment and parked under a low-hanging Spanish Oak.

“Why did you park here? There was a space right in front of the building.”

Mathew leered at her. “Privacy. It was nice of them to leave this undeveloped area at the end of your street.” He turned off the ignition and slipped his arm behind her back, while he unclasped her barrette with the other hand. Her hair swept onto her shoulders. She stiffened. He pulled her toward him and slid his arm around her waist.

“Mathew, stop!” She wiggled away from him and reached for the car door handle.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her tighter into his arms. “I think it’s time for us to take this friendship to a new level, don’t you?” He yanked her against his shoulder. His lips smothered hers.

She shoved him and turned her head away from his mouth. “I said stop it!”

Mathew raised himself over the center console, threw his leg over her knees, and pulled the lever to recline the back of her seat.

“Stop! Get off me.” She tried to push him away.

He pulled at her T-shirt as she slapped him. He braced himself with his elbow on the console and tried to undo her jeans. “Quit being such a baby.”

“No! Let go of me.” Tears flooded her eyes.

“You shouldn’t have changed tonight. The skirt would have made this a lot easier.”

The sound of a siren filled the air, and flashing lights lit up the inside of the car.

Mathew dropped back into the driver’s seat and glared at her. “It’s your word against mine, and I’ll tell them you’ve tried to seduce me since our first date.”

Kathryn latched onto the handle and swung the passenger door open.

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