How Cat Got a Life by Tatiana March Page B

idea of the kind of life she could give him had simmered in the depths of his mind until he wanted that life with a ferocity that left him reeling.
    Cat had toyed with him. She was a fool if she thought he’d just let her walk away without paying the price for her actions.
    ****
    Around Cat, people settled in their seats. Businessmen, two soldiers in uniform, families with sleepy children. Anxiety pressed in her chest. Tomorrow, she’d have to explain the situation to Dalton. She’d have to remain firm, refuse any suggestions that he could give up college.
    How much should she reveal to Brock? She didn’t want his pity, or his scorn for failing to deal with the financial mess sooner.
    Cat closed her eyes and sighed.
    In a few months, when she’d sold the condo and tidied up the last loose ends of Tim’s business, she could take another trip down and see if anything remained between them. By then, a long line of beauties might have jumped in and out of Brock’s bed. His passion as a lover had given her an inkling that he might want to make up for lost time.
    So be it. She couldn’t stay and risk harming his career.
    The loudspeakers pinged. Cat opened her eyes. The seatbelt sign had come on. A stewardess walked down the aisle and bent down to her. “Mrs. Bridgewater, would you please come with me? You’ll need to take your bags with you.”
    They were going to upgrade her! At any other time she’d have whooped with joy. Now she could barely be bothered to move, but obediently she gathered her tote and paused to extract her trolley bag from the overhead compartment.
    They proceeded past the seating, to the galley at the front of the plane.
    “That’s her.” The tightly spoken words came from the open exit door.
    Cat whirled around. A startled cry left her mouth as she saw Brock looming at the top of the steps. How could he at the same time look totally expressionless and angrier than any man she had ever seen? It seemed as if his entire being radiated menace. A handgun rode in full sight at his hip, and a pair of steel cuffs dangled from his hand.
    “Catherine Bridgewater, I’m arresting you for attempting to leave the state with pending criminal charges against you.”
    “I…” Words failed her, and for a crazy moment Cat wanted to roll her eyes, the way Karen usually did.
    “Did you understand that you wouldn’t be allowed to leave?”
    His gaze met hers. In the hard amber glint, a burning fury flickered, and she understood that his question was personal.
    “I was going to come back,” she said in a whisper.
    “That’s not the way it works. You break the rules, you stay to face the consequences.” Brock reached out, took the tote from her shoulder, and slapped the cuffs around her wrists. Turning to the stewardess, he asked, “Can you bring her bags?”
    “Yes.” The girl picked up the trolley case and the tote that Brock had dumped on the floor. Her eyes darted between them, wide with curiosity.
    Brock led Cat down the steps from the plane, a strong hand curled around her upper arm to make sure she didn’t stumble. An airport security vehicle waited on the tarmac. He ushered her inside and sat beside her.
    “Let’s go,” he said to the uniformed guard at the wheel. “My car is by the short stay entrance ramp.”
    “I can explain—” Cat stole a glance at his stony features.
    “Later.”
    In silence, they weaved along the service roads until they reached the multi-story parking.
    “Over there.” Brock pointed at the blue and white patrol car carelessly parked on the verge. Big letters spelled “Sheriff” on the side. A pair of security guards waited by the vehicle, and a third man with something hanging around his neck was rushing down the slope of the entrance ramp.
    Cat shrank back in the seat as she saw the marked vehicle and the audience. The full extent of her public humiliation broke through her preoccupation over what was happening between her and Brock.
    They pulled to a stop