Novels by Katie Katie

Rick's POV "So, are you going to tell me why you're so down today?" I asked, my voice low as I unpacked the food and ice cream for Samantha on the kitchen counter. I kept my movements deliberate, but my chest felt wound up like a tight spring. "You don't look so good. Is it something I could help with?"She looked up at me, her striking baby blue eyes holding a mix of exhaustion and quiet defiance. "I want the ice cream first."A faint smile tugged at my mouth, though a heavy ache settled in my gut. Well, turns out she can comfortably eat a plate of ice cream when my heart is literally about to explode from her closeness and her scent. It was maddening. I’ve handled multi-million dollar standoffs without a single flicker of hesitation, yet she’s the only one that makes me this vulnerable."Anything for you," I murmured.She sat on the sofa, silently eating her ice cream while I watched over her, entirely captivated. The quiet between us grew thick, charged with the lingering warmth o

Rick's POVIn seconds, she fell asleep, completely snuggled up against me. The tension that had been holding her rigid all morning finally melted away, and she drifted off, her breathing turning slow and shallow.Her scent was just so intoxicating—a delicate mix of vanilla and sweet feminine that completely filled my senses. The way her hair fell on the sides of her face was immaculate, framing her pale skin perfectly.I stared down at her, a heavy, familiar ache settling deep in my chest. I know she’s too good for me, and she’s older than me, but I can’t seem to get her out of my system. No matter how hard I try to maintain my distance, she pulls me right back in.Suddenly, Samantha let out a cute, quiet whimper sound in her sleep.My heart skipped a beat. A violent, sudden jolt struck my chest, the sound completely dismantling whatever armor I had left. I feel like a teenager with his first crush, completely captivated by every single breath she takes.Carefully, using the tip of my

Samantha's POVThe heavy click of the front door closing behind Chloe felt less like an exit and more like a vacuum seal. Suddenly, the entire apartment felt half its size, stripped of any safety nets, leaving me entirely exposed to the man standing in my kitchen.The air grew thick, instantly saturated with the intoxicating scent of the man standing in my kitchen. A heavy, masculine wave of pheromones that seemed to coat the walls and settle deep in my lungs, making it impossible to catch a normal breath.Rick didn't move right away. He stood by the counter, the sheer contrast of his rugged, devilishly handsome look against my neat, modern kitchen sending a liquid heat rushing straight down my spine.The form-fitting black t-shirt clung to the broad expanse of his chest, and without his jacket, the dark ink of his tattoos was on full display—intricate, sharp, and intensely masculine.He tracked me with a slow, consuming gaze, his striking green eyes dark with an intensity that made m

Rick's POVThe phone buzzed against the mahogany desk in my office at The Foundry.I didn't look at it immediately. I was in the middle of reviewing a quarterly investor report, a massive acquisition deal that required my undivided attention. But the moment I realized who that specific text tone belonged to, the rest of the world ceased to exist. I picked it up. Her reply burned through the screen.Sammie: I don't feel good today and I need some time to think.My jaw clenched so hard a sharp ache flared in my temple. I don't feel good.Three simple words, yet they hit me like a physical blow, fracturing the cold, calculated control I spent every day maintaining. Last night, I had watched her walk away with a heart too heavy for her shoulders, weighed down by a pathetic excuse of a relationship that was slowly extinguishing her light.If she was sick today, it wasn't just a physical ailment—it was the crushing toll of tolerating a boy who didn't know how to treasure a queen.I force

Samantha's POV I hung up the phone, my heart beating a frantic, erratic rhythm against my ribs."Okay, I am officially retracting my previous statement," Chloe said, quickly smoothing down her shirt and checking her reflection in the microwave door. "He is not just an upgrade. He is a whole different species. Marcus who?"I couldn't help but laugh, the tight knot of anxiety in my chest loosening a little more. "Behave, Chloe. I meant what I said to him—I really don't feel good.""Honey, looking at him just cured my asthma, and I don't even have asthma," she joked, though her eyes softened with genuine protective warmth. "But seriously, let me handle the door. I want to look this man in the eye before he gets to spoil you."Less than three minutes later, a firm, heavy knock echoed through the apartment.Chloe practically leaped to open it. I stood a few steps back in the kitchen, suddenly feeling very self-conscious in my oversized sweatpants and messy hair.The door swung open, and R

Samantha's POV "Who the hell is R?" Marcus demanded, his voice dropping to a dangerously quiet, venomous register.I stood frozen, the guilt of almost shattering my principles for Rick rushing back to choke me. But as Marcus stepped closer, his chest puffed out in a display of righteous fury, he threw his wrinkled blazer onto my kitchen island. The heavy fabric hit the marble, and as it slid, a small, glossy slip of paper slipped out of the pocket and fluttered directly onto the counter right next to my phone.My eyes instinctively tracked it.It was a restaurant receipt. From last night. The Sapphire Room—the most expensive steakhouse across town. The timestamp read 11:45 PM.And the table count? Two guests.The world seemed to stop spinning. The suffocating guilt that had been weighing down my chest for the last ten minutes suddenly evaporated, replaced by a cold, blinding wave of clarity."A server crash?" I whispered, my voice trembling, though not from fear anymore. From absolu