I'll Call You Mine

CHAPTER ONE

You are mine.

You’ve always been mine, even though you deny it. Our bond is unbreakable, born of the stars and designed by the universe, and we are both powerless to escape it. When will you stop fighting your fear and surrender to destiny?

Waiting for you has been so lonely. At times I’m convinced you are close to grasping the infinite depth of our connection, but then you drift away again, just out of my reach. My love for you, my insatiable hunger, burns brighter than a thousand suns, threatening to consume me from the inside. But I know the certainty of our future together, and it sustains me as I wait for the perfect moment to reveal myself to you.

For now, I'll be patient. I'll watch, and I'll yearn, and I'll dream of holding you in my arms. But I won’t wait forever. When the time comes, rest assured I will do what has to be done to make you see me.

No one will ever love you the way I do, and there will never be another who will beguile me so completely. I have been under your spell from the moment you first smiled at me, and I heard my name on your lips. I won’t give up until I possess you, body and soul. And when the time is right, I’ll come for you.

Soon.

Katie Parker refolded the worn pages and tucked them in the pocket of her purse. She knew the words by heart, having read and re-read them over the last several weeks. Even now, every line made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to beautiful Iowa, where the time is 4:17 pm, and the temperature is a pleasant sixty-two degrees. We’ll be taxiing to the terminal in just a moment. So, please remain seated until the plane has come to a complete stop, and thank you for flying with us today.”

Passengers all around her stood and stretched, pulling their carryon bags out of the overhead compartments, laughing, and talking. Cell phones were turned back on, filling the air with the dings of incoming messages, and calls were made to loved ones, letting them know the plane had landed. People stood in the aisle or crouched in front of their seats, waiting for a turn to escape the cramped airplane after the four-hour flight. But Katie hadn’t moved, barely registering the motion in the cabin. Her hands were clasped in her lap, just trying to keep her anxiety in check. Would anyone notice if she didn’t get off the plane? Maybe she could stow away and disappear in whatever city was the next destination.

The knot she’d been carrying in her stomach since leaving San Francisco tightened into a hard, dense ball now that the plane was on the ground. When she moved to the coast for college seven years ago, there had been an air of excitement and a promise of a wonderful life ahead of her. Fear and dread were her ruling emotions now, and there was no way to ignore the dark cloud she had brought with her.

Whether moving back to her hometown was the right move remained to be seen.

Katie hefted her carryon bag over her shoulder and checked her cell phone again. The fact that she hadn’t heard from her brother only made the knot in her stomach tighten. Her arrival was right on time, and she was positive he knew when to expect her. It’s fine. He’s fine. Squaring her shoulders, she made her way to the baggage claim and watched as the suitcases, boxes, and golf clubs slid down the ramp to join the carousel of luggage.

The last week of packing had been a whirlwind of emotion, and her nerves were still raw. Pressing her back against the wall, Katie scanned the faces that passed, getting more concerned with every minute that ticked by. Had something happened to him? She’d kept her plans secret from everyone except her closest friend Charlotte, but it wasn’t out of the question that she’d been followed, anyway. Closing her eyes, Katie pushed back against the dread creeping up her spine.

From the far side of the carousel, a smattering of laughter started up, and it didn’t take Katie long to see why. As her suitcases came into view, so did her brother. Nick was squatting between them on the black conveyor belt, grinning at his cleverness like a Cheshire cat. His bright blue eyes, so much like hers, sparkled with mischief while Katie’s face burned a bright red.

“Oh my god, Nick, get down. You’re going to get us in trouble.” He was drawing too much attention, and she didn’t know if she could manage any more anxiety at this point. “People have been arrested for less.”

She swatted his leg when he was within arm’s reach, but he rolled away and hopped to the floor with a bow. The other passengers milling around chuckled and shook their heads at his antics. Now that he’d pulled off his little trick, his smile softened, and he opened his arms.

With no hesitation, she buried her face against his shoulder, and they held each other tight for several minutes. Nick rocked Katie while she tried not to dissolve into a blubbering mess in the middle of the terminal.

“Are you okay?” He kissed her forehead then held her at arms’ length, scanning her face carefully.

Katie sniffled and rubbed her eyes, bloodshot with sleepless nights and far too many tears. “Oh, yeah, just tired.” As Nick gave her another tight squeeze, she was grateful for the momentary chance to hide her face from her overprotective brother. She bit her lip and took a deep breath before plastering on a bright smile.

Nick slung his arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the exit. “Then let’s get you home where I can dazzle you with my newly-discovered cooking prowess.”

~~~

The weather in Enderlin was mild for this time of year, so Katie hung her hand out the open car window. The cool, crisp spring air smelled fresh compared to San Francisco, and she couldn’t get enough of it. As they drove into Enderlin, Iowa, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. The town square where she spent most of her teen years boasted one of the most beautiful City Hall buildings in the state, surrounded by several unique shops. It was home to everything from a small movie theater and a hardware store to a photographer’s studio and a soda fountain. People strolled along the sidewalks, in no hurry to go anywhere, looking in the windows and holding hands while talking. Everything was so relaxed here. Katie could feel the stress melting away with every mile that passed.

Turning onto the street of her childhood, a pang of sadness tightened her chest. She loved coming home, loved seeing the two-story blue house, the wrap-around covered porch, and the gingerbread scrolling. On every other visit, the big yards, towering oak trees, green grass, and white picket fences soothed her. This time was different. She wasn’t home for a birthday or to recharge with the people she loved.

She was running. Hiding. This new reality made the idyllic scene around her take on a sinister shade.

Nick helped her carry her bags up the stairs to the bedroom her parents never had the heart to change. The same comforter of purple irises covered the bed, a solid purple dust ruffle hiding the box spring. There was her white desk, her stuffed animals piled in the corner, the pictures of all the big cities she planned to live in one day: New York, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo.

That was always a big difference between Katie and her brother. She couldn’t wait to get out of Enderlin, to see the world and experience everything life had to offer. Nick, on the other hand, was perfectly content to live his life in their hometown. It wasn’t that he was afraid to leave or didn’t have big plans for his life. Before he’d turned thirty, Nick started his own business on the town square, designing and building high-end furniture. His talent and work ethic had earned him a flawless reputation all around the Midwest, and he was in high demand. At least that was the excuse he used to explain why he was still single.

After unpacking and tucking the suitcases in the closet, Katie laid back on the bed, gazing at the ceiling. Nick laid on his back next to her.

“How are you?”

She sighed. “Fine.”

Rolling onto his elbow to face her, Nick scoffed. “Sure, you are. Come on, level with me. How are you, really?”

All her emotions rushed to the surface, and she feared she would fall apart if she acknowledged them. Instead, Katie kept her eyes trained straight up.

“I’m a mess, Nick. I don’t know what the hell is happening, and I feel like I’m walking through someone else’s nightmare. It’s all spinning around me, and I can’t focus on any one thing long enough to make sense of it.”

Nick took his sister’s hand. “Kat—”

She shook her head. “Don’t. Please don’t spit platitudes and clichés at me right now. A year ago, everything was perfect. Well, not perfect, but I was relatively happy. I liked my job and made good money, I thought I was in love. I had a good life in one of the best cities in the world. Now…” Her voice broke. “I’m unemployed, I left my best friend two thousand miles away, and I found out that Derek, my ‘great’ boyfriend, had been taking credit for all my work before he up and vanished, so I don’t even have the reputation I earned. Did I mention that I’ve got a lunatic stalking me? Because there’s that, too.”

Nick squeezed her hand in the silence. Then he jumped up and pulled her to her feet.

“Okay. You need a distraction, stat. A distraction that includes beer, pool, loud music, and not sitting here stewing.”

Katie shook her head. “I don’t know, Nick… Is that a good idea with everything that’s been going on?”

He spun her around and steered her down the hall. “You’re in Enderlin, in a town with maybe fifteen thousand people, in the literal middle of nowhere. Plus, I’ll be right there. I think you owe yourself one night to relax and decompress. Let’s go grab a couple of greasy burgers and a few drinks. Maybe we can hustle some poor sap at the pool table and get your bad-bitch mojo back.”

Katie shot him a withering look over her shoulder. “God, you’re weird.”

But a night out might be exactly what she needed. She had been cautious when she left San Francisco, trying to erase any trails that would lead to her. Maybe, for the first time in months, she could let her guard down and relax. Besides, ruminating over recent events wouldn’t fix anything. Not tonight, at least.

She perked up as an idea came to her. “How about Maxie’s?”

“I’m already getting an Uber.”

“Great. Their burgers are the best, and right now, I’d love a normal pub that hasn’t turned into some trendy nightclub or pretentious martini bar.”

Nick locked the front door behind them, and the siblings sat on the porch, enjoying the spring breeze. “You’ve met Max, right? Do you think that will ever happen in a million years? I’m sure it’s written into her will that it can never be ‘rebranded,’ or she’ll come back and haunt the place.”

A warm sense of peace stole over her at the thought of seeing some familiar faces and forgetting about the recent nightmare she’d been living. “Then, by all means, let’s relive some memories.”

~~~

The two entered Maxie’s, classic rock blaring over raucous laughter and conversation. Smoking in bars had been outlawed many years ago, but the phantom smell of cigarettes from decades past still lingered. Cheesy velvet paintings and Bob Ross-style landscapes hung on the walls, the same as the last time Katie had been there.

“Katie Parker?”

No sooner had they stepped inside than a young man with cropped blond hair and a round, familiar face stopped them. He wore a gray suit with a loosened tie, and the look on his face was one of utter shock. “Wha—How are you here? Didn’t you move to San Francisco?”

Katie leaned into his welcoming hug. “Well, if it isn’t Cael Green, almost exactly where you were the last time I saw you.” She kissed his cheek. “It’s been a minute.”

“Hey, man.” Her brother stepped forward. “Good to see you.”

“Yeah, you, too.” Cael shook Nick’s hand but barely looked at him. “Katie Parker, you are possibly the last person I would have ever expected to see here. I thought you put Enderlin in your rearview mirror for good after graduation.”

Before she could respond, his watch pinged. He took a quick glance and groaned. “God, I wish I could stay and catch up, but I was just on my way out. If I’d known you were coming—”

“Don’t worry about it.” Katie waved him off. “Kinda want to spend some time with my brother tonight, anyway. But hey, I’m sure we’ll run into each other again soon, small town and all.”

With a bright smile, Cael nodded. “I’d like that. Have fun tonight.”

“I’m glad to see you and Cael Green are still such good friends.” Nick steered them toward the bar.

Katie shrugged. “I don’t know that I’d say good friends. We seemed to run in the same circles and he was always pretty nice to me growing up. But enough about him; you promised me beer and pool. I’ll even buy the first round.”

With local craft beers in hand, Nick and Katie wound their way to the pool tables in the back of the bar. “Why don’t you rack ‘em up, Kat? I’ll be right back.”

She felt a clutch in her ribs, and she looked over the crowd. “I’ll come with you.”

Laying a hand on her shoulder, Nick shook his head. “I’m just going to the bathroom and I sure as hell don’t need your help. You’ll be fine, I promise. We don’t want to lose the table, so just chase everyone away.”

She rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans and took a deep breath. It was fine, she’d be fine. No one knew she was coming here. No one but Charlotte, and Katie knew she’d take that information to the grave, if need be.

After a healthy swallow of liquid courage, she pulled out the triangle, arranging the balls just right. When she was satisfied they were snug and ready for play, she hefted a couple pool cues to find the best weight and balance. Anytime she played against her brother, she did everything she could to gain an advantage. He was the one who taught her not to take anyone at face value, even him.

“I can show you the trick to the perfect break if you’d like.”

A deep voice from behind her caught Katie off guard, and she whirled around, ready for a confrontation. But instead of the monster of her nightmares, she found herself looking into a pair of striking green eyes. The man before her didn’t seem dangerous but her heart was still racing, and her ability to speak vanished.

He was tall with broad shoulders, a neatly trimmed beard, and thick, dark hair. And when his mouth lifted into a lopsided grin, her heart skipped out of beat.

“Wh—What makes you think I need you to show me anything?”

He chuckled and leaned in closer. “Maybe it was just wishful thinking so I could have a chance to talk to you.”

“Why?”

He blinked at her question. “Why what?”

“Why did you want to talk to me?” She swallowed the anxious butterflies and raised an eyebrow. “Do we know each other? Or were you coming to explain the rules of a game I’ve been playing for half my life?”

Katie’s heart was hammering in her chest, and she was sure he could hear it. What the hell was going on here? Despite the way he’d surprised her, there was no reason for her body to be reacting like this. He locked his penetrating gaze on her, sending a jolt from her head to her toes; whether it was from fear or excitement, she wasn’t quite sure.

Just then, Nick rounded the corner and clapped the stranger on the shoulder. “Back off, Collins. You’re out of your league here.”

“Hey, how's it going, man?” The two shook hands and the stranger locked eyes with Katie, making the blood rush to her cheeks. “So, who’s your new friend, Nick? I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.”

“This is my sister, Katie, just moved back from her adventures in San Francisco. Kat, this is Ben Collins, one of Enderlin’s most eligible bachelors—after yours truly, of course.” He laid a hand on his chest and gave a slight bow.

“Oh, is that what you are?” Katie finally tore her eyes away and bumped him with her hip.

Ben laughed and she had to fight the urge to step closer to him. “Well, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll let you get back to your game.” Again, he caught Katie’s eyes. “I hope I’ll see you around.”

With that, he turned on his heel and headed to the front of the bar, glancing back several times. Katie watched him walk away, her heart thudding each time their eyes met.

Nick nudged her with his elbow. “Put your tongue back in your mouth, Kat. You’re embarrassing me.”

“Ha. Ha.” Katie continued to prepare the table. “You want me to break, or what?”