Mr. Styles (H.S.) [COMPLETE]

Thirty-One

As Katherine was cleaning the kitchen that morning after breakfast, Liam found her again, startling her as she was finishing up the dishes.

"I'm sorry about before. I didn't know you two were sleeping together," Liam apologized, leaning against the countertop, watching her. Katherine sucked in a breath and choked on the air.

"Excuse me?" She snapped at him.

"I saw the way you two looked at each other," Liam continued, cocking a knowing eyebrow.

"We are not sleeping together," she told him firmly, her eyes wide as her heart beat hard against her ribcage.

"Did you know that when a person is lying they usually don't use contractions when they're denying something. 'We are not sleeping together'. Also, by the defense in your tone and the way you spoke my words back to me, it makes me wonder if you're telling the truth," Liam explained, sending her another knowing look. She supposed he wasn't as dumb as he looked.

"We're not," she said firmly, making sure she used a contraction as she narrowed her eyes at him. His own eyes challenged her for a few moments before his smile took over his features once again.

"Alright. I believe you," he said finally. She took a deep breath and shook her head.

"Are we done here?" She asked him boldly.

"Did I offend you?" He asked with a wry smile.

"No. I just have a lot of work to do, and Mr. Styles wouldn't appreciate it if I were to get off task," she explained as professionally as she could.

"I bet he wouldn't," Liam remarked with a suggestive lift of his eyebrow.

Katherine pursed her lips at him before she spun on her heels and made her way out of the kitchen.

...

As she was making up one of the guest bedrooms for Liam at her boss' request, Katherine was startled by Mr. Styles' presence in the doorway.

"Christ!" She yelped, her heart nearly leaping into her throat.

"Sorry," Mr. Styles apologized with a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"Can I help you with something, sir?" She asked formally, wondering why he was lurking outside the room.

"It would probably be best if you stayed away from Liam while he's here. He's, uh... he definitely likes his women," he told her, cocking an eyebrow at her.

Why did he feel the need to tell her that?

"It must run in the family," she snipped under her breath. Mr. Styles' eyes narrowed at her immediately and she cowered under his stare.

"Sorry," she apologized sheepishly.

"I'm not sure how long he is staying. He's probably just waiting for the right time to hit me up for money," Mr. Styles added, grumbling the last part.

"You have such a low view of your brother?" She questioned, feeling a little confused by their relationship, especially since she didn't even know he had a brother. Their dynamic just seemed a bit off to her.

"Trust me, it's a just view," Mr. Styles snipped, pursing his lips together in judgment.

"I honestly didn't know you had a brother. It only mentions you have a sister on the internet," she told him, and he cocked an intrigued eyebrow at her.

"I uh, did some research before taking the position," she explained as her cheeks reddened with embarrassment at the fact that she just admitted to stalking his personal life on the internet before she took the position.

"Step-brother," Mr. Styles corrected, answering so many questions in her head.

"That makes more sense. Besides the similar color of your hair, you two look nothing alike," she pointed out.

"There is not much that Liam and I have in common," he told her. Except your love for women, she wanted to say.

"Your... your father is doing better?" She questioned, changing the subject to one that had been on her mind since he told her about his heart attack.

"So it seems," he answered with a nod.

"That's great news, Harry," she said with a wide smile, feeling relieved for him and his family.

"It is," he said quietly.

They were silent for a few long moments. She stared at him as he leaned against the door frame, sliding his fingers up and down the sides of his chin. He looked so attractive, so incredibly appealing, it was hard not to watch him for as long as she could.

"Like I said, Miss Mason, just stay away from Liam while he's here," Mr. Styles warned her again as he pushed away from the door frame, conveying a distinct end to the conversation, mimicking the beginning like a bookend.

"He seems harmless," she told him with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Do not forget, Miss Mason, I still have not punished you from your outburst the other morning. Let's not make the punishment more severe," he cautioned, sending her a sharp look. Her insides tightening and twisted in the most delicious way.

"Yes, sir," she said formally, biting back a smile.

He gave her one last once-over before he turned and left the doorway. She took a deep breath and let it out, wondering when the hell he would carry out the punishment he was holding over her head.