Dreaming 0f You (Christian Romance)

by Marie Higgins

  Just as she finished getting ready and sprayed on her favorite perfume, the front doorbell rang. She rarely had unexpected company, so her heart skipped a beat, anticipating Shane had come to surprise her.

  Quickly, she fluffed her hair one last time before hurrying to the front door. When she opened it, she immediately lost her smile. Panic surged through her when she stared into the very cunning eyes of Shane’s sister-in-law, Tori.

  Tori looked picture-perfect, as always; new clothes fresh off the top designer’s rack, and not a hair on her head out of place. She wore a malicious smile, and that too looked to be very expensive.

  “Surprise!” Tori said with a lift to her voice.

  “Tori? What—how—why—” Katelyn’s thoughts jumbled together.

  The other woman laughed again and stepped past Katelyn, walking inside her house. “I would have called first, but I didn’t have your phone number.”

  Katelyn closed the door and leaned against the solid hard wood, mainly because her legs were shaking so bad. “How did you know where I lived?”

  “I happened to be passing by last night when I saw you returning from a date.” Tori winked. “I have to say, seeing you surprised me.”

  Tori saw me with Shane? Katelyn breathed deeply because if she didn’t, she’d surely faint from lack of oxygen. “Um...I surprised you?”

  “Yes, you did.” Playfully, Tori punched Katelyn’s arm. “You have changed so much from when we worked together. No longer are you the mousy woman I knew.”

  Katelyn laughed uncomfortably. “Thank you.”

  “Your looks aren’t the only thing that surprised me, either.”

  “They’re not?”

  “I can’t believe you went out with Shane Hunter.” Shaking her head, she folded her arms. “Please tell me you’re not serious about him. Don’t you remember me telling you what a jerk he was?”

  Katelyn laughed uncomfortably and walked toward her sofa. She needed to sit before her wobbly legs collapsed beneath her. “Tori, that was several years ago. I can’t believe you still remembered.”

  Tori followed her to the sofa and sat beside her. “Katie, I know we haven’t kept in touch over the years, but I still feel like we’re friends, and as your friend, I have to warn you. Shane has not changed since we last talked. In fact, he’s gotten worse.”

  Anger quickly replaced the panic flowing through Katelyn’s body and she bunched her hands into fists. “Tori, I have gotten to know Shane over the past few weeks, and I can honestly say he’s not the man you told me about all those years ago. He is a warm, caring and loving man who completely adores his children.”

  Tori scowled. “Boy, he has you fooled.” Gingerly, she touched Katelyn’s arm. “Please don’t let him suck you into his deceitful world like he did my sister, Amber.” Tori frowned as she blinked back tears. “He killed my sister, you know. True, he didn’t physically do it, but she was dead inside before the car accident took her life, and I blame Shane for that.”

  Katelyn pushed away Tori’s touch. “Tori, you can’t convince me of his faults this time. He has already proven to me what an upstanding man he really is.”

  Tori sat back in the sofa and crossed her arms. Her beady eyes nearly bore holes through Katelyn from the animosity she projected. “Tell me truthfully, Katie. Were you in love with him back in college? Is that why you wrote about him?”

  Katelyn’s gut twisted. “In love with him?” She forced a laugh. “Tori, I didn’t even know him, except from what you told me.”

  Nodding, Tori tapped her finger against her chin. “Now I’m starting to see things clearly. You wrote about Shane in your book, twisting the truth around to make him look like a hero in your readers’ eyes.”

  “Tori, it’s not what you think—”

  The other woman tilted back her slender neck and released a haughty laugh. “It’s exactly what I think. You had been having an affair with him while he dated my sister.”

  “What?” Straightening, Katelyn blinked at the other woman as confusion filled her quickly. “Tori, you know I would never do that. I wasn’t that kind of girl back then, and I’m certainly not like that now. Has it slipped your mind how shy I was in college? If you recall, I couldn’t even look him directly in the eyes.”

  “Well, my little miss romance writer,” Tori snickered, “you have certainly given me an ear-full this morning.”

  “You couldn’t be more wrong!” Katelyn wanted this woman out of her house. Now! “I have never understood why you hate him so much.”

  Tori lifted a heavily penciled eyebrow. “Really? Isn’t it obvious?”

  “What’s obvious to me is that you were the one who loved him in college, and because he picked your sister over you...” Finally everything made sense. “Of course! That’s why you hate him. You finally found a man who didn’t think you were the most perfect woman on campus. You finally found a man who didn’t kiss your feet and worship you.”

  “Ha!” Tori’s hands flew in the air. “You couldn’t be more wrong. Nobody is going to believe you, anyway. They will believe me!”

  Katelyn’s head pounded with worry, and she knew she had to tell Shane as soon as possible. If he heard the truth from Tori first, he’d never believe Katelyn’s explanation.

  “I’m sorry you can’t accept the truth, but that’s your problem, not mine.”

  “Don’t be too sure about that,” Tori snickered.

  Katelyn stood and walked toward the door. “I don’t have time to chit-chat with you any longer. Please leave.”

  Tori shrugged her thin shoulders and nearly bounced with enthusiasm to the door. Katelyn knew what the vindictive woman was thinking—something Katelyn couldn’t let her accomplish.

  SHANE WAITED AT THE restaurant, tapping his fingers impatiently on the table. Tori had called him early this morning, requesting a meeting. She said she wanted to make amends because she didn’t want him to hate her and wanted to continue seeing the children. Against his better judgment he’d decided to meet her and see what she wanted.

  Taking a deep breath, he slowly released it and leaned back in the booth, keeping watch on the door. Once he had gotten Tori taken care of, he was going to seriously date Katelyn. Since taking her to that beautiful church last night, he couldn’t stop thinking about what a great influence she’d been on his life after a few short weeks. He’d never met anyone like her, and the more he knew about her, the more he grew to love her. She was exactly the kind of woman he wanted in his life, married to him and loving his children. She was also the type of woman he wanted to have more children with.

  He knew she felt the same way about him, which made being with her much more enjoyable. Her faith in the Lord gave him the strength to want the Lord in his life as well. She was his support, his encouragement, and he never wanted to let her go.

  Funny how their relationship had started out badly. He couldn’t believe he’d accused her of stalking him—and the other insane notions he’d had. Perhaps she hadn’t known him a long time ago and it was just a coincidence that her hero shared Shane’s name along with his life.

  An overwhelming, flower-killing, perfume drowned his senses mere seconds before Tori sat across from him. She linked her fingers together on the table and smiled in that victorious, know-it-all way of hers. He couldn’t wait to stick a pin to her head and burst her bubble.

  “Have you ordered breakfast yet?” she asked.

  “I’ve already eaten.”

  “Oh, well I’ll just order orange juice, then.”

  He shrugged. “Suit yourself. You’re paying for it, not me.”

  She chuckled. “Little do you know...”

  “Tori, I really don’t want to be here with you, so say what you’ve come to say so I can leave.”

  She grinned—looking like the cat who’d swallowed the canary—as she drummed her fake fingernails on the table. “I actually want to call a truce between us. I’ll admit that it crushed me when you wouldn’t let me take the kids as Amb
er had wanted, and I’m very relieved to see you want to be their father now.”

  He gripped the end of the table, wondering what she was up to now. Tori did not admit she was wrong...ever. So why was she doing so now? “Thank you, Tori. I’m glad you can see that.”

  Tori shrugged. “And although you cheated on Amber while she was pregnant, I suppose I understand how easy it is to fall out of love with your spouse.”

  “Tori, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve told you before that I have never cheated on Amber. I was faithful to her the whole time we were married—even before while we dated. I just wish my wife could have shown me the same faithfulness.”

  “Shane, really. You don’t have to lie. I know you did. Don’t you think I have proof?” She laughed harder. “I wouldn’t be making these accusations if I didn’t have proof.”

  He rolled his eyes. “What? The romance novel? Think again, Tori. That’s no proof at all.”

  She stretched back in the seat, looking comfortable and assured. “You say you don’t know the author, Chelsea Mitchell, but I can prove you did.”

  Shane’s heartbeat turned irregular. Anger didn’t have anything to do with it now. “You can prove I knew this author before I married Amber?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  Tori had seen him with Katelyn last night at Roberto’s, but that didn’t prove they knew each other back then. Shane wondered what Tori was up to now. “How?”

  “Because she went to college with us, but was in the class just younger. Her real name is Katelyn Palmer. I worked with her the whole time you were dating Amber, and even after you two were married.”

  College? His chest tightened. Why hadn’t he thought of college? Then again, it was a large campus. There was no way he could know everyone. “Even if the author did go to college with us, it doesn’t mean I know her and had an affair with her, Tori.”

  “My dear, stupid, brother-in-law. Don’t you think Katie and I talked when we worked together? She told me all about stalking you in college. She followed you constantly. She knew when you went to basketball games, and even when you studied at the library.”

  Doubt clouded his mind, and the breakfast energy drink he’d had this morning threatened to come up. “Katelyn might have known me back then, but I can assure you, I didn’t know her. You still can’t prove anything, Tori.”

  Tori shook her head. “Everyone who has read that book can tell the author had an affair with Shane Hunter. In fact,” she paused, her smile growing wider, “I’m quite sure if you asked her, she wouldn’t be able to deny being in love with you back then.”

  Staring at his evil sister-in-law, he thought back to the times he’d asked Katelyn about the book—about how she knew him. She had many chances to confess, but never did. He always felt she was hiding something but then somehow convinced himself maybe he had just over-imagined everything.

  If what Tori said was right, Katelyn had been purposely withholding the truth from him. Why would she do that, knowing he’d get upset when he discovered the truth?

  “Tori, I can’t believe the lies coming out of your mouth this time,” he snipped.

  “They are not lies, believe me. Katelyn and I talked about a lot of things. I told her how awful you were to Amber, especially after you two were married. Katie led me to believe she despised you as much as I did.”

  Tori was lying. She had to be! Why would Katelyn have said those things back then when they weren’t true? Perhaps that was why she wouldn’t confess to knowing him now—she was afraid he’d find out.

  “Can’t you see, Shane? Katie is using you to get ideas for her next book, just like she was using me when we worked together.”

  The more he stared at Tori, the more he felt like a sinking man. He shouldn’t have pursued the author of that book. Obviously, it was a big mistake because now that Tori had seen him with Katelyn last night, his sister-in-law would only add fuel to the already roaring fire and make him question Katelyn’s motive.

  Silently, he cursed Tori. Now he wished he’d never known the truth!

  KATELYN SCREECHED HER car to a quick stop and slammed it in to park. She flew out of the Pathfinder without even grabbing her purse, dashing toward the building where Shane worked. Because she didn’t know where he lived, she realized she’d have to disturb him at work after all. She couldn’t have Tori talking to him first.

  She sprinted up the stairs, stumbled and nearly fell on her face, opened the door and hurried inside. Then stopped. She’d expected to see an office full of people. Instead, one woman sat behind a desk. Upon Katelyn’s noisy entrance, the woman jumped out of her chair and stood. Perhaps Shane did hire someone after all to finish converting the files.

  “Hello,” Katelyn greeted.

  “May I help you?”

  Katelyn took a few deep breaths, hoping to calm her racing heart. “Yes. I need to see Shane Hunter. It’s urgent.”

  Slowly, the woman moved toward Katelyn, keeping a smile upon her heavily glossed lips. “Shane isn’t here right now. If you’d like, I could take a message for you and give it to him when he returns.”

  “Do you work here?”

  The redhead nodded. “Yes.”

  This must be the woman Shane had spoken of...Mags. Katelyn studied the other woman—prettier and younger than she wanted her to be—and wearing a form-fitting dress and spiked high heels that made Katelyn wonder who the woman was trying to impress.

  “I’m Katelyn Palmer. Shane and I are...um, dating.” She stretched forth her right hand in greeting. The other woman took her hand and shook. “If you will have Shane call me as soon as he gets in, I’d appreciate it. It’s extremely important that I talk to him.”

  The redhead lifted a quizzical eyebrow. “If you’re dating Shane, why don’t you have his cell number?”

  Embarrassment crept over Katelyn. “We’ve only been dating for a couple of days now.”

  Margaret nodded. “Oh, I see. Do you know where he lives?”

  Katelyn’s cheeks grew hotter and she stepped closer to the desk. “No. He picked me up from my place. But if you will give me his address, I’d greatly appreciate it. I need to speak with him as soon as possible.”

  “Sure, I can tell you where he lives.” The woman’s smile widened as she explained how to get to his condo.

  Katelyn realized Shane lived close to the high school track where she’d run into him that one night. Finding his place would not be a problem at all.

  “Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”

  “You’re welcome. I hope you find him.”

  “Me, too!”

  Katelyn nearly flew out the door and down the few steps to her car. Once her seatbelt was in place, she started the car and took off. Fear lodged a dry lump in her throat, making it difficult to swallow. It can’t be too late... She prayed she’d make it to Shane before Tori did. Shane would certainly not forgive her this time.

  As she approached the condo, she recognized his truck parked outside. Her heartbeat knocked a panicked rhythm against her ribs as she parked her vehicle and killed the engine.

  Although she knew she would have to tell him the truth, words were not coming to her head. Think, Palmer! You’re a writer, for heaven’s sake! Yet, she couldn’t at this time. In her writing mode, she could put herself in the character’s shoes and write how they would react. But now she couldn’t. Her mind drew a blank—the worst writer’s block she’d ever had.

  Hopefully, the twins would be at the daycare because she didn’t want anything distracting Shane when she confessed the truth.

  She climbed out of the car and walked with wobbly legs toward his place. Since her mind remained blank, she silently prayed for strength and prayed that Shane would understand and forgive her.

  With a shaky hand, she knocked on the door.

  Two very long minutes passed before the door opened. Through the screen door, the gloom written all over Shane’s face was visible. When he met her gaze, he didn’t smile.
r />   Her heart dropped. He knows!

  Katelyn took a deep breath. “Shane, we need to talk.”

  He arched an eyebrow and gave her a blaming glare. “Yes, we do.” He opened the screen door.

  Twisting her hands against her stomach, she stepped inside. She kept her eyes locked to his, hoping to see a glimmer of hope in his expression, but none was detected. He hated her.

  “Shane, I need to tell you about the book... about why I wrote the book.”

  He shook his head and flipped his hand through the air. “No need. I know the truth.”

  “I don’t think you do.” She swallowed the hard lump of guilt in her throat. “What Tori told you—”

  “You know, I don’t usually believe my sister-in-law, but what she told me this morning made sense.” He turned away from her and paced the floor in his living room. “She told me we were in college together.” He threw a glance over his shoulder at her. “I looked you up, Katelyn. We did attend college at the same time.”

  “Yes we did, but—”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” He stopped in front of her. “I gave you several chances to tell me the truth, but you never did.”

  Shame and guilt weighed heavily in her chest. Tears pricked her eyes as emotion choked her throat. “Shane, I’m sorry. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you.”

  “Why?”

  “I...thought you’d hate me when you found out. I worried that you’d never forgive me.”

  He folded his arms. “Well guess what? You were right. Because of your deception, I can’t trust you, and I can’t get into a relationship with a woman I can’t trust. That is one of the things that ruined my marriage. I won’t allow something like that to happen again.”

  Katelyn lost the battle with her tears, and they spilled forth and streamed down her cheeks. Piece by piece, her heart broke, and the pain from losing Shane was more than she could bear. Although she wanted to drop to her knees and beg his forgiveness, she knew it wouldn’t do any good.

  “Please let me explain.” She clutched his arm. “We can’t end things like this.”