by Barbara Lohr
Eyes burning, he pulled her down and she sank onto him.
“Aw, Katydid,” Cole whispered. “You are so beautiful.”
“Okay, does my hair smell like your baseball mitt?”
“Man, you’ve got a memory like an elephant. Nope, better.”
When she looked into Cole’s eyes, Kate saw tomorrow and the day after that. Smoothing back wisps of her hair, he cupped her chin, closed his eyes and kissed her. Scooting closer, Kate tightened her arms around his neck. Felt like she wanted to crawl inside him. She loved him just that much. When he skimmed his hands over her hips, every muscle in her body tensed.
Her teeth chattered with nervousness. She felt grateful for the soft light of the moon. His hands and words calmed her. “So beautiful, Kate. So very beautiful.”
She bit back words like, “hogwash” and, “You’re crazy.” The look on his face stopped her. For him, she was beautiful. The light burning inside her swelled big as the moon. His hands were gentle as she’d always known they’d be.
“What’s this?” He chuckled when he palmed her breasts and felt no bra.
“Just me,” she whispered, nudging him back so he could have a better look, see and feel it all.
Oh, my. So wanton. And crazy in love.
“Never just you, Katydid. Every part of you is special. You should know that.”
His kisses didn’t stop with her lips. That was just the beginning. Moaning, pressing, exploring, they tumbled, losing clothes along the way. Their kisses were deep and their hands, slow. She slid down his body like a moonbeam, lips glancing off angles, tongue flicking while he moaned.
“My, oh, my, you must work out.” Kate squeezed a firm bicep that was easily twice the size of hers.
“Just working, ma’am,” he drawled, the accent making her smile. “Could do some work for you if you like. But I like inside jobs the best.”
And he proved it.
“Oh, my, construction man,” she moaned. “I could find a job or two for you.”
Cole swallowed her next moan, hoisted her gently as if she were the thistle that blew in the breeze. They sank into mindless heat, pleasing each other with the slow pace of a first time. He laughed at the sand in her hair. She exalted in his hard, lean muscles. She felt grateful for the darkness and the gentle swish of the dune grass with only the moon to watch.
“Am I too heavy?” she asked, when he lifted her into a position that amazed her.
“What do you think?” His teeth gleamed through a wicked smile. He showed how that the position could be, well, quite nice.
Kate wrapped her legs and love around him tight. In the end, she felt him pulse clear through to her spine. She’d been moving toward this for such a long time. She knew that now. I love you. I love you. The words sang in her head.
But she kept them locked in her heart. For tonight.
“Where’d you learn all this?” she asked him later much later, when every nerve in her body had met its match and they’d reluctantly found their clothes.
“Not telling.” He stroked a thumb down her chin. “Look, I know this sounds corny, but it’s never been like this.”
She swallowed. “You don’t have to say that, Cole.” That comment cost her, but he’d been married to a beautiful woman.
Sitting up and reaching into the sand, Cole tossed stones out across the lake. “You just don’t know. I’m not a guy who runs around, Kate.”
“But there was Samantha.”
Cole sucked in the cool lake air. “Look, I don’t like to talk about this.”
“I noticed. Fine if you don’t want to.”
“Yeah, well, I definitely don’t talk about it around Natalie.”
“I understand.” But I want to know. I have to know.
Cole skipped another stone across the water. “No secret that Samantha was always a party animal. Guess I was drawn to her wild streak. We got crazy in college, like everyone else. Then her drinking got out of control. And she began mixing some other stuff with it. Dangerous stuff.”
Kate remembered Mercedes saying with respect, “That Samantha can sure hold her booze.” Maybe there was a limit for everything. Watching their father had taught Kate that.
“Everyone loved Samantha. I felt lucky when she married me. Thought she’d settle down. Thought once she was a mother, she’d see how much we needed her sober.” Cole’s chin tightened. “She went into treatment twice and was furious with me for insisting.”
“The drinking’s a sickness. You know that. Cure’s not easy.” Kate thought back to her dad and what her mother had told her.
“The first time Sam came out of rehab, she lasted a month. The second time, a week.” His mouth twisted. “Her recovery was going in the wrong direction and so was she. Along the way, she found pals to feed new addictions.”
“Oh, Cole.” She stretched both arms around his chest to hold the pain.
He stroked her arm slowly with the flat of his hand. “So we split up. She left for California. Leads a pretty wild life out there, or so I hear. We divorced two years later, and I made sure I got custody. By that time, she had a police record. Samantha can visit Natalie, but only when I’m with them. She came back once after I sent her the plane ticket. Marie still had the house so it was easy to supervise. I don’t even know if Natalie remembers that visit. Samantha was jumpy, distracted. Made a lot of trips to the rental car I got for her. Whatever she needed was probably stashed in the glove compartment.”
Kate cinched her arms tighter, feeling so helpless and understanding the pain.
“The second time we made plans, she called when we were waiting for her at the airport. Gave me a bogus story about a friend needing her, so she wasn’t coming. Probably sold the ticket. Had other uses for the money. If she ever visits again, I won’t tell Natalie until Samantha walks through the door.”
“Poor Natalie.” How Kate’s heart burned for the little girl. “It’s an illness. Cole. She didn’t choose it.”
The next rock Cole tossed out nicked three waves before it sank. “Well, neither did we.”
Pulling her knees into her chest, Kate dug her bare toes deeper in the sand. “I understand but doesn’t knowing how hard it is to kick the addiction help a little?”
Cole turned and studied her, jaw shifting. “You’re talking about your dad?”
She nodded.
“Sorry, so sorry.” His arms felt warm and comforting because he knew. He understood the hurt and the pain that were so hard to explain to other people. Smoothing back her mussed hair, Cole whispered, “You’re so beautiful, Katydid, so understanding and wise.”
She pulled back. “No one has ever called me that.”
“Well, they should have. But I’m glad I was first to tell you that you’re wise. Don’t let it go to your head.”
She socked him playfully in the arm.
“Wish I could have been first for a lot of things with you. Want to take a walk?”
“Sounds good.”
The tragedy of Samantha echoed in Kate’s head. She knew addiction could wreak havoc in people’s lives. Wasn’t her own family proof of that? Their dad had brought pain that they still couldn’t talk about.
Hand in hand, Cole and Kate walked along the waterline toward Gull Harbor. Sun tents sat ready for the next day, buckles, shovels and inner tubes heaped alongside.
“How about you?” Cole asked, snugging her to one hip. “What happened to your marriage? How could any guy let you get away?”
Quiet for a second, she struggled for the words to describe a failed marriage she was still trying to figure out. “Brian was perfect for me. Everybody told me that. We were both serious about our studies and had plans for the future. The type of people who made lists and checked things off.”
Cole started laughing.
She poked him in the ribs. “It’s not funny. I thought that’s what I wanted. The house, the cars, the success. His dinners with clients became vacations with clients. Somewhere along the way, we lost
each other. I wasn’t surprised when he told me children weren’t in the plan. Never had been.”
His quick intake of breath cut the air like a knife. “Wow. So who asked for the divorce?”
“I did,” she admitted. “It’s so hard to explain to people. No, he didn’t abuse me, but he’d rather read the stock reports than talk to me. His dad had been like that. Guess we believe what we want to believe.”
“Guys aren’t always honest, Katydid. Don’t blame yourself, okay?”
Cole’s shirt smelled like the beach when he folded her into his arms. She wanted to stay there forever. Almost told him that she loved him right then. Her heart ached with the weight of her feelings.
One kiss and the spark ignited. Much deeper than chemistry, their words had given each other so much comfort that they had to seal it with their bodies. When they reached a deserted stretch of beach with no houses up above, they shed their clothes and ran laughing into the water to make crazy love on the sand bar.
Much later, after Cole gave her one last, reluctant kiss at the back door, she wondered if that had really happened. Had they happened? Her aching body gave her the answer as she crawled into bed. The sheets slid deliciously on her overstimulated skin. Yes. Yes, that had happened. Yes, I love him. Yes, he must care for me too.
But as Kate drifted off to sleep, those darn yellow flyers flitted through her thoughts and dreams. In her dream, she chased them down but could never retrieve them all or the message they carried.
A few days later, the town voted down the motion that would have allowed Campbell Construction to tear down Michiana Thyme. Mildred set the wheels in motion to declare the building a historical site. Where that would end up, no one knew. Kate felt both relieved and terrified. What would Cole do if he ever found out the campaign to oppose his project had started with her?
Chapter 28
The day was hot and Cole was late. They were going blueberry picking with Kate. Next to him in the front seat, Natalie hummed along to the radio while Prissy panted. They’d both been a lot happier lately with Kate spending time at his place. The past two weeks had been crazy. Kayaking, sailing, lots of sunset picnics on the beach, and today, picking blueberries. Not easy with their work schedules.
He was making up for lost time.
Kate seemed to feel the same way.
“Why are we going blueberry picking?” Natalie poked her head around Prissy.
“Because Kate thinks it’ll be fun.”
Natalie settled back. “Everything with Kate is fun.”
Cole chuckled. His daughter was right.
When they reached Breezy Point, Kate was sitting on the back stoop wearing the shortest white shorts he’d ever seen. Not that he was complaining.
She looked up and waved. The sun bounced off her caramel curls, or “mitt curls,” their personal joke. Felt good to have their own jokes – kind of like high school but better. Now that she’d given up on being blonde, he was relieved. He loved the Kate he used to know.
He loved her. Cole jammed the truck into Park so fast both Natalie and Prissy gave him a look. “Sorry, sweetheart. You too, Prissy.”
“Good thing I always wear my seatbelt.” Natalie had hooked an arm around Prissy, who snuffled and shot him an accusing glance.
Fine, Cole. Let me fly through the windshield just because you’re in heat.
Waves of hot and cold pulsed over Cole, like he was stuck in a car wash.
But he liked it. Loved it. Loved her.
He loved Kate. Smiling, he turned off the truck and sat there for a second.
“Dad?” Natalie nudged him with her elbow.
Prissy swung her head his way and blinked. Snap out of it, Cole. Stuff happens.
“You’re late.” Kate stood. Her tiny blue tank top got his attention and he climbed out. Natalie and Priscilla scrambled down from the passenger side.
“I want to say hi to Alice.” His daughter dashed for the back door with Prissy galloping behind her.
“Mrs. Kennedy,” he called after her, but Natalie wasn’t listening, so he gave Kate a kiss. “Um, strawberry jam?”
“On a toasted English muffin. Like we had last Sunday at your house.”
“Yep, that was good. You were good.” The woman was so delicious. Arm in arm, they went inside. “Sorry I’m late. Had a million things to do.”
“That’s okay. My whole day’s open. Chili’s sister is visiting from Mexico, and she wanted to sell flowers. Do you believe it? Anyway, I’m on vacation today. Not that I don’t like the flower shop. I just don’t want it to be forever.”
“How’s the writing coming?” They’d reached the kitchen, and he pulled her into the powder room, just for old time’s sake. Natalie was talking with Alice out on the screen porch.
Kate snuggled into his arms. “You’re so bad…”
He shushed her with a kiss. Flattened her against the wall with his entire body. Life was making one thing clear. He could not get enough of Kate Kennedy.
“No fair. Not around mothers and children.” Pushing him away, she ducked under his arm and escaped.
“What about the dog?” he called after her.
“Her too.”
Natalie came running into the kitchen with Prissy’s nails ringing on the linoleum. The two of them look like they were up to no good. With this group of women, he felt totally outnumbered.
“I want to stay here with Alice today.”
“What?” Kate gave Natalie a puzzled look. “But we’re going to pick berries. For pies.”
Alice joined them, putting a hand on Natalie’s shoulder. “Natalie says we’re having a girls’ day today, but I do need those blueberries for a pie. So you two just get going.”
Something didn’t feel right. He exchanged a look with Kate. “What is this?” He tried to stare Natalie down. Did no good whatsoever. Even Prissy looked away, her pointed ears twitching.
Natalie crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t think Prissy should be out in the sun.”
Well, she had a point there.
“Take some water.” Turning, Alice opened the refrigerator door, and Natalie grabbed two bottles. Then she slammed the door shut but not before Cole saw the can of sink cleaner sitting on the top shelf.
“Is that a…”
His daughter shoved an icy water bottle into his hand. “Better get going.”
“Yep, time’s a wasting. Those berries will all be picked.” Alice began shooing them from the kitchen. Then she stopped. “And Cole, I’m so sorry the vote didn’t carry for your project.”
Amazing how what seemed so important in early summer had become another opportunity. “Not a problem. I have another idea. Hey, what is it?” Kate had paled a bit.
Her curls bounced when she shook her head. “Nothing. Let’s hit the road.”
The phone rang just as they got to the back door. “Mercedes?” Alice said, voice lifting. She made a hand motion that they should leave. “You’ve got news? What is it? Tell me.”
“Later.” With a shake of her head, Kate was dragging him out the door.
“Don’t you want to talk to your sister?” he asked, but Kate shook her head. He thought she’d plow right through that screen door. “What was going on back there? Kate, I swear I saw a can of cleanser in that refrigerator.”
Kate shrugged. “Happens all the time.”
The pieces began to come together. Natalie had changed this summer. Not only did she adore Kate, she loved Alice too. She’d probably do anything for the older woman and that included protecting her. His little girl was growing up.
“So your mom’s still not totally connecting the dots?” Twisting the bottle open, he took a big swig of water.
Breaking off one of the pink hollyhocks blooming next to the back door, Kate stuck it in her hair. “Life is what it is, Cole. I try not to think of the person my mom used to be and love the woman she is now.”
“She’s a trip.”
“And she’s still my mom. I kind of like
her quirky. She doesn’t give so many orders.”
“That’s my girl.” Cole kissed the tip of Kate’s nose and opened the passenger door. The days were gone when she’d make a big deal out of the dog hair coating the seat.
Once on Red Arrow, he headed north and rested a hand on her knee. Habits had formed so quickly with Kate. “Missed ya, babe.”
“We were together last night.”
“I miss you even when you’re with me. Know what I mean?” He laughed while Kate drank half that bottle of water without taking a breath.
~~
Under the bright sunlight, blueberry bushes waited, heavy with ripe berries. Had Kate ever felt this content? Cole drove down the bumpy road and parked. Jumping out of the truck, Kate sprinted for the counter where the girls were handing out buckets. Armed for berry picking, Kate and Cole walked into the rows. Not even noon and the sun was merciless.
“Feels like an inferno in here.” Cole wiped his brow.
“Yeah, but smell those berries. They’re huge this year.” When she glanced back, Cole was checking out her white shorts, not the bushes. “Get back to business, mister.”
“Yes, ma’am. Whatever you say, ma’am.”
Kate gave him the look and Cole grinned back. The man was so sexy without even trying. Sexy and sweet. Closing one hand gently over a plump cluster, she tugged. The berries came off easily, and she released them into the bucket. “I feel like a little girl again when I’m picking.”
“I’m glad you’re not a little girl, or I’d be in big trouble for what we’ve been doing.” Snatching at the very top branch, Cole grabbed some berries and promptly popped them into his mouth.
“Quit that. Fill the bucket.” But she did steal one. Was anything as tasty as a berry warm from the sun? The sweet flavor exploded in her mouth.
Cole laughed at her as if she was still the uptight sophomore and he was the skinny senior, too big for his britches. Seeing him this carefree made guilt pull her up short. His vote had not passed, and she had to come clean about that. She wanted no secrets between them.
The two of them worked in silence while the sun bore down. She was grateful for the water bottle, but soon, it was drained. Sweat beaded on Cole’s forehead. Whipping out a hankie, he tied it around his forehead. Oh lord, he was so handsome.
