By Candlelight

by Janelle Taylor

  “Hey,” Jake said quietly, a smile in his voice.

  “Hey,” Kate answered, feeling ridiculously happy.

  “How about dinner?”

  “Tonight? Ummm…okay. I’ve got to arrange things with April. Where?”

  “Do you know Piper’s Landing?”

  “Sure.” The restaurant was renowned for its seafood, and though Kate had never been there herself, she knew exactly where it was located.

  “I live really close to Piper’s Landing,” Jake revealed. “Right next door, actually. I might run a bit late here, but I’d love to meet you for dinner. How about around six?”

  “Sure. I’ve got a lot of things to finish, too. I’ll see you at six.”

  “I’ve wanted to call you,” he revealed, then stopped himself, as if rethinking what he was about to say.

  She didn’t care. Just knowing she was in his thoughts was enough. “I’ve wanted to call you, too,” she answered back.

  “Tonight,” he told her, extra meaning in his voice, and Kate murmured a goodbye with a soft smile spreading across her face.

  She replaced the receiver thoughtfully, trying to tamp down her runaway elation. He had chosen Piper’s Landing because it was next to his place; he had let her know what his intentions were without really saying them. If she had wanted to back out of another evening of lovemaking, he had given her an easy route to splitsville. But no…just thinking about the evening ahead left her throat dry.

  When April gathered up her things and gazed at Kate expectantly, Kate inwardly groaned. They had driven downtown together today because of her audition.

  “Can you take my car home tonight?” Kate asked her. “I—um—have a dinner date downtown.”

  “How are you going to get home? With who? Mr. Talbot? Oh! Will he bring you home?” The questions came thick and fast. “Sure, I’ll take the car. Where are you eating? No, don’t tell me. Save it for later when I can debrief you in person.”

  “April!” Kate laughed.

  “Is this love?” Jillian interjected as she got ready to leave the agency herself.

  “I can tell neither one of you has enough to do if all you can think about is my social calendar,” Kate grumbled good-naturedly.

  “It must be,” Jillian mused to April.

  “Can I make dinner for Ryan tonight?” April asked her mom, her quick mind thinking ahead to an evening alone with her boyfriend.

  “I guess so.” She felt a tinge of uneasiness, although she knew from experience that if a couple wanted to make love, they would find a place, even if it was the backseat of a car…“I won’t be long,” she added repressively.

  April rolled her eyes and deadpanned, “Then we’ll be quick.”

  “Please, April,” Kate said on a deep sigh.

  “I’m just kidding. You worry way too much. Ryan and I are really good buddies.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Kate paced around the office after April and Jillian left, stretching the kinks from her shoulders in an effort to release tension. She wasn’t used to this single motherhood. Ben had always been there to help out, and now, when she was discovering a new life of her own, she didn’t want to suddenly think of April as an encumbrance.

  How do other people do it? she wondered.

  She was still ruminating on the situation when the phone rang after hours. It turned out to be Rachel, one of the agency’s models who was also in her mid-thirties, and who was checking up on her last audition. Kate assured her that everything had gone well, then asked as an afterthought, “You have a couple of kids in their teens, don’t you?”

  “Oh, my God, yes! It’s enough to drive you to drink!”

  Since Kate knew Rachel had been divorced for a number of years, she inquired, “What do you do when you have a date or an evening audition? Do you leave them alone?”

  “Well, yeah. It’s only for a few hours.”

  “Do you let them have boyfriends or girlfriends over?”

  Rachel made a sound of annoyance. “I used to make all these rules, but they’d just break them, or lie. Now we’re just up front with each other and it works better. You got a problem?”

  “I’m just getting used to this single mother thing,” Kate admitted.

  “April’s a great kid. Don’t worry too much, okay?”

  “I won’t. Thanks.”

  That snippet of conversation rolled around in Kate’s head all the way to Piper’s Landing. There was deeper meaning there, she realized uncomfortably. She trusted April to be smart. Her daughter had shown excellent judgment so far, and there was no reason to expect her to act differently just because Kate had begun dating.

  But Rachel’s words had reminded her that she herself had been less than up front with April about one very important issue: her parentage. What would happen when she learned the truth?

  Kate’s hands were clammy as she walked into the restaurant. Realizing she was fifteen minutes early, she put her name in for a table, then walked through the restaurant to the deck outside. The sun had finally shaken off its clouds, and heat had gathered over the city. Kate leaned on a rail above the Willamette, closed her eyes and turned her face skyward.

  “Hi there,” a familiar male voice greeted her.

  Kate lifted her lashes. Phillip Talbot, Jr., gazed at her through bleary eyes. He had an arm looped around the dock rail, and it appeared he might actually need the support.

  “I came to see my brother,” he revealed. “He lives right there.” He pointed to the high rise condominium building next door. “Yup.”

  “He said he was working late.”

  “Oh, yeah. The Diamond deal.” Attempting to snap his fingers, he succeeded only in losing his balance for a brief second before he caught himself. “Always another deal.”

  Kate was uncomfortable discussing Jake. She glanced at her watch, wondering if she could sidestep Phillip. She didn’t want to reveal that they were having dinner together.

  “You went to school with him,” Phillip said. “You were the girl my parents abhorred.”

  Kate could only smile in agreement. She hadn’t known Phillip was aware of her and Jake’s previous relationship. She had kind of hoped it was a secret, but eventually secrets managed to work their way out no matter how hard one tried to keep them hidden.

  “I was talking to Jake about you. He hates it when I butt in, but he’s Talbot’s main man, so he’s important.” Phillip’s mouth twisted. “I’ve got to make sure little brother stays on the straight and narrow, you know what I mean.”

  “I guess so.” Kate tossed an anxious look to the door. When could she politely sneak away?

  “I mean, it’s my livelihood, too, isn’t it? It’s my inheritance. Just think what would happen if it all suddenly went away. Where would Jake be then? Huh?”

  Kate didn’t know what to say to that. “Talbot Industries seems rock solid.”

  “Doesn’t it, though.” His lip curled, as if the very idea of his family business’s success was grounds for disgust. “Well, we all deserve our portion, don’t we? I mean, I may be a worthless excuse for a human being, to quote my father, but I’m still a Talbot, right?”

  “Phillip, I don’t think we should be talking about this.”

  “Why not?” he demanded. “You’re Jake’s precious Katie from high school. He’s never gotten over it, you know. Oh, he can fool everyone else, but he can’t fool me.” He waved a hand dismissively. “We may look different, but we’re the same inside. A lot the same.” He nodded.

  They’re all the same without their clothes on, honey. Lisa’s admonition floated across her mind, but Phillip was a far cry from his brother. They hadn’t been the same when she and Jake were high school lovers; they weren’t the same now.

  Kate glanced around again, a bit helplessly, hoping Jake would materialize. But just as she turned, Sandra Galloway walked through the restaurant’s back door, and the two women spied each other, straight on. Kate inwardly groaned. She didn’t kno
w what showed on her face, but the fulminating look that crossed Sandra’s spoke volumes.

  “Mrs. Rose,” she said tautly. “Phillip, what are you doing here?” she demanded a moment later. “Jake has final say on who the spokesperson is.”

  “Hold on, there. I just ran into her,” Phillip declared defensively. “This is no secret meeting.”

  “I never said it was.” Sandra’s lips tightened.

  “Jake’s got all the decisions. I know my place.” He lifted his hands in surrender. “And it’s always second best, isn’t it?” he said in a soft, insinuating tone, his eyes drilling into Sandra’s.

  She didn’t respond to what appeared to be an insult directed at her.

  Kate’s nerves stretched to breaking. She didn’t want to have to explain her date with Jake to them, but it was looking more and more like she was going to have to. And she hated being the object of Phillip’s speculation, yet what did she expect? With a jolt it occurred to her that maybe Jake had purposely invited them both to the restaurant. Maybe he had planned for them all to eat together, like one big happy family.

  Sandra inadvertently disabused her of that idea seconds later. “Have you seen Jake?” she asked Phillip impatiently. “He’s been tricky to catch up with all day.”

  “The Diamond Corp. deal,” Phillip said. “Busy, busy, busy.”

  “He had a meeting with them last week. It must be something else.”

  Phillip’s expression changed, as if she had reminded him of something he would rather not recall. “Well, whatever it is, I don’t think it’s any of your business,” he added rudely.

  “Excuse me,” Kate murmured. She hurried away, but not before she heard Sandra say, “For God’s sake, Phillip. You’d better sit down before you fall down!” and Phillip respond sardonically, “Your caring nature really touches my heart, Sandra, dear.”

  With relief Kate re-entered the restaurant and learned from the maitre d’ which table was slated as hers. Unfortunately, her table had a wonderful window side view of the river—which tonight included Sandra and Phillip.

  What was it with the two of them? Kate wondered idly. They acted like a long antipathy existed between them. She would be glad when Jake showed up and they disappeared. She just hoped the latter would happen before the former.

  As if her thoughts had conjured him up, Jake suddenly appeared at the maitre d’ stand. Kate’s pulse fluttered. He looked so handsome. It humbled her to know that the searching gaze he swept over the restaurant was meant for her. She felt lucky that he cared about her, and though she knew that wasn’t exactly a healthy attitude when it came to love, she couldn’t help herself.

  She just hoped he felt lucky, too.

  Lifting a hand, she caught his attention. He grinned, his trademark smile seeming to brighten the restaurant like no electric lights ever could.

  He wore the same suit he’d had on earlier: dark and conservative with an equally conservative dark blue tie. But as he walked toward her he yanked on the tie and undid the top button of his crisp white shirt. Stuffing the tie in his pocket, he pulled out the chair across from her, his gaze sweeping over her in what could only be described as lust.

  “I’ve been thinking about you all day,” Jake admitted. “I really wanted to talk to you at the audition, but it was impossible.”

  “I’ve been thinking about you, too.”

  “It’s bizarre, isn’t it? After all these years.” He shook his head, boyishly happy.

  Kate was deliriously ecstatic herself. “Beyond bizarre. Pretty wonderful, really.”

  He reached across the table and clasped her hands within his. “Kate—” he began, when Sandra and Phillip ducked into the restaurant from the river side. Jake’s brows lifted, and he shot a glance toward Kate.

  She whispered quickly, “I saw them earlier. I think they were waiting for you. I just didn’t want to—give you up to them.”

  His back straightened as Sandra and Phillip beelined toward them, but he didn’t offer a greeting. He appeared as disinterested in meeting either of them as Kate was—which brightened her mood considerably.

  “So, what is this?” Sandra asked with a brittle smile.

  “Dinner,” Jake responded evenly.

  “Oh, dinner.” Her dark gaze fastened on Kate a moment too long. Kate couldn’t miss the jealousy, and without realizing it, she began to hold her breath, expelling it only when Sandra turned to Jake. “Remember our pact?” she murmured. When Jake’s eyes never left hers, Sandra swung toward Kate and said with false lightness, “How quickly they forget. Are you seeing each other?”

  Kate blinked, not certain how to respond, but Jake offered, “Yes, we are,” into the tense silence that ensued.

  “What pact?” Phillip asked.

  “Jake knows,” Sandra said, her lips tightening.

  Phillip sent her a disparaging look. “Give it up. Little brother’s moved on!” He barked out a short laugh. “Wait till the folks find out. The Old Man will have a coronary!”

  “What does that mean?” Sandra asked, frowning in distaste at Phillip.

  “These two are longtime lovers,” he explained, sweeping an arm expansively in Jake and Kate’s direction, brushing a woman customer’s shoulder in the process. The woman gasped and recoiled. “Sorry,” Phillip murmured, staggering a bit.

  “Get a hold of yourself,” Jake said flatly. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Same old thing. I’m not as good as you, brother. I’m the black sheep bastard.” Phillip managed a small bow in Kate’s direction. “So long, fair lady. I hope your involvement with the Talbots is long and fruitful.”

  “Go home and sleep it off.” Jake’s voice brooked no argument. “And make sure you take a taxi.”

  “You know it’s the only way I drive after a few drinks. See, I can be responsible.” He lurched his way to the front.

  Sandra glared at Jake, her expression partly mutinous, partly miserable. “When you’re finished with dinner, call me. No, I’ll call you,” she amended, as if fearing Jake would never follow through. “Good evening, Mrs. Rose. I see now how little influence Turner and Moss had on determining who would be the best spokesperson for Talbot Industries.”

  Into the moody silence following her departure, Jake said, “Don’t let them complicate things. Remember how we were at the beach.”

  “I remember.” But it was difficult because now she knew about Sandra. “What was your pact?”

  Jake groaned and closed his eyes. “She wanted me to give her a chance. She knew our relationship was ending, and she wanted to keep a foot in the door. She begged me to promise that if I started caring about someone else, that I’d come right out and tell her so she could—I don’t know—fight for our relationship, I guess.”

  “And did you? Tell her?”

  “It was over by the time she wanted the pact, and we both knew it. It was never a serious thing to begin with.”

  “Ahh…” Kate twiddled with her fork. “By that, you mean it was never a ‘physical’ thing?”

  Jake’s eyes regarded her steadily, as if he could see the torment in her soul. “I mean it was never a serious thing.”

  Kate nodded, every muscle tense, her insides aching with fresh knowledge that she was a fool to fall so hard, so fast. She had built up this relationship with Jake into something much more complex and meaningful when they, too, were really just dating!

  “Sandra showed an interest in me, and I let her. At the time I was way too involved in the company. My father turned it over to me last spring, and I wasn’t interested in meeting any women. I didn’t have time for them. When Sandra took over as our liaison for Turner and Moss, we noticed each other,” he admitted, making a rueful face. “It was simple. Easy. Sandra’s smart and dynamic.”

  Kate nodded quickly, not sure she could hear any more. Her ears rang as it was from hearing Jake praise Sandra. She wanted to bury her face behind her hands like a coward, but instead she fought to appear normal and poised.

 
; Jake went on relentlessly, “Then I met you again. You said you can’t be just one on a list. You said you have to be the only woman in my life, the only one in my bed. Do you think I’ve forgotten that? I ran to the beach to avoid seeing Sandra, and at the time I had no clear idea that you and I could ever have anything together.” He shook his head. “Just meeting you again was enough to end it with Sandra. I didn’t want her company, and I didn’t know what to do.”

  “It’s all right.” Kate’s voice was a whisper.

  “And then there you were. On my doorstep like a gift from the gods. Injured, no less,” he said, gesturing to her ankle. “And all I wanted to do was take care of you. That’s still all I want to do.”

  The lump in Kate’s throat was like to choke her. She uttered a sound of protest.

  “Please, Katie,” he said, his voice throbbing with need. “Don’t let Sandra, or Phillip, or anyone, be a reason to stop seeing me. I want you. I want you.”

  The burn of tears fought behind her lids. She glanced away, touching a finger to the corner of her eye, seeking to hide the sparkle of misery that wetted her lashes.

  “Oh, Katie…,” he murmured.

  “Don’t, Jake.”

  “Give us a chance.”

  “I have to,” she said, her voice breaking. “I don’t have any other choice.”

  Relief flooded his face. He picked up her hands and kissed them fervently. Kate smiled through a veil of tears that simply wouldn’t stem no matter how hard she willed them to.

  “Come back to my place after dinner,” he pleaded. “Don’t say no. Let me show you how much I need you. Please, Kate…”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I can’t spend the night with you,” Kate murmured, curling into the warmth of Jake’s arms, loving the feel of her naked body touching his. They were in his bed: a huge expanse of mattress covered by ivory sheets and crowned by a black comforter and an assortment of king-sized pillows.

  “Why not?” he muttered, absently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear while his lips brushed her cheek.