Second Chance Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 2)

by Agnes Alexander

  She handed him the suitcase. “Why in the world would you think Jude was going to get an ulcer?”

  “Mavis, he was about to die to get his arms around Kay. He did everything but sit on his hands to keep from touching her. Didn’t you notice?”

  “I couldn’t help but notice that they did keep shooting glances at each other.”

  “That’s right, they did. Lord knows, she was about as bad as he was. She kept biting her lower lip. That’s a sure sign a woman has something on her mind. You always do.”

  “But, honey, do you think we should leave them alone? Two people with you-know-what on their mind might not be able to keep away from each other in the heat of the night.”

  “It’s a cold night so I expect they’ll get together to heat it up. That’s part of the plan. I’m trying to make them both happy.”

  “Neil!”

  “Don’t Neil me. Don’t you remember how it was when we were young and in heat?”

  “Of course I remember, but Kay and Jude are not young.”

  “Maybe not, but they’re newly together and they’re both in heat.”

  “Do you have to be so crude, honey?”

  He laughed. “I don’t think I’m being crude. I’m just trying to help my friend out.” He patted her behind. “Remember our first time, Mavis?”

  “Of course. I remember every minute of it. Do you?”

  He opened the truck door for her and then moved to the driver’s side. When he got in he said, “Of course, I remember all about the first time. It was two weeks before our wedding. I’d borrowed my dad’s old car and I took you up to Rightway Lake for an evening picnic.”

  She smiled. “You do remember.”

  “How could I forget? After we ate, we drank a bottle of wine then we spread a blanket on that mossy area close to a willow tree. We laid down and I put my arm around you. We tried to look at the stars, but I had other things on my mind. I thought I was going to burst I wanted you so bad.”

  “But you tried to be a gentleman.” Mavis laughed. “You may not have known it then, but I wanted you, too.”

  “I figured if you hadn’t wanted me it wouldn’t have happened.” He chuckled. “After we made love, remember how you cried?”

  She nodded and he went on. “I cried too, you know.”

  “Did you, Neil?”

  “Yes, I did. I was so filled with love and emotion I couldn’t help it.”

  She touched his arm. “I hope it’ll be like that for Kay and Jude.”

  “I doubt they’ll cry.”

  “You never know.” She laughed. “They might.”

  He started the truck. “Let’s hurry home, old girl. Talking about that stuff makes me want to go to bed with my wife and relive that night.”

  “Me too, Neil, but if your ulcer is too bad…”

  Neil laughed and reached for his wife’s hand.

  CHAPTER 12

  The whiteness covering the ledge outside the window and the way the snowy limbs of the pines were bending to the ground attested to the fact that it snowed at least four inches during the night. Kay opened her eyes and felt the strong arms around her naked body. She tilted her head upward. Jude was looking down at her with a smile. She smiled back and realized she blushed at the same time. It had been a long time since Kay Littleton had blushed when a man looked into her eyes, but this morning it seemed appropriate.

  “Good morning, beautiful,” Jude said as his big hand began caressing her bare shoulder.

  “Good morning,” she whispered, snuggling against him.

  For a long minute, they looked at each other as his hand continued its up and down motion on her arm, then moved to her breast. He pulled her closer and covered her lips with his.

  She felt herself surrendering. “Again?” she whispered.

  “Again,” he whispered back.

  “But this will be three times.”

  “So. I’m not too old to go three times.”

  Later, their passion spent, he still held her. “I want this to last forever, Kay.”

  “Maybe it can.” She ran her fingers through the once-black hair on his chest.

  “I know it sounds crazy, but I love you, you wonderful little woman.”

  “It doesn’t sound crazy at all. I love you too, you big farmer.”

  They spent another hour, talking and snuggling then finally they climbed out of bed. After showers, they went to the kitchen. He began frying bacon and she mixed batter for pancakes.

  “This could be habit forming.” He leaned and kissed her as she took plates from the cabinet. “I could get used to having breakfast with you every morning.”

  “It’d be a wonderful habit.” She smiled at him. “I think I could get used to it, too.”

  After a playful and leisurely meal, they washed the dishes together. Kay then moved to the living room and opened the curtains. “Oh, Jude,” she cried. “Look. It’s just like a wonderland. Everything is so pure and white. It’s the perfect Christmas card.”

  He walked up behind her and encircled her in his arms. “It’s pretty isn’t it?”

  “It’s exquisite.” She leaned back against him. “I wish we could stay here forever.”

  “Don’t you think you’d get tired of me in that length of time?”

  “I don’t think I’d ever get tired of you, but unfortunately real life says we can’t always do what we want.”

  He held her tighter. “I want you to know that last night was one of the best nights of my life, Kay. This morning was a bonus.”

  “It was all special to me, too.”

  “Though I wanted you from the minute I saw you, it wasn’t just lust last night. I have real feelings for you.”

  She turned to face him. “If I didn’t believe that, Jude, last night would’ve never happened.”

  “We could spend one more night here, you know. We have plenty of food, and there are a couple of bottles of wine left. Are you sure you have to leave tomorrow?”

  “I wish I could stay, but I must go this time.” She locked her arms around his waist. “May I come back to this cabin again?”

  He tightened his hold on her. “I’ll keep it well stocked and we’ll come back here every time you’re in town.”

  “Our own special hideaway.”

  He kissed her. “If we don’t get out of here, I’m going to carry you back up those steps and…” He grinned. “You know what’ll happen then.”

  For the first time in her life, Kay threw caution out the window. She looked up and him with a coy smile on her face and whispered, “Do it.”

  He did.

  Two hours later, they were sitting in the kitchen of his house drinking coffee. “As you can see my regular living quarters need a touch up here and there.”

  “I admit it could use a woman’s touch, but it’s a lovely home, Jude.”

  “My housekeeper had a stroke and had to retire. I need to hire another one, but I haven’t gotten around to it.”

  “It wouldn’t take long to make it a show place.”

  “I built it where the old homestead used to be. The old house was falling down and wasn’t worth saving.”

  “It’s awfully big for one man. How many square feet do you have?”

  “I’m not sure. Eight or ten thousand, I think. There are five bedrooms upstairs and a master suite down here. I don’t go upstairs much.”

  Before she could answer, the telephone rang. He picked up the portable.

  “Hi, Dad. Where’ve you been? I’ve called your cell several times.”

  “I was at the cabin. I thought I told you that we’d be there. I had my cell turned off.”

  “Heather and Alex came home last night.”

  “I know. They had plans for the morning.”

  “Did Mavis and Neil spend the night there too?”

  “Why do you need to know, son?”

  “That means they didn’t.” Cole took a deep breath. “I have patients waiting, but I have to ask you a question, Dad. How m
uch do you know about Kay Littleton?”

  “A lot more than I did before last night.”

  “And how much is that?”

  “Enough.”

  “I’m not sure if that’s correct. Maybe you should ask her some questions.”

  “What are you getting at, Cole?”

  “Do you know what Kay does for a living?”

  “Not really. I figure some kind of teacher or something. She keeps talking about finishing a term.”

  “She’s not a teacher, Dad. She’s talking about her term in office. Kay Littleton is a United States Senator. Not only that, but she lives with a man in Washington. Red talked to a distant cousin of his this morning because he couldn’t get through to the cousin last night. He gave Red an ear full on the lady’s background. She’s even slept with some of her male relatives. Seems like her only goal in life is to use a man and cast him aside. She doesn’t care who she hurts in the process. I don’t want to see this happen to you.”

  For an instant, Jude couldn’t breathe. He felt as if one of his horses had kicked him in the chest. Finally, he said, “You have to be wrong, Cole.” He looked over at Kay who had wandered into the adjoining family eating area and was looking at a dying potted plant.

  “I’m not wrong, Dad. Ask her.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “Then let me tell you everything Red told me.”

  •♥ •

  Kay stood on Red’s front porch and watched as Jude backed his truck out of the drive without looking at her. She couldn’t believe what had happened. When he’d confronted her, and asked her about her job, his eyes went cold and he cursed when she said she was a senator. When she said, “I thought you knew.” He ignored her.

  Then when he asked her if she lived with a man he looked as if he was going to hit her when she told him her housekeeper was a man.

  Instead of striking her, his voice was cold when he said, “I’ll take you to Red’s house now, and we’ll never have to see each other again.”

  She was stunned at his words, but when she reached for him he avoided her touch. He simply picked up her coat and held it for her.

  “Jude, what’s wrong? As I said, I thought you knew I was a senator.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “I’ve been talking about my plans when I finish my term. You had to know.” He shook his head and she went on. “What difference does it make, darling? We care for each other. You said you loved me, and I know I love you.”

  He ignored her words and opened the door. “Come on, Kay.” He walked outside in front of her without looking back. He didn’t even open the passenger side door when they reached his truck. On the ride to Red’s he gave her short, clipped answers when she tried to make him explain or to ask her questions so she could defend herself if she’d done something wrong.

  Finally, when they reached Red’s front porch, he set her small suitcase on the step and looked at her. “You deceived me, Kay Littleton, but the sex was good. I hope you enjoyed it, too, because you’ll never get the chance to make a fool of me again. Thank God, we’ll never see each other after today. I don’t want anything to do with a woman who isn’t honest with me. It’s happened to me before, and I don’t like to be used.”

  Without another word, he turned, went back to his truck and spun out of the driveway on the packed snow. Tears stung Kay’s eyes. She stood there not believing what was happening. Last night had been so wonderful. And this morning, he’d even talked of making their relationship permanent. It never occurred to her to doubt him. In her heart, she knew Jude felt the same for her as she did him. Why did he change his mind? What had happened to make him change it so quickly? Finally, she gave up trying to figure out what went wrong. She knocked on the door, hoping Darlene or Red would have some explanation.

  “Hello, Kay,” Darlene said as she opened the door. Her voice was cold. “Are you alone?” Kay nodded.

  Billy came running up. “Will you play Sponge Bob with me, Aunt Kay?”

  Darlene snatched him backward. “She doesn’t have time, Billy.” She looked at Kay. “I assume you want to pack and get ready to leave today instead of tomorrow.”

  “Darlene, what’s going on?”

  “You said you had to leave, so I figure it’s best if you leave today. Why don’t you go pack now? Come on Billy, let’s get something to eat.” She went toward the kitchen dragging a protesting Billy with her. She didn’t give Kay a chance to ask any questions.

  There was nothing Kay could do but go into her room and pack her clothes. It didn’t take long, because after years of going back and forth across the country, she knew the secrets of packing in a hurry.

  When she came out, she found Darlene in the kitchen. She and Billy were eating a sandwich. Again, she asked, “Darlene, please tell me what’s wrong? What happened to turn Jude against me and why are you so cold?”

  “What do you expect? You did it to yourself, Kay. Have you had lunch?”

  Kay was completely baffled, but she wasn’t going to push it. “I’ve eaten, thank you. Is Red here?”

  “Red had to go to work at the farm. He doesn’t want to see you again, so if you don’t want to call a cab, I’ll take you to the airport when you’re ready.”

  “I have a few more things to do.” Kay turned and went down the hall. She wasn’t going to let Darlene see how upset she was. She kept going over and over in her mind the little things she might have done to make everyone turn on her. In her room, she picked up the phone and called a limo service. “Please send a car for Senator Kay Littleton.” She then gave them Red’s address.

  They promised to have a car there in less than thirty minutes.

  As she waited, she again tried to comprehend what could have happened. Only a few short hours ago, she’d been one of the happiest woman on earth. Now, nobody seemed to want to speak to her. Darlene was purposely ignoring her. Red had disappeared, and Jude’s reaction hurt most of all. How could he treat her this way after what they’d shared? How could he have changed? She thought he’d been honest when he’d said he loved her. Had his goal all along only been to sleep with her? Did he not really care for her at all?

  That had to be it. He’d only wanted to get her in bed. Oh, how I wish I’d never come here. Maybe it’s true that you can’t go back and recapture something from your past. But everyone was so welcoming and warm. I feel as I did when I lost…No! I won’t go there.

  She shook her head. Maybe I should call Mavis. I’m sure that sensible, level-headed woman could shed some light on the situation. After thinking about it, she rejected the idea. She’d been rebuked enough. She couldn’t stand anyone else turning on her. With a sigh, she stood and opened her briefcase. From it she took a letter and put it on the dresser. She pulled a sheet of paper and wrote a note. She propped it next to the letter.

  She’d intended to give the letter to Red when he took her to the airport tomorrow, but now that wasn’t going to be possible. She hoped this was personal enough. After all, she’d promised her cousin, Becky, she’d give it to him.

  She stayed in the room until a horn sounded in the driveway. She then picked up her laptop, her briefcase and her suitcase. When she got to the front door she called, “My car is here, Darlene. I’m leaving now.” She prayed Darlene would come into the room to at least tell her good bye.

  She didn’t. She only called, “Okay.”

  CHAPTER 13

  The next day Mavis fixed lunch as usual. Neil and Red had come in from the barn and sat there waiting for her to take a seat. Everyone was subdued. Nobody dared mention Kay’s name. They didn’t want to upset Red, and they didn’t want to admit that they’d been taken in by her.

  They hadn’t had a chance to start eating when Darlene and the children came wheeling in the driveway. Red frowned, but before he could go outside, she came in with the baby in her arms and Billy at her heels. She sat down at the table without saying hello. “This is for you.” She handed Red a letter.

  “What’
s this?” Red asked.

  “I found it in Kay’s room when I went in to clean it this morning. She left it.”

  “Throw it away. I don’t want it. I don’t want to read anything she wrote.”

  “She didn’t write it. Your mother did.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Kay’s note said she promised your mother to give it to you.”

  “She probably lied about that, too.” He took the letter and looked at the envelope. “It is mother’s handwriting. It says, ‘To my son, Red. A last letter from your Mama.’ I guess Mama did write it.”

  “Kay said she was going to give you some of your mother’s letters. If nothing else, at least she was honest about that.”

  Mavis looked at her tortured son-in-law. She wanted to wring Kay’s neck. How could they all have been such fools? It didn’t matter about her and Neil. They’d get over it in a hurry, but Red wouldn’t. Since he wasn’t close to anyone else in his family, the boy had lost the only link he had to his mother. Then she thought of Jude and her heart went out to him. The poor man didn’t deserve this after the fiasco last summer. She didn’t want to wring her neck now. She wanted to shoot her.

  “Do you want privacy to read it, son?” Neil asked.

  “No, Neil. I have no secrets from you and Mavis. You’re the only family I have, now. The only family I’ll ever have or will ever need. I want to share this with you.”

  He opened the letter and began reading aloud.

  My dearest son, I knew you would read this someday. I sent it to the only person in the world I could trust to give it to you in person, my cousin, Kay. I knew she wouldn’t open the letter or destroy it as many others in the family would have done. I could have left it with Mavis, but I can’t help it, I trust Kay more. Though I’m three years older, she’s the only person in the world who has always been there for me. The one person I could count on. The only person besides your father who ever said to me, ‘Don’t worry, Becky. I’ll take care of it.’

  First, I’m going to tell you the story of our family. It’s not a pretty story and if Kay or any other family member knew what I was about to say, they would destroy this letter and you would never see it. But as I said, I know Kay won’t open it. She’s always been a person of her word.