“Well, here we are.” Kristin stopped abruptly in front of her townhouse and removed her arm from David’s.
He gazed around, confusion clouding his handsome face. “I don’t understand. We’re back at the gallery.”
Kristin motioned with her hand toward a door on the left side of the gallery entrance. “That leads up the stairs to my place, which is over the gallery.”
“That’s probably very convenient for you.” He nodded his approval.
“It is, and cheaper, I might add.” Kristin flashed him a smile.
David stepped closer.
Kristin’s smile vanished as she caught her breath under the weight of his stare.
“I had a lovely time tonight,” he whispered softly, clasping her hand.
“I did as well.” Her own voice grew hushed.
He brought her hand to his mouth and lightly brushed his lips across her knuckles, then leaned forward. Electric volts shot through her hand and her heart raced once again. David’s head tilted closer to hers, his lips merely a breath away.
She was sure he was going to kiss her this time, and she longed for it, even if it meant things would grow complicated between them. Her body was tight with the tension of waiting.
David turned his head and softly kissed her cheek. When she looked deeply into his eyes, Kristin would have sworn she saw the same desire raging within him.
“Friends,” he whispered huskily.
“Friends,” Kristin echoed.
And with that, he turned to go, breaking the spell between them. Kristin’s heart dropped just a little, suddenly heavy with disappointment, as she watched him walk to his car.
She remembered that she had promised herself she would not fall for David, and as she stumbled next to that ever-present cliff again, she feared it may already be too late.
David opened his car door and turned back to her. “I’ll call you soon, okay? The gallery number, I assume?”
“Okay,” She stood and watched as he climbed into his car and drove away.
Across the street, a shadow caught her attention. Someone dressed with a fedora hat and heavy rain coat came out of the alley and walked toward the direction David had just taken.
As she turned back to her door, she had an odd sensation between her shoulder blades and looked back over her shoulder. Strange that someone was over dressed for the night.
Shrugging the feeling off, Kristin bounded up the stairs to her place. After fumbling for her keys, she managed to open the door, falling against the back of the door as she closed it.
To just go out and do something most normal, single people dohave a drink and talk, had been nice. Granted, she might have opened up a little more than she intended, but those baby steps had to start somewhere, right?
Sighing, she undressed and readied herself for bed. The bedcovers warmed her as she crawled under them, willing her mind to be silent so she could get some much-needed sleep.
Could she really make a place for David in her life? Was she even ready for a friendship, let alone anything else? A couple of weeks ago, the thought of ever being close to a man again terrified her to the point of panic. And now here she was, contemplating feelings of doing just that, be it friendship or something more.
All of these thoughts swirled around in her head, banishing the chance of a peaceful night’s rest. Exasperated, she threw back the covers and sat up.
“This is useless,” she muttered and headed for her studio. As she opened the door, she had the sinking feeling that this wouldn’t be the only sleepless night in her near future.
~~~
Damn it, damn it, damn it! David cursed to himself silently as his car pulled away from where Kristin stared after him. He had almost lost control of himself just then, holding her hand and staring into her lovely dark eyes.
When he inhaled, he swore he could still smell her perfume, a bouquet of roses that invaded his senses. As they’d stood in front of her gallery, it was all he could do to keep from grabbing her and crushing her to him, claiming her enticing mouth in a passionate kiss.
Images of her pressed beneath him and her body surrendering to his, flashed through his mind, making him want to discard all reason and sanity. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his slacks suddenly too restricting.
David took a shaky breath and tried to concentrate on the road in front of him. How was he supposed to keep up this ruse with Sophie, to pretend to still be engaged to her, when he had such strong feelings for Kristin? And, what about Sophie herself? No way could he let her know about Kristin. She tended to be a little over reactive sometimes.
At least he had told Kristin the truth about everything. When they met previously, it had killed him not be able to tell her the whole story about his relationship with Sophie. Kristin didn’t deserve to be lied to like that.
Friendship was all he could give her. His situation was too complex for anything more than that right now. Besides, it wasn’t fair for him to ask for anything more, even if that was exactly what he wanted.
Sighing, David located a parking spot in front of his building and parked. His fingers punched the appropriate button to his floor. As the lift ascended, he concluded that he needed a shower and some sleep.
Stepping off the lift, he made a short jog to the door of his flat, opened it and stepped inside with a yawn. He was knackered.
“Hello, love.”
David jerked, startled by Sophie’s voice coming from his living room. “Blimey, Sophie! You scared me half to death.”
He laid the keys on the table by the door and moved toward where she sat on the couch. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in Glasgow.” He narrowed his eyes in her direction.
Sophie crossed her legs and clasped her hands in front of her knee. “I had to return to London briefly to take care of some business, and decided to pop by. Imagine my surprise at finding you gone.” Her red fingernail tapped against her knee impatiently. “Especially at this hour. Where have you been, by the way?”
David pondered her cool exterior for a moment. Her sleek appearance in her black designer pantsuit was deceptive. He could tell by the glint in her eyes, anger simmered underneath.
“Regardless of what you might think, I do have a life of my own, Sophie.” David walked toward the small counter that divided the living room and kitchen and leaned against it.
Sophie stood and smoothed the hair leading to her blond ponytail. Her severe look was used to intimidate, and he knew it. He would have to handle her patiently if he wanted to get her to leave.
She sauntered over to stand in front of him. “There’s no need to be cross, David. I just wanted to talk to you, to make sure we’re on the same page with our arrangement. I don’t want any nasty surprises while I’m in Glasgow.”
David folded his arms defensively. “So, what would you have me do? Spend every moment away from you alone in my apartment? That’s not exactly fair.”
“I’m not saying that, darling. I just want to be sure that you are spending your time wisely and not jeopardizing what we have worked so hard for.” She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.
“I’d hate to think what one mistake would do to our careers. Yours, especially.” She slid her fingers down his cheek.
He didn’t move. Anger seethed inside him, despite how tired he was. “Is that a threat, Sophie?”
“Not at all, David. I’m just stating a fact.” She reached for a small clutch purse on the counter behind him.
“Do get some rest. Since you have an early day at the theater tomorrow, gallivanting around this late isn’t prudent.”
David stared into her icy blue eyes. “I was having drinks with a friend, not gallivanting around, not that it’s any of your business.”
Sophie smirked and turned to go, then swiveled back to face him. “That friend wouldn’t happen to be that woman from the gala at the Festival Hall now, would it?”
David uncrossed his arms and straightened. The anger rolled inside o
f him. “Are you having me followed now, as well?”
Sophie shot him a smile devoid of any sweetness. “Let’s just say that I am aware of your activities, David. It would be wise for you to choose your friends with care.”
She strolled to the door and opened it. “I’ll be in touch, love.” She stepped through the door and disappeared from sight.
David walked briskly to the door and slammed it. The nerve of that woman! Did she really think she could control every aspect of his life with her threats? She and her family were powerful, sure. But would she really make his career suffer if he didn’t play along with her rules?
Angrily, he walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet and splashed water onto his face. He examined his features in the mirror. Sophie had left an outline of her lips in lipstick across his cheek. He grabbed a washcloth and rubbed the imprint away, his good mood from earlier totally ruined.
First thing tomorrow, he was having his locks changed.
Chapter Four
David plucked a T-shirt from his closet and slipped it over his head as he yawned, having woken later than usual. It was a good thing he wasn’t due at the theater for another hour.
He had been up late, talking on the phone with Kristin. Despite Sophie’s warning last week, he’d been spending time with his new “friend” as often as possible.
Probably not the smartest thing for him to do, because he really wasn’t sure what Sophie was capable of anymore. But, she was still in Glasgow, for the time being.
David hurriedly ran his hand through his hair and walked into the kitchen. His mind screamed at him for a cup of coffee to function properly. Yawning again, he grabbed his cup from the counter and poured the dark liquid to the top. One cream, two sugars, and he was well on his way to caffeinated bliss.
As the coffee warmed his body, David turned to the laptop that sat on the counter to his left. Might as well check his e-mail while he had a spare moment.
He hadn’t checked his e-mail for a few days, so things had piled up a bit. Sifting through the junk, he clicked the delete button repeatedly. Then he saw a message marked confidential from Sophie, and his heart skipped a beat. Whatever she had to say probably wasn’t pleasant. Sighing, he opened the message.
David Darling,
I’m afraid I was cornered by a reporter from that dreaded mag The Sun while on location the other day. Some of the questions turned personal, as they are wont to do, so I had to improvise on the spot. I’m sending you an advance copy. It’s due to be published in tomorrow’s paper, so you might have to contend with some reporters of your own, wanting a response.
Kisses,
Sophie
David craned his neck, the muscles suddenly tight with tension. “That’s just bleeding wonderful.”
This wouldn’t be good, at least for him as Sophie had never been unprepared for any kind of interview. Her agent was as ruthless as she was. He clicked the attachment and perused the article.
…Much speculation abounded around the movie lot where English actress Sophie Miller is filming her first major movie role in Glasgow. Are they, or aren’t they? With her fiancé David McDougal spending most of his time away from her, is everything hunky-dory with their relationship?
Well, we have been assured personally here at The Sun that all is well. Miss Miller confirmed that wedding plans are underway with the nuptials scheduled to take place sometime soon after she completes the filming of her movie.
When asked if the couple had any plans to start a family any time soon after the wedding, the actress replied…
David stopped reading and actually felt the color drain from his face. Was Sophie off her rocker? Why had she told them all those lies? After this article hit the stands, his and Bernard’s phones would never be silent, because all the other tabloids would want a response.
He closed the laptop and searched his living room for his cell phone. Finding it on the coffee-table, he quickly punched in Sophie’s number. Her voicemail answered. Bloody Hell. Of course she would be unavailable, when he wanted to speak with her.
He tossed the phone on the counter. It skidded across the surface and crashed into the computer with a crack. He still had to finish getting ready for the theater. Kristin had agreed to meet him there later, and then they were supposed to attend a movie and possibly nosh somewhere. How was he going to explain Sophie’s actions this time?
~~~
Kristin hummed as she sat in her office, working on her computer. Everything looked liked her paintings. Vivid colors swirled around her, food tasted better, and smells seemed sharper. Tasks as mundane as paying the gallery’s bills even took little joy out of her mood.
Meeting David for drinks, eating lunch together, and talking on the phone with him every day replaced the loneliness. It seemed she wanted to trust him and sharing her life seemed so natural.
Kristin found David’s company both easy and exciting at the same time. They liked a lot of the same things, and David had a way of making her laugh until she couldn’t breathe sometimes.
James had made her laugh every day they’d had together, right until the end. Of course, Kristin dealt with her physical attraction to David, by channeling the energy into her artwork. Battling that chemistry left her exhausted most days, but the trade off was definitely worth the war. She hadn’t been so happy and creative in years.
The computer was busy saving the file she worked on when a small rap on the office door startled her. Immediately, the door opened and Ingrid walked in, promptly falling into one of the chairs situated on the opposite side of the desk. Her friend wore a navy blue suit and red pumps, making Kristin guess she had just come from a meeting at work.
“Blimey, but you’re difficult to get in touch with these days,” Ingrid narrowed her brow in Kristin’s direction.
“Am I?” Kristin tried to appear innocent while she shuffled some papers on the desk. “I guess I have been pretty busy. I’ve”
Ingrid raised her hand. “Don’t give me that, Kristin. I know you’ve been spending quite a lot of time with that David McDougal bloke.” Ingrid’s voice reeked of disapproval.
Kristin cleared her throat as nervous prickles danced along her spine before she steeled herself to meet Ingrid’s gaze. “There’s nothing wrong with spending time with a friend. How did you know, anyway?”
Ingrid raised her eyebrows. “Is that what you two are, friends? And, I didn’t know. I guessed.”
Is that indeed all that they were? Sure, she had agreed with him that anything more was out of the question right now, but as she spent more and more time with the attractive Scotsman, Kristin wasn’t sure either she or he believed that anymore.
“That’s all we are, Ingrid. Friends.” Kristin’s voice grew softer as she spoke, since she was less sure of the truth of her words. She hoped Ingrid hadn’t noticed.
Ingrid shook her head back and forth. “I can tell by the look in your eyes that you don’t even believe that yourself, so why on Earth would you expect me to?”
Kristin dropped her gaze. Ingrid could always see Kristin’s true emotions, a trait that was both a blessing and a curse. That was why Kristin had been avoiding her. She knew Ingrid would be able to see her true desires, which would make it harder to keep his secret. “He makes me happy, Ingrid. Happier than I’ve been in a very long time.”
Ingrid reached across the desk and squeezed Kristin’s hand. “I know he does, love. I can see it all over your face. But why would you let yourself care about someone who is engaged to be married to another woman?”
Why, indeed. Kristin toyed with the idea of letting Ingrid know about the fake engagement, but decided it would put David too much at risk.
“It’s complicated.” Kristin absently fidgeted with a pen on her desk.
Ingrid let go of Kristin’s hand and leaned back in her chair. “It’s not like you to shut me out like this. Why won’t you talk to me?”
Kristin wanted to open up to her friend, she did. Ingrid had been
the one person she had really learned to trust since James died. But the timing and the situation weren’t right just now. Kristin swallowed and managed to meet Ingrid’s concerned gaze. “I love you and appreciate your concern. But we’re just friends. Don’t worry, okay?”
Sighing, Ingrid stood and fluffed her short hair. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, that’s all.”
“I’ll be fine,” Kristin told her. “I can take care of myself. I know what I’m doing.”
“If you say so, love.” Her friend headed for the door and then turned around as she grasped the doorknob. “Take care, and bloody well ring me soon, all right?”
Kristin chuckled softly. Ingrid always knew how to lighten the situation. “All right.”
Ingrid left Kristin alone with her thoughts. Of course she was in denial over David, but she just didn’t care. Being with him made her feel like she was the only person in the world that mattered. Surrender of that sentiment would not come easily.
Coming out of her reverie, Kristin glanced at the clock. She was due to meet David at his theater rehearsal soon. They were going to grab a bite to eat and see a movie. Shaking off her encounter with Ingrid with a cleansing breath, Kristin prepared to leave.
Her clothes were deliberately more casual today, jeans and a white blouse, knowing she would be leaving early to spend time with David. And, because the new pair of jeans really made her legs look long. After making sure Celia had what was needed for the rest of the day, Kristin headed for her car.
The afternoon was a bit muggy, but Kristin barely noticed as she weaved in and out of traffic on her way to the Royal National Theatre. David was the lead in a play called The Pillowman.
Second Chances Page 6
