A shiver went over her, her nipples puckering when her mind flashed through several graphic images in quick succession, like a seductive slide show.
Whew. It had been like a fantasy come true.
But that’s all it was. A fantasy. She would be leaving soon. She’d been putting off booking her return flight. She wasn’t sure why, but she was eventually going to have to face the fact that the fairy-tale visit had come to an end. She’d go back into hibernation and forget what had happened here.
She hoped.
Nick had called that morning and asked her to come over and look at plans for their nursery. It was hard to believe she was going to be a half sister.
She’d called the physical therapy department at the hospital and told them she wouldn’t be coming in today. Laisse seemed disappointed, especially when Kate mentioned she might be leaving soon. The other woman encouraged her to think it over. They were currently swamped and could use the extra hands—her boss had even mentioned hiring an extra therapist. Laisse had half hoped it might be Kate. They were already checking into the certification requirements.
It was sweet of her, but how uncomfortable would that be, working at the same hospital as Luke? She had to imagine things would be strained, especially if she saw him going out with another nurse—or any other woman, for that matter.
No, it was probably better to just head home and lick her wounds in private, not that Luke had led her on in any way. Besides, her father needed her now more than ever. She made a mental to call Luke after she got back from Nick’s.
She stood and went over to her suitcase, looking for something to wear. As happy as she was for Nick and Tiggy, she found herself having to work up some genuine enthusiasm for the outing. Because what she wanted more than anything was to hear that phone ring and have it be Luke asking her out. Asking her to consider staying for a while longer. But other than the flowers and Nick, that phone had been totally silent. And so had she. Even Nick had noticed her disappointment when it had been him calling and not Luke. But she’d put on her happy voice and said she’d be thrilled to come over. He’d seemed to accept it. Then again, he was probably lost in his own world right now with the baby and everything else.
Finally deciding on a pair of beige slacks and a green wrap top, she tossed the clothes on the bed and went to take a quick shower. She wrapped herself in a towel and applied her makeup with a careful hand, trying to control the slight tremor of doom that seemed to have come out of nowhere. A half hour later, she was dressed, with her hair blow-dried to fall straight around her shoulders.
Just as she picked up her purse, ready to head to the lobby, the bedside phone rang. Her heart pounded in her chest as she picked it up, which was ridiculous. It was probably just Nick, asking if she was on her way.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Bradley?”
She sighed when she recognized the voice of the lady from the hotel reception desk. “Yes?”
“Mr. Blackman is downstairs. Do you want me to send him up?”
He was here? At the hotel? She couldn’t hold back a huge smile. How much better was this than a phone call?
Okay, so did she let him come up?
Absolutely not. She might be a glutton for punishment but she hoped she hadn’t reached the masochist stage yet. “Would you mind telling him I’ll be right down?”
“Certainly.”
She dropped the phone back on its cradle and took one more quick glance in the mirror, exhilaration giving way to nerves. Well, it was now or never.
* * *
The elevator doors opened and Luke swallowed when Kate walked out. Her normally wavy hair was now straight, with just the slightest hint of curve at the ends. The top she wore skimmed her breasts, some kind of tie wrapping just beneath them, which she’d knotted at the side. Man, did his fingers itch to pull one end of that string and see what happened.
He pushed away from the counter and went over to greet her, keeping his hands by his sides.
“Thank you for the flowers,” she blurted when he got close. “But there was no need.”
“I thought there was.” He kept his voice low enough that only she could hear. He’d wanted to give them to her in person—as an excuse to see her again—but she hadn’t been at the hospital. He’d resisted the urge to come over after work last night. Then he’d got Nick’s call, mentioning that Kate was coming over to look at the nursery and asking if he wanted to, as well. It had given him the perfect excuse to come to the hotel.
She searched his face, as if looking for something and not finding it. “I was just getting ready to go to Nick’s.”
“I thought you might be. I stopped to see if you might want a ride.”
“You know about...?” She slung her purse over her shoulder and crossed her arms. “You’re going to his house as well, aren’t you?”
“He called this morning and asked if I’d like to.”
An expression of wariness passed through her eyes that made his muscles tense up. Did she think he was just trying to sleep with her every chance he got?
His glance went to the tie on her shirt again and he tightened his lips. Okay, so even he wasn’t sure of his motives. Not good. “Since I’m here, we may as well ride together.”
“I guess so.”
His lips curved. If he’d expected her to lunge for him the second she saw him and wrap her arms around his neck, he could pretty much bet that wasn’t going to happen. But that was good, right? Because he had to somehow get across that he planned on retreating to his customary fallback position—casual acquaintances, where he hoped they could remain until she left to go back to the States.
Waiting until she’d buckled herself into the car seat, he turned the ignition key and eased onto the street in front of the hotel. She sat stiffly with her hands folded in her lap, fingers twined.
He pulled his attention back to the road. “So what did you do today? I didn’t see you at the hospital.”
“No. I decided to stick close to the hotel. Went for a run. Caught up on the news.”
He frowned, hands tightening on the wheel. “That’s right. I forgot you’re a runner. Have you had any more problems with your admirer from last week?”
“Who...? Oh, the surfer-type guy? I think he’s already checked out. And he wasn’t my admirer.”
“No, just someone who wanted to be your new jogging buddy.” He couldn’t quite keep the bitter acid from rising in his throat and coloring his words.
She turned sideways. “Luke, is something wrong? I’m not really sure why you came to pick me up. Just because we slept together it doesn’t mean you have to send flowers or take me places. I get it. This is a temporary fling, and we both know it. I’m not pushing for more, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“That’s definitely not what I’m afraid of.”
“Then what is it?”
He wrapped his hand around the knob of the stick shift, letting the lever slide between his index and middle fingers as he put the car into third gear. The act gave him time to consider his answer. “After we leave Nick’s, I’d like to talk to you. Maybe before we get back to the hotel.”
Her eyes grew wary. “That’s not necessary. I think I can guess what this is about.”
She really couldn’t. Because even he didn’t know exactly what he meant to say. All he knew was that for the past two days he’d been at war with himself. Part of him said this girl was something special and he’d better hang on to her. And that part of him was spoiling for a fight. Because the other part of him, the part that said she needed someone who could fight for her—literally—said he needed to limp away from her as fast as he could.
He’d already done something he’d never done with a woman before: let her see him in all his battered, twisted glory. And he still had no idea why. Not reall
y. It had been a reaction to his child abuse patient, but looking back at it he realized how utterly stupid that reasoning was. Yes, he was hiding something, but he wasn’t hurting anyone in the process, except maybe himself. And he’d been able to deal with it for the past ten years.
Hadn’t he?
He shook off the thoughts and tried to answer her. “I don’t want you to the get the wrong idea.”
“Believe me, I’m not.”
Okay, he was messing this up big time. “That’s why I wanted to wait until we left Nick’s. So we could sit and talk like rational human beings.”
“I think I’m being perfectly rational. I never thought we were an item. Not once. So don’t worry about it.”
Well, good. He could relax now. So why did his spine feel like it had been replaced by a length of cold, hard pipe?
There was nothing he could do about it now, though, because they were about a block away from Nick’s place. And they somehow needed to get through that visit without Nick figuring out something was wrong. “Look. Let’s just visit Nick, ooh and ahh over his kid’s new digs and then get out of there.”
Her lips curved, her frown disappearing. “‘His kid’s new digs’? You make it sound like they’re outfitting a bachelor pad or something. The baby might be a girl.”
A daughter. He could picture what Kate’s little girl might look like, if she ever had one. Creamy blond hair, big blue eyes, a smattering of freckles across her nose. And he would no more be able to dance with her than he would with her mother. No father-daughter dances. No camping trips. No soccer games.
But there was one thing he seemed to be really good at: throwing himself the biggest damn pity party known to man. He’d always thought he’d dealt with his disability pretty well.
Until Kate had come along.
He pulled into Nick’s garage with a grim determination that things were about to change. He was going to hunt down his soul’s AWOL Zen master and put him back on active duty. With a reminder that he still had another fifty or so years of service before he received his discharge papers. And then he’d get his life back on track.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“IT’S GOING TO be beautiful,” Kate said, standing inside the empty room in Nick and Tiggy’s house. On the wall were color swatches and myriad fabrics taped beneath various pictures.
She saw Nick and Luke give each other The Look, and knew they had no idea how she could tell enough to even offer an opinion. But she could. Soft green walls and muted cream carpeting would provide a backdrop to various pieces of oak furniture: solid changing table with attached dresser, a carved crib with matching green linens and bumper pads, a cream wallpaper border with images of pastel animals, just above the height of the crib’s top rail.
“Isn’t it? I think it’ll be brilliant.”
Kate moved farther into the room and studied a magazine picture of the crib.
“It converts into a toddler bed once the baby’s outgrown it.”
A pang of envy went through her. She was still young, but the future suddenly stretched ahead of her like a barren wasteland. What if she never met anyone she wanted to share her life with? She wanted children someday. But she didn’t want to do it the way her mother had.
Although Kate wouldn’t trade her adoptive father for anything. He’d given her love and a safe haven. And now she had a second father figure. Nick may not have been there during her formative years but it was obvious he wanted to be a part of her life now, even though it had been her who’d sought him out. She’d been angry at the time—at him, at her mother, at everyone. But she saw now how silly her attitude had been. Nick had had no say in the matter. He hadn’t even known she’d existed.
Kate forced herself to look more closely at the picture. “The railings convert into a headboard and footboard?”
“Exactly.” Tiggy brushed her hands over her stomach, her whole demeanor glowing and happy. “It’s quite a clever system, actually. You’ll have to help me with the arranging once everything arrives in a couple of weeks.”
“Oh, uh...” She hadn’t thought about how to tell them she’d decided to head back to the States soon. It was doubtful she’d still be in London when the furniture got there. “I’m sure you’ve already got it set up in your mind.” She kept the words vague, not wanting to get into this kind of discussion in front of Luke.
“Some of it, yes. But I don’t know where the rocker should go. Or if the changing table should go on the wall beneath the window or next to the crib.” She glanced at the wall in question. “Where would you put it if you were outfitting a room for your baby?”
Her baby?
Against her will, her eyes slid to Luke’s and she noticed a strange heat in his gaze as he stared back—pupils darkening. She swallowed, her mind racing like crazy through all the possibilities. Then Nick broke the spell with the suggestion that the two of them go off for a drink in the den. Once they were gone she allowed herself to sag against the wall, trying her best to make it look casual, even though her legs were shaking. The look Luke had given her had been almost proprietorial, as if any child she might conceive would belong to him as well.
She drew in a slow, careful breath. “I think you’re right. I’d want to see the furniture first before I made any firm decisions. Maybe once it arrives you’ll know immediately where all of it should go.
“Which is why I want you here.” Tiggy smiled. “I don’t think Nick quite knows what to make of all this.”
Kate tried to deflect Tiggy’s attention from dates and turn it back onto the subject of her husband. “He seems really happy.”
“We both are, I think.” She stared at the door through which Nick had disappeared. “He didn’t want children for a long time, you know.” She gave Kate a quick hug. “I’m so happy he’ll have two now.”
“Nick has been really nice about all of this.”
“That’s the type of man he is. I’m quite partial to him.”
Tears pricked Kate’s eyelids. Did Tiggy realize how fortunate she was to have found someone like Nick? She thought she probably did.
“Let’s go into the kitchen and I’ll brew us some tea.” She paused. “Or would you rather have coffee?”
“Tea would be wonderful.”
“I have black, but I’m trying to stick to herbal during my pregnancy. I do miss my breakfast tea, though.”
Once the water was hot, they sat at a small dinette table. Kate tipped milk from a little pitcher into a delicate china teacup, while Tiggy stirred a bit of sugar into her herbal variety. “So how are you enjoying London?” she asked.
“It’s a beautiful city. And I love the hospital.” And not just the hospital. But now was not the time to think about that. Afraid that Tiggy was going to ask about a date again, she decided to change the subject. “How long did you and Nick know each other before you started dating?”
Tiggy laughed. “Well, that’s quite a story. We were attracted from almost the first moment we laid eyes on each other.”
The words released a storm in Kate’s heart as she remembered the flames that had licked along her veins the first time she’d seen Luke. It hadn’t been long afterward they’d wound up in that infamous supply closet.
“How about you? Any boyfriends back home?”
“No, I haven’t really had time for one.” Which, if Kate really thought about it, was a lie. She just hadn’t met someone who was more important than her work. Until now.
And that person had made it perfectly clear he was not the settling-down type. He was right about one thing, though. She was not her mother. She couldn’t have a love affair with Luke and then move on to the next man within weeks. She wasn’t built like that—even if Luke was. She believed in long-term commitments that endured through the good and bad, whereas Luke didn’t even want one that lasted through t
he good times.
Tiggy touched her hand from across the table. “Someday someone special is going to come along...and you’ll know.”
“It’s a nice thought. But in reality that’s not always how it works.”
“Not always,” Tiggy acknowledged. “And even when it does, a lot of work still has to go into the relationship.”
Exactly.
Almost as soon as they finished their tea, Nick and Luke wandered into the room. Nick kissed the top of Tiggy’s head, while Luke stood a short distance away, leaning against a nearby wall. She wondered if he was trying to keep some space between them or if his leg was bothering him. When he saw her looking at him, he raised his brows in challenge and purposely shifted his weight onto his injured leg.
Oh, Luke. Haven’t you realized you don’t have to prove yourself to the world?
“What are you girls talking about?” Nick asked his wife, pulling up a chair and dropping down beside her. He motioned Luke to do the same, but Luke gave a wave of his hand, signifying he was fine where he was.
Heaven forbid he come over and sit by her.
“We were talking about love and how you know when it’s real.”
A flash of panic shot through Kate’s chest. She didn’t want Luke to think they’d been talking about the two of them. “Correction. We were talking about how the two of you fell in love.”
Nick twirled a piece of Tiggy’s hair. “We did, didn’t we?”
The couple smiled at each other.
Tiggy leaned against her husband’s shoulder. “And now we have Kate, as well.”
Her eyes went funny for a second, and she had to blink to clear them. The woman who could have slammed the door in her face and told her to never bother them again had instead opened her heart to Kate, as well as her home. She smiled. “Thank you. You both have been so kind. I’m lucky to have not just one wonderful father but two.”
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