Beautiful (Book Three of the Beautifully Broken Series)

by Angela Stephens

  Though Kathryn nodded in agreement, she could not shake the nagging doubt at the back of her mind.

  Chapter Four

  Staring out the window at the Pearl District neighborhood she had come to love, Kathryn observed streets buzzing with the energy that only creative minds seemed to generate. She longed to get out of the car and spend the afternoon simply browsing the eclectic galleries and boutiques that caught her eye from every direction.

  She couldn’t help but smile when James drove past Xenon’s. “I thought so,” she said, feeling her mood brighten.

  James grinned. “I was so tempted to invite you over for coffee every time we were in the area, but I figured you’d come up with some excuse.”

  Kathryn cocked an eyebrow. “And would I have been wrong?”

  She paused to read a text on her phone.

  “Message from Neil,” she said. “Vans are going to be a little late. One of them got a flat so they’ve pulled over to fix it.”

  “No problem,” James said with a cocky grin. “That will just give more time to ourselves.”

  Turning down a couple of side streets from Xenon’s, James pulled up to the gated entrance to a striking warehouse loft conversion topped by a lush rooftop garden. Her eyes roamed to a glass-walled penthouse offering a stunning view of area.

  “This is beautiful, James,” Kathryn said. “They’ve really transformed this area.”

  “Wait till you see the interior,” James replied.

  He turned into a driveway and input his security code into a scanner. A moment later, the gates trundled open, admitting him into a spacious, well-lit subterranean garage flanked with security cameras, and pulled into one of two allocated spaces adjacent to a bank of elevators.

  “Wow,” Kathryn said, climbing out of the Jeep. “Maybe I should have moved here. This place looks like a futuristic movie setting.”

  “It was on Dad’s list, but the apartment was the first one you looked at and there was no dissuading you after that.”

  They stepped into a waiting elevator. Kathryn surreptitiously watched the floor indicator and as she had guessed, the elevator stopped at the penthouse level. Though she expected luxury, she was completely stunned when the door opened to a private, marble floored lobby.

  Glass walls flanked by thriving plants displayed views in every direction, and they had yet to step inside. Kathryn noticed James input a security code into the door scanner. The door softly clicked open to reveal a striking fusion of industrial, Art Deco contemporary that took her breath away. Color schemes and fabrics encompassing every shade of blue perfectly contrasted the starkness of the predominantly chrome, glass and leather interior.

  James motioned her inside. Kathryn could only stare in amazement.

  “Do you approve?” he asked.

  “James, this is amazing,” Kathryn murmured.

  She approached glass walls offering more stunning views, but it was the breathtaking vista of a majestic, snow-crowned Mt. Hood basking beneath a pristine azure sky that captivated her. Witnessing the beauty of nature seemed to put things into perspective and she wondered how and why Heather was even a situation. In the grand scheme of the world, it was nothing but a dandelion puff blown into the wind.

  “It’s a gorgeous view, isn’t?” James said, engulfing her in his arms and turning her toward him. “But I think the best view is the one I’m looking at right here.”

  They kissed deeply, their tongues eagerly seeking each other. The stress that had gripped Kathryn all morning melted beneath James’ touch, and together they tumbled onto a nearby black leather couch. With anxious hands they stripped each other, relishing in the feel of the supple material against their naked flesh as they wrestled and explored each other with their mouths.

  Lately, there had been more urgency to their lovemaking, as though the pressures of work and the issues with Heather had ignited an urgent need that demanded immediate release. Without preamble, James spread Kathryn’s thighs and rubbed his rock hard kick in quick circles around her pussy, paying special attention to her clit, before easing deep inside, his cries rising with hers as they frantically clutched and thrust against each other.

  Their energies and bodies joined, the strength of two became the combined strength of one. Kathryn clawed at James’ back as he clutched her hips and impaled her more deeply. She felt the slickness of their sweaty skin against the soft leather. Glimpsing the sublime light filtering through the soaring windows, a cry of elation escaped her lips and she and James came in a frantic unison.

  Locked in an embrace, their heartbeats echoing against each other, they had barely caught their breath when the intercom chimed. James raised his head from Kathryn’s chest and gazed at her.

  “The vans,” he said.

  Kathryn giggled. “My God, I forgot all about them!”

  James laughed and quickly reached for his clothes. “See how you distract me,” he said.

  “Me?” Kathryn said, giggling as she gathered her clothes and quickly dressed. “I could argue that!”

  James hurried to the intercom and answered.

  “We’re outside the gate,” Neil said.

  “Everything okay?” James asked.

  “Alan got a flat but we took care of it.”

  “Okay,” James said. “Gate code is twenty-seven, forty-eight. I’m right beside the elevators. Park in the spaces next to me.”

  “Got it. Thanks.” Neil replied.

  While James went into the lobby to wait by the elevator, Kathryn checked her appearance in a dramatic mirror inlaid wall and tried to fix her hair and smudged makeup as much as possible. She joined James a moment before the elevator pinged, revealing Neil’s smiling, freckled face, his years belied by an impressive mop of carroty hair. Alan, a burly bulldog of a man, stood beside him holding two dollies piled with boxes.

  “That was quick,” James said, guiding them into the penthouse.

  “Rest of the guys are loading up,” Alan said, stepping inside without missing a beat. “We should have this wrapped up within the hour.”

  He winked at Kathryn. “So how do you like the palace?” he asked her.

  “I feel like James should be charging admission,” she said with a smile. “I’m not sure my stuff is even going to fit in a place like this.”

  “Speaking of which, where do you want everything?” Neil asked.

  James and Kathryn exchanged a James. Caught up in their interlude, there hadn’t been time to even discuss where her belongings would actually go.

  “Upstairs, last room on the left,” James said. “Spare bedroom I never got around to furnishing.”

  “You got it,” Alan said, efficiently carrying several boxes upstairs.

  Neil unloaded the rest of the boxes and took the dollies back down to the garage.

  “Spare bedroom?” Kathryn asked. “For real?”

  James grinned. “Spare room I haven’t gotten around to furnishing. You won’t need to worry about a separate bedroom.”

  Kathryn cocked an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  “You want to come upstairs and check out my art work?”

  ***

  It had taken everyone only a couple of hours to unload Kathryn’s gear into the spare room and organize it, including her bed, though Kathryn doubted it would be used. After ordering everyone pizza, James and Kathryn took a break with Neil and his crew before heading back to the office.

  Relishing the quiet, Kathryn helped clear up after they left. Awed by James’ space age kitchen boasting stainless steel European appliances and top of the line granite, tile and floors, she could only gawk like a child about to enter Hershey’s Chocolate World.

  “You actually cook?” she asked, staring into a massive zero fridge stocked with enough food to survive armageddon.

  “Like a pro,” James said. “I love a good meal, but I rarely have time for it.”

  “You look like a man with a healthy appetite,” Kathryn said with teasing smile.

  “You’ve onl
y gotten as far as the appetizers. Wait till you taste the main course.”

  James approached and gathered Kathryn in his arms. “Joking aside, I’m really happy you’re here with me, Kat. I feel a lot more comfortable now.”

  Kathryn felt a subtle shifting of mood. The lightheartedness of the move had settled into the somber reality of the situation that had brought her here.

  “Is this going to get resolved, James?” she asked.

  James tightened his grip and stroked her hair, twirling strands and gently releasing them.

  “Sooner, rather than later,” he said. “Sam’s on it, Dad and his people are on it, so are some of my contacts. Influence works both ways. Whatever advantage Heather thinks she has is just an illusion.”

  “It scares me,” she said. “I’ve never dealt with anything like this before.”

  “Does your family know you’ve moved?” James asked. “You can give them number if you want.”

  Kathryn’s conflicted expression puzzled him.

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to mention it to them. I understand if they’re old fashioned and ...”

  “No,” she said a little too abruptly. “It’s ... not that. I just ... haven’t really spoken to my parents in a while.”

  James turned her face toward him. “What’s that all about?”

  Kathryn shrugged. “Mom’s been at a certification course for the past two weeks. I mean, we’ve emailed and I talked to Dad briefly about a week ago.”

  “But?”

  “You know you went through it with your Dad. Only with Mom, well, she and I were just never close.”

  Kathryn glimpsed something in James’ eyes that altered when she mentioned her mother. Though tempted to ask about his mother, something prevented her. The time and place to discuss his past would have to be of his choosing.

  “I get that,” he finally said. “But whatever happened to that friend of yours, Jackie?”

  That was actually a good question, as Kathryn hadn’t heard from her former roommate for almost a month. Admittedly, she hadn’t attempted to contact Jackie either, something she felt guilty about but not compelled to pursue. As it always seemed to happen after college and new careers, people started new lives and moved on, and considering the situation, it probably wouldn’t be a wise decision to say too much at this point.

  James noted her reaction and hugged her tightly. “Nevermind,” he said. “We have each other now, and that’s all that matters.”

  Moved by his words, Kathryn found tears in her eyes. She leaned into his embrace.

  “I guess it catches up to you sooner or later,” she said. “I always wanted that closeness of family I saw with my friends, but it just never happened.”

  James seemed to consider her words. “I hear you,” he said. “You’ve heard that expression about how you can choose your friends but not your family, and it’s really true.”

  Kathryn waited for him to elaborate, but he responded only by kissing her forehead.

  “But the past should be left in the past,” he said. “Sometimes we drag our baggage around with us like anchors, and maybe it’s time just to cut the chains off.”

  Chapter Five

  Kathryn had just finished unpacking the last of the boxes when James walked into the room.

  “Almost done,” she said.

  “I was going to see if you wanted to be a test subject for an authentic Italian meal,” James said.

  “Is it time for dinner already?” Kathryn said, gazing out the windows at a stunning, dripping egg yolk sunset in the horizon. “I’d love to be your guinea pig.”

  “I was speaking in the past tense,” James said. “Dad just called. Wanted to take us out to dinner to discuss a proposition.”

  “We haven’t even gone over the Gala yet,” Kathryn said. “Honestly, I have a thousand things on my to do list as it is.”

  “I could always ask him to stop by.”

  Kathryn hesitated, unsure of whether she wanted any more company. The day had been stressful, and she felt fatigued from lack of sleep.

  “Why don’t we just meet tomorrow at the office?” James said. “Today’s almost a wash anyway and I can see you’re tired.”

  Kathryn smiled gratefully.

  “Tell you what,” James said. “Why don’t you take a nap and I’ll call you when dinner’s ready?”

  “That sounds like a great idea,” Kathryn said.

  James held out his hand. Confused, Kathryn reached for it. James pulled her out of the room and led her down the hallway toward a room at the opposite end.

  “Where are we going, Mr. Manticorp?” she asked with a smile.

  “I suggested you take a nap. I didn’t yet say where.”

  Opening the door, James escorted Kathryn into a larger version of her room, but any resemblance to a traditional bedroom ended there. Her jaw dropped at she entered the outdoors. Displayed from a series of suspended canvasses, magnificent images of the most stunning natural beauty on the planet dazzled her senses. From mystical rainforests and waterfalls, to exotic beaches, dramatic sunsets and visions of starlit skies, the rich bounty of Earth surrounded her.

  Kathryn barely noticed the steps leading to a bed positioned directly beneath a huge skylight. Silver, gray and black drapes hung from a half circle rod, creating a surreal vision of light and shadow. Accented by stark, contemporary furniture, it was the most dramatic room she had ever seen.

  “I was going to suggest you sleep under the stars,” James said, turning down the bed cover with a big smile.

  ***

  Drifting through the misty realm of a dream, Kathryn wandered along a beach ablaze with the golden glow of bioluminescent creatures. She walked along the waterline, the warm, gently lapping water a silken caress against her feet. Above, the glittering swathe of the Milky Way splashed the sky with ethereal light. Inhaling the briny aroma of the sea, Kathryn closed her eyes and breathed in the pure air.

  A voice rose above the gently rolling surf. Kathryn turned to see a figure approaching, his footprints merging with hers in the sand. Recognizing James, she ran toward him, but he laughed and dodged her. Playing like children, they splashed and chased each other along the waterline.

  James paused, and with a smile, motioned toward Kathryn.

  “Come with me,” he said in a spectral voice.

  He turned and waded into the water. Kathryn followed until they walked hand in hand toward the rolling waves. The pliant sand cushioned their feet. As the bottom began to slope, they dove into the sparkling water alive with luminous plankton. The magical sight so enthralled Kathryn that she felt she was swimming among the stars.

  James turned to her and smiled. Somehow, they did not need air as they descended deeper into the faerie ocean realm.

  “Kathryn,” came a distant voice.

  Now the dream began to fade, and she felt herself ascending from the mystical waters, above the beach.

  “Kathryn, wake up.”

  Slowly, her eyes opened, banishing the dream to a fleeting memory. She blinked, her gaze settling on the suspended image of the Milky Way spanning the horizon, then she turned to see James standing by the bedroom door.

  “Did you have a pleasant journey?” he asked, approaching the bed and sitting on the edge.

  Kathryn smiled and sat up, feeling far more refreshed than she did a few hours ago. Through the skylight, the moon showed its grinning face from a starlit sky, augmented only by a scattering of soft backlights.

  “I had the most amazing dream,” she said, gazing back at the image of the Milky Way.

  James looked at the image. “That’s my favorite. I took this photo. It’s the most incredible and humbling thing you’ll ever see.”

  You took this?” Kathryn said. “It looks like you stepped off the planet.”

  James gestured around the room. “In a sense I did. Everything you see is my work. I just had them enlarged.”

  Kathryn looked at him with moist eyes. James reached over to cares
s her cheek. She savored the warmth of his touch and gently kissed his fingers.

  Gazing at the images filled Kathryn with an intense sense of longing. She had always been fascinated by travel and exotic locations, but her pragmatic parents had expressed no desire to travel beyond the familiar. Summer vacations had blended into pleasant but predictable trips to resorts and attractions that delivered nothing more than homogenized entertainment and experiences.

  Though Kathryn had expressed a desire to travel to Europe and Australia, her mother’s schedule and her father’s lack of general interest had relegated the thought to plans of the future once she started university and finances wouldn’t quite stretch to travel abroad. Ironically, the world and the universe displayed in the gorgeous images above her head was suddenly within reach.

  She looked at James with a new sense of respect and an understanding that explained a great deal about his passionate nature. It also explained his disinterest in Heather and her superficiality. James was about the Earth, but his spirit, like hers, had been reigned in by convention, tradition and lack of communication.

  “I can hear those wheels turning in your head,” James said.

  Kathryn laughed. “I really can’t hide anything from you, can I.”

  “Who says we should? Isn’t that why most relationships run aground? I think we can both vouch for that.”

  Kathryn smiled. “That, we can,” she said, planting a kiss on his lips.

  The appetizing aroma of Italian food wafted from the kitchen. Kathryn’s stomach rumbled hungrily.

  “That sounds like a good sign,” James said with a smile. “I created a culinary masterpiece which I’m sure you’ll enjoy.”

  “Well, I hope you found a good wine to go with it,” Kathryn joked.

  “I already went to the cellar to pick the perfect vintage. It’s decanting on the counter as we speak.”

  Kathryn laughed. “Of course it is. Why did I even ask?”

  “Come on,” James said, pulling her out of bed. “Appetizers and fresh breadsticks are on the table. Let’s just enjoy a quiet evening together. I’m sure tomorrow will more than make up for it.”