Lakeshore Secrets: The McAdams Sisters - Kate McAdams (By The Lake Series Book 1)

by Leah, Shannyn

  Out front of the shop she told Marc she was going to quickly pop in for a quick word with Peyton. He nodded understanding, knowing exactly what they needed to talk about. Kate had been texting and calling but she had wanted to talk to her in person about trapping her in this situation. She no longer wanted to wring her neck like a string mop. Okay, that wasn’t entirely true but she knew she could control the urge.

  “Kate!” She cringed at the voice calling her name and was tempted to ignore it and slip into the shop, lock the door behind her and then grin like a child escaping bed time. She pushed past the thought and turned to Melissa who was hurrying away from everyone else and towards her.

  She was gorgeous as usual with her long blonde hair tucked under a tightly knitted hat dancing around her porcelain perfect face not even hazed by the cold December evening. A black and white mixed wool coat hung mid length over her wide legged dress pants that were hemmed perfectly to her glossy heeled boots. “You dropped your glove.” She held out a black glove.

  “That’s not mine.”

  She looked down at it and Kate suspected she already knew it didn’t belong to her. “Oops.” She smiled. “Since I have you here, I was just curious, is Marc footing the bill for your new business?”

  Kate’s insides tightened like a bow and arrow before it released toward its target. She managed to level an impersonal smile for Melissa. “I don’t think what my fiancé is footing concerns you, Melissa.” She said her name sending a warning.

  A cheeky smile crossed her lips as though she had gotten the answer she was seeking. “It’s all a little coincidental that your grandmother dies and leaves you this building the exact same week you start your romance up with Marc and suddenly you’re opening a business by scratch.” That tightening reached her fists, so she tucked them in her coat pockets.

  “I think it’s your jealousy creating coincidences that don’t exist to try and diminish a love that you can’t seem to break through, even after all these years.”

  “I’m the mayor’s daughter,” she said in her matter of fact tone Kate recognized from the snotty teenager she’d once been. “It’s not hard for to me to dig into these financial situations and find the truth.”

  “If you’re so sly why don’t you go stand by the man that taught you?” Her father was probably less honest than Robert Caliendo.

  “Worried that I’m your fiancés personal secretary? After our entanglement?”

  Kate didn’t let the floor shifting beneath her known.

  “He didn’t tell you about that, did he? How he started the whole encounter by kissing me? Not the other way around Kate.”

  If anyone was telling her about entangling encounters between Melissa and Marc it would be Marc. It should have been Marc.

  “If you’ll excuse me, there’s actually a conversation inside worth my time.” Kate waited for her to walk that sly grin away before she stepped inside the shop. She let out the deep breath she had been holding and by the time Peyton appeared she was so angry she forgot she originally sought her out to tear a strip out of her, not the dishonest man mingling in the crowd.

  And, here she thought she’d been doing all the lying, but, no there was Marc making out, kissing, having sex with Melissa and not even warning her.

  Peyton got off the hook easy with Kate who was so distracted that she accepted her insincere apology before walking to the beach with her sisters. She spotted the Caliendo’s by the main stage where Melissa was laughing with her black gloved hand touching Marc’s arm. Fury seared throughout her body like wild lightning.

  “Looks like you have some competition,” Peyton whispered. “Some people never learn.” She had no idea.

  They weaved their way through the crowd and Kate zeroed in on her fiancé. Her fiancé. How dare that little tramp flaunt around him like he wasn’t engaged to his childhood sweetheart! She had removed that familiar black glove by the Kate reached them which was good because she was going to tear that home wrecker’s arm right out of the socket.

  She slipped her hand into Marc’s lacing her fingers around him to get his attention. He smiled down at her and she grabbed the front of his coat reaching on her toes and kissed him long, hard and slipped her tongue to explore inside his mouth showing Melissa exactly who he belonged too. When she finished, Abby and Izzy whistled. Those two fed off each other.

  Marc gave her a surprised look, and then kissed her forehead affectionately. She grinned back and snuggled against his chest ignoring Melissa completely.

  The ceremony began shortly after the sun dipped down behind the lake and welcomed darkness for the anticipated lighting. The mayor stood on the main stage welcoming everyone, leading and following through with jokes that made the crowd chuckle and clap. They were all just pawns on his chess board and one day she hoped someone stood up to him and checkmated him right out of the mayoral running.

  When Melissa went on stage to assist her dad with the lighting of the trees, Kate ripped her hands away from Marc’s. She was so ticked off her energy alone could have lit all the lights that, at that moment flickered on around them. How bloody beautiful, she snickered inwardly.

  The local bands would start to play soon and everyone would break into pleasant groups of conversation. She needed to get away from the crowd.

  “I will be back,” she snarled.

  He caught her arm. “You alright?”

  She yanked it back. “What do you care?” She hissed so no one would hear. She weaved back out through the crowd until she was at the road and could breathe.

  “Hey.” He caught up to her. “What’s the matter with you?”

  She spun around. “You lied to me,” she accused.

  He straightened his body immediately in defense mode. Oh, like he was so damn perfect. Ha! His blood ran thick with Caliendo lies.

  When he made no attempt to distract what she was referring to she informed him. “Melissa just educated me after a long dragged out accusation that I’m using you for your money, that you kissed her.”

  Guilt spread across his face like a forest fire.

  Sucking in the cold air, she turned and quickly crossed the road and down the alley. She was heading right for Gran’s house. There was no way she could play house right now.

  “Kate?”

  “No.” She continued walking and held her hand up to ward him off.

  “Kate.” He grabbed her wrist.

  She spun around claiming it back. “You lied to me!” she yelled.

  “Twice,” he said solemnly.

  “What?”

  Down the gloomy alley their shadows were lit by a lone light against the side of the building casting a glow not far from them. He stepped toward her and lowered his voice. “After you left six years ago well, it was more than just kissing. And when I returned here this year, it happened again.”

  Why did if feel like tears were burning the rims of her eyes. “It was more than kissing?” She couldn’t help but ask.

  “It only happened the two times. I was confused and she was there so we, I don’t know, made out. We didn’t have sex Kate. Just like I told you at the cabin.”

  “Why not? Apparently you can’t keep your hands off each other!” Why did it hurt so much? This was perfect, exactly what they needed to keep them apart just like she wanted.

  He stepped closer until he backed her against the brick wall. “Because she’s not you,” he snarled sounding frustrated. He was hovering over her and she didn’t have a chance for a comeback before he crushed her body against the brick wall, his lips landing hard, angry and hungrily against hers, searching, tasting, exploring...wanting. His hands roamed everywhere settling under her rump and partially lifting her up and against him. She gripped the front of his coat pulling him down harder against her mouth, hungrily kissing him back, searching his mouth for answers she couldn’t find. When he lifted his mouth away they were both panting loudly.

  “If you think I want her after this, than you are lying to yourself.” He pulled
away leaving her splayed against the wall like a tangled web. He took a moment of glaring at her before he finally walked away. She watched him cross the road without looking back. She took a dozen well-needed deep breaths wondering how after that they weren’t going to end up dismissing their history and end up in bed.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Marc met his mother for lunch the next day in the back corner booth of one of the on-site restaurants. She was waiting for him with a pleasant smile. He kissed her cheek before sliding across from her.

  “This was a nice surprise.” She said. “Encouraged by Kate I suspect.”

  He grinned. “It might have come up.” He teased.

  “I don’t care how I got you for a whole lunch by myself...I’m just grateful. You’ve been so busy this week and I wanted to talk to you before the Snowflake Ball.”

  “I think I’m caught up.” He assured her knowing he was going to have to start attending breakfast and suppers again...per Kate’s instructions. Kate. The woman was as sensitive as explosive wiring which the previous night’s outbursts had confirmed.

  “Carl says you both have been adjusting well.” Marc nodded. He told her the same thing he’d told Carl which made a sincere smile of relief across her face. “Isabelle hasn’t talked to him yet. She’s dropped the uncle.” So had he. “So, I guess that’s a start, but she’s all over...I can’t sit her down,” she glanced up. “Like you,” she winked.

  “Mother, that’s Isabelle and she will come around.”

  Their lunch was served and they chit chatted until the plates were removed and he thought that was their cue to leave.

  “There are three of Robert’s files.” She lifted a stack of manila files from the seat beside her and set them in front of her. As she opened the first one, she said, “These are locals that needed help.” She turned it sliding it across the table in front of him. There was a picture of an older man taken from a distance. “That’s Donald Cooper. He lived on a farm outside of town. His farm got into some trouble years back and he borrowed money from Robert and of course when he’s involved there’s always a catch. When the banks wouldn’t help, Robert would step in. He helped him pay the debts owing on the farm so his children...” She flipped the page to another family photo with Donald and four young boys and a girl. “These are his children grown and he wanted them to carry on the family business. However interest was never interest with Robert. He always wanted to keep you in his back pocket.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “He never named his price right away instead that person went on file in the, ‘they owe me in the future.’ Donald Cooper, I don’t know if you remember, but he died in a barn fire a few years back.” Marc stilled, not sure he wanted to know the rest. “When Donald refused to do what your father wanted years after the farm was paid off, then Robert had someone else who owed him burn the barn down and unfortunately he was in the barn when it went up in flames.”

  Marc had to ask. “Was that his intention?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t believe so Marcus. The insurance on the barn had been discontinued, that was Robert’s doing and the kids lost their dad and the business in that fire.”

  That was terrible.

  She slid the next file over to him. “This is the man who did it.” She flipped it open and tapped on a picture of another older man he didn’t recognize. She flipped another page to a picture of a family. “And this is why he did it. This is his family, the family Robert threatened if he didn’t do what Robert asked.”

  “What are you going to do with this?”

  Her shoulders dropped. “Right now, nothing. I want to set it all right but more importantly I want you to understand why this man...” she reached over tapping the fire setter’s face. “Did what he did and unfortunately resulted in a death no doubt he can’t handle the regret of.”

  “I don’t think there’s any understanding this,” Marc said sadly. “He shouldn’t have done it.”

  “I agree with you, he shouldn’t have. But, let’s take a walk in his shoes. He didn’t feel he had alternative. He was in Robert’s books and after you’re in those books you have no choice. I can’t say for sure but I will bet his threat was if he didn’t set the fire, someone would set it to his house.”

  “Mother, that’s terrible.”

  “What would you do in that man’s shoes? If you owed a man who threatened your family? What would you do Marcus? Would you let the man hurt us or start a barn fire?”

  Marcus understood. “I would never let anything happen to any of you.” She smiled relieved. “So what are your plans?”

  “To sit down with all of my children after I figure out a plan. I want to talk to you about Katherine. Before the Snowflake Ball, I want you to understand.”

  Marc already knew and, now more than ever, he understood what Robert was capable of and what Kate had been forced into. No doubt that third file belonged to his fiancée.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Days later, after Marc had time to comprehend all that his mother had opened his eyes to, he walked into the ballroom where the Snowflake Ball staff party would take place in only two days. And when they would announce their engagement to the staff...and whoever else Eliza invited.

  The main lights were off, but the twinkle lights illuminated the room. He spotted a ladder in the middle of the dance floor and he made his way over to talk to his future father-in-law to be. Kent’s daughter had been playing hide and seek with Marc and he had taken the days to think over the file his mother had shown him. Kate’s file.

  He found Kate straddling the top of a 7’ ladder, her hands working away. Now he understood and he felt the burden and sadness of the secret she held.

  “Dad honestly, you need better strength glasses, you didn’t even cut this one before you put it up!” She yelled in the direction of the stage. “We will have to take it down.”

  Kate was shaking her head and he could see a smile on her face until she looked down and spotted him. She drew her lips in and gave him a wave. Helping her dad, some things never change. At least this was under better circumstances. Well, kind of. “Hey,” she said flipping a leg over the ladder and making her way down the silver stairs with grace. She wasn’t afraid of a towering ladder but there was no way she would sit on a horse. She skipped the last three steps and hopped off landing in front of him. “How was brunch with your mom?”

  “Good.”

  “Did she get everything off her chest?”

  He nodded. She had no idea.

  She smiled. “Good. She’s been taking me aside all week with questions and I thought it best she hear from you.”

  A slow song flowed from the speakers on low.

  Kate chuckled. “That’s my dad.” She said stating the obvious. That was who he was originally looking for.

  Knowing Kent was standing somewhere in the shadows watching them, he put him hands out and without asking she knew and stepped into his arms.

  “I don’t know when he became such a romantic,” she whispered in his ear.

  They barely moved, his arm was wrapped around her waist and her arm rested against his with her hand clutching his shoulder. Their free hands held each other bent, close to their side. An intimate holding.

  “In two days we will be standing in this exact room announcing our engagement.” he said.

  “Thanks to Peyton,” she grumbled.

  “Kate, I don’t want to do this under false pretenses.”

  She tilted her head to look at him with a quirky grin. “I didn’t concoct this plan. You did,” she reminded him with a little tease in her eyes.

  “I don’t want it to be a concocted plan. I want it to be true.”

  She stopped moving and took a step back. “I don’t understand.”

  He pulled her close. He liked how her body fit snuggly against his, but he was more afraid she would run. “I have been really angry about your deal with my dad.” She said nothing. “But you weren’t totally honest
with me either.” She stiffened like a board on the ladder. He continued to move them slowly, their hips swaying together, their chests rubbing against each other until she was moving in rhythm with him again. “He threatened you.” He didn’t ask her because he already knew. “He threatened your family. He didn’t just offer you money like you claimed, did he Kate?” He needed to hear it from her.

  The closest answer he received was a shake of her head against him.

  “Even when I was furious with you for taking money from my dad, I didn’t want you to go. And before any of that, I accepted Peyton’s crazy proposal because you weren’t answering my calls.” He paused taking a deep breath. “I thought when you discovered our plan, you would object.” He stopped moving and ran his fingers down her arms to grasp her hands in his. She was trembling and slowly her eyes traveled the length of his body and landed on his. “I love you Katherine McAdams.”

  She swallowed hard.

  “I want to walk into that room with you with intentions to marry you.”

  The silence escaladed when the song ended, leaving them standing to listen to their breathing.

  “I would bend down right now on one knee and properly propose to you but your father is watching.”

  A small sound escaped her lips like a struggling chuckle and her eyes fell to the floor. He lifted her chin with his hand. “I don’t need an answer now. I want you to know, although I don’t feel it’s my place to say if you need to hear it from me...I forgive you.” He cupped her face. “When you are ready to tell me what happened I want you to know I will never blame you with a threat like that hanging over your head. Ever. For anything.” Tears were forming in her eyes but he could see she wasn’t ready to tell him the story. He leaned down and kissed her softly, lovingly. He knew once she worked up the courage to talk to him about Robert they would be able to move past this together. “I will forgive you,” he said against her lips and walked away.