Her last chance

by Danielle Lee

  “Gail, don’t you do such a thing! Katherine Elizabeth Daniels, you steal my breath. You look stunning in that green color, only it does come down way too far in the front,” he grumbled to the side. “Gail, get your daughter a smock!” he yelled.

  They all laughed.

  “Daddy, I’m wearing this, and don’t you do that with your hand again, you scared the hell out of me!”

  “Language, Katherine,” her mother said. This coming from the woman that just took the Lord’s name in vain, not to mention the mutterings about Kat’s father and how she was going to kill him.

  “Sorry, Mom, I’ll try to control myself.”

  Gail looked at her daughter appraisingly, and then saw Warren through the sidelight by the door. “He’s here,” she whispered. “And he looks great.”

  Katherine turned around and walked toward the door while her father opened it. Warren stood there; his eyes moved down her body appraisingly. Her father swatted him at the chest.

  “Damn, Bill!”

  Katherine’s mom tsked.

  “Sorry, Gail,”

  “Well, son, she’s still my daughter! I don’t care if she’s old as dirt!”

  “Daddy!” Katherine scolded.

  Warren laughed. “Shall we get going?” he asked as he pulled up his elbow; she grabbed it and flung her head back.

  “We shall. Bye, Mom; Bye, dad,” she said as they walked out the door.

  Bill and Gail exchanged glances.

  “Our baby, Gail, I think this may be it!”

  “I think so, too. I can’t believe he called for her dress size. He has great taste. Speaking of that, old man: I have a bone to pick with you.”

  “Oh geesh,” Bill said as he rolled his eyes.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “You are breathtaking, Katherine,” Warren said as he took her hand and put it up to his lips. “Simply breathtaking.”

  “Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself.” Katherine smiled and took a deep breath. “Warren?”

  “Yes,” he said, looking to her.

  “Thank you so much for the beautiful dress, the shoes, and the gorgeous jewelry. I don’t even want to think about how much it co—”

  “Don’t you worry about a thing,” Warren interrupted. “I wanted you to have a perfect evening. How were you supposed to do that without the dress? Then you had to have shoes, and when I went past Wilsons, I couldn’t resist.” Warren put his hand on her neck and touched the necklace. “There they were, the most beautiful necklace and earrings. They really do match your eyes.”

  Kat closed her eyes and leaned in to his palm.

  “They don’t do you justice, Kat. You’re stunning.”

  “Thank you,” Katherine said as she leaned in to kiss him.

  Warren put his fingers to her lips before they could seal their kiss. “Not yet. I want to save this for us, not for them,” Warren said, gesturing to Gail and Bill gaping out the window.

  “You would think they’ve seen two people in—” She caught herself.

  Warren exhaled and looked at her.

  “The driveway before, I mean really,” she said, then looked down, embarrassed.

  Warren was going to say something, but decided against it. He knew exactly what she was going to say. “They're just checking up on us. It’s not a big deal, but what I want to do with you, I would like to keep between us. Besides, I don’t want your dad riding me about it next week on our fishing trip.”

  “Good point.” Kat laughed as she turned back toward the window and stuck her tongue out. Her mom and dad scrambled from the window as if she couldn’t see them. As if!

  “Well, let’s get going. Madame,” Warren said, making a grand gesture for his SUV, “your chariot awaits.”

  “Thank you, sir,” she replied in turn as she took his hand and stepped into his truck.

  ***

  They arrived at the Sirian Riverboat Cruise port entrance and Katherine grinned. “Warren, are we going on the river?” Katherine said happily.

  “We are. Is there a problem?”

  “Oh, God no. I always wanted to go on one. I just never had…”

  “Anyone to go with?”

  “Exactly. Did I thank you yet?”

  “You did, but you can thank me again. A kiss maybe?”

  “I thought you didn’t want a thank-you kiss.”

  “No, that’s not it at all. I just wanted to have you all to myself. You know how your father can be.” Warren smiled as he put his hand up to her face.

  “Is that so? Well, how about I thank you for the riverboat cruise right now?” She pulled him into a kiss. Her lips brushed his as she brought her arms up around his neck. “And maybe I should thank you for the earrings,” she whispered into his ear, then nuzzled his neck. She kissed him gently as his hands went to her waist.

  “God, you drive me crazy, Katherine,” he said as his hands went up her back. “You have got to stop that or we won’t be going on that cruise.”

  Katherine laughed, then pulled back. “Okay, you asked for it—no more thank you.”

  Warren’s smile disappeared and a playful look took its place. “Oh, no you don’t,” he said as he pulled her back. “I still need one more kiss, and later you can really thank me when we get back to my place.”

  “Your place? Well, Dr. Vance, I thought this was our first date. You can’t possibly think that I would sleep with someone on the first date?”

  “Well technically, my dear Katherine, we won’t be sleeping.” Warren smiled and kissed her neck once more.

  A little moan escaped her mouth, then she straightened her back and smiled. “Now can we get on that boat? I’m starving.” She took his arm and he led her to the dock.

  ***

  After eating dinner and dancing, Katherine and Warren retired to the seating area of the riverboat. They talked about politics, her father’s heart, and her living situation in New York. Warren, of course, reminded her every two seconds that he lived in a big house all by himself, and Katherine let him know how happy she was in New York. As if. She was never really all that happy. Although she didn’t like the size of her apartment, it was never about that. She liked her independence. She had made a life for herself away from her parents. Not one of her siblings had done so; they all lived within a hand’s reach from them. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her parents; she adored them. She just wanted to be able to say that she had made it on her own, and if even for a second she thought that she could spend more time with Warren without having Gail and Bill breathing down her neck, she would.

  A hand tapped her on the shoulder and two faces came into view: Jean and Paul, from the plane ride. Kat smiled at them and stood up. Jean wrapped her arms around her.

  “You look beautiful; I almost didn’t recognize you! Not that you weren’t beautiful on the plane,” Jean said, recovering. Paul nodded and smiled, too. Then they noticed Warren, and Jean grinned. “Who’s your friend?”

  Kat laughed and Warren stood.

  “Hi, I’m Warren.” He held his hand out.

  Jean laughed and hugged him, too. “Anyone that can put a smile on Kat’s face after her horrendous month deserves a hug! It’s nice to meet you, Warren. This is my fiancé, Paul.” Jean smiled and Paul put his hand out.

  “I don’t do hugs.” Paul laughed. So did Warren and Kat.

  “That’s good…I don’t touch men.”

  “Well, good for you,” Jean said, winking and nudging Kat in the side. “So, how long have you both known each other? We saw you on the dance floor earlier, and you look great together.”

  Warren smiled at that and turned to look at Katherine. “Now, see? She knows you for how long and she knows?” Warren smiled.

  “Don’t start,” Kat joked, and then looked at Jean. “He’s my father’s doctor. He’s the one that picked me up at the airport.”

  Not exactly the introduction he’d hoped for. However, he would take anything but “friend” at this point—something that she kept insin
uating that they were.

  “Oh,” Jean said, amused. “A doctor.”

  Paul rolled his eyes. “Her mother is always telling her she should have married one. I swear if she could put me through medical school on her waitressing salary, she would.”

  “Now, Paul, she likes you. She just likes doctors better.” Jean laughed at the look Paul gave Warren.

  “Help me out, buddy.”

  “You tell your mother-in-law-to-be that being a doctor isn’t all that glamorous. You’re on call all of the time. How are you supposed to take care of her the way you want if you’re always at work?”

  Paul laughed and replied, “That’s probably why she wants me to switch professions!”

  They sat together for the rest of the evening. Warren didn’t seem annoyed or put out by the interruption. Paul and Jean were great, too; they talked about their vacation and genuinely seemed interested in meeting up when Kat returned to New York. They invited Warren, too. He seemed to win them over as much as he’d won her over. His smiles could undo anyone. He was infectious.

  As the night wore down, they said their goodbyes to Jean and Paul, and Warren took her hand and walked along the shoreline with her. The moon was full, and the stars were in full view. It was nothing like New York—no high-rises, no big steel structures, just the beauty of the river and the walkway where they strolled hand in hand. They didn’t need music, or conversation. This was the most comfortable she had felt with any man, and that was why it was going to be so hard to leave. All she could think of was what a big mistake it was getting involved with him when they only had a short time.

  The night with Warren was magical. He wined, dined, and romanced the hell out of her. She had never experienced anything remotely like this. As they walked to his truck, he opened the door for her to get in and kissed the tip of her nose, then he walked over to his side. “I had a wonderful time with you tonight, Katherine,” he said as he started the engine. “I hope you enjoyed it as well.”

  “Are you kidding me? Warren, this was the most perfect night,” she said as she smiled and glanced out the window. “Everything was perfect. The dress, the shoes—which, I must say don’t even hurt my feet at all—and the jewelry…Dear God, I love it!” she said as she held her hand to her chest where the necklace lay. “Is it wrong to say that?” She laughed nervously.

  “No. I was hoping that you didn’t have anything like it. When I saw the necklace, I knew you had to have it. It looks just like your eyes.”

  “The funny thing is, Warren, I feel like it’s been mine for a lifetime already. It’s beautiful. It looks so familiar to me, almost as if it was mine before. I know that sounds crazy, but I am so grateful for them. Thank you so much. I have never received something so beautiful in my life.”

  “You’re most welcome.” He turned down her street when she let out a sigh. “Is everything okay?”

  “Well, yes, I just don’t know what to say. I suppose I should feel guilty for accepting the jewelry.”

  “Don’t. Like you said, it was made for you. Besides, you don’t really want to give it back, do you?”

  It was her turn to laugh now. “Hell no!”

  “I’m glad. I think it would have killed me to have to take that back into Wilsons. Well, my dear, sit tight,” he said as he turned off his truck and walked over to her door.

  “I didn’t even realize we were at my house. I thought you were going to demand thanks for the night from me?” she asked coyly.

  “You don’t owe me anything. I’m just glad that you said yes to tonight. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I wanted this night to be perfect, and to me, it was just as any first date should be. Now, take my hand. I’m going to walk you to your door.”

  Katherine inhaled deeply, feeling nervous for the first time that evening—which, considering, was probably rather foolish since she had already slept with this man. Or technically, as Warren put it, had sex. Now she had butterflies, wondering if he would kiss her goodnight before shoving her through the door to hell, a.k.a. Bill and Gail Daniels.

  “Thank you again for the lovely evening,” Warren said.

  “Thank—”

  Warren leaned in. Her breath stopped and he brushed his lips against hers, tasting her, devouring her kiss. She wanted him. She couldn’t believe how badly she wanted him. The night had been so perfect already.

  “Take me back to your place,” she said huskily.

  Warren moaned into her mouth. “I wanted this night to be perfect for you. I didn’t want to ruin it…”

  “Ruin it?” She shook herself out of the daze that was the perfect evening. “How would that ruin it?”

  “I just—it wouldn’t—I just didn’t want to pressure you. You were so sure that this would only be three dates…”

  “Right, sorry. I don’t want to hurt you, Warren.”

  “That’s not it at all. I just didn’t think…”

  “No, you’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking—taking it further with only three dates in mind would have been…immature. We’re adults, and I think we can handle each other’s friendship. We’re just friends.”

  “Katherine, I think you know that we’re more than just friends.”

  “No—well, yes, I know that we slept together.”

  “Made love,” Warren interjected.

  “Had sex,” Kat said, immediately regretting it as she registered Warren’s face.

  “And here I thought I was going to ruin the evening.” Warren’s face was ashen in embarrassment. He leaned in once more and kissed her cheek. “Goodnight. Tomorrow night, eight o’clock?”

  “Warren…”

  A movement caught her attention behind Warren, and something dropped down the wall and landed in the bushes. She sucked in a startled gasp, but calmed down when she saw what it was.

  “Tommy?”

  “Kat?” Tommy Jones’ voice called from the other side of the yard, his face flush. Warren looked over and nodded to him.

  “Warren,” Tommy said, nodding back. “Kat, don’t you say anything to her, you hear me!”

  “To whom?”

  Warren rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Eight o'clock,” he said before he got into his SUV and drove off.

  “Wait, Warren!” she huffed, and then turned and glared at Tommy like it was his fault Warren had left.

  Tommy acted oblivious to the glare and pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

  “To whom?” she repeated.

  Tommy looked up, “To whom, who?”

  “Don’t say anything to whom!” she said, loudly.

  “Your sister!”

  “My sister?” Kat said. She looked above the bushes to her sister’s window, and then straightened. “No…Tommy Jones, what did you do?”

  “I didn’t do anything. Just don’t say anything. She will be too embarrassed. She has enough going on with you and Warren making out every two seconds.” He made some gestures by squishing his hands together a few times.

  “We haven’t been making out every two seconds, and what did you do to my sister?”

  Tommy took a step back and his eyes widened. “I didn’t do anything to your sister. Honestly, Kat, give me some credit. I would never do anything to hurt your sister. Never. God, what kind of…Never mind, I’m getting out of here. Just don’t say anything.” He flipped open his cell phone dramatically before turning away.

  “Whatever!” she yelled back as she watched him walk down the sidewalk toward the road. Who the hell was he talking to at this hour on a cell phone? Not to mention, where was his car? And what the hell was he doing sniffing around her sister’s bedroom? As far as she knew, Karen had enough problems with her crazy boyfriends. The last thing she needed was to throw Tommy Jones into the mix.

  When Kat turned the key in the lock, the kitchen light immediately turned on, followed by her mother walking into the kitchen and her father directly behind her with a small dinner plate.

  “What are you doing here?” Bill asked.<
br />
  “Well, last time I checked, I was staying here. What’s with everyone tonight?”

  “What’s with whom?” Gail asked.

  Deciding that she probably shouldn’t say anything about Tommy crawling out of her sister’s bedroom window, Kat just shook her head. “Nothing…I just…I just got here.”

  “Did you have a nice time, dear?” Gail said as she pulled out a chair to sit down and brought the small dinner plate with her and motioned for Bill with the other hand. He came around with the cookie jar grasped in his hands.

  Kat reached over, helped her father with the jar, and placed it on the table before she realized what she had done. “Wait, you shouldn’t be eating cookies! Mom, what are you doing?”

  “Well, he was very good tonight, weren’t you, dear?” Gail asked Bill.

  “Oh, God! Mom, Dad, enough already. You’re the ones that have to live with yourselves if his blood pressure acts up again…”

  “Don’t you worry about my blood pressure. What happened with your date tonight? Are you going to move back into the old homestead?”

  Gail rolled her eyes and swatted Bill with the back of her hand. “Bill, I hardly think she would move back in here! Don’t you think she would live with Warren?”

  “Not you, too! I would think you would have known by now that I am leaving. And, after tonight, I am convinced more than ever that I should get out of here. That’s why I’m calling and booking a flight right away.”

  Bill and Gail exchanged glances while Katherine picked apart a chocolate chip cookie.

  “What do you mean you’re booking a flight? What, are you leaving now?” Gail asked.

  “Well, it’s not like I have anything here. You guys have pushed me and Warren together. He’s so delusional about our relationship. I told him, and the both of you, that I like the way my life is. I like living in New York. I like writing.” She looked down again and picked the chips absently out of the cookie. “I mean, don’t you think he’s being silly? You would think by the way he’s been acting that we’ve known each other for years.”