The Damaged Heroes Collection [Box Set #1: The Damaged Heroes Collection] (BookStrand Publishing Mainstream)

by James, Sandy

  The sound of her voice, the feel of those tremors surrounding him, knowing that she enjoyed him, brought Seth to his own climax as he held her hips and drove into her one last time.

  Katie collapsed on his chest and reveled in the myriad of feelings coursing through her. The love she felt for Seth was too deep, too impossible to survive. Could a person die from a broken heart? If he left, when he left, Katie knew she would perish. Ross’s words echoed through her mind in admonition and recrimination.

  It can’t end well. It just can’t.

  Seth rubbed her back and whispered sweet nothings in her ear. She let each word surround her heart to cushion it for the coming fall. Where could her love for this man possibly lead except to heartache? He whispered how beautiful she was and how much she had pleased him.

  But he never once told her that he loved her and that said it all.

  Chapter 25

  “They’re here!” Katie squealed in delight.

  She and Chris had walked in The Place together. Seeing Brian seated at a table with his injured leg resting on a pillow-covered chair, she felt her heart swell in happiness. Her friends were finally back where they belonged—they’d come home. Samantha had promised they would be there, but Katie had been afraid to hold out too much hope that it would truly happen. She had desperately missed her friends and their Monday nights together. She hurried to the table and stooped to give Brian a hug before she took a seat next to Sam.

  “Where’s Seth?” Brian asked.

  “He took my truck this afternoon to run an errand, but he wouldn’t tell me where he was heading. Haven’t seen hide or hair of him since,” Katie answered before she turned to the waitress and ordered a ginger ale.

  “Think we can get you to sing since he’s not around?” Chris asked.

  “I don’t know...”

  “Ah, come on, Katie. You haven’t sung in so long. I missed it,” Brian encouraged. “For me? For little ole’ injured me?”

  Chris chimed in and tipped the scales. “If you don’t, I will.” A wicked smile crossed his face. “And I’ll do Hank Williams, Jr.”

  “Oh, for the love of... Please, Katie. Go sing,” Sam begged.

  “All right, I’ll go.” She walked to the stage and looked down at the karaoke machine. Feeling a bit melancholy, she knew exactly which tune to choose. After punching in her selection, she pulled the barstool to the middle of the stage and picked up the microphone. Leaning on the stool, she waited as the song played through its soft jazz opening.

  Katie sang the old Ray Charles standard “You Don’t Know Me.” The tune had haunted her, repeated in her head since the moment she realized that she had fallen in love with Seth but couldn’t tell him how she felt. Katie let the sweet melody flow from her as she used the music to express the emotions griping her heart. Singing gave her a way to hide in plain sight. Tears formed in her eyes as she sang of watching the love of her life walk away and being powerless to stop it. The song ended much too quickly for her to find any comfort.

  If there was applause, Katie couldn’t hear it. The only noise filling her ears was the rapid pounding of her heart as it reached a terrible conclusion. Seth would be leaving. Soon. And there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to prevent it. She hadn’t told him about the bounty being offered by The Tattler, but she knew it was just a matter of time before his identity was revealed.

  Love never stays.

  Katie stood up, put the microphone on the stool and went back to her seat.

  Seth had been standing in the shadows of the restaurant’s entrance when he looked up and saw Katie sitting center stage. He’d ducked back behind the partition to watch her as she sang.

  When she finished the song, Seth couldn’t seem to find enough strength in his legs to move as he came to a startling revelation. Katie loves me. He heard it in every note of her song and in the emotions she weaved with her voice. She loves me. Why should the revelation make his knees knock, his head swim, and his heat pound a swift cadence? Placing a hand against the partition, Seth steadied himself.

  Love or money? The words echoed in his ears like some voice from above.

  Running his fingers lightly over the small black velvet box hidden in his pocket, Seth realized that he was leaning heavily toward the side of love. Katie gave him strength—perhaps enough strength to walk away from his legacy. Love or money? At least the heat of the summer was far from the time when he would have to make the choice.

  “Hi, everyone,” Seth called as he finally stepped out from the shadows. Katie eyed him distrustfully, and he knew she wondered if he had witnessed her little musical spectacle. He kissed her cheek and took a seat next to her.

  As Chris took his turn on stage, singing his threatened country song, Katie’s cell phone rang. “Saved by the bell,” she joked as she checked the caller ID and then flipped the phone open. She couldn’t hear the caller’s voice with all the noise surrounding her, so she stood up and hurried out of the restaurant. “James? The horses are fine. Monterey Jack is settling back in. Wait, I can’t hear you. Hang on, I’m going outside.”

  When she reached the door, she pushed it open to head to the parking lot and its peace and quiet. “Sorry, James. Hard to hear with all that racket. What’s up?”

  “Katie, you need to be careful. Look, we know your groom is Seth Remington. We’ve known since we met him.”

  “How did you...?” Just how many people knew who Seth was and where he was? And how many of those who knew would be dialing The Tattler? “How, James?”

  “Everyone in Chicago probably knows him, but he and his friends used to come to one of my restaurants a lot. He looks a little different, and I honestly didn’t recognize him. But Susan did. Some reporters were snooping around here earlier today. They must’ve been checking out his old haunts. I overheard one of them mention Indiana. Susan said I should tell you.”

  “No,” Katie gasped. “How could they—?”

  “I don’t know, but they’re turning over every rock searching for him.”

  Katie felt the fear wash over her. This problem was more than some stupid tabloid show. Seth had become a hunted man, a man with a rising price on his head. “Why didn’t you call for the reward?”

  “You know we wouldn’t do that to you,” James replied, sounding more than a little offended. “Susan and I figured he was just trying to get away from his life or something. Trust me, weirder things have happened. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No. But thanks for the heads up. And thanks for protecting Seth. If you hear anything else, you’ll call?”

  “Sure thing. See you, Katie.”

  “Thanks again, James.” She snapped the phone shut.

  Every inch of her skin crawled, every pore burned. Katie could almost feel each tiny grain of sand as it slipped through the hourglass marking what little time she had left to share with Seth. Anger and frustration washed over her and she shouted her feelings to the empty parking lot. “Damn it! It’s not fair! It’s just not fair!” It took her several minutes to compose herself enough to go back into the restaurant.

  Katie knew that Samantha could sense her apprehension the second Katie returned to the table. Sam had that hard look she got when she was just about to lecture someone. When Katie shook her head at her friend’s stare, she hoped Sam would decide to wait for a private opportunity to start the interrogation.

  Seemingly oblivious to the women’s exchange, Brian turned to Seth. “How many did you win this week?”

  “Four. Three were Katie’s,” Seth answered with a note of pride in his voice as he reached for a slice of pizza.

  “You’re getting a lot of drives now. I’m jealous. You’re gonna steal half my trainers away.”

  “Never. I’m just keeping the bike warm for you.” Seth snorted a laugh. “I think Josh Piper hates my guts.”

  Brian nodded and chuckled. “He should. You’re taking most of his drives.”

  Seth leaned back and put his arm across the back of K
atie’s chair. “You’re exaggerating. But if he wasn’t such a freakin’ cowboy and listened to his trainers, they wouldn’t come to me.”

  Katie listened as the two men talked harness racing. Between gossiping like a couple of old women and speculating on upcoming race strategies, they both seemed well occupied.

  The Place quickly grew too warm in Katie’s estimation, and the food was beginning to look less than appetizing. She sipped her ginger ale, hoping to settle her growing nausea. When she glanced over to see Chris munching on a chicken wing soaked in greasy barbeque sauce and greedily licking each of his fingers, it was more than Katie’s queasy stomach could stand. She put her hand over her mouth, jumped up, and ran for the restroom.

  Katie spent the next five minutes holding her hair back while she threw up.

  “You all right in there?” Sam called through the bathroom stall door.

  Great. What a wonderful time for twenty questions. God, she was tired of throwing up.

  Sam handed some damp paper towels to Katie as soon as she opened the door. “Thanks.” Katie wiped one of the cool cloths across her hot face.

  “Not feeling well?” Sam skeptically arched her eyebrow.

  “I think it’s the heat. I’ve thrown up every day this week.” Katie cupped her hand to gather some water trickling from the faucet. She sucked it into her mouth before swishing the water around and spitting it back in the sink.

  “Bullshit. Have you taken a test yet?”

  Katie gaped at Sam. “No. I couldn’t be... I can’t...” No. No. No. Her thoughts reeled at the implications as she held onto the sink for support.

  “Yes, you could. C’mon, Katie. You’re a smart woman. Didn’t you even think about it?”

  “But I can’t have... I’m not supposed to...” Katie couldn’t finish. The truth slammed into her with the force of a freight train. Oh, my God! I might be pregnant!

  Sam patted her on the shoulder. “Miracles happen every day. You gonna tell him?”

  Tell Seth? He’d hate me for the rest of his life. “Hell, no. Look, I need to know for sure first. You know what the doctor said. Sam, you can’t tell anyone. Not even Brian. He’d go straight to Seth.”

  “You have to tell him sometime.”

  Katie shook her head. “No. I can’t. Don’t you see? He’d feel obligated to—”

  “He is obligated.”

  Katie felt tears stinging her eyes. Her anxiety could easily become a full-fledged panic attack. She knew she had to persuade Sam to keep a lid on the news or everything would go straight to hell. “Sam, I can’t. He’ll lose his inheritance. Do you think I could live with myself if I cost him all that money? He’d hate me. He’d hate us.”

  “Calm down. I think you’re selling yourself short, Katie. The guy likes you.” Sam glanced at herself in the mirror, but those reflected eyes still stared back at Katie.

  “Likes, Sam. Not loves, likes. I won’t make him give up his money for me because I might’ve been stupid enough to get pregnant.”

  With a heavy sigh, Sam turned away from the mirror to look at Katie. “You know, he was there too. You didn’t make a baby all by yourself.”

  “You don’t understand. He’ll think I tricked him. Don’t you see? People have probably used Seth his whole life to get to his money. He’ll think I got pregnant on purpose. You’ve got to promise you won’t say anything.”

  “You have to—”

  “Please, Sam. Please.”

  Sam sighed again. “Fine. It’s against my better judgment, but I promise.” She shot Katie a motherly glare. “But I’m coming by with a test tomorrow when Brian is at physical therapy, so you better make sure Seth is out of the barn by noon.”

  “He won’t even come in tomorrow. It’s his day off.”

  Sam snorted a laugh.

  “What?”

  “Everyone knows he spends every night with you now, Katie.”

  Katie opened her mouth to form a denial, but quickly closed it again when she realized how pathetic any attempt to refute Samantha would sound. At that moment, she hated everyone at the track. All they ever did was poke their noses where they didn’t belong. Just like the damn reporters. “There’s no air conditioning in his dorm.”

  “Yeah, right. I’m sure that’s why he stays. You promised you’d stop sleeping with the guy, remember?”

  “Sam, please don’t scold me. I love him.” Katie grew silent as she stared at the floor, trying not to cry. After several long moments choking back her tears, she finally looked back at Sam. “Promise you won’t tell? Not even Brian?”

  “Not even Brian.” She turned her profile to Katie and patted her rounded belly. “You do realize you won’t be able to keep it a secret forever, don’t you?”

  Katie nodded and jammed the wet towels in the trash can. “But I can keep it a secret for now.” She opened the bathroom door to leave and Sam followed her back to the table.

  Seth looked up at Katie with trusting, caring eyes. He didn’t know she’d betrayed him. He arched a skeptical eyebrow. “You got sick again, didn’t you? Are you okay?” She could see the concern on his face and it warmed her heart. God, how she loved him.

  She pulled out the chair and sat down. “I’m fine. Don’t eat the buffalo wings though. I think they’re bad.”

  Chris immediately threw the wing he was gnawing on back on the plate. “Great. Now you tell me.”

  “You want me to take you home?” Seth asked as he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.

  “Not yet. Really, I’m fine.”

  The karaoke died out and the lights dimmed for dancing. Seth stood up and offered his hand to Katie. “You up to dancing, Boss?”

  Katie looked up from where she sat and stared at his handsome face. He was perfect in every way she could possibly imagine, and her heart ached with love for him. The future shouldn’t exist, shouldn’t interfere. Her world should just be Seth, and horses, and babies. But it wasn’t.

  He would leave soon, that much was clear. But it wouldn’t be tonight. She decided to enjoy the present and let tomorrow take care of itself.

  When Katie didn’t make a move as she kept staring intently at his face, Seth became self-conscious. “Is there pizza sauce on my face or something?” He wiped his hand over his mouth.

  “No, you’re fine. I’d love to dance.” Katie reached up to take his hand.

  Seth had wanted to take Katie into his arms since the moment he heard her sing. He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his embrace. She slipped her arms around his neck and laid her cheek against his chest. Giving no concern to the number of onlookers, Seth nuzzled his nose in her hair. He always loved the way she smelled. So sweet, so soothing. Shampoo and spring clover.

  Holding her close, Seth felt contentment like he’d never known. His realization that Katie loved him made him whole. This woman loved him for who he was, not for his money or his damn name. She knew she could never share his wealth, and yet Katie gave him every part of herself. Body and soul.

  Before he met her, Seth had enjoyed the chase. Yet he always quickly tired of a woman once he caught her. If he managed to get her into bed, it brought a swift end to the attraction. But each time he made love with Katie, it only got better and better. He could hardly wait to get her back to her room, their room to give Katie the present he’d carefully chosen that afternoon.

  The song ended too fast for his taste, but Seth took Katie’s hand and led her back to the table. When he pulled her chair out for her, Katie shook her head. “I’m really tired.” She looked over at Chris. “Can you drop Seth off at the dorm? I want to go home.”

  “I’ll take you home,” Seth insisted.

  “Can’t Chris just—”

  “No, Katie. I’m taking you home. You don’t look well, and I want to be sure you’re okay. No arguments.” Seth grabbed her purse from the back of her chair and slung it over her shoulder. “Good night, everyone.”

  Katie kissed Brian on the cheek and Sam stood u
p to give her a hug. “Don’t forget I’ll be there tomorrow,” Sam whispered before she turned her loose.

  “I won’t forget,” Katie promised before Seth put his hand to the small of her back and ushered her out the door. He had not a clue as to what the women were talking about, but figured they’d share it when the time was right. If it was even worth sharing.

  “Give me the keys,” he ordered when they reached her truck.

  “Who died and made you emperor?”

  “Oh, come on, Boss. I’ll drive. You don’t feel well. Do you need to stop and get some antacids or something?”

  “No, thanks. Let’s just go home,” Katie replied as she crawled into the passenger side of the truck.

  * * * *

  They reached the farm, and Katie wondered if she should tell Seth what James, Sam, and Ross had told her. She knew it would be the wisest thing to do, but wanting to keep Seth with her for however long they had left, she decided against it. He turned off the engine and followed her inside the barn.

  “Good night, kids,” Katie called to the horses as she turned off the main lights. Most of the animals had already bedded down for the night. Gold stuck his head over his stall door and nickered. Seth went over to give the chestnut an affectionate pat on the neck.

  Using Katie’s keys to open the office, he held the door for her. He kicked off his shoes, and Katie raised her eyebrow. “You’re not going back to the dorm?”

  “Not tonight. You might need me.” After dropping the keys on her desk, he looked entirely absorbed in thought for several long moments. His gaze finally came back to her. “Your stomach has been a mess lately. You don’t think you might... I don’t know... be pregnant?”

  Katie held her breath. Now’s the time, she told herself. Now. There would never be a better opportunity. When she finally opened her mouth, she was positively amazed at what came out. “No. No way. I think it was the chicken.”

  Coward!

  “You’re sure?”