Текст книги "Until You"

Автор книги: Jeannie Moon

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

Chapter 4

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His doorbell rang for what felt like the thousandth time that night, but he didn’t mind.

David was glad he was home this year. He hated when they had a game on Halloween and no one was there to answer the door for the kids. Twelve bags of candy later, things seemed to be slowing down.

He liked kids. They were honest—no bullshit. Someday he’d like to have a few of his own, but the way things were going, it was a long way off. He certainly wasn’t going to give any of the usual women in his life a baby. They were so wrapped up in themselves he doubted they’d have time to be mothers. Of course, he wasn’t exactly model father material either.

Over the past few weeks, ever since he had dinner with Kate, David had been questioning everything in his life. He didn’t know if he wanted to settle down or even if he could, but he wasn’t happy with his partying bachelor existence either. Granted, the sex was great, or it used to be. Lately, he wasn’t interested in seeing anyone. He just didn’t care. Dating the kind of girls he did was pointless. They were shallow and self-absorbed, and what David had talked about with Kate was true—no one ever really cared about anything but appearances. He took his dates to the right restaurants, the right clubs. They were seen with the right people, but nothing felt right. Nothing felt right since he’d been with Kate.

He’d messed up bad when he ran scared because of her age, but what really finished it off was running into her in New York last weekend.

The city had fucking nine million people and they’d managed to end up in the same restaurant last Sunday morning. She was with an older woman; he was with Chelsea and two of their friends. He would never forget the look on Kate’s face when she saw them. How she tried to slip out unnoticed and how he felt like the biggest shit on the planet.

David looked at the clock. His friends were out at a bar someplace, but lately he’d been stalked by a couple of overly ambitious photographers. He’d been trying to get them off his back, but he wasn’t having any luck. For some reason, he was news, and he couldn’t figure out why. Going out would just give them something to sell, so he decided to stay in rather than risk it.

Irritated that his movements were being controlled by other people, he grabbed his jacket and keys and headed out for a walk. He was restless, and he kept dwelling on the fact that even though his professional life was great, on the personal front it was anything but. The season seemed to start well, but he didn’t seem to be helping the team. Nothing was more frustrating than feeling like he made absolutely no difference.

It was after nine and the street was still busy, but it was more adults than kids who were crowding the sidewalks and coming out of restaurants and bars. Some wore costumes and some just enjoyed the cool fall evening. He decided to get himself a cup of coffee and took a short walk to the local bookstore. He hadn’t gotten ten feet in the door when he faced a huge display of Kate’s books and a poster announcing when she would be making a visit.

Bestselling author Katherine Adams will be signing and talking about her newest book, Past Lives, on Sunday, November…

The rest didn’t matter. David picked up a copy of the book, the same one she’d showed him in her suite. It was a thick volume. He flipped it over in his hands a few times, absorbing its weight and texture. He wondered what it took to write something like this. He read the synopsis on the inside flap and then the short biography in the back.

‘Katherine Adams is the author of six novels in the bestselling Elliot Hunter series, including Fleeting Glance, Give Back, and Playing the Game. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter.’

Her daughter. Her seventeen-year-old daughter. Christ. David focused on the picture on the book jacket. Kate was beautiful. Her face glowed, her eyes sparkled, and he thought about her after they’d made love. He could still feel her hands, her lips—he could feel everything, and he got crazy just thinking about her. He remembered the entire night with perfect clarity… and he’d been a dick and wrecked it.

David tucked the book under his arm and went to the café.

Never had he felt quite so empty. He wondered if they could have been something to each other, but just like always, he made sure he would never find out. There had been times in his life he’d been disappointed because something didn’t work out the way he expected. He’d suffered personal and professional losses. But this was different. Rather than feeling that life had blindsided him, David knew he had no one to blame but himself. And looking once again at Kate’s picture, he knew he was the only one who could fix the mess he’d made.

*

Three weeks.

Kate sat at the desk in her classroom staring at the playing fields in the distance. It was getting colder, and pretty soon she wouldn’t be able to look outside and see the activity, see the kids playing football or field hockey. Soon all she’d see would be a barren winter landscape.

It had been three weeks since she’d been in New York City and had seen David having brunch at Sarabeth’s. Kate wasn’t surprised she hadn’t heard from him, especially since he wasn’t alone in New York. She’d been working up the courage to actually call him, to take control of the situation. Now she was glad she’d never found the nerve. She’d watched his game on TV the night before, and a photograph of David, crushing an opposing player into the boards, dominated the back page of the newspaper she’d borrowed from the library. She stared at the picture and remembered the man who’d made love to her in California. The picture and the reality she’d experienced were in direct conflict. Did she want to take a risk on him?

Oh, yeah. She wanted him bad.

“Hey.”

Kate’s head shot up and she glanced toward the door where she saw her closest friend, Julie Higgins. Blonde and stunning, Julie was a French teacher and a few years younger than Kate. As silly as Kate was serious, as adventurous as Kate was cautious, Julie still didn’t know about David.

“Hi,” Kate said.

Julie walked in and glanced at the newspaper. “Following hockey?”

“A little.”

“Laura’s a big fan, isn’t she?”

“Yeah. Maybe it’ll give us something to talk about.”

“Maybe.” Julie sat in a student desk facing Kate. “One of the chaperones for the Honor Society trip backed out. I could use a hand. Are you available Friday night?”

“Sure.” Laura was with her father this weekend, going to his house right after school on Friday. Kate stood and walked toward the windowsill with a stack of papers. “Where are we going?”

“The Flyers game.”

Julie flinched as Kate spun toward her. “Flyers game?”

“Uh huh. The kids were invited because they adopted one of the team’s charities.”

Kate took three deep breaths to calm her racing heart before she spoke. “You know, I won’t be much fun. I’m not a big fan.”

A crease formed between Julie’s drawn brows. “You just said you want to learn about the team. This is the perfect opportunity.”

No, not perfect. She wanted to forget about David, not throw herself into his path. It was bad enough she was obsessing, watching his games on TV, reading about him in the newspaper, and staring at the poster on Laura’s wall. She couldn’t show up at one of his games. She drew in a deep breath and walked back to her desk.

“Kate, you’ve been acting weird since you got back from that conference. You want to tell me what’s going on?”

“There’s nothing going on,” she said quietly.

Julie looked away and Kate wondered what she should do. Her friend knew her better than almost anyone, so telling her nothing was wrong was insulting. And in reality, Kate hated keeping secrets. Maybe if she told her she’d feel better. Confession was good for the soul—right?

Walking to the classroom door and closing it, Kate faced Julie. “You really want to know?”

“I want to help if I can.”

“If I tell you, do you promise not to tell a soul? I mean no one.”

“Absolutely.” Julie leaned forward and folded her arms on the desktop. “This must be a pretty big deal. You’ve never sworn me to secrecy before.”

Bracing her hands on a desk behind her for support, Kate licked her lips. “I don’t know how to say this,” she began. “I had a—well, I sort of had a—fling when I was in California.”

Julie’s mouth hung open and then broke into a huge smile. “You did? Oh. My. God!”

“On my birthday, no less.”

“Happy Birthday to you! Was he amazing?”

“He was a god. Younger than me.”

“Really?” Julie squeaked. “How much younger?”

“Twenty-nine.”

Julie let out a long breath. “You’re killin’ me. What did he look like?”

Reaching out, Kate turned the newspaper and tapped the picture of David. “Like that.”

“Like David Burke! No way!”

Kate glanced at the picture, and the corner of her mouth twitched. “He didn’t just look like David Burke.” She bit her lip and blurted out the truth she still barely believed. “It was David Burke.”

Nothing.

There wasn’t a squeal, a gasp, nothing. Just a blank stare. Kate wasn’t sure, but she was afraid her friend was in shock. “Julie? Are you going to say anything?”

Julie blinked once, looked away and then looked at Kate straight on. “You are my hero,” she said quietly. “David Burke. Mon dieu.” Julie patted the desk next to the one she was sitting in and Kate obliged. “I want the whole story, and if you leave anything out I’ll never speak to you again.”

Thank God.

Kate drew a breath, smiled, and gave up her secret.

*

A little less than an hour later, Kate finished her tale, and this time, it was Julie who drew the breath and crossed her hands over her heart. “How did you keep it to yourself for so long?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t even tell my sister, and you know I tell her everything.”

Julie nodded. “That is, without a doubt, the most romantic story I’ve ever heard.”

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t mean much. I haven’t heard from him since I told him how old I am.”

“No?” she asked.

“I should have known. I mean, why would he want to be with someone my age?” Kate folded her arms on the desk and dropped her head.

“You liked him, didn’t you?”

Kate nodded. “It’s sad. The first man who pays attention to me after Richard and I’m like a lovesick fifteen-year-old. Deep down, I’m still hoping for something—a call, a text. Every time my phone so much as chirps, I hope it’s him.”

Julie reached over and patted her shoulder. “Maybe it will be.”

Kate shook her head and grabbed for the newspaper. “Want to see the other picture of him in this issue of the paper?” She flipped to the gossip page and there was David attached to a very attractive, very young, woman.

Julie scowled when she took in the picture. “Yeah, well, maybe he took a hit to the head that night. I mean she’s beautiful, but she has nothing on you.”

“Are you kidding? The only thing I have on her is about twenty years.”

“Maybe it was a previous commitment?”

“Maybe, but it gets worse.” Kate paused because this part of the story was humiliating—there was no other way to think about it. “Last weekend, I met my agent for brunch, remember?”

Julie nodded, remembering Kate’s trip to New York. “You took her out for her birthday.”

“Right. There I am, on a gorgeous Sunday morning, enjoying my French toast and berries, and who walks into the café? David, with a gorgeous blonde on his arm.”

“Shit. You have the worst luck.”

“Tell me about it. The blonde was Chelsea Connor.”

Julie gasped and Kate nodded. Chelsea was one of St. Andrew’s most well-known alumni. Unfortunately, she was well known for being a society party-girl and a spoiled brat. Kate always thought if the faculty could give senior superlative awards, Chelsea would be voted Most Likely to Marry for Money. “I could see them the whole time. They were there with another couple and I felt like I was going to die. I had to go right past them when I left. I actually tried to cover my face with a coat. It was like a perp walk.”

“Did they see you?”

“He did, she didn’t. He looked terrified, like I was going to start a scene or something.” Kate shook her head and glanced at his picture again. He was so gorgeous it hurt to look at him. “I’m pathetic.” Kate dropped her head into her folded arms once again. “I actually thought there might be something between us. How could I think that? Am I stupid?”

“You aren’t stupid, he is.” Julie rubbed Kate’s shoulder. “So, he’s why you don’t want to chaperone?”

“Uh huh.” She lifted her head and sat up. “I know there will be thousands of people there, but I’ll feel like such a stalker. What if he sees me?”

“You’re going to let the possibility of seeing this man run your life? Are you going to stop going to the city because you might run into him?”

Kate stood and started putting papers into her briefcase. Julie was right—her life couldn’t just stop. Kate was in the city a few times a month, at least. Damn. She hated it when people made sense.

“Our seats are somewhere up in the stratosphere,” Julie added. “It’s not like you’re going to be rink-side.”

Kate nodded. “Fine, I’ll go. How many kids and how many of us?”

“Thirty kids, three adults. One bus. Not so bad.”

“No,” Kate said on a sigh. “Not so bad.”

*

Kate rifled through her drawers, wondering aloud why she cared about what she wore to chaperone a field trip. “What’s the big deal? I’ll wear jeans and a sweatshirt.”

“What are you doing, Mom?”

Kate turned when she heard her daughter’s voice. “Good, you can help me.”

“What’s up?” Laura stepped into the room and her presence overwhelmed Kate.

She still didn’t know when her little girl had grown into a goddess. Long limbed with dark hair and eyes, her daughter was a stunner. She didn’t know why there weren’t more boys calling.

Of course, there could have been boys calling and Kate didn’t know. A lot could have been happening at Richard’s and she wouldn’t have a clue. Laura didn’t tell her much. Things between them were uneasy, because even when the family had been intact, Laura favored her father. Each and every day, Kate mentally slapped herself for letting the creep drive a wedge between her and her daughter.

“I’m chaperoning a trip tomorrow night to the Flyers game and I don’t know how to dress. It’s my first time to a hockey game since I went to The Beanpot in college.”

“The Beanpot?” Laura raised an eyebrow.

“The most intense college hockey tournament ever. B-C, B-U, Harvard, and Northeastern. You’ll probably hear about it when I take you to visit schools in Boston. It’s all about bragging rights.”

“Cool, I didn’t know you were into hockey.”

“I used to be. Although, hockey players annoyed the crap out of me when I was younger. But it was a social thing in college. Everyone went. I remember the arena was freezing.”

“How did you get roped into chaperoning tomorrow?” Laura sat on the bed and fiddled with a pink pullover Kate had tossed on the bed.

“Julie. Someone backed out.” Kate shrugged, wondering herself how she managed to get into such awkward situations. But at least Laura was in a good mood. This was the most civil collection of sentences she’d shared with her daughter in a month. “So, what do you think?” Kate looked at the clothes on the bed.

“I could loan you my jersey,” Laura offered.

“No, thanks. It would probably hang to my ankles.” Even Laura had to chuckle at the image of Kate, nearly a full head shorter, in Laura’s beloved jersey. Of course, Kate thought about the name emblazoned on the back—Burke. No. Absolutely no way she was wearing that.

“Jeans and a sweater should be fine. Where are your seats?”

“We’re in the upper level.”

“Nah, then don’t worry about it. Dress like you’re going to the mall.” Laura seemed nervous, quieter than usual.

“How was your lesson?” This was an easy subject.

Kate loved talking to Laura about her piano classes and Laura loved telling her about it. Her daughter was truly talented, and Kate enjoyed every note she ever heard Laura play.

“I have a new piece for a recital in January. It’s different. I think you’ll really like it. It’s a variation on the Canon in D.”

“I can’t wait.” Kate sat next to her, loving the flow of the conversation. “And school?”

“Not bad. I got a ninety-four on my chemistry exam.” Laura played with her hands, twisting and turning her long, slender fingers like Play-Doh. She stopped to tuck a lock of dark hair behind her ear.

“That’s great. It’s a good thing you have your dad’s talent for science.” Laura’s nervousness was becoming a distraction, and Kate was curious about the real reason Laura wanted to talk. Something told her it wouldn’t be good. “Is something bothering you, honey?”

Laura took a breath and then spoke slowly. “I have a favor to ask you.”

“What?”

Laura’s back stiffened and Kate braced herself. The conversation had been pleasant, but the sudden change in posture made Kate wonder how long it would take for things to turn sour. Every once in a while, they had moments that told Kate their relationship had the potential to be better, but she was always ready for Laura to turn into her father’s daughter.

“I talked to Dad today. He and Marie are going to the Bahamas over Thanksgiving, and they asked if I could go with them.”

She drew an audible breath. She had a special Thanksgiving planned for them, and now Richard and Marie were going to ruin it. “Didn’t they just get home two hours ago?”

“Marie wants to do the beach for a few days. I’d like to go. It will only cost a thousand dollars.”

Kate stood and forced the bile down. She was expected to pay, too? Give up her daughter and pay for it. Turn this around. “Well, since you’re changing plans, I guess I can expect you for Christmas then. Grandma and Grandpa will be thrilled to see you.”

Laura bowed her head and stayed quiet.

“Still planning the ski trip for Christmas?” Kate asked.

Her daughter’s head bobbed up and down.

Once again Richard struck and used Laura to do it. It was underhanded and cruel, but she had to give him credit for being effective. No matter what she did, she found herself competing for her own daughter and losing.

“I see.” Kate rose slowly, stood for a minute, and then excused herself to the bathroom because the burn behind her eyes signaled the inevitable loss of control. Crying would give Richard the upper hand. Again. Looking in the mirror, she rubbed her eyes and wondered what she’d ever done to deserve this treatment. Her husband rejected her, now her daughter. Even a dumb jock didn’t want her.

Perfect.

She threw some water on her face and, trying to appear unaffected, reentered the bedroom. Laura was gone, probably growing impatient while she waited for an answer. Just like her father in that sense. Richard always wanted everything yesterday, doing whatever was necessary to get his way. How did this happen? They had an agreement about holidays, a plan that lawyers had hashed out over the previous months.

However, an agreement meant playing by the rules, and Richard never played by the rules.

“Reality check, Kate,” she mumbled. “Why did you think the divorce would be any different than the marriage?”

Seeing no way around the situation, Kate had to let Laura go, but decided she’d pay for half the trip. She found her purse, dug through and scribbled a check. If Richard wanted to play games, he could pay for half or Laura could use some of her savings for part of the ticket.

When Kate arrived at Laura’s room, her daughter was lying on her bed with the cell phone pressed to her ear.

“She’s not going to let me go.” Kate stood quietly and listened to Laura’s half of the conversation. “I asked, but then she wanted to know about Christmas… yeah, I told her I was still going skiing… I don’t know… my dad said she would give in, but… yeah… I know… God, why can’t she be easier? Marie would be totally cool about it.”

Kate rubbed her hand over her heart. God, this sucked. Logically, Kate knew Marie could afford to be the ‘good guy’. She was an outsider and she didn’t have to make the tough decisions. But hearing Laura say things like that still hurt. Kate hadn’t realized she’d made a sound until Laura turned sharply and swallowed.

“I’ll call you back… uh huh… bye.”

Kate held out the check and cleared her throat. “I decided to give you half. Dad can take care of the other half or… a… um…” It was hard to breathe. “I’ll cosign for you to take the rest out of your savings account. Okay?”

“Half?” Laura’s face twisted. “Um, but Dad was kind of thinking you could pay all of it.”

“He’ll have to rethink that.” Kate rubbed her temple. She felt a headache coming on and she was so damned tired, she spoke without thinking. “If he wants you to go that badly, he can pay for it, or maybe Marie will give you the rest.” It was a petty comment and Kate regretted it the minute it came out of her mouth. Laura went from defensive to angry and neither of them needed a confrontation. Kate took a step away from the door hoping to make a clean getaway. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I can’t fucking believe this.” The words were said under Laura’s breath, but she fully intended Kate to hear them.

Kate turned and stared at Laura, who was now standing in her doorway with her arms folded and her face stone cold. Usually, Laura was more mature than most teens, but at that moment, she was pure attitude. She was a seventeen-year-old girl through and through—part woman, part child. Steeling herself, Kate was determined to maintain some shred of dignity. She took one step toward her daughter and then found herself getting irritated.

The girl was pushing every one of Kate’s buttons. “Excuse me? What did you say?”

Laura tried to backpedal at first, stuttering, but then attacked. “That I can’t believe you won’t give me the money.” Laura paused before she snarled and shot back. “You can afford it.”

“It’s not about the money, Laura. The simple fact is I don’t see why I should have to pay for your father’s whims.”

“He wants me to go on a nice vacation! That’s more than you’re doing.”

Now Kate was pissed. She’d told Richard all about the resort on St. Bart’s. He’d done this—pitted them against each other—on purpose. “Really? Is that what you think?”

“What I think is that you are freaking useless. I need the money, Mom.”

Kate’s blood started to roll. Mostly, she was angry at Richard, but Laura was giving a whole new meaning to the words ‘spoiled brat’. No. She was not going to back down; for the first time, she didn’t recoil at the attack but pressed toward her daughter. Kate was done being a doormat. “The only thing I’ve done that’s ‘useless’ is give in to you at every turn. I shouldn’t even give you half.”

“Oh, my God! Why are you doing this to me?”

“I’m not doing this to you. This is not a punishment. But I have some real issues with the trip.”

“Issues? What issues? It will be fun, and that’s not in your vocabulary? You need to get a life.” Laura snipped. “And to stay out of mine.”

Watching her baby retreat behind the wall she’d built between them, Kate took a deep breath so she wouldn’t lose it. She was fed up with worrying about everyone else, and what people around her, would think.

“You know what?” Kate felt the bile burn her throat. “Maybe you’re right. Now that I’m free, maybe I’ll do just that.”

Kate did her own storming off. Leaving Laura with her mouth hanging open was the best thing she’d done all day.

*

Julie hopped in the Volvo as soon as Kate put the car in park. “What’s going on? What’s the emergency?”

Throwing the car in reverse, Kate backed out of the driveway, shifted hard again, and drove down the street. “My daughter is going to the Bahamas for Thanksgiving.”

“What about the spa trip you planned?”

“I never got to tell her about it.”

“Oh, Kate…”

“After I heard her say she wished I could be more like Marie, I got pretty upset. Then Laura told me I’m useless and I needed to get a life.”

Julie reached out and touched Kate’s arm.

“Screw them all,” Kate murmured.

“Okay… so, why did you pick me up?”

“I need moral support.” Julie braced her hand on the dash as Kate took a turn. “I’m going to do something crazy.”

Julie reached out and gripped Kate’s arm. “What are you going to do?”

“You’ll see.”

*

Five minutes later, when Julie froze at the door of Dragon’s Tattoo Parlor, Kate grabbed her hand and pulled her through.

“Kate, are you sure you want to do this?” Julie whispered.

Kate nodded and smiled as she looked at the multiple-pierced, young man who approached them. “Positive.”