Текст книги "Until You"

Автор книги: Jeannie Moon

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

She always envisioned herself writing romances, because that was who Kate was, that was what she believed in. But one day, she put a gun and a badge in the hands of her heroine and Special Agent Elliot Hunter was born.

The character took her places she never imagined. Elliot was strong, smart, and could put a bullet between a bad guy’s eyes without even trying too hard. She was also soft as goo on the inside, having fallen hard for a gorgeous, and often absent, Navy commander. Kate loved her, because as Richard became more controlling, and more abusive, Elliot became tougher, more capable, and less likely to take anyone’s shit.

It took her a year to finish her first book in the series and get up enough nerve to start querying agents and editors. The rejections came fast and furious. Finally, she found an agent who believed in her and started her on the right path. It took another full year to sell it.

It was a paperback and did better than anyone expected. The book that followed sold even more, and it mushroomed from there. The most recent book, Past Lives, was her fourth hardcover and a bestseller from day one. Kate never imagined people would actually want her autograph.

Pulling out a stack of papers, Kate smiled as she went through the memories. Most of what she found were remnants of Laura’s childhood, old schoolwork or drawings. There were some announcements from school, and finally the file she was looking for. She had no idea how it had gotten here, except that since Richard didn’t think it was terribly important, he probably shoved it in there to get it out of the way. When she tugged on it, a manila envelope came out as well. Never being one to squelch her curiosity, Kate bent the metal clasp and emptied the contents into her lap.

It was a record of betrayal. The envelope was filled with pictures of Richard and Marie. Kate guessed Richard had forgotten it even existed. Most of the photos were taken at social functions Kate could only assume were all the “faculty” meetings he attended over the years. Not being able to help herself, she kept looking and the tears flowed. She wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweatshirt and felt the full weight of her divorce come crashing down. How could she have been so blind? Based on one picture alone, the affair must have been going on for at least seven years. She figured the time based on a shirt Richard wore in one of the pictures. A shirt she’d picked out for him.

Marie hadn’t changed that much. Her hair might have been a little longer, but her ultra-thin frame was highlighted by the fitted black clothing she wore. In every picture, she was hanging on Richard. Kate’s husband. The man Kate wanted to love her more than anything, and now she knew she never had a chance. Richard’s affection was always with Marie and Kate was just there to keep the house—and, for the last few years, pay the bills.

At least the money problems were starting to make sense. If Richard was keeping a mistress for all that time, she understood why money was tight a lot longer than it should have been. Kate gazed at one picture of Richard and Marie at the beach. It looked tropical, like they’d taken a vacation together. Kate had wanted a vacation like that, someplace warm and romantic. They never went. He was always too busy.

Kate wanted to be in love, but more than that, she wanted someone to love her back. She wanted someone to hold her, touch her, protect her. Even though they hadn’t had a marriage in years, she missed the feel of Richard’s body in their bed. How he would unconsciously wrap himself around her during the night and tell her she was beautiful. Kate understood, after he’d asked for the divorce, that he was talking to someone else when he uttered the words in the dark, but she missed them anyway. Even though they belonged to another woman, those words were all she had, and at the time, they gave her hope.

Well, now the photos gave her hope. And leverage. Glancing again at the pictures in her lap, and thinking about her ex-husband’s latest threat, Kate tucked everything back in the envelope and marked it for her lawyer.

Chapter 7

‡

“Goddamn! Would you be careful? My arm hurts like a son of a bitch.” David spat the words at the trainer who was strapping a huge ice pack to the upper part of his right arm.

The trainer grinned and continued applying the ice. David was sure the guy was a closet sadist. How else could anyone get pleasure out of a job like his? He was suffering in silence when one of the media assistants poked her head into the trainer’s room and asked him about doing an interview.

“I’m not doing any fucking interviews.”

“But, Dave, John said—”

He turned on the assistant, who might have been twenty-three. “I don’t give a shit what John said. No interviews!”

The young woman scurried off and the trainer clucked his tongue. “A little hard on her, don’t you think?”

David heard his own low grumble. He had been too hard on her. It would cost him. Any minute their communications director would be reaming his ass for the venom he spewed. He’d have to buy flowers or something to make it up to her.

For the past eight years, his life in the NHL had been enough for him. The games, his teammates, and the women who were always available for company were enough. But now there was a hole inside him, something vacant. He hadn’t ever felt the need to settle down. But since he met Kate, everything had changed. None of it made any sense. For the first time in a long time, David felt like he was missing out on something.

Jay came in and lay on the training table next to David’s. “Rough night?” he asked.

“Fuck off,” David responded.

It had been a bad night, and if he was lucky he’d get away with a slap on the wrist from the NHL. But holy shit, it wasn’t his fault that the Canucks leading scorer liked to admire his own passes instead of watching for other players. So, David hit the kid hard in open ice. It was a clean hit, but it was ugly. After that, their enforcer dropped his gloves and David had his first serious fight in two seasons.

Jay propped himself up on his elbows. “Still thinking about the teacher?”

David draped his unwrapped forearm over his eyes. “Shit.”

“You wanna tell me about it?”

His best friend knew him better than he knew himself. They’d been teammates for seven years, a lifetime in this league. “I can’t get her out of my head.”

“What is it about this one?”

David growled.

“Look,” Jay clapped his hands together and rubbed them quickly, like he was trying to start some internal fire. “Let’s get the hell away from here and go to my house. We’ll pick up some beer and pizza and watch your fight on Sports Center.”

David glanced at the ice pack resting on the knuckles of his right hand. He’d be remembering the fight for a few days. “Annie won’t mind?”

Jay grinned and shook his head. “Nah, I’ll call her.”

David flexed his fingers and rolled his shoulders when the trainer took the ice off his arm and hand. He stood and thought about his friend. Jay had the best marriage of anyone he knew, and his wife was something special. She was practical and down to earth, and she had a job. She worked part-time as an ER nurse at the university hospital. That was how she and Jay met. Annie was on duty when Jay was rolled in with a dislocated shoulder and a concussion. He said he fell in love with her when she told him to stop screaming like a baby and threatened him with restraining straps. For six months, he pursued her with a passion until she finally agreed to marry him.

David sat on the bench in the dressing room and pulled one of Kate’s books out of his bag. This was a problem. He was obsessing over a woman he’d gone out with twice. Jesus. If he wasn’t the captain of this team, he would have been the subject of every joke and jab for the rest of the season. He flipped it to back cover and gazed at the picture. Every inch of him responded to the image. He had to find a way to see her again. For some reason it was important to him that she know he wasn’t a total idiot.

*

David swung his car into a parking space and felt intimidated before he even opened the door. The ivy covered walls and quiet elegance of the old private school screamed money. The students here had made a huge contribution to the team’s annual food drive and had earned an appearance from a member of the team. Originally, one of the rookies was supposed to come, but the kid separated his shoulder in last night’s game and David volunteered. Being a veteran meant he could pick and choose the charities he supported, and he usually represented the team at more high-profile events. This was a simple photo op at a small school, but being the team captain, he had a responsibility to go above and beyond. That, and he owed the community relations director a favor since he bit the head off one of his little minions the other night.

The school was incredible. There were three old, brick buildings, one with a large tower, facing a grassy common. Students walked past him in small groups. If ever there was a perfect image of a prep school, St. Andrew’s was it.

It was foreign to David. Even with his top flight education, he never really felt like he completely fit in at a place like this. At B-C he stayed with his own kind, jocks mostly, kids who were there to learn and play hockey. He partied, he broke heads on the ice, and he pulled good grades.

He looked at the slip of paper, and after a survey of the grounds, still had no idea where he was supposed to be. Normally, he’d have one of the community relations people with him, but no one was available, and, initially, David didn’t see the big deal in taking a ride by himself. Until now. He didn’t know where the hell to go.

He walked over to a group of students and cleared his throat. They turned to him and he noticed they were perfect, all the same… not even a zit.

“Can one of you tell me how to get to Larchmont Hall?”

One of the girls cocked her little blonde head to the side and spoke, although it seemed her mouth barely moved and her words came out with a nasally cadence. She didn’t make eye contact, and once she’d pointed out the building, David ceased to exist. Oh yeah, this was going to be a rip-roarin’ good time.

*

David found the headmaster’s office without too much trouble and the photo session was relatively painless. The headmaster, the teacher, and kids who attended the reception were very pleasant, and he guessed that was why they were involved with the charity. Unlike the kids he met outside, this group seemed to care about something other than themselves.

He signed some autographs and made small talk with everyone about the team and how the season was going. It was standard stuff, and David had to admit he rarely minded these personal appearances. He made a lot of money playing a game for a living. The least he could do was give a little time to the people who supported him and the team.

However, he had no intention of staying forever. The clock on the wall and the lull in the conversation told him it was time to craft his exit. This was a twenty minute visit and he’d already been there for twenty-five. He’d moved away from the group to put on his jacket when something he heard brought him back into the conversation.

“It was a great game.”

“Buffalo was ruthless.”

The Buffalo game. He was going to say something but didn’t. David had tried to block that one out for so many reasons.

“I don’t recall that outing,” the headmaster said stiffly. “Refresh my memory.”

“Honor Society,” the teacher said. “Julie, Kate, and I chaperoned.”

“Ah, yes. Now I remember.” He nodded thoughtfully and turned to David. “Thank you so much for coming. The students were very excited to meet you.”

David barely heard him. All he could think about was the fact that he was at Kate’s school. It had to be her school—either that or he’d stumbled on the coincidence of the century.

“Mr. Burke?” the headmaster said.

“Oh, sorry.” He grasped the elderly gentleman’s extended hand. “It was my pleasure to come. Thank you for your support.”

A genteel nod was the only acknowledgement, and as the headmaster started to retreat into his office, David spoke. “Excuse me, sir? I believe an acquaintance of mine is a teacher here, and I wanted to say hello.” The old man turned and gazed at him over the top of his glasses. “Kate Nicholls?” he said. “Where would I find her?”

The headmaster considered him, and for a minute David wondered if he would get his answer.

He was more than relieved when the craggy voice said, “Room fifteen, across from the library.”

“Thank you. Thank you very much.” Stepping out of the office, David cleared his head just like he did before he stepped on the ice. He took a deep breath, and as he started down the hallway, he hoped she would forgive him.

Chapter 8

‡

Kate crouched down and gripped the drawer handle with both hands. She braced one knee on the floor, squared her shoulders and pulled.

Nothing.

Biting her lip, she did it once again, throwing all she had against the recalcitrant drawer. With a final tug, the drawer flew open and tossed Kate right onto her backside.

“Damn it.” She shook her head and vowed to ask the assistant headmaster, beg if necessary, for a new file cabinet.

The hand that settled under her elbow startled her, but not nearly so much as when she looked up and saw David Burke’s face.

“Nice landing,” he said.

Scrambling to her feet, Kate dusted off her skirt and stepped away from him. He filled up every inch of space in the room, took all the air. He was such a presence. Kate didn’t know how she was still standing. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”

“Which question do you want me to answer first?” he said.

“You know what? It doesn’t matter.” She waved toward the door. “Go away.”

“I have a few things to say and then I’ll go.”

“The bad days always manage to get worse.” Kate pressed her fingers to her temples and massaged, hoping to relieve the tension in her head.

“I’m sorry. I want to explain. When I saw you in New York—”

Kate put her hand up in a stopping motion. “Oh, God. Not New York. Please. I don’t need placating.”

“I’m not. Like I said, I’m explaining. I owe you an apology. I was meeting a friend and his fiancée asked Chelsea to join us without knowing we weren’t seeing each other anymore.”

“I wish you wouldn’t.”

“I wasn’t playing you.”

“Okay, so you’ve explained. Thanks. Bye.”

He didn’t move. He just stood there and stared at the floor, but he was a little too close for comfort. Her desk was an effective barrier, so Kate moved to the other side to put some distance between them.

“I think too much,” he finally said.

What?

Kate raised her eyes and looked at him through the veil of her lashes and actually bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at what he said. “You… excuse me? I find that hard to believe.”

“I’m sure you do. Look, I’m not good at this relationship stuff, and I thought that since you were so fresh off your divorce, you needed time to readjust to being single. And then there’s the age thing…”

Now she was interested. The idiot didn’t even realize he was insulting her. She dropped her head and folded her arms. “There it is.”

“Even you have to admit you were thrown by the age difference. You had to be.”

He had a point, but still, the evidence told another story. “So it had nothing to do with the woman I saw you with, or the other women you’ve been photographed with, over the past month? You didn’t call me because you were afraid I’d get—what—the wrong idea?”

He opened his mouth to speak, stopped himself and then started again. “I don’t know.”

She walked around the desk and faced him. “You thought what? That I was some sad, needy cougar?”

He kneaded the back of his neck, obviously frustrated. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Really?” She walked in a circle and clenched her fists. “I don’t even know how to respond to such stupidity. If you recall, you were the one who invited me out.”

“I know, but you wanted to see me. There’s something special between us.” She looked in his direction and saw the low-slung jeans, the polo shirt that spanned his chest and the leather jacket he hooked over one shoulder. His voice was low, husky, and he was so very handsome. “That’s why you’re upset. And I’m sorry.”

She looked at his handsome face and into his eyes, and Kate felt herself soften. Damn. This was not fair.

“I’m not upset. I’m not…” Her eyes burned because he was right. “This can only end badly and—”

“Kate, please—”

“No.” She stopped him. “You’re right about one thing. I’m not cut out for casual relationships. It’s no one’s fault, it’s just me. We’re too different.”

“I don’t think we are. We were great together.”

“We were great in bed,” she snapped. “It wouldn’t work.”

“It was more than bed and you know it. I like you,” he argued. “Give me the chance to show you.”

“Show me?”

He stuffed his free hand in the front pocket of his jeans and shrugged. “It’s different with you. You make me feel like a… like I don’t know… an adult.”

“Well, see. There’s that forty thing again. Remember?” Kate rubbed her hands over her face. Her midlife delusion, the one that started in California, was about to come crashing to a halt.

“That shouldn’t be an issue,” he said.

“I’m older than you, David. A lot.”

“I know. And it’s not that much.”

“What! Not that much?” She turned. He met her gaze with eyes that possessed a strong sense of purpose and a grin that made her toes curl. “When I had my daughter, I’ll bet you didn’t even have a whisker on your chin.”

He stared at her. His mouth didn’t move. It seemed locked in that silly grin, while his eyes didn’t stray from her face. He’d either gone deaf or gone into shock with the image she’d given him.

“Are you processing any of this?” He nodded and Kate threw up her hands and her voice shot up an octave. “Why are you smiling?”

“I’m trying to figure out why you’re upset.”

“Oh, my God! David, I’m ten years older than you. I have a seventeen-year-old daughter!”

He casually sat on the edge of a desk and put his jacket on the desk next to him.

“You don’t want to date a younger man?”

“It doesn’t bother you?”

“No. Not seeing you again bothers me a lot more.” He closed the distance between them and his hands glided slowly up and down her arm.

Those amazing hands—big, strong, expressive. The warmth that shot through her made her muscles twitch, and David’s eyes sparkled at the response.

“From the minute I met you, I knew something was different about you. It’s the difference between a girl and a woman. It just took me a little while to get my head around it.” The pad of his thumb brushed over her lips. “That’s about you, not your age.”

“I feel like a girl,” she whispered. “I’m scared and confused… I’m not ready for you.”

He dropped his head, resting his forehead on hers. “I shouldn’t have blown you off—for any reason. I’m an idiot.”

“Yeah, you are.”

“Don’t you believe in second chances?”

“Believing in people cost me everything.” She turned away from him.

“I’m not going to give up.” His voice was firm.

“David, I’m sure you thrive on challenge, I get that part of your personality. The competitive part of you wants to win.” Kate swallowed hard and turned to face him. “But I’m not a game to be played. Go back to your girl of the day and leave me out of the mix.”

He stared at her long and hard with his beautiful brown eyes. His expression turned stony, cold, determined. She’d seen the same look when she watched him on the ice. She’d hit a nerve with the “girl of the day” comment.

“Kate, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. That’s no game. I wanted to talk to you because I screwed up. When I’m wrong, I admit it.” He stepped forward, took her face gently in his hands, and kissed her lips. It was feather light, a mere brush of his mouth on hers, but Kate felt a charge that made her head go fuzzy. He pulled back and gazed at her before picking up his jacket. “I hope you’ll be able to do the same when you find out you’re wrong about me.”

Kate licked her lips and tried to maintain her composure as he backed out of the room. What in the world had just happened? Letting out a slow breath, she tried to shake the fog from her brain, but then went to the window and watched him walk across the lawn. The twilight made the whole scene surreal. The fading light on the colorful leaves and the sight of the big man turning and glancing up at her window had her heart pounding against her ribs. He waved; she stepped away, determined not to encourage him.

Encourage him? Not likely. It was over; David was never coming back. This was a pity trip, something to help him feel better. Kate shook it off and tried to forget how his lips felt against hers, how his hands felt warm on her skin. She had to forget it all.

*

Richard kept his fingers steepled so his attorney would know he was serious. Intimidation was one of Richard’s most effective tools. As a rule, people didn’t like him, and he never really thought about it. He used his arrogance to his advantage, bullying people to do what he wanted.

“I know what she’s worth. I have no doubt that she can afford to pay the child support and a settlement.”

“Richard, I understand the child support, but two million dollars? How do you justify asking for such an amount?”

“If I hadn’t taken charge of raising Laura, Kate wouldn’t have had time to write, much less promote her books. It’s all she’s ever really been interested in anyway, and I feel that the time I spent with our daughter should be recognized.”

“Kate isn’t exactly the picture of a literary diva or the neglectful mother. It’s going to be difficult to convince a judge that you deserve two million on top of the support you’re asking for.”

“I want you to try. I heard there’s a new contract in the works, her current book’s been on the major bestseller lists since September, and negotiations are taking place with several film studios about turning her last book into a movie. The movie based on the first book is being cast as we speak. If I do get full custody of Laura, and I expect I will, I’ll require the support to keep her in the style to which she’s become accustomed.”

“Okay, but during our last meeting her lawyers gagged when I mentioned the amount. One actually laughed.”

Richard stood, pulled up to his full height, and ran a hand over his blond hair. “I suggest you start working on it. Please call me when you know about the hearing.”

Richard shook the attorney’s hand, stuffed a file in his briefcase, and left the office.

Once he was on the street, he thought about his ex-wife. Kate was on the verge of signing a four book contract worth five million dollars. She wouldn’t see all that money at once, but Richard wanted to make sure he got a piece of it. Since getting his hands on her family’s money hadn’t worked, he figured he was entitled to it. He’d gotten over the fact that she wrote such crap when her books started to make them rich, but Kate herself was too much work.

However, marriage to her had been profitable.

*

David doubted if anything was more relaxing than a Sunday afternoon watching football. It was too bad he wasn’t relaxed. He sat on the couch in Jay’s den watching the half-time report while Jay wrestled his twin toddlers down for their naps. It wouldn’t be easy. They liked hanging out with Daddy and Uncle Dave and Uncle Cam too much to sleep.

He heard squealing coming from upstairs and he knew Jay would be playing with the kids for a while. Looking through the French doors, he saw Cam on his cell phone, probably dumping his latest girlfriend. The guy had two difficult ex-wives, so even if he met the right woman, she wouldn’t have a chance, which made David think about his situation with Kate. He just didn’t know what to do about it. It made his head hurt, so he refocused on the TV, and about thirty seconds into the scoring recap, Annie Hemmings sat next to him on the couch. He’d been waiting for this.

“So,” she began. “Tell me about the teacher.”

“I’ve been here two whole hours and you haven’t said anything. You’re losing your touch.” David took a pull on his beer and accepted the fact he wasn’t getting out of talking to her about Kate. And if he was honest with himself, he’d admit he needed her take on what had gone down.

“I figured if you had a beer or two I’d get more information. Jay said you’re obsessed. That’s new for you.”

“Thanks.” No surprise that his best friend’s wife had something to say about his reputation.

“You can’t possibly be offended, Dave.” She picked up Jay’s beer and took a sip. “You have no attention span when it comes to women.” She poked his shoulder like an annoying little sister. “What’s different about this one?”

What wasn’t different about her? He leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees and tried to grab onto the one thing that made her special. “She didn’t care who I was.”

Annie took another sip and considered what he said. “That makes no sense.”

“I said that badly.” He savored the taste and the chill of the liquid as another swallow of beer slid down his throat. “She wanted to know all about me, the person, not the hockey player. My career is just something I do. For her, it’s not who I am.”

Annie leaned back, sinking into the sofa and smirked. David could see she understood.

“So,” she began, “You like her because she’s not impressed?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s part of it.” David scrubbed his face with both hands, exasperated, trying to get a handle on what he wanted to do about it. “She’s got this life that has nothing to do with me. She’s successful, educated. She doesn’t—”

“Ha!” Annie cut him off. “She doesn’t need you.” Pulling her legs under her, Annie leaned toward David. “You’re attracted to a woman who doesn’t need you to be somebody. That’s freakin’ awesome.”

“How do you figure that?” It was the kind of revelation that could change the way a person led his life and David felt his mood sink. Vulnerability was not something he was used to, but he’d known from the start that Kate could cause him a mountain of trouble if he let her in.

“What’s her name?”

“Kate.”

“She’s a teacher?” Annie had officially launched into the third degree.

“And a writer.”

“She’s hot. That’s what she is.” Cam entered the room and flopped in the big arm chair.

“Shut up, Cam.” Annie laughed as David scowled. “What has she written? Anything I’d know?”

David couldn’t help himself, he smiled and took a sip from his beer. “Uh huh. Her new book is called Past Lives.”

“What?” Annie drew in a deep breath. “You’re talking about Katherine Adams?”

David nodded and rolled the beer between his palms, knowing he’d blown her mind sufficiently.

Annie was actually a little star struck. “I can understand why she intimidates you.”

David never thought of himself as intimidated, but maybe he was… a little.

Jay walked in the room and leaned on the arm of the sofa right near his wife. “So you figure out what’s wrong with our boy?”

Annie smiled and patted David’s leg. “Yup. He’s scared, and it’s almost understandable.”

Jay laughed. “That’s pretty much what I figured.”

“You’re such a girl, Burke.” Cam took a mouthful from the bottle and shook his head. “Man up and go after her.”

They were having a lot of fun at his expense and he’d have been pissed off if Annie was wrong, but she wasn’t. On some level, he was afraid.

“I’m glad you three are enjoying this.”

“David, you had to grow up sometime. You finally realized that the girls you’ve been dating aren’t right for you.” Annie leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

He’d love for Kate to meet Annie. But David had yet to show her he wasn’t a complete ass. Another photo had made the newspaper; a picture of him and Chelsea that was taken months ago, and he kept wondering when he would get himself out of the gossip columnists’ cross hairs. Each time he’d seen Kate since California, he’d managed to piss her off, upset her, or both. He needed time to figure this out, but if he waited too much longer he’d be out of the game—for good.

*

Kate, Julie, and three other teachers emerged from the theater chatting about the play and whether or not the lead had pulled it off. The banter went back and forth with all of them talking at once, hands going, voices rising. It was verbal chaos. Kate and her friends did that often. She didn’t know how they actually had conversations with everyone talking over each other, but they seemed to manage every time they got together. They were all opinionated, as most teachers were, but Kate recognized it was these people, Julie especially, who had gotten her through the past year. Without them, she might not have made it.

“I don’t know,” Julie said. “I saw Angela Lansbury do the part in New York and I think she ruined it for me.”

The others agreed that a comparison with Angela Lansbury was unfair, but understood why Julie thought that way. Angela Lansbury was a theater goddess.

Kate loved these nights in the city. The Forrest Theater ran a wonderful schedule, and she appreciated she could see good theater without having to travel to New York. Several times a year Kate, Julie, and a few of their friends arranged to see a show and have dinner after. They made a quick dash between the theater and the nearby pub, and were lucky to get a table, considering it was a Saturday night and the bar was famous for its karaoke.

They settled in and ordered drinks and appetizers. Taking in her surroundings, Kate reveled in the atmosphere. Everyone was happy. A drunk bachelorette stood at the microphone being cheered on by her equally drunk friends. Men were surveying the crowd to see who was an easy target, and she and her friends were still arguing about the play. Looking down at her menu, Kate couldn’t decide what to order. In England, she became a fan of good pub fare. One thing she was grateful to her parents for was the opportunity they gave her to study abroad before she married Richard. She spent a summer at Oxford and it was one of the best memories of her adult life. One year later she was married, and the nightmare was just beginning.