The Sweet Touch

by Madelaine Grant

  Kate wondered how much to reveal. “This is very new and I don’t know where it’s going. Maybe nowhere. I don’t want to count on anything. Besides, I’m struggling with the whole idea of any kind of romance. After my disastrous marriage to Jared, I promised myself never to get serious again. Now I’m more confused than ever.” She paused for a breath. “I’ve only known the man a very short time.”

  “I see,” Laura said slowly. “I think Reid must’ve sensed that you were withdrawing from him. You really should’ve told him the whole story. Doesn’t he deserve to know why you’re rejecting him?”

  Shocked by Laura’s words, Kate was silent. Should she have said anything about Dan to Reid? She and Reid hadn’t been dating. They’d just been close friends who trained together. But maybe she should’ve mentioned she was seeing someone else. Thoroughly perplexed, she replied, “Perhaps you’re right. I don’t know. Anyway, I’m hoping Reid will start dating soon. He was spending all his free time with me and that’s not good for him.”

  “I’ll bet Reid doesn’t see it that way. When you have strong feelings for someone and they push you away, it’s hurtful unless you know the reason. If you tell Reid you’ve met another man and that’s why you can’t train with him all the time, he’d understand. It’s certainly better than being in the dark. If it were me, I’d like to know.”

  Laura sounded so definite. Was she right? Kate wasn’t sure. All she could think of was how awkward it would be to confront Reid again with this information. “Let me think about it.”

  After the call ended, Kate tried to visualize several possible scenarios. She could call Reid and talk things over with him, maybe mention she’d recently met someone. Or she could apologize for not being upfront from the beginning. She imagined each of these possibilities but couldn’t come to any conclusion. Feeling frustrated and worried, she decided to watch a yoga video and exercise. Moving around usually cleared her head.

  After a relaxing bath, Kate was in a better mood. She’d wait until Monday to have that conversation with Reid. A face-to-face talk might be best, she finally decided. Phone calls tended to give mixed signals. She wanted to be clear and explain her reasons for spending less time with him. Also, she’d thank him for all the training tips he’d shared with her over the last three years. If he understood the situation, perhaps they could continue to train once or twice a week.

  In the next instant, Kate wondered if this would send the wrong message to Reid. Pressing her lips together at this last thought, Kate decided to wait until Monday and see how she felt.

  Her phone rang again just as she was ready to climb into bed. Checking the ID she saw it was Greg. Her brother rarely phoned this late. Was something wrong?

  “Hi, Greg. Didn’t expect to hear from you this late. Everything all right?”

  “Fine. Everything’s fine. I talked to Stacy earlier and she asked me to call you. She’s invited Mom and Dad to brunch on Sunday at her home. We’ll be joining her with the kids, and I was hoping you could be there. She suggested noon which is good for us. I know you usually have presentations on Sundays. Are they later in the day? We’d love to see you.”

  “I’d love to see all of you, too,” Kate replied. “I can probably drop in for half an hour. I need to be at the Creekwood Mall at one thirty to set up.” An irritating situation, she thought. Stacy loved to dream up events that were inconvenient to everyone but herself. Realizing that was unfair, she said, “I know it’s been a while since I’ve seen everyone. Unfortunately, this is my busy season.” She hated to disappoint Greg, something Stacy must’ve counted on.

  “Whatever time you can give us would be great. Allison and Taylor are looking forward to seeing you, too. Until Sunday then.”

  After the call ended, Kate muttered a few choice oaths. Her sister would probably serve the usual brunch fare – store-bought quiches, prepared fruit salad, an assortment of baked goods, plus cocktails. Realizing this, Kate would have to pack her own lunch and try to squeeze in time before the presentation to eat. Or she could prepare several raw food appetizers, bring them to the brunch and consider that her meal. Yes, that might work. Especially since her cooking class on Saturday afternoon would concentrate on appetizers and soups.

  Buoyed by this last thought, she climbed into bed, determined to have a good night’s sleep.

  ~ ~ ~

  Kate rushed home after school on Friday. She needed to get her run in, shower, wash her hair, and choose something casual to wear. If there was extra time, she’d start prepping for her cooking class on Saturday afternoon. With Dan taking more of her time on the weekends, she’d have to find new ways of managing all the myriad activities of her life.

  Could she handle everything and still spend time with him? Life had definitely been simpler before they met. As she changed into running gear she considered the pros and cons of seeing Dan. In her mind she visualized two columns. Listing the pros first, she thought about how good she felt in his arms. He’d definitely helped with her presentation to the Brookhouse chefs. Her mother’s birthday party was sure to be a success with Dan in charge. She looked forward to seeing him. He’d also invited her to ski in Colorado, which was bound to be a fun vacation.

  She left the house and started her run while she contemplated the cons of this relationship. She had less time for her own pursuits. Fear of getting over-involved and losing her freedom was ever present. She’d probably lost her close friendship with Reid due to Dan’s presence in her life.

  Thinking about those two columns, she realized this was a hopeless pursuit. Life couldn’t be placed neatly into those sorts of parameters. Besides she didn’t have to make any decisions right away. This last thought gave her peace of mind. Now she could look forward to seeing him.

  Promptly at six thirty the bell rang. Kate hurried to the front door. Dan stood on the other side casually dressed in khaki shorts, black tee shirt, and leather sandals. He looked more than good. With an inward groan she admitted that she was thrilled to see him. “Hi Dan. C’mon in for a minute. I’m almost ready.”

  “I can see you’ve had your run,” he said walking inside. “You look fit and cheerful.” Then he drew her close for a kiss and a long embrace. “This is what I’ve missed most. Even though I’ve been busy every minute this past week, I kept thinking about you. You’re getting to be a habit.” He nuzzled the side of her neck.

  Raising her head she cocked it to one side. “Is that good or bad?”

  “It depends. Right now it’s pretty good. Time will tell.”

  “That sounds prophetic.” She leaned against his firm chest and breathed in the scent of freshly-shaved man—a potent turn-on. Again she had the sense that she could easily spend the rest of her life being held in his arms. What was it about him that caused such a reaction? His strong influence was mystifying and unsettling. Stepping away she sought to put distance between them. “I was printing recipes for my class tomorrow. Give me a minute and I’ll finish the last of my handouts.”

  “Can I help?” he asked.

  “If you like.” She headed to the small office opposite her bedroom. “I try to do some of the work for my class the evening before.”

  He followed closely behind her. “That makes sense.”

  Stepping inside she walked to the printer and pressed the button. “This is the last page. Then I have to collate everything.”

  “That’s easy enough.” He picked up one of the pages already printed. “Ah, these are some of the appetizers.” Reading over the recipes he said, “The pâtés look interesting. I see you have a carrot top and basil pesto. That’s unusual. And the zucchini hummus sounds intriguing. I wish I could take the class tomorrow. However, I do have to spend the day with Ethan. Maybe I could get a private lesson sometime?”

  Kate finished printing and put the stack on the table next to her desk. Turning she gave him a quizz
ical look. “Exactly when do I have time for private lessons?”

  He started laughing and pulled her close to whisper in her ear, “I’ll compensate you well. And I’ll even buy all the ingredients.”

  Glancing up at him she retorted, “You’ll just have to wait your turn. I’m trying to figure out how to manage my life and still see you. It’s not easy.”

  “Is that so?” he challenged. “My life is probably just as busy as yours.”

  “But you have a staff to handle things. It’s me trying to do everything I need to do all on my own.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “Okay, I see your point. Let me think about ways I can help.” He released her and said, “Let’s get these collated so we can head out for dinner.”

  ~ ~ ~

  The restaurant that Dan had chosen was situated right on the beach. A wide wraparound deck held tables with brightly colored umbrellas. Inside the décor was nautical with prints of seashells and sea creatures.

  “The owners, Matt Newsome and his wife, Andrea, are friends from Tampa. They have a similar restaurant there and I’ve been urging them to expand into this area. It’s a casual place but their menu is pretty sophisticated. I checked and made sure they had the kind of food you could enjoy. Do you prefer dining outside or inside?”

  “Definitely outside,” she exclaimed glancing around. “This must be a new place. Did it just open?”

  “About a month ago.” He caught the eye of the hostess who hurried over. “We’d like an outside table, preferably with a water view.”

  “Certainly, Mr. Brookhouse.”

  Kate wondered how the young woman knew his name. Then again, he was a prominent figure in the restaurant business.

  “Is this satisfactory?” The hostess glanced at Dan as she showed them to a table overlooking the gulf.

  “Fine. When you see Matt or Andrea, let them know I’m here. I’d love to chat with them.”

  “Of course. I’ll send a server over to take your order.”

  Kate raised her eyebrows and gave Dan a quizzical look. “Well, you must be a celebrity. I’ve never been given that kind of treatment.”

  He waved a dismissive hand without commenting. “How do you like the ambiance? The place has a rustic old Florida look.”

  She breathed in the salty tang of gulf waters and the scent of garlic and tomatoes. “This is a spectacular view. They were smart to put those heaters around. People can dine outside even when the weather’s chilly.”

  A young man came over with water, silverware, and menus. “Welcome to the Sand Dunes. My name is Jeff and I’ll be your server this evening.”

  Kate opened the menu and glanced at the large selection of salads. “This is my kind of place.”

  “I thought you’d approve.” Looking pleased, Dan placed his hand over hers. “Have you given any thought to our Colorado vacation?”

  “Uh huh.” Kate smiled. There was something so essentially male and rugged about him. Imagining the two of them skiing down the mountains, enjoying the crystal clear air and the white sting of snowflakes against their skin, she wanted that experience more than anything. “I think it would be fun.” A small, niggling voice inside protested but Kate refused to listen.

  He let out a relieved sigh. “Good. It’s only a few weeks away. Can’t wait to have you around for more than the few hours here and there.”

  Before she could reply, an attractive woman with pale blonde hair and a deep tan appeared at their table. “Dan,” the woman exclaimed. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  Standing at once, Dan gave the woman a hug. “Andrea, good to see you. I want you to meet someone special.” He turned to Kate. “Kate, this is my good friend, Andrea Newsome.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” Andrea smiled and shook hands with Kate. “You’re the vegetarian, I believe. Dan wants us to treat you with great care.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Kate protested. “I glanced at your menu and there’s plenty to choose from.”

  “Where’s Matt?” Dan inquired.

  “Stuck in the kitchen as usual,” Andrea replied. “He’ll be out later. I have to give him a hand. One of our chefs is sick so it’s crisis time.” She waved and headed back inside.

  Dan sat down with a thoughtful expression. “That’s the problem with this business. You depend on people to show up and sometimes they don’t. That’s why it’s wise to have family involved. At least you know you can count on them in an emergency.”

  Kate hadn’t considered that fact. “I guess you’re right. My dad has a construction firm and my brother works for him. Eventually Greg will take over once my dad retires. Even my mother pitches in occasionally when someone in the office is on vacation. When I was in high school I often helped out.”

  “So what do you want to order?” Dan studied the menu. “I might try one of the seafood salads. And the chowders look good, too.”

  “The quinoa and kale stuffed tomato salad looks marvelous. I’m ordering that plus the vegetable chowder.”

  They were halfway through their meal when Kate noticed a familiar male figure. Accompanying him was an obviously pregnant auburn-haired woman holding a baby in one arm. With her other hand she herded two small children along. Kate’s breath caught in her throat as her former husband and his family headed their way. Would they notice her? She fervently hoped not.

  “What is it?” Dan noted her stunned expression.

  “Nothing important,” she muttered turning her head to gaze at the serene view. “Someone I once knew is coming our way. I don’t really want to get involved.”

  “Ah, your past is intruding. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” He squeezed her hand in a supportive gesture.

  Why was she upset at seeing Jared? She’d met him numerous times at various family functions. He and her brother, Greg, were still close friends. Making a determined effort at composure, she said, “I’m startled, that’s all. My ex-husband is not one of my favorite people.”

  Dan nodded. “That’s understandable.”

  The couple and the children drew closer. It was the woman who noticed Kate first. She stopped and said something in a low tone to her husband. He looked at Kate and appeared to be taken aback for a moment. Then he pulled himself together.

  “Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Didn’t expect to find you here.” Jared Wilson looked at Kate and then at Dan. “Glad to see you’re getting out and about.”

  Letting out a resigned sigh, Kate said, “Hi Jared.” She looked at the woman. “Nice to see you, Elaine. The children are really growing.” Turning to Dan she added, “These are old friends.” Turning back to Jared she said, “Jared, this is Dan Brookhouse, a business acquaintance.” She didn’t bother introducing the others.

  Dan nodded politely but didn’t attempt to shake hands. He had the distinct feeling Kate was not eager for more interaction.

  “Well, see you around,” Jared said before moving away.

  Relieved, Kate sat back in her chair. “Sorry if I seemed impolite. Jared can be really annoying at times. He’s always letting me know how wealthy he’s become and how many patients he has in his practice. Maybe he’s trying to impress me or something.”

  “Probably. Were you the one who instigated the divorce?”

  She nodded. “Yes, and I’ve never regretted it.”

  “That’s why he needs to tell you how successful he is. It’s his ego, that’s all,” Dan said with a knowing expression.

  “Whatever, I don’t really care.” She returned to her salad. “Seeing him always makes me think how stupid I was to marry him in the first place. Guess I’ll never forgive myself for that dumb decision.”

  Dan listened carefully to Kate’s words. “Maybe it wasn’t such a dumb thing to do. Look how much you learned from that experience. Everyone makes mi
stakes in life and regrets something from the past. You just have to acknowledge that very human error and move on.”

  Kate looked at him for a long moment. His message was pragmatic and clear. “You’re right. I shouldn’t let seeing him bother me. Thanks for that wise advice.”

  Smiling, Dan reached out a hand and touched her face. “That’s my girl.”

  “Ah, here’s the man himself.” Dan stood and gave Matt Newsome a hug. “I hoped we’d be able to see you before we left. Matt, say hello to Kate Bromley. She’s the young woman who’s teaching my staff about raw foods.”

  Matt shook hands with Kate. “That’s all he’s been talking about for the past two weeks. You’ve made quite an impression on my old friend.”

  “Thanks, Matt. You don’t have to be that honest.” Looking at Kate, Dan added, “He’s the friend from high school who talked me into hitch-hiking to California. Some trip that was.”

  “Now don’t blame me.” Matt’s tone was defensive. “You were in it from the beginning. If it hadn’t been for Doug and Derek, we’d have made it.”

  “Yeah, my two bratty younger brothers blew the whistle on us.”

  “By the way, how’re the guys doing? Are they still working for you?” Matt inquired.

  “Doug’s settled in the Jacksonville area and Derek’s in Tallahassee. They’re both doing a great job for the company. My dad’s at the Tampa office and oversees several restaurants in that area. He’s talking about retiring but I won’t let him,” Dan said in a decided tone. “This is a fantastic place. And the food’s excellent, too. You’ve a winner here. Remember, I told you it would work.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not easy commuting back and forth. And getting competent help is always a problem.” Matt sighed and rubbed a tired hand through his short, sandy hair. “Listen, I have to get back to work. It was good meeting you, Kate. And you stay out of trouble, Dan.” He headed back to the kitchen.