“I hope he knows what he’s doing.” Zach’s words carried a warning.
“Syd is a girl. A stunning brunette. Smart. Not at all your type.”
He chuckled. “I’ve really missed you picking on me. I wish you’d called sooner.”
“I’ve been in touch with Mom and Dad.”
“I heard. They also said you wouldn’t tell them where you are or where you’ve been,” he pointed out.
“I needed some time.”
“Say the word, Kate. I’ll beat the bastard up for you.” Zach clearly believed her time-out was about the aborted wedding.
She laughed at the big-brother posturing, the warm, familiar feeling it gave her. “It’s so good to hear your voice.”
“I mean it. If it will make you feel better, I’ll mess up his pretty face.”
“Ted would probably file assault and battery charges against you.”
“I’d risk it.”
“So not worth it to me. He’s done enough damage.” She’d been stupid and wouldn’t be again.
Zach let loose with some colorful language before saying, “So you’re not over him.”
“Actually, I am. And to put a finer point on it, I don’t think there was anything to get over.”
“That’s a little subtle for me. You’re going to have to spell it out for those of us who are touchy-feely challenged.”
“I never loved him.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Because everything she felt for Cabot was so much clearer, so much stronger. If she had truly loved Ted, that wouldn’t be possible. “Catching Ted kissing another woman at our wedding was a blessing. Fortunately it happened before we exchanged vows. Marrying him would have been a mistake. A disaster.”
“You’re not just being spunky, are you?” he asked skeptically.
“Spunky? Did you seriously just call me that?”
“No.”
“It sure sounded that way,” she teased. “But the answer is no. I’m not putting on an act. I truly believe he did me a huge favor.”
“That’s a new one.” Zach’s tone was wry. “Cheating as a good deed.”
“I’m telling the truth. Cross my heart.”
“I’m glad that your heart is unscathed,” he said fervently.
That wasn’t completely true. Her ex hadn’t touched it, but the same couldn’t be said of Cabot. The only question was how much damage he’d done.
“I’m fine. Really,” she emphasized.
There was the slightest meaningful pause on the other end of the line. “That sounded as if you’re trying too hard to convince me.”
“Trust me, Zach. Ted is so yesterday.” Cabot was today. Probably tomorrow. And as many days after that as there were until summer was over.
“So, are you ready to come home?” he asked.
“No.”
“Wow. Whatever beach you’re sitting on must be truly awesome.”
Thinking about the nearby cabins with kids and camp counselors, Kate laughed. “You couldn’t be more wrong about that.”
“Okay. But wherever you are, it’s obvious that you needed a break.”
“Yes.” She remembered that day at the church, catching her fiancé kissing one of her bridesmaids and feeling the need to run from the betrayal she’d seen with her own eyes. Maybe if she hadn’t been working so hard for so long she wouldn’t have run. But she simply didn’t have the reserves to rationally deal with what he’d done to her. “I don’t think I even realized how much I needed to get off the wheel until I got to Blackwater Lake—”
After a very long silence on the line, Zach asked, “Where are you?”
She hadn’t told anyone where she was; she’d just wanted to be alone to lick her wounds without an audience. Or press. She’d only told them she was okay and would be back at the end of the summer. That was so close now that keeping her whereabouts secret didn’t seem to matter anymore. In two weeks she’d be headed home because camp would be over and her verbal contract with Cabot satisfied. Emotionally not so much, but the man knew what he wanted and it didn’t include her.
“I’m in Montana,” she told her brother.
“Good Lord.” And then he asked, “What in the world are you doing there?”
Trying not to be a romantic fool over a handsome rancher, she thought. “I’m keeping busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Oh, this and that.”
“Well, there’s something you need to know. It’s about work. Someone has been trying to get in touch with you—”
She heard a knock on her cabin door. Although it was a little late, it was probably one of the kids. Sometimes one of them wandered over with a question. “Hold on, Zach.”
She opened the door, but there was no child there. “Cabot.”
“Hi,” he said. Then he saw the phone and said, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t.”
In her ear she heard a sharp tone in her brother’s voice. “Who’s there, Kate? Is that a man?”
“Come in,” she invited Cabot. Into the phone she said, “I have to go.”
“Don’t hang up. I want to know what’s really going on with my little sister.”
“I’m fine. Stand down. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. We’ll talk then.”
“Kate—”
She hit the end button and met Cabot’s gaze. “So, what’s up?”
He nodded at her phone, which vibrated in her hand. “Someone from home?”
“Just my brother.” She glanced at the caller ID and confirmed her guess. After hitting Ignore, she shut the thing off. “I’ll talk to him later.”
Zach no doubt had a lot of questions and she owed her family answers, but now wasn’t a good time. She would see them all soon enough. Right at this moment she was just so darn happy to see Cabot. It felt like forever since she’d seen him, his handsome face, the small smile that teased the corners of his mouth.
“Are you going to let the bugs in?” she asked, pointedly looking at the open doorway where he was still standing.
“I won’t be here that long.” His intense expression was completely at odds with his words.
“Okay.” Disappointment pressed against her heart. “Then why are you here?”
“I saw your light still on.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the book on the bed. “Yeah. I was reading.”
He shoved his fingertips into the pockets of his jeans. “Just wanted to let you know that I had a talk with Ty. About you leaving.”
“And?”
“To be honest, he got a little defensive. Said he’s not a little kid and everyone should stop treating him like one. He knows the campers and counselors are all leaving when summer’s over.” She saw a troubled look in his eyes when he added, “But he’s going to ask if he can email you. To stay in touch.”
“Of course he can. I’d love to hear from him.” And you, she thought. With the end of her stay so near, she tried to memorize every line on his face. The shape of his nose. The strong, handsome curve of his jaw.
“Okay. Like I said, I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn’t worry.” But he still didn’t close the door.
“Was there something else?”
This was killing her. So near, yet so far. She probably shouldn’t have asked him if he was going to miss her, but she had. And all he would tell her was that it went without saying. Well, she wanted to hear him say it. Better yet, she wished he would ask her to stay.
“No. Nothing else,” he said.
A jab of rejection pierced her heart, proving what she’d thought earlier—that it likely wasn’t getting out of Blackwater Lake completely unscathed.
“Okay, then. You should proba
bly get back to Ty. I know you don’t like leaving him alone up at the house too long.”
“He’s not at the house.” His voice was on the ragged side. “He’s sleeping over at C.J.’s.”
“Oh. Well...” He had nowhere he had to be. But he didn’t want to be here. She moved to the door and started to close it. This was making her crazy, and she wished he would just go. “Anyway, it’s getting late.”
“Yeah. A rancher’s day starts early.”
“Thanks for letting me know about your talk with Ty.”
He nodded but still didn’t back out of the doorway. Conflict sparked in his eyes, an intense expression that revealed a battle raging inside him.
“Cabot?”
“Oh, hell—”
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Then he pulled her into his arms before turning to back her against the wall. At the same time he took her mouth and pressed his lower body to hers, letting her know what he wanted. His arms cushioned her back and her heart soared with the knowledge that he was protecting her. He’d lost control enough to kiss the living daylights out of her but was still taking care of her. Heat radiated through her, setting fire to her nerve endings as she kissed him back.
His mouth nibbled over her jaw and down her neck, where he touched his tongue to that spot just beneath her ear. Then he blew on the moist, sensitive place and shot tingles straight to her female core.
“I want you, Kate.” The words vibrated against her skin. “I tried not to—”
“I’m glad you’re here now.” She shouldn’t be so happy he’d failed, but she couldn’t help it. “I want you, too.”
His gaze searched hers for several intense moments. Both of them were breathing fast, and the harsh sound filled the tiny cabin with escalating need. Then they both moved at the same time, pulling off shirts, undoing buttons, removing pants. He’d pulled a square packet from his jeans and she recognized it as protection.
“Didn’t trust your willpower?” she asked breathlessly.
“Not with you.” Then he handed it to her before swinging her into his arms.
“Always be prepared?” she teased.
“Yeah, I’m a real Boy Scout. I really did want you to know I’d had a talk with Ty.” Intensity simmered in his eyes. “I just wasn’t sure I could say that and keep walking. If I didn’t...I don’t take chances.”
“And you were taking me for granted?” She lifted one eyebrow teasingly, questioning.
“Not really. Never let a condom go to waste. I figured we could always wait for the sun to come up and use it to start a campfire.”
“So you weren’t sure about me.”
“No. Yes.” Need swirled in his eyes. “Am I wrong?”
“Absolutely not.”
He took a couple of steps over to her bunk and gently placed her there. It was wider than a single bed, but not by a lot, so when he joined her they were skin to skin. His big hand slid over the curve of her waist and down her thigh, squeezing gently. Then he moved to her abdomen and down lower while she held her breath in anticipation.
When he touched her, she thought she would go up in flames. Reaching out a hand to the scarred pine nightstand, she found the condom and handed it over.
“Now, Cabot—” She was so breathless, the words were nearly trapped in her throat.
“I know, honey.”
After putting it in place, he rolled over her and settled his weight on his forearms before slowly entering her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he thrust into her, then matched his rhythm. He drove her higher and higher and too soon she cried out as release roared through her.
Another push, then two and he groaned, pulling her even tighter against him. They held each other for what seemed like forever as their breathing slowed and shock waves subsided.
“Oh, my—” She smiled up at him, enveloped in a warm glow.
“That goes double for me.” He kissed her softly, tenderly, then levered himself off. “Hold that thought.”
Completely spent, she dropped her forearm over her eyes as he walked into the tiny bathroom. Several moments later he turned off the light and returned to her bed. He lifted her enough to turn down the sheet and blanket, then slid in beside her and pulled the covers over them, curling himself around her.
The last thought she had before falling asleep in Cabot’s arms was that she’d finally found the place she belonged.
* * *
The next morning Kate woke up alone in her bunk. She remembered Cabot gently easing out of the bed, trying not to wake her. She also remembered that he didn’t kiss her goodbye, not even a soft touch of lips anywhere. So much for belonging.
As she showered, brushed her teeth and prepared for the day, she tried to shake the feeling of dejection, of giving up. She’d been so darn happy when he couldn’t walk out the door last night without kissing her and happier than she could ever recall being when he’d made love to her. But she couldn’t bury her head in the sand any longer. That wasn’t love.
What they’d done in her bed was nothing more than a physical act between a man and woman. It was just sex—really fantastic sex, but without any complicated emotions—and she knew that because even casual feelings would have compelled him to kiss her goodbye. He might as well have left money on the nightstand beside the empty condom packet.
That part wasn’t fair, but she wasn’t in the mood to be fair this morning. She was crabby. And how could she have been so starry-eyed and spineless last night? The man had come prepared to sleep with her, for goodness’ sake.
But that wasn’t fair, either. She’d seen the conflict in his eyes and had felt the tension in his body. She felt a teeny, tiny bit of satisfaction that he’d given in, that she was a temptation he couldn’t resist. At least last night. This morning he’d resisted her just fine.
She recalled their conversation in his bed the other time and wondered if he hated himself this morning.
She gave her appearance one last look in the mirror and thought at least it had been good to talk to her brother last night. By now the whole family would know she was in Blackwater Lake, Montana. That was okay because she wasn’t hiding anymore.
She joined the other counselors for a busy morning of relay races, scavenger hunt and ceramics. When she walked into the kitchen for a cup of coffee just before lunch, she was hot, sweaty and covered with dried clay.
Caroline was stirring a big pot of soup and glanced up. “You look like the mud wrestler who lost. Or did someone just pull you out of quicksand?”
“Ceramics are not my best event.” She sighed and looked down at the dried splotches all over her front. “Those pottery wheels can get away from you if you’re not careful.”
Caroline grinned. “Happens with every group. Always someone who doesn’t pay attention and that stuff goes everywhere.”
“And I’m a horrible warning.” Kate grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured coffee into it. “You’d think after all these weeks I’d know when to duck.”
And she didn’t just mean the crafts activities.
“It happens fast,” the other woman said. “You can’t always see it coming.”
“You’d think I’d know that, too.” Absently she blew on the hot dark liquid in her cup. “I guess I’m just a slow learner. Apparently I keep making the same mistakes over and over.”
Caroline put down the wooden spoon on the stainless-steel counter. She leaned back and studied Kate. “You’re not just talking about ceramics now, are you?”
“What else would I be talking about?”
Kate realized this would be the perfect opening to discuss what was bothering her, but she didn’t think it was professional to discuss their mutual boss, who also happened to be Caroline’s good friend. Kate also knew she’d crossed the line into unprofessional ter
ritory by sleeping with him in the first place. Still, there were just a couple of weeks left. Why beat to death a situation that would soon be over?
“What I would be talking about is Cabot,” the other woman said pointedly.
“I’m not sure why you would think that,” Kate bluffed. “But he’s not... We’re not—”
“Oh, please. I’m a high school teacher and have been for a lot of years. I can tell when someone is dancing around the truth.” Caroline fixed her with a teacher look that would have made the average person sing like a canary.
But Kate wasn’t a teenager and didn’t want to put this woman in the awkward position of taking sides. “It isn’t fair or right to discuss this with you. You’ve known him for a long time, and it’s not appropriate for you to be caught in the middle.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about all that?” Caroline said gently. “He’s my friend, yes, but so are you. I’ve grown fond of you. It’s obvious to me something happened that’s bothering you. And if the choices are ceramics or Cabot, my money is on him. What did he do?”
If Kate said he hadn’t kissed her goodbye when he’d left her cabin that morning, it would open up a whole messy can of worms. Keep it simple. “Well, I guess you could say I’m attracted to him.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Caroline’s tone was teasing. “In fact, everyone knows. One look and it’s pretty clear that the two of you have the hots for each other.”
Really? Everyone? Diane had noticed differences in Cabot and clearly suspected it had something to do with Kate. Yes, she quivered like crazy when she was around him. If that qualified as “the hots,” she was guilty as charged. But she wanted more, something deep and lasting. This conversation was pointless.
Kate took a sip of coffee. “Oh, well, I don’t know about that—”
“I’m really going to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong,” Caroline interrupted. “But I think you’ve slept with him.”
Kate wanted so badly to say he’d started it, but she wasn’t twelve. And she’d enthusiastically participated.
Cheeks hot with something that was a mixture of guilt and shame, she met the other woman’s gaze. “I have.”
The Rancher Who Took Her In (The Bachelors of Blackwater Lake) Page 16