“Hey, I understand. I know it will take some figuring out, but we will. And someday when I’ve earned your trust back, I want to meet him. I don’t want to see you only when he’s at his dad’s or out of town. You’re a package deal and I want the whole package.”
Katrine gave his package some extra special attention after he said that.
“So let me get this straight. You’re bringing him to my birthday party?” Charlie asked, giving her a look.
“Yes, I want you guys to meet him.” Katrine sat across from her two friends. She’d just brought them up to speed on everything Xander-related that she’d been keeping to herself. Katrine made the voyage to the ‘burbs for lunch. It was a warm Saturday afternoon, but under the enormous yellow umbrella it was was quite comfortable.
“So, should I un-invite Ian?” Again with the attitude.
“Charlie, that’s up to you. I don’t care if he’s there, but I also don’t want there to be tension because of me. Honestly, I’d be surprised if Ian came.”
“You haven’t talked to him?” Paige asked, taking a sip of her iced tea. Katrine watched as the condensation beaded and slid down the side of her glass, heart still aching for her former lover and best friend. She could add former to best friend as well and that was what she missed the most. That’s why she was apprehensive to start anything with Ian in the first place. Inside she knew, but she tried anyway. There was nothing to be done about it now.
“No, I haven’t seen him since we broke up. Teddy said he went to one of his soccer games, but I wasn’t there. I had to work late.”
“I can tell you’re still upset about it.” Paige squeezed Katrine’s hand to comfort her. She nodded silently.
“Look, I’m sorry, it’s just Xander cheated on you and broke your heart just after it had mended. It makes me mad to think he’s wormed his way back into your life.”
“I know you guys are just looking out for me. But the bottom line is I want him back. There was no worming. I went up there, remember? I know it sounds strange, but I know he cheated because he was scared, he admitted as much. And guys, really. A guy like him could have any woman he wanted. So why would he bother with a divorced, single mom who lives a thousand miles away unless there were real feelings there?” Katrine nibbled on a piece of bread she’d grabbed from the basket beside her. “You know me, I’m not stupid or naive. Just trust me on this one.” Charlie and Paige looked at each other, then at Katrine.
“Okay,” Charlie agreed.
“We’ll support you no matter what. That’s what friends do, right?” Paige offered.
“Thanks, guys. Please just give him a chance, he’s wonderful.”
“So’s Ian.” Charlie was not going to let this Ian thing go.
“I know! I know you all love Ian. And hey, so do I, but I love Xander more. Let me put it to you this way. If Ian is a soft lit lamp beside me when I read, Xander is the current that makes it glow.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?” Charlie said, throwing her hands up.
“It means Ian is comfort and Xander is…electric. That doesn’t last, Katrine,” Paige pointed out.
“No, it doesn’t always, but it’s more than electricity with him. We enjoy each other in every way. He gets me. We’re from two different planets. I’m not talking about that women are from Venus crap, either. But he’s so down to earth despite the silver spoon. Why do I feel like I’m defending our relationship?” She sighed.
“If it were anyone else, you wouldn’t have to,” Charlie said with a raised eyebrow. Katrine knew she would be a tough sell, but this was ridiculous.
They picked at their food, no one really eating. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
“I’m in love with him, guys. I mean lost cause, would give everything up for him if I was a selfish bitch, in love. So please if you love me, like I know you do, please just support me and give him a chance. And for the love of Pete, please be nice.” That was for the auburn haired hellion with a tongue as sharp as a machete. Charlie smiled and put up her “scout’s honor” fingers. Katrine would take that for now. She hoped Xander’s dealings with cut throat businessmen will have prepared him for her crew.
Well, Maddie and Charlie anyway.
Chapter 27
“How’s Chicago?” Katrine was on her bed in front of her laptop, enjoying an amazing view.
“Well, the work is tedious, but I love this city. Whenever I feel stressed I just walk by Lake Michigan. Water always calms me for some reason…How’s your week going? You look so hot, by the way.” She was wearing no make-up, glasses, and her hair was up in a clip, so she highly doubted that was true.
“You must be really horny if you think I look hot right now.”
“That’s what women just don’t get. Men like natural beauty, and you’ve got that and then some.”
“Aren’t we the flatterer tonight.”
“It’s not flattery, it’s the truth. No matter what you have on, you’re beautiful.”
“Xander, when you say things like that…I don’t know, it makes me never want to let you go. So you might want to tone it down a little.” She smiled and he grinned back.
“Well, since I’m never letting you go, that works out…Speaking of horny.… You think you could just straddle your laptop for a minute, while I take care of things?”
“Um, absolutely not.”
“What about a boob shot? You could press them against the screen. That would work, too. You have spectacular tits.”
She laughed. “Virtual nookie is not my thing, sorry. I’ll do just about anything…”
“Oh, I know,” he interrupted.
“Xander! I was saying, I’m up for almost anything in the bedroom, but I draw the line at pressing my parts up to a computer screen.”
“I think you might change your tune when it’s been weeks instead of days. Care to make a wager?”
“Not this again!”
“I never got to collect on our last little bet.” He was referring to the pool game wager. She’d planned two nights of romance, including a hot air balloon ride, but she’d caught him cheating.
“Who’s fault is that, you a-hole? I lost a lot of money on that deal,” she teased.
“You what? How much, Katrine?” Oops, she hadn’t meant to let that slip.
“Oh, never mind…I was just teasing. I’m not worried about it.”
“No way, Katrine, if you lost money because I acted like a fuck up, that-is-not okay with me.” His eyes were glowing in the soft light of his hotel room and his forehead was lined with worry and anger. She hated that.
“It’s all right, I don’t even wanna know how much money you’ve spent on me, so discussion closed. And if I don’t see some dimples soon, I’m hanging up!” She leaned back and crossed her arms.
“Oh yeah, keep your arms crossed… just like that. Your cleavage in that tank is so god damn hot.”
She jerked her arms back to her sides.
“Hey! Hands where I can see ‘em, buddy!”
Katrine was zoning out at her desk when her phone dinged.
See you in a few hours, don’t wear any panties.
Shaking her head, she answered.
I can’t wait, but I’ll most likely be in undies.
Not coming. :(
They’re lacy boy shorts, does that help?
See you in a few hours. :)
She wondered if anyone else knew he used frowny and smiley faces. Her list of blackmail material was growing by the day. All of the texts, the calls, and the video chats made it easier to be apart. A long distance relationship in the technological age wasn’t so bad.
There was the whole no physical contact thing, which was difficult. But with her vibrating side kick, she muddled through. It paled in comparison to the real thing, so basically she was going to screw him every spare second they had. That’s why Teddy was at his dad’s this weekend. Not that she didn’t want them to meet, but because Momma had to get her freak on.
Xander pushed her against the door, squeezing her upper arms and kissing her neck. Katrine gasped. The strength of his grip and his tongue on her skin, it was too much. The bedroom was in the distance. They weren’t going to make it this time.
“Fuck, I’ve missed this.” His voice was a combination of a whispered hiss and a moan. She answered with a shiver and a thick sigh. Absence might make the heart grow fonder, but it definitely made the sex hotter. Her lips were swollen from all of the kissing they’d done in the car in front of her place. His suitcase was still in the trunk. It could wait. What couldn’t was this… Touching, gliding, skin on cotton, skin on skin. The air in the room was cold, but her skin was burning. The build up over a few weeks made him almost desperate and she felt the same. His hands slid the fabric until her white sun dress was at her waist. She unbuttoned his pants, pushing them down with her hands and the rest of the way with her foot. The same with his boxer briefs and he stepped out of both, so they joined her clothes on the floor. He took her back against the smooth plaster that was becoming slick with her sweat. Her ankles hooked around his lower back, his hands clenching the skin of her hips. Xander took her in his mouth, sucking and biting, making her head fall back. “Oh god!” They remained locked in each other’s arms as their breath finally slowed and the ecstasy that blurred their vision passed. “Good to see you, too,” Katrine cooed in his ear, sliding down the wall. Her feet touched the ground, but only in the literal sense.
Saturday arrived and the birthday shindig was that evening. It was to be a lawn party at Charlie’s country club. This time Charlie let her husband make the arrangements, which meant having it somewhere other than their house, where the details would be taken care of by someone else. It was a man thing.
Katrine hadn’t had time to get an outfit, so she and Xander hit her favorite shopping center. It had chic boutiques as well as upscale chains. She didn’t have as much money to spend on clothes as she used to, but she made enough to do a little shopping.
She was by a window in the front of her favorite store. He kissed her cheek while she pushed the hangers aside, perusing the dress rack.
“Buy whatever you want, it’s on me.”
“Xander, thank you, but no. I can buy my own dress.”
His brow furrowed with offense. “There is no way I’m going to stand beside you as you pay for your own dress. No way in hell. I want to do it, so let me. Case closed.” She looked at him for a minute.
Hmmmm. How to play this?
“Okay, bossy boots. Don’t have a heart attack.” She blew a curly wisp of hair out of her eye, more a sign of her exasperation than anything. “I should have bought my dress earlier in the week, sheesh.”
She found the perfect outfit. A silky maxi dress with spaghetti straps. It was canary yellow, one of her best colors. The biggest triumph, it was on sale.
Take that, Abbot!
“Katrine.”
“You wanted to buy me my outfit and this is the one I would have picked out on my own dime. You gotta problem with that?” She put her hands on her hips. He shook his head and slapped down his card, saying,“You’re getting shoes, too.”
Did he say shoes?
Hey, she could be flexible…
Katrine walked out into her living room; her eyes went wide. Xander looked so gorgeous. Katrine loved that his hair was a bit longer, causing the front to fall over his left eye in a soft brown wave and curl just above his ears. She’d asked him to wear a white shirt.
A. because it showed off his tan skin, and B. it would complement her yellow.
He rolled up the sleeves showing off his thick black metal watch. He wore it untucked over loose khaki twill trousers. She assured him he was dressy enough and that he could even wear nice shorts if he wanted.
“Trust me. The women will be decked out, but the men will be casually elegant.”
“Casually elegant?”
“Yes, Trust me, with a face like yours, it doesn’t matter what you wear.” She kissed him, enjoying that she didn’t have to get on her tip toes thanks to the fabulous cork wedges he bought her that afternoon, again on sale. He had a problem with getting things at discounted prices. They needed to work on that.
“I’m preparing myself for a lynching, am I right?”
“Not a lynching, per se, but maybe some death stares and perhaps an idle threat or two. Well, unless it’s from Charlie or my sister. They don’t make idle threats.”
“I can’t wait to meet this Charlie character. She sounds very entertaining.”
“Uh huh, right, entertaining. Watch your back, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Katrine, I’ve done business with people who would do a plethora of morally deplorable things just to get ahead. Trust me, I can handle your friends.”
Katrine laughed evilly. “Just keep that attitude and see what happens. You’ve been warned.” She grabbed her purse and made her way to the door.
The sun was almost past the horizon when they walked out onto the grass. There was a medium sized white tent strung with dainty lights where the buffet and bar were set up. There was a small parquet dance floor and a jazz band playing softly beside it. There were small round tables spread out on the lawn with fresh flowers and tea lights at the center of each. The lightning bugs were starting to blink. That brief flash of fluorescence, added a touch of whimsy to the ambiance.
“Wow, Michael went all out this year,” Katrine observed, taking in her surroundings. She noticed her friends looking in their direction. The stares and open appraisals were to be expected, but she was uncomfortable, regardless.
“I take it those lovely ladies are your circle of friends? Wow, they’re sizing me up big time.” He chuckled as they waited for a drink.
“Why aren’t you more nervous to meet my friends? They know what you did. And they saw first hand how it affected me. They’re not your biggest fans, ya know. I would be out of sorts if the shoe were on the other foot. I already am, come to think about it,” she hissed quietly.
“Katrine, I’m not worried. I’ll be myself, charming and irresistible.” He winked. “If they can’t get past it, then there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m here for you, no one else matters. But, I know liking me would make your life easier, so it’s for that reason only that I hope things go well. I have nothing to prove to your friends…only to you.” He kissed her cheek, just below the ear.
They started to walk over to the patch of green her friends had commandeered. Xander held her hand. He walked beside her with grace and confidence, like he knew everyone in attendance. The swagger was ever present and never forced. His natural air that drew people to him and put them at ease.
Jane smiled sweetly. Izzie was sporting a mischievous grin. Tristan had one eyebrow lifted. Paige looked pensive with her lips pulled in a tight grin. Maddie’s eyes were narrowed slightly. Charlie’s stare was full on “die you bastard”, which was quickly covered with a smile. That was a very southern thing to do. Smiling on the outside, while giving the finger on the inside. They didn’t consider it fake, it was considered manners. Katrine tipped back her wine glass and pulled Xander towards the wolves. Wolves that were eager to tear his limbs off. One limb in particular…
“Hi, friends,” she smiled. Despite her friends’ eagerness to disembowel her date, she was glad to see them. Waves and hellos. Then it was all eyes on Xander.
“Guys, this is Xander.” Okay, that was obvious, but an introduction was customary in these situations. She was hoping he didn’t do the smug, “I’m kick ass, worship me minions” thing. They would take that as a provocation and attack. She was relieved to see he had his full genuine, oh so dreamy, smile on. A few mouths were open, he had that affect on women and gay men too, apparently.
Again a round of hello’s and then a roll call so he could put faces to the names.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Maddie good to see you again.” She nodded and managed a weak, “you too”.
“So, Xander, how long are you in
town this time?” Charlie asked.
Thunder bolt, take me out please…
“Well, I’m here until tomorrow. But this is one of many trips, to be sure. Katrine was eager for all of us to meet. I wanted to make her happy, so here I am.” He took a few slow steps forward. “Happy birthday, Charlie,” he said, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. They all waited for Charlie’s reaction. The look on her face spoke volumes. Katrine knew that look. Charlie was deciding whether to slap him or stick her tongue down his throat. Katrine sympathized since she felt like that most of the time.
“Thank you. Let me introduce you to the guys.” That was a good sign.
About an hour later Xander made his way back to her side. The soft candles on the table were flickering in the darkness. He threaded his hand into her hair and kissed her like that hour had been days. That kiss made her look around for something to bang him behind. Damn, not a bush in sight.
“So, how was it?” she inquired, locking her arms around his back.
“Fine. The husbands are very friendly and Michael should be sainted for being married to Charlie.” He grinned and pulled her towards the tent. “I really liked Maddie’s boyfriend, Shawn. I wonder if he’d move to New York? I could use lawyers like him on my team.” That was high praise indeed.
They filled their plates with the typical country club buffet fare; roast beef, mashed potatoes, buttery yeast rolls, vegetables that used to be green. Nothing to write home about, but it did the job. She was starving.
“I have to run to the ladies’ room. Will you be okay?”
“Do you want me to walk you?”
“No, it’s fine. Go grab a drink and I’ll meet you in a dark corner somewhere.”
Resilient (Rebound Book 2) Page 22