by Kirk, Cindy
He smiled, clearly pleased. “What was that for?”
“Just because.” Kate shot him a wink and unbuckled her seat belt. “You can wait in the truck if you want. I’m only dropping something off, so it shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.”
“I’ll go with you.” Joel pushed open the truck door and rounded the front of the vehicle. “I’ve been wanting to check out their merchandise for weeks.”
Kate’s heart skipped a beat. “You have?”
“Chloe’s birthday is coming up. July twenty-fifth.”
Kate didn’t need the reminder. The date was permanently seared into her memory.
“I’ve been thinking about getting her a ruby necklace.” He cupped Kate’s elbow as they started down the sidewalk. “Or maybe a ring.”
“Ruby being her birthstone,” Kate murmured.
He slanted a sideways glance. “How’d you know that?”
I know everything there is to know about Chloe would be a comment guaranteed to elicit all sorts of questions. Kate smiled and sidestepped. “My sister’s birthday is July twenty-seventh.”
“Do you think Chloe is too young for jewelry?” he asked when the jewelry store awning came into view.
“For some children, ten might be too young.” Kate spoke slowly, not because she was unsure of what to say, but because she wanted to savor the moment. To allow herself to pretend—for this brief moment in time—that they were parents considering what was best for their daughter. “But Chloe is more mature than most. She’d take good care of a necklace or ring.”
He appeared pleased by her assessment. “I agree.”
“And she’s sensitive.” Kate’s heart overflowed with love for the child. “She’d cherish such a special gift.”
“I believe you’re right.” Joel opened the door to the jewelry store and stepped aside, allowing Kate to enter first. “There isn’t time to pick out something today, but at least I’ll get an idea what their selection is like.”
Kate thought about offering her assistance, but only two days of their affair remained. Two days and she’d go back to simply being his friend.
The past couple of weeks had been heaven with a little bit of hell thrown in. She’d enjoyed her time with Joel, both in and out of bed. Yet, the knowledge that this “affair” was only temporary made every lovemaking session, every pizza date, every phone call “just to say hello,” bittersweet.
“Lexi.” Joel’s greeting pulled Kate from her reverie.
Kate shifted her gaze and saw the social worker standing next to a glass-topped counter filled with rings. Ignoring a twinge of pain in her toes, Kate crossed the room quickly and gave her friend a hug. “What brings you here this afternoon?”
The brunette looked stunning in a sleeveless linen sheath of periwinkle blue. Her obviously curious gaze shifted from Joel to Kate. “I might ask you two the same question.”
Kate pulled a tiny cloth drawstring bag from her purse, opened it and let the necklace slide into her palm. “Getting a new clasp put on this.”
“Oh.” Was that disappointment she saw in Lexi’s eyes?
“How about you?” Joel asked. “What brings you downtown?”
“I’m picking up my wedding ring. One of the prongs had broken off.” Lexi made a face.
A smartly dressed woman in a capped-sleeve black dress with silver spectacles hanging from a chain around her neck approached them. “May I help you?”
Joel slanted a sideways glance at Lexi.
“I’ve already been helped,” Lexi told them. “Carl is in the back getting my ring.”
Kate opened her hand to display the necklace. “The clasp on this is broken.”
“That’s a beautiful stone.” Lexi leaned close. “What is it?”
“A fire opal.” Kate extended her palm so her friend had a better view. “Just like my ring.”
“Your ring is red.” Lexi studied the stone encased in ornate filigreed silver. “This is more of a burnt orange.”
“The color can vary from a hot-yellow to a brilliant red.” The clerk’s comment told Kate that the woman knew her stuff. “Yours is one of the largest fire opals I’ve seen.”
“Gram knew I liked big, showy jewelry.” A slight smile lifted Kate’s lips. “Which makes no sense considering both my mother and sister prefer the simpler pieces. My sister didn’t even want a diamond engagement ring. A simple gold band was good enough for her.”
“That’s how Amy was,” Joel said, his tone heavy with approval.
Kate’s smile faded.
“Forget simple and small,” Lexi said. “I adore my big diamond.”
“Mrs. Delacourt, I hope you don’t mind, but after I repaired the prong, I took the liberty of cleaning the ring.” A thin older man with a shiny bald head and wire-rimmed glasses leaned across the counter and slipped the ring on Lexi’s finger.
Set in a platinum setting, the multifaceted diamond glittered and sparkled beneath the large chandelier. Even though Kate was no expert on rings, she realized the stone had to be at least two carats.
“That is big,” he said.
Kate fought a pang of envy. “It’s lovely.”
“I think it’s beautiful.” Lexi held her finger up to the light. “But what makes it extra special is that Nick knew I’d never ask for such an expensive ring. He bought it simply because he knew I loved big stones and he wanted to make me happy. Is it any wonder I adore him?”
“You’re a lucky woman, Mrs. Delacourt,” the clerk said, a hint of envy in her tone.
Kate agreed wholeheartedly. She was happy for her friend, she really was. But she couldn’t help but wonder when it would be her turn. Would she ever find a man who loved her that much?
Chapter Fifteen
The monthly Jackson After-Hours event was in full swing by the time Kate and Joel arrived. The popular brewery on the edge of the downtown business district teemed with young men in khakis and cotton shirts and women in colorful dresses and skirts.
Joel knew the purpose of coming to the monthly event sponsored by the local chamber of commerce was to mingle and network, but at the moment he didn’t feel like doing either. He grabbed another handful of mixed nuts and washed them down with a sip from the bottle on the table before him.
Just before he and Kate walked through the brewery door, it struck him that in a little over twenty-four hours he’d be leaving for Montana to pick up Chloe. Once she was home, he’d go back to his old life and Kate would go back to hers. The trouble was he’d grown accustomed to having her around, to sharing the events of his day with her, to kissing her like she’d kissed him earlier, just because.
Kate was smart and fun with a strong sense of integrity. A woman he could trust. That didn’t mean he’d fallen in love with her. Amy was still the only woman he would ever love. But he liked Kate, liked her a lot. And Chloe adored her.
Joel had spoken with his daughter at least twice a day since she’d left. He could tell by her happy chatter that she was having a blast with her friend in Montana. Still, as he’d told Kate on the way over here, he was relieved she’d finally started to sound excited about coming home. He liked hearing that she missed him and that she was looking forward to her sleepover with Sarabeth.
He wasn’t sure if it was good or bad that she’d gotten into the habit of asking to speak to Kate once they finished talking. It was as if she just expected the doctor to be with him. Of course, he had to admit that three out of four times she’d asked, Kate had been there to take the phone call.
In less than fourteen days Kate had become a part of his life. He took another sip from the bottle and wondered what she’d say if he asked to see her after their time was up.
Of course, he’d make it clear that it would be as a friend and they wouldn’t really be dating, much less dating exclusively. That meant he’d have to accept that what happened tonight would continue to occur.
He’d had high hopes for the evening, especially when he learned Mitzi wasn’t coming
after all. He and Kate would get a drink, mingle for a half hour or so, then find a quiet table and catch up on each other’s day.
But he and Kate had barely stepped up to the bar to get a drink when Lexi had appeared and whisked Kate away to mingle. Or rather, to deposit her into the waiting arms of Benedict Campbell.
Joel took a sip of his Guinness and made a concerted effort not to glare at the respected surgeon.
“Not liking the view?”
Joel stifled a curse. Just when he thought the night couldn’t get any worse, his not-so-favorite attorney had to make an appearance. To top it off, Ryan’s hand snaked in front of him and grabbed the rest of the mixed nuts.
“The open bar is thataway.” Joel gestured with his head to a spot across the room, then returned his attention to Kate and her new “friend.”
The attorney plopped into the chair Joel had saved for Kate. “Don’t worry about him.”
Even though the Guinness now tasted like sawdust, Joel took another sip before responding. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, right.” Ryan chuckled and motioned to a college-aged blonde waitress, ordering a beer before turning his attention back to Joel. “Like I said, Kate’s not interested in Ben.”
Kate appeared interested. If Joel didn’t know better, he’d think she and the surgeon were already a couple by the way she was laughing with him, her hand resting on his arm.
Ben couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. That wasn’t surprising considering how sexy she looked this evening. Her bright yellow dress hugged her curves and the sandals she wore made her legs look as though they went on forever. Last night those legs had been wrapped around him.
Why had they come tonight when in two days it would be over? They should be at his house right now, feasting on each other rather than on cold hors d’oeuvres. It seemed ironic that Kate had wanted to attend because it would be Mitzi’s first time. Yet her friend was stuck in surgery and they’d ended up at this event when they’d rather be elsewhere.
Joel watched Kate brush a strand of hair back from her face. A muscle in his jaw jumped. He’d seen that gesture many times in the past two weeks. Usually it occurred when she was tired of talking and ready for some action. Could she want…Benedict?
Joel’s gut felt like someone had driven a spike into it. To make matters worse, Ryan had taken up permanent residency at his table. Instead of mingling, the attorney sat sipping the beer the server had dropped off.
“Don’t you have any other friends?”
“Kate.” A smug smile lifted Ryan’s lips. “But she’s busy right now.”
Busy with Benedict.
Joel kept his expression impassive. “Okay, tell me. What makes you think she’s not interested in him?”
Ryan snagged another handful of nuts from a nearby table and ate every single one of them before answering. “Because she’s in love with you.”
* * *
According to everyone, this month’s Jackson After-Hours event was a rousing success. Even though Kate had done her part by showing up, all she could think of was that she and Joel had only two evenings left and they were wasting one of them here.
To make matters worse, she’d hardly seen him this evening. For some unknown reason Lexi had appeared to make it her personal mission to encourage Kate to mingle. When she protested that she’d come with Joel, the popular social worker had just laughed and dragged her over to speak with Benedict Campbell.
Finally, after two long hours apart, she and Joel had been able to reunite and make their escape. She had so much to tell him. While Benedict seemed reserved and aloof, he’d regaled her with funny and interesting stories. Joel didn’t seem to find them as amusing. When she quit talking, silence filled the truck cab. Definitely odd. Still, she told herself, last night had been a late one for both of them.
Her spirits perked up when, instead of taking her straight home, Joel turned in the direction of his place. Once inside, Kate slipped off her shoes and took a seat on the leather sofa. She patted the spot beside her.
He shook his head.
Kate pulled her brows together. Tired was one thing. This was something else. “What’s wrong?”
He jammed his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “What makes you think something is wrong?”
“Well, for starters, you haven’t said ten words since we left the brewery.” A feeling of unease wrapped itself tight around her shoulders but she managed to keep her tone light. “Not to mention we’ve been inside five minutes and we still have our clothes on.”
His lips curved upward at that observation, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Instead of filling the silence with nervous chatter, Kate pressed her lips together and waited for his response.
“We’ve gotten to know each other these past couple of weeks,” he said after several long heartbeats. His brows pulled together in a frown and he began to pace. “I can’t believe Ryan knows you better than I do.”
“He doesn’t.” Even though Kate liked the attorney, having Joel bring his name into a conversation raised any number of red flags. “Tell me what he said.”
Joel’s gaze met hers. “He said you’re in love with me.”
When Kate was twelve she’d fallen off her bike and had the air knocked out of her. She remembered that feeling. She felt the same way now.
Although she cursed Ryan for interfering, she realized he’d spoken the truth. A truth she hadn’t even admitted to herself until this moment. If she didn’t feel so much like crying, she’d laugh at the irony. She’d fallen in love with the one man who could never be hers.
But if she confessed that love, it would be over between them. Kate knew that as well as she knew her own name.
“Of course it isn’t true.” She kept her tone matter-of-fact. This wasn’t, after all, a hearts-and-flowers moment. “But I do like you. I hope that’s okay.”
A tousle of hair had fallen across his forehead. She wanted nothing more than to brush it back. How foolish she’d been to think she could keep herself from falling in love with him.
Joel expelled a ragged breath and dropped down beside her on the sofa. “I like you, too.”
He reached over and took her hand and Kate let out the breath she’d been holding. When she was with him like this, she could almost believe everything was okay. And it appeared to be, at least for now.
“I did a lot of thinking tonight. There’s really no reason we can’t continue to see each other when Chloe returns. As friends, of course,” he quickly added.
“Friends without benefits,” Kate clarified.
“If that’s the way it’d have to be—”
“It would be too complicated for us and too confusing to Chloe any other way.” Kate didn’t want the stipulation any more than he did, but she had to figure out how to keep distance between them…for her heart’s sake.
“But that won’t start until Chloe gets back.” He brought her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss in the palm.
A smoldering heat flared through her. She gazed at him through lowered lashes. “Correct, again.”
Her gaze met his. Time seemed to stretch and extend.
Joel’s grin was a little lopsided, his fingers not quite steady as they touched the curve of her cheek, trailed along the line of her jaw. “I’m going to make this a night we’ll never forget.”
Excitement coursed through her when she saw the gleam in his eyes. There was a promise there, one that said there was more, much more to come.
She looped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss against those lips she’d come to know so well. “See that you do.”
As his lips closed over hers and his hand flattened against her lower back, drawing her close, Kate gave in to the emotion, to the feelings sweeping through her body like a wildfire.
If one more night was all they had, she was going to make it a night they’d both remember.
* * *
“Dr. K
ate and I are going to paint our nails and toes today,” Chloe announced over breakfast. “Then later we’re going to meet Mrs. Delacourt and Addie for an Italian soda.”
Joel added more cream to his coffee and smiled. Because Kate wasn’t on call today, Chloe was spending the day with her instead of with the teenage girl who normally watched her when he had to work on the weekend.
During the past few months, he and Kate had settled into a routine. One night during the week she’d make dinner for them, then later in the week, he and Chloe would make dinner for her. On the weekends he and Kate would go out Saturday night. Sundays were their family days.
It would have been a satisfactory arrangement except for one factor. They no longer slept together. Even though it had been part of the rules laid out, Joel couldn’t help wishing it wasn’t so, well, set in stone. He could understand when Chloe was in the house. But even when his daughter was away on a sleepover—which had been happening with increasing regularity—all clothes stayed on.
He supposed he could push the issue. During their good-night kiss, which sometimes lasted a half hour or more, it was apparent that celibacy was as hard on her as it was on him. With a little encouragement Joel knew he could have her in his bed. But it was better this way.
Or so he kept telling himself.
Their two-week affair had been simply a physical release. Continuing to date Kate didn’t seem like a betrayal of what he and Amy had shared because they were merely good friends. No love involved.
The only concern he had was Chloe. She’d grown attached to Kate over the past couple of months. But he consoled himself with the fact that Kate wasn’t the type of woman who’d ever abandon a child. Even if their relationship came to an end, he had confidence she’d remain Chloe’s friend.
And it wasn’t as if Kate was sitting around pining for him. Kate was now going on an occasional date with other men. She’d told him because they were simply friends that it was best they not get too dependent on each other. He’d agreed. But if it was for the best, why did it feel so wrong? And why couldn’t he bring himself to ask anyone out?