Ties That Bind

by Heather Huffman

  “Then I guess I should tell you I actually staged the pictures earlier, before they opened,” he whispered against her ear.

  “You… insufferable… BEAST,” she seethed.

  “Probably, but you’re really cute when you’re angry.”

  With one last indignant cry, she stood as quickly as her skirt would allow and swept from the room. She knew he was right behind her but did her best to ignore that fact.

  “You really shouldn’t be out roaming the streets at night alone,” he grabbed her elbow gently. “Not dressed like that anyway.”

  “Fine, then take me home,” she demanded, practically stamping her foot with outrage.

  “Can I at least feed you that burger first?”

  She paused. His eyes were impossibly beguiling. Had it only been two weeks that she’d stubbornly been refusing to even look at him? She’s missed his face. He could sense her relenting.

  “Please?”

  Ugh. How was she supposed to say no to that? “Fine.”

  “Wonderful,” his expression instantly brightened as he hooked her arm through his. “I know a great place overlooking the water. I’ll drive.”

  And just like that she found herself sucked back into a comfortable rapport with him. All that hard work to distance herself was undone. She laughed with him and enjoyed a truly decadent cheeseburger.

  She didn’t pull away when his leg brushed hers or he reached out to touch her face. She only stiffened for the briefest of seconds when he took her hand in his. She knew better, but she’d just missed him so much. He was like a slice of chocolate cake; once she’d tasted just a little it was really hard to leave the rest on the plate. All the while he filled her with stories of his family back in London and she soaked in every word.

  “You miss them,” she stated.

  “Yeah, I guess I do,” he agreed.

  “Then why did you take a job so far away?”

  “This was an amazing opportunity for me, for my career. I didn’t know how long I’d stay at first.”

  “Oh,” Kate frowned. She hadn’t thought of that. “Are you planning to stay now?”

  “I guess that depends,” he leaned forward.

  “On what?” her breath caught. He answered with his intent stare. She blinked, trying to comprehend that. She wasn’t sure how long they sat there watching each other. This was too fast. She could feel her life careening out of control.

  “I think I’d better go home now,” she swallowed. He merely nodded. Kate couldn’t be sure, but it almost seemed like he didn’t trust himself to speak. They rode home in silence, each lost in thought. Despite her protest, he walked her to the door and waited as she fumbled with her keys. She knew she should have protested a little more sternly when he followed her inside but there was a morbidly curious side to her that couldn’t quite muster it.

  “Kate,” his voice was silken as he wrapped one arm around her waist.

  “Hmm?” was the only sound she seemed capable of.

  “You know how you said I had to keep my hands to myself?” His lips were achingly close to hers.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “I think I’m about to break your rule.” And then the space between them was gone. She was wholly his for just that one instant, all fears scattered at his kiss. She found herself yearning to stay in this place where she was warm and happy and utterly connected to another human being. And then he was moving away, breaking that connection and she felt the desolate cold seeping in even before he was gone. She wanted to pull him back to her, to hold him in her arms and never let him go.

  “Why do you do this to me?” She groaned softly, resting her head against his shoulder.

  “I’m afraid you’ll hate me later if I don’t stop now,” he whispered, his cheek resting on the top of her head. He knew her too well. She probably would hate him for it later. Heck, she might hate him for this later, too.

  “But why do you persist in even starting this? Are you trying to make sure I stay addicted to you? Are you trying to drive me completely insane?” She railed at him.

  “You’re addicted to me?” He grinned stupidly. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Forget I said that,” she ordered hopefully.

  “Nope. It’s out now.”

  “Fine, have it your way,” she sighed. “Not like that’s a good thing anyway. Addictions are bad for you.”

  “But fun.”

  “And they leave you broken and no good for anything else.”

  “Little miss sunshine.”

  “Go home,” she growled and half-shoved him away.

  He obliged, but only after planting a quick kiss on her forehead. She swatted at him but he easily dodged her. As she leaned against the door, she could hear him whistling down the hallway.

  Chapter Seven

  That night Kate dreamed of endless hallways and locked doors. Occasionally she’d find an open door and would peer inside, only to be cruelly shoved back into the wintery and desolate hallway by uncaring hands. She could hear the steady beep of a heart monitor somewhere in the distance, counting down the beats of her mother’s heart. She could hear the clock thundering out an unchanging rhythm of minutes looming ahead, or were they passing her by?

  With every door, her desperation grew. She needed to find her solace. She needed to find the path to a gentle summer breeze and the warmth of the sun. The cacophony was deafening. She awoke in a cold sweat, certain that Gavin Nichols truly would be the death of her.

  She padded around her loft, not really accomplishing much but not in the mood for sightseeing, either. She was restless, but nothing sounded appealing. The silence had grown so deafening that when the phone rang, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey! Are you still speaking to us?” It was a very nervous Jessica.

  “Barely,” Kate teased.

  “We were just so desperate to get the two of you in the same room,” Jessica pleaded her case.

  “I know,” Kate sighed but didn’t offer up any of the details she knew Jessica was waiting to hear.

  “You know you really are impossible,” Jessica declared after a moment of silence.

  “So I’ve been told.”

  “I’m actually calling for Jack. He wants us all to go to the symphony with him tonight – he has a box. Well, Tara has a box. You’ve been avoiding us so much at work; we thought maybe you’d like to meet for lunch and shopping today, too.”

  “So you can try to get the dirty details.”

  “Only if you want to share them,” Jessica promised.

  “Don’t tell her that,” Liz protested in the background.

  “Lunch sounds nice,” Kate laughed. “And we’ll see about the symphony.”

  “We’ll pick you up in an hour,” Jessica hung up the phone.

  Kate was happy to have something to do with her day and hurried to get ready. It was a good day. She bought herself a dress for that evening. She’d found a new favorite salad at the coffee house they went to for lunch. It even felt good to discuss Gavin with her friends.

  “I really don’t see what you’re worried about,” Liz declared. “He’s British – they’re more mature than American men. A 25-year-old British guy is easily the equivalent of a 30-year-old American man.”

  “Oh. Well then,” Kate threw her hands up. “Problem solved. Seriously, though. It’s not just the age. I can’t explain it. I just don’t think I’m in a good place for this right now.”

  “Isn’t that when it happens?” Jessica observed. “Who falls in love when they’re expecting it? I certainly never saw Ryan coming.”

  “Hey, watch it with the L-word,” Kate shuddered. “I’m not there yet.”

  “Let us know when you get there and put us all out of our misery – especially Gavin,” Liz shook her glass of tea, watching the ice settle.

  “I haven’t known him long enough for that.”

  “I’m not suggesting you elope,” Liz qualified. “Just let the poor
guy in.”

  “I don’t think I can,” Kate admitted miserably.

  “Who needs shoes?” Liz switched topics all together.

  “Define need,” Jessica smiled. The rest of the afternoon passed with lighter topics of conversation. Jessica filled them in on her adventures in car shopping and Liz regaled them with stories of the crazy IT guy who was trimming his toe nails the last time she’d walked by his office. The guy creeped her out and since Jack had hired him, there was never a shortage of stories.

  They dropped her back off with two hours to get ready and the promise of a car coming by to pick her up. She took her time primping, indulging in a bubble bath and painting her toe nails, too. She wanted to feel pretty, classy and sophisticated.

  After she clasped her necklace in place, she checked her reflection in the full length mirror. The sapphire blue dress clung to her curves, ending just above the knee. Delicate high heels made her long legs even longer; her reddish hair was swept up with wispy tendrils framing her face.

  She wore simple jewelry and her skin had a healthy honey glow from the recent sunshine. She approved. That left her little to do besides wander around the clean apartment searching for things to straighten until her cell phone chirped to announce the arrival of her ride.

  She was careful not to bound down the steps despite her anticipation. Her doubts about attending the symphony had long since given way to excitement. The distant soprano of the violin played in the back of her mind, the memory calling to her like a long-lost friend.

  She was duly impressed by the sleek black limo that waited at her curb and only mildly dismayed to realize that she and Gavin had been treated as a couple for the evening. He was, of course, breathtaking in his suit. He treated her as if there were nothing unusual between them and she realized he hadn’t been privy to her nightmares and was completely unaware that she’d determined to put him right back where he belonged – at arm’s length.

  “Do you enjoy the symphony?” Tara asked her politely.

  “I love it,” Kate couldn’t contain her excitement and, after a moment’s hesitation, decided it wouldn’t hurt to put at least a piece of herself out there. “I miss it, actually.”

  “Miss it?” Gavin cocked his head to study her. “Did you play?”

  “Violin,” she nodded with a shy smile. “I went to college on a music scholarship.”

  “Really?” Liz leaned forward. “I’d love to hear you play sometime.”

  “Oh I don’t play anymore,” Kate shook her head.

  “You haven’t played since college, have you?” Jessica guessed immediately.

  “I intended to,” Kate reached back to a memory she had locked away. “My business degree was only plan B. I’d actually accepted a position with the San Francisco Symphony.”

  “What happened?” Gavin asked gently.

  “The music went away,” she smiled sadly, unable to think of the words to succinctly describe that time in her life.

  “How very sad,” Jessica breathed.

  “Oh not really,” Kate smiled brightly. “If I had followed that road, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you guys tonight. I don’t regret the choices I’ve made. But I am looking forward to tonight. Very much.”

  “Absolutely fascinating,” Gavin clasped her hand in his and brushed his lips across her knuckles, a gesture that was not lost on Jack. His eyebrows shot up in question as Kate tried unsuccessfully to reclaim her hand. Kate was grateful when the topic turned from her to the wedding, which was quickly approaching. She was happy to realize that it didn’t even bother her anymore. Tara was growing on her. Other than the distracting heat caused by Gavin’s hand enclosed around hers, Kate was fairly at ease.

  “Oh, I didn’t tell you guys what happened yesterday,” Liz giggled, earning an irritated glare from Derrick. “Gerard ate one of the guest lists…. Do you want to guess which one?”

  “It isn’t funny. That dog eats everything,” Derrick grumbled.

  “He didn’t eat my mom’s guest list,” Liz informed him sassily.

  “You get to ask my mom for a new one.”

  “Or thank Gerard for editing the old one and leave it at that.”

  “Liz….” The exasperation was clear in his voice.

  “Derrick…” She tried to mimic his scowl. Kate couldn’t help grinning along with Gavin.

  The limo pulled up along a side door to let them out. It was strange to have someone hold the door for her like that. She felt a little like a movie star as she descended from the car to Gavin’s waiting arm. As they entered the building, she caught sight of one of the violinists scurrying to the back.

  He appeared to be late and a smile flickered across her face. If she were playing here tonight, it would be her and her best friend Gaston scurrying to the back together. She’d been a little less structured in those days. With the memory came recognition and she called out before she could remember her manners.

  “Gaston!”

  The hurried violinist stopped in his tracks and turned, searching out the one who’d called his name. Kate waved and quickly covered the ground between them.

  “Gaston, it’s me, it’s…”

  “Katie!” His face lit up and he pulled her into a one-armed hug. “Wow, look at you!”

  “I wondered if I’d see anyone I knew,” she beamed at him. “And I’m lucky enough to find you.”

  “Can you get together after the show?” he asked her eagerly, clearly torn between visiting and reporting for work.

  “As long as you don’t mind a group – there’s several of us here tonight.”

  “I’d love to meet your friends.”

  “It’s a date, then,” she couldn’t help that she was still smiling at him.

  “I’ve missed you Katie,” he smacked a loud kiss on her cheek and headed for the stage door. “After the show – don’t you disappear on me again.”

  “I won’t,” she promised.

  “Should I be worried?” Gavin slipped up behind her, wrapping a protective arm about her waist and pulling her to him.

  “Only if I were a six-foot blonde male,” she giggled. “Gaston was my best friend back in the day. I bet if you bought him a martini or two he’d spill all kinds of dirt on me.”

  “Well then, point us to the after-party.”

  Kate instantly wished she hadn’t planted the idea in Gavin’s head. Gaston knew the dirt no one else did. Maybe that’s why she’d disappeared on him in the first place. He’d been a painful reminder of a life she had been trying to put behind her. When he’d moved to Chicago, it had been a little too easy to lose touch.

  They had to catch up with the rest of their party in the box. Kate was eager for the music to begin. She wasn’t at all surprised to learn that Gaston was the first chair. He’d always been the best. Her fingers itched all the way through Beethoven’s ninth. How she missed it.

  She could almost feel the bow gliding across the strings, leaving a white mist of rosin in its wake. Her fingers would trill with the vibrato, the music would swell and ebb, building an energy of its own until the intensity was palpable in the air.

  Hearing it now, something seemed to shake loose within – maybe just a little. When the last note hung in the air, a single tear wound its way down her cheek. She went to brush it aside but Gavin beat her to it, gently wiping it away with his thumb. His eyes seemed to be trying to bore into her soul in attempt to divine its secrets.

  Kate tried to even her breathing as she stared for a timeless moment at the man she so badly wanted to lose herself in. The rustle of the others leaving their seats brought her back to reality and she turned to them with a smile fixed in place. “Who’s up for a party?”

  Of course they all were and Kate went in search of Gaston. He was waiting for her at the stage door where she’d first seen him. After brief introductions, he gave Gavin directions to the nightclub he’d agreed to meet the others at.

  “Kate,” he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him as she moved
to walk away. His expression was suddenly serious.

  “If I tell you something, do you promise to still show up?”

  “What is it?” She frowned.

  “He married one of our cellists. He’ll probably be there tonight.”

  “Please tell me this is a bad joke,” her frown deepened to a full-blown scowl. There were some ghosts she preferred to leave in her past… Peter was at the top of that list.

  “Sorry. I know; it’s a small world.”

  “Freakishly small.” She considered backing out now that she knew.

  “We could go somewhere else if you want,” he offered suddenly. “I’ll just call Jason so he knows I’m not lost.”

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll be okay,” Kate lied. It was obvious Gaston wanted to be with his other friends. She felt like she owed him at least that much. She could feel the question in Gavin’s gaze as they rejoined the others, but he held his tongue.

  Kate was quiet on the ride there, trying to quickly build a mental wall around her emotions required all of her attention. Gavin absentmindedly stroked her arm, his own arm thrown protectively over her shoulder. God help her, she leaned up against him, grateful for something solid and warm to protect her.

  By the time they arrived at the noisy little club, she’d almost convinced herself he might not even be there. So naturally, he was the first person she came face-to-face with once they were through the door.

  “Hello, Peter,” she smiled sweetly, the hand behind her back nearly crushing Gavin’s.

  “Kate.” He blinked twice. “Kate. Um. You look good. It’s good… Kate.”

  “It’s good to see you as well,” she nodded her head demurely. “Now if you’ll excuse me, the rest of my party is waiting.”

  She turned and walked away with as much dignity as she could muster.

  “You aren’t going to introduce us?” Gavin rumbled low in her ear.

  “I have absolutely no intention of doing that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well because either you’ll rip him apart in some misguided burst of chivalry that will land you in jail, or you’ll be perfectly civil to him and I’ll be mad at you for not ripping him apart in some misguided burst of chivalry. There’s really no way for you to win that one.”