by Cindy Kirk
Joel cocked his head. There was a beat of silence. “Are you sure?”
She slipped her arm through his. “Absolutely positively sure.”
He laughed and offered her his arm.
Once Kate reached the last step, she breathed a sigh of relief, then moved to the rail. Although the mountain property was surrounded by trees, up here she had an unobstructed view of Snow King. “This is amazing.”
Joel placed the light on the deck, then came up from behind her, slipping his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. “A-ma-zing.”
Somehow she didn’t think he was talking about the view. As Kate arched her neck, scenery was the last thing on her mind. All she could think was how good Joel smelled and how right it felt to have his body next to hers. She wondered if he’d ever made love under a star-filled sky. If not, perhaps they could both make tonight a first.
He must have read her mind because he gave her a deep, toe-curling kiss, then tugged her to the plaid blanket he’d spread in the center of the deck.
Kate settled herself on the soft flannel with a casualness at odds with the anticipation coursing through her. “How do you know about this place?”
Joel sat beside her, looping an arm over her shoulders, his fingers dangling just above her right breast. “The home needs a lot of updating on the inside and they wanted a bid.”
She gazed into his eyes. Could he hear her heart pounding? “I didn’t know your company did remodeling.”
“New-home construction is our primary focus.” His gaze remained on her lips. “But when it gets slow, having indoor work keeps the subcontractors I work with happy.”
“Well, I’m happy you found this place.” Kate liked it here. Liked being alone with Joel. Liked knowing that she could kiss him whenever she wanted.
“We have a good ten minutes before the fireworks start.”
Was that a smile lurking in his hazel depths? Kate trailed a finger down his arm, her gaze never leaving his. “Any suggestions on how we pass the time?”
“We could talk.”
Her heart plummeted in her chest. She dropped her hand to her side. “I guess we could.”
He chuckled then, a low pleasant rumbling sound. “Or we could get naked.”
Before she could respond, Joel placed an openmouthed kiss on her neck. The mere touch of his smooth, moist lips sent blood surging through Kate’s body.
“You are so beautiful.” His voice was soft and gentle as a caress. His hand slid beneath her shirt.
Kate’s skin turned to gooseflesh and anticipation skittered up her spine.
“So soft,” he said in a low soothing voice, rubbing his palm lightly over her skin. His fingers were strong, yet gentle, and her entire body tingled at his touch. Warm shivers of sheer pleasure coursed through her veins as several loud booms shattered the stillness. A spray of glittering gold stars rained down on them.
“Want to continue? Or would you prefer we stop for the fireworks?” His deep voice held a teasing lilt.
“Just steer clear of the toes,” was all Kate could manage.
Thankfully Joel understood. While scattering kisses across her shoulders and up her neck, he continued to gently move his hand over her lower back. With each slow stoke, each unhurried touch, her desire grew. When he slid his hand upward, she moaned and arched her spine against him.
He played her like a fine violin, drawing her out, making her respond as she’d never responded before. The darkness and solitude lent a dreamlike air. By the time the sky over Snow King was painted in broad swaths of red, white and blue, their clothes were strewn across the deck. And the only fireworks Kate cared about were the ones she found in Joel Dennes’s arms.
* * *
After ten nights together, Kate had to admit it felt strange locking up alone. She liked falling asleep in Joel’s arms. Liked waking up to find his leg flung possessively over hers. Liked making love before she’d had her morning coffee.
Today, just after she’d added cream and sugar to her morning brew, Joel had called to tell her the morning hadn’t been the same without her. Satisfaction flowed like warm honey through her veins. It appeared seeing her every day had become a habit for him, too.
Kate couldn’t imagine going days or, gulp, weeks without talking to Joel. Soon that would be a reality, but she refused to worry about that now.
Because she and Mitzi had agreed to meet at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce’s monthly event for young professionals, Kate happily accepted Joel’s offer of a ride. With one stipulation. They had to stop at Carl’s Jewelry on the way.
Her day quickly sped by and Kate had just finished with her last patient when Joel texted he was waiting in the parking lot. On the drive downtown, conversation flowed easily as she updated him on her day and he updated her on his.
Next to being in bed with him, this was what she liked the most. She couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt around him. When he pulled into the parking lot and shut off the truck, Kate impulsively leaned over and kissed him.
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.” Joel 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 a
nd 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 the bag and the necklace slid into her open palm. “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,” Joel 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 extraspecial 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. Unfortunately that would mean 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 looked interested. In fact, 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 all 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 the pretty doctor 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 pretty waitress 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 all 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 pretty well 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.”