“What?”
“Umm...I said, I’ve got some in my purse, I think.”
Kate came back with aspirin and a glass of water. She sat gingerly on the bed and flicked on the television. Jill raised herself on her elbow.
“I can’t believe you’re functioning. Right now I’m fighting every urge not to collapse in a heap and sleep the rest of the day. How do you do it?”
“Must be all those years in Italy. I drank so much wine, I must be immune.”
When was I in Italy? Was it during school? Have Sam and I ever taken trips there?
Jill didn’t comment, so Kate dismissed her thoughts. Things were so muddled this morning. Her mind could be playing more tricks on her. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starved. I’m ordering one of everything they have on the menu.” Kate smiled.
“Whatever.” The bathroom door closed behind a very hung over Jill.
Although her head still throbbed, Kate felt fine. Without warning, a flash of memory came to her. She didn’t dare move as the movie played in her head. She’d never really drunk wine before then. She’d loved the taste but remembered it had gone straight to her head. She was laughing, weaving her way down some cobblestone street, locking arms with a man in a suit.
Was it Sam or the dark man?
She squinted, as if it would make the picture clearer. That small gesture was enough to disturb the thought. As quickly as it came, the image vanished.
“Damn.” She shook her head to clear it. “Oh, double damn.” She put both hands to the side of her head to calm the pounding hangover.
“Food. I need food and coffee.” After calling room service, she lay back on the bed thinking of all the things they’d purchased. It wasn’t long before her eyes wandered to the beautiful black dress hanging on the back of the door.
The restaurant. Had she made a complete fool out of herself? She’d wanted to see the dark man’s face up close. She’d felt positive he was the guy. If she hadn’t tripped into the waiter, she may have caught up to the dark man.
“Thank goodness I’ll never see those people again.”
Chasing around after some guy from her imagination couldn’t be healthy. She needed to put all this nonsense behind her. Nothing would stand in the way of her marriage, not this time. She smiled when she thought of getting home to her husband and making up for her one night away.
Ah, yes, she did have some serious making up to do.
“Your turn, smiley.” Jill emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her head. “Uh-oh. What’s going on in that brain of yours? Do I need to be worried?”
“Nothing to worry about at all. I’m all under control after that horrendous night.”
“About that...”
“No, you don’t need to bring it up. I know how foolish I behaved and how crazy the whole thing must have looked. I was obsessed in the most bizarre way. Whatever came over me left in a cab with that beautiful couple, end of subject.” She flashed a quick smile, shrugged, and darted into the bathroom. She didn’t want to lose this newfound courage.
Hours later, Kate followed Jill to the elevator, repeating over and over the importance of forgetting the dark man. Whatever the connection, she had to give it up for the sake of her marriage. Glancing once more at the lavish burgundy wallpaper with its gold accents and beautiful crystal light fixtures, she knew regardless of last night this had been the break she needed.
“Boy, it’s a good thing you thought ahead and had the bell boy take our bags down.” She closed her eyes, taking in a deep cleansing breath then stopped short. Her eyes sprang open. Out of sheer fright, she inhaled slower, deeper. “That smell, I’d know it anywhere.”
Although she couldn’t put a name to the distinct fragrance, she knew without hesitation the deep, spicy scent belonged to him.
As she exhaled, she crossed her arms over her clenching stomach. No, she’d promised herself she would let go of this fantasy. Inhaling once more, she tried to figure out where the scent had come from. If she followed the smell, it might lead her to the man. Putting a hand against the wall for support, she knew she needed to follow Jill, but her legs wouldn’t move. She might never have another chance. Thoughts of the dark man consumed her. She never heard the elevator bell.
“C’mon, Kate. We’ve got to head for home.” Jill called as she stepped through the doors. When Kate didn’t follow, she saw the blur of Jill’s head poking back out. “Kate, what’s going on? I don’t like that look in your eyes.”
“Can you smell it?” Kate called, starting to back down the hall.
“Smell what?” Jill stepped back out of the elevator, letting the doors close behind her. “What is it? You’re really freaking me out.”
“He was here, Jill. The dark man was here, in this hotel, on this floor.” Kate’s eyes traveled from one end of the hall to the other. She lowered her voice when Jill stood beside her. “He could be here in any one of these rooms.”
“Not again.” Jill dropped her purse and coat at Kate’s feet. She put her hands on Kate’s shoulders so they were looking eye to eye. “I thought you were finished with this dark man baloney. What were your exact words? ‘It’s gone now...left in the cab’ oh yeah, let’s not forget, ‘end of subject.’ Does that ring any bells with you?”
“Don’t you smell his cologne?” Jill removed her hands, and both women sniffed the air.
“Sure. I smell some really expensive stuff, smells kind of good, actually.”
“It’s his.”
“Stop it.” The firmness of Jill’s tone made Kate blink. “You don’t know that for sure. You’ll drive yourself crazy if you keep putting yourself through this.”
“Maybe I will, but I know I’m right. He’s here, damn it.” She stomped her foot on the carpet. Then, as if a light bulb went off, she ran back to the room next to theirs. She skimmed her hand down the door, stopping just above the doorknob. “He could have been here, next to us, all night.”
“And if he was? What would you have done?” Jill marched over and pulled Kate away from the door, snapping her back to reality. “Slipped through the adjoining door in your birthday suit – ‘Oh, excuse me but I think we used to have a thing going on so why don’t we fool around now so you won’t have to come back at the wrong time. You see, I want to have a baby with my husband, and I need to get you out of my system.’ ”
Jill’s snotty tone hit its mark, and Kate’s gaze shifted to the floor. “It’s not like that. I may have had an affair with him at one time, but I want to be with Sam. I just have to know what happened.”
“Come off it, Kate. For all you can remember, your dad wore that same cologne.”
Kate turned away to hide the tears from Jill. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m kind of obsessed by this.”
“Kind of? Honey, you are. Let it go. Sam is waiting for you, so let’s get home and forget all about this. I’m sure he missed you.”
“You’re right.” Kate forced a smile, hoping to convince Jill. “It’s not going to be easy to forget it, but I’ll try. I’m always going to wonder.” In her heart she knew she couldn’t let this go until she found the truth.
“There’s nothing wrong with wondering. Besides, it can be good for a relationship.” Jill elbowed her in an attempt to crack a smile.
“What?” Kate tuned back in, not sure what Jill had said.
“Listen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say anything to hurt you.” Jill’s arms circled her shoulders as she steered her back toward the elevator. “You were looking so strange. I swear, if I hadn’t stopped you, you would have gone knocking on all the doors to see who answered.”
“You’re not that far off base.” Kate tossed her a devilish grin. “I was thinking of inquiring at the front desk.” The elevator opened, and the two women stepped inside.
“You can’t be serious. You don’t even know his name.”
“Maybe if I see it or hear it, it will sound familiar.” She laughed in answer to Jill’s ‘I can’t believe you�
� look. “What? You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Why?” The elevator opened into the lobby, which was a flurry of people. As they made their way to the check out desk, Jill signaled the porter to take their bags outside.
“What if you guys were a one-night stand? Maybe he’s gone on with his life. Maybe that other woman is his wife, and you’ll be causing problems if you pop your face back into the picture. Or maybe he doesn’t want to see you again because of your involvement with Sam.” Jill handed over her credit card at the desk. “All I’m saying is, people make mistakes. Stop and think before you act. Save yourself the embarrassment. Remember the waiter?”
“Oh, all right.” Kate sighed. “I still think I should. Maybe all I need is a name anyway. No harm, no foul.” Thinking ahead to have cash ready for the valet, Kate reached for her purse strap on her shoulder, only it wasn’t there. “Ugh, Jill, I must have left my purse upstairs. Do you still have the room key? I’ll be right back.” Kate snatched the plastic keycard from her friends hand and zipped through the lobby.
Chapter Nine
Dante placed his hand on the small of Francesca’s back and guided her out of the café. His sister pulled her cashmere sweater around her shoulders when a cool breeze rushed in from across the lobby. He dropped his hand and stopped abruptly in front of the elevator doors and sniffed.
“Dante?” She turned to stand beside him, a worried expression painted on her face. “What’s wrong?”
His voice strained when he answered. “Do you smell that? It’s her. She’s here.”
Francesca placed her hand on his shoulder. “What? Oh, darling, don’t do this.”
He pointed to where they stood. “Smell, Francesca. It’s so strong, right here.” Dante felt a surge of energy he hadn’t felt in over a month. All along he’d been waiting for his men to find Kate, and she’d been foolish enough to venture back into the city. Their city.
“Dante, no.” Francesca cupped his cheek in her palm. “We don’t know where she is or if she’s even alive.”
His eyes burned into hers while the fragrance of lilies assaulted his senses. “This is her scent. She used to call it her signature fragrance.”
“Do you know how many women in this city wear perfume like this? You’re grasping at straws. Besides, why would she be here and not contact you? You know she would want to see Hope.”
At the mention of his daughter, he pounded the elevator door with his fist. “Every day I think of the fight we had when she walked out.” He clenched his jaw. “No one leaves me. They were only supposed to scare her.”
“What are you saying?” Francesca’s finely manicured hand gripped his forearm.
“I sent them after her. I wanted to prove a point. She is not in charge, I am.”
“What have you done? Dante, please tell me you didn’t kill her.”
“Katrina is very much alive. I have done nothing but to show her she cannot run from me. I am her husband. She should be loyal. We are a family.”
“She was always loyal to you. I don’t like this side of you any more than Kate did. She doesn’t want to be your wife anymore, can you blame her? How can you look at Hope every day knowing you took her mother away?”
Dante balled his fists at his side. He knew his sister spoke the truth, but just like Kate, Francesca didn’t understand the life he was trying to provide his family. Once Kate was back where she belonged, and he was as powerful as Carlo, they would see and they would be grateful to him for all of his efforts.
“Joey and Paulie told me she met some man at that bar.” He didn’t know why he said it, but he felt his sister should know the woman he’d married was not as innocent as they all thought. He clenched his jaw as he ground out, “If she planned that little rendezvous, then she got what she deserved after all.”
“Don’t talk like that. I pray they will find her.”
His hands relaxed as he thought of the finer days of his marriage and how much he truly did love Katrina. He’d play hardball if he had to in order to ensure everything went as planned without any more hiccups. “So do I, Chessie, so do I. My men are on it now, and they are getting close. The longer she stays away, the harder is it to keep this from Carlo. I need to find her before Carlo does. He will not be so forgiving. That is why I felt so strongly that perfume was Katrina’s.”
“Maybe you need some time alone back home until this is settled. Mama would enjoy having you and Hope all to herself.”
Dante exhaled, pushing his anger into the depths of his soul. Returning Katrina to their penthouse was top priority, but the stress of everything had been taking its toll. Lifting his chin up, he smoothed his mustache with his thumb and index finger down along the outer corners of his beard. “Perhaps you are right. Some time in Milan might do us all good.”
“Bene. Let us hurry and tell Hope the good news. Then we can call Mama.”
He knew his mother would be pleased they were coming. They hadn’t been home since before the separation. This trip might look good in the eyes of the court, and Carlo would certainly approve, especially if he said Katrina was meeting them there to work on some new items. In truth, the trip would be different without his wife, but Dante knew he could make all the proper appearances and smooth any rough waters within the family. Soon they would be that family again, and everything would be as it should. No lies and no misunderstandings. She would see things his way, and they would all move forward.
Dante and Francesca passed through the lobby and out the door to their awaiting limousine. He needed to get a report from his men before firming up any travel plans. All the better if Katrina could join them on a little holiday. Pulling the phone from his pocket, he prepared to set the wheels in motion.
***
Kate rushed from the elevator, triumphantly holding up her purse. Jill pointed toward the doorway, and she nodded in acknowledgement.
“This place is hopping.” Jill said when Kate reached her side. “There’s some convention this week. Every room that becomes available gets sucked up by someone stupid enough not to make reservations.”
Kate giggled. “Jill, we were one of those stupid people.”
“Real funny. Now let’s get going.”
Kate noticed the large white limousine parked a couple cars ahead of Jill’s. Her jaw dropped when she laid eyes on her dark man. He looked like he was helping someone into the vehicle. His back was turned slightly toward her, yet she could see the faint smile on his face. Her own face lost its smile when he got inside and the driver closed the door.
She had to react. She couldn’t let him get away again. Running to the back of the car, she pushed the bellhop out of the way, threw their bags inside and slammed the trunk closed. Jill looked about ready to protest so Kate shoved a wad of bills in the poor boy’s hand and ran for the driver seat.
“Get in. I’m not going to lose him this time.” Kate started the engine, leaving Jill no time for questions. Jill flew into the seat and had just buckled up when the car squealed from the curb.
“Take it easy with my car. What’s gotten into you?”
Kate quickly checked the mirror then weaved her way through traffic. “He’s in that limo, Jill, and I’m not going to lose him.”
“Oh no, not again. C’mon, I thought you were giving this whole thing up?” Jill grabbed the dash as the car shifted lanes. “Slow down, will you!”
“I can’t. I thought long and hard when I went to get my purse. Something very real went on between this guy and me. I thought I’d lost all opportunity to find out. Then I saw him get into that limo.” She zigzagged again, sending Jill slamming into the door. “I’ve got to try.”
“Can you try a little slower? If they look back and see us so obviously following them, they’re going to call the police and then we’ll be arrested. If you don’t kill us first.”
“Don’t worry.” Kate steered the car into another lane, and the limo did the same. She was gaining no ground. On
the other side of the tunnel, a piggyback tractor-trailer merged beside her. She had no choice but to back off and let him in. By the time her view was clear, the limo was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn.” She pounded the wheel with her hand. “Look around, Jill. Do you see them?”
“Kate.”
“Look, will you?”
“No, I don’t see them.”
“C’mon, it’s a humongous limo. It can’t just disappear.”
“Well, it looks like it did. Maybe this wasn’t meant to be. Maybe you had the wrong guy after all. Maybe it’s time to move forward.”
“No, I don’t think I can. He’s real. I know that was him, Jill, I know it.”
This wasn’t like her to be so determined when all her life she’d been so accepting to change and just forced herself to adapt. Now, the one time she decided to take a chance, be assertive, and her actions got her nowhere. Kate felt totally defeated.
Jill’s right. This wasn’t meant to be.
She didn’t really believe it, but somehow she was going to have to keep reminding herself until she did. “Fine. You win, Jill. Let’s go home.”
***
Sam paced until he saw the little red car coming down the drive. What could have happened last night? Why was Jill so peeved? Well, he was about to find out.
“Hiii!” Jill called in a high-pitched voice until she was close enough to squeeze him in a bear hug.
“How was shopping?” He hugged her back but she wouldn’t let him step away.
“We’ve got some talking to do jerk-off. You are not going to believe what I’ve gone through,” she hissed into his ear and then changed her tone for Kate’s benefit. “Oh, it was fan-tastic. Did you miss me, baby?” She pinched his cheek a little too hard.
“Always, Jilly,” he said between clenched teeth while rubbing the pain away. As he brushed past, he said only to her ears, “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Damn right we will.” She followed him back to the car to help unload.
“Where’s my favorite girl?” Sam opened the door to help her out. He’d missed her, and done nothing but think about kissing her. The moment she was out of the car she flew into his arms.
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