“Are you okay with this?”
“I want to be with you.” She reached for the hem on her tank top and started to lift it up.
“Hang on,” he said, stilling her hand. “I haven’t been with anyone since you. This may not last real long.”
“I haven’t either.” She answered the question he’d been longing to ask.
He felt such relief he didn’t know what to say. At least she’d been spared the torture of rape.
He slid his hand under her tank top, sliding it up her warm skin until it covered a breast. She was smaller now. Her ribs seemed to protrude through her skin. He made a mental note to feed her more. He watched her eyes as he squeezed a nipple, rolling it tightly between his fingers. Just like the Kate he remembered, she responded by arching her back against him. Leaning over, he captured her mouth in another deep kiss. Her arms wrapped around him and he felt her hands on his bare back. She was snuggled into the v of his thighs and it felt way too good.
Her tank top disappeared and his mouth covered a nipple. He ran his fingers down her neck, past her collarbone, and then stopped on her other breast, carefully squeezing and pulling on her nipple there.
“Luke…..” Her voice broke off and she arched her back again, intimately rubbing herself against him.
He reached down under the covers and slid her panties down her legs, then reached for his own boxers, quickly discarding them. Now they were flesh to flesh. He wanted this time to be slow, memorable. But he’d been without her for too long. He used his fingers to separate her, to help guide himself in. The invasion was quick, a sudden thrust and he was buried inside her. His head fell forward and he almost lost it right there. He’d been without this for too long. He’d dreamt about her too many times and woken up unsatisfied. But this was real. She was here and he was inside her.
He moved slowly, his arms bracing the brunt of his weight so he didn’t crush her. He felt her legs wrap around his waist and he couldn’t hold back anymore. Over and over, he moved against her, hoping she would be with him, but knowing he wasn’t going to be able to hold back.
“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t stop it.” His eyes shut and the release pounded through him violently. He could feel her clenching tightly around him and realized she’d been right there with him. The aftershocks went on for several seconds and then slowed down to a low hum. Breathless, he looked down at her. She looked relaxed and satisfied.
“I love you, Blue.”
Her eyes snapped open and she smiled after a moment. “I love you too.”
He grinned, his mouth still against hers. “I don’t want to move, this feels too good.”
“Then don’t.” She held him to her, burying her head in his neck.
For the time being, it was like no one could touch them.
“So how do you feel about having more kids?”
The question obviously startled her because she tensed.
He lifted his head and looked down at her. “I didn’t use anything.”
“Oh.” She smiled halfway. “You mean we could have another Hallie.”
“Maybe. Or a boy would be cool.”
“I’d like to have another baby.”
“Thank God.” He withdrew and turned over onto his back, taking her with him. She sprawled out over the top of him, her head resting against his chest. “I suppose I should have asked you first how you felt about that. I just couldn‘t think straight at the time.”
“Me either,” she agreed, her fingers tracing a circle through the light coat of hair on his chest. “It took us a while to get pregnant last time anyway. I doubt if one time will do it.”
“Really?” He lifted his hand and let it slide up the inside of her thigh. “Maybe we should do it again then.”
She smiled at that. “Maybe we should.”
TWENTY
Kate watched as Luke flipped burgers on the grill. Nate stood next to him, nursing a beer. The two looked so much alike it wasn’t hard to tell they were brothers. Nate was an inch or so taller and a little smaller in build but they both shared the same black hair and blue eyes. She hadn’t seen them together in so long, she’d almost forgotten how much they resembled each other.
Across the yard, Suz sat, a glass of lemonade in her hand as she watched the twins play on Hallie’s swing set. The two little tow headed children were just as cute as they had been at birth. Kate remembered her and Luke flying to California to meet his new niece and nephew. That had been right after they’d gotten married. It seemed like yesterday, yet it had been five long years.
Hallie sat on the back steps, a dog treat in her hand. She was showing Sara the new trick she’d taught Bentley. He could stand on his hind legs and beg now. Quite proud, Hallie beamed. Sara congratulated her and gave her a little hug. Kate felt the green monster rearing its ugly head and tamped down on it. This had been her idea. She’d been the one who’d suggested letting Hallie have some time with the woman. She would have to be mature about this. To be honest, she liked Sara. She’d been the one to open the door when Sara had arrived. They had staked each other out and then eventually exchanged pleasantries. It had only been awkward for a few seconds before Hallie had run into the room and launched herself at Sara.
“This must be hard for you.”
Kate turned around and her eyes met Suz’s. Suz Garrison was a very pretty woman, petite with large almond colored eyes and a mop of black hair that she kept short and neatly styled in a curly pageboy. She had the kind of laugh lines in her face that Kate wished she had, instead of her own dark circles. Kate had always liked Suz. They hadn’t been really close before, because at the time Kate and Luke had first gotten married, Suz and Nate had lived in California.
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right things. I don’t know if I could be as strong as you are.”
“I just want them to be happy. Both Hallie and Luke.”
“You make him happy,” Suz said, smiling. “It’s only a matter of time before she warms up to you too.”
“We talked yesterday. It was nice.” Kate watched her daughter some more. “She’s the mirror image of her father.”
“Yeah, she’s a spitfire too.”
Kate smiled at that.
“So how are you? I was going to stop over before now but I wanted to give you and Luke some time.”
Kate sensed that Suz wasn’t trying to pry, but just showing familial concern. “I’m doing better every day. Some times of the day are harder than others.”
“Understandably. It’s a lot of adjusting. And a lot of coping. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know, Kate. I know we weren’t close before because I lived so far away but I’m here now and I want to help.” She smiled sympathetically as she looked over to where Luke was at the barbecue. “He’s had a real hard time the past few years. I’ve never seen a guy fall apart like that. It’s like the light in his eyes just died. And then you came back and so did the light. He really loves you.”
“I love him too. That’s what is getting me through this.”
“I’m just so happy for you guys.” Suz reached forward and gave Kate hug. At first Kate froze, unprepared for the affection. She wasn’t used to hugging anyone but Luke. Gradually she felt more comfortable and let herself hug Suz back.
“Burgers are done,” Nate said, coming up behind them. “How about if you women come in and help me get the salads out?”
“We are having a woman moment, Nate,” Suz said, giving her husband a stern look.
“Yeah, but you basically look like you’re strangling her and I thought I would rescue her before you finish her off.”
Suz swatted at her husband as they all walked toward the kitchen.
Luke took a swallow of beer and reached down to turn off the barbecue.
“So how are you?”
At the sound of Sara’s voice, he looked up. She was standing right in front of his grill, her arms folded over her chest.
“I’m good. You?” He looked around
for Nate, Kate, or even Suz, but they were alone. Where had the kids gone, damn it all?
“I’m okay. I was hoping you were going to call me.”
He couldn’t tell how she meant the comment but it came off as a come on and he let it slide. She knew Kate was back. She wasn’t a stupid girl. He must be imagining things.
“So I guess you didn’t really think calling me was a good idea,” she figured out for herself.
“Not really,” he said honestly. He took another swallow of beer.
“Why?”
Why? She hadn’t really asked him that, had she?
“I mean why wouldn’t you at least call me and let me know what was going on. All I know is what I got from the police and off of TV. It made me feel kind of bad, Luke. I thought we were better friends than that.”
“I haven’t had time to call anyone,” he said, for lack of anything better. She was making him nervous and he really wished everyone that had gone inside would come back out quickly.
“So we’re over. Just like that.”
He raised a brow. “I have a wife.”
“You didn’t last week.”
He frowned, the look of determination on her face making him uneasy. In fact, in a way, he was getting ticked off. She was acting a far cry from the way she’d acted at his house the last time she’d been here. Where was the sweet, understanding girl who was planning to wait until he was ready?
“I came here for Hallie. I shouldn’t be talking to you, I guess. I was just hurt that you didn’t care enough about me to at least call.”
“Listen, I realize that last week I led you to believe that maybe at some point we would have a relationship. I apologize for that. I didn’t know about Kate, Sara. I didn’t know she was alive.”
“So now that she is you’re just going to go back to the way things were before she disappeared? Just like that?”
“Pretty much,” he said simply. He was beginning to regret his decision to allow her to be around Hallie. He wasn’t sure she was going to be as much of an asset to the situation as Kate had thought. “I love my wife. You accepted that last week.”
“That was when I thought she was dead.” The words sounded cruel. Apparently Sara had another side to her. “I assumed when you let Hallie call me and invite me over, that we would be able to talk about things,” she continued. “That’s why I thought I was here.”
“You thought wrong,” he said without preamble. “I don’t want my daughter to get hurt so if you’re just using her to get to me, you may as well hit the road now. I’m not leaving my wife.”
Her expression soured significantly. “I never asked you to.”
“Clearly this was a bad idea. Maybe you should go.”
“Daddy?”
Luke turned and saw Hallie carrying her playground ball, her eyes confused as she looked from him to Sara and then back again.
“Tell Sara goodbye, she’s got to go.”
“But she just got here.”
“I know, baby. She has plans.” He looked at Sara, his expression grim.
“I thought you were going to play with me,” Hallie whined, her expression sad.
“I’m sorry, Hallie. Maybe we can play another time.” Sara had the decency to lean over and give Hallie a hug. “You have my phone number. You can call me if you want to.”
“But I—”
“Goodbye, Luke.” Sara headed for the front gate, never looking back.
Hallie immediately burst into tears, having no idea what had just happened. “You were mean to her, weren’t you?”
“I wasn’t mean to her, Hal.” He crouched down and reached for her but she turned and ran into the house. He sighed, wishing he’d never met Sara Hendrickson. It pained him to think that he’d come very close to getting seriously involved with her.
“What happened?”
He stood up straight, his eyes locking with Kate’s. “Sara left.”
“Why?”
“Because I asked her to.” He picked up the barbecue scrubber and went to work on the grill.
“Because she still has feelings for you?”
He didn’t answer. There was no answer to that question that wouldn’t get him into trouble.
“I’m sorry. Inviting her here was a bad idea.” She walked over and stood next to him, reaching for his hand and stilling the scrubber. “I thought she cared about Hallie.”
“Yeah, so did I.” He squeezed her hand and then went back to scrubbing the barbecue. He was unbelievably furious right then. Furious at himself for allowing someone like Sara to manipulate herself into his and Hallie’s life. Now his daughter was paying for his mistake.
“She’ll be okay, Luke. Like you told me. She’s young and resilient.”
“I didn’t want to have to do that. I sure didn’t want Hallie to see me sending her away. Now she’s blaming me.”
“It will blow over.” She grinned halfway. “I’m a little surprised that you would pick someone like that to potentially get involved with. She doesn’t really seem like your type.”
“Apparently my women instincts are a little rusty. Give me a break, I’ve been out of practice.” It felt better to laugh about things than to dwell on them. Of course now he was going to have to talk to Hallie and that wasn’t going to be fun.
“Hey!” Nate called from the doorway, interrupting them. “That detective is here to see you, Luke.”
This was interesting. The detective never had returned Luke’s phone call yesterday and now he was just stopping by?
“Maybe he’s found Louis,” Kate said, following him into the house. The minute Luke saw the detective’s face, he knew that wasn’t the case.
“Mr. and Mrs. Garrison,” Detective Archer said, from where Nate had seated him on the couch. “I apologize for just dropping in like this. Obviously I’ve interrupted a family get-together.”
“Just my brother and his wife.” Luke narrowed his gaze. Clearly, something wasn’t right here. He could tell just by the nervous expression on Archer’s usually smug face.
“I’m afraid I need to ask you a few questions.” He directed this at Kate. “Have you seen Karen McPherson in the last twenty-four hours?”
Kate looked stunned. “No. I haven’t seen her since the afternoon in front of the daycare. Why?”
“Because her body was found down by the bus depot early this morning.”
Luke felt the wind knocked out of him. Shit. She was dead.
Kate gasped, the color draining from her face. Luke would have consoled her, had he not been in shock himself.
“I’m sorry. I know this is a surprise to you.” He looked over at Luke. “I’m aware that you bailed Ms. McPherson out of jail a couple of days ago. Was that the last time you saw her?”
He couldn’t lie, even though he wanted to. And damn it, he really wanted to. The look of devastation on Kate’s face was bad enough and now it was about to get worse. “I saw her yesterday morning.”
As he expected, Kate gave him a surprised look.
“Why in the hell would you bail that bitch out of jail?” Nate wanted to know, obviously angry in his own right. “What were you thinking?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you saw Karen?” Kate asked, confused.
“I didn’t tell you because she was messing with me. She came here to the house threatening Hallie.”
“She threatened your daughter?” The detective stood up, pulling out his notebook. “What did she say?”
“She said Louis found her at the bus depot and tried to kill her. She told me he was going to mess with my daughter. I got angry and I tossed her out on her ass.”
“Physically?” Archer asked skeptically.
“I’m not proud to say that yes, I put my hands on her. I’m not going to listen to anyone threaten my daughter.” Luke avoided Kate’s gaze. He wasn’t ready to see the disappointment he knew would be in her eyes. “I didn’t hurt her. I just grabbed her by the neck for a minute. Then I let her go and she walked away.” Te
lling the story made it sound even worse and he found himself feeling like a creep.
“You saw her walk away?”
Luke narrowed his eyes. “No, I slammed the door in her face. I only assume she walked away.”
“Hm.” Archer made a few more notes. “And you knew nothing about this visit?” He directed this at Kate, who shook her head, still in shock.
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to upset you. She was playing a game, Kate. I could see it in her eyes.” Luke knew the words sounded lame . Still, they had to be said.
“That the last time you saw her?” Archer prodded impatiently.
“Yes,” Luke said on a sigh. He was deeply regretting losing his cool with Karen McPherson. He realized now that he should have called the cops and had them deal with her.
“She had no money on her, no credit cards,” Archer said thoughtfully. “But then she likely didn’t have any of those things before she was attacked, so it’s hard to tell what fate she met up with.”
“He got to her. She became expendable,” Kate said, almost whispering.
Archer frowned. “How can you be sure of that? She could have been turning tricks and met the wrong man.”
“Louis was going to kill me. That’s why Karen brought me here. He was tired of torturing me and he just wanted to be rid of me. Karen waited until he left and brought me here.” Kate looked up at Luke with tears in her eyes. “Why couldn’t you have tried to help her?”
“I did, Kate. I bailed her out and I gave her money. She didn’t take the rest of the advice I gave her. She stayed around too long when she should have immediately high tailed it for greener pastures.”
“She’s lucky he didn’t beat the crap out of her,” Nate scoffed, a scowl on his face. “You accusing my brother of something?” The lawyer in him addressed Detective Archer. “Because if you are, he’s remaining silent until I have a chance to confer with him. I’m an attorney.”
“No one’s accusing him of anything,” Archer assured them. “I found it odd that he bailed her out of jail that’s all. And now, barely twenty-four hours later, she’s dead.”
“That sounds like an accusation to me,” Nate snapped.
“He bailed her out because I asked him to,” Kate said quietly. “I wanted her to have a fresh start.”
Root of All Evil Page 19