Climax: The Publicist, Book Three

by Christina George

  Crap. He missed her.

  She was gone again, on a plane back to her city and her life.

  “I’ll be out of your life, forever,” she’d said. The thought of never seeing her again— never seeing her smile or making her laugh—tore right through him.

  Nick pulled into his driveway and headed inside. He had to figure things out, but moreover, he had to go get her and never be without her again. He tossed his keys on a table in the foyer and went straight to his office to see how soon he could get a flight.

  When Nick flipped on his computer, there was a knock at the door. He decided to ignore it. The knocking persisted.

  “Damn it!” he said. Shoving his chair back, he headed for the front door and yanked it open.

  His heart slammed in his chest. It was Kate.

  “So, here’s the thing,” she smiled. “I waited for you at the beach, and I kind of knew you weren’t going to show. I mean, yesterday wasn’t too promising. So, I decided you needed more time, so I’m here for a while.”

  Nick stepped closer to her until he was standing outside in front of her. A memory rushed into his mind. It was the first time they met, in Allan’s apartment. The memory stole his breath…her smile, her excitement about life and her work.

  “Because, look, I am not giving up or going away that easily, and—”

  “Get inside,” he said, his eyes holding the irresistible hint of a smile.

  “What?”

  Nick reached past her and brushed her arm. A tingle went up her spine. His face was an inch from hers.

  “I said, get inside.”

  Kate walked in and turned. Nick slammed the door behind her and pushed her up against it. His fingers stroked her face. His eyes never left her. Then he tipped her head and lowered his mouth for a soft, sinking kiss that tasted like every promise he’d never allowed himself to dream of asking for. The feel of her lips and the smell of her, warm and with the hint of flowers, was intoxicating.

  Something slammed into his chest.

  Forever.

  Wrapping her in his arms, his kiss intensified. Pressing his mouth to hers, his tongue slipping inside, his hands exploring her body. His lips trailed to her face and her neck. A soft moan escaped Kate’s lips.

  Nick was hot and hard and strong, and Kate wrapped her arms around him and held him tight, her mouth opening under his as their lips met.

  “I love you, Kate. I’m sorry about last night. I just, I was being a fool.” His breath was ragged.

  “I love you, too.”

  Her words wrapped around his chest and squeezed hard.

  “We have a lot to figure out,” he whispered, “a lot to talk about.”

  Kate nodded, “We do, and now we have the rest of our lives to talk about it.”

  Nick smiled. The rest of their lives. Together.

  “Come upstairs with me. I have something to show you.”

  Kate smiled. Her hands reached under his shirt and felt his skin.

  “Something to show me?”

  “How much I love you.”

  EPILOGUE

  The wedding had been beautiful. Neither Kate nor Nick wanted to wait, so on New Year’s Eve, they hosted a lovely garden wedding at Nick’s home. Vivienne and Grace had flown out, as had James and Andrew. Even Dr. Ruth Ann was in attendance, telling guests she “never liked to miss a happy ending.” She and Kate had become friendly, and Kate realized that had it not been for Ruth Ann, she and Nick may have never found their way back to each other.

  They erected a tent in the backyard for dinner and dancing. It was elegantly bathed in candlelight and white flowers.

  Grace, Vivienne, and Andrew were all in her wedding party, and several weeks before, Grace had thrown Kate a bridal shower and bought everyone #teamnick t-shirts to wear for the evening.

  Kate and Nick only invited seventy-five wedding guests, because they agreed that a big wedding was not something either of them wanted. They were married at sunset and invited their family and friends to ring in the New Year with them. The band played “Auld Lang Syne,” and cannons sprayed glitter and confetti everywhere as Kate and Nick kissed, truly unaware that anyone else was there.

  One Year Later

  It seemed like Kate had been pregnant forever, and today marked her second week overdue. A few more days, and her doctor said he would need to induce. Kate lay on the bed while Nick was in the shower. She ran a hand across her very swollen tummy. She should get up, make coffee, or do something constructive, but her feet were swollen, too. Thank goodness she couldn’t see them.

  Kate looked around their apartment in the Village. They were there until the baby was born and had spent most of their time here after Kate entered her second trimester. Although they planned to make their primary home in California, Kate had a lot to wrap up before she became a mother and returned to the West Coast. Plus, Kate had her OB/GYN there—the same doctor she’d seen for years. So, both she and Nick agreed that having the baby in New York would make the most sense. Besides, Kate was never one to slow down. There were book deals to wrap up, and she needed to make plans for long periods of being with her family in California and running the company remotely.

  Kate promoted Lulu, who was now managing the office, taking submissions, and working on a few books. She wasn’t a full editor yet, but she was on her way. The new editor Kate hired to take Mac’s place had worked out beautifully and had signed a number of books before the ink was even dry on the contract.

  “Honey,” Nick said as he popped his head out of the bathroom draped in a towel, “I’m going to run to the stores and check them out. I’ll be back in two hours at the most.”

  “That’s fine,” she sighed and then said, “I feel like I have bad pregnancy karma.”

  Nick walked over and sat down on the bed, kissing her tummy. “Any day now. I can feel he is ready to make his appearance.”

  Kate smiled, looked down, and touched his hair. Nick had been amazing throughout her entire pregnancy, making sure she lacked for nothing. They agreed on just about everything, including the fact that they wanted the baby’s sex to be a surprise.

  “How do you know it’s a boy?” she smiled, her hand on his face.

  Nick smiled—a big, broad, California smile. “I just know. I can sense it.” He winked at her, “Now what’s this about your having bad pregnancy karma?”

  Kate struggled to push herself up her elbows. She really was big. I mean, like twins big, but an ultrasound confirmed months ago there was just one baby in there. Nick helped her sit up, pushing pillows under her back.

  She sighed, “I used to tell authors who wrote about being pregnant and comparing it to being a beached whale was being cliché. Let me tell you, there’s nothing cliché about it. I feel like I should send them all apology letters.”

  Nick grinned, “Babe, have I told you how beautiful you are?” He kissed her, and Kate melted, as she always did.

  “You’re going to make a great dad,” she whispered and kissed him again. “Now, help me swing these swollen things I used to call legs over the side of the bed so I can get up and get some work done.”

  Nick helped her up, and then she stood in front of him. He leaned down to her tummy and said, “Hey, give your mom a break and get busy being born, okay, Son?” Kate stroked his hair.

  “I hope that helps.” She smiled.

  Nick kissed her on the lips. “I won’t be gone long.”

  Kate shrugged into a robe, which she couldn’t really fasten. “Sweetheart, don’t worry about me. Your sister will be here in a hour, and we’re going baby shopping. Doc says walking helps. I’ll be fine.” She threw him a smile.

  “All the same,” he said, pulling on his jacket. “I don’t want to be too far away, just in case.” He kissed her again and she followed him into the living room.

  Kate ran a hand across her tummy, and that’s when she felt it—like she had just peed all over their rug. Water everywhere.

  “Nick,” Kate looked up at him, �
��I think you should stay home and call the doctor.” Then the first contraction hit, not hard, but hard enough that she flinched. “I think I’m having the baby.”

  . . . .

  Gregory Allan Lavigne was born at twelve minutes past nine that evening. He weighed almost nine pounds. Named after Nick’s father, and of course, the man who brought them together, Allan Lavigne. Grace was called on their way to the hospital and got there within minutes of Kate arriving. Vivienne was there, too. As soon as Nick sent a text to Andrew, he and James hopped on a plane and arrived that evening, right after Gregory was born.

  . . . .

  Mac hesitated for a moment before he got into the elevator. Maybe this wasn’t a great idea, he thought, and then stepped inside.

  Thankfully, the elevator was empty because he pretty much filled it up with the dozen balloons he was carrying, as well as a very (very) big teddy bear that had a blue sash, which read “Congratulations” on it. He hit the third floor: Maternity. His heart kicked up. It had been what, a year? No, it had been longer than that since he’d seen Kate. It was at Vivienne’s book launch, and he’d showed up slightly drunk and picked a fight with Nick.

  Not his most shining hour.

  He’d heard that Kate had delivered the night before and something beyond anything he felt he could control compelled him to drop by to just wish her well. Just a friendly visit, he convinced himself.

  The elevator doors slid open and he walked out, dragging the balloons behind him. The nurse’s station was manned by one nurse who seemed a bit frantic. When he approached her, she smiled briefly and said, “I’ll be right with you, sir.”

  “Thanks,” Mac said, setting the bear down in a chair. He took up all of it. “I can tell from the seventies baby swag you haven’t done this much.”

  A women’s voice startled him from behind. Her Texas drawl was unmistakable. Mac turned and observed a slightly overweight woman wearing a light blue polyester pant suit. Before he had a chance to ask her who the hell she was, she said, “You here to see Kate Mitchell?” And then she smiled, “I mean Kate Mitchell Lavigne.”

  The name cut through him, and despite the fact that their wedding photos had been all over publishing blogs he read, it was still a bitter pill to swallow.

  “And you are?” he asked, his voice tight.

  “Dr. Ruth Ann Wilson, friend of Kate and Nick. The doctor smiled, “And you’re MacDermott Ellis.”

  Mac blinked, “How do you know me?” He looked around to the nurse, who was still busy. He really needed to get away from this woman and see Kate. Just for a minute, just to say hi and wish her well and maybe see the baby. His gut twisted…

  Ruth Ann laughed. “Oh, Lord, who doesn’t know you? I mean, you are every bit as smokin’ in person as you are in pictures,” she added with a wink.

  Mac turned back to the nurse, clearly annoyed with whoever this know-it-all was. “Miss,” he said, trying to get the nurse’s attention. She was clicking something on a computer and taking a file from a doctor.

  “I need to know Kate Mitchell’s room, please.” he asked, intentionally leaving her married name off.

  “Don’t do it, Mac,” Ruth Ann said behind him, her voice low.

  Mac turned to the polyester clad woman. “Ma’am,” he said, his voice sharp, “this isn’t any of your business.”

  “Kate Mitchell Lavigne,” she said, emphasizing Kate’s married name, “is my business.” Dr. Ruth Ann lowered her voice and said, “I was her therapist.”

  Mac leveled a stare at her.

  “Yes, Mac Ellis. I’m the reason she finally came to her senses.” The doctor smiled, “Well, that’s not true. You’re the reason.” She pointed at him, her finger touching his shirt. “I just helped it along.”

  “This is none of your business. Kate and I are friends.”

  Dr. Ruth Ann looked him, incredulous. “You and Kate are not friends, Mac. Whatever delusion you have about dropping in and wishing her well and trying to spark something with her are just that, delusions.”

  Mac opened his mouth to protest, but the doctor continued.

  “You are handsome. So handsome, in fact, that every female within a ten miles radius can feel her hormones kick up a notch just knowing you’re in the vicinity.” Ruth Ann narrowed her eyes. “Your good looks get you a free ride to do a lot of things you shouldn’t, Mac.”

  Mac turned to the nurse again. The woman said, “She’s in room 3017, sir.”

  “Excellent, thank you.” Mac threw her a smile and the woman seemed to melt in front of him.

  “See?” Ruth Ann pointed to the nurse who turned every shade of red. “She’s about thirty seconds away from dropping her panties.” Then she smiled at the nurse, “I mean no disrespect, just trying to point out something to this clueless man.”

  She turned back to Mac. “Leave her alone,” she said firmly. There was no smile this time.

  Mac could feel his palms sweating. Suddenly, he felt silly holding these balloons, standing here talking to this ridiculous woman.

  “You don’t know anything about what really happened or how I loved her. Love her,” he added quickly.

  Ruth Ann shook her head, “I do know, Mac, and I know it hurts. And I know you don’t get why she didn’t come back to you, why she couldn’t forgive you the ultimate sin of cheating on her. “

  Mac threw a side-glance to the nurse to see if she was listening. Best not to have any witnesses to being taken down by the polyester queen. “I’m not discussing my private life with you.”

  Ruth Ann clucked her tongue, “You don’t need to. I can read you like a book.” She grinned, “If you’ll pardon the pun.” She added a wink.

  He grabbed the teddy bear and Ruth Ann said, “There are some things you can never make right, Mac. You had your time with Kate, and I’m sure it was great. But it’s over now, and you need to accept that and leave her and her husband alone.”

  Husband. The word burned through his mind. That was supposed to be him with Kate, married to Kate.

  His life.

  Not Nick’s. But he’d screwed up one time too many, and God or the universe or whoever was running things decided there were no more second chances.

  Suddenly, Mac felt completely deflated.

  Gone.

  It was all gone. Everything good in his life was there in room 3017, but it no longer belonged to him.

  The thought almost choked him.

  “Mac?” Ruth Ann said softly.

  “I just want her to be happy,” he said, his voice brittle.

  “She will be now, Mac. She is, in fact, happier than I’ve ever seen her. Nick loves her in a way that you never could.”

  Mac hesitated for a moment, and then he took a deep breath, set the bear back down, handed the balloons to Ruth Ann, and silently walked off down the hall and to the bank of elevators.

  Something was pressing against his chest. Grief? Loss? Yes, it was all of it swirling around inside him. The feeling gripped him and his eyes burned. The doors slid open and he stepped inside, almost grateful to be leaving that floor. He hit the button for the eighth floor. He thought of Kate and her new life, her son, her husband, and the things that lay ahead for them. He envied them and their future, untainted by bad decisions. The thought came unbidden and it filled his throat with tears.

  He’d lost in a way that he had never expected he would. He had loved Kate to the point that, even so far removed from what they once had, it left him breathless.

  The doors opened on the eighth floor: Oncology. He stepped briskly down the hall and turned into room 8021.

  Carolyn’s room.

  She was there for another checkup. She’d had surgery and had been given the all-clear. The tumor had shrunk to a small enough size that they could operate. Whatever Dr. Wong had done, not to mention the clinic in Paris, had given her a second chance at her life.

  She was resting on the bed. The checkups, which were actually scans, took a better part of the day. When he walked in, she w
oke up.

  “Hey, Beautiful,” he threw her a painful smile and something twisted in his gut. The memory of being so near Kate and yet so far removed from her life came to him unbidden, and he swallowed hard to lessen the pain.

  It didn’t work.

  Mac smiled, pulled up a chair, and sat beside her. “We’re breaking you out of here shortly, and it looks like this is the last time you’ll need to see this place for a while.

  “Mac, I never thanked you,” she said, her voice slightly worn from exhaustion. Although she was doing well, she was often tired. The doctor assured them it was a byproduct of the surgery and her recovery.

  “For what?” he blinked.

  “You gave up your entire life to help me. You gave me Paris, and you gave me another chance when everyone else had written me off.”

  He shook his head, “It’s nothing that any cheating bastard ex-husband wouldn’t do.”

  Carolyn coughed out a small laugh. “You really are a wonderful dichotomy, MacDermott Ellis.” She squeezed his hand softly, “I have loved you my entire adult life, and you’ve been the best part of everything I remember.”

  Mac was a little surprised by her words, although with Carolyn’s illness had come a lot of forgiveness. They’d talked a lot about what had gone wrong between them. Still, being called the best part of everything didn’t sit well with him. “Don’t make me out to be a hero, because I’m not. We had a lot of bad days, Carolyn,” Mac said sternly.

  She nodded, “We did, but you gave me so much, and now here you are.” She reached up and put her hand on his face. “Here you are…”

  Mac thought about Kate and the days they’d shared. He thought about life and the decisions we all make and the roads we pave. The long, twisted path that he’d been on for much of his life had led him right back to where he’d started. Maybe this was where he was always meant to be.

  . . . .