by Susan Fox
The woman shivered. “You worry about them, but what can you do? It’s not like they’re going to listen to their parents’ advice.”
Cutting into his juicy prime rib—glad he hadn’t made Dhiraj vegetarian—Nav heard the concern in her voice. He thought about how he forever butted heads with his own parents. “I guess there’s an inevitable tension between the generations,” he said slowly.
Maggie nodded. “When they’re little, children depend on us completely and we protect them. As they get older, they want to be independent and we still want to protect them, even though we know they have to separate from us.”
“It’s tough when that separation means rejecting everything their parents stand for,” Tim said ruefully.
“What their parents stand for may not be right for them,” Nav said.
Maggie glanced at him, gaze sharp. “That sounds like a personal observation, Dhiraj.”
“Didn’t you say you work in the family business?” Kat asked, a teasing gleam in her eye. “I assume that’s what your parents wanted you to do?”
Damn, she’d caught him. He’d been reacting as Nav, not Dhiraj. Slowly he chewed a bite of the succulent rosemary-flavored beef, stalling while he decided what to say. This conversation interested him, so he decided to give Dhiraj a brother who was like Nav.
“I am the oldest son and yes, in terms of labels, I’m the good son.” As, in fact, Nav had been until he’d rejected his parents’ plans. “My brother is the black sheep.”
He’d never told Kat much about his upbringing. If she knew he’d left behind wealth and privilege to become, in essence, a starving artist, she might have thought he was nuts. Or felt sorry for him. But now, as Dhiraj, he could tell his story sideways, through a made-up brother.
“He doesn’t go along with what your parents want?” Maggie asked.
“He did for a while. It’s hard not to, the way we were raised. Respect for your parents is a strong tradition. But the things our parents stand for aren’t things he relates to. Commerce, wealth, power, status.”
No wonder Nav used to believe he was adopted; he’d been so different from his parents.
Kat nodded, expression thoughtful. “It’s hard when they want you to follow in their footsteps and you can’t relate.”
He touched her arm. “You said your older sister was the brainiac. Did that make for more or less pressure on you?”
“Uh…” She put down her fork and took a sip of wine.
So often, she avoided this kind of conversation, but now she seemed to be thinking seriously about his question. He loved seeing this new openness in her.
“Different pressure,” she said slowly. “Theresa took up so much of our parents’ attention. She fast-tracked school, was a brilliant academic, and that’s what our parents wanted.”
“Did she choose the same career as one of your parents?” Maggie asked.
“No, but they’re very proud of her. She’s a world-renowned sociologist.”
“Is she happy?” Nav asked. How nice it would be to pursue the career you wanted with your parents’ blessing.
“Very.” A pause. “She lives in Australia. And I’m in Montreal.” To the Farradays, she said, “I manage PR for a hotel. Jenna doesn’t live in Vancouver, either.”
“Your parents must miss you so much,” Maggie said.
“I…uh, I guess they do.” Kat looked as if the notion surprised her. “They nag us to visit. But they’re both very busy. Dad’s trying to find a cure for cancer, and Mom does personal injury law, on the plaintiff side.” A proud smile lit her face. “She’s arguing a case in the Supreme Court of Canada next week. Which is the week before Merilee’s wedding.”
“Your sister’s getting married?” Maggie said. “That’s why you’re going to Vancouver?”
Kat nodded. “The whole family will be together for the first time in a year and a half.”
“Bet your folks are happy about that,” Tim said.
Nav had been quietly eating the excellent prime rib, listening to the conversation and watching the expressions cross Kat’s face. Love and pride, mixed with uncertainty.
It was the latter expression he saw as she murmured, “Happy. Yes, I guess…we all are.”
There was a vulnerability to her tonight that he rarely saw. Normally, if she was upset she vented and moved on. This was new, this mood of quiet reflection, this willingness to delve into her issues rather than avoid them.
Under the tablecloth, he rested his hand on her thigh, atop the filmy fabric of her dress. He hoped she knew he was offering support, not a come-on.
“You guess?” Maggie asked gently.
Kat gave a quick laugh. “Sorry. Of course we’re happy. It’s just, we don’t have a lot in common, and it’s easier to get along when we’re at a distance.”
“I can see that when kids are young and, uh, trying to find their own niches in life,” Tim said quietly. “Maybe now you’ve all found them, you can get along better?”
It was a good point. “So long as everyone respects each other’s niches,” Nav said, swirling the last bite of beef to gather every drop of rosemary juice. “There’s not much chance my parents will ever respect m—” Damn, he’d almost said “mine.” “My brother’s.”
“What does he do?” Tim asked.
Oops. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. As he chewed slowly, he took inspiration from the nearly empty dinner plates. “He’s a chef.”
“That’s a fine career,” Maggie said.
“Tell that to our parents.”
“They’re probably concerned that it’s a hard way to make a living,” she said.
“Maybe. I think it’s more that our parents have quite traditional Indian values. Parents know best. Children should shut up and obey.”
“That doesn’t work so well in Canada,” Tim said ruefully, and they all chuckled.
Their waiter came to clear the dinner plates. He poured the last of the wine into their glasses and said, “Another bottle?”
“Coffee for me,” Maggie said, and everyone else agreed.
They discussed dessert, deciding on a couple of pastries and a cheese and fruit plate that they’d all share.
When the waiter left, Nav rested his hand briefly atop Kat’s. “I asked you a question and we got sidetracked. How was it for you, as second child?”
“Oh, gosh.” She waved a dismissive hand. “How did we get onto this? No one wants to hear my family stories.”
Damn, she was back to her old pattern of avoidance.
Before he could prompt her, Maggie spoke up. “Of course we do. Tonight’s topic of conversation is parents and children. You have to hold up your end.”
“I’m really not that interesting.”
The way she spoke reminded Nav of how, on Saturday night, she’d belittled her appearance, saying she wasn’t beautiful but made the best of what she had.
He wanted to put his arm around her shoulders, but instead slipped his hand back on her thigh. “Come on, Kat.”
“Well, if you’re sure.” She finished her wine and put down the glass. “Following Theresa was hard. I did okay in school, but could never measure up.”
Kat was bright. In a normal family, she might have been the smart one. “It’s unfair to be compared against a genius,” he protested.
Her hand dropped casually to her lap, where he caught it and interlaced their fingers.
“If you have an older sibling, you’re always compared to them,” she responded.
“True,” Maggie said. “But the oldest may bear the burden of more expectation.”
Try being the only, Nav thought.
“Our kids found their niches pretty early,” Tim said.
“So did we,” Kat said. “Theresa was the genius academic, but she lacked social skills.”
“So you became Ms. Sociability?” Nav remembered the label she’d used earlier.
“Yeah. I got along with everyone. Kids, teachers, parents of friends. That was my niche.
”
He’d seen the same thing in Montreal. Except, none of her friendships ran deep. Not even with him. In some ways, he’d learned more about Kat in the past two days than he had in the past two years. He was the one playing a role, yet Kat, too, was a different person. Still warm, friendly, generous, but more introspective and willing to open up about herself.
This was the woman he’d always believed lay underneath her bright, busy façade. With each truth or reflection she shared, he felt closer to her. And he loved her more.
“I was always off doing something with friends,” Kat said. Her hand freed itself from his so she could cut a sliver of Camembert cheese, which she teamed with a red grape.
Maggie spoke thoughtfully. “You got your validation, your sense of worth, from having lots of friends.”
Nav paused in the act of slicing cheese for himself and saw Kat’s eyes widen. “I never thought of it that way.” She gave a soft, nervous laugh. “You may be right. Are you by any chance a shrink?”
The other woman laughed. “No, only a mom who’s gained some perspective over time.”
“Her parents should have given her validation,” Nav said firmly.
Kat shot him a startled glance, then the hint of a smile.
“I’m guessing they validated Kat’s sociability,” Tim said quietly.
“What do you mean?” Kat asked.
“They were proud you were so popular?” he suggested.
“You’re right. Mom said I was a people person, like her, and Dad’s always admired that quality in her. Yes, they were happy when I had so many friends and was so active, joining clubs at school, being on the student executive.”
“Let me guess,” Maggie said. “High school valedictorian?”
Kat flushed. “And prom queen.”
Nav wondered what lucky boy had been her king. “I’m sure you were a lovely queen.”
“Thanks.” Her hand left her coffee cup and dropped to her lap.
He reached over and caught it.
“Of course she was,” Maggie said. “She’s such a beautiful girl.” She shot him a meaningful look.
“I noticed.” Even with the other couple right across the table, it was impossible not to get turned on by touching Kat. By imagining the two of them alone together in his room, experimenting with Kama Sutra positions. He stroked his thumb caressingly over her hand.
“What did we agree about matchmaking?” Tim teased his wife.
“And on that note,” she said, rising, “we should head off.”
Tim winked at them as he stood, too. “We have a date to drink Grand Marnier in the dome car and watch the moon and stars.”
“It’s romantic,” Maggie said. “You should try it.”
Her husband took her hand and tugged her toward the exit. “Sweetheart, I don’t think these two need any help from you.”
When they’d gone, Nav squeezed Kat’s hand. “Nice people, but it’s good to be alone.”
She squeezed back. “I was surprised you chose to sit with other people.”
“You said meeting people is part of the fun of train travel, so I thought you’d like it.”
“I did. It was an interesting conversation. It made me think.” She rubbed her free hand across her brow, then grinned, eyes twinkling. “Not something I’m used to doing.”
He smiled back. “Then relax and just feel. For example…” He freed his hand from hers and edged the hem of her dress higher so he could stroke the bare flesh of her inner thigh, reminding her of the intimacies they’d shared. “Does that feel nice?”
She swallowed. “You know it does.”
It felt damned fine to him, too. So fine that his dick was hardening with a desire that had been growing since he first saw her tonight. No, earlier. Since he’d planned out their evening and imagined another slow seduction, leading up to teaching her about the Kama Sutra.
“Your skin feels like warm silk,” he said. “I want to lick you, right there.” He ran his thumb over her in gentle circles, then went higher. “And there.” Her body trembled under his touch. “Unless you’d prefer to go to the dome and watch the moon?”
Her thighs closed, trapping his hand between them, still inches short of his goal. “Too many people there,” she whispered, eyes dark with need.
Thank God. He couldn’t wait to be alone with her. “Then let’s go to my compartment.”
“Yes, please.” She released his hand and started to rise.
He surged to his feet, grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair and holding it in front of himself to hide his growing erection.
She hooked her own jacket over her arm and walked ahead of him toward the exit. The blond man—his competition—had gone, he noticed. The screenwriter was just the kind of guy Kat went for, so he was relieved she’d chosen Dhiraj.
Now if he could only work her around to choosing Nav.
This time, as they walked through the sleeping cars toward his room, he put his arm around her shoulders. Although there weren’t many people around, it was still a public statement they were a couple. Would she accept it?
Yes. She even tipped her head against his shoulder. The feel of her, her scent, the fact that he—or at least Dhiraj—had publicly claimed Kat Fallon as his woman, were all intoxicating.
And so arousing that, by the time they reached his Romance by Rail compartment, his whole body ached with need.
He’d barely closed the door when he pulled her into his arms, flush up against him. Thrusting both hands into her hair, he held her head firmly and tilted it up to his.
Then he kissed her. His lips seared and branded hers, and his tongue thrust into her mouth and took possession while his arms wrapped her as if he’d never let her go.
She kissed him back with the same intensity. She made little moaning sounds and her body squirmed restlessly, hands gripping his ass so hard her fingernails bit through the fabric of his pants and underwear.
Still kissing, he walked her backward the few steps to the bed, then toppled the two of them onto it. A crash told him the game board, which he’d left lying on the bed, had hit the floor.
When he’d set out for dinner, he’d planned what they’d do when they came back to this room. A glass of sparkling wine, sandalwood candles like she burned in her apartment, a few rolls of the die that would hopefully lead to provocative questions and sensuous answers, a flirtatious seduction that would result in slow, tantalizing Kama Sutra lovemaking.
Fuck that. They’d do it all later.
All he cared about now was getting inside her. Hands on either side of her head, he stared down at her face, barely visible in the dim light that came through the window. “Kat, I’m so hot for you, I can’t wait. Sitting beside you at dinner, wanting to touch you…”
Listening to her open up and reveal herself, implicitly trusting him to understand. Yes, she’d been talking to Dhiraj, but he’d bet she had been trusting Nav.
“Me, too.” Her hands scrabbled between them, tugged on his zipper.
She released his aching dick into the bliss of her warm hands, and he groaned with relief and pleasure, then fumbled under the pillow, where he’d stashed condoms.
Their bodies separated for the unbearably long moments it took for him to sheath himself and her to yank off her underwear—damn, he hadn’t even seen what kind she was wearing tonight—then she lay back, dress hiked up.
Breathless with need, he kneeled between her legs, pulling his pants and briefs down his hips. With one hand he raised her skirt and caressed her, then, unable to hold back any longer, he sank inside her with a groan of relief.
As he pumped into her, her hips lifted to meet him.
They made love in a world of shadows, the only light coming from the moonlit sky outside. He could barely make out her features. Yet this sex was anything but anonymous.
Her scent, of jasmine and aroused woman, was unique. Her little gasps and whimpers, the softness of her thighs, the strength of the hands gripping his ass, al
l were Kat. Only Kat.
Everything he ever wanted.
“Kat,” he whispered.
“Oh, yes. So good.”
Not only was she opening her body to him, but bit by bit, on this trip, she’d been sharing her thoughts, her worries, opening her soul. And he knew it was to him, Nav.
They belonged together, and soon she’d realize it, too.
He moved fast, her sounds and hands driving him on, plunging deep with each stroke.
Sex. Hard, driving, needy sex.
And yet, with the total knowledge that this was the woman he loved. And the hope that, even if she wasn’t ready to admit it yet, she was coming to love him.
He dipped his head, kissed the moans of passion from her lips, and absorbed the shuddering cry she gave when she came.
Then he let his own orgasm rip through him.
After, he collapsed on top of her for a moment, then rolled the two of them so they were lying on their sides, still joined. He kissed her gently, tried to catch his breath. When he could speak, he said, “That was incredible. Though not exactly what I’d planned.”
“I’m sure not complaining.” A pause. “What had you planned?”
“Wine and candles, a few rolls of the die, and provocative questions to answer. I seem to remember we’d discussed a prize of Kama Sutra sex.”
“And here I thought you’d forgotten,” she teased.
“Believe me, I’d never forget that. I’ll get the candles.”
He rose, dealt with the condom, and fastened his pants. Then he lit a couple of candles.
“Mmm, sandalwood,” she said. She still lay on the bed but had adjusted her own clothing. “I love that scent.”
“Do you? Now, how about some sparkling wine? We did say we were being decadent tonight. And on that subject—” He handed her the box of Godiva chocolates he’d brought. “I know the attendants put chocolates on the pillow, but these are better.”
“Ooh, my favorite!” Then her delighted smile turned to a slight frown. Maybe the combination of sandalwood candles and Godiva chocolates was too much of a reminder that he was really Nav, who knew her taste.
He gave a casual shrug. “I figure, a guy can never go wrong with chocolates.”
“True. Dhiraj.” It seemed she tacked the name on deliberately. “Nor can a man go wrong with bubbly. And it goes perfectly with chocolate.” She opened the box and studied the contents.