"Before his accident he was the embodiment of your wish for someone who could take you away from the rigidity of your upbringing. But we all need structure and someone to lean on, Katie. And it should be your partner in life."
Katherine realized immediately what Jessica left unsaid. Up to this point she had always turned to Jessica for that support. "Don't ever discount the value of our friendship. I will always need that."
Jessica blinked, her eyes suspiciously bright. "I know. I never plan to let you forget it, either. But this is what the best of marriage is. It's what I had with Michael. Even though you were my dearest friend, Michael provided the anchor in my life. And when he was gone, I hung on to you for dear life."
Katherine hugged her friend, feeling the sting of her own tears. "And I'll always be there for you, Jess. The only thing that could make me happier than I already am today is knowing you have that special love again—" she paused, hoping she could choose the right words "—with the right man, one who deserves you. You're pretty special, you know."
Jessica's laugh was slightly choked. "We've got a good mutual-admiration society going on here, friend."
But Katherine couldn't laugh the seriousness away. "I'm right, you know. The man you choose will be very lucky."
Jessica ducked her head for a moment. "Perhaps we only have one chance for that truly special love. Maybe nothing else measures up to those expectations again."
Katherine shook her head. "I've been given two chances. Although both have been with Elliott, he's not the same man he was before. And I believe you have that chance, too." Her voice softened. "I hope you believe that, Jess."
Jessica's voice was wobbly. "How could I not with you as my cheering section?"
Relieved, Katherine chuckled. "Keep that thought. You know I'll be relentlessly reminding you."
"I shudder to think of the consequences," Jessica replied, a smile breaking through the mixed emotions in her expression.
"That's better. We still have to walk our three miles, and at this rate preschool will be over and the boys will be thumbing a ride home before we get there."
Jessica's laugh mingled with the cries of dive-bombing seagulls.
Glancing at her friend, Katherine issued a silent prayer, hoping that Jessica would know the same happiness she'd found. That Jessie, too, could trust the man she loved.
* * *
Paul wandered through the silent kitchens of the catering company. Though it was midafternoon, most of the staff had left and the vans were filled with the food for the afternoon's event. He paused by Katherine's station. As usual her equipment was immaculate and orderly.
Only a short time ago, she had been designing one of her delectable creations, a few dark curls escaping her chef's hat to rest softly against her forehead. She'd caught him watching and her returning smile had sent his emotions into overdrive. Even now, his gut clenched with the desire that shone in her eyes. But it was more than just desire. It was something purer, something he feared to name.
In his zeal first to avenge Matthew, then to feel the affirmation of life, he had shamelessly played with Katherine's emotions. And unlike broken toys, he could neither repair nor replace those feelings once she knew the truth.
It was time to end the farce, he realized. Time to walk away, to deliver the painful truth and let Katherine begin the healing process.
His heart contracted at the realization she would never want to see him again. The deception would cut too deeply. And that pain would be coupled with the worse pain of losing Matthew. Paul knew firsthand how that would feel. That agony hadn't left him; instead, it was a constant companion, a reminder of why he was in Katherine's life.
His cell phone rang suddenly, breaking into his thoughts.
"Elliott," he answered curtly.
He listened to John's voice and agreed to meet him. The signal in his heart told him the purpose of that meeting. Shutting off the phone, his gaze went again to Katherine's station, and his heart bade her a silent goodbye.
* * *
"I'm really sorry," John repeated, compassion filling his expression and voice.
Paul couldn't speak immediately, his hand still stroking the incredibly cold box that held his brother's remains. His voice was low, gruff with unshed tears. "There's no doubt?"
John shook his head. "Dental records confirm the identity."
"I already knew," Paul admitted, even though he'd wished for a miracle. Remorse for what could and should have been struck him with a force so strong he gripped the edge of the table for support. "It's as though we shared a heart. I knew when his half stilled. I kept hoping I was wrong." Slowly he lifted his head. "But deep down I knew."
John nodded, not questioning that certainty.
"Just before you phoned, I realized it was time to call it quits," Paul went on. "Time to tell Katherine the truth."
"You don't want to continue the investigation?" John asked in surprise.
Frowning, Paul tore his gaze from the box and looked at his friend. "You think I should?"
"You've come this far, and we're close to learning everything. Why stop?"
Paul remembered Katherine's warmth and softness. "I'm not sure exactly what it would accomplish now."
"The same thing it would have accomplished before you knew Matthew's fate." John paused, watching his friend. "He deserves this one last thing – the truth."
Paul met his friend's gaze. "But does Katherine?"
"We won't know that unless you finish what you started." John hesitated, then took a deep breath. "And with you still portraying Matthew, your own safety won't be compromised."
"My safety?" Paul felt the crack in his heart deepen, the pain intensify. "Do you mean that—"
"We don't know whether you were the intended target, and we won't unless you continue the role you're playing."
Paul wondered if the pain would knock him flat. If Matthew had been killed in his place, he wasn't certain he could ever forgive himself. And if that had happened, in addition to being responsible for his brother's death, he had also ruined Katherine's and Dustin's lives. Swallowing past the grief, he found his voice. "I'll do whatever it takes."
John nodded.
Kneeling beside his brother's remains, Paul made a silent vow. He knew he would keep that vow, even if it meant sacrificing the woman who had ensnared both Elliotts.
* * *
Dustin's young voice was the only one Katherine could hear clearly. The rumble that was Elliott's voice was so low, she couldn't decipher the words. Although she stood nearby in the kitchen, putting away the dishes from their late dinner, she felt oddly distanced from her husband and son.
Elliott had been quiet, not even bothering to taste the fresh salmon she'd prepared for dinner, finally pushing away the full plate. And the few times she'd glimpsed his unguarded expression, his eyes looked bleak. She'd thought that after what they'd shared, he was on the road to recovery. Now she wasn't so certain.
And he'd disappeared again that day. She and the staff had set up for a relatively small birthday party, but Elliott hadn't arrived until they were already cleaning up and packing. Luckily it was a low-profile event, which had been handled quickly and easily. Still, she'd wondered where he'd been, but he hadn't offered an explanation.
He seemed content to play with Dustin. As she stepped into the den, Katherine paused, watching them. Dustin had climbed into Elliott's lap, and his eyelids were drooping. Elliott continued stroking his hair. The pain was back on his face, a tortured look that tore at Katherine's heart.
Quietly she approached and sat on the arm of the chair. "I think he's asleep."
Elliott didn't respond right away. Reluctantly he dropped the hand that had been stroking Dustin's hair. "I suppose he is."
Still he didn't move.
Katherine swallowed the fear in her throat, wishing she knew what was causing Elliott such pain. "We don't have to take him upstairs right away."
Elliott nodded.
Kather
ine gently took his hand, silently offering her strength. She couldn't guess what had disturbed him so, but she knew he needed comforting. Gently she rested her head against his shoulder. He stiffened momentarily, then one arm reached out to encircle her.
Soft moonlight came through the tall open windows. For now, Katherine knew she could ask no questions, only offer comfort. It was no less than he would do for her.
* * *
Paul and John strolled together along the beach. They both looked like mismatched crosses between natives and tourists. Their tans were darkening, but the clothes weren't quite as casual.
"Any more news on the crash?" Paul asked.
John shook his head. The investigation was still pressing on.
They fell silent as they passed a young couple. Once out of hearing distance, John spoke. "But we have a line on the insurance policy."
Swallowing, Paul prepared himself for the worst. "Yes?"
"The policy you found is active, the beneficiary unchanged."
Paul tried to disregard the disappointment, but it flared sharply. "Oh."
"But we also found a second policy from the same company," John revealed. "It's a matching policy on Katherine with Matthew as beneficiary. There's another smaller policy on her, as well, benefiting her son."
Brows drawn together, Paul stared at his friend. "Matthew and Katherine had identical policies?"
"Yes. Their agent reports that they bought the policies to safeguard against the business collapsing in the event one of them died. It's standard practice in small companies and partnerships."
"Then why haven't I found Katherine's policy?" Paul asked.
"The agent still has it. They hadn't returned it because they were waiting for the report on her physical. It was delayed by her doctor's office. And as the agent explained, their process isn't particularly speedy." John shrugged. "You know how insurance companies are – they move at the speed of dirt. Even though you haven't seen the actual document, it's very much in effect."
Paul shook his head, wishing he could clear his thoughts as easily. "If his death wasn't for the insurance money…"
"Wilkinson still insists it's sabotage," John replied. "At the very least, it wasn't simple mechanical failure. But the agency isn't ready to adopt even that stance just yet. You're too valuable. We're still working on the cause of the fire at Katherine's first business – the results of that investigation should tell us a lot more. Meanwhile, orders are to keep things at the status quo."
Paul couldn't disguise the bleakness in his voice. "I wish it were that easy."
John clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "No one's suggesting it is."
Lifting his head, Paul stared out at the ocean. "What would you do in my place?"
"Hope like hell that Katherine is what she appears to be. But for your brother's sake, not drop the investigation until knowing that for certain."
Paul thought of Katherine's sensitivity while not even understanding why he had withdrawn from her. She offered silent comfort and strength, and greedily he'd accepted both. He couldn't help wondering what would happen when she needed those same things – when she learned Matthew's true fate.
Gazing at the endless stretch of water, Paul knew that both her pain and his own would be multiplied by this deception. And even worse, he knew he could not relinquish it.
* * *
Chapter 14
«^»
The night air was filled with a humid, sensuous ripeness that existed only in the South, and only by the dark ocean waters. The languid feeling was so tangible, it seemed to Katherine that she could reach out and touch it.
She lit another candle, a fat jasmine pillar. It joined the proliferation of candles of all sizes, shapes and colors. Some had a fragrance, and others simply oozed the odor of tallow and burning wick. But all cast shadows around the room.
Their light played over the walls, the huge freestanding antique armoire, the crystal vase of roses that pouted in full bloom and the fresh sheets on the bed. Coupled with beams of moonlight that pushed insistently past delicate lace curtains, shadows created shapes only the imagination could decipher.
Katherine studied her reflection in the cheval glass mirror that stood in the corner of the room, uncertainly touching the daring silk confection she wore. It was by far the most sinfully luxurious negligee she'd ever owned.
She desperately wanted to help Elliott, to remove the bleakness in his expression, to see his tender smile once more. Closing her eyes, she remembered that his smile had never been tender before the accident. Now she desperately hoped it could be tender again.
Hearing a rustle directly behind her, Katherine opened her eyes and met Elliott's eyes in the mirror. As she watched, he reached for the clasp that held her hair in place. Unfastening the clip, he watched with her as the wild curls swept over her shoulders. Then his hands wove through the thick mass, the movement simultaneously alerting and lulling her senses, and came to rest on her temples.
She stood motionless as his eyes held hers in the reflection, his hands skimming over her body. He paused with his hands on the delicate straps of her gown. As he slipped the first one down, his lips kissed the spot where the narrow strap had lain. Then the second strap fell, the thrust of her breasts the only barrier holding the delicate fabric in place.
Katherine's breath caught and her blood heated. She fancied seeing the leaping pulse at her throat when he pushed aside her hair, his teeth gently nipping her neck.
Then their eyes met again in the mirror. A languidness that matched the night possessed her limbs. With excruciating slowness he put his hands on the fabric that curved above her breasts. With equal deliberation he pulled the gown free of its last barrier. It fell, pooling at her feet.
She didn't move, and still their gazes connected. A connection that defied anything she had ever experienced. And with it she felt a desire so intense she almost begged for his touch to continue. But the words wouldn't come. And the heat in his eyes told her to rush.
Still watching, she gasped as he finally touched her naked flesh. Exerting the fiercest of claims, his fingers carved a torturous path over her skin, every nerve ending alive and screaming for more. But he prolonged each movement, building the anticipation to a frenzied pitch.
Trembling beneath the onslaught, her eyelids flickered closed. When she opened them again, she felt amazement as she saw their images in the mirror. His tanned hands were a stark contrast against her pale skin. He wore only a loosely belted robe and she could feel his hardness, an insistent reminder of what they had shared. Then his hands encircled her breasts, each nipple hardening in response. Her body grew taut as the sensations mounted.
His hands drifted down toward her waist, caressing the slope of her hips. Then he paused, waiting until their eyes met again in the mirror. And she realized she had never dreamed of passion this intense. As his hands searched for and opened her up to him, she also knew she'd never dreamed of such fulfillment.
When he finally turned her toward him, she was limp with sensation. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. His robe fell open and impatiently she tugged it away. She needed to feel his hard flesh against her own. Steel and satin. Hard and soft, male and female.
A primitive call beckoned to her, one that made her lock her legs around his back and whisper in his ear, "I want you inside me. I need you. All of you."
The thrust made her gasp, the urgency heating already inflamed blood. She sensed desperation in his passion and wondered briefly which incited the other. But the thought fled as he carried them both to a shattering climax. Feeling him deep inside, she only knew that for the first time in her life she felt complete, and that without him she never would again.
* * *
In the quiet aftermath Paul stared at the drifting shadows on the wall. His mind was a blur of conflicting memories and emotions. The loss of his brother had fractured his heart. And, impossibly, he felt Katherine creeping into the fissure that loss had left.
After he and Matthew had fought over Susan, Paul had decided he was meant for a solitary life. Love was for family men, van-driving nine-to-flyers. He didn't fit into that picture. His wasn't a career that dovetailed with a cozy nest, PTA meetings and neighborhood barbecues. And he knew that was what Katherine wanted. But then, once she discovered his deception, she would no longer want him. End of problem.
His heart couldn't accept that answer. Just as he'd known Matthew was gone forever, he knew the investigation would clear Katherine. And when it did, he would have to confess the truth. He could imagine the betrayal that would flash in her incredible eyes, the hurt that would quiver from deep inside. And again he would be the outsider. But for now, just for now, he could pretend that wasn't going to happen. At least not yet.
* * *
Katherine and Jessica watched Elliott as he helped Dustin and Brian "launch" their cardboard rocket to Zorak.
"He's so patient with them," Jessica commented. "I don't think I've ever seen him devote so much time to the boys."
"He's always been good with Dustin, but since his accident he's brought a new dimension to their relationship," Katherine said. "He's very different in so many ways."
"Still?"
Katherine nodded. "It's not just a few things. It's everything. It's as though he came back a changed man, a completely different person."
"In a good way?" Jessica asked.
"He has a strength that allows him to have more depth, yet also allows him to be flexible."
"So your fears about him becoming rigid were unfounded?"
"Yes, Miss Know-it-all," Katherine replied, her teasing smile fond. "And in this case I'll gladly admit you were right. In fact, I'm ecstatic you were right."
Jessica dusted her hands together. "Then my work here is done."
"Not by a long shot. We still have your romance to get off the ground." As yet Katherine wasn't sure what she thought of Rod, but knew that, as a friend, it wasn't her place to judge, but to support.
THE WRONG BROTHER Page 11