by Carol Henry
Had they planned to blow up the ship with Kurtis on board? Had the mission gone that bad? Shell-shocked at how close he’d come to losing his son, Mark sat, speechless. He rubbed his hands over his face, around his neck, stretched, and sat up straight.
“We apprehended Dimitri Anast Dobromir, a Russian Slovak; Bartosz Carneg from Slovakia; and a Polish national named Jedrek Jearoslav, before they boarded the vessel,” Gerald informed him. “Apparently, they had no idea they were going to be blown up along with the yacht. It wasn’t hard to encourage them to talk—they were more than willing to spill their guts after watching the explosion.”
“Seems you were right,” Peter Gray said. “Natasha’s parents wanted the boy, afraid you wouldn’t allow them access to him. However, the miscreants they hired to kidnap him decided to raise the stakes. They wanted more money. And they hadn’t counted on the thugs they hired to be members of the terrorist group we’ve been following the last three years.”
“The entire plot is so screwed up,” Jake MacKenzie chimed in, a snicker escaping. “Their right hand didn’t know what their left hand was doing, as usual. Thanks to your input, we were able to work together and wrap things up quickly.”
“I only met Natasha’s parents once—at the wedding. If they’d only talked to me, we could have worked something out.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that now. The two have been under surveillance by their own government. They were apprehended two days ago. I don’t think you’re going to hear from them again.”
Relief washed over him. As a precautionary measure, he wasn’t about to release the two undercover agents watching his family—and Katie—just yet.
Katie. God. He had to go to her—talk to her. It hadn’t escaped his notice that her engagement ring was missing from her finger. Had she lost her ring when she’d been tossed out of the van? Had it slipped off her frozen fingers? Or was she no longer engaged to that Sven fellow? He sure as hell was going to find out. But dammit, it was Christmas Eve day. With all that had happened to Kurtis, his son needed something special to celebrate Christmas, to erase the nightmare he’d just gone through. Something memorable. His son deserved special and happy memories. But what would it take to put a smile back on Kurtis’ face?
Mark passed the central square, now devoid of all the merriment that had taken place the previous night. How many were aware of the kidnapping? Decorations held a lonely, forlorn, yet peaceful and serene ambiance to the area this morning. His heart was still weighted down with the aftereffects of the kidnapping, and the turmoil he’d caused the people of Lobster Cove. He’d put his family, and Katie, in harm’s way. He’d told Katie he was here to stay, but maybe he should think about moving on. He couldn’t stand it if something happened to her—again.
The sun rose over the bay, outlining a clear blue sky on the horizon as he pulled in the driveway to his family home. He parked, got out, and rushed up the front steps. His father met him at the door.
“Is everything okay, son? How’s Katie?”
“She’s going to be fine. They’ll release her soon. Dawn and Roark are there with her now, and will take her home when she’s released. I’ll check in with her later, but I want to make sure Kurtis is doing okay.”
“He’s two,” his father said. “He’s taken it like a champ. Takes after his father. Hasn’t stopped talking about finding Katie. In his mind, the whole event is like a great adventure—you and he are the heroes. What happened, son? I know you’ve been uptight since you came home, expecting something like this to take place. Is it over, now?”
“Yes. It’s over. I talked to the authorities after I left the hospital.” He gave his father a brief rundown of what took place, and why.
“Where is Kurtis, now?” Mark asked, heading for the kitchen and a cup of coffee.
“In the kitchen with your mother. She’s making him pancakes with blueberries and some of this season’s maple syrup.”
“Sounds good. I could use some breakfast, too.”
He found Kurtis tucking in to a large pancake topped with whipped cream. Maple syrup dripped down his chin.
“How you doing, bud.” He ruffled Kurtis’ hair, and then took a seat beside him. His mother set a plateful of pancakes in front of him. “Thanks. They smell delicious.”
“Santa comes tonight,” Kurtis said, chewing around a mouthful.
“Don’t talk with food in your mouth.” He filled his own mouth with breakfast, and then followed it down with coffee, then answered his son. “Yep. Tonight’s the night. What’d you ask Santa to bring you?”
“I can’t tell. Only Santa knows. He’ll bring it, too.”
He was well aware what his son wanted for Christmas. He planned to make a few phone calls and make sure he got it. If not today or tomorrow, soon.
“I have to go out for a while after breakfast. You gonna be okay here with Grandma and Grandpa?”
“He’s pretty tired, Mark. I think he needs a nap, and then we’ll make some cookies. I said I’d provide a couple dozen for coffee after Midnight Mass tonight. Are you coming with us?”
“I plan on it.”
They finished breakfast in silence. Mark waited until Kurtis put the last morsel in his mouth, and washed it down with milk.
“Come on, bud. I’ll get you settled in for a quick nap. I’ll be back before you know it.” After tucking him in bed, he pulled the covers over Kurtis’ shoulders, and kissed his forehead. He ruffled his hair again, and then returned to the kitchen. His heart was a bit lighter even though he had a lot to make up for.
“Kurtis’ eyes were drooping before I left his room,” he told his parents. “I’ll be back in a couple hours—I’m going to Katie’s, see how she’s doing.”
“Give her our love,” his mother called as he went out the front door.
****
Katelyn answered the door before he could knock twice. Her red reindeer jogging pants and green sweatshirt made her look like she did back in high school. He stepped back long enough to shut the door, then lifted her in his arms. He carried her to the living room, sat on the sofa and nestled her in his lap. She snuggled into his shoulder.
“You’re safe now, sweetheart. Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”
She sighed against his chest—his insides tightened as her essence surrounded him—her bath soap, apple scented shampoo were a heady elixir. The fireplace was alight, glittering off the decorations on the tree. She’d put Christmas music on, and it was playing soft and low. God, he wanted her to stay in his arms like this, forever. He shut his eyes wondering how he could make things right for her.
“I’m so sorry, Katie.” He kissed her hair, ran his fingers through the silken strands. “So sorry you got involved in this ugly mess. I should never have come back home and put you in danger. This is all my fault. And God only knows I could never live with myself if I’d lost both you and Kurtis.”
He lifted her face to his and kissed her. She wound her arms around his neck and clung to him. The kiss continued, he lost any semblance of control, and laid her back on the sofa. Damn! She was still cold and half frozen. And bruised. He slid his hands down her arm, covered her hip.
“God, Katie, you feel so good, I want to make love to you, but I’m afraid I’ll hurt you—you must be hurting like hell.”
“Right now I don’t feel a single ache or pain.”
“I’ve wanted to make love to you since I returned home. Since I saw you in that sexy elf outfit. You had my heart beating triple time.”
“I looked like a clown. I was so mortified when I realized you were Santa.”
“Definitely not a clown. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
He ran his hands over her spine, and then wrapped them around her buttocks, pulling her tighter. Her hands slipped below and found his tight butt cheeks, returning the favor—his erection gave his wishes away. He wanted, needed, to make love to her so bad, he had all to do to hold back to make sure she wanted this as much as he did.
His hand slipped under her shirt and circled her breast—her bones turned to mush.
“Mark?”
“Hush, let me love you.”
“Yes, please.”
He snatched the quilt from the sofa and carried it, and her, to the rug in front of the fireplace. Her sweater flew over her head, her sweatpants magically slid down her legs. She kicked them to the side. It didn’t take long for Mark to lose his clothes, as well. He took her in his arms and together they sank to the floor, the quilt forgotten as their bodies connected—skin to skin, heartbeat to heartbeat, lips to lips. His hands cupped her face, bringing her lips to fit his—the kiss was dynamite—her insides burst with need that she’d been craving for so long. Not missing a single beat, Katelyn wrapped her arms around Mark, arched into his hold in invitation. He didn’t hesitate. His hands slid along her ribcage, over her hips and down her thighs. The heat from those magical hands consumed her. She was in heaven, her body turned to molten lava—she was ready to burst. She ran her hands along his muscular biceps, over his shoulders, and then massaged her fingers along his spine to the dip just above his ass. She splayed her hands over his very tight buns and pulled him to her, his erection snuggled between her legs.
“Oh, God, Katie. You don’t know what you’re doing to me. I don’t think I can wait much longer to be inside you. To make love to you.”
“Mmmm. No talk. Just love me.”
He let her go and she felt the cold between their bodies like a dash of icy water. She stiffened. What the…?
“My jeans? Where are my jeans?”
“What? What’d I say? Why are you leaving?”
“No, no. I’m not leaving, sweetheart. I’m looking for my jeans—I brought protection.”
Katelyn relaxed, glad he found his jeans in record time, pulled the small packet from the front pocket, ripped it open with his teeth, and was shielded in seconds. He covered her body with his, and together they rekindled their lost love.
Much later, spent, and in Mark’s arms, Katelyn rested, spoon fashion, against him, his arms pulled her into his strong, warm body. They lay quietly for long moments, sated, complete.
“I’m so sorry for walking out on you the other night, Katie. I don’t know what got into me. I was angry with myself, not you. I hated that you went through a miscarriage without me. Just thinking of the pain and anguish you must have suffered, alone. And it was my fault. The fact that I didn’t know about any of it made me feel like I had no control—that I was left out of a big part of what we had together. You do understand that if I had been aware of your pregnancy I would have been there in a heartbeat?”
“Maybe that’s why I didn’t try so hard to find you. I didn’t want you to give up everything you’d worked so hard for. I didn’t want you to grow to hate me, being tied to me, especially after I lost the baby.”
“Will you…that is….”
“Yes, I’ll still be able to have children.” She ran her good hand over his cheek, the soft stubble of his ten o’clock shadow was like a caress on her fingertips.
“I’m glad.” He hugged her, and she nestled closer, if that was possible. She was in his arms, and that was something to be grateful for.
“I could never hate you. Never.” He took her left hand in his and rubbed his thumb over her fingers. “I hope this mean you are no longer engaged.”
She turned in his arms and wound her arms around his neck, her breasts brushing up against his strong chest. “I’m no longer engaged. Going to Norway was a big mistake—sort of. Apparently Sven got engaged to an old girlfriend while he was there, and didn’t know how to tell me.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that, too.” He kissed her forehead.
Katie sighed, and then continued, “It explained a lot. He’d been hedging every time I talked about setting a date. And honestly, once you came back to Lobster Cove and started kissing me, I realized I’d never gotten over you. I don’t blame Sven for the breakup—he did us both a favor—I know now we never truly loved each other. I just wish he’d had the guts to break up with me before I flew half a world away only to make a fool of myself.”
She lay quietly in his arms, cuddling. He wrapped the blanket around them, sighed, and rested his chin on her head.
“You’re no fool, sweetheart. He is. But I’m glad he broke it off. Although I didn’t love Natasha either, I don’t regret my short time with her—she did give me Kurtis.”
“What about you and Connie?”
“What about me and Connie?”
“Weren’t you two a couple?”
“What? No, of course not.”
“It looked like you two were a couple.”
“Jason and Kurtis are friends. We arranged play dates—I had to be there to protect my son. Connie’s husband and I played ball back in high school—I was sorry to hear about his death.”
“Yes, so was I. I’ve seen how hard it’s been on her.”
“Exactly. I know what it’s like being a single parent. Don’t tell me you were jealous?”
“No. Not really…well, maybe a little.”
“Nothing to worry about. We’re just friends. I swear.”
He nudged her chin toward his lips, the kiss igniting a spark, which to her delight, led to another round of exquisite lovemaking.
Chapter Fourteen
Their lingering kiss had his mind and body wanting more. Much more. But he had to leave.
“I hate to go, Katie, but I promised Kurtis I’d take him to pick up a special Christmas present this afternoon. Something I hope will help take his mind off the kidnapping. I’ve made arrangements to be there no later than one o’clock.” He rubbed his hands along her arms—not wanting to leave. “I don’t want to be late.”
“I’m sure he’ll love whatever you’ve decided to give him. Is it a puppy? I know he wants a puppy, but that’s not always a good idea. It’s a huge responsibility for a little guy.”
“He’s a trouper and deserves something special. I wasn’t ready for a dog so soon, either, but my folks agreed it was a great idea, especially after everything Kurtis has been through tonight.”
“Oh, Mark. You’re really going to get him a puppy? He’ll be over the moon.”
“How about you go with us? You can play elf.”
“You’re never going to let me forget this elf thing, are you?” She smiled, getting used to his teasing.
“It was the best homecoming gift a man could ask for. What do you say? Come with us. Kurtis will be thrilled to have you come along. That’s all Kurtis has been asking for since he spotted that one at the Scout’s tree stand.”
“I remember. It was so cute romping around the trees in the snow. Oh, my goodness, Mark, Kurtis is going to love you forever. Yes, I’d love to come. I can’t wait to see his face when he picks out his puppy. He’d been hugging that book on dogs at daycare every chance he got. That’s all he’s talked about. So where did you find someone willing to part with a dog today, of all days?”
“Doc Weaver at the Old Mill Vets told me about an elderly couple in Ellsworth. Billis…Bilton…something like that…”
“Bilson—Henry and Ramona Bilson?”
“Yes. That’s them. Anyway, their dog just had a litter a few months ago. They only have three pups left. I gave them a call, told them what I was looking for and why, and they insisted I come by today so Kurtis could take his pick of the litter in time for Christmas.”
“I know the Bilsons. They’re frequent visitors to Mariner’s Fish Fry when they come to town. I didn’t know they had a black lab. I’m not surprised they were willing to have you stop by the day before Christmas. They’re such a pleasant, caring couple.” And this was something they wouldn’t hesitate to do, regardless of their
own Christmas schedule. The world needed more people like them.
Mark pulled the blanket around her, kissed her bare shoulder, than pulled her with him as they sat up. “How about I let you get dressed while I pick up Kurtis, then I’ll swing back around to get you in a half hour.”
He loved the way Katie blushed—if it weren’t for the quilt, he’d swear her entire naked body warmed clear to her toes. Clinging to the blanket did nothing to hide the vision of them making love next to the fire moments ago. If he read the look in her eyes correctly, she didn’t want him to leave either. He leaned in, kissed her, stepped away, and turned the door handle.
“I’ll be back soon.”
God, it killed him to shut the door on her when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms again, and make love to her one more time. If it weren’t for his promise to Kurtis, that’s exactly what he’d be doing.
The afternoon sun was bright, the winter sky an azure blue—euphoria filled his entire being. Who knew a simple winter’s day in coastal Maine could add a lift to his heavy heart. Of course, his love for Katie was stronger than ever and might have something to do with it, that and having made mad passionate love to her. He was never going to let her go again.
****
Katelyn made her way to the bedroom. If she hurried, she could get in a quick shower before Mark and Kurtis returned. She couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day before Christmas than with Mark and Kurtis. This was turning out to be her best Christmas ever. Being held in Mark’s strong arms, making love with him, and hearing him tell her he loved her, was the best Christmas present. Especially after her disastrous weekend in Norway, and thinking there was no hope in hell of finding a true love. It didn’t matter that there had been no promises made, no commitments from Mark. The chance to build on their renewed love was a start. They’d both been through a lot during their separation—she vowed to help him rebuild his life here in Lobster Cove—his and Kurtis’.
She quickly showered, dressed in jeans, a blue fuzzy sweater, her black boots, and matching scarf, hat and gloves. She was ready in record time, waiting when Mark drew the car to a stop in her driveway. Before he could get out, and meet her at the door, Katelyn rushed down the sidewalk. He met her at the car with open arms, kissed her, escorted her to the passenger side, and opened the door.