"You promised. You promised you'd tell me.” She gave him an exasperated look.
"He said: ‘Where's your girl?’”
Her heart pounded. “H-he did?"
"Uh huh.” Jared pulled her forward and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. “My girl's right here,” he whispered. “Right here."
She felt her eyes sting.
"And she's looking prettier than ever. Go on,” he told her making a twirling motion in the air with his index finger. “Let me see."
Kat twirled around, the skirt of her dress billowed around her.
Jared nodded his head in approval. “Very nice, Kat."
"Thank you, my wild panther.” She reached out and grabbed his shirtfront, drawing him toward her. “I always want to please my ... mate."
"And well you should.” Jared reached around to cup her bottom. He caressed her, moving his hands upward, stopping to run them over the crisscross bands of her panty. “My, my...” he said, his voice deep. “What's this?” He raised her skirt and ran his hands over her bottom again.
Kat's body sizzled as he toyed with the crisscross straps. Her panties grew damp—she could smell her arousal ... and his.
"Turn around."
"Uh uh,” she grinned.
"I said,” he growled in her ear as he massaged her bottom. “Turn around."
She yelped when he swatted her fanny. “Okay, okay,” she laughed. Kat turned, her back facing him. The most erotic sensation tore through her as Jared lifted her patterned skirt. She couldn't see what he was doing and that made it more thrilling.
"Look at this,” he whistled low, running his fingers over the crisscross bands. He snapped one that ran across her bottom. The gentle sting it made on the sensitive skin of her fanny made her moan in response. She threw back her head and leaned back, grinding her backside against his groin.
He growled low in his throat and leaned down to nip at her neck, massaging her breasts through the bodice of her dress. Kat purred in his arms.
"My she-cat,” he whispered near her ear. His warm breath tickled her lobe. “My beautiful, wild she-cat."
He kissed her neck and pulled down the back of her skirt, turning her to face him. Kat looked up into his face.
"Ready?” he asked her.
Kat grabbed her bag. “Ready."
She set her alarm and locks then followed him out. When they got to the Jag, he opened the door for her and she got in. He leaned in to adjust her seat belt, clicking it in place, then closed her door, and walked around to his side and got in.
He started the engine. It roared to life.
As they pulled out of their driveway, Kat gazed at him, burning his handsome face into the scrapbook of memories she now called life.
* * * *
Summerville's only park was crowded with visitors that evening. He pulled the Jag into one of the last remaining spaces near the amphitheater and helped Kat from the car. Then he walked to the back to retrieve some items from the trunk. She watched in fascination as he removed a large, square picnic basket. What followed next was what appeared to be a very old, large square basket with a hole in the top. Jared handled it with care, holding it gently by the handle, placing it directly in her hands. “Here you take this one, it's light."
She turned the basket this way and that, admiring the faded slats of wood. “It's beautiful."
"It's an antique,” he told her. “An antique fishing basket."
He pulled something else from the trunk, a large shopping bag. Kat's eyes widened when she recognized the distinctive green gingham pattern. It was from Doris and Harvey's Country Crafts Store. “What's in there?"
He grinned. “For you."
She grabbed the bag by its raffia handles and opened it. Peering inside, she pushed past the wads of tissue paper until her hands settled on something soft.
A quilt. Kat took it out of the bag, admiring the pink and white geometric pattern.
Jared didn't take his eyes off her as she ran her hands over it. “I-It's beautiful,” she breathed. “Simply beautiful."
"I figured,” he ran his hand over it. “The pink and white print would look nice at KISS. Doris said the smaller quilts are meant to be used as wall hangings."
She looked up at him and smiled. “It's perfect. It'll look great hanging up on the wall at KISS."
"Oh!” he said, opening the trunk again. “Almost forgot ... our quilt."
He withdrew a large plastic bag. MegaMart's logo appeared on the outside of it. Kat peered inside to see a large, pink and white floral-patterned quilt.
"This,” he told her, lifting the bag. “Is the MegaMart blue-light special of the week."
She laughed and leaned against the Jag, her arms folded. “Very funny."
"Hey, I'm serious. This is what we're going to sit on tonight."
Kat shook her head. “You thought of everything."
He nodded. “Everything. I told you I would."
Jared strapped the quilt to the picnic basket and hefted it into one hand. With his other hand, he grabbed one of Kat's. They walked like that, hand-in-hand, until they arrived at the amphitheater, where they were greeted by a swarm of people.
Jared set down the basket and quilt, and took in the scene unfolding before him. Kat's friends—the people who encompassed all that was Summerville—stood together in greeting. He felt his heart swell at the sight and at the same time, he felt strangely detached, watching them interact.
He felt a tug on his hand. When he looked down, he saw Allie standing there.
"Hi,” she waggled her fingers at him.
Jared smiled at her. “Hi Allie."
"I'm playing soccer this summer. I'm going to go to soccer camp here at the park then I'm going to a tournament in August."
Jared squatted down next to her. “That's great, Allie. I'm glad you like soccer."
"I uh...” she scraped the toe of her sneaker across the dirt. “I took another one of those goal shots like you told me."
"Did you now?” Jared reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers. “That's great! How'd it go?"
She grinned, revealing the gap between her two front teeth. “It went great. I got it in. Ya had to see the look on the goalie's face."
Jared winked at her. “Throws them off every time."
She turned when she heard her name. A group of girls stood off to the side, giggling and laughing.
"Well, I gotta go."
"Sure. You go join your friends."
Allie walked away, then turned and looked back. Jared watched as she sprinted toward him. As if on instinct, he bent and extended his arms. Allie hurled her small body into his embrace. “Thanks,” she whispered. Then she pulled away and ran off to join her friends.
Jared stood up.
Then he turned away, fearing someone would see him cry.
* * * *
"My town beckons, calling me ... sweet. I hear its voice in the people I meet."
Jared turned to see Kat watching him. Under the shade of a large maple tree, she gazed at him, hands behind her back as she leaned against the tree's mighty trunk. She pushed away and walked over to him. Gazing into his eyes, she said, “Though I roam the earth in search of peace, I know I will find it ... in the hearts, minds and souls of the people who walk down Summerville's streets."
He blew out a breath. “How long were you standing there?"
She smiled. “Long enough to see you've made yourself quite a friend."
Jared smiled back, his heart soaring. “Yeah. But ... she's a little young for me.” They stood together under the shade of the old tree. “I like my women older."
Kat raised a brow. “Women, you say?"
He shook his head. “Only one. You.” Jared reached for her. “My she-cat.” Jared kissed her long, hard and deep. “Only you,” he repeated. He released her and grabbed the baskets. “Come, my wild tigress, let's go and watch the concert."
He found a secluded spot near a shady tree up on a small hill. They were far
enough from any prying eyes and close enough to hear the strains of the music. She opened the picnic basket to reveal an array of crackers, breads and little smoked sausages. Fine china plates and gold silverware lined the basket's cover. Linen napkins were next, rolled into long tubes. They nested along side several wine bottles. Her mouth watered. When she looked up at Jared, his eyes looked ... hungry.
He was looking at her, the intense light of desire burned brightly in his gold-flecked eyes. As the early evening breeze kicked up, it chilled her skin, but gazing into his eyes warmed her.
She'd never be cold again.
Kat settled her body between the ‘v’ of his legs, resting her bottom against him. She settled back against his chest and listened to the music, content to have him feed her the treats he had provided. An old Beatles tune drifted toward her.
In the town where I was born, lived a man who sailed to sea ... and he told us of his life, in the land of submarines...
In the town where I was born ... Summerville.
It had become Jared's town, too. He had carved a niche for himself among the people of the town she loved. And her. He had settled in a corner of her heart, filling the empty space that had been there for so long.
"Did you write that poem you were reciting before?” he asked her, his voice languid.
She snuggled back further into his embrace.
"No,” she shook her head against his chest. “Evelyn wrote it. She's not only our town historian, but she's quite the poet."
"Evelyn,” he repeated. “Evelyn. You know, that was a quite a sight the other night."
"What?"
"What you had going on at KISS."
Kat swallowed. Hard. “Yes, well ... I..."
"Do you always do that?"
"What?"
He laughed. “It looked fun—like a girls night out."
Her heart kicked into high gear. “That's exactly what it was, a-a girl's night out."
Jared took a sip of wine, passing the glass near her lips. She sipped, too.
"And Lilith. Wow ... no wonder Fred's got his eye on her."
Kat sat up straight and turned, one hand on his chest. “You know about that?"
"It's so obvious, the way he looks at her."
She turned and fell back against him and smiled. “He always did. Unrequited love is a killer."
Jared laughed. “I'm sure it is, but then again, most love is, isn't it?"
Her heart ached a little at the thought. Jared was right. When you loved someone it was sweet and painful all rolled into one. You could never separate the two. Ever. It wouldn't be love if you did.
"Tell me about yourself, Kat. I want ... to know everything."
She shrugged. “There's not much to tell."
He tightened his arms around her. “Sure there is,” he whispered next to her ear. “A woman as beautiful and talented as you has to have a story. Tell me. Tell me all about yourself."
"I-I don't know where to start."
"Okay, I will then. You grew up here in Summerville."
She snuggled against him. “Uh huh. In Summerville."
"And you went to school here."
"Of course."
"How about your family?"
Her heart thudded in her chest. Could she tell him? It was still painful. Painful to say that she hadn't a soul in the world left in Summerville, except for ... Doris. Her mother's best friend.
"Aunt Doris. That's my family."
He leaned down to look at her. “Right. When I was in her store these last couple of times, all she could do was talk about you and her daughter—how you two played together as kids."
She let go of a sigh of relief. Bless Doris for not spilling the beans. If anyone should tell Jared about it, it would be Kat. She would tell him about her mother and sister. She would...
"So, did you go to college here in Summerville?"
Kat shook her head against his chest again. “No,” she replied, grateful for the change in subject. “I went to college at F.I.T. in New York City."
"Get out of here! The Fashion Institute of Technology?"
"On a full scholarship.” She pushed away from him then, turning to gaze at his face.
"I shouldn't be surprised. After seeing everything you design,” his eyes grew hot. “What you've got at KISS, well, it's terrific, Kat. I have to admit,” he said, sheepish. “I had a completely different idea of your store in the beginning. I thought it was, well, some kind of oh ... I don't know, some cheap little mall store. Someone trying to imitate that well-known lingerie store but, your designs ... they're different. Exquisite. Sexy yet, superb."
She basked in his praise.
"So, you went to college in New York City. I find that interesting, considering you're a small-town girl."
She shrugged and took a sip of her wine, idly running the tip of her index finger around the rim of her glass. Kat met his eyes. “It was a mistake."
He cocked his head. “Why?"
"I should have never left Summerville.” She shook her head. “Never."
Jared reached for her hand and squeezed it. “You went to one of the finest schools of design in the country. How could that have been a mistake?"
She looked away. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him again. “New York City is where I met my ex-husband."
There was a few seconds of uncomfortable silence. Kat watched Jared. A myriad of emotions crossed his face. He seemed to be mulling over what she had just told him. When he looked up again, she saw it. It was a spark, a quick spurt of jealousy lit his magnificent, dark, golden-flecked eyes. Then it faded.
"I should have thought as much,” he said quietly. “Who was your ex?"
She put her wineglass down on an empty dish. Slowly, Kat raised her eyes and met Jared's dark ones. “I met Arthur Hilliard at a very fancy restaurant one night in New York City. My roommates and I saved up enough money to go to Lutece—it cost us a fortune."
He smiled. “I've been there. It's great."
"As we approached Lutece that night, we wondered if we could pass for chic, urban sophisticates. The maitre d’ met us at the door and took our coats. We passed by the bar ... eagerly anticipating the elegant food displayed. Then the maitre d’ returned to our small group, by then we were chatting, so glad we passed muster when he held out a fabric softener sheet that had fallen out of my coat sleeve and said haughtily, ‘Madam ... your Bounce.’”
Jared laughed, “Kat, that's priceless!"
"That night, a man sent a bottle of champagne to our table ... with a note for me,” she continued softly. “Arthur was charming. We dated a few times, and then it became serious. I got a job after I finished college working for a designer. Arthur insisted I didn't have to work, but I was itching to be creative. Soon, I realized Arthur was having an affair.” There, she thought, she said it.
"He was a fool."
"I was the fool. I thought Arthur loved me. The ‘small town girl’ should have stayed in the small town,” she said quietly. “After my divorce I came back to Summerville and opened KISS. I didn't take a dime from Arthur."
"That must have been difficult."
"When I got back here, I had to work day and night ... running the store, filling orders..."
"How did you do all that?"
"My friends helped. I owe them so much for so many things. That's why I just couldn't say ‘yes’ to MegaMart. I honestly didn't think it was right for this town, or my friends.” She reached out to touch his face. “But now that I know you, I feel, well ... like I feel for my friends here in Summerville. They are the heart and soul of the town and you ... you are the heart and soul of MegaMart. You love MegaMart like I love Summerville."
"It's because of my father, Kat. I'm doing this ... to keep the memory of all his hard work alive."
She grabbed both his hands, taking them in her own. “I know that, Jared. I understand that now.” Kat released his hands, her shoulders slumping. “I wish I could see your drawings again. I was ...
so rude that day in the Sunshine Café. I regret every second of how I treated you there."
He grinned at her, tucking some strands of fiery-red hair behind her ear. “My she-cat. Your claws were definitely out that day."
She sighed with regret. “Yes, they were."
He cocked his head at her. “I was tempted to paddle your fanny that day, too.” Jared shook his head. “I'm never quite sure what I want to do with my she-cat first, tame her or ... claim her."
Now Kat laughed. “Oh, you!” She swatted at him, but he caught her hand deftly in his own, bringing her palm to his mouth to plant a small, soft kiss on the tender skin there.
"You happen to be in luck tonight, my lovely opponent.” He grinned at her and reached into the picnic basket. Lifting the linen that lined the bottom, he withdrew an envelope. “Here,” he passed it to her. “I just happened to bring one of the sketches with me."
She opened the envelope and took out the rendering of Summerville's Main Street. Kat examined it, running her hands over the drawing of KISS and her friends’ stores and shops.
"This really is wonderful, Jared,” she passed it back to him. “But I still want to know something."
"Shoot,” he told her. “I'm an open book, Kat, I've got nothing to hide."
She mentally winced, knowing that she still hadn't told the entire truth to him about KISS and her mother and sister. A tiny voice in her head, the voice of conscience kept telling her that a lie by omission was just as bad as an out-and-out lie. It would end up getting her in trouble. She squashed the voice and turned her attention back to him.
"I want to know why you didn't do what you promised in Hillsite."
"You mean ... the school and library?"
"Yes."
"It's like I told you, Kat, I feel strongly that they aren't building the school the way it should be. They need...” he stopped.
She angled her head. “What?"
"They need more special education classrooms. More ... specialized equipment to service their large special education and autistic student population. The town of Hillsite would like to believe it's a wealthy, very bright population, full of nothing but super-bright students, but,” he held up a finger. “They fail to acknowledge the rather large population they have of very poor, academically-challenged youngsters."
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