“You won’t get in any trouble?”
“No,” he winked at her as the doors to the elevator opened and they stepped out into the lobby. “They can’t have the meeting without me.”
Kate smiled and looked up at him. “Where would you like to eat?”
“Matters not to me, love.”
“Hmm,” Kate thought. “How about somewhere small, romantic and local?”
“Sounds perfect! Which way,” Edward asked as he looked up and down the street.
Kate tugged his hand and nodded to the right. “This way.”
They strolled down the sidewalk hand in hand enjoying the warm sun and fresh air.
“You know Edward, I was thinking. You made this special trip out here, and you won’t be around when I’m in London next. Perhaps Mary and I could make a special trip out to see you when you get back?”
“Are you sure you want to use up your holiday time? You only get a couple of weeks, right?”
“Well, yes, but I think it’s worth it. Mary and I haven’t ever traveled anywhere. We go to the beach and to my sister’s house. I have plenty of time saved up and I think it would be fun for the two of us to get away and come visit you.”
“Kate, I would adore it if you both came to visit. As soon as I get back, I’ll verify my schedule and give you some definite dates,” Edward said.
“I already have Mary’s passport done. I got it when I found out that the travel to London was mandatory, in case I had to bring her along at some point.”
“Wonderful, so there’s no waiting on a passport,” Edward said as he squeezed her hand. “I’ll take you both out to my country home. I have a couple of horses, we could take her riding.”
“Oh, she’d love that,” Kate laughed and dropped her head onto his shoulder. “She rode a pony at the petting zoo and then she begged me for a pony of her own for weeks.” Kate stopped walking and tugged on Edward’s hand.
“What’s wrong, Kate?” Edward asked as he looked down at her face.
“Edward, I don’t want to sound crazy, but I think that man over there is taking pictures of us,” Kate said as she nodded across the street.
Edward cringed inwardly. While he still wasn’t well-known in America, there was always the chance someone would recognize him. He ducked his head and tried to reassure Kate. “Maybe he’s a tourist?”
“Could be,” Kate mused. “Although why he wants a picture of me is the question. I don’t look like a local.”
“No, but you are beautiful. I don’t blame him for wanting to take a picture to remember you by.”
Smiling, Kate looked into his eyes. “You’re sweet, thank you!” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the lips. “There’s more of that later,” she promised.
“I can’t wait,” he whispered. He gently cupped the back of her neck and kissed her again, more urgently. “I can’t get enough of you, love.”
“I know, me either.” Kate rested her forehead against his chest. “Come, let’s eat. It’s just down the block here.”
Edward took her hand and they hurried down the sidewalk.
“Emilio’s?” Edward inquired as he opened the door for Kate.
“It’s one of my favorites around here. I found this place not long after Mary and I moved into our apartment.”
“Italian?” Edward grinned. “Why didn’t I guess?”
Kate laughed.
“Maybe we can go to Italy someday. We’ll get you some real Italian food,” Edward said.
“Oh, that would be lovely!”
“Kate, hello! Where’s little Mary?”
“Hello, Nan!” Kate said as she kissed the woman’s cheek. “Mary is staying the weekend with my sister. But I’ve brought you someone new to spoil!” Kate reached behind her and tugged Edward up next to her. “Nan, this is Edward, and Edward, this is Nan.”
Edward shook hands with Nan. She was a very tiny woman, couldn’t have been more than five feet tall. Very petite, she had snow white hair that hung thickly down her back. Her eyes were a clear, bright blue and reminded Edward of the sunny, cloudless skies back home.
“Nice to meet you, Nan,” Edward said.
A twinkle and a knowing gleam entered Nan’s eyes as she gathered up the daily menu and led them to their table. “What can I get you to drink, my dears?”
“I’d love some lemon water to start, Nan.” Kate said.
“I’ll have the same, please,” Edward said.
“Our special today is the meat lasagna, gouda cheese ravioli and chicken marsala. Our soup today is wedding soup. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
“Oh, I love their wedding soup,” Kate said. “The meatballs are perfectly bite-sized.”
“You must come here often?”
“Oh yes, at least once a week. Mary and I adore this place. Nan is like the mother mine wishes she could be. It’s sad, but true. Everyone here treats Mary like she’s their favorite granddaughter. Nan’s husband, Mario, is the evening chef. They’ve been trying to find a daytime chef, but no one compares to Emilio, their son. He’s abroad right now, training under some big-shot chef in France. They are so proud of him.”
“This sounds like a wonderful place.”
Kate nodded as she placed her napkin in her lap. “It is. The first couple of times I went to London, Pappagallo’s reminded me of Emilio’s. I guess that’s part of the reason I went there so often. I was homesick and missing Mary, and that place felt like home.”
Edward laced his fingers with hers. “Home is important,” Edward said solemnly. “What’s good here?” Edward asked as he gestured to the menu.
“I’ve never had a bad meal here, and I’ve eaten just about everything they offer. Mary’s favorite is the ravioli. I’m partial to the lasagna, and of course the wedding soup.”
“And are you getting the lasagna today?”
“You better believe it,” Kate said laughing. “I need the extra carbs for the things I have planned for us tonight.”
Spying Nan coming toward their table, his whispered “You’re wicked!” was the only reply he could give.
Putting their waters down on the table, Nan gathered up their menus. “Ready to order?”
Kate nodded to Edward and he gave Nan their order. “I’d like to try the ravioli. Kate would like the lasagna and we’d like to share a bowl of the wedding soup, please.”
“Excellent choices,” Nan replied. “Would you like any wine with your meal?”
“Please, do you offer Pinot Noir?”
“We do. Would you like a glass or the bottle?”
Glancing at Kate, Edward smiled playfully. “Oh, I think the bottle will do us quite well, thank you.”
Kate nudged Edward’s leg with her foot as Nan walked away. “A whole bottle? It’s good we’re walking!”
Edward laughed, I doubt we’ll get too smashed sharing a bottle between us and all this food we’re about to eat.”
“I suppose you’re right. It just sounds so decadent.”
“We’re together and sharing a romantic meal. This is the best weekend of my life. We should indulge, Kate.”
“You’re too sweet,” Kate said as she rubbed her hand on his forearm.
He laced his fingers with hers and raised his water glass. “To Fate.”
Kate tapped her glass to his. “To Fate,” she murmured.
The rest of the weekend was heaven. After the late lunch at Emilio’s, they went to the art gallery. They spent the afternoon looking through the gallery and speaking to the owner. They stopped at the old theater and took in a showing of The King and I. It was well past dark when they arrived back at the apartment.
Kate went into the kitchen to call Georgie about keeping Mary an extra night. While she was doing that, Edward poured them more wine and stood at the window enjoying the view.
“How’s Mary?” Edward asked when she joined him at the window. He handed her a glass of wine.
“Perfect. She loves them, and it makes me so happy a
nd relieved to know that. Georgie is off work tomorrow, some federal holiday that only government workers and bankers get off. She’s fine with keeping Mary again tonight and watching her tomorrow while I’m at work.”
“You’re sad though,” Edward prompted.
“No, not sad. Just down, I guess,” Kate shrugged. “I don’t know exactly how I’m feeling. I know that I don’t want tomorrow to come, but it will.”
“I know,” Edward ran his hand through Kate’s hair. “I’m not ready for our weekend to end, either.”
“This long distance stuff is going to be hard.”
“Indeed. We can do it though.”
“I don’t want you to go, Edward.” Kate laid her head on his chest, breathing in his unique scent. “I’m not crazy, am I? I sometimes feel crazy. Like I’m some love-sick teenager that has no boundaries.”
“If you’re crazy, then I’m headed to the madhouse with you. I feel the same.” He wrapped his arms around her and they sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
A playful smile appeared on Edward’s face. “I think I can take your mind off your woes, if you’ll allow me.”
Kate’s smile mirrored Edward’s. “I’ll allow this.”
Chapter Eighteen
“You don’t look happy,” Erin remarked upon seeing the look on Kate’s face when she walked into the office.
“I am happy, just sad the weekend is over.” Kate sat her bag down on her desk and looked up at Erin. “We had such an amazing time, Erin. Neither one of us was ready for it to be over.”
Erin dropped down into one of Kate’s guest chairs and glared up at Kate. “I canceled my eight o’clock meeting to hear all the gory details of your weekend. I’ve been married for fifteen years. I am now living vicariously through you,” Erin said as she brushed an imaginary piece of lint on her skirt. “So, I don’t want to hear any vague ‘oh we had a lovely time, blah blah blah’. I want all the details!”
Grinning at Erin’s eagerness, Kate sat down and leaned back into her chair. “I don’t know where to start, Erin. We talked, drank wine, took Mary to the beach, went out to dinner and the art gallery, went to a movie,” Kate rambled. A wicked smile graced her lips as she continued. “And had lots, and lots, and lots of sex,” Kate said wickedly.
“Yes, this is what I’m talking about!” Erin exclaimed. “I knew it. How much is lots and lots and lots?”
“Pretty much non-stop after Mary left for Georgie’s,” Kate grinned.
“Ugh. You’re so lucky. I don’t remember marathon sex weekends. That’s what happens when you have kids. No more marathon sex weekends. Hell, no more sex period!”
Kate grinned. “The moment I opened the door to him Friday night, it was like no time had passed since I saw him last,” Kate said glancing out her office window.
“That scares you,” Erin said softly.
Kate blinked and looked into Erin’s eyes. “So much.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s so fast!” Kate stood and paced back and forth behind her desk. “Erin, we fell into bed with each other like we’ve been married for years. There was no awkwardness, no shyness.” Kate glanced up and saw Erin’s patented eye roll. “Hey! What’s with the eye roll?”
“If I had something handy, I’d throw it at you,” Erin said while slowly shaking her head. “Sit down, you’re making me nervous.” Erin waited until Kate was settled and then she speared her with a glare. “Brad’s gone Kate,” Erin said quietly.
Sucking in her breath, Kate’s face drained of color. “You think I don’t know that?”
“I know you know it. I watched you grieve for him. I continue to watch you grieve for him. When are you going to forgive yourself? He made the choice, Kate. He made all the choices. You have to let it go. You have to let him go. You deserve happiness and Edward seems like an amazing catch.”
Kate’s expression was bleak. “But what if it ends? What if he’s not my happy ever after? It’s not just me that I have to be concerned about anymore.”
“Then you’ll move on and find someone new. But I think the bigger and more important question is ‘What if he is’?”
Two hours later, Kate was still mulling over that question. ‘What if he is?’ Erin was good at asking the questions. But Kate didn’t have the answers. She liked Edward a lot. And if she was completely honest with herself, she was half in love with him already.
Sighing, she decided to put that alarming thought and all the questions out of her mind for the time being. She had a lot of work to do, and sitting here mulling over her personal life wasn’t getting it done.
Edward’s mind was moving in the same direction as Kate’s as he flew across the ocean back to London. Their morning had been amazing, hell the whole weekend had been beyond amazing. Was it really possible, in real life, to feel a lasting connection with someone so fast? If he was going to take the plunge, he wanted it to last. He didn’t want to be another in a long line of failed romances, gracing the covers of all the news rags.
The chiming of his blackberry drew him from his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and sighed. Back to the grind…
“Are you on your way back?” This from his assistant, James.
Typing fast and hoping James just wanted confirmation, Edward replied. “Yes. Expect to land around noon.”
“Good. Producers not happy with delay.”
“They’ll get over it,” Edward texted back.
“Not the best attitude to have at the beginning of a project, Edward.”
Edward rolled his eyes and sighed. “I’m not going to apologize for taking an extra day of vacation.”
“I’m just saying it might be wise to tone down your attitude.”
“And I’m saying if it’s that big a deal, they can find someone else. I don’t need this grief, and I certainly don’t need this project.”
“Whoa. No grief, just giving you a head’s up.”
“Appreciate the head’s up. And that’s what I’m giving you as well.”
“Noted. Are you coming straight to the studio?”
“Yes.”
“Brilliant, I’ll meet you there.”
Edward tossed his blackberry onto the table, and poured himself some coffee. Sinking into the seat, Edward stared out the window as he drank the coffee. Five years. He’d been working straight for five years with no real breaks in between. A week here and there between projects didn’t really constitute a vacation.
Maybe that’s why his relationship with Kate was running so hot. Picking up his blackberry, he texted the one person he knew would be completely honest with him.
“Mum, you busy?”
“Never too busy to talk to you.”
Edward smiled. “I’m on my way back from America. Headed to the studio. Join me for dinner tonight?”
“Love to. You ok?”
“Yes, just want to talk. I’ll send a car for you around six. Ok?”
“Yes. Fancy or normal?”
Edward chuckled. “Normal. Love you, Mum.”
“Love you more. See you tonight.”
He drained his coffee cup and set it down on the table. Leaning his head back, his eyes drifted closed. Better grab some sleep now before he entered the lion’s den. He’ll need his wits about him, especially if what James said was true and the producers were unhappy.
If his day could get worse, Edward didn’t see how. He politely swerved his way through the throngs of people in the terminal. He ignored the surprised looks from people he passed and didn’t look anyone in the eye. He didn’t have time to get held up by an admiring fan, he was due at the studio in ten minutes. Unless there was a helicopter waiting for him in the parking lot, there was no way he’d make it on time. It wasn’t what he needed, especially given James’ warning earlier. Sighing deeply, he glanced at his watch again and groaned inwardly. Make that five minutes. Stepping outside of the terminal, he looked up and down for his car. Jason must have gotten held up in the parking garage. Edward pulle
d out his phone and quickly sent James a text to let him know he was running behind schedule. Shoving his phone back in his pocket, Edward started to pace as he waited for Jason to arrive with the car. He was distracted by his thoughts and didn’t notice the small group of fans that were watching his every move.
“This is my lucky day! Mr. Kent, may I have a moment of your time?”
Edward glanced up and rolled his eyes. A reporter, he was wrong. His day could get worse. “I’m waiting on my car, I don’t really have time for a chat.”
“Just a couple of questions, while you wait for your car?” The reporter walked closer and stood just in front of Edward, blocking any chance of escape.
Edward drew himself up to his full height, his clear blue gaze settling on the reporter’s face. He fixed a bored stare on his face and nodded slightly to the reporter. “And you are?”
“Brent, sir. From The Moon,” he said proudly.
Edward shook his head, disgust rolling through him. A gossip rag, just wonderful. Anything he said would be twisted around until it barely resembled anything he said.
“Mr. Kent, is it true that you’re just returning from America?”
“It is,” Edward said carefully.
“Are you investigating a new project over there? Leaving us for the glam and glitz of Hollywood?”
Edward smiled. “My home is here, not Hollywood. Surely you know that?”
“You’ve been photographed several times with a new lady. She wouldn’t happen to be the reason for your trip to America?”
Edward’s demeanor transformed instantly. His muscles bunched, ready to fight. A cold light entered his eyes and a scowl replaced the bored smile on his face. He stepped forward, invading the reporter’s personal space. “My personal life if my own. I don’t answer questions relating to it for anyone, you should already know that.”
Brent stepped back, a little bit of fear creeping along his skin. He cleared his throat before he continued. “Surely just a nibble, sir? Our readers want to know if England’s most eligible bachelor is no longer eligible.”
Edward smiled thinly. “No comment.” He reached down and grabbed his bag. Wasting one last glance at the reporter, Edward moved to the curb. Jason pulled up right in front of him and Edward opened the door before Jason had a chance to come around and open it for him.
To Love Twice Page 12