Murphy was irritable and impatient, but adamant.
Finally, the woman stood up and made her way back through the kitchen, with barely a sideways glance at Kate.
“I forgive you Murphy,” she said in a cold, clear voice. “When you’re finished with this...fling,” she spat out, “I’ll be waiting to return to Chicago with you.” Pulling open the back door, she glanced with disdain at Kate. Turning back to the living room, Amanda stared at Murphy. “I’ve taken a room at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. Meet me there, when you’ve finally come to your senses.” She slammed the door behind her as she left.
Hearing the gravel flying as Amanda sped up to the main road in her car, Kate stood gazing over at Murphy.
Suddenly, she was feeling a little insecure again.
But Murphy seemed only embarrassed. “Oh, Kate. What did I ever see in her?” He rolled his eyes. “She forgives me?” Running a hand through his hair, he shook his head in annoyance. “She’s the one who cheated.”
Kate stared at Murphy with wide eyes.
He held up a hand. “Let me get this out. Then, I don’t ever want to talk about Amanda again. Let’s sit down.”
Kate nodded in agreement.
Murphy reached for her hand and tugged her outside through the sliding glass doors onto the deck. After dropping down into a lounger, he yanked her into his lap.
It took a few minutes before he spoke. “I was feeling pretty heartbroken after you stood me up that night, Kate, six-years ago. I’d just broken up with my girlfriend on the phone, right before I drove out here, you know.”
Taking in a deep unsteady breath, Kate turned to Murphy, and nodded silently.
Filled with pain, his eyes met hers. “There were a few women afterwards, Kate. And then I met Amanda.” He shrugged. “Need I say more? You’ve seen her. You can guess how persistent she is if she wants something – or someone.”
Kate sighed, turning her gaze back out towards the lake. “I had every intention of being here that night for you, you know,” she said softly.
“But, why, Kate? Why weren’t you here?”
“Michael. Even you should’ve realized that we were just too young then.” When she turned back to him, her eyes were pleading for forgiveness. “I started thinking about it. How would we have ever made it work?”
“I would’ve figured out a way,” he growled.
“You had school, and your job. And I knew that I belonged here.” Tears filled her eyes. “If it’s any consolation, it about killed me to let you go.”
Staring at her for a long hard moment, he finally nodded imperceptibly.
“We were better off not beginning anything in the first place, then having a relationship we would’ve probably had to break off, anyway.”
Shrugging, he sighed. “Maybe.”
“Because of you, I went on to school Michael. I got my business degree. Took design classes. I even took some introductory courses to learn about architecture.”
Murphy was startled. “Really?”
She nodded. “If we would’ve made love that night, it would’ve killed me even more when our jobs took our lives in different directions. You might’ve even changed your career path because of our relationship. Imagine my guilt if you’d have given up your dreams to be with me. You might’ve ended up resenting me, too.”
Closing his eyes, Murphy sighed, laying his head back against the chair. “Kate, you might be right,” he admitted, reluctantly. “How would I’ve ever known that it wasn’t what I really wanted, working for Ryland’s, if I hadn’t actually taken the job in the first place?” Murphy opened his eyes again. “I also thought I wanted the excitement of living and working in the city, back then, too.”
She gave him a misty smile. “But, in the back of my mind, what we had was there – you were there, Michael, always in my thoughts.”
“You probably knew me better than I knew myself,” he whispered. And his forehead fell to hers. “Oh, Kate, I know I haven’t said this yet, but I love you so much.”
“Oh, Michael,” she answered softly. “I love you like crazy, too.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
Brian Johnson had been willing to hire him on the spot. But Murphy still wanted to talk over his job offer with Kate. Throughout the entire week, another plan had been forming at the back of his mind.
A plan that included working with Kate.
Groggily, Murphy turned over in the bed and reached out for her. When he realized she was already up and awake, he stretched lazily in the bed. At only six a.m., the sun was just beginning to rise.
Kate was probably already working on plans for her current client, he decided, or out in her workshop. Kate’s mosaic design work had branched into a lucrative side business, and her unique designer accents were featured as artwork in many of her clients’ homes. She’d even taken on soldering and welding when she’d begun recycling metals to use as the framework for her tables.
Murphy frowned. Kate was as much of a workaholic as he was. Although he’d only been away from work for a couple of weeks, he was already antsy from having too much time on his hands.
After slipping out from under the covers and pulling on a pair of shorts, Murphy peeked outside through the window. Ah – Kate was swimming in the lake.
Sliding open the door, Murphy slipped outside onto the deck from the master suite, and made his way quickly down the long wooden staircase.
Reaching the lower level, he strolled along the wooden planks of the pier. Grinning, he slipped off his shorts. Taking in a deep breath, he dove from the end of the pier.
Howling, he broke the surface from underneath the water. “Damn – that water’s cold!”
Kate grinned, skimming the water. “Good morning.” With long smooth strokes, she swam over to greet him.
Meeting her half-way, Murphy gathered her into his arms. Taking her completely unawares, he gave her a long blistering kiss.
“What a fantastic way of waking up in the morning,” he finally said.
“It is a little cold, though.”
“Bracing,” he answered, as his eyes met hers.
She smiled.
And his mouth went dry. “You’re naked,” he said hoarsely. His hands cupped her buttocks as he rubbed himself against her.
“No kidding,” she answered, sounding rather breathless.
Enjoying the feel of her body against his, he closed his eyes and grunted.
She snickered with amusement. “I’m surprised you’re still, so, uh...responsive.
He grinned, opening his eyes. “Whenever I’m around you, Kate...” Heatedly, he stared into her eyes. “Speaking of which?”
Her eyes went wide. “Here?” But then she laughed, as her eyes searched the lake. “I guess we’re alone. I don’t even see any fishermen.”
Murphy’s mouth was already covering hers. All hot and needy, he kissed her longer and harder and deeper when her mouth answered his. His heart began hammering in his chest. She tasted like the warmth of the sun and the crisp morning air.
Making a small hungry sound deep in the back her throat, Kate wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against him even closer. Her feet covered his under the water.
Their blistering kiss continued as Murphy slowly steered them back to stand in the shadows of the boathouse.
Kate deepened her kiss and the heat of it melted away the last rational thought still left in his head.
He made a choked sound, and his mouth crushed harder into hers. Her body melted into his, as her lips opened wider under the strength of his kiss. For years, he’d thought about having her like this – her yielding body beneath his, the hard beat of her pulse visible under the pale skin of her throat.
His hand was shaking when he finally broke away to cup her breast. She was lovely as her strawberry-blonde hair glistened under the light of the rising sun. Staring into her blue, blue eyes, he whispered, hoarsely, “You’re so beautiful, Kate. I dreamed about you like this, you know �
�� after I left here.”
“Oh, Michael. I was never the same after you left, either”.
He drew the nub of her nipple into his mouth. Wickedly sweet, it hardened instantly. He wanted to draw her essence into himself – to absorb the warmth and femininity that he’d craved since the moment they’d met.
When she moaned and crushed herself against him again, he felt the pounding of her heart under his hands. Her fingers slid into his hair, and she stroked her fingers through it again and again.
He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Turning, Murphy pinned Kate up against the dock.
Reaching down, she began to guide him into her, and her hot inner muscles clamped around him like a fist.
Her eyes were closed, and Kate’s movements were slow at first. But her head fell back when Murphy began thrusting, faster and harder, as if she was savoring each of his deep, strong strokes.
When she climaxed, a cry came tearing out from her throat, and Murphy abruptly came with her, fast and hard.
They were quiet, their breathing staggered, as Kate remained wrapped within his arms.
And Murphy’s satisfaction was so profound, it was frightening.
Finally, Kate sighed, as they slowly came back to earth, and Murphy reluctantly let her loose from his arms.
Rolling his eyes, Murphy shook his head. “That was pretty...incredible.”
Kate chuckled. “No kidding.”
He sighed. “I suppose, I’d better go shower and dress. I have to meet Dan in less than an hour.”
With a last lingering glance at Kate, Murphy hoisted himself up to the dock. Reaching for his shorts, he quickly slipped them on. “Coming?”
“In a minute.” She grinned, sinking down into the water. “I need to catch my breath. I’ll be up there in a minute.
Murphy grinned back at her before making his way up the staircase. Reaching the bedroom, he watched through the window as Kate began doing a few more laps through the water. Murphy shook his head and smiled. She sure had an abundant amount of energy, his Kate.
But then he glanced out further down the lake, and stilled. A large cruiser was drifting along the shore nearby.
Odd, that he and Kate hadn’t noticed the boat earlier. Murphy frowned. Whoever was on that boat would’ve had to have had a pretty good view of him and Kate. How had the cruiser managed to drift in so close to the shore without either one of them noticing?
Unless, whoever was steering the boat had intentionally remained quiet?
And then Murphy noticed a shiny, flickering light, reflecting from its bow. Or was it a flash? Hastily, Murphy called out through the open window, “Kate, get dressed and out of sight. I think you’re being photographed.”
Having just stepped out of the water, she stared up at Murphy with a disgruntled frown. Hurriedly, she yanked on her robe. Rushing across the pier and climbing up the staircase, she scrambled into the bedroom and peered out through the window alongside Murphy. “Damn it, Michael – my binoculars are still packed away in those boxes in the garage.”
The driver of the speedboat must’ve realized he’d been spotted. Immediately, he cranked up the engine and maneuvered the cruiser away from the shore, quickly shifting into full speed. Soon, the speedboat was barely visible as it zipped across the water.
Kate was angry. “Damn it. Now, we have to worry about our privacy?”
Murphy looked grim when he glanced down at her. “I don’t know, Kate. That boat wasn’t there when I first came down to the pier.” His eyes held hers.
“Really?”
“It’s odd, Kate. How’d they even know you’d be out there?” Murphy hesitated, and his eyes grew thoughtful.
“What?”
“Have you ever felt like you might’ve been being watched?”
“I...don’t know.” Kate was definitely taken aback. “I...maybe, Michael. Now that you mention it...”
“This seemed deliberate. Like someone already knew you’d be out there. And I know you go swimming almost every morning. But I’m suddenly worried. From now on, you’d better be careful.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY
It made Kate angry, knowing her privacy had been invaded. It was weird, it’d never occurred to her before now, but once Michael had mentioned it, she realized that for a long time now, she’d felt uneasy at times. She had been feeling like someone had been watching her.
But she’d figured it was just her imagination – since she worked with so many people, and was regularly on hand at Callahan Construction’s various work sites.
Before Michael had left to meet Dan a few hours earlier, he’d been ready to cancel his plans out of concern for Kate’s safety. Kate had reasoned with him. At least there was a quality alarm set up here in the house. What was he gonna do – accompany her every time she left for work?
The phone for the landline rang, and she answered, “Hello?”
“Kate Callahan? “
“Yes?”
“This is Casey Logan. I work at the desk at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn.”
“Oh, hi, Casey. What can I do for you?”
“I have a message for you – from Michael Murphy? He called in and made lunch reservations for the two of you.”
“Oh?”
“He’d like for you to meet him here at about one o’clock.”
Hmm – strange. Supposedly, Murphy was off having lunch with her brother, Dan, and driving him on to the airport. Dan was finally returning to work in New York. Maybe their plans had changed? The flight had been postponed or delayed? Odd that Murphy wasn’t calling her himself, though. But he did have a habit of forgetting to charge up his phone.
Still slightly puzzled, she shrugged and answered, “Sure. I’ll be there at one.”
* * *
Kate immediately sensed trouble when she noticed Amanda Ryland sitting by herself at the table Kate was being escorted to. Oh, brother. That explained the strange invitation by phone for lunch. If Amanda Ryland had called, Kate never would’ve agreed to meet her.
Kate was suddenly irritated. She sensed the final confrontation coming on – the one she’d hoped to avoid.
How had Amanda discovered Murphy wouldn’t be around today? Kate supposed it would be easy enough to question some of the employees who worked here at the inn. Crystal Rock was a small town, after all, and everyone seemed to know each other’s business.
Kate sighed, as she reluctantly dropped down into a seat at the table.
“How much do you want?”
Kate started. “Excuse me?”
Amanda didn’t even bother to look at Kate as she stirred her martini. “To give up Murphy. How much would it take?”
Kate stared at Amanda with astonishment. “Are you for real? Even if you hadn’t cheated on him,” Kate vaguely became aware of a man sitting at the next table, coughing into his napkin, “do you really believe he would ever be happy with someone like you? You had your chance with him. Give it up – you blew it.”
Kate stood up, intending to depart. Damn – this woman disgusted her. Spoiled, self-centered, and with a superior attitude to boot – although Kate had been unfortunate enough, a time or two, to have to deal with customers like her, Amanda Ryland was the type of person she’d always attempted to avoid.
“Please don’t leave.”
Startled, Kate turned back.
Picking up his briefcase as he stood up, the man who’d been sitting at the next table made his way over to theirs. Pulling out a chair, he sat down at the table. Reaching out for her hand, he introduced himself. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Callahan. I’m Mark Ryland – Murphy’s boss.”
Hesitantly, Kate reached out, shaking his hand. Reluctantly, she dropped back down into her chair.
Amanda was definitely angry when she stared at her father. “But Dad...”
He looked at her sternly. “I’d like to talk to this young lady alone, Amanda. Evidently, there were extenuating circumstances leading to the dissolution of yo
ur engagement to Murphy – circumstances that you never bothered to mention to me.
“Dad!”
“Just please go on up to your room, Amanda. Obviously, we’re going to need to talk.”
Visibly pouting, Amanda rose from the table with her chin held high. Reaching down, she snatched up her martini and quickly finished it off. After slamming down the glass, most obviously wreathed in her silent fury, she scooped up her purse before stomping through the restaurant and out into the lobby.
Mark Ryland must’ve been used to his daughter’s temper tantrums. Loosening up the tie at his neck, he ran a hand nervously through his graying hair. “I apologize for my daughter, Ms. Callahan.” His eyes searched hers before he sighed. “I’ve spoiled her since her mother passed away.”
Kate didn’t even bother to respond.
Mark Ryland sighed again. Reaching down for his briefcase, he laid it on an empty seat. After snapping it open, he pulled out a magazine from inside. “I hear that you’re the one responsible for this.”
Kate stared at him, startled. “The magazine? It’s out? I can’t believe it – I completely forgot about it.” Tugging the magazine from his hands, she eagerly began sifting through the pages until she came across the lakehouse spread. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
As he gazed at Kate, Mark Ryland’s eyes seemed to soften. “It is,” he said gruffly. “I had no idea Murphy was this talented – he appears to be a master of contemporary design.” He cleared his throat. “He’s been just like a son to me, you know. You wouldn’t believe how many calls the firm has had about this spread, Ms. Callahan.”
Kate glanced up from studying the photo spread. “Oh, just call me Kate, please.”
“Very well, Kate. I was wondering – would you be willing to give me a tour?”
Kate blinked. “Of course.”
“How about I buy you lunch, first?”
Yes, Kate decided, she definitely liked this man. Too bad his daughter hadn’t inherited his warmth and sincerity when it came to engaging with others.
That Unforgettable Kiss Page 21