“What about tonight?” Sean argued. “Was that a difference?”
Kate swallowed. “A few more nights like tonight and I’ll be a candidate for a nursing home. I must have had six…” Her cheeks went hot as she fell silent.
“Seven,” Sean replied, “but who’s counting?”
“That was only physical,” she said. “You can’t build a relationship on that.” She prayed Sean would say he loved her, so she could tell him her real feelings for him.
“Come on, Kate. Men and women have been building ‘relationships’—I hate that word—on that for a few million years.” He shifted gears as they began moving uphill. “Beware of me, Katie-did—now I know how to bring you right into line.”
Kate’s face throbbed with renewed heat, and she was grateful for the darkness. “That was a chauvinistic thing to say!”
“Nevertheless,” Sean replied with a shrug, “it’s true.”
And it was, although Kate would have died before admitting it. All Sean had to do was maneuver her into certain positions, touch her in certain ways, and she was lost.
“The way it is with us,” he began after a long silence. “Was it like that with Brad?”
Kate knew he was really asking if what they had was new to her, so she didn’t resent the question. “Brad and I never made love,” she admitted, “so I wouldn’t know.”
Sean pulled the car over to the side of the street and stopped so suddenly that Kate was stunned. “What?” he demanded.
“I said, Brad and I never made love—”
“How the hell did you manage that? You were engaged to the man!”
Kate’s eyes were very wide. “You sound angry.”
A closer look proved that he was more indignant than angry. “I feel so cheap,” he said.
Kate couldn’t help laughing. “I think that’s supposed to be my line,” she told him.
“You were saving yourself for marriage with him,” Sean pointed out. “With me, it’s a fast roll in the straw and ‘thank you very much I’ve got a plane to catch’!”
Kate only shook her head, baffled.
Sean wrenched the car back into gear and pulled onto the road again, muttering a swear word.
Kate squinted at him in the darkness. “Did I miss something here? I haven’t been to bed with anyone since college, and you’re upset because you’re the first?”
“Who was he?” Sean barked.
“Who?” Kate countered, getting angry herself now.
“The guy in college!”
Kate laughed again. “My God, I don’t believe this!”
Sean’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, then relaxed again. “Were you in love with him?”
Kate sighed, turning her eyes to the rain-misted view. Even in that weather, at that hour of the night, it was magnificent. “I thought so. His name was Ryan Fletcher, and we were going to be married.”
“What stopped you?”
“Abby brought you home, and I realized what love really was.”
Sean was quiet for a moment, then he said something that surprised Kate to the core of her being. “I married the wrong sister, I think.”
Kate reached out and laid a hand on his thigh. She felt the muscles tighten to a granite hardness beneath her palm. “What went wrong between you and Abby?” she asked. “You were so happy once.”
“Maybe I was. Abby changed her mind about life with me about five minutes after our plane took off from Seattle. She didn’t like being married to a pilot, she didn’t like sex, she didn’t like Australia.”
“Why didn’t she leave you, then, and come home?”
Sean gave Kate a sidelong look. “This was home,” he said flatly.
“Not to Abby,” Kate pointed out.
“And not to you,” Sean replied.
“We’re not talking about me,” Kate countered.
“I think we are,” Sean argued. “You couldn’t stay here with me and be happy any more than Abby could. You’re a Yank, and you belong in the States.”
Kate sighed. “I’ll decide where I belong, thank you very much.”
“You belong in my bed,” Sean answered, “and if you think you can deny me, I’ll have to prove my point.”
Kate knew better. Sean could take her anytime, anyplace he wanted; her responses were evidence of that. All the same, her pride made her keep a defiant silence.
They had reached Sean’s house, and the garage door opened at a command from a button on the dashboard. The inside was only dimly lit.
Kate started to get out of the car, but Sean stopped her by gripping her wrist in his hand. He gave her a soft, savage kiss. When it was over, her knees were so weak that she could hardly walk inside the house on her own, but she wouldn’t let Sean support her. He’d done quite enough.
In her room, Kate quickly undressed and put on a flannel nightshirt. She brushed her teeth and climbed into bed, determined to sleep.
She couldn’t. For much of the night she relived the things she and Sean had done together, and by morning she needed him again.
*
With Sean in meetings and Gil in school, Kate had a day strictly to herself. The first thing she did was place a call to the United States, using her credit card.
Her mother answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mother,” Kate said, feeling shy with this woman, as though they were strangers with little common ground. In many ways, of course, they were exactly that.
“Kate,” Irene confirmed, sounding a little annoyed. “Well, how is our world traveler?”
Kate suppressed a sigh. “I’m fine,” she replied. “How are you and Daddy?”
“I’m very well, thank you, and your father is almost his old self again. We’re off to the house in Washington tomorrow, as a matter of fact. Have you seen Gil?”
“I’m staying in the same house with him. He’s a wonderful boy, Mother.”
“Of course he is,” Irene answered, sounding impatient. “He’s Abby’s child, isn’t he?”
Kate could not have explained the emotions her mother’s words aroused in her, and she was glad she didn’t have to. She was also glad to be more than ten thousand miles away. “I think Sean had something to do with the project,” she pointed out.
Irene sighed. “Which brings me to the most obvious question of all. What are you doing staying under that man’s roof?” She made it sound as though Kate had taken a room in hell in order to have regular chess matches with the devil.
Kate thought of the sweet torments Sean had subjected her to the night before and wanted him more than ever. It was all she could do not to answer, I’m here because I’m addicted to his lovemaking. “It’s a big house, Mother,” she said instead. “They’ve got lots of room. Besides, this way I can be close to Gil.”
“I’m not at all sure your father will approve. You haven’t taken up with that man, have you?”
“That man has a name. It’s Sean.”
“Very well then, Katherine—are you involved with Sean?”
Kate wanted very much to answer yes, but she didn’t quite dare to do it. “I’m his friend,” she said, and her lips curved into a wry smile as she thought what an understatement that was.
“He’s a monster—directly responsible for your sister’s death.”
Kate closed her eyes. “You know that isn’t true, Mother. You remember what the coroner said. She’d been drinking and taking pills.”
“Only because Sean Harris drove her to it. Australian men are chauvinists, Katherine. They use you up and throw you away when they’re finished.”
“I didn’t call to argue about Australian men,” Kate said firmly.
“Don’t hang up!” Irene said quickly.
“We may not be the best of friends, Mother,” Kate answered, “but we haven’t reached that point.”
“Your father will want to know whether or not you’ll be bringing Gil back to the States and when.”
Kate was developing a headache. “I
haven’t spoken to Sean about that yet. I need time.”
“Just remember that your father isn’t getting any younger, and he has a weak heart. It would mean the world to him to see his grandson.”
Guilt swept over Kate like an ocean wave, but she stood strong against it. It wasn’t her mission in life to effect a reunion between her parents and Gil. “I’ll do my best,” she said. “Goodbye, Mother.”
“Goodbye, Katherine,” her mother responded.
It would have been easy for Kate to lapse into a low-grade depression at that point, but she was determined not to let Irene get her down. She hung up and went to find Mrs. Manchester.
After conferring with the housekeeper about the best places to shop, Kate called a cab and ventured into downtown Sydney. Soon she was happily embroiled in purchasing the things she would need for her mysterious adventure with Sean. She bought several pairs of jeans, heavy flannel shirts, special underwear, socks and hiking boots. Then, lugging her bags, she found a model airplane for Gil, a fancy collar for Snidely, a book for Sean and a small box of imported chocolates for Mrs. Manchester.
It was midafternoon when she arrived back at Sean’s house, where Gil and Snidely met her at the gate.
“I was afraid you’d gone back to America without saying goodbye,” Gil told her.
Kate shifted all her packages so that she could ruffle his hair. “I’d never do that,” she said gently. “Didn’t Mrs. Manchester tell you I was out shopping?”
Gil shook his head. “All she said was to keep Snidely out of her clean house,” he said. His brown eyes took in the bags she carried, one of which was clearly marked with the name of a local toy store. “What have you got there?”
“Help me get them inside and I’ll show you,” Kate answered, handing over half her burden to her nephew.
He accepted graciously, and the two of them went as far as the screened porch, Snidely at their heels. They dropped the bags and boxes on a wicker sofa, and Kate handed the model airplane to Gil.
His brown eyes widened. “Thank you, Aunt Kate,” he said, accepting the gift.
“I believe the American word is ‘wow,’” commented a quiet masculine voice from the inner doorway.
Kate looked up and saw Sean, and she went warm all over.
“Wow!” crowed Gil.
Kate felt almost shy, despite the fact that she’d thrashed beneath this man’s hands and lips and body the night before. “I bought something for you, too,” she said, handing him the book. It was an illustrated history of aviation.
“Thanks, Kate,” he said. He accepted the book.
“And I didn’t forget Snidely or Mrs. Manchester, either,” Kate announced, perhaps too brightly. She felt awkward and inept all of a sudden.
Sean set aside the book to help a delighted Gil put the new collar on the dog. Moments later the boy rushed off to the kitchen to present Mrs. Manchester with her chocolates.
“What else did you buy?” Sean asked. The way his green eyes touched Kate made her feel a special intimacy with him, a deep need for more of what they had shared in the night.
Kate shrugged. “Jeans and shirts to wear when we go away,” she said.
Sean was very close now. “Smart girl,” he said. His hands rested on the sides of Kate’s waist; his lips were a fraction of an inch from hers. “Did you buy a sexy nightgown?”
Kate eyes widened. “No,” she admitted.
He gave her a light, nibbling kiss that set her senses afire. “Good, little sheila, because you aren’t going to need one.”
Kate trembled at the portent of his words. She was afraid and excited, wanting to run away and to stay, both at the same time. “Are you making an indecent proposal?”
Sean kissed her again, more thoroughly this time. “Absolutely,” he answered, supporting Kate when her knees went limp beneath her.
She looked up at him, dazed. If he’d led her off to bed at that moment, she would have gone willingly, even eagerly, but he didn’t. He gave her a swat on the bottom and nodded toward the bag of clothes she’d bought for their trip. “You’d better wash those before you wear them,” he said.
Kate batted her eyelashes at him. “Thanks. I never would have thought of that on my own.”
He gave her another swat and helped her gather up the bags. They were in the laundry room, cutting off tags and poking things into the washer, when Mrs. Manchester arrived, shooed them off and took over the project herself.
Sean took Kate’s hand and led her into the living room. Since it was a bright, sunny day outside, there was no fire burning on the hearth, but Kate knew there would be later. Winter nights in New South Wales were cold.
“Where are we going on this adventure of ours?” Kate asked, perching on the arm of a comfortable sofa upholstered in practical navy blue fabric while Sean poured himself a drink.
“Queensland,” he answered. “To a place out beyond Lightning Ridge.”
“But it’s winter,” Kate reasoned.
Sean winked at her. “No worries, love. I’ll keep you plenty warm of a night, and sometimes in the daytime, too.”
Kate blushed and lowered her eyes. She could hardly wait to leave. “We’ll go tomorrow?”
Sean nodded. “Can you wait that long, little sheila?”
Kate glared at him. Sometimes he carried his caveman routine just a little too far. “I can wait forever.”
“Don’t make me prove you a liar,” Sean said, grinning. Then he set aside his drink and approached her.
Kate’s breath caught in her throat when he placed gentle hands on both sides of her face and kissed her, his tongue claiming her almost as masterfully as his manhood had the night before.
“Maybe I’d better take you to bed,” he said softly when the kiss was over and Kate was still trying to regain her balance.
Kate trembled. His delicious threat was empty, since Gil and Mrs. Manchester were home. Wasn’t it?
Sean chuckled at her bemusement and gave her another soul-rendering kiss. When it was over, Kate had to sink down onto the couch, since she couldn’t stand on her own any longer.
Gil came bounding in at that moment like a fresh breeze, carrying the box that contained his new model airplane beneath one arm. “Can we put this together tonight, Dad?” he asked eagerly, his brown eyes shining as he looked up at his father.
Kate felt such love for both Sean and Gil in that moment that she couldn’t have spoken past the lump in her throat. Tears of emotion glistened in her eyes, but if Sean noticed, he pretended otherwise.
“We could get a start on it, I suppose,” Sean agreed. “Have you got all your things packed for the trip to Canberra?”
Gil nodded. “Mrs. Manchester took care of that,” he said.
With a wink at Kate, Sean took the colorful box his son was holding out to him. “This looks like a three-man job to me,” He said. “Want to help?”
Kate wanted to be near both of them. “Sure,” she said with a sniffle.
Gil squinted at her. “Are you crying, Aunt Kate?” he asked.
Kate shook her head. “Yes,” she said, contradicting her own gesture.
“Women,” commented Gil.
Sean laughed, and even though he didn’t touch Kate in any way, she felt as though she’d been held and comforted.
The three spent a happy evening putting the model airplane together, although Sean complained that it was a job Wilbur and Orville Wright wouldn’t have wanted to tackle. By the time dinner was served, the plane was only half-finished.
“Looks like the rest of this will have to wait until you get back from your trip, mate,” Sean told his son. “You’ve got lessons to do, haven’t you?”
Gil nodded and went off to wash his hands before supper. When he joined Sean and Kate at the table, he was already yawning. “I’ll bring you back a present from Canberra,” he promised Kate. His eyes flickered to his father. “And you, too, Dad,” he added.
“Thanks for remembering,” Sean said with a grin.
> Gil sighed contentedly. “This has been the best night since my birthday,” he said.
Again Kate felt silly, sentimental tears stinging her eyes. She quickly lowered her gaze to the delectable seafood salad on her plate. In that moment she mourned all the birthdays and Christmases she’d missed with Gil, just as though he were her own son.
Sean’s hand closed over hers, though only momentarily. “You’re tired,” he said.
Kate nodded. That was true enough. She’d never really recovered from jet lag, and then she’d spent most of the previous night in Sean’s arms.
Sean’s voice was almost unbearably gentle. “Maybe you’d like Mrs. Manchester to bring your dinner to your room? After all, it’ll be an early morning tomorrow.”
Kate wouldn’t be pampered. She ate what she could of her dinner before excusing herself to hurry off to her room. After a brief shower, she collapsed into bed without even putting on a nightgown.
Chapter 6
That night was cold, but the next day dawned bright and warm. As Kate sipped the bracing tea Mrs. Manchester had brought to her, she looked ahead to the trip she and Sean planned to share and wondered what had possessed her to agree to it. She was not the daring type, as a general rule.
Abby had been the bold one. She’d been the one to skydive, get a pilot’s license and go off to Australia to live with a new husband. Kate wondered what had changed her sister from a fearless woman to a little girl writing petulant emails home but refusing to do anything about her situation.
A knock on her bedroom door interrupted Kate’s musings, and she uttered a distracted, “Come in.”
It was Mrs. Manchester, back for the tea service. She smiled at Kate and waited politely for an indication that she was through.
“You didn’t work here when my sister was alive, did you?” Kate asked the older woman, frowning. “I’m sure I’d remember you.”
Mrs. Manchester hesitated. Her warm eyes skirted Kate’s. “I was here when she died, miss,” she finally answered. “I’d just taken over from Mrs. Pennwyler.”
“Is she still around anywhere, this Mrs. Pennwyler?” Kate asked. “I’d like to talk with her about Abby.”
Mrs. Manchester shook her head. “Sorry, love. The old girl, bless her soul, has gone to live with her eldest son up in Darwin.”
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