It sounds crazy. The story gets a lot crazier. I'll fill you in on all the teeny-tiny details once we get together, but suffice to say that Chayton got me out of some pretty dire scrapes and helped me when I needed it most. You might have heard I got married—it's the truth. He suggested it back in the beginning and I went for it, thinking it would dissuade Anton from pursing me further. So we got married, and I wore a real dress and everything. Did you see any of the photos on the internet? I wasn't sure if you'd be paying attention to that, considering I'd up and disappeared.
Anyway. We're still married. I know you've heard about the massacre at mom's house, so I know you understand why I decided I couldn't go back there again. Chayton was instrumental in that decision and invited me back to Montana (that's where I am right now) to stay with him.
For the first week, he let me do my thing, let me recover at my own pace. Didn't pressure me for company. In the second week, he started inviting me to lunch and dinner downstairs, just casual nothings, but it helped me get into a better frame of mind. Our glances linger longer, and the touches he skims along my arms are more intimate than the ones before. I can feel the chemistry heating up between us again (it doesn't take much) and tonight, the first day of my third week here, we're going out on a date.
A real date.
He asked me to go on one before we left New York and now it's finally here. I've got a slinky black dress on and low heels, something modest but sexy. I put my hair up because I wanted to look more formal for our official 'first date'.
Isn't that insane? I'm going on a first date with my husband.
And this date is important. It's when I'm going to tell him how I really feel. I'm going to tell him that I'm crazy about him and that I don't want to go live in Manhattan again. I'm nervous because he hasn't said anything about the marriage, not really, nothing concrete or serious, and I don't know if he feels the same about me. In my most neurotic moments I think he does, because why would he go to all this trouble? Why would he handle me with such care, yet give me scorching hot looks and let me stay here as long as I want?
I'm counting on him feeling the same.
I need him to feel the same.
Julia—I'm pregnant. And he doesn't know.
I can hear you now, screeching at the letter. “Why haven't you told him, Kate, are you nuts?!” But then you'll stop, hesitate, and smile. Because you know me well enough to know that I don't want him to want me just for the baby. I want him to want me for me. Somewhere along the line, that became incredibly important.
So, tonight I'm going to tell him how I feel.
I don't know what I'll do if he says he doesn't feel the same.
Will call soon,
Love you,
Me
Kate stared at her slightly slanted handwriting, tapping the end of the pen against her desk. The letter could certainly have been written more coherently, she thought, as she read it again. Julia wouldn't care or mind, though, so Kate left it alone. There were too many details to write down, which just meant she needed to make time to fly Julia to Montana for a sit down luncheon.
Folding the letter in thirds, she slid it into an envelope and put it in the top drawer of her desk.
Tomorrow, come hell or high water, she would send it.
Since she meant to tell Chayton about the baby before anyone else, she figured she had about three days to find the right time to confess. The letter might reach Julia any time after that.
Standing up from the chair, she checked her reflection in the mirror, turning this way and that. The black dress, with a hint of sparkle throughout the material, accentuated her collarbones and the length of her legs. With a hem just past her knee, it was as modest as she'd told Julia it was, yet the cloth fit snug enough to her hips and bust to give the affair a dash of sexiness.
A knock at the door drew her away from the mirror.
This was it. Chayton stood on the other side, ready to take her on their first real date.
Picking up a small, matching clutch, Kate crossed to the door and opened it. Dressed in a black pin-striped suit with white and plum colored accents, Chayton looked devastating. He'd tied his hair back at the nape as usual, offsetting the sharp line of his jaw and the startling blue of his eyes.
“Hi.” Kate couldn't believe that was the first word out of her mouth.
“Hello. You look stunning. Are you ready?” he asked with a twitch of mirth on his lips.
“Yes. And you look quite handsome,” she added, stepping into the hall. A hint of cologne, masculine and seductive, added to Chayton's appeal.
“Thank you.” He closed the door and offered his elbow.
Kate accepted with a slide of her fingers under the crook of his arm. Everything tonight felt different, though she couldn't tell if it was knowing that it was an official date or the fine clothes...or what. She detected something like mischief in Chayton's gaze, along with secrets he'd yet to tell.
“What?” she asked as he escorted her down the stairs, through the hallways and out the front door to a waiting limousine.
“I can almost hear you thinking, that's what. Like you're dying to ask me a question—or many questions.” He handed her into the back seat and followed suit, settling on the plush leather.
Kate smiled, studying Chayton while the driver took care of the door and went around to slide into the front seat. “Well, I am curious what you've got up your sleeve. What kind of restaurant we might be eating at--”
“Who says we're going out to eat? I said a date, not dinner.” He arched a brow, eyes gleaming with ill concealed humor.
“I...well...we...” Kate clamped her lips closed. Indeed. Chayton hadn't mentioned a thing about dinner, she'd just assumed that's where they were going. “What if I'm hungry?” she asked with an impertinent grin.
He laughed a quiet laugh. “Maybe I'll consider feeding you at some point. If you ask nicely.”
“There is another kind of sustenance you could give me.” Kate couldn't believe the words came out of her mouth. Instead of treading lightly for their 'date', she was jumping in with both feet.
“Oh really? Please, by all means, tell me what you want, Kate.”
“When you sound like that, I--”
“Sound like what?”
“Like you do when we're in bed.” Kate had heard that tone several times in Hawaii. She didn't realize how much she adored it until now.
“I'll remember that you like it,” he said in the same voice. “Now then, what was it you wanted? We were interrupted.”
“You interrupted us,” she said with a low laugh. “But since you're asking, then I guess it's safe to say that a kiss would hold me over for, oh, about an hour. Maybe two.”
Chayton leaned across the seat and brushed a light kiss across her lips. He whispered there when he was done. “Cheap date,” he said, clearly teasing.
Kate caught Chayton by the nape, laughing, and pulled him down for a real kiss. One that tangled their tongues and let her languish in his taste. The gentle hum of the limousine as it purred down the road to some unknown destination faded from Kate's world when Chayton rumbled. He did it twice more before she let him come up for air.
Dazed by the intimate kiss, Kate released his neck and touched her fingertips to her lips. Chayton remained close, looming into her space.
“I'd call that getting the evening off to a good start,” he said.
“With luck, it'll only get better from here.” Kate almost didn't recognize the brazen wench she'd become. And it felt good, she realized, to just let go and be herself. Without looking over her shoulder every two seconds, without worry over what tomorrow would bring.
Chayton said, “I promise it will.”
Chapter Twenty
He was starting to think he'd made the right decision to give Kate space. The way she opened up to him tonight, like a hothouse flower unfurling for the first time, felt good. It felt right. Biding his time over the last three weeks had been a test of his will
and patience and now he was reaping the rewards. She seemed less inhibited, less traumatized, and all her wounds—as well as his—had healed.
Chayton thought more than just the physical had healed. Her mind, her spirit, needed the break.
Leading her from the limousine to the stairs of the plane, Chayton escorted her up and into the jet, grinning despite himself at her reaction to the elaborate set up he'd planned more than a week in advance.
The entire sitting area had been transformed into a luxurious, romantic scene of sensual ambiance. He'd gone for a 'diamond and satin' theme: the seats had been draped in white satin covers, a new chandelier full of crystal teardrops and beading hung from the ceiling, crystal flutes decorated a new, white and gold table. Instead of warm earth tones, a white and sparkling diamond world awaited. The touch of color he'd added came from numerous floral arrangements all in a pale shade of pink. Fine white netting separated the sitting area from the rest of the plane, giving them a semblance of privacy.
“Oh, Chayton. I didn't expect all this.” Kate paused just inside the door, eyes wide, jaw slack with shock.
“Come on. Dinner awaits.” Pleased at her surprise, he led her to the table and took his seat after helping Kate into her own.
Waiting until after take off and the initial climb, the stewardess appeared from the back with a smile and a tray full of delicious smelling food.
Chayton charmed his way through the meal, laughing often at her exuberance and candor. As they were tasting dessert—cheesecake, because he'd discovered it was her favorite—he said, “For the third time, I'm not telling you where we're going. If you ask again, I might have to retaliate.”
“Retaliate how?” Kate looked interested and intrigued. Apparently his mock threats didn't work at all.
Instead of answering, Chayton got up from his seat and took Kate's hand. He laughed when she hurriedly scooped up the last two bites of cheesecake from her plate.
“There's more where that came from,” he teased, “if that wasn't enough.”
Kate swatted his chest. “You never know. I just might want another piece.”
“Anything you want tonight, darling.”
“Anything?”
He laughed. “Yes. But look, I have something to show you first.” Chayton, thinking Kate might start making demands he would have to honor, opened the door to the bedroom. Here, too, he'd had everything replaced with white satin and crystal accents. The bedspread, fluffy and white with a ruffled appearance, looked fit for a princess.
“You really went all out. This is beautiful,” Kate said, squeezing his hand.
He shut the door and turned her to face him. She had the sweetest face, especially when it was all lit up like a kid in a candy store. It pleased him even more when she rose up to meet the kiss he intended to give her, pliant and demanding in his arms.
Little did she know, the night was just getting started.
. . .
Kate lost track of everything: the time, the conversation she meant to have, and her curiosity about their destination. Chayton distracted her with his mouth, his hands, his body, taking her to unexpected and unexplored heights. More than once she'd cried out his name, forgetting, even, that they were thousands of miles in the air. Nothing mattered except their rejoining, the reconnection. Not just their bodies but them. Kate let the past go and lived for the present, holding nothing back as he took what he wanted—and she let him.
Then she did some taking of her own. She loved the snarls of pleasure she elicited from him when she found an angle he liked more than the others. Kate exploited her growing knowledge of his body, wringing groans and purrs from him when the snarls faded.
Hours and hours later, she lay spent in the sheets, sweat drying on her skin. Chayton, an arm draped across her stomach, had his head on her chest and one leg twined with her own. She sifted her fingers through his hair, which had come undone during one love-making session or another.
This was the way she wanted to spend the rest of her life. Tangled heart and soul with the man she—loved. Kate gasped as the realization finally hit.
She loved him.
“What's wrong?” His voice was groggy from satiation instead of sleep. He didn't lift his head.
Kate took the bull by the horns and charged in. “I love you, Chayton.”
He picked his head up and swiveled his chin until he met her eyes in the gloom. Scooting upward until he loomed over her, bracing one elbow into the pillows, he stroked strands of her hair away from her face. The updo had come down long ago.
“And I love you. I think I have for some time.”
“Why didn't you say so before now?” she asked.
“There was just never a good time. Then, when there was time, the situation wasn't optimal.”
“You mean to say that you weren't sure we'd stay together.” Kate knew; she'd felt that way too for a while. The doubts and questions had kept her awake many a night.
“Always straight to the heart of the matter, hm?” He smiled, then added, “Yes. That's why. I wasn't sure how you felt and I wasn't sure how I felt, either. There were a lot of conflicting emotions on my part.”
“I know. I was the same way. That and--” Kate paused. She wanted to see his face, really see it, for the next part. “Will you turn on the bedside lamp for a moment?”
He arched a brow, then stretched his lean body across hers. Kate groaned at the friction of his chest against hers. He was so sleek and honed. Rarely in life had she ever considered a man beautiful, but Chayton was.
Lamplight spilled half over the bed and the rumpled covers. He moved back into place, elbow propping up his torso. He stared down at her, waiting.
Kate swallowed the sudden knot in her throat but smiled to let him know that she was all right. She almost couldn't believe what she was about to say.
Please, she thought, let him be all right with the news.
“I'm pregnant with your child.” Kate searched Chayton's eyes.
He reared his head back a few inches, clearly surprised, eyes widening before they narrowed in speculation. “Are you sure? How long have you known?”
“I'm sure. I've known since before the car accident. Just before. I didn't say anything after leaving the hospital because things were tense then, and because...because I didn't want you to want me for the baby. I wanted to know you wanted me.” The truth felt better than it ever had. Kate breathed an inward sigh of relief to have this particular secret out.
Chayton, obviously shocked by the news, suddenly grabbed her up in both arms. He hugged her tight, tipping his face into the crook of her neck. For the longest time, he said nothing.
“I hope you're happy about the baby. I mean, I've been ecstatic and almost slipped and told your da--”
“Of course I'm happy. Shocked, but happy. Yes.” He leaned back, looking down into her eyes. “I'm glad you told me.”
“Well, I didn't get you anything for our date, unlike you, who went to extremes.” Kate wrapped her arms around Chayton, relieved beyond reason that he wanted both her and their child.
He laughed. “You just one upped me. Your 'gift' blows everything else out of the water.” Pausing, Chayton got a faraway look on his face. “A baby.”
Kate pressed a laugh into the skin of his throat. “A baby. Maybe a boy, who I hope will look just like you.”
He rumbled, then kissed her. When he was done, he murmured against her mouth. “Or a girl, who will still look like me.”
“Hey now, don't get greedy,” Kate said, shaking with mirth. She could easily picture a dark skinned, dark haired little girl with striking blue eyes.
“You haven't begun to see the extremes of my greed,” he said.
“Then it's high time you show me.”
. . .
“Chayton! Where are you taking me?”
Leaning into Kate, Chayton eased one of the ear buds from Kate's ear long enough to say, “We're almost there. Be patient.” He put the ear bud back in place and checked
the blindfold to make sure Kate couldn't see where he led.
After his driver opened the back door of the hotel, Chayton guided Kate inside, moving slow so she didn't trip. He made her walk up one flight of stairs just to disorient her, then took the elevator up the rest of the way. During the ride, Chayton reflected on the stunning news that he and Kate were expecting a baby.
He was overjoyed. Thrilled. And the longer he thought about it, the more excited he became. It wasn't something he talked about to friends or even family, his desire to be a father. To have his own family some day.
Now that day was almost here.
His father and mother would be overjoyed as well, he knew.
“Chayton, for the love of all that's holy, where are we going?”
He cut a grin sidelong, even if Kate couldn't see it. He'd blocked her sight and hearing to extend the surprise.
Exiting the elevator, he guided her down a hallway to a certain door, which he opened after fussing with the lock. Leading her inside, he closed the door behind them and positioned Kate so she had a clear view of the room.
He took out her ear buds. Then, slowly, peeled the blindfold away.
Kate opened her mouth, then covered it with her hands. “Chayton! You didn't!”
“I did. It's what you wanted, after all. We're back at the start.” Back in Singapore.
The room looked the same. Exactly the same as it had when Kate had tried to stab him with the hanger and when she'd stitched the wound on his brow. The only addition was new luggage by the door and several vases of the same pale pink flower arrangements he'd had on the plane. On the bed, he'd had a single hanger from the room wrapped in white satin.
When Kate spied the hanger, she went over to pick it up, turning it over in her hands. Then she guffawed and ran back to hug him, hanger in tow.
Laughing, he caught her in his arms and swung her in a gentle circle.
Chayton Page 19