by Dani Criss
“I need time to think about this, Jake.” She looked at Shelly. “Do you have that revised number of people you’re inviting to the party so I can tell the caterer?”
Shelly nudged her fiancé. “Did you narrow down that list today like you said you would?” she asked him.
He pulled a piece of notebook paper from his breast pocket and handed it to her. “These are the guys who said they could make it. Does it meet with your approval?”
She read it over carefully, nodded, then quickly counted up the number of names on the list. “Sixteen, plus significant others,” she told Kaitlyn. “Too many?”
She smiled at her friend’s concern for her finances. “Not at all. Andrew gives me a wonderful discount because I use his catering service so much.”
To Kaitlyn’s relief, the conversation turned to topics that concerned tomorrow evening’s party and the wedding details yet to be taken care of. Tux fittings were scheduled for Sunday afternoon. She and Shelly agreed to go shopping for dresses Saturday after she closed the travel agency office at one o’clock.
In many ways she envied Shelly and Rob, being in love, wanting to spend the rest of their lives together. But as a military brat she’d seen too many failed marriages, including her parents’. When things fell apart there was too much heartache and too many bitter feelings left behind. She could only hope things would turn out better for her friends.
Chapter 3
Jake sat back in the dainty-looking wrought-iron chair and observed the guests milling around in the Hollowbrook Estates clubhouse. Rob had a number of friends on the police force and Shelly had invited a fair number of people from the public defender’s office. The party was in full swing and everyone was determined to enjoy the great food and good company. Everyone except Kaitlyn, that is.
She was putting all her energies into ignoring him. He had no one but himself to blame. He should have sent an unmarked car to patrol the area around her house last night, but he hadn’t figured on her being awake and looking out her kitchen window. She’d spotted the Riley Security Services logo on the vehicle’s door and had called him this morning to give him what for over it, then she’d slammed down the phone before he could reply.
He watched her supervise the caterer and the bartenders, and gently remind Rob and Shelly a couple of times of their duties as guests of honor. She mingled with the people, smiling through the fatigue she certainly must have felt, seemingly oblivious to the many admiring glances she received. The neckline of her teal blue dress showed off her lovely collarbone and the column of her neck. The hem stopped just below her knees, displaying her shapely calves to perfect advantage and making more than one man’s imagination run amok. Stirring those memories Jake had thought dead and buried.
She was a vision, her dress skimming her slight curves, her hair falling across her shoulders in a tumble of soft, red-gold curls. But she was also angry with him. Time to clear the air, he decided as he got to his feet. He caught another glimpse of her as she attended to every detail of the party and avoided the one issue she had to realize was the most important—them. Or at least how they would deal with each other to keep her safe. He had to convince her to let him help her. This was one thing she could not do on her own.
He set his empty beer bottle on a tray by the bar, then walked purposefully over to where she stood conversing with an older couple, certain she wouldn’t want to appear rude in front of guests. They had to settle things between them and here at this party would be the most practical way to do that.
He smiled, then extended his free hand to the gray-haired man. “Jake Riley,” he said by way of introduction.
“Frank Preston,” the. other man said, returning Jake’s handshake. “This is my wife, Ruth.”
“Preston. You must be related to Shelly,” Jake continued. “Her parents, perhaps?”
“Her aunt and uncle,” Frank corrected.
“Well, I hope you’ll forgive my barging into the conversation like this, but I was hoping to convince Katie to dance with me.”
“Exactly what she should be doing at such a lovely soiree,” Ruth said, patting Kaitlyn’s arm.
Jake’s grin widened. “Will you excuse us, then?”
“Of course,” she said with a wink to Kaitlyn. “You go dance with your handsome young man, dear. I’ll call you Monday about Egypt.”
Jake didn’t miss the way Kaitlyn clenched her teeth at the other woman’s referring to him as her “young man,” but he figured this wasn’t the time or place to comment on that. Baiting her into an argument was not the way to gain her cooperation, and under the circumstances that was essential.
His first instinct had been to push her into accepting his help, but he knew the direct-and-demanding approach would net him nothing where Kaitlyn was concerned. One sideways glance at the ramrod straightness of her spine told him she would resist that tack as much now as she ever had.
Still, she needed help, and she would have his, with or without her knowledge. They’d once shared something very special. He wouldn’t turn his back on that or on her.
“Egypt?” he asked, inclining his head toward the dance floor as the older couple walked away. “You can actually send people that far away and bring them back?”
“Yeah, with my magic wand,” Kaitlyn replied. “I could even send you somewhere...Siberia, maybe.”
She turned away, treating him to a tantalizing view of her backside as she sashayed over to the buffet table instead of the dance floor. He knew a cold shoulder when he received it, and not being the type to beat his head against the proverbial brick wall, he generally took the hint. But he was never able to back off with Kaitlyn. That haughty, aloof attitude of hers was as much of a challenge, and a turn-on, as ever. He hoped that someday before he passed on to the next life, he would understand why this particular woman made him frustrated enough to grind his teeth and filled him witch desire at the same time.
He followed behind her, loading a plate for himself as she dropped dabs of food on hers. Food had never been a priority for her. She was walking down the buffet line—bypassing the majority of the best goodies—only because it was the one sure way to avoid a few minutes with him on the dance floor.
“Does this mean you’re not going to dance with me?” he asked as she led the way over toward an empty table, the gentle sway of her hips as mesmerizing as ever.
“You’re a little slow on the pickup, but you get the message eventually.”
She set her plate on the table and glared up at him, her chin thrust temptingly toward him. He’d better resist taking that chin in his hands if he didn’t want to end up alienating her altogether.
“We need to talk, Katie, not fight,” he said, holding her chair.
“It doesn’t work that way with us.”
“It didn’t back then, but this time has to be different,” he told her, needing to make the distinction between who they’d been and who they were now. It was important to him that they not spend what little time they might have together doing battle, and not just because they would have to work together to keep the situation under control. He was afraid he was letting his feelings carry him away again—but then, he had a hunch it would always be that way where Katie was concerned. Especially if she was in danger.
Kaitlyn studied him for a long moment, then nodded once. She’d learned to pick and choose her battles carefully, and while having Jake back in her life was not something she wanted, she feared she would have to deal with it. Reality was, she would probably need his help if Craig Fallon didn’t become interested in someone else soon.
She toyed with the pasta salad on her plate as she considered her words. “What makes you think things can be any better between us this time around?”
“We have our friends’ wedding to think about, remember?”
She nodded. “You’re right. But, Jake, we’re the same people we were five years ago. When it comes to security, you have your ways of doing things without discussing your agenda or
your reasoning behind it with anyone, especially me. I can’t deal with those methods and that will get in the way every time we’re thrown together.”
He bit into a meatball and chewed thoughtfully, as if he, too, were selecting his words with care. Kaitlyn supposed that was a start at trying to get along with her.
“Katie,” he finally said. “let me ask you this. Why were you awake, pacing the floors and looking out windows, most of last night?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” she quickly replied.
He stared down at her for a long moment. “Don’t be difficult,” he said when she didn’t volunteer any more information. “You know what I’m getting at.”
She did, and she knew that trying to evade answering him would get her nowhere. “All right,” she said on a frustrated sigh. “I was nervous...”
“Afraid,” he corrected emphatically. “Why is it so difficult for you to admit you’re afraid?”
“Because it accomplishes nothing. Fear paralyzes a person at the very time she most needs to take action.” Her mother had always been afraid.
“A healthy dose of fear also makes a person cautious,” he stated quietly.
It could also leave her afraid to make a move, to trust herself. “Why should I concern myself with caution when you have enough for half the people in this room?” she retorted. Then, realizing she was letting him, as well as her lack of sleep, get to her, she pushed her plate aside. “I guess this truce isn’t going to be easy.”
“We’ll manage.” He stabbed another meatball and chewed with enjoyment. “You aren’t eating.”
Kaitlyn shrugged. “I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“You never have. At least you won’t fight the battle of the bulge,” he said, letting his gaze glide over her frame, starting with her face and sliding downward, lingering here and there as it traveled the length of her.
She frowned at his frank perusal, even as the warmth of his gaze shot through her, threatening to make her melt as it always had in the past. She couldn’t have that. This man had a way of making her forget all her priorities.
“Careful, Jake,” she said. “Don’t let your overactive libido get carried away.”
“As I recall,” he said in that seductive voice of his, “yours had no trouble keeping pace with mine.”
“But I do not repeat my mistakes,” she said, her body heating as the memories of the frantic passion they’d shared filled her mind—memories that were too strong and should have been long gone. Time to change the subject to one a bit safer.
“About last night...” she began.
“I told you this morning I won’t apologize for sending that car out to your area,” he said, his jaw beginning to clench.
“I wanted to tell you that I was grateful.”
“Grateful?” One dark brow rose. “You have an odd way of showing it.”
“By raking you over the coals when I phoned this morning, you mean?” She flashed a rueful smile. After she’d seen the car for the fourth time and realized it would be in the area all night, she’d finally gotten some sleep. “What you don’t seem to be picking up on is the fact that my anger is with your methods, not with what you did.” “My methods,” he repeated thoughtfully. “You mean that if I tell you what I’m going to do, you won’t fight me on anything?”
She laughed softly. “Not on your life will I give you that kind of carte blanche.”
“Can’t blame me for trying,” he said with a shrug and a grin. “But seriously—”
“Seriously, I’ve decided I’d like a price on a security system for the condo,” she told him, smiling as he helped himself to the pasta salad and meatballs she’d left on her plate. He’d cleaned his own and was now working on hers with gusto.
“I thought I’d have to do some pretty fast talking to get you to consider that,” he said.
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m independent, Jake, not foolhardy when it comes to my safety. And, no matter how difficult you are to deal with, I feel more comfortable having you and not some stranger install the system. I figured that maybe the guy saw the crew putting in the system at the office. I didn’t see him once today,” she said, her voice the tiniest bit hopeful.
Jake peered down at her, seeing the dark circles under her eyes that her makeup barely concealed, and for the first time he could read the traces of fear in her gaze. He could have kicked himself. Katie wasn’t dense. In fact, she was very astute. If she didn’t dwell on the big picture and how dangerous the situation might become, it was because she was feeling vulnerable—something she hated even more than his bluntness.
He laid his hand over hers. While her skin was temptingly soft, she was cold. Her dark blue eyes were wide. Again he wanted to kick himself for not realizing how very upset she was.
He patted her hand. “Tell you what, in the future I’ll try to remember that you’re not taking this lightly. Think that will make dealing with me any easier for you?”
She studied him for a long moment, gauging his seriousness. Finally she nodded. “It would certainly be a start,” she replied.
Jake took her hand in his and gazed solemnly into her eyes. “Whatever happens, we’ll handle it. Trust me?”
Kaitlyn breathed deeply, as if to collect herself, then nodded again. It was herself she was afraid to trust. She was too susceptible to this man’s charm—something she would have to control now that he was back in her life for whatever time they would have together.
“Does the nod mean you’ll let me help you?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts.
She sighed. Jake’s help was an oxymoron. He didn’t assist—he took over. She couldn’t have that. She’d worked too hard to get where she was. But she recognized she was out of her league. Somehow she would have to work with Jake, maintain her independence and keep her hormones in line. The last would be a challenge in itself.
“I should check on things...” she said, pushing her chair back and getting to her feet.
“First you two have to dance,” Shelly insisted, coming up to lock her arms through theirs. “The deejay wants everyone in the wedding party to dance. He’s going to play our song—Rob’s and mine, that is,” she said with a little laugh.
There was no graceful way to get out of it, Kaitlyn realized as Shelly ushered them to the dance floor. Once there, she released them to rush into her future husband’s waiting embrace.
Kaitlyn looked up at Jake and he smiled at her, one of his rare and devilish grins that crinkled the fine lines of his face and lit the depths of his midnight eyes. He took her hand in his, placed his other hand at the small of her back, then tugged her closer and settled her firmly against the length of him. She felt the rock-solid plane of muscle, was wrapped in his body heat. It was all so achingly familiar. She wanted to lose herself in the sensations, the memories. Wanted to sag against him and absorb the strength of him. Wanted him, she knew as his eyes filled with warmth and desire.
She wanted to run, but she needed to be right where she was, in his arms. She longed to kiss him, but she knew that doing so would be the riskiest thing she’d ever done. The dreamy saxophone notes swirled in her head, clouding her judgment, blurring reason, awakening her senses. She felt the cloth of his jacket brush her cheek. Smelled the woodsy and male scent of him. His breath, hot and enticing, fanned through her hair and along her face. His hand gently held her next to him as he moved them to the rhythm of the music.
What could it hurt to enjoy the feelings and sensations only he could bring to life? Just for a moment she wanted to pretend that nothing could come between them, that nothing ever had and she was free to give full rein to all the longings coursing through her. For just a short while she wanted to feel fully and truly alive and female.
He might never be able to hold her this way again, Jake thought, and he was going to make the most of what little time he had with her. It wasn’t sane to resurrect all the memories and savor them, but he couldn’t stop himself. Her softly rounded contours fit him as i
f she’d been molded just for him. Her hair and creamy skin smelled of wildflowers, light, delicate, feminine. Her eyes held a desire he remembered so well.
He trailed a fingertip down her cheek and lightly across her full lower lip. Her mouth opened, in surprise and a silent plea for more. He could barely hold himself back. He wanted—needed—to kiss her so badly. To taste the nectar of her mouth once more. But even as he longed for her, he knew once would never be enough and that giving in to the need pounding through him would be to put himself in the line of fire again. She would leave him one day, as sure as the sun would come up tomorrow. Already he was sure that pain would be even greater this time around.
The music stopped and he slowly released her. She looked up at him, need battling sanity in the depths of her eyes. For both their sakes, he took a step backward and inclined his head toward the table they’d left.
As Jake pulled out her chair, the caterer walked up to her, dropping a hand on her shoulder when she’d sat down. “How do you think it went?” he asked her.
“You outdid yourself as usual, Andrew,” Kaitlyn replied. “The future bride told me she’ll be contacting you about the wedding reception.”
“Then we can figure the food for it will be excellent,” Jake said.
Andrew beamed at the praise, then looked down at her plate and smiled. “It must have been good if Kaitlyn ate. For a change, I won’t have to wrap up something for her to take home.” Not giving either one a chance to correct him, he handed her a small white envelope.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Hopefully a compliment on the party,” he said with a laugh. “Someone asked me to give it to you while we were setting up. I should have brought it to you long ago, but we’ve been busy.”
“No problem.” She slid a finger under the envelope’s flap.
“Well,” he said, nodding to Jake and giving Kaitlyn a smile, “you leave the rest of the details to me. We’ll do the cleanup and lock things up on our way out, just like always.”
“Thanks, Andrew. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” With her lack of kitchen skills, Kaitlyn would never have been able to pull together the many parties she’d thrown for clients and friends.