Desire Unleashed (17 page)

“What’s all the commotion about?”

Although he’d directed the question to Wolf, Kathy answered. “It was nothing Shane, you had to be here.”

Wolf sent him a smug grin, prompting his sharp reply. “Well, I’m here now so spit it out?”

Kathy’s smile evaporated, she shot him a perplexed stare, but he kept his expression fixed.

“Forget it mate, it’s like the lady said—you had to be here.” Havoc got to his feet and took the empty glass from Kathy’s hand. “Would you like a refill, love?” His voice was low and mellow.

“Yeah thanks, that would be nice.”

As Havoc passed him on his way to the kitchen, he hiked a brow as if to say “knock it off asshole, you’re acting like a horse’s ass.”

Ice stared at Havoc’s retreating back suitably chastised. He’d just snapped at Kathy, for no rational reason and was feeling like a damn idiot. Dropping into the seat beside her, he tried to make amends. “Sorry Kat.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No babe, everything’s fine.”

“Foods on, come and get it while it’s hot.” Sarah’s timely announcement and ten noisy kids scrabbling for seats at the table saved him from elaborating further.

Lunch was a rambunctious affair. After everyone had eaten their fill, the women cleared the dishes. Kathy tirelessly kept the kids entertained for hours, and the men set to work on finishing the playhouse.

* * * *

By late afternoon, all the guests had left except for Kathy, Wolf, and Ice. They were gathered in the sitting room while Meredith and Mandy played contentedly on the floor with Cindy, she’d been a definite hit.

“You guys might as well stay for dinner, we’ve plenty of leftovers, and I’ll just do some fries to go with them.” Sarah wiggled to the edge of her seat.

“No, Sweet Pea, you’ve had a busy day and you’re tired, you just sit there and look beautiful, I’ll do it.”

“And I’ll help,” Kathy volunteered. “Just show me where everything is, Frosty.”

“What can I do?” Wolf asked, trailing after Kathy and him.

“Here, start peeling.” He placed a heap of potatoes on the kitchen bench. Kathy picked up a knife and started to help.

“Tell me Kathy, do you water ski?” Wolf asked, slicing the skinned potatoes.

“Good heavens no, I’ve never even been on a boat.”

“What, not ever?” Wolf’s astonishment was hard to miss.

“No, I’ve always been scared of the water, but Shane’s helping me overcome it by teaching me to swim.”

“Is he now? Strange, he never mentioned it.”

“Yes, Shane took my friend Liz and I to the beach last Sunday, we spent a lovely day together. Afterward he dropped Liz at the airport and we went to dinner.”

“You don’t say.”

“Hey, I’ve got an idea,” Wolf snapped his fingers. “How about you come skiing with me and the guys next Saturday, weather permitting of course? It’ll be fun and I’ll even teach you to drive the boat if you like.”

“Wow, that sounds terrific. Thanks, I’ll look forward to it all week.”

Frosty eyed Wolf across the counter unable to conceal his amusement. Wolf hoisted an eyebrow and grinned back. Ice was going to be well and truly pissed by the invitation, but heck, that was half the fun of it.

Frosty had known Ice a lot of years, knew him better than any other man and from the way he was eyeballing Kathy today, right down to his little dummy spit, it was clear to all present he was keen on the girl, even if it wasn’t apparent to the great man himself yet.

When it came to women, Ice kept his affairs businesslike. Today was unprecedented and quite a revelation. Frosty guessed Ice might already be regretting bringing Kathy to their inner sanctum. He always claimed to be a loner, but deep down Frosty suspected that to be bullshit. It was only a matter of time before the right woman came along and melted the Iceman’s heart. Still, Wolf’s invitation was going to get Ice’s dander up and set the cat among the pigeons.

“How’s it going in here, can I do anything to help?” Speak of the devil and he appears. Ice intruded on the domestic bliss.

“No buddy it’s all sorted.” Wolf dismissed Ice with a conceited grin.

“Shane, Wolf’s invited me to go skiing next weekend.”

That was bound to get a reaction.

“The hell you say.”

Yep, it did.

Ice’s hackles rose, his eyes narrowed, and he sent Wolf a filthy glare. One just had to wonder what thoughts were running amuck in the Iceman’s head. Frosty waited for him to say something more, but Sarah waddled into the room and asked, “Who’s going skiing?”

“All of us, if you’re up to it, that is.” Wolf answered her.

“Cool, I’ll bring a picnic basket.” Sarah offered.

“We will too.” Kathy said.

The smirks on Sarah and Wolf’s faces renewed Ice’s scowl. Kathy’s use of the possessive plural had not gone unnoticed.

* * * *

Kathy and Ice were the last to leave. The ladies sauntered along the sidewalk ahead of the men to where the pickup was parked. Ambling half a dozen steps behind, Frosty voiced his opinion. “I like her.”

“Well don’t.”

“Too late.”

“Then get over it, she’s temporary.”

“You’ve got to be kidding?”

“You know I don’t do long term.”

“Well pal, I’d think long and hard about it if I were you, because that little lady won’t be around forever, she’s a keeper.”

“I’m not in the market for a wife.”

“What the hell are you waiting for? She’s smart, she’s charming, and she’s hot. You say the word and anyone of those guys here today would take her off your hands in a heartbeat, and I bet they wouldn’t act gun shy.”

“Drop it, Frosty.”

Frosty obliged. “Are you still scheduled to leave at oh-eight-hundred tomorrow?”

“Yep, and back in at twenty-one-hundred Friday.”

“Better you than me champ.”

“You’re joshing me right?”

“Nah, lately I’ve been toying with the idea of tossing it in and perhaps starting up my own security business. Sarah’s all for it of course, she’s never asked me to quit, but I know it’s harder for her and the kids when I’m away.”

“You’re serious?”

“Yep, and I could use a partner if you’re interested.”

Frosty could have knocked him over with a feather; his announcement was so left field. Ice had always thought Frosty and he were lifers.

“Thanks for the offer, but you know how I feel.”

“Yeah, I do, but I thought I’d just toss it out there anyway. Good luck bud for tomorrow, and while you’re away do yourself a favor and give some thought to what I said about Kathy.”

“Yeah, I won’t sleep for thinking on it.”

Ice was saved from copping any more flack by reaching the pickup. When he pressed the remote the lights flashed and he opened the door. Kathy climbed aboard and he edged her over to the middle seat, as he turned to walk to the driver’s side, he was confronted with Frosty’s self-righteous amusement but wisely didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he zipped his trap and climbed into the cab thinking Frosty could be a sanctimonious prick at times.

The engine roared to life and Kathy called good-bye as he pulled away from the curb.

“I had a nice time,” she said. “I like your friends. You all seem more like family, and wasn’t it thoughtful of Wolf, to include me next week?”

“Yeah, one big happy thoughtful family, that’s us,” he muttered under his breath.

Kathy’s brows furrowed. “You’re acting peculiar, have I done something to annoy you? Don’t you want me to go skiing with you?”

He let out a deep sigh, ashamed at his behavior, and cushioned his next words with a softening prelude. “It’s not that Kat, I like spending time with you but…”

“I know, it’s casual, no strings attached. We’ve already agreed on that Shane.”

“I just want you to be clear because when this thing between us has run its course, make no mistake, I will walk away.” It was harsh, but it needed to be said. There had to be no misunderstandings, no regrets, when the time came.

“Until that happens let’s make the most of it and take each day as it comes, okay?”

Her suggestion suited him fine. They were on the same page. Satisfied, he switched the subject. “I’m sorry about your parents. Sarah filled me in, I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, it wasn’t like it was a secret or anything.”

“You must miss your mother heaps.” He reached down and patted her leg. He’d never had the luxury of knowing his own mother, but he was aware of how close Sarah and Phyllis were and imagined Kathy must feel the loss terribly.

She leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Yes I do, we were good friends as well as mother and daughter, moving here has helped a great deal though.”

“It takes guts to leave everything you know and make a new start.”

“Not really. After she died, I felt smothered by well-meaning friends and too many memories. I had to get away or go crazy.” The sigh she heaved was deep and meaningful.

“What was that for?” he wanted to know.

“Oh sorry, just thinking, you know my biggest regret is my children won’t know her. That’s if I ever have kids.”

“Plenty of time for that.”

“I wish. My doctor back in Louisiana didn’t think so. She warned the earlier I start the better and even then that kids might not be possible without medical intervention, either way there were no guarantees…”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine, things have a way of working themselves out.” He wasn’t proud of the immense relief that washed over him at her admission, but he was off the hook and that made him grin. The chance of Kathy being pregnant was zip. Of course, he was sorry for her predicament. She loved kids and would make a great mom. Somehow it didn’t seem fair she might have trouble conceiving while he could probably father a dozen kids and didn’t want any. But she was way cool with keeping their fling casual, and that’s all that mattered at this point. He cranked up the music and happy as lark in spring followed the road back home. Yes, he congratulated himself as he flicked on the indicator and turned into their apartment building, all was well in his world.

Climbing down from the truck, he walked around to the passenger door and helped Kathy down. “Your place or mine, babe?” he asked as he tucked her under his arm and led the way upstairs.

“Mm that depends, do you want to be cozy, or do you want to play?”

“You have to ask?” He grinned following her drift. He had the king/playground-sized bed while she had the double/no-room-to-move cozy bed.

Once inside the apartment, he followed Kathy into the bedroom where she was already starting to strip.

“You haven’t forgotten that I’m leaving in the morning?”

“No, I haven’t forgotten.”

“You never mentioned it—I thought it might have slipped your mind.”

“I didn’t want to think about it, a week’s a long time.”

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he assured her. “But come here Kat and I’ll give you something to remember me by.” Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

Chapter 9

Kathy unlocked her apartment and made straight for the kitchen. She was confused and could do with a hot cup of tea. She’d caught her usual bus home from work but got off at the grocery store to buy milk. That’s when the strangest thing happened.

It was weird really. As the bus pulled away from the curb, she was positive she’d glimpsed Ian Roberts standing in front of the Real Estate office across the street. She would have laid money on it and could have sworn he saw her too, but he didn’t respond to her wave. By the time the lights changed and she’d crossed over, he was nowhere to be seen. True, he’d been behaving odd before she’d left for Coronado, but Liz had explained that away as him just being concerned. And at the Greyhound station they’d parted as friends, so if he was in town, why wouldn’t he contact her?

Kathy was still puzzling over the incident when she placed her cup on the coffee table and flopped onto the living room couch. The sigh she expelled was profound as she pushed all thoughts of Ian Roberts aside, picked up her hot tea, and ran a critical eye over her apartment instead.

It was smaller and quite a contrast to Shane’s in more than just size. One word that sprang to mind was quaint. Drab was another more apt one. The soft green corduroy fabric covering the couch was worn in places and showing its age. The rug adorning the living room floor was shabby, and the walls were overdue for a new coat of paint. A typical furnished rental with not much appeal, but she’d needed somewhere in a hurry, and the place had been spotless and the building well maintained. What clinched the deal though, was the convenience of location. Except for the few photographs in her bedroom, the apartment was unchanged. Not knowing how long she’d be staying, she hadn’t made it her own; she’d also been strapped for cash at the time. She’d relinquished her full-time job to care for her mother, that, and the funeral costs, had eaten a huge chunk into her savings.

Kathy picked up the book from the coffee table and commenced reading from where she’d left off two nights ago, but her mind started to drift. Today was Friday, and she was glad it was the end of what had been a hectic week.

Yesterday, on the spur of the moment, Anne and she decided to go to the movies. They were in the school corridor after class discussing what film to see when Len materialized from nowhere. Anne had confided weeks earlier she thought Len was cute, so when he expressed an interest in the film, Kathy took it upon herself to do a bit of matchmaking and invited him along.

After the movie, Len offered to take them for coffee. She declined, but the other pair insisted, as a result it was after midnight before she’d finally crawled into bed. As a consequence she decided to forego her run today and just relax with her feet up and wait for Shane.

Her eyes sparkled as they strayed to the vase of ruby roses on the coffee table that added a splash of color to the otherwise dull room. She’d been thrilled at receiving the first dozen on Monday with his sweet little note.

My bed is cold without you.

Then amazingly, another dozen arrived today. This time the note was more risqué.

Dreaming of you beneath me.