Just Good Friends (16 page)

“So now you know.” She sat up straight, turned to face him. “That’s
what I did. I ran away. As fast and as far as I could go. Brave, huh?”

“Yeh,” he told her, squeezing her hand. “Yeh, I do think it
was brave. I think it was amazing. You were in that kind of danger, and you
thought about keeping the people you loved safe. I’m sure your parents wanted
you to stay with them, that they would’ve done anything to protect you. Instead,
you protected them. And to make a plan like you did, under that kind of stress,
and then to come here alone and start over. All that took courage. More courage
than most people will ever have.”

“Thanks,” she told him soberly. “I need to hear that. Because
it didn’t feel brave. It just felt like running away. Letting him win. And I
didn’t know I’d have to do it for so long. I thought once I was gone, he’d give
up. Instead, here I am, still hiding. I can’t talk to any of my friends. I
can’t even have a Facebook page like a normal person. I do things like that
cave trip with you, and I want to tell somebody how great that was. But I
can’t. And I don’t know when I’ll ever be able to again.”

“You can tell me,” he said, trying to ease her fear, make
her smile again. “I’ll listen, any time you want to tell me how great I am.” He
put an arm around her, gave her his best cocky smile.

She laughed. It was a little shaky still, but at least it
was a laugh. “It’s good to know I can count on you.”

“You can,” he said, serious now. “I’m here now, aren’t I? And
it was raining,” he pointed out. “Didn’t even take the time to dress properly, or
to comb my hair. That’s dedication.”

“I noticed. Thank goodness you were willing to come over. I
was so scared. I would have survived, I know. But it didn’t feel like that.”

“Glad you called me,” he assured her. “Glad I could be here
for you. But how about if I make us a cuppa now? Because it’s the bloody middle
of the night, you know.”

“I’ll come with you. I don’t really want to be by myself
right now,” she admitted. “Even in the other room.”

 “Must have made you ropeable, all that,” Koti commented
when they were settled back on the couch again with their tea. “Knowing the way
you are. Bet you were furious.”

Kate nodded, took a sip of the comforting beverage. “I truly
believe it’s only because of my temper that I’m alive now. I never felt sorry
for Paul. Never agreed to meet him again, or wanted to listen to what he had to
say. Believe it or not, that’s a mistake lots of women make. And they wind up
dead. I didn’t discount my own instincts, either, in the end. The first time he
hurt me was the last. And when he had me cowering in my apartment, I was
terrified, but I was mad too. I decided that I was going to get my life back. I
wasn’t going to let him take it away. Either by killing me, or by not letting
me live normally. I’m still furious about what he did, that I have to hide over
here. But at least I’m alive, and I’m not looking over my shoulder all the
time. Other than tonight, that is.”

“Glad you told me. It makes me understand you better. Why
you’re the way you are. And why you did your block like that when I asked you
about Kevvie.”

“You don’t think I’m just, what was it? Mad as a meat axe?”

“I may still think that. But I know why, now. I’ll be able
to duck, next time you go off.”

“Mmmm,” she agreed. It had been hard to talk about it, to relive
the experience. But somehow, it had released the tension she’d held inside all
day. She felt safe at last with Koti so reassuringly close, and found herself
with an overwhelming desire to curl up and go to sleep.

“Can you stay a little bit?” she asked him. “Just till I
fall asleep?”

“Why don’t you go back to bed?” he suggested. “I’ll sleep
out here. Unless you want to share, of course.”

“No, stay with me here. Just for a few minutes. Then you
should go home and go to bed yourself. But I don’t want to be alone right now.”

He sighed. “OK. Wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing you in
those pajamas anyway. Not to mention the fuzzy socks. Why did I have a bad
feeling you didn’t sleep in a nightie?”

She smiled, then gave in to temptation and lay down, her
head resting near him where he sat on the couch, taking comfort from his
presence. “Sorry,” she murmured with a yawn.

“Maybe if they didn’t have sheep on them too,” he complained,
resting a hand on her shoulder and giving one of the woolly creatures a little
rub with his thumb.

“I like my sheep. And we’re in New Zealand. New Sheep-land.
You should like them too.”

“Second to none in my admiration of sheep. Don’t want to go
to bed with them, that’s all.”

“I’m supposed to tell a joke here,” she sighed, soothed by
his warm hand, the feeling of him next to her. “But I’m too tired.”

The next thing she knew, the alarm was buzzing. She came up
from sleep slowly, disoriented. Why was she on the couch? As she stumbled into
the bedroom to turn off the nagging buzz, the events of the night came back to
her.

Had she really asked Koti to stay with her? In the early
morning, the night’s terrors receding, she could hardly believe it. He must
have covered her up after she’d fallen asleep, too, she realized. She had awoken
under her duvet. Going back out to the lounge to retrieve it, she stopped short
at the sight of him, still in his sweats, coming in from the kitchen.

“Morning,” he told her.

Kate’s hands flew to her hair.  “Why are you still here? Sorry,”
she amended at his frown, still smoothing her hair, but trying to be less
obvious about it. She must be a mess. And she was wearing rumpled blue flannel pajamas
with sheep and clouds on them. “I mean, thanks,” she offered belatedly. “But
you didn’t have to stay. I’m sorry I interrupted your night like that.”

“Didn’t like to leave you. And stop fussing with your hair.
You look fine. I saw you crying last night. And blowing your nose,” he grinned.
“It’s safe to say all my illusions are shattered.”

 Kate sighed and sat down on the couch with a thump, pulling
the duvet over her. “This is the problem with you being so good-looking. You
look just like always. Even better unshaven, I hate to admit.”

“Never mind,” he comforted her. “Come have a cup of tea with
me before I go home.”

“Universal remedy,” she said gloomily. “For late nights and
awkward mornings.”

 “Not awkward for me. Come on, Kate. Where’s that fighting
spirit?”

“You’re right,” she decided. “But I’m brushing my hair
and
my teeth first. Restore a little dignity here.”

“Where did you sleep?” she asked, coming into the kitchen a
few minutes later and sitting down with him. She took a grateful sip of the
hot, milky tea.  

“On the carpet,” he admitted. “Found a blanket. No worries,”
he added, seeing her distress. “Only a couple hours. Not too bad. I didn’t like
to leave you, in case you had another dream. Didn’t want to make that trip again,
eh.”

“You’re making a joke of it. But it was really nice of you.
To come over in the first place, and then to stay. I don’t know what I would
have done without you. I would have had an uncomfortable night, that’s for
sure. I’ve never had a dream that scared me that much.”

He reached across the table to take her hand. “You had a
good reason to be scared. Seems to me, your mind was telling you that you still
need to be careful. And I reckon that’s true. Keep your eyes open, keep your
door locked. Consider having a strong man move in.”

“Yeah, that’s happening. But I’m afraid you’re right. It
always takes me by surprise, how astute you are.”

“I should be offended. But I won’t bother. Because I’ve got
a favor to ask too. I’d better slip it in here while you’re softened up.”

“I am not sleeping with you in exchange,” she warned him.

“Never say never. Besides, you already have, haven’t you?
Nah, I wanted to ask you if you’d come over to my place, watch the ABs play
tomorrow night.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” she asked carefully.

He sighed. “Nothing’s going to happen that you don’t want.
You should know that by now.”

“I do,” she admitted. “That’s the problem.”

“And that makes this sound even better,” he said cheerfully.
“Game starts at seven-thirty. Come over early, and we’ll have a bite to eat
first. It’ll be a takeaway, I’m afraid. I’m not much of a cook.”

“All right. I owe you one for last night, that’s for sure.”

She walked him to the door when he rose to go. “Thanks
again. Sorry for the rough night.”

“No worries. Ring me any time you want me to visit you in
the night. And I’ll be here straight away.” He reached for her and kissed her
on the cheek. Looked at her in her ridiculous sheep pajamas, gave in and bent
down to give her a proper kiss.

Kate felt a shock of recognition at the touch of his lips. As
his firm mouth moved over hers, a bolt of heat arrowed straight through her. Without
realizing what she was doing, she moved into him, ran her hands up his arms to
his broad shoulders. She pulled him more closely to her as she kissed him back,
and reveled in the feeling of his mouth, his body against hers. His arms
tightened around her in response, pulling her even closer, kissing her harder,
the heat building fast.  

He lifted his head at last, a little stunned, and ran a hand
down her back, still holding her close. “Whoa. Something happened there.”

She stepped back, ran her hands through her hair
self-consciously. “Yeah. Well.”

“Time to move this along, you think? We could try it again tomorrow,
see how we go.”

Kate struggled to come up with a retort, but she was too
disconcerted. She’d known it would feel good to kiss him, but she hadn’t
expected her body to respond quite so enthusiastically. She could still feel
the tingling warmth where his mouth had touched hers, the feel of his shoulders
under her hands, the press of his body against hers.  

“I don’t know,” she finally said in confusion. “I’ll think
about it, OK?”

“Reckon we’ll both be thinking about it. See you tomorrow
night. Wear something pretty.” He brushed his lips over hers once more, then headed
down the stairs to his car.

Kate watched him go, gorgeous as always from behind even in
his sweats, then shut the door and leaned against it for a moment. Well, on the
plus side, she wasn’t shivering with fear anymore. On the other hand, she was
having a hard time remembering why this would be a bad idea. If only he hadn’t
been so kind, so caring, last night.

She had to get ready for work. No time to think about
touching him again, or how firm and warm his lips had felt on hers. She
shivered. Tomorrow night. Maybe he wouldn’t look so good to her then. Maybe
she’d have more willpower on a full night’s sleep. But she doubted it.

Kate studied her reflection. Gave a tug to the slim-fitting mango
sweater she’d pulled over a short, kicky cocoa brown polka-dotted skirt and brown
leggings. Too colorful? No, she decided. Bright colors had always given her
courage, and she needed that right now. The underwear she’d chosen would do the
job too. She’d look good tonight, no matter what she was wearing. Or not
wearing.

“Time to go,” she told the woman in the mirror. She wanted
to see Koti anyway. Maybe he was feeling a bit uncomfortable himself right now,
she thought hopefully. Then sighed. Probably not.

Koti’s modern house, though less grand than Drew and
Hannah’s, threw her back into another moment of self-doubt as she compared it
with her own tiny flat.  

“I didn’t realize you were this close to the beach,” she
told Koti nervously when he answered the door to her ring. “I guess you can
walk there if you want. Must be nice.”

She was chattering, she realized. Took a deep breath and
started again. “Do you live here alone?” She pulled off her boots and set them
in the entryway. “And see, I’m remembering.”

“Good on ya, remembering. And yes to both. I can walk to the
beach, and I live alone. Used to have flatties, but I’m on my own now. That’s
why I need you to keep me company. Keep me from being too lonesome.”

“You look pretty,” Koti went on as he gestured her toward
the lounge. “I always like the colors you wear. They brighten the place up.”

“You look good too,” she told him, eyeing his black sweater
and jeans. “Handsome. But I’m nervous. Your house is too fancy. And this feels
too much like a date.”

“Hope so,” he agreed. “That it’s a date. Not that you’re
nervous. How can I help you relax? Other than the obvious.”

“Let’s eat,” she decided. “That should help.”

He laughed. “Should make you feel at home, anyway. I got
Indian. Come into the kitchen.”

 The TV was on in there, she saw. He’d been watching the
pregame analysis. As they sat over their meal, the program went to a commercial
break.

“Wow. You in stereo.” She felt better now that she’d found
something to tease him about. “Turn it up.”

He groaned, but complied as the body wash commercial
continued, with its slow-motion footage of Koti in the shower.

“Who’s this ad supposed to appeal to?” she asked him as the
camera lingered on his tattooed arm, reaching up now to lather his broad chest.
“Are women buying this stuff? How many straight men are getting a charge out of
this?”

“Dunno. Just hope you are.”

“I’ve got the real thing.” She smiled across at him. “Much
better in 3-D.”

“Glad you think so.” His own smile started slowly, grew
warmer. “Be glad to give you a private demonstration of that advert later
tonight. Though you’re the one who’ll be getting the soaping.”

She shifted in her chair, cleared her throat. “We still have
a game to watch. So I’m going to ask you why you take off your clothes in every
ad. You’re at least sleeveless, every time. That’s not true of the other guys.”