Kit And Kisses (16 page)

***

After Tanya opened the door to Grey, she led him down the hall to her office. He sat across from the silver-haired, middle aged woman, remembering his first impression of her had been correct
—
she was kind and compassionate and cared about anyone she took into her care. Now, she gazed at him with a concerned expression.

"You're not closing the home, are you?" That's what he'd worried about most on his drive to Meadeville.

"No. Our clients come from families in all walks of life. We have a good reputation and have always had a waiting list. What I am concerned about are the clients who are here now who might not be able to stay because of financial considerations. In a way, we're like a private boarding school. And now, with the funding cut, the families will have to carry the burden of that expense."

"How much are we talking about?"

She pushed a computer printout toward him, but he swept down the list of itemized expenses to the bottom line. Immediately, he realized his plans for the future would have to change.

***

Kit stood outside of Corey's Hardware and watched Grey set the new security system. The parking lot was now empty, all the customers and hoopla finished for the day. Someone from Deedee's residence had picked her up late in the afternoon. After closing, Kit had cleaned up outside while Grey checked the receipts. The day had been a rousing success.

Yet Grey didn't appear as ecstatic as she'd hoped. In fact, since he'd returned from his errand, he'd seemed preoccupied.

Even now...

"Are you ready to celebrate?" she asked as he pocketed the key.

"Kit, I really have to go over the books tonight to figure out where I stand."

"But I thought profits were increasing and our strategy is working."

"I have to make sure."

"So...you don't want to come over tonight?"

He stroked her cheek and playfully flicked her earring. "Not tonight. I'll call you."

Why did this sound like an end rather than a beginning? She'd done her best for Grey and succeeded. But there was a look in his eyes, a distance, that hadn't been there this morning. Now that she had done her job, was he finished with her?

She remembered their lovemaking, their kisses, the intimacies she'd never experienced with anyone else.

Was Grey the man she thought he was? Or had he enjoyed the thrill of the chase and now that he'd caught her, the excitement had vanished?

With a smile that took every ounce of self-possession, she said, "Sure. Call me. Or I'll call you."

In the glare of the storefront's light, she saw the shadow pass through Grey's eyes. He didn't want her to call him.

Again reaching for composure she didn't feel, she said, "Goodnight then." As she walked to her car, she pressed the remote to unlock her doors. She'd unlocked her heart and now...?

She felt Grey's gaze on her as she climbed into the driver's seat. But he didn't come after her. He didn't even come to her window to say good-bye.

He let her drive away.

***

Thunder grumbled and lightning flashed Sunday evening as Kit flicked off her television and pet Keats who was sitting beside her on the sofa.

"Should I call him?" Kit asked the cat.

Keats yawned.

"You're not much help," Kit muttered, staring at the phone. "Maybe I overreacted last night. Maybe Grey really did have work to do..."

A crack of thunder shattered the silence.

"You're not supposed to use a landline when it's storming. And I probably wouldn't have good cell phone reception."

Keats's tail thumped against her knee.

A static-filled call or the possibility of being struck by lightning. "One call won't be dangerous. And I don't want to talk through crackles. I have to find out what's going on." She lifted the cordless phone from its base on her end table.

When she jabbed Grey's number, she held her breath. What would she say when he answered? He hadn't called. She probably should wait until he did.

But she wasn't a woman who liked to wait.

One ring, two rings, three rings. Surprised when his answering machine didn't click on, she counted at least ten more rings. But there was no answer at his home. She tried his cell phone. It went straight to voicemail. What message could she leave? Should she simply ask the question–are we still a couple?

Could he be with Deedee?

Kit placed the phone back on its base and felt tears prick her eyes.

Something was definitely wrong.

***

Interested in the floor plan of the house that Eric had thought was perfect for his family, Kit followed Maggie up the winding staircase. Running her hand over the beautifully-grained wooden banister, she asked her sister, "So you're really going to buy this?"

"We submitted a contract and it was accepted. We already had one couple come by twice to look at our house. Eric and the real estate agent don't think it will take long to sell with the market picking up. We priced it right."

Maggie led Kit into the master bedroom. It was huge, with enough space for a bedroom suite and a sitting area with a fireplace. The walls were panted a soft peach. Kit peeked into an adjoining bathroom with a whirlpool tub big enough for two.

"This is beautiful. Eric has good taste. How do you feel now about moving?"

"When I saw the house, I realized why Eric thought it was just right for us. I'd never even considered something this big. I'm still used to watching pennies. But we are cramped at the other house and Eric doesn't even have a room for an office. Here he will in the downstairs study."

"What about your office and work area?"

"There's a game room that the previous owner added on. It will be perfect for me. I'll show you when we go back downstairs. I want to show you something else first."

Kit followed Maggie down the hall into a smaller bedroom. It only took a glance at the pink and blue wallpaper to realize this was the nursery. "I don't think this is the spare bedroom."

Maggie's smile was tremulous. "No. In fact, in April we'll be using it."

"You're pregnant?" Kit hugged her sister. "That's wonderful! Isn't it?"

"Yes. I suspected, but wasn't sure. I found out this morning."

"Does Eric know?"

"Oh, yes. I stopped in at his office. I think he's going to be overprotective."

Kit laughed. "Let me guess. He didn't want to let you out of his sight."

"Exactly. But I told him he couldn't hold my hand and chauffeur me for nine months. He strongly disagreed. I'm going to have to set limits or he'll pamper me to death."

"How did you get away?"

Maggie winked. "I promised him a romantic evening for two tonight." Watching her sister's expression, she asked, "How are you and Grey doing?"

"I'm not sure."

"You love him, don't you?"

"Yes. I'm ready to take the risk and believe in love and a future with Grey. But I'm not sure how he feels. After I saw Trent, we seemed to be on the right track. But then Saturday...I thought after the success of the promotional day we'd celebrate. But Grey got a phone call and left for a while and when he came back, he was different. Distracted."

"He wouldn't tell you what was wrong?"

"No. And then when we closed the store, he said he had to work on the books for a while. And he didn't call yesterday. I tried calling him, but he wasn't there. Something's wrong. Maybe he still thinks I can't accept Deedee. Maybe he's not even interested in a future. Maybe the challenge of the chase is over and now he's not interested. Have I been a fool again?"

"Grey's not that type of man."

Kit sighed. "You and Eric think that. I'm not sure what to think."

"You know Grey. He believes in family and loyalty and the basic values you and I believe in."

"So then what's wrong?" Kit asked, exasperated.

"Give him time. He'll tell you."

"You know, Sis, I don't like caring this much. All day yesterday I worried about him. I worried about us. And last night when I couldn't get hold of him..." She shook her head. "I care too much. It scares me."

"Love is scary. We both know that. But I can tell you one thing. When you love the right man, the happiness is far greater than the fear."

Kit was.

***

Kit was so happy for her sister. And she had to admit she was envious, too. She wanted a happily-ever-after like Maggie had. What were the chances? Was she just dreaming?

She'd just let herself into her apartment and switched on the fan when her cell phone beeped. She swiped it from her purse and couldn't help smiling. It was Grey!

"Hi! I've been worried about you. Is everything okay?"

His hesitation was enough to tell her everything was not okay. Then he confirmed her conclusion by saying, "Kit, we have to talk. Will you be there around seven?"

"Sure, I can be here. But can't you tell me?"

"I'd rather talk about this in person. I'll be there at seven."

Kit's heart pounded. She'd find out what was wrong in less than an hour. All she had to do was keep her fears in check.

That's all she had to do.

***

When Grey rapped on her back door, Kit was loading dishes into the dishwasher. She looked up and their eyes met. He opened the door and approached her slowly. She'd missed him and she wanted to feel his arms around her.

When he bent his head to kiss her, she lifted her lips to his and anticipated the magic that usually overwhelmed her. Grey's tongue swept her mouth, and he pressed her into him so they could both feel the strength of their desire, but then he broke away.

With a kiss like that, everything had to be all right, didn't it?

She saw Grey was breathing raggedly, too, but he didn't reach for her again. He backed off and ran his hand across his forehead. "Let's talk."

Fear curled around Kit's heart and she told herself stay calm. But her heart kept its up insistently fast rate, ignoring her command. She was surprised to find she couldn't even ask him what he wanted to talk about because she couldn't find her voice.

"I've made some decisions about us and about the store. I thought I could keep the store, marry you, and not jeopardize Deedee's future, but that's impossible now."

She tried to absorb everything he was saying one statement at a time. Her heart took wings at the word "marry" until the "but" registered, and she waited for the ax to fall.

"Funding at Deedee's home is being cut. Expenses there are going to double. I know what you've been through with Higgins, and I won't ask you to take on another financial burden. Red Bucket has upped their offer. I can't afford not to consider it seriously. So, I've decided to sell the store."

After a moment, when her voice seemed frozen in her throat, Kit felt the fire of anger surging through her. Her astonishment and fear melted away, leaving her with a feeling of betrayal and fury she hadn't experienced even with Trent Higgins.

Taking a deep breath, she faced Grey squarely. "When did Red Bucket up their offer?"

His jaw tensed. "Last week."

He'd kept this from her. Her stomach clenched. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because there was nothing to tell."

Her heart hurt, and tears burned in her eyes. All she could think about were Trent Higgins's secrets and the lies he'd told. "I had a right to know, Grey. My time and effort are involved in the success of your store, too. Did you think I'd stop working on the special promotion if I knew?"

With a frustrated frown, he said, "Of course not. Understand my position, Kit. I had to think about more than my future. I had to think about Deedee's."

"I thought we were close enough to discuss it. I thought we were becoming a couple."

"We are a couple."

"No, we're not. After letting me stew for two days, after letting me worry about the hundred reasons why you pulled away, you walk in here and tell me I've put weeks of thinking and planning and energy into a store you're now going to sell. Selling Corey's Hardware is your decision to make. But the reason you're selling it is so you can marry me? Did I hear that in there somewhere?"

"I don't know why you're so upset. I'm doing this for us!"

"That's the problem, Grey. You don't understand why I'm upset. You kept Red Bucket's offer from me, then you made a decision that involved me."

"I didn't keep it from you. It wasn't important. I wasn't going to consider it. Not until Tanya called and needed to talk to me about the cut in funding."

"Is that where you disappeared to on Saturday?"

"Yes," he shot back.

"You didn't tell me about that, either!"

He looked ready to shake her. In an even tone, he returned, "I'm telling you now."

"After. You're telling me after the fact. After you made your decisions. Decisions, I might add, that could affect my life. I can't believe you did this, Grey. I can't believe you didn't trust me enough to confide in me. You of all people know what I went through with Trent. The financial burden was the least of it."

"I know he hurt you, Kit
—
"

"Not as much as you have. I opened my heart to you. I've been as honest as I know how to be. I can't believe I chose another man who wants to keep things from me
—
"

He took her by the shoulders. "Dammit, Kit, don't you put me in the same category as Higgins."

She pulled away and backed up until the refrigerator would let her go no further. "You asked me to trust you and I did. Because I deluded myself into thinking you knew how to respect a woman and treat her like an equal."

He clenched his hands at his sides. "I do respect you and see you as an equal."

"Really? You made the decision we'd get married without, I might add, even mentioning it to me. You decided to sell Corey's hardware. You decided I wouldn't want to help with Deedee's expenses. And then you say you're treating me as an equal?"

"Kit, I'm doing what's best for everybody."

"You think it's best to sell the store your dad loved and you've fought for since he died? You think it's best that marrying me fits right in with financial decisions you make? That makes me feel...sad. I don't want to be a financial decision. I don't want our relationship to be determined by the next crisis."

"You're blowing this all out of proportion. If you look at the situation objectively
—
"

"I don't love objectively. But then you haven't mentioned love. Maybe it isn't important to you, but love is important to me
—
more important than finances. If you believed in our future, in me, in us, you'd know I wouldn't care about helping to pay Deedee's expenses. You'd know I'd want you to keep a store you've given your adult life to. You'd know I wouldn't care if we had to struggle as long as we did it together. You accused me of not trusting you. I think you're the one who can't trust. And if you can't give me your trust, if love and sharing isn't important in our relationship, then marriage is out of the question."

Behind the anger, Grey could see the hurt glistening in Kit's eyes. He could hear it trembling in her voice. She gave the impression she had a strong, tough facade, but inside she was soft, and vulnerable. He'd miscalculated. He'd bungled badly. And he might have done their future irreparable harm. He wanted nothing more than to hold Kit in
his arms and assure her he did
love her. He should have started with that. He should have asked her to marry him on Saturday night no matter what else was happening.

She turned away from him, her shoulders rigid. "You'd better go," she said, building a palpable wall around herself. He could feel it growing thicker and higher the longer he stood there.

"Kit..." When he reached for her, she stiffened.

Maybe they both needed a little time and space. Maybe if he backed off now, she'd realize he'd never meant to hurt her.

He walked to the door, knowing he'd be back. And somehow he'd convince her their future was worth fighting for.