Marking Time (35 page)

“I promise you guys, if there’s ever an opportunity to hire my own band, I’ll come right back to you.”

Mike put an arm around her. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, darlin’. We’re making a nice living doing what we love. You don’t owe us anything.”

“You guys are great. I’ll never forget you.”

“I think practice is a bust today,” Billy said. “What do you say we go celebrate?”

Since it was high time she finally did just that, Kate agreed.

After she spent a few hours watching the guys down drinks in celebration of her big break, Kate stopped at her apartment to pick up her mail. In the parking lot, she saw Ashton leaning into the trunk of his car. Without giving herself time to think about it, she walked over to him.

“Ashton.”

“What do you want?”

“I need my attorney.”

“You’re going to have to get yourself a new one.” He slammed the Saab’s trunk closed.

“Why?”

“Are you seriously asking me that?” He hardly resembled the kind, generous man she’d come to know.

“It’s just business. It has nothing to do with the other stuff. I’m going to have to sign stuff with Buddy and Taylor. I just thought—”

“You thought wrong.”

She sighed. “Are you ever going to talk to your dad?”

“That’s between him and me. You need to stay out of it. Before you showed up, we’d had twenty-five years of smooth sailing. In just a couple of months’ time, you’ve managed to undo all that.”

“Sure, blame me for everything. But maybe you can tell me why you had to call my dad.”

His face flushed to an angry red. “Why’d you have to screw mine?” He stormed away, leaving Kate’s mouth hanging open in shock.

When Kate got home to Reid’s, she learned he too had struck out with Ashton. They made dinner together, but the easiness between them was gone. After they cleaned up, they went upstairs to hang out in his room as they did most nights. Kate practiced her guitar while he did some work he’d brought home with him.

Her cell phone rang, and Kate saw it was her mother calling again. This time she took the call.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Kate! Where have you been? I’ve been so worried.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve had a rough couple of days.”

“So I’ve heard. Are you all right?”

“I guess so, except Dad’s not speaking to me.”

“He’s beside himself.”

“Are you calling to tell me you’re through with me, too?”

“I’m calling to make sure you’re all right and to tell you I want you here this weekend as we planned.”

“You do? So you’re not mad?”

“I’m not thrilled, Kate. But we’ll talk about it this weekend, okay?”

Just hearing her mother’s voice made her want to weep like a baby. “Okay,” Kate said, choking back a sob.

“Everything’s going to be all right, honey. I promise. I’ll pick you up in Burlington on Friday night.”

“See you then.” Kate ended the call and wiped her face.

Reid came over to sit with her and put an arm around her. “What’d she say?”

Kate wiped away more tears. “Not much. She said we’ll talk this weekend when I go up there.”

He kissed away the rest of her tears on his way to her lips.

Kate put her arms around him, and he stretched out next to her on the sofa. The fire crackled in the background as they kissed. But when he cupped her breast and ran his thumb over her nipple, Ashton’s ugly words came to mind. She pulled free of Reid’s embrace.

“Kate?”

“I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood.” For the first time, making love with him didn’t appeal to her at all.

C
lare was ready when Aidan got home just before eight. Beef stew simmered on the stove, and she was in the den folding the last of the laundry when she heard him come in.
This is it
.
You love him, you trust him. You’re going to tell him.

“Something smells really good.” He leaned over to kiss her and brought the scent of fresh air and sawdust with him.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew him down to the sofa.

“I missed you,” he said, holding her tight against him.

His passionate kisses soon had her trembling and needy. “You were only gone a few hours.”

“I missed you,” he insisted as he reached under her sweater. “I want you.”

“Now?”

“Now.” He kissed his way up her neck before he reclaimed her lips. “Always.”

She smiled. “Are you going to come home in this mood every night?”

“Maybe.” He kissed her again and tugged at her sweater. “Help me.”

Clothes flew through the air and landed in a pile on the floor.

Clare pressed her lips to his chest and teased his nipple with her tongue.

A hiss of desire escaped his clenched jaw. He quickly took control by easing her onto her back. “I love having you here when I get home,” he whispered against her breast. “I couldn’t wait to get back to you.”

Riding a wave of longing fueled by his words, Clare arched into him.

As if he had all the time in the world, he gave first one breast and then the other his full attention.

“Aidan,” she sighed, her fingers tunneling through his hair.

He looked up at her with his heart in his eyes, and her own heart contracted with the kind of love she’d never expected to feel again. The surge of emotion took her by surprise, bringing tears to her eyes.

His hands, which had been caressing her breasts, went still. “What’s wrong, honey?”

“Nothing at all. Don’t stop.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

He slid down farther and eased her legs apart.

When the anticipation became too much, she closed her eyes and held her breath. At the first swipe of his tongue, her eyes flew open.

“Mmm.” His lips vibrated against her most sensitive place. “I could die right now, and I’d go happy.”

“Don’t die just yet.”

His chuckle combined with the swirl of his tongue took her right over the top.

She was still in the throes when he entered her in a powerful surge.

His tongue swept through her mouth in tantalizing strokes that, combined with the rocking of his hips, quickly took her up again. Abruptly, he withdrew from her and rested his cheek on her chest.

“Aidan? What’s wrong?”

He shuddered under the hands that caressed his back. “You make me feel like I’m sixteen again and have no control. I need to catch my breath for a second.”

Tipping his chin, she molded her mouth to his and ran her tongue over his bottom lip. With her hands on his hips, she guided him back inside of her. “You don’t need control. Not with me.” His back was soon moist with sweat, his eyes closed, his lips parted. So complete was his abandon that Clare could only hold on tight and go flying with him.

After, his breath was heavy and warm against her neck. “Clare… I love you.”

She massaged his back.

“I never imagined this would happen to me again.”

Moved by his softly spoken words, she whispered, “Me, either.”

He raised his head to look at her, and she was surprised to find his eyes wet with tears, too. His lips were soft and gentle as they glided over hers. What had earlier been frantic now became sensual. Cradling her face with his hands, he kept his eyes open and fixed on hers as his mouth slid back and forth, denying her the deeper possession she craved.

She sent her tongue to seek out his, but still he held back. All at once she realized his hips were moving again.

He withdrew almost completely, then went deep again.

“
Oh
, this is what I get…”

“For?”

She raised her hips to meet his. “Robbing the cradle.”

He laughed, a rumbling sound that shook them both. “We young guys have
lots
of stamina. Now that you’ve taken the edge off, I’m all set.” As he spoke, he looked down at her, keeping up an easy in-and-out motion. He touched his lips to hers. “So I’m waiting for you.”

She groaned. “I don’t think I’ve got anything left.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?” His hand slid down between them.

Her gasp was one of surprise and then shock when he set out to prove her wrong.

“Oh,
God
,” she sighed. “Note to self—no more younger men.”

“Note to you—no more men, period.” His fingers kept up a persistent, determined stroke. “You’re all mine.” When he dipped his head to draw her nipple into his mouth, the orgasm tore through her, sucking the air from her lungs.

The power of her climax milked another from him. He shuddered against her, his face tight with tension that she soothed away with her hands and lips.

By the time they finally took the stew upstairs to eat in bed, it was after nine.

“Hi, honey, I’m home,” Clare joked when she snuggled up to him after they ate.

Aidan laughed. “See what happens when I’m away from you for just a few hours?”

“What will you be like after one of those twelve-hour days?”

“You can only hope I’ll be tired.”

Clare was relieved to see the light back in his eyes. He’d been withdrawn after the trip to the cemetery, and she’d worried about him. He seemed much better after a few hours alone, but it didn’t feel like the right time to get into the emotional discussion she needed to have with him. Since she’d made up her mind to tell him the truth, she figured it could wait another day or two until the time was right.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked with a mysterious smile.

“I don’t know. What am I doing?”

“Going out with me.”

“Are you
finally
going to buy me dinner?”

He laughed. “Yes, I am.”

“Well, it’s about time.”

“You have a very sassy mouth, you know that?”

“You love my sassy mouth.”

He kissed her. “Yes, I do. So I want you downstairs at seven o’clock in that sexy black dress I saw you sneak into the truck this morning, you got me?”

“I’ll see what I can do. Can I ride into town with you in the morning? I need to get my car and a few other things at Tony’s house. I’ve got a hot date to get ready for.”

“Oh, I like the sound of that.” He pulled her closer to him by hooking a strong leg around her as his finger traced its way up her spine.

When she realized he was aroused again, she let out a wail. “You’ve got to be kidding me! I’m an old lady. I can’t keep up with you.”

He rolled on top of her. “Sure you can.”

Clare couldn’t breathe as she ran through the empty house. Her heels made a frenetic staccato on the hardwood floors. From one room to the next, the monster followed her. His eyes, once friendly, were now evil. He was going to hurt her if she let him catch her. She ran but couldn’t find the door.

He chased her into a corner. The face that had seemed handsome was now twisted with ugly rage. Her clothes were torn and hanging from her. He lashed out at her, knocking her to the ground where he was heavy on top of her. She gasped for air.

“
No
,” she moaned. “No. Please.”

Someone called to her.

The monster shoved his way inside her. She screamed.

“Clare! Wake up!”

She came to, awash with sweat and tears, knowing right away that she’d had the same dream she’d had for months after the rape—the dream that led her to remember everything after she awakened from the coma.

Aidan held her as she sobbed. “I’m here, honey. I’m right here. You’re safe.”

That face—Sam Turner’s face—had haunted her for months after he attacked her. His threats against her girls had tormented her days while the nightmare plagued her nights. Jack never knew about the nightmare because she was so terrified that she never made a sound, even in her sleep.

“Want to tell me about it?” Aidan asked. He stroked her hair and held her close to him.

She shook her head. Her heart hammered, and she struggled to take a deep breath. “I need to get some water,” she was finally able to say.

He stopped her when she would have gotten up. “I’ll get it. Will you be all right for a minute?”

She nodded. After he left the room, Clare lay back against the pillows, willing the trembling to stop. She was so tired of being afraid. With a few deep breaths, she managed to slow her heart to a steadier beat.

Aidan came back with the water.

Clare took a drink and handed the glass to him. “Thanks.”

He got back in bed and gathered her close to him.

“I’m sorry I woke you.”

“I’m sorry you were scared. Will you be okay?”

Would she ever really be okay again? “Yeah.”

Clare appreciated that he didn’t push her to talk about it. After a while, the steady sound of his breathing told her he’d fallen back to sleep. She lay awake for a long time wondering what it meant that she’d had the dream again now.

O
n the way into town with Aidan the next morning, she knew he wanted to talk about her dream but was again grateful that he didn’t push her.

At Tony’s house, she went upstairs to pack up a few things to take to Aidan’s. When she heard the floor sander go on downstairs, she picked up the phone to call Dr. Baker, her psychiatrist in Newport. He was with a patient, so she left a message with her cell phone number.

She carried a small bag downstairs.

Aidan turned off the sander and raised his goggles. A white mask dangled around his neck. “Come on outside.” He led her to the porch. “I don’t want you breathing this crap.”

“Should you be breathing it?”

“I didn’t just have pneumonia.” He tilted her chin to bring her eyes up to meet his. “Are you okay, hon?”

She bit her lip and nodded.

“Do you feel up to going out tonight? We can do it another time if you want.”

“I want to go.”

He kissed her. “I’ll miss you today.”

She smiled. “Not as much as yesterday, I hope.”

“Maybe more,” he said with a sexy grin that stopped her heart.

“I’ve got to get a body double.” She walked down the front stairs to the sound of his laughter.

The town bustled with preparations for the annual Winter Festival, which started on Friday. After quick visits with Diana and Bea, Clare decided to treat herself to a haircut and manicure. By the time she emerged from the salon an hour later, she felt better. It wasn’t every day a girl had a first date with the guy she loved, so Clare made an effort to get into the right mood for what would no doubt be a special evening for them. Not that every night with Aidan wasn’t special.