Once More (Mercy Heart #1) (9 page)

Liam’s words sliced through Clem like a precision blade.  All these years, he had convinced himself that leaving her was selfless and exactly what she needed.  Foolishly, he had assumed he’d be able to show up and pick up right where they had ended things. 

“And Clem?”  Liam paused, chewing and swallowing before he continued with a smirk on his face and a dangerous glint in his eye.  “If you hurt her, I will take great pleasure in kicking your arse.”

Chapter 12

By the end of the day, Katelyn was ready to lose her thoughts in a good book and a bottle of wine.  She had gone to the gym to bust out a few miles on the treadmill, but had barely been able to find her groove due to watching to see if Clem was going to show up as well.  When he didn’t, she couldn’t decide if she felt relieved or disappointed. 

After arriving home, she showered and dressed in her pajamas for a night in.  As she picked up the phone to have dinner delivered, her doorbell rang.  Katelyn’s heart skipped a beat, hoping that it wasn’t Clem and praying that it really was.  She checked her hair in the hall mirror and cursed under her breath as she realized that there was no fixing her after-shower ponytail. With a hand on the doorknob, she took a fortifying breath, unconsciously squeezing her eyes shut as she opened the door. 

“Girl, what is wrong with you?  Open your damn eyes.  We could have been serial killers!”  Katelyn didn’t have to open her eyes to recognize Janie’s southern drawl, or her warnings.  Janie was always extra cautious, especially after what had happened in her past.  She regularly attended self-defense training and never left the house without her pepper spray, all in order to avoid being a victim again.  Katelyn let out a breath and opened her eyes to see Janie, Liam and Sawyer standing before her, each carrying a bottle of wine.  Luckily, Sawyer, ever the sensible one, also carried a take-out sack of food from Hot Wok. 

Stepping aside, Katelyn welcomed her friends in and accepted a smooch on the cheek from all three.  They made their way to her living room, plopping pillows on the floor to sit on around the coffee table.  Katelyn smiled as she sat, watching over her friends as they made themselves comfortable.  Sawyer Conley was the epitome of dashingly handsome in his oxford shirt tucked into perfectly pressed dress slacks.  With his sleeves rolled up, his tan, muscular arms were showcased.  His dark blond hair was kept short for a no fuss style that screamed of masculinity; his cleft chin and chiseled cheekbones completed a package that demanded respect and attracted attention from women and men throughout the city.  She knew he had to have shucked his tie and suit jacket in the car before coming in, releasing some of the tension from his stressful day as a Washington County assistant district attorney. For all of his conservativeness, he must be drawn to the flamboyant, as was evidenced by his past and present loves at the table.  Liam was dressed in skinny jeans and a tight henley with a scarf wrapped artfully around his neck.  Her hair cascading in large, soft blond curls down her back, Janie’s loud-patterned dress fell off one shoulder, screaming of femininity and desirability, though no one could miss the definition on her arms and legs.  She worked as a physical therapist and moonlighted as an exercise instructor.  Katelyn was sure Janie was not actively trying to attract anyone at the moment, no matter what she said.  Her lack of a social life was self-imposed due to a horrible home life growing up, which left her plenty of time to spend in the gym.  Katelyn couldn’t imagine having a cordial relationship with an ex and his new lover, but Janie certainly seemed to have no problem with maintaining a close relationship with Sawyer, and perhaps building an even closer friendship with Liam. 

“Were you expecting someone else, Kat?  A dashing CEO of an IT company, perhaps?  Hoping he’ll come by and show you his
hard drive
?” Liam asked with a knowing leer. 

“Yeah, I’m going to stop you right there,” said Sawyer, stuffing an egg roll into Liam’s open mouth.  “We should be able to have a discussion without childish innuendo.”

“We were all thinking it,” said Janie as she leaned across the table to snag a cheese wonton and took a bite, playfully glaring at Sawyer, who swatted her on the behind before she sat back down again. 

“Don’t encourage him, Janie.  He only acts like this around you.”

“Serves you right.  It’s like your cosmic punishment for leaving me for someone else.”

Sawyer leaned back with his hand on his chest and his mouth open in mock surprise at Janie, who winked at him and blew a kiss at Liam. 

“Can you blame him?” Liam asked, waving his hands over his own body in a gesture of presentation.

Janie shook her head. “Of course not.  I, for one, cannot fault anyone for snatching up a hot man.”

Katelyn had felt herself relax momentarily, basking in the unorthodox familiarity of her friends, but from Janie’s comment, she knew where this discussion was headed. 

“Enough about me – “, Liam started to say.

“Alert the media.  Tweet it.  Hashtag it.  Liam is moving the conversation away from himself,” Janie interrupted, dramatically throwing her hands in the air to halt all conversation.

“That’s it.  You’re cut off,” Sawyer said as he attempted to grab Janie’s glass of wine, but she held on and gave him the evil eye.  He threw his hands up in defeat and retreated. 

“Like I was saying, Kate, please tell us about your lunch with Mr. CEO Hard Drive today.”  Liam rested his elbow on the table, his head in his hand, and stared at her with wide eyes.

Taking a deep breath and a drink of her wine, Katelyn shook her head.  “There isn’t really much to tell.  It was a business lunch.”

“It certainly didn’t look like a business lunch when you dashed away, dear.”

“Well, I intend to keep it a business relationship.  As soon as he mentioned the live date for the project, it was a wake up call that I need to keep reminding myself he is only here temporarily.”  She crossed her arms across her chest, trying to mentally shore up her defenses for what she knew was surely to come from her friends.

Liam spoke first.  “Who says this has to be for the long term?  Why not just have a good time for the short term?”

“I’m not the kind of person who can just hop in and out of somebody’s bed, Liam. 

Janie chimed in.  “Sweet pea, have you even thought for a moment that if you gave him a reason he might stay?”

“I couldn’t ask him to stay seven years ago.  What makes you think I could do that now?”

“It pains me to say this, but I’m afraid I have to agree with Janie and Liam, Kate.  You are so successful, but you work too hard.  You deserve to take some time for yourself.  Open up to the opportunity to let someone that you are so obviously attracted to romance you.  You have a history, and, from what I’ve heard, chemistry.   Why fight it?”

“I just don’t know if I’m strong enough to hold it together once he is gone.”  Katelyn closed her eyes, wrapping her arms tighter around her body. 

Sawyer reached out and covered her hand with his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.  “How can you assume he’d want to leave?  You can’t keep yourself closed off just because of what might happen.  That’s no way to live your life.  Take a chance.  On him, and on yourself.”

After Katelyn bid good night to her friends, she went over and over again in her head their words of advice and encouragement.  She couldn’t keep up with the lie that his presence wasn’t having an effect on her.  Denying him couldn’t continue.  He was unrelenting, and she found herself wanting to accept more and more. 

*    *     *    *

Looking out onto the city, the lights of his alma mater not far away, Clem leaned on the railing of the balcony of his penthouse apartment, allowing the cold air to penetrate his body, down to the bone.  Thinking of Katelyn warmed his heart, so much so that it masked the chill.  Afraid of pushing too hard, he closed his eyes, playing their recent encounters over and over again in his mind, trying to decipher if her refusals were actually out of disinterest or out of fear of admitting to herself that she could let herself be loved.  Setting his ego aside, Clem knew he had to keep trying.  He couldn’t let his own fear keep him from making whatever attempt he could at capturing her heart.  She deserved to be loved and cherished, and he would do anything for just one more chance at happiness for them both.

Chapter 13

Though Clem hadn’t been far from her mind, Katelyn was more than aware of his presence when she found a dozen white roses waiting for her in her office the next day.  It should irritate her that he sent flowers when she repeatedly told him she just wanted to be professional, but inside she was jumping up and down that he would be so relentless, continuously trying to win her affections.  Katelyn wanted to thank him, but in looking through her handouts from the meeting, she was unable to locate a phone number.  Finding his email address, she decided sending an email would be much easier on her racing heart.

From
: Katelyn Williams

Subject
: Thank you

Date
: October 12, 2012 7:45am

To
: Clem Bryant

The roses are beautiful. 

Katelyn Williams

Director of Nursing, Mercy Heart Medical Center

She awaited his reply for a few moments, and then admonished herself for acting like a lovestruck teen girl.  Shaking her head, Katelyn stood, grabbed her employee badge from her coat pocket and clipped it to her blouse.  Pulling the door open to the hallway was easier than normal, as Clem was on the other side of it, pushing to get into her office. 

“Hey.”  Katelyn stepped closer, her voice coming out in a breathy whisper. 

Nothing but silence lay between them, each refusing to look away first.  Inside her head, she was screaming. 
I can’t fight it anymore. I’m scared to say it out loud.

“I – uh, got your email.”  Clem stepped even closer, just inches away, the door shutting behind him.

They stared at each other for a few moments.  The electricity between them made her skin tingle, drawing them together with an almost magnetic pull. 

Katelyn worried her bottom lip with her teeth, her mouth capturing Clem’s attention.  It was a mouth he was aching to taste for himself once more. 

“Well, thanks.  Again.  The roses are gorgeous.  Absolutely beautiful.”

Clem reached up and brushed a curl away from her face.  “Would it be corny if I said not as beautiful as you?”  He held his breath as he watched Katelyn close her eyes, relishing his touch. 
His
touch.  No one else’s. 
Hell, yes.
  For seven long years, he bided his time, waiting for this moment to arise again.  Now that he was this close to her, it almost felt unreal, like just another dream.   Leaning in, he breathed in her scent and ran his nose along her cheek, his voice coming out in a strained, husky tone.  

“You’re killing me, angel.   I am in misery here, being near you like this and not having you again.  It’s torture.”

Before she could open them again, Clem brushed her soft lips with his own, his hands stroking her hair.  She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck, the kiss growing more passionate as he swung her around and backed her up against the door.  What began as a sweet gesture soon was burning with heat as he practically devoured her, his tongue invading her mouth.  He slid his hard, muscled thigh between hers, relishing the warmth at her center.  Reflexively, her body responded to his as she squeezed her legs together to keep him trapped there, rubbing against him in a move that brought them both pleasure.  A vibration in Katelyn’s pocket brought them both back to reality.  Clem moved a hand up the door by Katelyn’s head, resting his head on her shoulder to catch his breath.  Taking a deep breath as well, Katelyn retrieved her phone and saw a text message from one of the nursing supervisors. 

“I need to respond to this.”  Avoiding any eye contact, she stepped away from him and started to go back into her office, but he grabbed her, stopping her in her tracks, though she did not turn and meet his gaze.

“Don’t shut me out, Katelyn, baby.”  Squeezing her hand, he tried to maintain the connection they’d just started to rebuild.  He wasn’t above begging.   “We need to talk about this,” waving his hand in a circle between them, “please?”. 

Unable to find the words, she merely nodded.  Turning to him, she saw hope in his eyes.

“Please have dinner with me.  We don’t have to go out.  You can come to my place.  We’ll keep it totally casual.”

The idea of having Clem in her home bothered her just slightly less than being in whatever hotel room he was staying in while in town. 

“We can do it at my place.”

“I would hate for you to go to any trouble.  I’ll send the car for you at a quarter till seven.”  Clem kissed her on the forehead and left her office, leaving Katelyn unable to deny him.  Frozen in place with her mouth agape, she shook her head, smoothed her clothing and headed out to address her nurse’s problem face to face.

*    *     *    *

Pacing her living room floor, Katelyn was a ball of nerves waiting for Clem’s driver to pick her up.  Dressed in a long maxi dress with a denim jacket and her favorite scarf, she stopped in front of the mirror for what felt like the fiftieth time, checked her reflection for imperfections, decided there were no huge issues and paced again.  When the doorbell finally rang, she was certain her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. 

“Good evening, Ms. Williams.  I’m Stuart Michaels, Mr. Bryant’s driver.”  The man before her was not what she expected.  Tall, with a military buzz cut and broad shoulders incased in a dark jacket over a dark shirt and pants, he looked more the part of a bodyguard instead of the typical limo driver with a suit and hat like she had expected.  “Right this way, ma’am.  Mr. Bryant is expecting you soon.”

Katelyn locked her front door and followed the large man to the car, climbing in the back after he opened the door for her.  Stars floating in front of her face, she felt faint as she sat rigidly on the plush leather seat.  She had never known extravagance like this.  Feeling a vibration from her purse, Katelyn picked up her phone but her nervous fingers fumbled it, causing her to accidentally answer it on speakerphone.

“Hey Janie.”

“Hey sweet pea.  Whatcha know?”

Looking at the privacy glass between her and Stuart, Katelyn decided to risk talking openly, though she wasn’t entirely certain her conversation wasn’t being overheard.  “Janie, I’m sitting in the back of a freaking limo on my way to meet Mr. CEO Hard Drive for dinner, I’m pretty sure he has a bodyguard, and I may be on the wrong side of a nervous breakdown.”

“Take a deep breath and relax, darlin’. First and foremost, and this is very important.  Is the bodyguard single and does he have a nice ass?”

Exhaling, Katelyn relaxed into the seat.  Though she was certain Janie was kidding, focusing on something besides Clem was doing wonders for Katelyn’s tension. 

“He has on a long jacket so I didn’t get a good look. But he is pretty beef-cakey.”

“And he’s packing?”

Shaking her head, Katelyn replied, “I’m not quite sure what you are referring to.”

“You know exactly what I’m referring to.”

“Well, I’m positive he has a gun, and I can’t imagine there is anything small about Stuart.”

“Sweet Jesus.  Tell me where you are.  In case I need to come rescue you, of course.”

Laughing, Katelyn began to reply, but as she looked out the window, she saw they were passing the university campus.  “I’m over by the university.  Where are we going?  There aren’t any hotels out this way.  We are heading south away from the campus.” 

Just then, the car made a right turn into a circular drive, next to a high-rise building. Katelyn scooted closer to the window and peered up, but the top of the building was not visible from this angle.

“I think I’m in front of the Crowne Building.”

“Ooh, swanky.  If you need anything, give me a holler.  And hook a sister up by slipping the beefcake my digits, ‘kay?  Bye, girl.”

Katelyn had assumed he’d be spending his months in town at a hotel, but this building held the most luxurious apartments in the area.  Stuart opened the door and held out his hand to assist her, but she wordlessly shook her head and got out on her own.  A slight irritation rolled through her as she walked a few steps ahead of the driver.  She had no reason to feel protective of Clem, but feelings of fear and fury that he would even require the services of a man like Stuart made her want to know he would be kept safe.  Pivoting in her ballet flats, she turned and crossed her arms in defiance. 

“Are you his bodyguard?”

“I have many roles.”

“Is he in danger?”

“Not while I’m around.”

“So there is danger?”

“Not specifically. But Mr. Bryant is a very wealthy man and one can never been too cautious.”

“How do you protect him?  What are your qualifications?”

Exasperated, Stuart, too, crossed his arms.  “Former Army Ranger, with special training as a sniper.  I retired from the military and went to work in the private sector.  I’ve protected government figures and celebrities, but now I work solely for Mr. Bryant as his full time protection.”

Katelyn was frozen for a moment, in awe of this man and his very admirable attributes.  “Well, thank you for filling me in.  I realize you probably didn’t have to do that.”

Smiling, Stuart held up his hand to motion her along.  As she turned and began to walk towards the lobby, Stuart reached around her to open the door.  “I figure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.  It makes sense that we should trust each other.” 

They rode the elevator in silence to the top floor.  The elevator opened into a small room with a heavy steel door with some sort of sophisticated lock.  Stuart went to the keypad, punched in a sequence of numbers and then motioned her through.  On the other side of the door was a large living room, with one wall of windows looking out onto the city.  Katelyn strode to the windows, taking in a clear view of the school’s football stadium.

“Wow, I bet this has a great view of the fireworks after the homecoming game.” 

“I haven’t been to a game since graduation.  But we can certainly take in the sights of homecoming in a few weeks from up here, if you’d like.”

Clem’s voice caressed over her, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment before turning around to face him.  Leaning up against the back of his couch, he wore a t-shirt and jeans, his bare feet crossed at the ankles.  Stuart still stood by the door, waiting for instructions.  When Katelyn glanced his way, Clem stood and went to dismiss him, but not before they had a private conversation out of Katelyn’s hearing. 

Stuart exited out the door she had entered through, and Clem came back towards her, but with a strained expression on his face. 

“Come, this way.  I had food delivered and I don’t want it to get cold.”  He held up his hand and motioned for her to follow him. 

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes, of course.  Why do you ask?”

“You seem a little rigid right at the moment.”

“Well,” he started as he pulled out her chair and then sat down beside her, “Stuart wanted me to inform you that if you are going to have a private conversation in the back of the limo, you need to make sure that the intercom light is not on.”

Katelyn was preparing to take a drink, but halted her motions midway as Clem’s statement registered with her.

“Oh my goodness, how embarrassing!” She slammed her drink down and buried her face in her hands.