In Your Shadow (7 page)

“It makes me so happy Katie to see you in love. I wanted this for you for so long. I hope one day I will see you married again.”

“In love what, married, no I’m not in love with that…, I could never marry this …” the voice was so loud in her head it was screaming at her. She had to take a deep breath and compose herself before she answered her father.

“We are ready,” that’s all the words she could say, stunned at what just came out of her father's mouth.

She looked over at John and she could see her father eating out of the palm of his hand. He was loving it. Grinning with his arrogant attitude, he was so sure of himself.

“Oh we are going to play Mr. John Taylor.” She thought to herself as they walked to the door.

It was silent during the four-hour flight to the Keys. Katie listened to her father and John talk business. She could have jumped in the conversation at any time but she chooses to be silent. Nothing he could say impressed her anymore. She had her own money and company.

Katie just stared out the window looking at the low white clouds that covered the ocean it. The big blue would peek though from time to time, it almost looked green in some spots. It went on forever, like it never ended. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She picked it up and it was Zoe.

“Hello Zoe.”

“Hey Katie, I have some new for you.”

“What is it?”

“The house we looked at today, well the sellers will fix everything on the house but they will have to stay firm on the listing price.”

“Oh.”

“Yes.”

“When can they start on the repairs and how long will it take to get it done? Will you keep me informed I’m on a plane right now.”

“Oh, okay I will be in touch.”

Katie hung the phone up and noticed her father and John was staring straight at her.

“Was that Zoe at Midland Realtor,” her father asks.

“Yes, daddy it is.”

“What are you buying that needs work?”

“The house on Shady Cheek. The one I told you about that was out in the country.”

John gazed at her and took the opportunity to step in the conversation.

“Dear why didn’t you tell me about it I can help fix it up for you?” John said smiling at her.

“Well, darling I knew you were real busy designing things,” She answered with sarcasm in her voice.

“Katie I didn’t know that there was a place in that gated neighborhood that needed to be repaired. Most of the residents there are fairly new.” Her father said looking at her with a puzzled look.

He knew that neighborhood, his family lived there for years.

“It’s the large white colonial house that sits back of the road.”

“That house has been there for as long as I can remember, it needs a lot of repairs. Are you sure you don’t want something more modern?”

“I like the house daddy.”

“Well, that is all that matters I guess. I am just glad you are getting out of the city. Well, at least, that house has a tall iron fence around it and a gate with security.”

“I know you are dad and yes it has security around it, so no one can come in without an invitation.”

Katie smiled at her father she knew this would make him happy.

“Excuse me for a moment need to find the little boys room,” John said, as he stood up and walked to the back of the plane.

He quickly went in the small bathroom and closed the door. He grabbed his phone out of his pocket and called his foreman that heads remodeling.

“Hey John.”

“Ben, listen I don’t have but a minute I want you to get that bid on the house on Shady Creek, and I need the house redone and quickly. You know my taste but make it a little more elegant than usual.”

“Okay, how fast do you need this done.”

“Now”

“Okay John I will get on it today”

“Good Midland realtor has the house, her name is Zoe, make sure you get bit.”

“I am on it.”

“We will take soon.”

John hung up the phone and returned to his seat. Katie was still watching out the window as the plane was starting to land.

The car was waiting to take them to the house in the west harbor, Key West. It was a 3.7 estate on 350 feet of the natural white sandy beach. It was five bedrooms and 5 baths Magnificent 50000 ft. with a 45,000lb boat lift. They had a spectacular custom rock pool with waterfall grotto, complete with a pool bar. It had a large master suite and bath, and private balcony dedicated to the second story. It had a spectacular one-of-a-kind kitchen and dining room, large living area. Everything was decorated at her mother’s taste, white and topic décor. Her parents had purchased this home after they had married. Every time Katie would come here she would feel closer to her mother. Katie was quiet on the drive to the house. The driver pulled up and John got out and opened her door. Katie never even looked at him as she walked up to the front door. The house still smelled of her mother’s perfume.

“Make yourself at home John,” Daniel said as he tapped him on the back.

“Thank your sir, your home is magnificent,” He answered.

“I’m going up to change dad and check my messages” Katie turned and hurried up the stairs hoping John wasn’t right behind her.

“Let me show you around John” Daniel leads him through the bottom floor of the home.

They went out to the back patio that was covered. The ocean breeze was warm and refreshing. It was totally different then the fridge air up north.

“Here” Daniel handed him a drink from the bar.

“Be patient John.”

“Sir.”

“Be patient with Katie she had really been through a lot in the past years. She is a hard woman to get close to. I can see how much she loves you and I am so happy about that.”

“Katie in love with me, no not with that hard heart,” he thought.

“I can see she had a hard time losing her husband.”

“It is more to it than just the lost.” Daniel said with a sad look on his face.

“Really.”

“Yes.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know if she told you how he died.”

“No sir she didn’t.”

“It was a home invasion, he was off that day and she had left for work early. Someone broke into their house and shot him. She got home from work and found him dead on the floor in a poodle of blood. The intruder shot her to and she survived. She has never been the same sense. What is so sad their anniversary was the next day?”

“I am so sorry I didn’t know. Did they catch who did it?”

“Know they are still investigating and it has been over four years ago.”

“Katie has worked herself in the ground ever since. She thinks that if she works hard enough it will dull the pain, but I don’t think so. I haven’t seen her happy sense until you came along. Her eyes light up and I can see the love she has for you. I know my daughter can be hard to deal with at times but I know she has a great heart I have seen it. “

“Thank you for telling me this, I had no idea what had happened.” John took a drink of bourbon with his mind going crazy.

“Could he be right, does she care for me, well we will see.” He thought.

John turned around as he saw Katie step out on the patio, dressed in a bikini that barely covered up anything. She had a towel over her shoulder. John’s mouth dropped to the floor, he almost chocked on his drink. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. This was the conservative woman he saw in the bar. She looked as if she was coming alive.

“She has no reason to hide her body. She could stop a train in an instant.” He thought.

He couldn’t do anything but stare at her. He noticed she was enjoying intimidating him. “Two can play this game baby,” he thought.

She walked passed him without even looking over and kissed her father on the head.

“I’m going for a swim,” that quick she walked away and down to the swimming pool. A few minutes later they heard a big splash.

John turned facing her father and he was laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“She is. She never dresses like that at all. I don’t think I have ever seen her in a bathing suit are anything revealing. When we always come down here she would wear her clothes over her suit. I think she is agitating you.” He laughs again harder this time.

“You are right sir,” he answered. They both were laughing.

“Your daughter is challenge.”

“Yes she is.”

They sat there for a moment and John was getting the itch to follow her down the pool.

“Go join her the suits are in the room to left as you walk in the door. I have a few calls to make anyway.” Daniel smiled knowing John couldn’t sit still much longer.

It didn’t take John but a few minutes to get out of his clothes.

When he walked up to the pool she dove under the water. She was so enticing his body on fire as he watches her head break through the crystal clear water. He sat down on the edge of the pool watching her arms swept over the surface.

Katie caught a glance of him sitting on the edge. She gave him a wicked grin as she went back under the water.

“Oh my dear, I know what you are doing” he giggled.

He drives under the water when he opens his eyes he could see she was still swimming. Katie was unaware that he was just inches from her. When she resurfaced and looked up he wasn’t sitting on the edge anymore. She then looked around the pool and didn’t see him. She signed thinking he had when back in.

She let out a squeal as he grabbed her waist and went under with her. They resurfaced as she started to choke, catching her breath she was tried to push away. He freed her watching her swim to the other side. When she turns around and saw him underwater. Katie tried to get out he pulled her body back in again. Once more she went underwater with his arms around her. She could feel his lips on her neck. They both came up out of the water with their bodies pressed against each other.

“Let me go.”

“Never love” he kissed the back of her neck again.

“I’m not playing.”

He bites the top of her ear as his tongue ran down her shoulders. He pauses for a minute as his arms loosen up his grip. She then realized she could break free so she pushed away. He then started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” She turned to face him her eyes hot with fire.

“You.”

“I’m glad you find me amusing.”

“Oh my dear I do.”

Katie swam back to the ladder and steps out of and grabs a towel. She turns around and John is almost at the ladder. Her heart skips a beat as she watched water dripping from his muscular body. She hurries to the to the patio bar and grabs her glass of wine. She played with the stem of the glass as she could hear him approach. Her heart was pounding as she could feel him behind her. She turns around and he is standing just a few inches. He was so close she could smell the chlorine from the pool dripping off his skin. She jumped as he took one hand and grabbed a fork from behind her and stabbed a shrimp and brought it slowly to his lips closing his mouth around it he bit it in half. He put the fork down as his eyes never left hers. She bit her bottom lip as panicking ran through her body. His hands slowly moved up and down her arms. Her whole body was responding to his touch as her belly started to flutter. Her eyes were glued to him like she was controlled by his presence. Just that moment she heard a cough.

“Excuse me, how about some lunch” her father’s voice came from beside them.

“I am not going to make it two days with him,” she thought as her heart dropped to her stomach beating so fast she thought she was going to hit the floor.

John slowly turned his head and answered him.

“Sounds great.” He paused for a moment.

“Lucky your dad walked up when he did” he giggled.

One hand was still on Katie as she was leading him to the dining room. His touch tied her up in knots.

“Let me change and I will be right back” she pulled from him and ran upstairs.

She closed the door to her room and leaned against it. Tears rolled down her cheek and she didn’t know why. Was it because she had never been with no one but her husband is it because she missed him and her mother. She didn’t understand her emotions. Katie had been so strong even after both deaths, why did this man bring these feelings to the surface. He is a playboy with and arrogant attitude. And lately, he was getting intolerable. Keeping her heart safe was getting harder to do.

“Focus, it’s just a few days.” she told herself.

“Yes just a few days, I can do this,” she thought. Jumping up she hurried and dress and out the bedroom, she stormed.

Katie dressed as they headed into to town at this local tavern. Her father loved this place because you could eat right on the beach right under the moon. She sat there watching the sun go down with it many colors, orange, red, yellow it was beautiful. The dinner was great, as they sat there and watched the sun go down. Stars lined the ocean skies, with blinking white lights. The warm ocean air blowing slightly against her face. Katie turned and looked at her father as he was so enjoying looking off in the sunset. He seems at ease and relaxed here, he was away from the money grubber Jewels. She knew that Jewels wasn’t too happy about their trip down to the Keys, she was so jealous of everything Katie did with her father, even though it wasn’t very much.

“I wish he was happy like he was with my mother,” she thought. Looking at his face she could see the light in his eyes was gone.

She turned and looked over at John and his eyes were sparkling like the stars in the sky. He was so inviting her body was craving him and her mind was blocking her from preceding.  It wasn’t long before they finished their meal and headed back to the house.

The drive back to the house was quiet, no one said a word. They finally pulled up at home as John jumped out and opened her down.  She gave him a slight grin as he waited on her father.

“Thank you for the wonderful evening Daniel.”

“You are so welcome, everyone needs a break from work every now and then. I have enjoyed my time with my daughter,” he said as he took another sip.

“I am headed up to bed, see you two in the morning,” Daniel said as he walked to the stairs. John watched him until he was out of sight.

Katie was getting a little nervous now, there was no one in the room but them two.

“Well I am going to bed.” glancing quickly at him.

“I will join you.”

“What, no you want,” She answered.

“Oh yes, I am you don’t want to blow your cover do you.”

Katie’s eyes narrowed, knowing he was right. This night she wasn’t drunk so how could she sleep with him in there. She could tell he was enjoying his self just a little too much.

“All I have in there is a full-size bed.”

“That’s big enough isn’t it” he grabbed her hand quickly and lead her up the stairs before she could resist.

“Well which one is your room” he stopped in the middle of the hallway.

“Right here”, she pointed to the next door on the right.

She was so frustrated with him but didn’t want to say anything because she knew her father could hear her.

They both stood there as they heard her father’s voice coming from the other room. It sounded like he was on the phone.

He opened the door of the bedroom and quickly went in. He had a grin on his face but never said a word. He walked passed her she could
feel his eyes on her.

Katie stood there nodding her head as she watched him stand at the bathroom door.

“What are you doing?”

“Well I am going to take a hot bath,” he paused for a minute.

“Join me,” he said smiling back at her.

He looked at her as his heart lodges in his throat.

“Huh …  I don’t think so.”

She watched him take his shirt off and dropped in on the floor, leaving his bare muscular chest. He was ripped without an ounce of fat on him. She watched his hand go toward his zipper.

“Huh don’t you think you should wait to you are in the bathroom to undress.”

He giggled and walked closer to her, he leans down and gently kissed her on the top of the head. His eyes widen slightly and full of passion. She pulls away from him and starts to walk over to her closet. Drawing a long breath and let it out. Her stomach still in knots, instant heat burning through her like a raging fire. She clearly feared being in the same room with him.

She froze as she heard his clothes hit the floor and she couldn’t turn around. She closed the door of her closet as she took off her clothes and changed into a t-shirt and long pajama pants.

“This will turn him away,” she thought.

John leaves the bathroom door cracked if she decides to change her mind. He can hear her through the opening of the door walking around in the room.

“Hey beautiful how about joining me,” he said giggling knowing she wasn’t going to answer.

A moment later he jumped splashing water on the floor as the door slammed against the wall and she was standing in the doorway.

“That’s quiet and entry” he laughs.

“I need to brush my teeth so if you would excuse me for a minute.” She smiled as she got her toothbrush and started.

Her heart was pounding hard against her chest. She was so nervous she could hardly hold the brush.  She didn’t notice John had got out of the bathtub and was standing right behind her. She freezes as his wet arms goes around her. He turns her around and pins her to the vanity before she could push away his lower lip covered hers. She shivers as she feels himself swell underneath the towel. She pulls away from his lips as she stares into his eyes. Her heart threatening to jump out of her chest. With her head spinning and her body temperature rising.

“It’s too soon,” her words came out without thinking.

He pressed his mouth against hers again, as he takes her bottom lip between her teeth and tease it gently. She melts into him he kisses her deep and hard as his tongue explores every inch of her mouth. His entire body shakes with the need to have her, to possess her, to win her over. She slides her hand down his back and runs her fingernails lightly against his wet skin. Nothing felt so good as to have her respond to his touch. The tenderness of her touch makes him want her more. She was gorgeous the most
beautiful woman he had ever seen. He was falling for her hard and he knew it. The butterflies that were in his stomach was the feeling his father talked about. That was the feeling of love, love at first sight. He had to win her, he knew she felt something.

Katie was lost in his wet heated body that was pressed against her. She runs her hand up his back and into his hair. His body is pressed tightly against hers. So tightly she can fill his heart beat.

“What is happening,” she thought as she pulls away from him her breath is rapid, and her heart is pounding. She looks unsure as she stares into his eyes.

Staring at him for a brief moment full of love. He could see moisture form in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t answer him the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. She goes in the bedroom not aware that he is right behind her. Reaching out he grabs her arm, he turns her to him.

“Why can’t you answer me? What’s wrong?”

“I can’t …” She takes a deep breath as she pulls her arm from his grip and gets into bed. Katie pulls the cover over her and turns her back to him.

John sits down on the side of the bed and runs his hand through is hair. He wasn’t going to let her push away from him like that. He turns around and sees her body covered up.

“What is she afraid of?”

He drops his towel and crawls into bed. Rolling over to his side he is facing her back.

“How can she just turn herself on and off and push her feeling away, is her heart that hard.” “Oh no I’m not giving up” he smiles.

Something flares inside of him, as his body, heated up again. He crawls next to her as his arm goes around her and he pulls her to him.

Katie could feel his hot breath against her. She shivers as his warm lips go down the back of her neck. Before she could resist he rolls her over and his body is on top of her with his deep blue eyes staring down at hers. His body hot with desire, she finally loses all sense of reality as her body gives in and her mind is shut down. His lips cover hers and his hands wandering down her body and under her shirt. Her heart squeezes in her chest as the blood starts running hot though her veins. He looks her in the face with his eyes whispering passion. Her cheeks flushed, as her head goes back into the pillow and his hips are pressed hard against her. She knew she couldn’t stop him now he had her at his advantage.  He had just dominated every inch of her body. He lowers his mouth to hers again a growl comes from his throat as she moans. Sending chills down to her core as his lips moved to her neck. He slid his hand under her fabric of her shirt exposing her skin. His presence was so overpowering just his kiss on her bare skin heated up every part of her body. Her breath caught in her throat her mouth consumed his lips. Her blood pumping hard as he pulled the shirt off her head. He looked up into her eyes with a passion that could burn for eternity. His lips went down on her neck as his other hand moved slowly down her hip, he looked up as he pulled her
pants off
of her. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he pressed against her he entered her in one motion. Pushing his entire length into her so fast that he almost made her scream. He lays still for a moment as his touch invades her mouth. He starts thrusting into her again, the feeling so overwhelming it takes her breath away. Feeling so strong it ignites her like a blazing fire, as she arches her body closer to him. She finely gave in as he explodes with a force of a volcano. When she came back to her sense’s he is circling her lips slowly like he was drawing the last bit of air out her body. She runs her fingernails up and down his spine as she seen a slight grin on his face.  Katie had no words to say, she just gazed into his deep blue eyes as if she was lost forever. Everything she
was holding back for
years came to the surface, this man of mystery brought her back to life.

“You alright” is words soft and with affection.

She grins as if words couldn’t come out of her mouth. Her fingers were still rubbing his back as her body was still recovering from the moments of heated passion.

He wanted to stay connected to her indefinitely. He pulled out of her and moved slowly to his side as his arms were holding her close to him.

“Are you alright.”

“Yes,” she whispers back, with a gentle voice.

Katie pulls from his grip and reaches over and takes a long drink of her water that was on the end table. He sits up on his elbow watching her every move. He noticed a small scar on her lower shoulder, it looked like a bullet wound. He wanted to rub his fingers across it and kiss it, but he knew it scared her away. She climbed back into bed as crawled up beside him. She felt safe and secure for once. It felt like weights had lifted off her shoulders and she could relax something she hadn’t done in a long time. His arms went around her and he pulled her close to him. He kissed the top of her head as she laid there quickly until she drifted off to sleep. It wasn’t long after that he dozed off.

………….

Katie was walking through a dark long foggy hallway it looks like a long tunnel with no end.  She called out his name.

“Mitch.”

There was no answer so she called his name out again.

“Mitch where are you!”

Her heart thundered in her chest. She stops to assess her surroundings of this dark hallway. Slowly she continues to walk forward through the gray haze, looking down she realizes there are white lilies beneath her feet. Katie doesn’t realize there was someone there, until she follows the flowers. She comes almost toe-to-toe with this dark figure of a man. She gazed at his tall form and all she could see was the darkness of his eyes that caused chills to run down her spine. Shock overcome her body as she begins to back away. She watches a hand extend out to her as she continues to walk backward. Her breathing becoming shallow as sweat starts to form. Panic sets in as every breath is short and rapid. Pain hits her body in an unimaginable proportion, nothing like s
he
has ever felt before as she falls to the floor and darkness consumes her.

…….

Gasping for air, she quickly looks over and John is still asleep beside her. Tears started to forming in her eyes, as she brushed them away. Too frightened to close her eyes, she adjusted to the bright sunbeams that filled the room. The dream may have been over but the emotional agony still remained. The pain was like a disease spreading through her like cancer. That pain ruled her life every day, not physical pain but emotional pain. It tormented her. How could she move forward with his death still haunting her. Will her nightmares ever fade? She looked over at John as he was moving slightly. His arm reached for her with his arm going around her he pulled her close to him. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath knowing she is safe.