Lakeshore Secrets: The McAdams Sisters - Kate McAdams (By The Lake Series Book 1) (19 page)

Kate couldn’t believe how much fun she had tobogganing with Marc and his family. Even Emma had warmed up to her. If she really was Marc’s fiancée today would have been the perfect day; bonding with Parker, Sophia and even Emma plus that tongue twisting kiss he had planted on her would have landed them both together tumbling around in the sheets. If she was really his fiancée.

She’d also observed how wonderful Marc was with his niece and nephew. He joked, and teased and played with them like a fantastic uncle would. She couldn’t help feel a pang of sadness at the realization, although she always knew, what a good father he would be. She was sad they never had that opportunity because she left him.

After supper, Marc had gone back to the office. To hide. Big surprise.

When she found herself staring at the ceiling replaying the kiss over and making it hard for her believe she had convinced him she wasn’t worth his thoughts, she decided to take a midnight dip.

It was very dim in the pool room with soft lights twinkling like stars in the sky lights above, a couple street lights, and a soft glow alongside the stone edge of the pool reflecting into the water. Each suite had lights outside the entrance and she noticed some of the curtains were drawn and others left open. But all of them remained dim.

She tossed her towel on a lounger and walked toward the shallow end. Laps in the pool, that’s what she was sticking to. No more saunas because they only got her into trouble.

His family was all crazy busy with the December bustle and into the New Year. Not only was the Snowflake Ball a huge event but Violet, told her for New Year’s Eve they would open the four ballrooms into separate parties and each were already booked to capacity. Most generally booked almost a year in advance. Up to the very last weekend before New Year’s every ballroom was booked for catered work parties.

She stepped into the heated pool where rounded stairs descended to the pool floor. She saw a ripple across the water not triggered by her feet and found Marc treading in the shadows.

“Oh, I thought you were in your office.” Had he been watching her quietly the whole time?

“I wanted a swim.” So had she. Alone and no doubt just like him.

She retracted her foot. “I can come back,” she said. “I didn’t mean to barge in.”

He swam to the edge of the pool and grabbed the side wiping the water away from his face as he surfaced. “It’s alright. There’s lots of room.”

She wasn’t sure about that, but didn’t argue. When her feet touched the floor of the pool, she dived in and swam to the deep end. She pulled herself to the edge not far from him and dunked her head backwards to straighten out her hair. “Do you sneak in here a lot?” she asked.

“Every night.” That distant look was in his eyes, like a lone wolf watching his prey before attacking. It made her shudder.

“I didn’t know.”

“You’re usually asleep by now.”

She moved away from the edge treading and he did the same. “Wanna race?” The challenge was out of her mouth quicker than a popping bubble. He didn’t want to play games with her, he could hardly stand her.

“Alright.”
Alright?
The late hour must have him more exhausted then he knew. If he was in his right state of mind he wouldn’t have swum to the side of the pool with her.

“There and back.”

He nodded. She counted down and they set off, the heated water splashing against their faces as they dipped their heads into the water, out for a breath, arms moving rhythmically, slicing into the calm water and making rippling effects through the pool. Touching the other side then flipping over and using her feet to push away, he still beat her to the other side. Without gloating. Too much. A small smile that lightened her heart crossed his lips.

He surprised her by asking. “Have you tried the slide?”

She glanced behind her at the towering slide built into the rock hill looking more like a fair ride. She shook her head. “First time in the pool,” she confessed.

“You have to try it.” He swam past her to the ladder beside the bottom of the slide. She stayed against the wall completely not noticing when he climbed out of the pool the way the water stuck his swim shorts against his lower body or that the chest she couldn’t resist in the sauna was now dripping wet like a well-oiled yummy pastry. He looked at her. “Come on.”

Reluctantly she swam to the ladder and he offered her his hand.
Seriously! Back up man before I jump you like an alley cat!

She slipped her hand in his and he practically pulled her out of the water and onto the platform. This was no better than the sauna. No more evening pool dips for her. At this rate she wouldn’t be leaving the suite.

She followed him up to the slide and he hit a button that produced water flowing onto the slide. He stepped back. “You first,” he insisted.

She glanced down. The slide twirled around and into the rock mountain disappearing before reappearing and ending in the pool.

“Chicken?” he asked.

She sucked in a deep breath. “Of course not.” It wasn’t going down the slide that was jumping her nerves, it was him.

“If it’s too much adventure for you...”

She pushed him away, immediately regretting the contact and forgetting they weren’t those two same people anymore. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said casually trying to cover up her discomfort. She climbed on the slide and held the sides to keep her from going then glanced back at him. “If anyone was chicken here, it would be you,” she added.

He grinned down at her.
Grinned.
Those striking eyes lighting up.
At her!
It tickled her insides. “I didn’t tell you how we are going down.”
We?

Before she could ask he grabbed the rock above them, lifting up from his feet and landing his legs on the outside of hers leaving her sandwiched twice in one day. She was favoring the second sandwich. His torso pushed flat against her back, his hands slipped around her waist and he pushed them off. She yelled his name as the water caught them and curved them from side to side like a frying crepe ready to flip over the edge. Her hands gripped his and they flew out the bottom and crashed into the water. Exhilarated, Kate let her body sink as far as it would go, and then used her hands to guide her to the surface. She broke the water laughing. Marc swam to her and she splashed water at him. “That was sneaky,” she called, then reached for his shoulder to try and dunk him under. He was too strong and she ended up sliding down his side...again...then treading beside him.

“Want to go again?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes!” This time she took off without waiting for him and climbed to the top of the slide. “Too slow Caliendo!” she called, but not too loud to wake his family, before taking off down the slide. She could hear him calling after her and she was twisting to find him while the slide pulled her in the water. This time she didn’t allow herself to sink as deep and raced to the surface just as the water swallowed him erupting waves around her as he disappeared below. She wiped the hair from her forehead and blinked her eyes. She felt his fingers around her ankle then he pulled her below dunking her head back under the water before letting go. She gasped holding her breath until she reached the surface and caught sight of his. She smacked him. “Jerk.”

He caught her hand. “Who’s too slow now?”

She laughed, but it quickly died as the atmosphere around them swallowed them up with desire. Bobbing in the water less than an arm’s length away Marc was still holding her wrist.

“It’s like we are back in the sauna.” She hadn’t realized she said it until it was out of her mouth.

They were floating closer to each other only one movement from touching body against body. “Tell me you scraped your knee on the slide.” It sounded like a plea from his lips. He wanted her to stop this because if she said it he would. But what if she didn’t want too?

“I didn’t.” It came out in a whisper.

“Kate.” A low masculine fighting moan.

She bit her lower lip. What game was she playing here? She told him the truth to deter him and the moment he needed her to say the words to end this, she couldn’t find them. “Marc.” Her low tone was full of lust and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself against him.
What was she doing!

She could see his eyes fighting and she felt her own fight wash away into the pool around them.

“I think I scraped me knee.” He removed her arms and left her in the middle of the pool, alone. Alone. She always ended up alone.

Marc’s family climbed into the vehicle with them the night of the beach tree lighting and Kate ended up sandwiched in the back between Parker and Sophia.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Violet asked from her single bucket seat in the middle. Her hair was let down but hidden under her knitted black fur lined hat.

Eliza occupied the other seat looking pleasantly cozy in her floor length pea coat and red knitted scarf wrapped around her neck.

Kate yanked her own wool coat from under Sophia’s leg and pulled a handful of hair stuck between Parker’s shoulder and her arm.

“One of them can jump in the other vehicle.” Kate looked through the window watching Abby, Emma and Melissa climb into the little sports car. It was either her suffer with these well-behaved mini Caliendo’s or suffer in the company of Melissa...who they were acquainted with better than they were with her...not that it mattered.
This isn’t permanent.

“I’m fine,” she said between bouncing and wiggling.

She caught a quick glimpse of Marc grinning at her from the driver’s seat, but he quickly shut it down. Just like he did in the pool the evening before.

As they drove to the main strip, Parker and Sophia were ranting on about Christmas break at the end of the month and the new electronics they wanted for Christmas.

The glow of old fashioned black lantern street lights on the main strip of Willow Valley appeared. The local businesses that stayed open year around were open late advertising incredible deals to pull in people. The streets were filled with people all bundled in their warm winter gear gathering on the beach where the band stand stage was shovelled off and lit up for the lighting of the beach. Free cocoa and popcorn stands were put on by the local business association and Parker and Sophia screamed delights on either side of her begging to stop by there first.

They parked both vehicles behind the soap shop in their designated spots, thankful for them with every spot on the main street taken. Her sisters offered to park at Gran’s for them. Gran loved this event, and she even left the warmth of Mrs. Calvert’s bakery for the countdown.

Out front of the shop she told Marc she was going to quickly pop in for a quick word with Peyton. He nodded understanding, knowing exactly what they needed to talk about. Kate had been texting and calling but she had wanted to talk to her in person about trapping her in this situation. She no longer wanted to wring her neck like a string mop. Okay, that wasn’t entirely true but she knew she could control the urge.

“Kate!” She cringed at the voice calling her name and was tempted to ignore it and slip into the shop, lock the door behind her and then grin like a child escaping bed time. She pushed past the thought and turned to Melissa who was hurrying away from everyone else and towards her.

She was gorgeous as usual with her long blonde hair tucked under a tightly knitted hat dancing around her porcelain perfect face not even hazed by the cold December evening. A black and white mixed wool coat hung mid length over her wide legged dress pants that were hemmed perfectly to her glossy heeled boots. “You dropped your glove.” She held out a black glove.

“That’s not mine.”

She looked down at it and Kate suspected she already knew it didn’t belong to her. “Oops.” She smiled. “Since I have you here, I was just curious, is Marc footing the bill for your new business?”

Kate’s insides tightened like a bow and arrow before it released toward its target. She managed to level an impersonal smile for Melissa. “I don’t think what my fiancé is footing concerns you, Melissa.” She said her name sending a warning.

A cheeky smile crossed her lips as though she had gotten the answer she was seeking. “It’s all a little coincidental that your grandmother dies and leaves you this building the exact same week you start your romance up with Marc and suddenly you’re opening a business by scratch.” That tightening reached her fists, so she tucked them in her coat pockets.

“I think it’s your jealousy creating coincidences that don’t exist to try and diminish a love that you can’t seem to break through, even after all these years.”

“I’m the mayor’s daughter,” she said in her matter of fact tone Kate recognized from the snotty teenager she’d once been. “It’s not hard for to me to dig into these financial situations and find the truth.”

“If you’re so sly why don’t you go stand by the man that taught you?” Her father was probably less honest than Robert Caliendo.

“Worried that I’m your fiancés personal secretary? After our entanglement?”

Kate didn’t let the floor shifting beneath her known.

“He didn’t tell you about that, did he? How he started the whole encounter by kissing me? Not the other way around Kate.”

If anyone was telling her about entangling encounters between Melissa and Marc it would be Marc. It should have been Marc.

“If you’ll excuse me, there’s actually a conversation inside worth my time.” Kate waited for her to walk that sly grin away before she stepped inside the shop. She let out the deep breath she had been holding and by the time Peyton appeared she was so angry she forgot she originally sought her out to tear a strip out of her, not the dishonest man mingling in the crowd.

And, here she thought she’d been doing all the lying, but, no there was Marc making out, kissing, having sex with Melissa and not even warning her.

Peyton got off the hook easy with Kate who was so distracted that she accepted her insincere apology before walking to the beach with her sisters. She spotted the Caliendo’s by the main stage where Melissa was laughing with her black gloved hand touching Marc’s arm. Fury seared throughout her body like wild lightning.

“Looks like you have some competition,” Peyton whispered. “Some people never learn.” She had no idea.

They weaved their way through the crowd and Kate zeroed in on her fiancé.
Her fiancé
. How dare that little tramp flaunt around him like he wasn’t engaged to his childhood sweetheart! She had removed that familiar black glove by the Kate reached them which was good because she was going to tear that home wrecker’s arm right out of the socket.

She slipped her hand into Marc’s lacing her fingers around him to get his attention. He smiled down at her and she grabbed the front of his coat reaching on her toes and kissed him long, hard and slipped her tongue to explore inside his mouth showing Melissa exactly who he belonged too. When she finished, Abby and Izzy whistled. Those two fed off each other.

Marc gave her a surprised look, and then kissed her forehead affectionately. She grinned back and snuggled against his chest ignoring Melissa completely.

The ceremony began shortly after the sun dipped down behind the lake and welcomed darkness for the anticipated lighting. The mayor stood on the main stage welcoming everyone, leading and following through with jokes that made the crowd chuckle and clap. They were all just pawns on his chess board and one day she hoped someone stood up to him and checkmated him right out of the mayoral running.

When Melissa went on stage to assist her dad with the lighting of the trees, Kate ripped her hands away from Marc’s. She was so ticked off her energy alone could have lit all the lights that, at that moment flickered on around them. How bloody beautiful, she snickered inwardly.

The local bands would start to play soon and everyone would break into pleasant groups of conversation. She needed to get away from the crowd.

“I will be back,” she snarled.

He caught her arm. “You alright?”

She yanked it back. “What do you care?” She hissed so no one would hear. She weaved back out through the crowd until she was at the road and could breathe.

“Hey.” He caught up to her. “What’s the matter with you?”

She spun around. “You lied to me,” she accused.

He straightened his body immediately in defense mode. Oh, like he was so damn perfect. Ha! His blood ran thick with Caliendo lies.

When he made no attempt to distract what she was referring to she informed him. “Melissa just educated me after a long dragged out accusation that I’m using you for your money, that you kissed her.”

Guilt spread across his face like a forest fire.

Sucking in the cold air, she turned and quickly crossed the road and down the alley. She was heading right for Gran’s house. There was no way she could play house right now.

“Kate?”

“No.” She continued walking and held her hand up to ward him off.

“Kate.” He grabbed her wrist.

She spun around claiming it back. “You lied to me!” she yelled.

“Twice,” he said solemnly.

“What?”

Down the gloomy alley their shadows were lit by a lone light against the side of the building casting a glow not far from them. He stepped toward her and lowered his voice. “After you left six years ago well, it was more than just kissing. And when I returned here this year, it happened again.”

Why did if feel like tears were burning the rims of her eyes. “It was more than kissing?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“It only happened the two times. I was confused and she was there so we, I don’t know, made out. We didn’t have sex Kate. Just like I told you at the cabin.”

“Why not? Apparently you can’t keep your hands off each other!” Why did it hurt so much? This was perfect, exactly what they needed to keep them apart just like she wanted.

He stepped closer until he backed her against the brick wall. “Because she’s not you,” he snarled sounding frustrated. He was hovering over her and she didn’t have a chance for a comeback before he crushed her body against the brick wall, his lips landing hard, angry and hungrily against hers, searching, tasting, exploring...wanting. His hands roamed everywhere settling under her rump and partially lifting her up and against him. She gripped the front of his coat pulling him down harder against her mouth, hungrily kissing him back, searching his mouth for answers she couldn’t find. When he lifted his mouth away they were both panting loudly.

“If you think I want her after this, than you are lying to yourself.” He pulled away leaving her splayed against the wall like a tangled web. He took a moment of glaring at her before he finally walked away. She watched him cross the road without looking back. She took a dozen well-needed deep breaths wondering how after that they weren’t going to end up dismissing their history and end up in bed.