Life After Perfect (21 page)

The pounding of the rain on the roof of the truck somehow relaxed her. Plus it was so loud there was no way they could talk. She didn’t feel like talking. Ron’s manipulations had drained her. She’d be glad when all of this was behind her. And being with Derek was so easy. So nice, but she needed to figure out what her own priorities were. It had been so long since she’d even tried to parcel out what were hers versus theirs as a couple that she wasn’t sure where to start.

But here she was. In his truck. Letting him lead the way. Tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow she could focus on her next steps.

Derek pulled up to the house, and then pressed a button for the garage door.

Katy winced as he drove into the garage, like maybe she thought the truck wasn’t going to clear the opening, though that wasn’t really it. The truck was big. No question about that, but her being here with Derek was more nerve-wracking.

“I’ve parked in here a time or two,” he said with a wink.

“Sorry,” she said. “That is some crazy rain.”

“Yeah. Hope the satellite hasn’t gone out, or we might have to watch a DVD.”

“That’s fine with me.”

He got out and by the time she opened her door, he was at her side, helping her down.

Inside the rain pounded the roof.

“It’s peaceful. The tin roof.”

“It takes some getting used to.” He hit the button on the remote, but all they got was the satellite searching for a connection. He flashed her an apologetic look. “I was afraid of that.”

“It’s okay,” she said.

“You really are out of sorts today. Do you want to talk about it?”

Tears welled, one slipping down her cheek.

He caught it with the back of his hand, his knuckle sweeping it away, and then his thumb brushing across her lower lip.

“Don’t cry. What is going on?”

“I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I can’t. I shouldn’t have come.”

“Hey. Calm down.”

She liked the way his lips moved when he talked. She lifted a hand and touched his cheek. She’d been dying to do that and it was as soft as she’d imagined. She pulled her hand away, but he caught it and held it close to his chest.

His heart pounded under her touch. If his hand were on her chest, he’d feel the same.

“Come with me,” he said pulling her up.

She stood there for a moment, and he reached for her hand.

He placed her hand in his and she followed him upstairs. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and tugged her down next to him.

“Don’t say a word.” He leaned back and guided her next to him, stretching out next to her. The heat of her tears dampened his shoulder. “It’s hard, what’s going on with Todd and Kelly Jo. I know it’s heartbreaking. It’s okay to be sad.”

“It is heartbreaking. I feel so ungrateful and lonely and I can’t even explain it. I am so sad for them that I can barely stand it.”

“I know. It makes you feel like you’ve suddenly lost your way, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. It does.”

He ran his hand through her hair, letting the long tendrils wrap around his finger as he held her in his arms in the dark. Holding her closer. His breathing slowing to match hers. “I’m here. We’ll get through all of this.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, then scooted up, nearly nose to nose with him, and initiated a kiss.

The quick inhale on his part proved she’d caught him off guard. She’d expected to surprise him, but her own soft moan sent an unexpected, eager intensity through her. She released all control like someone would when a wave crashes around her and pulls, wanting to drag her deep into the undertow.

The intensity of their kisses grew and she pulled his t-shirt up, dropping kisses in a path along his chest.

His breath hitched and she could feel the well-defined muscles of his stomach under her fingers and lips as she traced his torso.

He lifted up just enough to pull his shirt off over his head. The soft cotton landed in a heap on the floor near the bed.

When she kissed his neck, he ran a finger in between the buttons of her blouse, sending a shiver through her and she knew if she said no, things would stop. If she didn’t, there was no turning back.

Her mind clung to that as his hands deftly worked the front of her blouse.

She wanted this.

She needed it. When he pushed her shirt back over her shoulders, she sat up and let it slide to the floor near his.

He got up and stood next to the bed. He stepped out of his jeans, and then leaned forward kissing her. She sat up, letting her fingers dance across his strong arms, and then he laid her back and kissed a trail from between her breasts to her tummy.

She pulled the sheet into her hands and closed her eyes. The images of his face, at dinner, smiling, laughing, different times and places over the past week, were all good. She opened her eyes. He was watching her.

He rested his chin at the waistband of her skirt. He swept his tongue across the spot where her skirt met her stomach and then he slid his hands under the fabric.

She closed her legs around his hand, and then parted them. He paused, just long enough to give her a chance to stop him, but she didn’t.

He slid his hands to the top of her skirt, and in one move, swept it and her panties over her hips and to the ground.

Her breathing came in short breaths, but his was just as uneven. He climbed back onto the bed and stretched out alongside her.

“I want you tonight, Katy.”

She closed her eyes and nuzzled her face into his shoulder.

Cupping his hands on each side of her head, he tilted her face to his. He kissed the side of her face, slowly. Then her mouth, and she felt the growing urgency of something sensual and wonderful and she let herself ride that thought.

She couldn’t deny herself his touch. He made no attempt to hide that he was watching her. Enjoying every moment that she shivered or tensed until there was no holding back, and she pushed her fingers into the flesh of his arms and the world fell away.

For a moment there was nothing but that passion—their breathing a well-practiced melody that even drowned out the rain against the tin roof.

His skin was hot, moist from the dance. The sound of their skin touching, moving together, was only heightened by the soft moans of pleasure that can’t be re-created on command.

She knew this moment, this night, would replay in her mind forever. She would cling to it. Relive the joy she was feeling right now, and it would take her through another day and many to follow.

In the darkness, Katy ran her hand along Derek’s chest. She had no idea what time it was but it was still dark out, and the light in the yard cast a soft glow across their entwined bodies under the crisp, white sheets. She’d slept for a little while, but now she was half awake. The rain wasn’t falling as hard now.

Stillness had replaced their movements, as they lay next to each other. He brushed her damp bangs back from her face, but never said a word.

Words would only clutter what they’d just shared.

Chapter Nineteen

Derek wished he didn’t have to work this morning, so he could stay in bed all day long with Katy, but the last thing he could do was break a promise to his father, or embarrass him in front of his patients. So, when the sun peeked through the curtain, he’d carefully slid out of bed.

It was awkward to just steal away.

He started to write her a note, but his handwriting was typical doctor scribble, and he kind of doubted she’d be able to read it. Instead he grabbed another sheet of paper off the table. He simply drew a big smiley face and printed
C
ALL YOU LATER
across the bottom. He laid it on the pillow next to her, and then slowly walked out of the room.

The door creaked as he pulled it closed behind him. He quietly made his way down the hall.

Outside, the rain had stopped, but the sky still cast an angry glance over the town.

With everyone still watching Tropical Storm Eva, it was anybody’s guess what they were in for the next three days. They would either be blasted with heavy, damaging wind and rain for the next three days, or if she chose to do-si-do back offshore, they could have clear sailing all weekend.

Being this far inland, the town rarely saw these kinds of storms. They hadn’t had a bad flood since 1967, but that year the flood was so bad they’d had a state of emergency.

He couldn’t recall how Naomi’s house had been affected in the past, but being that it was right on the creek, it didn’t seem like the best place to be if the rain didn’t give them a break.

When he got to the office, he checked his schedule. He’d have to get back to his house before noon so he could take Katy back to the inn. He certainly couldn’t leave her stranded at his house all day. It wasn’t like you could just hail a cab in a town like this. Besides, he’d want to talk to Naomi again about a contingency plan if the storm came this way and the creek flooded.

An hour later his schedule freed up and he texted Katy to let her know he was on his way to pick her up and take her back to Naomi’s.

She met him at the truck and climbed in.

“Good morning.”

“Back at ya,” she said. “How’s your day going?”

“I wish I’d had the day off.”

She smiled and turned to look out the window. She wished he’d had the day off too.

He pulled into the parking spot next to the front porch and shut down the truck.

“Are you coming in?”

He nodded. “Yeah, thought I’d check on Kelly Jo and check on things.”

Derek and Katy walked inside together.

“Have a fun night?” Naomi sang out.

Katy felt three shades of pink brighter than the flowers in Derek’s front yard. It was like getting caught doing it in your parents’ house or something. “It was nice.”

“Nice?”

Oh, yeah. She knew. Great.

“There are ham biscuits in the kitchen.”

“Thanks,” Katy said, quickly making a beeline for the kitchen to escape further questioning and for some much-needed coffee.

When Katy walked back out into the dining room, Naomi was sitting there alone. “How’s Kelly Jo feeling this morning?”

“I don’t know. She and Todd have had the door closed all morning.” Naomi looked worried.

“It’s heartbreaking.”

“It is. At least he’s here now.” She leveled a loving look at Katy. “You’re a good woman, Katy. You deserve happiness too.”

Katy’s phone rang. She glanced at the display, and then leapt to her feet. “I’ve got to take this. Excuse me.” She gave a half-grin and jetted out the back French doors since that was the closest exit. “Hello,” she answered.

“I just got off of the phone with Ron,” said Shaleigh.

Katy’s throat felt thick. “And?”

“I don’t think he’ll try changing dates again on us. We had quite the little conversation. He tried to play it all off—the whole thing—but when I told him I’d seen pictures of him kissing his little friend, he was off-balance.” She laughed in a haughty way. “I described that kiss quite nicely if I do say so myself. I should take up writing erotic novels. I did so well that I left him a little speechless, in fact.”

“That’s a first.”

Shaleigh continued. “He was only speechless for a moment. Then he went into grovel mode.”

But what did that even mean from someone who would lie?

“He says he wants you back home. Says it was a mistake.”

“What is going on with him? He can’t keep pushing and pulling me like this. He should have kept our meeting if he was so hell-bent on seeing me.” Katy’s hand balled into a fist. “I’ll tell you what he thinks is a mistake—that he got caught. Well, too bad, because he
did
get caught.” He probably was starting to realize just what half of everything was and that it was going to make him half as happy.

“Any amount of groveling going to change your mind? He says he’ll do anything.”

Katy hated that question.

“He should have thought about all of that before he went traipsing off with Miss Melissa.” She’d waited to have children. Given in to everything he’d ever wanted. Put her own desires on hold. She’d done it all willingly. All she’d expected in return was fidelity. Even that had been just too much to ask of him.

“Why is he doing this?” Her voice rose, sounding unfamiliar to herself, and instead of feeling sick, anger grew inside her. “I don’t care what he says. What he did was wrong. Unfair. Cruel. The damage is irreparable.” She turned and saw Naomi watching from inside on the couch. She stepped out of view. She’d gotten loud. So mad she’d forgotten where she was for a moment there. “Sorry? He probably doesn’t even know how to spell the word.”

“Don’t kill the messenger,” Shaleigh said.

“I know, but don’t they always say that?”

Shaleigh’s laugh broke up the tension Katy was feeling.

Katy looked toward the sky. Her mood was as gray as the clouds that continued to threaten the area. “Is that all for now? Until Monday?”

“Yes. It is. Sorry to ruin your day.”

Shaleigh hung up and Katy put her phone in her lap, and just as she did, it rang back.

“Yes?” she answered, expecting that Shaleigh had forgotten something.

“Katherine. It’s your mother. I’ve tried to stay out of this, but I’m your mother and this is crazy. I was just talking to Ron. What is going on with you?”

“Me?”

“I thought you were going to go back and work things out with him. You’ve been gone a week?”

“I never said I was going back.”

“I told you—”

“And I appreciate your advice, but that was not the direction I chose to take.”

“You are better with him than without him,” her mother said.

The words played in her mind—actually an interesting thing to ponder. “The truth is, Mom, he is better with me at his side. I’m just fine alone.”

“Oh, Katherine, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous? Mom, I make more money than he does. I was faithful. I’m a smart woman and I don’t know why any smart woman would stay with a man who thought so little of her that he’d run around with another woman. And by the way. That woman. The one he was seeing. She has a name. Melissa. He admitted to it. And I saw her at my house when I tried to give him a chance to discuss things. Would you like the video? I can send it to you.”

“Honey.” Her mother’s voice actually sounded sorry.

“Mom, I know you’re trying to help, and I’m sure Ron is trying to build up his side of the story in a way that makes me look like the bad guy. But, Mom, you raised me better than that. Why can’t you just support me on this? You support Jacquie on everything. Every stupid screw-up and half-baked idea.”

“I’m sorry, Katy-bug. I’m truly sorry.” Her mom let out a long sigh.

Mom hadn’t called her that in forever. Not since Katy had come home from college with Ron’s big theory on successful names and demanded everyone call her Katherine.

“You know, you’ve always been the one who could get things done. Always excelled. Made good decisions. Your daddy and I, we’re so proud of you. You’ve never needed us for a thing.”

“I just need you to believe in me, Mom.”

“And I screwed that up. I’m sorry. You’re always so perfect that I guess I just think you always will be.”

And getting a divorce makes me somehow imperfect? Was this little chat supposed to make me feel better?

“You didn’t screw it up. I know your intentions are good, but you have to believe that a good marriage is not about money, or things. It’s about sharing the good times and the tough times, being honest, faithful, and exploring life together. I should have seen the red flags, Mom. You’re right. I worked a lot, but it was what we did. I thought he and I were a team and we were achieving goals together.”

“You will land on your feet. You always do.”

She hung up the phone feeling her mother’s love. When she went back inside, Derek was talking to Todd and Naomi on the couch.

“Am I interrupting?” Katy asked. “I can just go to my room.”

“No,” Naomi said patting the seat cushion next to her. “Come here. We were just talking about doctors and stress and stuff. Hmmm . . . come to think of it, maybe you should run! It doesn’t sound like too happy of a topic, does it?”

“I was telling them about the retreat idea,” Derek said.

Todd looked worn out. “I don’t know how you can be around this kind of stuff and stay sane.”

“Well, that was kind of my point. To help the doctors who help the patients. Help them balance their lives. Make it easier for them to take the time off that they so desperately need. You’d be surprised at the number of hours doctors put in, and how little time off they take. It’s hard to balance it all.”

Naomi rocked forward. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. You know it’s not so different from what my Marshall did here in our home over the years. With singers, band members—they needed that break to reenergize, get their heads on straight. It sounds so simple, but it really is a big deal. That’s why we ended up with a house with eighteen guest rooms.”

“You can hire me to manage it,” Katy said.

Naomi looked surprised. “Well, you know, I don’t think I ever even asked what it is you do for a living. You said you were on vacation, but I never even wondered from what.”

That was what Katy had kind of liked about this place. That she didn’t have to meet any expectations or answer questions.

“I manage multimillion-dollar projects for one of the biggest banks in the nation.”

Naomi’s brow lifted. “Impressive.”

“I’m very good at it, too.”

Todd chimed in. “Oh, a great project manager is a real gift. Hard to find, and hard to hang on to because those headhunters are always trying to steal the good ones.”

Katy nodded. “I’m on leave. I’m thinking about picking up a little temporary work while I’m here though. I’m in a pretty good position to do just about anything except physical labor or mechanical work, but you know what I mean. I’m flexible. So, y’all let me know if you know anyone who needs some help.”

Naomi rummaged through a newspaper sitting on the end table. “Actually, they are already looking for someone to fill the position overseeing all of the tourism stuff for Boot Creek—the Blackberry Festival and some watershed projects. Things like that. Look.” Naomi pointed to a big square ad in the lower left-hand corner. “This sounds exactly like you. I happen to have some connections in this town still.”

Katy took the paper and read through the employment ad. She had every qualification they requested, and then some. It wouldn’t be a temporary job, but that suddenly held even more appeal. “I have to go out of town on Monday, but when I get back, I might just call these folks.”

Derek reached for the paper. “I like the idea of you sticking around.”

“Me, too,” Naomi said. “You could even stay here for a while. Rent-free. I’m really enjoying your company.”

Derek read silently then looked up. “This sounds like a good opportunity, Katy. The festival and tourism coordinator position takes experience, and it sounds like you have that.”

“Okay. Yeah. Maybe that’s a good idea.”

Todd got up. “I’m going to go slide into bed with my bride. It was good chatting with y’all. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“G’
night, Todd,” Katy said, and Naomi echoed her.

“I’ve got to run, too,” Derek said. “You two sit tight. I’ll let myself out.”

Katy watched Derek leave. Naomi got up and brought back a pair of scissors from the front desk and set to cutting out the employment ad. Her hands were unsteady and Katy thought maybe she’d have done a better job just ripping it out.

“Here you go. If you’d like a good word from me, it might help. I’d be happy to do it.”

“Thank you, Naomi.”