Nantucket Romance 3-in-1 Bundle (60 page)

When problems arise, face them head-on.
Every relationship has conflict. It’s how
you handle it that matters.

—Excerpt from
Finding Mr. Right-for-You
by Dr. Kate

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lucas arrived at the airport, not merely on time, but early. He waited for Kate in a sling-back chair, his elbows propped on his knees. Their phone conversation haunted him. Her tone, so lost and broken,
begged him to fix the mess. But there was no easy fix this time. The problem was too big, too overwhelming.

Guilt clung
to him like grains of sand on wet skin. The marriage had been his idea. He’d practically talked her into it. He’d only been trying to help. He’d done it out of love, but look what happened. He’d hurt her instead.

When the time came for her flight’s arrival, he watched for her. How would she react to him? How did this change their relationship? And he had no doubt it would change their relationship. Lucas regretted wasting the past month. He should have been winning Kate over, showing her his love. Instead he’d given her space.

Well, he was out of time now. Pretense had been the glue that held their marriage together and there was no need for it now.

Kate has feelings for me. I know she does.
Maybe it was wishful thinking, but he was sure he’d caught her watching him lately with a certain look in her eyes. And there was no denying the passion of the kiss they’d shared or the jealousy in her eyes when he’d caught her spying on him and Sydney. Was it too much to hope that she might open her heart to him?

Kate appeared down the corridor, and he stood. She walked with her chin up, shoulders back. To anyone else she was the picture of a composed businesswoman in her stylish gray pantsuit. Her hair swung saucily with each step, and her eyes focused on a point straight ahead.

It was only then that he noticed another man walking toward Kate with a pad and pencil in hand. Lucas recognized him as Herb Owens, a reporter for the
Mirror
, and he made a beeline for Kate.

“Dr. Kate, I’m Herbert Owens from the
Mirror
. Would you like to make a comment concerning the allegations—”

“No comment.” Kate’s mouth pressed together as she looked away, quickening her steps.

Herb began walking toward her, then met Lucas’s glare and slowed his steps.

Lucas knew when Kate saw him because her rigid features relaxed the slightest bit, her mouth decompressing, her eyes softening. The fact that his presence had that effect on her buoyed Lucas. He grabbed onto the notion, blew it up like an inflatable raft and took a ride on it.

Get a grip
, he told himself.
She’s probably just relieved to see a
friendly face.
Who knew what she’d faced on the way home.

How should he greet her? They had an audience, but would she want him to keep up the charade? Was it a charade anymore? But as she neared, Lucas forgot about pretense. Kate’s eyes looked weary, her face strained. He wanted to ease her worry, soothe it away with a touch.

Lucas took her bag, then set his palm alongside her face, making eye contact. He leaned close and pressed a kiss to her lips. His only thought was to comfort her.

She gripped his arm like it was a life preserver, returning the brief kiss.

When he pulled back, he draped his arm over her shoulder. “Let’s get you home.” He looked over her shoulder where Herb stood against the wall, watching.

By the time they reached the car, Kate had grown distant, remote. Did she think his kiss was for show? The ride to the house was quiet. Kate, her hands clutched together in her lap, her feet crossed at the ankles, seemed lost in thought. She stared out the window instead of facing him. Lucas felt her slipping away more each second.

“What can I do?” He asked, desperate to help, desperate to keep her.

There was a long pause, and he wondered if she’d heard him through the chaos of her own thoughts.

He braked at a stop sign, then accelerated. Was she shutting him out already? Hadn’t they become more than just business partners? They’d shared a life these past three months. A life that meant everything to him.

“There’s nothing we can do but wait,” she said, still looking out the window where the glaring sun cut harsh shadows across the ground. “And hope the rest of the media won’t hop on board and make it into the scandal of the year.”

Even so, the news was out. Lucas didn’t know much about publishing, only the little bit he’d gleaned from Kate, but it seemed her publisher wouldn’t be interested in promoting her career after a scandal. Her readers wouldn’t be too keen on her either. It didn’t seem fair to crucify her for one decision. Bryan was the one who’d dumped this mess in her lap. Where was he now, when the chips were falling?

Lucas pulled into the drive and turned off the truck. When Kate didn’t make a move to exit, he faced her, propping his knee on the cracked vinyl seat between them.

“We have to tell your family.” Kate looked over the hill to where his parent’s rooftop peeked above the sea oats.

“I already did.” His dad had watched the segment. Lucas had gone over and told the rest of them in person.

Kate faced him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here. How did they respond?” Her forehead wrinkled, her eyes puppy-dog sad.

His mom had been angry at first, then seemed to realize she’d proven herself right.
“Kate’s just like her mom, Lucas,”
she’d said.
“You’re
better off without her.”
Of course, it was no surprise to Jamie, but Brody was hurt. His dad tried to be understanding, but Lucas could tell by the way he avoided Lucas’s eyes that he was disappointed.

“My family will be fine,” he said. “Don’t worry about them.”

A few quiet moments later, she exited the truck. Lucas followed her inside and set the bag in the bedroom. Bo, excited to see Kate, rubbed against her leg and shepherded her into the kitchen, where she started a pot of coffee.

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a city bus,” Kate said.

Lucas pulled two mugs from the cabinet and the creamer from the fridge. “No wonder. What did the people at Rosewood say?”

Kate scooped grinds into the filter. “Right now they just want me to sit tight. I think a lot depends on how widespread this becomes.”

Could they go on as if nothing happened? Would the readers who saw the interview conclude that it was an unfounded rumor? Apparently there was nothing they could do but wait and see. It had been so easy to step in and save Kate when her wedding plans had fallen apart. Now, all he could do was wait with her, and that was a notion that didn’t set well.

Kate pulled her knees close, letting her toes dig through the hot surface of the sand to the cooler layer beneath. In the distance, the ferry horn sounded, announcing its arrival to the island. After stalling as long as she could, she’d called her dad and told him about the interview. She could hear his shock in the silence that drew out over the lines. It pulled her spirits even lower.

“Oh boy, Kate,”
he’d said when he’d found words.

She’d never done anything so careless and never planned to again. How could someone who planned every facet of her life have taken this reckless road?

Once her dad had a moment to think, he begged her to come for a visit.
“Come to Maryland, just to get away for a while. You’ll have
time to think here. Time to plan your future. Maybe you can open an
office in the city.”
It was a tempting offer and one she’d give some thought to once she heard from Chloe.

After they’d returned from the airport, Lucas seemed to sense her need for space and had gone back to his shop. But now, as the sun seemed to still in the sky, Kate wished for a distraction.

She’d already finished her column and didn’t want to be near the TV after watching it half the afternoon. Two cable news shows had mentioned the scandal, saying they were looking into the allegations. With a scorned woman like Stephanie on the loose, they wouldn’t have to look far.

Her cell phone rang incessantly, but she didn’t answer the calls. Two
reporters had had the nerve to show up on their doorstep, but she hadn’t answered, and eventually they’d gone away.

She’d
wait and see if the afternoon papers picked up the story. She imagined that’s what Chloe was waiting for. Would the
Mirror
pick up the story? The thought of the locals knowing the truth was enough to put a lump in her throat. They knew her here not as Dr. Kate, but as a friend and neighbor. She ate and shopped and worked among these people. They would feel betrayed when they found out. And Lucas’s family, natives of the island, would be center stage.

My life is spinning out of control, and I’m helpless to stop it.
It was the same feeling she’d had as a child. Never knowing what to expect or what to feel because she had no control over it.

She pulled her legs closer, set her chin on her knees, and rocked in the sand.

Kate waited to hear from Chloe the rest of the day, but no call came. What was her editor waiting for? The morning papers? She slept restlessly that night. Beside her, Lucas seemed to sleep peacefully, his breaths deep and even in the darkened room.

She hadn’t heard a peep from his family. Maybe Lucas had asked them to give her space. Maybe they were relieved she wasn’t really part of the family. His mom was probably thrilled.

How were they treating Lucas? Were his dad and Brody angry at him for the deception?

Just when Kate thought it couldn’t get any worse, she remembered his parents’ marriage. She sighed, regret filling the hole in her gut.
I
didn’t do a thing to help—haven’t kept my end of the bargain at all. Lucas
married me for nothing—except all the grief he’s getting.

It’s not like Susan wanted your help.

Maybe not, but Lucas kept his part of the deal, and I let him down.

You didn’t exactly have the twelve months you expected. You’re not a
miracle worker.

If only I’d had more time.

Kate faced the wall, turning quietly so as not to disturb Lucas.

Why didn’t Chloe call back? Were she and Paul and Pam deciding how to handle things, or was she so angry, she was making Kate suffer? Because that’s exactly what Kate was doing: suffering. The waiting was killing her. She couldn’t plan her next move until someone told her what to do.

Kate felt the bed shift as Lucas moved. Then she felt his arm settle around the curve of her waist, felt the warmth of his stomach against her back.

He pressed a kiss on the top of her head. Kate’s heart sped. In his arms she felt safe and loved—cherished. Like her world wasn’t a whirling top, spinning toward the edge of a table. She wanted to sink into his weight and let him be her shelter from the storm. But she was unaccustomed to counting on anyone other than herself. The very thought of sharing her burden made her anxious.
How do I
know I can count on him? What if he fails me?

And why was he holding her?
What is it he wants from me?

She lay still, tense, waiting. He’d played his part of the game, met his end of the bargain. If anything, he should be angry with her too. Angry, like everyone else.

As moments passed and Lucas made no further move, Kate felt her body slowly sink into the hardness of his stomach.
Just for
tonight. It doesn’t mean I’m turning over control.
She closed her eyes again. Kate knew she shouldn’t let herself find comfort in his arms, but she was too tired to fight the urge.