Promise Made (The Callahan Series) (13 page)

She opted to walk to Ed’s. It was a short distance and she needed the exercise. It was as peaceful as always. In the distance, she saw a few people out enjoying the evening. A couple of familiar cars drove by. The occupants waved. Being home was nice. She’d give almost anything to stay and make a life here. Her earlier visit from Phyl made her realize it wouldn’t be possible.

Not unless something changed.

“Been snitching from my garden, I see,” Gram said with a smile when Kate handed Ed the flowers a few minutes later.

“I didn’t have time to pick up a bottle of wine.”

She kissed Gram on the cheek, gave Ed a hug. “Your flowers are beautiful. So is this deck and outdoor kitchen. Did you hire someone to do the work, Ed, or did you do it yourself?”

Ed’s face flushed a pleased pink. “I’m pretty handy with a hammer. Had a little help with the stove and cabinets.”

“Great job. I’m impressed.”

Gram sat in a comfortable rattan chair at a glass-topped table. Citronella candles glowed around the deck. Kate turned in a circle. “This looks so nice.”

Ed grabbed a glass, filled it with water, plopped the roses in it, and sat it in the middle of the table.

Kate laughed. Men were so predictable.

“Can I do anything?” she asked.

“Not a thing,” Ed answered, turning back to the stove.

He wore an apron that shouted, “Don’t mess with me—I’m the cook.”

Kate couldn’t stop the smile. Ed was so nervous he almost dropped the utensil he was holding.

“He wouldn’t let me do anything either,” Gram complained. “I wanted to make dessert, but he wouldn’t hear of it.”

“We just want you to heal, Grace.” Ed grinned. “Besides, we don’t need dessert.”

“Are you sure?”

Dugan! Kate’s insides clenched. No one had told her Dugan would be here. How could she keep her distance when, at every turn, they were thrown together? When her heart stopped trip-hammering, she gave him a long look. He was devastatingly handsome in almost new jeans and a Western shirt that hugged his shoulders. She wondered how she could endure the evening. After vowing to stay out of his orbit as much as possible, here they were—together again.

It sounded good. She grounded herself to keep from walking over to him, stepping into his arms, raising her mouth for one of his unforgettable kisses.

It must be the soft glow of candles, the ambience of romance. It swirled around Gram and Ed like a heavy fog. Kate wouldn’t allow herself to be swept into it and make a big mistake.

She looked over at Gram, ready to give her the eye. But Gram gave their latest guest an innocent smile. Ed had the decency to duck his head before holding out his hand. “Whatcha got?”

“Chocolate cake.”

“Your favorite if I remember correctly,” Gram said. “It’s beautiful and looks delicious. I know you didn’t bake it, so who did you con into doing this?”

“Started to ask Mom, then I remembered Molly has chocolate cake on the menu once in a while, so I asked her.”

Kate eyed the cake. Could she leave without everyone wondering at the reason? Not likely. She’d have to wait until dinner was over.

She tried not to stare as Dugan shook Ed’s hand, gave Gram a kiss on the cheek. He acted right at home.

Why not? He was a regular at Gram’s. More than just a visitor, too, considering all the chores he did. Knowing Dugan was there to make sure Gram was taken care of was a comfort. A flush of guilt made Kate realize how lacking in that department she’d been. Austin was too far away for Kate to keep up with Gram’s needs. Dugan and Ed shouldn’t have to do the things for her that Kate should.

She felt guilty for all the years she’d hidden herself away. It was hard to admit, but she
had
hidden from Dugan. In the beginning, she’d told herself it was to get her degree, then her license. Deep in her heart it was a lie. She didn’t want to see Dugan. Because she might realize she’d made a mistake or because she didn’t, Kate didn’t know.

She wouldn’t think of it right now. The night was lovely. The cake looked delicious. She’d bet it didn’t take much effort on Dugan’s part to get Molly to bake it for him. The town loved their sheriff. Almost any one of them would do anything he asked. One look into those green eyes, a half-smile on his lips and any woman would say yes to more than baking a cake.

Kate’s stomach clenched. She wondered how serious he was about Mary Jo. Emma was the one who had informed Kate they were a steady twosome. Since Emma had made sure Kate knew, that put her in the negative column.

She had to stop this. Unconsciously, she was sizing up the town and putting them in the yes or no column. According to her personal poll, as well as rumor, the town was about evenly divided.

What did it matter?

The outcome wouldn’t change.

Her stomach clenched again.

“Who else is on the guest list?” she asked Ed.

“This is it,” Ed said as he stayed busy at the stove.

“Smells good.” She didn’t want to talk to Dugan. She’d help Ed, eat and run.

She filled tall glasses with ice and tea, sat them on the table. When she looked up, Dugan was watching her.

The familiar dip in her heart made her almost drop a glass.

“Do you need help?” he asked.

“Nope. I have it under control.”

She wished.

“You ladies look beautiful,” Dugan said. But he was looking at Kate. She cursed the candles that cast a romantic aura over the deck. Though Gram and Ed were caught up in it, Kate refused to let it affect her. Still, she stiffened her spine in an effort to ignore the gorgeous man she’d left so long ago.

Gram smiled, turned to Kate. “Why don’t you pour a glass of wine for everyone?”

Kate gave Gram the look.

Gram ignored her. Resigned, Kate filled a tray with wine glasses and poured from a bottle of chardonnay. When she put a glass in Dugan’s hand, their fingers grazed. The touch sent tingles up her arm. Darn! Why did she have to be so sensitive to this man? It wasn’t what she wanted.

His eyes seemed to follow her everywhere, which made her nervous. Every so often he’d get up, walk around the deck, go into the yard.

“Is anything wrong?” Gram asked.

“Got the fidgets,” he admitted. “This is the first murder trial around here in years.”

“My Katie-Girl has it under control.”

But Kate suspected another reason. When he made another loop around the yard, she figured he wanted to be with Mary Jo, but cared for these two people so much he couldn’t say no to an invite.

By the time dinner was served there was an ache between Kate’s eyes. She nibbled at her food, Dugan dug into his. When he saw her watching, he grinned.

She looked away, but her gaze flew right back.

“Aren’t you hungry, Katie-Girl?”

“Headache, Gram.”

Ed looked disappointed.

“Dinner is really good, Ed. You’re a great cook.”

“He is getting better.” Gram smiled. “Actually, he has great potential.”

Kate listened with half an ear. Dugan seemed to do the same.

She couldn’t stay here another minute. Every time Dugan shrugged a shoulder, tilted his head toward her, looked into her eyes, another portion of her resolve melted.

Soon, there would be none left.

This wasn’t why she’d come home. Besides, she’d promised herself
and
the Callahans she wouldn’t hurt Dugan again. Kate meant to keep her promise.

She stood, took her plate to the sink. “I’m sorry to leave so early, but my headache is worse. I really need to get home.”

She couldn’t miss their scowls of disappointment.

“What about dessert?” Gram asked.

“Forget it, Gram. I really need to lie down.”

“I’ll drive you,” Dugan said, rising from his chair.

“No! The walk will do me good.”

“I insist.”

“She’s right, Dugan. The walk will clear her head.”

Kate gave Gram a grateful look. “When will you be home?”

“Later,” Ed answered. “We want to watch
The Late Show
, then I’ll drive her to the house.”

Kate made her exit as gracefully as possible and almost ran home.

She turned back once to check and see if she was being followed. She was. By Dugan.

She picked up her pace. He fell back and disappeared into the shadows.

By the time she walked into the house, she was visibly trembling. “Dear God. What am I to do?”

Dugan disturbs me in ways I don’t want to think about. What else can I do to screw up my life?

She splashed cold water on her face and brushed her teeth. Taking off her clothes, she put on a pair of old sweats she’d cut off to sleep in, an even older T-shirt so soft it clung to her body like a second skin.

She couldn’t sleep. So she took a bottle of water from the fridge, walked into the den and turned on the TV. The news was depressing, the sit-coms stupid. She turned it off, picked up a magazine and flipped through the pages. She couldn’t concentrate on the words, so she put the magazine down. Yogi, as if sensing her disquiet, nudged against her.

Kate absently patted his head. A soft knock on the door sent Yogi barking and put Kate into panic mode. Gram wouldn’t be back for a couple of hours. And they never had visitors this late. “Who is it?” She hated that her voice sounded frightened. Maybe Dugan was right to be nervous about the murder case. It could attract all kinds of unwanted attention.

“Is everything all right?”

She went weak with relief when she heard Dugan's voice. Opening the door, she let him in.

“I came to check on you.”

“You followed me.”

“Just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“What do you have there?”

“Ed said a piece of cake would make your headache go away.”

“He would, wouldn’t he?”

Dugan brushed past her, headed for the kitchen. “Want some now?”

Yogi followed, hoping for a treat.

“I’ll wait.”

She stood in the doorway while he placed the plate on the counter, then turned to her.

Green met blue.

Kate’s knees turned to rubber. She stood taller, locked her knees so she wouldn’t fall. “Thanks, Dugan. And thanks for looking out for Gram.”

“No problem,” he said.

Instead of going to the door like Kate anticipated, he stopped in front of her and swept stray hair behind an ear. “Grace and Ed have it bad, don’t they?”

She could barely breathe, much less talk. “Yes,” she whispered. “They do.”

“They touch each other when they think no one’s looking,” he said softly. And touched her hand.

Kate hissed out a breath. “You should see how they sneak kisses.”

“Like this?” he whispered and kissed her lightly on the forehead, then her cheek.

“We should stop.” Her voice was barely audible, her mind losing its resolve. For a moment she let the familiar sensations Dugan had once aroused wash through her.

His hand traced her cheek, down her neck to her shoulder.

“Don’t you have to leave?” Her voice was strangled. The words didn’t come out as they should.

“Do you want me to?”

She shut her eyes. Truth or lie? “No. Yes.”

His grin was her undoing.

“Which is it, Kate?”

She’d promised herself and she’d promised his family. But his hands on her shoulders, the light kisses, his nearness, turned her brain to mush.

“Do I leave, Kate? Or stay?”

“Stay.” The whisper, full of longing, was barely out of her mouth when his head dipped to catch her lips. It was familiar. It was electric. The next thing she knew, her arms were around his neck. She leaned her body against his hard one. She couldn’t get close enough, wanted him with everything in her.

Seconds later he was devouring her, sweeping her into a whirlpool of emotion. When he lifted her up, her legs wrapped around him in a remembered embrace. The taste of him on her lips made her light-headed. Nerve endings tingled as her hands brushed down the sides of his face. Her desire was so intense it staggered her.

He looked into her eyes as if he couldn’t believe this was happening.

Kate had never wanted anyone so badly in her life.

He dipped his head again and continued to send her arousal soaring—continued to let his tongue play with hers. She gloried in the feel of his hardness pressing against her. Wanted more. She drew him closer and ground her pelvis into his. Begging for that sweet release.

“Shall we take this to your room? Or finish it here?”

Kate pulled away, looked at him, and silently begged for sanity. Wiggling out of his hold, she struggled for breath. It wouldn’t come. Her hand feathered over his chest as she steadied herself on her feet. Finally, she scrubbed a hand over her face and gasped, “You’d better leave, Dugan. Neither of us really wants to do this.”

How had this happened? One minute he was all sheriff, the next her ex-lover come back to life.

He took her hand, drew it to touch him. “Does this feel as if I don’t want you?”

She shook her head, did her best to clear the sexual fog. “There always was a strong physical attraction between us, wasn’t there?”

“Is that all it is?”

“I can’t, Dugan. Please. You don’t want this either.”

“Not on those terms, that’s for damn sure.”

Chapter Twelve

As Dugan’s boots crunched down the walk, Kate slumped to the floor, her back against the wall, laid her head in her hands, and let the tears fall. Yogi licked her face until she pulled him into an embrace.

She shouldn’t have let this happen. Dugan would think the worst of her. But he couldn’t have any more loathing for her than she had for herself.

All it had taken was one look, one touch, to forget her promises. She rubbed her chest, as if she could rub away the hurt.

She wanted Dugan so much it was a throbbing ache. She could still feel his mouth on hers, his hard body against hers. Could still smell him.

The passion between them was hotter, more intense, and more demanding than before.

What was she going to do?

Why couldn’t they be friends, have sex and enjoy each other? She could handle that. Couldn’t she? But Dugan wanted more. Where the hell was Mary Jo?

Wait a minute. Was
that
what this was all about? Was Dugan trying to prove to himself that she meant nothing to him anymore?