Reunited (Tueday Temptations) (5 page)

“That’s what I did?”

She let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, that’s what you did. I’m impressed. But I already told you that.”

“You did?”

“Weren’t you listening?”

“I actually impressed you?”

“Yeah, you did.”

“Wow.” His dark eyes softened. “Wow. Here I thought I was the only one who was impressed.”

“Impressed by what?”

“By you, Kath. Always you. I’ve been watching you forever, it seems.”

She jolted. Had he just said he’d been watching her? Yes, that’s what he’d said. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve watched you grow into one of the most beautiful girls in school.”

Her skin tingled and her tummy tightened. “Excuse me?”

“You think I don’t regret the things I said to you in middle school? I do. I’ve regretted them ever since. I told you I had no idea how much it hurt you. I knew it was wrong. I let peer pressure control my life. I stopped doing that so much in high school and I’ve been a happier person. A better person, I think. Anyway, it’s over now. I wish I could take it back but I can’t undo it.”

“No, you can’t.”

“You’ve always fascinated me. You’re incredible. So smart. I always wanted to be smart, to make my parents proud. To be able to do something more with my life than what my parents could. Not that they aren’t good parents. But I want more, Kath.”

“You can have more.”

“Yeah, I think I can. That’s why I wanted you for my tutor.”

“I thought you wanted me because I was ‘a fox.’”

He laughed. “Well, that, too. Looking at you is no hardship. But you truly are the smartest person I know.” He cleared his throat, and his handsome face reddened. “I’ve always wanted to know you better. I just didn’t know how to approach you, given our past. I didn’t know how to apologize to you, to make you understand I never meant any of that. But that’s so superficial. I did it, I can’t take it back. So I couldn’t approach you. Then when this whole baseball scholarship came up and I needed a tutor, I figured this was my chance to spend time with you. Get to know you. Find out if what I was feeling was real.”

“What you were feeling? What are you talking about, Brett?”

“I’ve got a—”

He looked away. Was the Italian Stallion actually embarrassed?

“I like you, Kath. I have for a few years now.”

She jerked her head around. “You’re playing me.”

“I’m not. I swear. I just kissed you, didn’t I?”

She longed to believe him, longed for this to somehow be real, but the image of him and his friends jeering seared into her mind. She swallowed her nausea.

“It’s probably some bet with your jock butthole buddies. See you long it takes you to get the nerd to fall for you, right? Well, it’s not going to happen, Brett. I guarantee it.”

“Hey.” He stood and gripped her elbow. “I don’t kiss anyone I don’t want to kiss, you got that?”

“Shouldn’t you be kissing your girlfriend?”

He smiled a lazy smile. “She’s not here.”

“Ha. And I am, is that it? Any port in a storm?”

“No.” He raked his fingers through his gorgeous black hair. “You’re twisting it all around, damn it.”

“Twisting what around? There’s nothing to twist around, because there’s nothing between us. So go back to your butthole buddies and tell them you got the nerd queen to kiss you. Collect your twenty bucks, or whatever it is you won, and have a big laugh at my expense.”

“Kath, it’s not like that. There’s no bet. I swear.”

“Right. I’m supposed to believe you, the Italian Stallion, wanted to kiss me, Kathryn Zurakowsky, the Pollock, the nerd, the ugly duckling.”

“Who’s turned into a beautiful swan.”

“And what if I hadn’t?”

“If you hadn’t what?”

“Turned into a beautiful swan? Would you want to kiss me then?”

“I don’t know. Would you want to kiss me if I wasn’t good looking?”

Well, he had her there, and that pissed her off. Her blood boiled. “Who said I wanted to kiss you?”

He laughed that time. Damn him.

“For someone who didn’t want to kiss me, you gave a good impression of enjoying it.”

She
had
enjoyed it. It had been heaven. But she had never kissed before. It would probably be that great with anyone.

“Maybe I’m just a good kisser.”

“Ha. Right. If I had a dollar I’d bet you’d never been kissed before.”

“Get out.” Kathryn pulled him to his feet. “Get out. I’ve had enough of you. You can find yourself another tutor, too. I don’t need to deal with you. Go kiss your girlfriend—remember her? Or kiss some butt-ugly old lady for all I care. Now get out of here before I call the cops!”

His lips came down on hers again.

“Wow, Kath.” Brett buttoned his pants as Kathryn replaced her bra and blouse. “Wow.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry.”

“God, don’t be sorry.”

“Oh, I’m not sorry it happened, Brett. I’m sorry I didn’t have more self-control. I’m acting like a horny teenager.”

“We both were, Kath. We’re acting like the horny teenagers we once were. I meant it when I said it’s never been like that with anyone else. Not the kisses, not the sex. I mean, I just took you quick and hard against the wall, and I felt more than I’ve ever felt during the longest lovemaking session with Michelle.”

A spear entered her heart at the mention of Brett’s wife. Ex-wife. That little prefix made all the difference. He was free to be with her now. And she was free to be with him. Sort of.

He was right about the kisses. An image emerged in her mind, of her and Brett after their first kiss, and her thought that kissing would be the same with anyone. That the kiss with him had been nothing special.

She’d been wrong. So very wrong.

She’d done a lot of kissing in her life. None had equaled those fumbled attempts she’d shared with Brett twenty years ago, and none equaled their passionate embraces now.

Still, she’d had unprotected sex. She trusted that he’d had a vasectomy, so she wasn’t worried about pregnancy. But she hadn’t seen him in twenty years. Who knew who he had been with? Not the smartest move she’d ever made.

“Uh, Brett?” She fumbled with her hair.

“Your hair looks beautiful,” he said, tucking a strand behind her ear. “It’s as soft as I remember.” He grinned. “What?”

“I don’t want to spoil the mood, but…I need to know, you know, that you’re clean.”

“Clean?”

“Yeah. I know I can’t get pregnant, but I don’t want to—”

“Kath,” he said, looking directly into her eyes. His gaze burned. “I swear to you, I’m clean. I’ve only been with two women in my life and you’re one of them.”

Her eyes widened. Truly? The Italian Stallion had never been with another woman?

“I should probably be more concerned about you,” he said, “but I’m not.”

“Oh?” The insult rankled her. “You don’t think I’ve been with anyone but you and my husband?”

“No, I’m absolutely sure you have.”

“Yeah, I have. Plenty, if you want to know.” But not a one who had mattered. “So why aren’t you more concerned?”

“Because I know you. If there was any issue, you wouldn’t have made love to me. You wouldn’t have put me in danger.”

“True. I’m a doctor.”

“Yes, but that’s not how I know. I just know you. You’re a kind, gentle person, and you’d never do anything to harm another living soul.”

Especially not one she cared about so deeply.

“No, I wouldn’t. But just so you know, I’ve had all the tests, and I’m clean.”

“Well, I had all the tests when I had my vasectomy three years ago, and I’m clean as well. But I didn’t need the tests, because I’m serious. I’ve only been with you and Michelle.”

“I can’t believe it.” She shook her head.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re Brett Falcone. The Italian Stallion.”

He laughed. “No one’s called me that in years.”

“You still look the part, I must say. You’re still as handsome and delectable as ever.”

“And you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You take my breath away, Kath.”

“Wow. Wow.”

“You keep saying that.” He smiled.

“I just can’t imagine why you’ve never been with anyone else.”

“I don’t know why it’s so hard to believe. I married Michelle after you left. She was a virgin on our wedding night. I was married to her until a year ago. I’ve dated a few women, but there was never enough connection to sleep with them.” He pulled her into his arms. “I’d be happy only sleeping with you from now on.”

Her skin warmed. She could get used this. Get used to being held in his arms, his nose sniffing her hair, his hands wandering up her back, caressing her.

But too much remained between them that he didn’t know about. If he ever found out—

The phone interrupted her thoughts. She pulled away. “I’m sorry. Will you excuse me for a moment?”

“Sure.” He kissed her cheek, and her tummy fluttered. “Don’t be too long, okay?”

She walked to the kitchen and grabbed the phone off the cradle.

“Hello?”

“Yes, hello,” a deep masculine voice said. “I’m looking for Kathryn Zurakowsky Abbott.”

“This is she. How may I help you?”

“Well,” he cleared his throat. “My name is Michael Patton.”

“Yes?”

“I…uh…”

“What is it, Mr. Patton?”

“I don’t quite know how to say this.” He cleared his throat again. “I think I’m your son.”

Twenty years earlier

Kathryn couldn’t help herself. She kissed him back. More than kissed him back. She threaded her fingers through his black hair—it was as soft as she’d imagined. She caressed his muscular shoulders, his biceps, his sinewy forearms. She ran her fingers over the fabric of his shirt, taking in the hardness of his chest, the firmness of his abdomen. She pushed closer to him, snaked her arms around his waist, squeezed the solid globes of his buttocks.

An ache grew in her tummy, her heart. She wanted to touch more of him. His bare skin. Feel his fingers slide over her own bare flesh. Her skin heated, her pulse raced, an inferno blazed between her legs.

He pulled her closer and his hardness pressed against her abdomen. His penis. She knew what it was. She’d had the sex ed class, the talk with her mother, the gossip with her friends.

She’d never imagined how good it would feel against her, though. How much she’d desire to touch it, to make him feel good…

Out of hand.

This was getting out of hand.

Yet she couldn’t break away. Couldn’t bring herself to withdraw her lips from the sweet firmness of his, the sweet sensation of his tongue twirling around her own…

Somewhere in the background, the click of a key in a lock.

Deb and Bruce were home!

She pushed Brett away and wiped her mouth. Oh, she must look disheveled. This was not good. They didn’t care if she had people over. They’d come over to find her studying with friends before. But this…

Her hands whipped to her lips. They felt tender, swollen.
Oh my.
Did she look as though she had just been kissed? Because she sure felt as though she had just been kissed. Thoroughly, undoubtedly kissed.

She patted down her clothes. Luckily they weren’t in disarray. Brett hadn’t attempted to feel her again. He looked amazing. Tousled and gorgeous.

“Fix your hair!” she said through clenched teeth.

He shook his head and it fell into place.

“Now sit down with the math book. Hurry.”

She sat down next to him as the door opened.

“Hi, Kathryn,” Deb said. “Studying on a Friday night?”

“Tutoring, actually.” She tried to sound casual, but her voice shook. She hoped Deb and Bruce didn’t notice. “This is Brett. I’m helping him with his algebra.”

“Need to get my grades up for baseball,” Brett offered.

“Well, then, I see why you’re at it on a Friday,” Bruce said. “Sports was always my greatest motivation.” He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and handed Kathryn some bills. “Here you go, Kathryn. Thanks very much.”

“No problem. Terry’s never any trouble. She’s been sleeping soundly since bedtime.” She eyed the pizza carton on the coffee table. “Oh, let me just clean up a little.”

“No worries,” Deb said. “I’ve got it. You two go on. Enough studying for one night. Maybe you can hit a late show somewhere.”

“Oh, I don’t think—” Kathryn began.

“Yeah, that’s a great idea, Kath,” Brett said. “How about it?”

“I have studying.”

“We’ve been studying all night.”

Kathryn bit her swollen bottom lip. They hadn’t been studying all night, which was most likely painfully obvious to Deb and Bruce.

“Should I walk you home?” Bruce asked.

“I’ve got my car. I’ll take her home,” Brett said.

“Brett, I live right down the street.”

“So? Why walk when you can ride with me? Come on.”

“Uh, okay. Thanks Deb and Bruce. See you tomorrow afternoon.”

“Have a fun evening, Kathryn,” Deb said and winked at her.

Kathryn wanted to expire on the spot. Yes, Deb and Bruce were cool. They probably wouldn’t care that she’d been making out with the Italian Stallion in their home. Hell, she’d found a stash of pot in the kitchen cupboards more than once and Deb routinely left her vibrator out in the bathroom.

Yet embarrassment overtook her. She was not Brett Falcone’s girlfriend. Would never be. She shouldn’t have been kissing him. Still, her body moving without benefit of her mind, she let him guide her out the door, down the driveway, to his Chevy parked on the street. Kathryn let him open the door. She slid in, sat on the fabric seat cushion, and inhaled. Pine. A tree-shaped air freshener dangled from the rearview mirror. Nice that he cared how his car smelled. Weird that she cared he cared.

He got in beside her and started the engine.

“You won’t get in trouble for me being there, will you?”

She snapped her mind out of its fog. “No. They don’t care.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want to cost you your babysitting job.” He laughed. “Then again, if you lost it, you could spend more time with me.”

“With you?”

“Tutoring me, I mean.”

“Yeah. I know that’s what you meant.” But for a moment, a sheer second, she’d hoped he meant he wanted to spend time with her as a person, not as a tutor.

She shook her head to clear it once again. What a fool she was.

“This is where I live,” she said.

“I know where you live.”

“You do?”

“An address isn’t that hard to find, Kath.”

“Why do you call me Kath? No one does.”

“So you said.” He cocked his head. “It fits you. How come everyone calls you Kathryn?”

“My mom calls me Kathy.”

“But no one else?”

“No. I prefer Kathryn.”

“You want me to call you Kathryn?”

No! For some reason she couldn’t quite figure out, she wanted him to call her Kath and nothing else.

She shook her head again. Damn spider webs were invading her brain.

He parked the car in the street by her house. Without looking at him, Kathryn opened the door and left the car. She turned back, polite to a tee. “Thanks for the ride.”

“No problem. I’ll walk you up.”

“No. Please don’t. This isn’t a date.”

“I didn’t say it was, but I want to walk you up.”

Something in his voice made her relent. He walked her to the front porch and stood with her under the door.

“Thanks for helping me out tonight,” he said.

Could he tell her body had turned to jelly? Her legs quivered. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you after school Monday in the usual classroom.”

“How about tomorrow?”

“I have my own homework to do tomorrow.”

“You might need a break. We could get ice cream or something.”

Okay, this was so not happening. Brett Falcone was not asking her out on a date. Especially not Brett Falcone who was going out with with Michelle Bates.

Darned if she didn’t want to have ice cream with him.

“Okay. Pick me up at three. I’ll have my work done by then.”

“You got it.” His smile lit up his face. He bent near her and brushed his lips lightly across hers.

She jolted and a fire ignited between her legs. Just a little peck and, oh God, she wanted more.

“Good night, Kath.”

“Good night.”

She floated inside.