What it Takes (40 page)

The wall of windows was one of her favorite features in her living room. They allowed a large amount of natural light into the apartment, and on a warm day, she could open the French doors and, with a balcony that ran the entire length of the living room, add to the open floor plan, her second favorite feature.

She walked across the room to the small kitchen to grab two mugs from the cabinet. She’d just started her coffee brewing when a knock on the door brought a smile to her face. She skipped to the door and opened it to see a grinning Patrick.

“Good morning,” he said in a silky voice as he walked the three steps into the kitchen and put the bags of food on the counter. Hands emptied, he turned and took her in his arms and kissed her.

“Good morning,” she said, panting, when he pulled back.

“I didn’t mean to wake you. I thought you’d be up already,” he said.

She walked to the coffee maker and moved her mug to the counter. “I didn’t mind the wake-up call.” She motioned to the carousel of coffees and he picked one. As she started brewing his coffee, she asked, “What’s for breakfast?”

He grinned boyishly and took three containers out of the first bag. “Sunday morning breakfast.” He opened each container, scrambled eggs, bacon, and home fries, and Kelsey laughed. As Kelsey got plates, serving spoons, and silverware, he pulled a large bowl of fruit out of the second bag. Kelsey set everything on the counter then retrieved their cups of coffee.

When breakfast was over and cleaned up, they moved to the living room with their coffee. Kelsey sat on one end of the couch with one knee folded under her, Patrick on the other end facing her.

“I was thinking,” he started, brow crinkling slightly. “Last night we talked about how people expect me to act and you assured me that my past doesn’t bother you anymore.”

She nodded slowly and began to worry about the direction of the conversation.

“I know you can’t help but wonder, you said so yourself, and I want to clear the air now, answer any questions you have so there’s nothing that keeps us from moving forward together.”

Warmth tingled through Kelsey’s chest and she looked at her cup to hide her delight. He slid closer to her and placed his mug on the coffee table before lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

She closed her eyes and slowly filled her lungs. There was only one question she had, but she’d been wondering whether the answer was really that important. His feelings for his past lovers shouldn’t matter in their relationship. When she saw the tightness in his jaw and the apprehension in his eyes, she easily made her decision.

“I don’t have any questions.”

Kelsey watched his tension drain away.

He sat for a moment then hesitantly asked, “Are you sure?”

Kelsey nodded as she set her coffee on the table beside his. “Is there anything you want to know?” she asked as she sat back.

Patrick looked into her eyes. “Sure.” He took her hand and studied her calm expression. He hoped he wouldn’t be opening wounds, but he wanted to know about her past. He wanted to comfort her, if he could, and make sure she felt safe with him. “Who hurt you so much that you were afraid to let me in?” After a few moments of silence, Patrick opened his mouth to apologize but Kelsey shook her head.

“It was my college boyfriend.” She didn’t say anything else but wore an expression of deep concentration.

His blood chilled before he spoke. “You loved him.” It wasn’t a question. The look on her face said it all.

“I thought I did at the time,” she admitted thoughtfully.

Patrick was surprised by a slight pang of jealousy. “So, what happened?”

“We started dating about a year after we met in college and were together for two and a half years. We were pretty serious but hit a rough patch and the relationship didn’t survive it.”

Her tone was too clinical, too practiced, for his liking.

“Define ‘pretty serious,’” he asked. When she didn’t immediately answer, his brow furrowed and a chill squeezed his chest. “Were you engaged?” He wasn’t sure why that thought bothered him so much but it did, and he couldn’t hide the edginess in his voice.

She slowly shook her head. “Not exactly,” she replied. “We had talked about marriage, but we were about to graduate.” She shrugged her shoulder as she paused. Her brow furrowed for a moment as he narrowed an eye. “It was natural for us to plan for the future, but in the end,” she stopped again and nodded slowly, “we had a big problem, we couldn’t agree on the solution, and things sort of fell apart,” she answered.

Everything about her movements and speech told him she was hiding something. It hurt slightly to know that he’d been willing to tell her everything and yet she was holding back.

“Are you over him?” That was the most important question, and he hoped she’d answer it honestly.

Kelsey nodded and smiled crookedly. “Why would you think I wasn’t?”

“You were thinking about him the first night at the bar.” Patrick walked to the window, aware that she hadn’t given him a direct answer. Now he prepared to hear something he wasn’t going to like.

“Until that night with you guys, I hadn’t set foot in a bar since my senior year in college. That was one of those things that he and his friends liked to do and I simply went along for the ride. That night we went out, I really was just remembering that part of my life, and maybe missing that carefree, laid-back time in my life just a little.”

He nodded, but continued to stare out the window.

“Why’re you so interested in this?”

“I thought we were getting to know each other,” he replied tightly.

“We are.” Kelsey touched his arm, causing his heart to race and calming him at the same time. “Something else is bothering you,” she murmured.

“It’s just,” he started then paused to consider his words carefully. “It’s just that,” he turned to her, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone else.” She nodded as he took her hand. “If you loved him and you got over him,” Patrick started then paused. He was about to admit something he hoped he wouldn’t regret, “then—”

“Patrick,” she said, her voice soft and soothing as she laid her palm on his cheek. “It’s been more than six years and we didn’t part on the best of terms. I didn’t get over it right away, but I
did
get over it.” She stepped closer. “And what I felt for him,” she took his other hand, “was
nothing
like what I’m feeling right now.”

Patrick met her gaze and tried to suppress the extreme rush he got from her words. “Why’s this different?”

“I don’t know. It’s just one of those things I can feel.” Her head nodded from side to side. “I vaguely remember the beginning of my relationship with him, but I do remember that it wasn’t this,” a smirk teased her lips, “intense.”

He laughed and nodded, remembering how he’d described their love scene on her porch in December. “One more question?”

“This is hardly fair. I didn’t ask you anything,” she teased.

“Well, after you answer this one, I’ll answer any question you have,” he said and she tilted her head in consideration. After a few seconds, she nodded and he inhaled deeply. “So, what was it about that song?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “I used to sing it all the time after we broke up. It was a reminder of the pain I felt when he left and my fear . . .” Her voice cracked and she bit her upper lip.

Patrick’s eyes widened in comprehension. Because of his reputation, she was afraid he’d hurt her. Maybe it wasn’t the number of women he’d slept with but the fact that he’d left them all. If she thought he’d loved them, any of them, she must still be afraid.

He lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I’ve never loved anyone else.” She nodded and he could see the tears start to form. “And it would kill me to cause you any kind of pain,” he added softly, kissing her forehead. “Do you still need those angels?”

“No,” she said with a sigh. “I’m beginning to think I never did.”

Patrick shook his head and kissed Kelsey gently, determined to make sure she never needed them again.

Patrick parked his car in the lot outside of his favorite sushi restaurant and quickly came around the car to help Kelsey out. As they walked in the door, tightness gripped her chest and her feet slowed. He turned to her and grinned reassuringly. “It’ll be fine.” He brushed a kiss to her forehead as he slipped her arm through his. “Remember, this is a first for me too,” he added and they continued, at a slower pace, toward the table where his family stood to greet them.

Kelsey was first introduced to Patrick’s father, William Lyons, and she immediately noticed how much the men favored each other. William had the same kind, brown eyes that were softened with age. His hair, styled the same way, and probably once the same color, was now half gray, making him look very distinguished. He smiled Patrick’s warm smile as he shook Kelsey’s hand.

Patrick’s mother, Elizabeth, had blonde hair, also touched by gray, but not as much as her husband’s. Her blue eyes were vibrant and gentle and her mouth had Patrick’s shape, only fuller. She greeted Kelsey with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then put her hands on Kelsey’s shoulders and examined her face.

Smiling widely, she looked at Patrick. “You were wrong, son,” she said softly. Kelsey cocked her head slightly before turning, wide-eyed, to Patrick. He shrugged and she turned back to Elizabeth. “His description of you didn’t do you justice. You’re more beautiful than he led us to believe.”

Kelsey’s cheeks turned a pale shade of pink and Patrick laughed lightly. “Sorry, Mom.” He put his hand on Kelsey’s waist and kissed her temple as he turned her to face his sister.

Where Patrick favored their father, Sarah was almost a twin to their mother. Her eyes weren’t quite as blue but danced with excitement all the same. Her hair was a darker blonde and pulled into a loose ponytail at the top of her neck. Her lips were slightly thinner and smiling widely. She greeted Kelsey with an awkward hug, her pregnant belly was much larger than it had been at the premiere, and introduced her husband, Adam MacKenna. He had reddish brown hair, green eyes, and a tall, stocky frame as well as a firm handshake.

After she’d greeted Adam, she asked everyone to excuse her and she made her way to the ladies’ room. As she was washing her hands, the door opened. Kelsey looked up into the mirror and froze.

“Kelsey,” Brianna squealed and quickly approached her. Kelsey turned the water off as she grabbed a paper towel. When she finally turned, Brianna threw her arms around Kelsey’s neck. “I’m so glad to see you.” She giggled as she stepped back. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night. I was just under so much stress with planning that party, and I had no idea Patrick and you were together.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Maybe I should’ve asked for your help with the party.” She took another step backward and Kelsey sidestepped in the direction of the door. “But anyway, Xavier explained everything and now I’m patiently waiting my turn.”

Kelsey stiffened as she pulled her shoulders back. “Excuse me?” She closed the distance between Brianna and herself. “What do you mean, Xavier explained everything?”

“Oh,” Brianna giggled nervously, “he just said that sometimes Patrick likes to linger a little on those he really likes.” She smirked mischievously. “So, is it true what they’re all saying?”

Kelsey’s brows came together. “What who is saying?”

“All his lovers,” Brianna sighed dreamily and Kelsey didn’t want to imagine why.

“What do they say, Brianna? I can’t answer your question if I don’t know what it is.” Why did Kelsey feel like she was talking to a child?

“That he’s an amazing lover. The best they’ve had.” The hunger in her eyes left no doubt of what she was thinking even before she said, “I can’t wait for my turn.”

Kelsey’s hands fisted and unfisted several times by her side as she steadied her breathing. “Sorry, sweetheart,” she said sharply and Brianna’s dazed look disappeared. “I’m not quite finished with him yet, but I’ll be sure to pass along all the compliments.” Kelsey took two steps closer to the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She left the restroom and walked stiffly back to the table, trying her best to remove the scowl from her face.

But she failed in that. Miserably.

“What happened?” Patrick asked as he rose and met her three steps from the table.

Kelsey glared at him and shook her head as she took his outstretched hands and continued forward to the table. He gripped the back of her chair and slid it out. She sat and as he pushed it in, he leaned down and put his mouth to her ear.

“Darling, what’s wrong?”

She turned slightly to face him. “We’ll talk about it later.”

He sat down as the server came to take their drinks order. William ordered two bottles of Riesling to start with for the entire table, except Sarah of course, to share. Once the server left, Kelsey picked up the menu in front of her and perused it, trying to force the tension from her shoulders.

“Have you had sushi before?” Patrick asked quietly.

She nodded and smiled at him. “A couple of times.”

“Did you like it?”

“Yes,” she replied. “But I usually stick to the basics.”