She had caught whatever it was and thought she’d locked it safely away, but her subconscious was betraying her.
Every night.
Kate got dressed in a tailored blouse and pencil-thin skirt. She brushed her hair and scraped it back into a tight ponytail before braiding the length until there was just enough hair to keep the rubber band in place. She even looped the braid and used another hair tie to hold the loops securely. She didn’t want a braid swinging free on her back today. She didn’t want anything swinging free, including unwanted feelings, and at least she knew she was in control now that she was awake.
A quick breakfast and then Kate intended heading in to work. She had a teaching session scheduled in the lab and hopefully, on either side of that, a day that would be busy enough to keep her fully occupied, physically and mentally.
Bella stumbled sleepily into the kitchen, wearing a singlet top and boxer shorts as Kate was mashing an avocado onto half a toasted bagel.
‘Ooh… yum. Not. Any coffee?’
‘Help yourself. I’m having a raspberry tea.’
‘You’re so healthy.’
It sounded like a complaint. Kate eyed her niece. ‘Maybe some of my healthy lifestyle will rub off on you. Looks like you could use it.’
‘I’m fine. Day off. All I have to do is go in this afternoon to get my new roster. I just got up to keep you company.’
Bella smiled and the sun came out in the kitchen. Kate felt herself softening in the glow. How could anybody resist a smile like that? She watched Bella as she pushed a tumble of blonde hair over her shoulder and yawned hugely as she reached for a coffee mug. Even half dressed and half asleep with yesterday’s mascara smudged around her eyes she was an extraordinarily beautiful young woman.
‘Late night?’
‘Did I wake you? Sorry.’
‘No. You look like you could use a bit more sleep, that’s all.’
‘Hmm. Might go back to bed for a bit. I wasn’t that late. I met some nurses from St Pat’s at a pub near the hospital. We just had a couple of drinks, that’s all.’ She glanced at Kate. ‘Connor was there.’
‘Oh?’ Kate suddenly had difficulty swallowing her mouthful. She concentrated on reaching for her cup of tea. What was Bella going to tell her next? That she and Connor were now officially dating? Oh… help. That would mean she would be seeing more of him. Bella might even bring him home for the night.
She couldn’t deal with that. With the kind of dreams she had haunting her nights at the moment, the thought of Connor here, in bed with Bella, touching her… well, it was almost obscene. And as absurd as it was, there was the possibility that she could end up feeling jealous of her beloved niece. Bella was the person she loved most in the whole world. Kate couldn’t let something like this threaten such a precious relationship.
She cleared her throat. ‘You know, it might be timely to talk about a few house rules.’
‘Oh?’ Bella unconsciously echoed her aunt’s neutral tone. ‘You mean like putting the top back on the toothpaste and stuff?’
‘I’m thinking more about visitors.’
Bella was stirring sugar into her coffee. ‘I’m not following.’
‘Dates,’ Kate said succinctly. ‘Men. In particular, men that might want to stay overnight.’
Bella grinned. ‘I try and stick to one at a time but, hey, you go for it, Auntie Kate. More power to you.’
Kate’s cup clanked loudly on the saucer as she put it down. ‘I’m not talking about me, Bella. I’m talking about you. And Connor. I don’t want to wake up and find him in my kitchen. If you want to stay the night with him, do it at his place, okay?’
Pushing herself to her feet, Kate tipped half a cup of tea down the sink and abandoned her half-eaten bagel on the bench. Bella was staring at her, open-mouthed.
‘You’re kidding, right?’
‘No.’ Kate plucked her jacket from where she’d hung it over the back of her chair and started to put it on.
Bella was shaking her head. ‘Youmustbe kidding.’
‘Why’s that?’ Kate hated how snappy she sounded but it was a warning all on its own. This was dangerous territory. She had to take control.
Bella had a curious expression on her face. A half-smile that suggested a wisdom beyond both her years and her personality.
