“No,” he agreed.“She needs a different man.And she’ll find him.She’s a good woman.I hope my constant complaining about her hasn’t made you think differently.”
“No, not at all.”
Which was true.Part of what made Kate so reluctant to act on her feelings was knowing that for all her flaws, Cheryl really wasn’t a bad person.She just wasn’t right for Marcus.
“As for me?”He smiled at her.“Well, I guess I have dinner to look forward to.”
His eyes made a promise, one that filled Kate with renewed hope and joy.It appeared her feelings were reciprocated after all.“Yes,” Kate agreed.“We both do.”
They shared a moment, just standing there under the too-bright lights of the courthouse.This one was world-teetering too, but the bit of ground Kate stood on was rock-steady.
Marcus ended that moment by looking over Kate’s shoulder and saying, “Also, I wasn’t kidding about the horse and his family, and we’ve got vultures incoming.I like you and all, but I’m not going to spend an hour and forty-five talking to reporters, so I’m going to go get dinner.If you want some food that isn’t part of a date, you should come with me.”
Kate laughed.Her stomach growled, and it occurred to her that she’d eaten like crap the past few days.What else was new?
“I would love to eat,” she replied.“Anything but horse, though.”
“Well, I’ll drop you off somewhere on the way then.I’ve really got my heart set oncaballo.”
He led her to the car while emergency responders busied themselves with the tedium of smoothing out the ripples after the rock dropped into the river.Kate’s river still had rapids ahead, but for the first time in a while, everything was smooth sailing.
EPILOGUE
One week later…
“Mom, for crying out loud, it’s a casual first date, not our honeymoon.”
“I just thought you’d want to wear something that flattered your figure.”
Kate stared ruefully at the square shoulders and slim arms that hung a good two inches too far past her waist.Her hips disappeared underneath the black fabric, which was pretty impressive considering her mother had chosen the dress to “flatter her figure.”
“Mom, the color makes my freckles stand out like rosacea.”
“They’re beauty marks, dear, and short of very expensive cosmetic surgery, there’s nothing you can do about them.Besides, Marcus has presumably seen your freckles before.I imagine he hasn’t seen your shoulders, nor has he seen this much of your cleavage.”
“Wow, okay,reallydon’t want to talk about my cleavage with my mother.”
That’s what she said out loud.What she thought waswhat cleavage?Her breasts were there, but that was about all she could say for them.An image of Cheryl came to her mind, easily overcoming her mind’s feeble attempt to brush it aside.Cheryl had an incredible body.If she were wearing this dress, her cleavage would be far more prominent and her hips actually noticeable.
Because you’re totally gonna screw him tonight.Relax, Kate.Casual first date.
She really hoped she didn’t keep comparing herself to Cheryl.
“I’m only saying, the poor boy’s been suffering in silence for months.You don’t have to give him the whole show, but I think he’s earned at least a theatrical trailer.”
Kate gave her mother a dry look.“You really should have been a writer, you know that?You turn phrases better than Gabe Levine.”
“I only speak the truth, dear.Even when it hurts.”
Catherine put both hands-on Kate’s shoulder, and a tremor came to her lips.She caressed Kate’s face and whispered, “You look so beautiful.”
Tears welled in Kate’s eyes.She blinked them away, and before she could offer an awkward thanks, her phone rang.She frowned when she saw the number for Northbridge Special Management Unit, the prison where Elijah Cox was being held.This was the fourth time in the past week he’d called asking for her.
“Don’t answer,” her mother warned.“Not tonight.”
Kate picked it up, and her mother sighed heavily.“Good evening.”
“Good evening, Kate,” Governor Frank Cirillo, the head of Northbridge SMU, said.“Sorry to bother you yet again.I imagine the answer is still no.”
