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“You don’t think I tried that?” he asked, exasperated. Just in case, he dropped the oars for a second and tried again. It started on his first try—thank God. He pulled the oars in and pushed the little skiff to its max speed, not giving a damn about the lake’s speed limit. The neighbor had waited down by the water, but once he saw that Adam had Kate and Luna safely in the boat, had waved and returned to the safety of his home.
“Hang on,” he yelled, slowing just as they approached the shore and driving it straight up onto the beach. They scrambled out and ran toward the house. He was hustling her up the embankment when a deafening boom cracked behind them and the ground shook beneath them. They turned to see lightning strike the boat they had recently vacated. Another flash right behind it hit the dock, which burst into flames. Kate screamed.
“Go, go,” Adam shouted, grabbing Luna and pushing Kate to turn and get moving. The grass was slippery from the rain, now coming down in sheets, and she was barefoot, slipping and sliding on the wet grass. His traction wasn’t much better, but he grabbed her around the waist, and together they struggled up the small hill. They made it to the covered back porch and watched in horror as the dock burned. Nothing near it would burn, and since he wasn’t about to go back down to the water, he left it.
“Holy crap,” Kate said. “Can’t you die if you’re in water that’s struck by lightning?”
“I don’t want to know.” The wind was so strong there were waves in the pool, and he had to yell to be heard. “That was too close. You scared the shit out of me.”
“You saved my life.” She threw her arms around him, pushed him against the wall, and kissed him, just as another boom of thunder shook the house. He held her tight, knowing it was possible he’d narrowly missed losing her. He didn’t understand the exact thermodynamics of what could have happened, but was damn glad he didn’t have to find out firsthand.
She broke the kiss and pushed him away. “I’m sorry,” she said. “This is just the adrenaline talking. I’m still mad at you.” He hoped the water on her face was rain and not tears.
“Maybe we should let the adrenaline have its say,” he said, reaching for her again.
She backed away, shaking her head. “I can’t do this, Adam. I love you, but nothing’s changed since yesterday. Thank you for saving me, but you should go.”
His mouth fell open. “Nothing’s changed? Have you readThe Suntoday?” he asked.
“You mean the article where you admit to getting cozy with me so you could get dirt on my dad?” she said.
That’swhat she’d focused on? What about the part where he’d spilled his guts and put his feelings out there for the entire world to see? Adam had read the story, and knew the reporter had quoted his love declaration. “Did you read the whole thing?”
“Enough to get the gist.” She turned away before turning right back. “Theonething you knew would bother me the most. You used me to get to my father, knowing full well that was a major hot button for me. Did you ever stop to think that maybe you knowing Chuck was something you should have disclosed?”
“I did, yes. I tried to tell you a few times, but just never found the right moment.”
“Well, any moment before you asked me out, before you kissed me, or most definitely before you slept with me would have been good. We can talk later about how to work out the business stuff, but this,” she waved a hand between the two of them, “is over.”
The rain was coming in sideways, and he positioned himself so that his back was to the lake, blocking her from the wind and rain.
“Kate, I’m sorry,” he said. “I know I hurt you, but I wasn’t using you. I hired youbeforeI knew Edward was your dad or Chuck was my mom’s new boyfriend. I told Chuck what I overheard before I’d gotten to know you or your father. Once I realized what a sleazeball Chuck is, and what a mistake it was to tell him what I did, there was no way to take it back. I hoped he would just let it go, but he got so desperate at the debate that he lashed out with the accusations to cover up his own ineptitude.”
The look on her face said she either didn’t believe him or didn’t care. That it was too late. The damage was done, and he was out of luck.
“Kate, you have to finish the article,” Adam said, gripping her upper arms, willing her to look up at him. “I lo—”
The slider burst open, and most of Kate’s family came spilling out onto the porch, right as another burst of lightning hit nearby. He dropped his hands and hung his head.
“Katie, get inside,” her father yelled. “Everyone, inside.”
“Dad, the dock’s on fire,” Kate said.
“I see that. Don’t worry about it. The rain will put it out. Come on.” Everyone retreated to the kitchen.
Kate picked up Luna and hugged her tight. “Oh, Luna, baby. I almost lost you.”
Another boom of thunder, followed by a crack of lightning, and the power flickered off, plunging them into near darkness. Dusk was still a few hours off, but the dark storm clouds buried the sun, leaving little light. Rain pelted against the windows.
Everyone was talking at once, trying to find out what had happened and if Kate was all right. No one noticed Adam, and in the dim chaos, he slipped out the front door and dashed through the rain to his car. Kate was too busy to think about him now. His explanation hadn’t seemed to matter. She wasn’t going to forgive him, much less give him a second chance. And could he blame her? He’d done the exact thing she’d been most afraid of—used her to get to her father. Or at least, that’s how she saw it.
When he returned home, he changed clothes and watched the storm from a dry, comfortable spot on the couch. His ultra-manly dog had been reduced to a quivering bundle of nerves and kept trying to crawl onto Adam’s lap. All ninety-five pounds of him. He did his best to calm the dog, petting him and mumbling that it would be over soon.
He could use some soothing himself. With each clap of thunder, he could feel his never-been-in-love-before heart ripping in two. Any inklings of doubt about his newfound love had been swept away with the wind and rain. He was desperately in love with Kate Parker. All her neurotic quirks, her prissiness, even that silly dog. Against all odds, he’d fallen hard for the whole superb package.
But he’d gone and blown it. He should have been honest with her from the start. Knowing Chuck didn’t seem like a big deal to him, but of course, it would be to her. And the eavesdropping? That was just a jerk move he should have copped to and apologized for a long time ago. Although, that probably would have only hastened the breakup. All he knew was that almost losing her and then having her push him away induced an agony he never wanted to feel again.
The storm subsided close to midnight, and Duke eventually calmed down. Adam went to bed, letting the dog sleep with him. His only hope was that maybe her dad was right, and that after some time passed, she could accept his apology, and they would still have a chance. He fell asleep clinging to that thought.
