Breakaway - A Contemporary Romance Drama Story (12 page)

Kate gazed at Connie as she put her cup down. "It was at an art gallery. I was looking at a painting when Edward approached me and struck up a conversation. He told me he was in Savannah visiting his father and mother. At the time he lived in New York. We spent quite a bit of time together while he was visiting. When he returned to New York we kept in touch. He moved here a month after we met and a year later we were married. Shortly after our wedding he announced he had to move back to New York. That was six years ago."

"What made you move back here?" Connie asked.

"Edward's father needed help running the company," Kate said.

"Are you staying for good?" Connie asked, "or will you go back to New York when Edward's father no longer needs him?"

"We're staying for good," Kate said. She knew in her heart she would never leave her family again, no matter what Edward said or did.

Kate stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom and eyed herself critically. She was wearing a black dress. It was off the shoulders with short sleeves and a skirt that ended just below the knees. She had chosen to wear her hair up and secured it with a clip. A diamond necklace and matching earrings completed the ensemble.

"You look lovely," Clara said, appearing at Kate's elbow.

"Thank you," Kate said. She slipped her feet into black high heeled shoes and then picked up her wrap and evening bag. "And also thank you for offering to watch Gaby for a few hours."

"It will be my pleasure," Clara said. "I miss taking care of little ones."

"I'll keep my cell phone with me," Kate said. "I want you to call me if you need to know anything, or if God forbid something should go wrong."

"I'll call you if I need to," Clara said. "Now you go and have a nice time."

Kate snorted. "That's not going to happen."

Clara squeezed Kate's arm. "You never know. You might."

Kate left the bedroom and discovered Edward in the hallway. He was standing there trying to fasten a cuff link. "Would you like some help with that?"

Edward looked Kate over from head to toe and said, "You look like a slut."

Used to the verbal abuse Kate didn't show any emotion. "Do you want me to change?"

"We don't have time," Edward said. He marched past Kate, who reluctantly followed.

The hospital fundraiser took place at a hotel. The ballroom, Kate saw when she and Edward showed up, was full of elegantly dressed people. Some were dancing to the music, some were standing in small groups talking and drinking champagne and some were helping themselves to food from the buffet.

"Don't do anything to embarrass me," Edward said to Kate. "You do and you'll be sorry." He left her standing there and disappeared through the crowd.

Kate felt lost and out of place in the big room full of strangers. Unsure of what to do she wandered to the bar and ordered a diet coke.

"What's a pretty young thing like you doing here alone?" the bartender asked as he filled a glass with coke.

"I'm not alone," Kate said. "I'm here with my husband."

"Lucky man," he said, putting the glass and a napkin in front of Kate. "Let me know if you want anything else."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Kate sat there sipping her drink and watching the people around her having a good time. She thought about ducking out briefly and calling to check on Gaby when she spotted her father. Relief flooding through her, she slid off the stool and wound her way through the crowd. When she reached him she touched his hand.

Mr. Miller turned and smiled. "Katie." He bent and kissed her cheek. "I didn't know you were going to be here."

"Well I didn't know myself until earlier today," Kate said. "What are you doing here?"

"I always come to these fundraisers," Mr. Miller said. "I try to help the hospital out any way I can."

"And the hospital appreciate its," a man said, stopping next to Mr. Miller. "Would you introduce me to this lovely lady, Ted?"

"Katie, this is Dr. Henry Paulson. Henry this is my daughter, Katie."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Katie," Dr. Paulson said, holding out his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Dr. Paulson," Kate said, shaking his hand.

"Please call me Henry."

"That's not a good idea, Henry," Nathan said, joining the small group.

Kate's breath caught in her throat as she gazed at Nathan. The tuxedo he was wearing had been tailored to fit his lean body and emphasized his masculinity. He had never looked more handsome then he did at that moment. Her heart skipping a beat Kate swallowed hard.

"Why is it not a good idea for Katie to call me by my name?" Dr. Paulson asked Nathan.

Nathan winked at Kate. "Because the beautiful lady is going to be your patient."

"Ah, so this is Katie," Dr. Paulson said. "Well, dear, I believe he's right. I think it would be best if you call me Dr. Paulson."

"Of course," Kate said.

"Would you dance with me, Katie?" Nathan asked.

"I'd love too."

Nathan led her onto the dance floor where he wrapped an arm around her waist and took her right hand in his left. "You look beautiful."

Kate blushed. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself. Did Connie come with you?"

"No," Nathan said. "She was called into work. So I came by myself."

"I see," Kate said. "I met her for coffee this morning. She called me and asked me if I wanted to get together. I'm glad she did."

"I'm glad she did too," Nathan said. "I want you two to like each other."

Kate glanced over Nathan's shoulder and saw Edward dancing with a woman she had never seen before. Her eyes grew wide when he groped the woman's behind. Sickened by the sight, Kate tore her gaze away from the ugly scene and focused on Nathan. "I'm glad you're here. I was so afraid that before this night was over I was going to die from boredom."

Nathan grinned. "That bad was it?"

"Yes. So how is the hospital raising money and what for?"

"They're raising money through a silent auction and donations," Nathan said. "It's for new equipment for the hospital."

"Well I hope they raise enough money." Kate tried to think of something else to talk about but her mind went blank when Nathan's hand began moving up and down her back. Her body started to tingle and her pulse raced. Every movement of his body against hers sent unfamiliar sensations coursing through her. Alarmed, Kate stepped back slightly and looked at Nathan. Her eyes were drawn to his mouth and for a moment she wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

"Are you okay?" Nathan asked huskily.

No,
Kate said silently.
I'm lusting after my best friend when I have no right to. Oh God, what is wrong with me?
She cleared her throat. "Yes."

Chapter 10

Kate did not see Nathan over the next several days. She needed time to think about what happened when she was dancing with him at the fundraiser. Why did his touch and the closeness of his body affect her so much? Moreover, why did she have the sudden urge to kiss him? These were the questions she was asking herself as she sat on the sofa in the living room and watched as the rain beat against the windowpane.

"I love the rain," Jill said, taking a seat beside Kate.

"So do I." Kate looked at Jill. "I didn't hear the doorbell."

"I didn't ring it," Jill said. "I was walking up the steps when the door opened. Does William hang out by the front door and wait for people to drop by?"

"No," Kate said. "He spends most of his time spying on everyone. Where is Matt? You never bring him with you."

Jill crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. "Matt gets bored easily. When he's bored, he tends to get into things. I don't want him breaking something."

"I don't care," Kate said. "He can break anything he wants."

Jill smiled. "I think not. I want you to come to dinner soon. You can meet Matt then and my husband, Steve."

"I'd like that." Kate turned her attention back to the window. "I'm sorry for Edward's behavior the last time you was here. It was inappropriate the way he-"

"The way he looked at me like, I was a piece of meat, and he was starving," Jill said dryly.

"Yes," Kate said. "I wouldn't have blamed you if you never came back."

"I will always come back, Kate," Jill said. "You need me."

Kate sighed and rubbed her temples. "What I need is for you to tell me why I was lusting after your brother."

Jill raised a shapely eyebrow. "You were lusting after Nathan? Please explain how this came about."

"There was a fundraiser for the hospital three nights ago," Kate said. "Edward was going in his fathers place, so he made me go with him. I ran into Nathan there. He asked me to dance, and-" She broke off hesitant to continue.

"Please continue," Jill asked quietly.

"I don't know what was wrong with me," Kate said softly. "We were dancing and Nathan started to caress my back. My pulse began racing- my body tingled. I found myself staring at his mouth, wanting to kiss him. I shouldn't want to kiss another man, let alone Nathan. I'm a married woman."

"What you and Edward have cannot be called a marriage," Jill said. "He's a cold hearted bastard who treats you like garbage."

"That's true," Kate muttered. "Why did Nathan have such an effect on me? I don't understand."

"Have you ever been attracted to Nathan before this?"

Kate thought back over the years and remembered a few times where she felt a spark when she had been near Nathan. "Yes, but it wasn't the same as this." She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I don't want to have these feelings for him. He's my best friend. I don't want to lose our friendship."

"You won't," Jill assured her. "I think I know why you have feelings for Nathan. It's because you can. With Edward you have to suppress your feelings. You have to guard your heart and emotions. With Nathan you're free to let your guard down and feel whatever you want." She smiled. "Also it doesn't help that brother dear is a major hottie."

"He is handsome. Damn him," Kate mumbled. Jill laughed softly. "Even so, he's more than just a handsome face and when I'm with him, I feel safe and happy."

"Do you feel better now that we talked?" Jill asked.

"A little," Kate said. "I just hope I won't start feeling awkward around him. We have always had a comfortable relationship. I don't want that to change."

"Everything will be fine," Jill said.

"No one can ever know about this," Kate said.

"My lips are sealed," Jill said.

"Thank you." Kate laid her head back against the sofa and closed her eyes. "I'm not going to sleep. I'm just resting my eyes."