I Hear...Love (A Different Road #2) (12 page)

“I think a judge will see differently,” I tell him.

I’m calling in sick tomorrow, and I’m hiring myself an attorney to remove his conservatorship. This has gone on long enough.

“If you think you have a shot at that, go right ahead. But until then, you heard what I said,” he replies, turns around, and walks back into the house.

I grab my hair in my fists at my neck and pull. God, why is he doing this? Sadie comes to my side and whines. I loosen my grip, look up at the stars, and let my hands fall to my side.

“Come on, let’s go inside,” I tell Sadie.

I wash my face and get ready for bed. Sadie never leaves my side. I flip on the television, then get into bed. Sadie jumps up and lays down with a disgruntled sigh at my side. I grab my headphones and place them over my ears, then sink down into bed. My thoughts run wild as I lay there.

I haven’t been happy since I started working at Mason Group. It can’t be good for my state of mind, right? I do love yoga, and I love teaching it to Joss and Nina. I’m really good at it. How can I turn that into a business, though? I don’t have any money saved to invest in opening up my own yoga studio. I’d have to sell my third of Mason Group to come up with that kind of cash.

I could never do that. I’d never want to let my dad down like that. I know how much Mason Group meant to him.

Sadie snuggles closer to my side and I close my eyes. Soon, I’m fast asleep.

The next morning, I wake up, grab my yoga mat and head out to the deck to get in a good session. Sadie follows me and sits next to my mat, while I move my body and free my mind. I place my palms flat down in front of me with my feet hips length apart and press my ass to the sky in a downward dog position. As I stretch further down, I look to my right. I see Sadie with her rump in the air, and her paws and head down in front of her in her own version of a downward dog.

I can’t help it, I tip over and start laughing uncontrollably. I roll over on my back, grab my stomach and laugh, as Sadie licks me in my face.

River opens the door to his house and steps outside.

“What’s going on?” he asks, sternly.

I put my finger over my lips to Sadie, like she can understand what I’m saying and wrap my arms around her middle.

“I’m just doing yoga,” I tell him.

“I expect you at the breakfast table this morning,” he says.

God, he’s so bossy. He hasn’t behaved like this since before he met Joss.

“I can be there for breakfast, but I’m not going to the office today. I’m taking a personal day,” I tell him.

He growls low in his throat, then goes back inside and closes the door.

I go back into the pool house and take a shower. I slip on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, then grab Sadie’s leash.

“Come on girl, let’s get you home so you can eat,” I tell her.

I walk the two houses over to Cooper’s and knock on the back door. He opens the door with a smile on his face and motions with his hand for me to come inside. He’s wearing dress pants and a dress shirt that’s undone at the collar. His fresh out of the shower scent smells incredible.

I go to the cupboard and take a giant scoop of dog food, then place it in Sadie’s bowl on the floor.

I look at the counter and see two coffee cups, and a bottle of coffee cream, sitting next to a full pot of brewed coffee, and I smile. He got coffee cream, just for me. That was really sweet of him to think of me and get coffee cream for his house, even though he doesn’t use it himself.

“Is it casual day at work?” he asks, looking me up and down from head to toe.

The way his eyes travel over my body sends a heat wave of tingles down my spine. He takes extra time staring at my bare legs.

“No, I’m taking a personal day. I have some legal things I need to take care of,” I say, pouring coffee cream into my cup.

I bring the coffee to my lips and take a sip. Cooper picks up his coffee and takes his own sip, then places it back on the counter.

“Is that something that’s going to take all day?” he asks.

“No, I’m hoping to get an early appointment this morning,” I tell him.

“I can play hooky today. What do you say about taking a drive up the coast after your appointment?” he asks.

“Really? You’d do that for me? Play hooky?” I ask.

“Sure. Why not? It’ll be fun,” he answers.

“Alright. I’m having breakfast with the family, then I’ll make some calls. I’ll come back over when I’m done with the attorney.”

“I’ll be here,” he replies.

I finish my coffee and set my empty cup in the sink. I pat Sadie on the head, then head back to River’s.

I go straight inside his house and take my seat at the table. Again, everyone silently eyes me and behaves strange, and River never says a word to me.

I go back to the pool house and set up an appointment with an attorney in just an hour’s time. I feel really good about this decision. Now to just figure out what to do about my job.

I email my boss and tell him I’m taking the day off. I change out of my work clothes, and put on a t-shirt and a pair of cargo shorts. I start a load of laundry, then log in to work on my laptop. I check my messages and reply to the urgent ones from clients. I clean the kitchen, organize paperwork on my counter, then put the wash into the dryer.

I flip on the radio and crank it up. Sadie prances around me as I dance through the family room. I grab her front paws and place them on my chest, then start to dance with her. With each step, Sadie moves with me.

“You’re a really good dance partner,” I tell her over the music.

Then I hear laughing. I turn my head and see Kate standing in the family room with her hand over her mouth. I set Sadie down, then walk over to the radio and turn it down.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to just walk in. I knocked, but I don’t think you heard me over the music,” she says, pointing to the back door, still giggling.

I smile at her, thinking she has a beautiful giggle. Her entire face is lit up and she looks sexy as hell in those shorts with her tone, long, lean legs. I walk back over to the radio and turn it back up, then slowly slide my feet on the floor until I’m standing in front of her. She giggles again and I take her hand in a classic dance stance. Her other arm snakes around my back, then I dance her around the room. I twirl her around in circles and she raises her head to the ceiling smiling. Sadie barks every time we make a full circle around the room. I stop as the music winds down, and she lowers her head and looks at me with that gorgeous smile. She looks carefree and happy in the moment.

Her mask is slipping.

Slowly, I tip her backward in a dip. She raises her hand over her head and points her finger in the picture perfect pose.

Sadie walks up behind her, while she’s still at her eye level, and licks her on the nose.

“Ahh,” she shouts and stands back up, laughing.

“Where did you learn to dance like that?” she asks.

“Don’t laugh,” I say, still holding her in a dance hold. “My mom made my sister and I take dance lessons together when we were teenagers. She said I needed classical dance lessons so I, at least, knew how to dance with a girl at school dances and at my wedding one day. She used to make us practice together in the family room after dinner.”

She laughs and covers her mouth with her hand. I pull her hand away so I can see her full, bright smile. Her face goes serious as she sees me looking at her. I mean, really looking at her. Her lips close and her eyes search mine.

I close the distance and place my lips on hers. At first, she softly kisses me back, then her hand comes to my neck and trails up my jaw to my cheek. I touch my tongue to her lips and they part. I pull her closer and deepen the kiss. After a few minutes, I start to feel her nervousness building through her lips, so I end the kiss. I back away slightly, then place a soft kiss on her cheek. There was a definite reason to be jealous of my dog kissing Kate. It was magnetic and perfect.

“Ready for that drive?” I ask.

“Yes,” she replies with a smile.

I take her hand and lead her to the garage door off the kitchen. I pat my other hand on my leg for Sadie, then I open the door.

“Let’s go, Sadie.”

“Sweet car,” she says, as she looks in the garage.

“Thank you,” I reply. “It was my first big purchase, besides the house, when I moved here,” I tell her.

I walk around to the passenger side and open the door to my convertible BMW. Sadie climbs in the back seat and sits dead center, then Kate sits in the passenger seat. I close the door and jog around to the driver side. As I get in, I hit the button to open the garage door, and I can’t help but stare at Kate’s legs in those shorts sitting in my car.

“So, how did the appointment with the lawyer go?” I ask, backing out of the garage.

“It went really well. I’m going to remove River’s conservatorship. She’s going to draw up all the paperwork and petition the court to have it terminated by the end of the week,” she says with a smile.

I feel like I have to ask, because, I hope I didn’t play a part in her making this decision. If having River make all of her decisions for right now is what’s best for her, then that’s what I think should happen.

“You’re sure this is the right time for a big decision like this? I mean, you’re in a good place? Right?” I ask.

She looks at me, smiles, and I can see it in her eyes. I see confidence and strength, and I think she even surprises herself with just how sure she is about this.

“I am,” she replies, twists her hair up into a knot and secures it on top of her head.

She reaches into her purse and takes out a pair of sunglasses, while we head down the street toward the freeway. I put on my sunglasses and take her hand, then rest it on the console in the center between us.

I get on the Pacific Coast Highway and head north. The pressure of her hand in mine increases and I look at her concerned. Sadie leans forward and places her muzzle on Kate’s shoulder, then she relaxes slightly. I wonder what that was all about. We drive for about an hour, then I pull over at a beach that allows dogs.

There’s no one on the beach, so I don’t leash Sadie and let her run free. She happily runs down the beach and chases some seagulls, while I take Kate’s hand and we walk down to the shoreline.

Kate wraps her arms around her waist and tips her head up toward the warm sun with a content smile. I stand behind her, widen my stance, wrap my arms around her, then she leans her head back on my shoulder. I tip my face down, place my lips on the top of her shoulder and rest my head against hers.

“What prompted you to want to remove the conservatorship?” I ask, lifting my lips from her shoulder.

She picks up her head and sighs. That kind of makes me believe I did have some part in this. She pauses a long time and doesn’t answer. This is most likely why River has been extra hard on her lately.

“I just think it’s time,” she finally answers.

I turn her around in my arms and look her in the eyes.

“I didn’t have anything to do with this, did I?” I ask.

She again doesn’t answer and her eyes look away from mine.

“No,” she answers.

It was a lie. I can feel it.

She turns back around in my arms as Sadie walks up to us with a large stick in her mouth. Kate takes the stick and throws it into the water, then Sadie prances into the water to retrieve it.

After twenty minutes, Sadie gets tired and lays down with the stick next to our feet and falls asleep. Kate sits down next to her and starts to pet her soaking wet fur. I sit next to Kate and take her other hand in mine. Sadie falls into a deep sleep and starts to snore loudly. Man, that dog can sleep anywhere.

I take my finger and turn Kate’s face toward mine. I smile at her and she returns it with her own. I close the distance and place my lips on hers. I slowly lay her down on the sand and maneuver myself gently on top of her. I bring my hand up her side and skim my thumb over the side of her breast. She takes in a sigh of pleasure and runs her hand up the back of my shirt.

I slightly lift her shirt with my other hand and trace the top of her shorts with my fingers. Her hand goes in my hair and her tongue in my mouth. Just then a large wave comes in and the warm water quickly creeps up our body to just above her waist.

She lets out a scream, but stays glued to my lips. The water wakes up Sadie, and she quickly gets up and runs for dry ground. She runs back as the water recedes and barks at us to get up. She comes over to us when we don’t get up and noses her way in between our faces. Kate giggles, breaks the kiss, then pets Sadie on the head.

“You ready to head home, girl?” I ask Sadie.

She immediately turns around and starts walking back to the car. I stand up, then extend my hand down to help her up. We walk back to the car hand in hand. I open the trunk with my remote and take out two beach towels, then hand one to Kate.

We dry off, then line the seats with the towels and get in. I again take Kate’s hand and hold it. I bring her fingers to my lips and gently place a long, soft kiss on her salty knuckles. She raises her other hand straight up in the air, and like a roller coaster, she weaves it up and down, and side to side in the wind, as it passes over the car.