This was his chance.
I think our next step is to get to know each other. I'd like to come to Baltimore to see you, if you'd agree to that. And I'd like you to come up here for Thanksgiving break, spend some time getting to know where you come from. Other than that, I suppose we'll figure it out as we go along. How does that sound?
Sounds good, Aidan said, his voice lighter. I'd be up for that.
They talked for about an hour more, mostly about lacrosse, biochemistry, and a beautiful and brilliant girl named Rachel, whom Aidan had met in freshman physics class. Riley said good-bye to his son with a promise to talk again the next day.
Riley had just taken a long sip from his now lukewarm beer and settled back into the rocking chair when Loretta started up again. Whisshhht, he hissed at her, but her rumble of complaint began to gain momentum. It grew louder as it moved up from her big barrel chest into her throat.
Then she tipped her snout into the air and howled outright.
I said stop it. Riley was just about to put her inside when he realized why the dog was howling. Loretta's keen sense of hearing had detected the car coming long before it made the corner. Riley got to his feet. He stared, his mouth opening in disbelief as Carrie's Volvo pulled in the drive.
He felt like tilting his head back and howling, too.
NINE
Just a year ago, Riley would have been checking out Caroline's legs as she sauntered up his walkway. Tonight, he checked for weapons.
Riley stood on the top step, more as a blockade than greeting. He didn't want her on the porch, let alone in the house. I told you to never come back here again.
I thought you meant the office. She flashed him a grin and stopped at the foot of the stairs, looking up at him sweetly.
I was just heading out, Riley lied.
Carrie's eyes flickered toward the half-empty beer in his hand, and her tolerant smile revealed that she knew better. I just need a minute of your time.
Then we'll talk while I walk you to your car.
He took a sip from his beer and stepped down to the sidewalk, walking right past Carrie and catching a whiff of her perfume. She'd worn the same scent since their first year of med school, and when he was in love with her, he had associated that scent with joy. Nowadays it just reminded him of the nauseating cocktail of formaldehyde-phenol that had hovered over them as they dissected their anatomy lab cadaver, proving that love could not only make you blind, but it could fuck with your olfactory system, too.
Could you put that dog away, please?
Riley smiled to himself. He knew Carrie hated Loretta. It was mutual.
You won't be staying. He pulled open the driver door of Carrie's sedan and gestured for her to get behind the wheel. Drive safely.
Carrie's hand covered his. Please, Riley.
He yanked his hand away.
How did this happen to us? We belong together.
Riley turned and walked toward the house.
You are cruel! she screamed after him. You let a rumor completely destroy everything we'd planned! You went chasing after a baby that doesn't even exist! How could you do that to me?
Riley made it to the porch, Loretta at his heels. I'm calling the police.
Why couldn't you give us another chance, Riley? Why? Carrie ran up the sidewalk, falling onto her hands on the porch steps, where she began to wail. Loretta joined in. Even though you basically left me at the altar, I was here waiting for you when you got back! But you just pushed me away! I love you! Why can't you understand that? Shut that dog /up/!
Riley retrieved the cordless phone and began to dial, knowing that even if he did call the police, no one on the other end would be able to hear anything because of the surround-sound howling.
Carrie screeched louder than the dog, Riley! Look at me! I insist you look at me when I'm talking!
Whssht! Loretta strolled over to Riley at the command and sat at his feet in silence. The day I canceled the wedding to go look for Aidan was the best damn day of my life.
Carrie's face collapsed. The tears stopped instantly. Who is Aidan?
My son.
You found him?
We found each other. Through Kat.
Carrie straightened up, dusting off her suit. So that's why she came to town? To tell you about your son?
The police should be on their way, Riley said.
She's just trying to ruin my life, don't you see?
The pleasant lilt of her voice made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He almost wished he'd actually made that call to the police. What in the hell are you talking about, Carrie?
That Cavanaugh girl. Carrie ran a hand through her hair and smiled.
She's just trying to keep you from me.
Riley rubbed his jaw. Few things about the human condition surprised him anymore, but from a clinical perspective, Carrie's complete disconnect with reality was as fascinating as it was creepy.
Well, Carrie, here's the thing…
Yes? Her eyes brightened.
Kat is back in my life and Aidan is very much my son. That's where my attention is. Not you.
Her smile vanished. She began to slowly back away, retreating toward her car. Just before she ducked inside and drove away, she said, You will live to regret this.
Not likely.
Loretta let out a howl of good riddance.
He was hard as rock, but his flesh tasted sweet, tender, and as melt-in-your-mouth warm as freshly baked bread slathered in butter. Kat was operating on nothing but instinct, driven on by his wordless responses. When she flicked at the underside of his cock with her tongue, he shuddered. That probably meant he liked it. She nibbled along the length of him, cradling his flesh in her teeth while she looked up at his awestruck face. That move must have been a winner, too. When she accepted the swollen head into her mouth and sucked, his cock tasted salty and strong, and his hands went to the sides of her face, gently pushing her away.
Baby, stop. Please. I'm going to come.
That's OK, she said, truly meaning it. She was fascinated. She couldn't believe her little mouth held such power over his strong body. She wondered whether all girls had this talent, or if her gift was special.
Either way, it amazed her that she'd already brought him to the point where he was panting and his eyes became so focused he looked angry.
But he wasn't angryjust serious. He tried to smile as he moved his hands to her hair and stroked, his groans becoming more desperate. Kat wasn't certain, but she didn't think he could maintain this excitement too much longer before he She jolted awake. The air felt strangely hot and humid, heavy with the smell of the ocean. Wherever she was, she was a world away from Persuasion's quarry road and the very first time she'd tasted Riley.
Kat tentatively opened one eye and found herself peering over the edge of a pair of dark sunglasses, only to be struck by light so bright it was painful.
Would you like me to freshen your drink?
Kat lolled her head to the left and encountered the smiling face of a blond guy she thought might be named Jeff. For some reason, she thought he might sell air conditioners for a living. Why would she think that?
Why would she know his name? Her head hurt.
Then it all started to come back to her.
After a restless week in Baltimore, she and Nola had taken a last-minute vacation to the Cayman Islands. They'd flown first class, of course, and checked into a suite at a posh resort. And the night beforetheir first night on the islandthey'd met four Connecticut businessmen at the resort disco. Kat vaguely recalled that Jeff over there, if that was in fact his name, was one of them.
Her body suddenly tightened in panic, her brain racing from one question to the next without pause: Why was this guy sitting next to her, sharing the same beach umbrella? Where was Nola? What had happened last night?
Why was she dreaming of sex with Riley? Could she possibly have…
Did this guy…? /No!/ Without showing any of her anxiety, Kat used a fingertip to nudge the sunglasses down her nose, taking in Jeff's pleasant expression and his equally pleasant physique. She felt relief wash over her. The answer was noof course she hadn't. She remembered now. She and Nola had made it back to their suite, quite late and pretty damn giggly, but without any men from Connecticut, the Cayman Islands, or anyplace else.
Jeff gave Kat a friendly smile and pointed to her half-empty cocktail glass. You know what they say about the hair of the dog and all that.
Kat sat up in the cushioned chaise lounge, not wishing to appear to be lounging alongside Jeff. She quickly scanned the beach, and found Nola several umbrellas away, holding court with Jeff's coworkers.
Are you staying with Mojitos today? Or did you switch to Alka-Seltzer?
Kat ignored the guy's self-satisfied chuckle, glad that at least one of them thought he was funny. The tall, narrow bar glass on the table was sweating on the outside and its contents looked non-descript, but with a little effort, Kat remembered her cocktail of choice: two Excedrin with a ginger ale chaser.
Thank you for the offer, she said to Jeff in the most pleasant voice she could muster. But I'd prefer to pay for my drinks myself.
He laughed again. You already have, cuteness. This is an all-inclusive resort.
Right. I knew that. Kat wished this guy would get the hint. How rude did she have to be? She'd spent the last twenty minutes or so drooling on herself and dreaming about sex with the only man she'd ever wanted, who was about to marry someone else. She wasn't exactly encouraging Jeff's attention.
Besides, I'm really enjoying your company, he added.
Behind the dark lenses, Kat rolled her eyes. I've been asleep. I have a wicked hangover. You must be easily entertained.
He chuckled again. Not particularly, but I think I'd enjoy watching you do pretty much anything.
Kat turned away, not sure if the sudden desire to heave was because of last night's Mojitos or Mr. Jeff. This guy was trying so hard that even if she were interestedwhich she wasn'this approach would have made her run.
She stared hard at Nola in an attempt to will her to turn around and get back here to their umbrella. No such luck. Nola was enjoying herself, and whatever tale she was spinning had the men enthralled. Then again, maybe their interest was in Nola's little red bikini and not her storytelling.
You know, Kathy, you dodged all my questions last night. Jeff had turned on his left side so that he could gaze at her. He also managed to provide Kat with a full frontal view of himself. How thoughtful of him.
It's Kat. And trust me when I say that you'd not like my answers.
He laughed again. Jeff sure was a cheerful guy. I think I may have mentioned that I'm an engineer. We're down here bidding on a new resort construction project.
Mmm, she said.
I design commercial ventilation systems. My specialty is airborne contaminants.
Really? How interesting.
Kat let her head fall back on the cushion, trying to figure out when she could safely take another dose of Excedrin as Jeff droned on about air volume and something called duct velocity, a term that struck her as unbelievably funny. Maybe she was still tipsy.
She sighed and folded her hands in her lap. It had been seven days since she'd returned from Persuasion and nearly that long since Aidan had spoken to her. She'd kept busy, of course. She'd accepted a bid for gutting the kitchen and bathrooms of Phyllis' row house and hoped to have it in move-in condition by the New Year. Also, she'd officially resigned her job at the florist, and though her boss was sad to see her go, she said she'd known it was coming. If someone left me money, I'd run out the front door like the joint was on fire, she'd said.
Kat gazed out at the shocking blue of the ocean and smiled to herself at the irony. Here she wasrich, single, and not burdened by the need to work for a living. Her child was grown and in college. She could do anything she wanted to do and go anywhere she wanted to go. She could start her own business or go back to school and major in any damn thing she felt like. She could live anywhere she wished. She could see the world, and, in fact, had already seen New York City and Grand Cayman Island.
So why did she feel so empty? Why did the prospect of any of those grand life adventures feel like a dreaded chore?
Riley was marrying somebody else, that's why.
And you? What do you do? Are you married? Seeing anyone?
Kat realized that Jeff had stopped talking about ducts and had moved on to her personal life. With a sudden jolt of inspiration, she looked him square in the eye.
I should probably warn you that I'm on a truth kick, she said. I've gone through some big changes lately, and I've decided that the only way to live from here on out is to tell the truth, no matter what. So you might want to take your towel and escape while you can.
Jeff tipped his head in interest. How's that approach working out for you?
Kat laughed. It's a long story.
I got time. Our pre sen ta tion isn't until tomorrow.
Kat saw genuine interest on the man's face, but she shook her head. I don't think so.
Why don't you start at the beginning? That's usually a good place. Then you can just build on that.
Kat frowned. You mean, like, with my childhood?
Sure.
You have no idea what you're getting into.
Jeff shrugged. Take me for an example. I was one of three kids, born and raised in Vermont. My dad was a middle school principal and my mom ran a day-care center. I went to Yale on scholarship and got my degree in engineering. I'm thirty-two. Never been married.
Wow, Kat said. I must have missed that sign-up sheet.
And you?
Kat reached for her watered-down ginger ale and drank every warm, fizzless drop that remained. I was born in a West Virginia coal-mining town, she said.