“
I asked her those
questions. She had a mild cycle throughout and instead of feeling
the baby kicking, she thought it was gas. She said she’d always had
stomach issues, so it didn’t occur to her that it could be anything
else.”
Katie was so engrossed with the
mysterious stranger, she hadn’t realized they had walked past her
cottage. “I better get back and check on my grandmother. It was
nice talking to you, Aidan.”
“
You, too,
Katie.”
Surprised by how it felt to hear her
name roll off of his tongue, she swirled the sand around with her
toe before looking back up. “I see my Gram up ahead. Would you like
to meet her?”
“
I would.”
Katie greeted Gram and introduced her
to Aidan. “We met on the pier. He was taking pictures and we bumped
into each other. He’s a surgeon at Outer Banks
Hospital.”
“
Hello, Aidan. My Katie’s
a nurse, a very good one. Did you tell him that, dear?”
Katie smiled. “I did. Anyway, he’s on
his way home. I just wanted to introduce you.”
“
Why don’t you join us for
dinner? I insist.” She looked at Katie, urging her to
agree.
Katie immediately saw the plan
unfolding and wanted to object, but it wasn’t Aidan’s fault and she
wouldn’t embarrass him just to satisfy her need to foil Gram’s
scheme. “Of course. You should join us.”
Surprisingly, dinner was more than
tolerable, Katie actually enjoyed it. Gram wasn’t too pushy as they
dined on the back deck, watching the sun sink deep into the sea.
Conversation flowed as easily as the wine and Katie felt relaxed
and comfortable. Aidan stood to leave at eleven-thirty, thanking
Gram for dinner. “I should be getting home. I can’t believe how
late it is, I hope I haven’t overstayed my welcome.”
“
We enjoyed your company.”
Katie said shyly. It was true, and she hadn’t had to hug herself to
stifle the raging ache inside of her all day. She walked him to the
front door. “Do you have far to go? I can drive you.”
“
I’m just a few blocks
down, but thank you.” He looked into her eyes and held her gaze for
a moment. “I’d like to see you again. Are you free
tomorrow?”
Katie knew it wasn’t fair to lead him
on. She wasn’t ready for any kind of relationship, and wouldn’t be
for a long time. She had never loved anyone as deeply as she loved
Branson, and if her heart ever healed—although she doubted it
would—it would take a significant amount of time. On the other
hand, she was tired of the constant pain that consumed her and
diminished her quality of life. Aidan was the take-charge
kind-of-guy that she craved right now. Although she was still in
hurting, he brought air back into her lungs, and blood back into
her veins.
“
I might be,” she said,
regretting the flirtatious tone in her voice. “What’ve you got in
mind?”
Aidan held her gaze for a
moment before answering.
Be careful how
you look at me sweetheart, you’re putting some wicked thoughts in
my mind.
“Lunch and a tour of the
lighthouse.”
“
Sounds fun.”
“
I’ll pick you up at noon.
Goodnight, Katie.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek before
turning to walk away.
“
Goodnight.” She closed
the door and exhaled the breath she had been holding. Not able to
contain the smile that spread across her lips, she slipped into her
bedroom and got in the shower to avoid Gram’s knowing
look.
***
The musky, warm aroma of
the sea was invigorating as Katie sipped her coffee and watched the
day begin. She observed a sand crab climb over a dune into a hole,
while a thin older man in navy swim trunks and a white hat fished
along the shoreline. As she sat there, her thoughts drifted to
Aidan.
He’s very attractive, and he’s a
doctor.
She reflexively shook her
head.
Put those thoughts out of your
mind.
And then her mind roamed into the
danger zone . . .
Branson.
She thought about the way
his lips tasted and how his hands felt on her body. She felt tears
sting her eyes and the familiar pain begin to wrench her body into
fetal position.
No!
She scolded herself.
Get
up!
Katie stood in the shower, letting the
hot water wash her sorrows down the drain. She blow dried her hair
and slipped on a pale yellow sundress. Aidan was waiting in the
living room with Gram when she came out of the bedroom. “Hi. Have
you been waiting long?”
“
No, I just sat down.
Ready?”
“
Yes. Will you be okay,
Gram?”
“
Just fine. I’m going to
relax and enjoy the sun. Have fun.”
Aidan held the passenger door of his
charcoal gray BMW Roadster open for Katie as she slid in, then
jogged around to the driver’s side. Katie’s heart raced with
exhilaration as they sped down the empty road in the sleek car.
They ate lunch at a quaint restaurant with fresh seafood offerings,
and lingered over dessert, talking about medical school, life in
Maine versus life on the Outer Banks, and family.
“
Tell me about your
family, Aidan, and where are you from originally?”
“
I was born in Argentina,
but we moved to Georgia when I was thirteen. My parents divorced
shortly afterward. I have a younger brother who’s studying marine
biology at Duke, he graduates next spring. My mother remarried and
moved to Raleigh, and my father lives with his girlfriend in
Georgia with no plans to ever marry again.” He rolled his eyes. “My
family is like a soap opera.”
“
Argentina? How exciting.
What was your favorite dish growing up?”
“
My mother used to make
the best ham and cheese empanadas, and she was well-known for her
Dulce de Leche, but my favorite dessert was the chocolate gelato
from this little shop about two blocks from our house.” Aidan
smiled, remembering the taste. “What about you? Tell me about your
family, and let me guess . . . your favorite childhood food was
noodles and cheese, and for dessert you would have . . .” He
thought for a moment as he looked into her green eyes. Little
flecks of gold were visible just around the pupil. “. . . A
chocolate sundae.”
Katie thought back to her time with
her parents. Chocolate sundaes never touched her lips as a child,
and the only food memory she had was a can of Spaghetti O’s. She
knew she couldn’t reveal any of that to Aidan, she would never talk
of her past with anyone again.
“
You’re way off—I’m a
vanilla girl!” Katie smirked.
“
I doubt that.” He lowered
his eyes and smirked. “If I’m wrong, it’s time you try something
more exciting.”
If he was trying to make her blush, he
was doing a marvelous job. Katie swirled her spoon through the
creamy panna cotta before looking back up. “I’m always game for
trying new things.”
“
I’ll have to remember
that. Was I right about the noodles and cheese?”
Katie laughed. “You mean
Mac and Cheese? I liked it okay, but my favorite is seafood. And my
choice dessert would be
Crème
brûlée.
”
“Tell me about your
family.”
Tread carefully,
Katie,
she thought before answering. “My
parents died when I was young, so it’s just been me and Gram. We’ve
had a lot of fun together through the years, and I wouldn’t change
a thing, except maybe a sister.” She flinched as soon as the words
came out of here mouth and she wondered if he noticed. To cover,
she feigned the need to sneeze. Lying about her past was the plan,
adding the idea of a sister was pushing too far. Now she had to
hide the memories from her expression and continue. “I always
thought it would be fun to share clothes and secrets.” Katie kept
the details to herself. She watched his face while she talked,
judging by the few gray streaks running through his black hair, she
noticed he was older. She spotted another tattoo on his wrist,
making him seem more like a rebel than a surgeon. “What do you like
to do for fun?”
“
First of all, siblings
aren’t as glamorous as they sound. You most likely would’ve fought
over clothes and
told
each other’s secrets. Or like my brother and me—held them
over each other’s heads for blackmail.” He took a sip of water and
set it down. “As for your question, I enjoy running, weight
lifting, and golf. How about you?”
“
I play tennis and like to
run—well, jogging is more my pace.”
Aidan paid the bill and they left,
heading toward the lighthouse. After parking, they walked along the
sand covered path toward the tall black and white striped
lighthouse, entering through a door at the bottom. They stepped in,
waited for a family of four to get some headway in front of them,
and began their ascent on a red metal, spiral staircase. Two
hundred and sixty-eight steps later, they were leaning against the
railing at the top of the lighthouse, looking out across the
magnificent sea.
“
It’s a bit chilly up
here.” Katie rubbed her hands up and down on her arms as the wind
whipped her hair around and chilled her skin.
Aidan wasn’t sure if it was too soon
to touch her, but he couldn’t just stand there watching her freeze.
He came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her, trying to
relieve her shivering body. He felt Katie flinch beneath him, but
she didn’t pull away.
They stayed against the rail, watching
the sea tempt two young kids on boogie boards, a flock of seagulls
searching for food, and a kite surfer sailing through the water
with the help of a strong wind. After about twenty minutes, Katie
was ready to go. She turned around, thinking Aidan would
instinctively back away, but he didn’t. She found herself much too
close to his face and didn’t know how to get out of his
hold.
She bit down on her bottom lip, trying
to think about her next move, but it was too late. He leaned in and
pressed his lips to hers. Electricity shot through her and traveled
to each nerve ending. Her hands instinctively slid up over his
chest and wrapped around his neck. As their tongues mingled, all
sound and movement around them stilled, as if they were the only
ones at the top of the lighthouse. She felt him moan into her mouth
and she pulled away.
“
I—I’m sorry.” She slid
out from under his arms and made her way to the bottom of the
lighthouse.
“
Katie, wait!” Aidan was
right behind her and caught up with her in the parking lot. “I’m
sorry, I know you’re grieving and it’s too soon. I shouldn’t have
kissed you.”
“
You know? How do you
know?” Katie looked at him quizzically while she caught her
breath.
“
Your grandmother told me
you had just lost someone and were still grieving.”
“
I don’t know if grieving
is the right word. I’m angry, I’m hurt, and I’m just . . . lost. I
don’t want to use you as a rebound. I thought we could just be
friends, and then you went and kissed me, and I—”
“
Rebound? That’s an odd
way of putting it. Was it your boyfriend that died?”
“
Died? Is that what Gram
told you?” Katie shook her head in disbelief. “That sounds like
something Gram would do. I’m sorry, Aidan. It looks like you got
caught in one of my grandmother’s schemes.”
“
Please, explain to me
what’s going on.” He was growing wary of the illogical talk of
schemes.
“
My boyfriend didn’t die.
He was my fiancé, and he’s very much alive. I’m sure Gram thought
it would be in my best interest to move on and meet someone new,
but I—I’m sorry you’ve wasted your time. I’m sure a handsome guy
like you won’t have any trouble getting attention elsewhere. Would
you please take me home?”
“
Give me a minute, I’m
still savoring the
handsome guy
remark.”
Katie laughed. “I just told you that
you’ve been set up and you would rather focus on a
compliment?”
Aidan nodded his head. “Look, I don’t
like to be lied to, but I can’t be too angry with the outcome. I’ve
met a beautiful woman, who loves the same things I do, and I have
to tell you, hanging out with you has proven to be more stimulating
than time spent with Harold and Maude.”
“
Harold and Maude?” Katie
looked at him quizzically.
Aidan chuckled, “My fish. They’re good
listeners, but terrible conversationalists.”
Katie could feel it—her body began to
relax and released a small amount of the dark toxin choking the
life out of her.
Aidan opened the car door
and shut it gently after Katie slid inside. She watched him walk in
front of the car, around to the driver’s side. He was good looking
and good-natured
. There’s no harm in
spending time with him now that he knows the truth.
“
Is there any chance of
reconciliation with your fiancé?” he asked before starting the
engine.
Katie lowered her head and felt the
brief spark of life being sucked out of her. “No.”
“
Okay then, today begins a
new chapter for you. It’s my mission to make you laugh until you
ache.” He grinned and pulled out of the lot.