A Dream to be Loved Kandi Jaynes (11 page)

Kate squared her shoulders and glared at him. "You are the pushiest person I've every met. Why won't you take the hint and leave me alone?"

"Because I enjoy your company. I also know you enjoy mine when you let yourself relax." He leaned toward her again and his voice lowered. "We have something special, Kate, and I'm not willing to give up on it. I don't know exactly what you're afraid of, but I'm willing to stick around as long as it takes for you to get past it." He dropped a quick kiss on her cheek and said, "I'll be back in two hours."

Kate watched as he walked to his car. Slowly she closed the door and leaned against it. What was she going to do? She let out a scream of irritation, then got back to work. It was amazing how much work one could do when they were angry. She nearly scrubbed the pattern off the floor by the time she was done.

Twenty minutes before Drake was due back she took a shower and put on clean clothes. The doorbell rang as she entered the kitchen. She pulled the door open and stepped back for him to enter.

Drake had brought movies and they decided to eat in front of the TV again. After they finished, he covered the pizza and stacked the plates. When he stood, Kate assumed he was going to the kitchen. Instead he scooped her up and flopped her onto the couch. He slid behind her as he had done when he found her sleeping and pulled her back against him. "This is much better than sitting on the floor." Just as before, he took the blanket from the back of the couch and tossed it over of them.

She should be outraged. She should leap off the couch and tell him exactly what she thought of him.

She didn't think that would have the desired affect, however, considering at the moment she thought he was really warm, with strong comforting arms, and a broad solid chest.

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
Her mind screamed. You have got to stop thinking about him like that. Drake pulled her closer and wrapped both arms around her. Kate was tense while she tried to decide whether she should do the safe thing and get up, or take a chance and enjoy being in his arms.

Before she could make up her mind he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Just let me hold you, Kate." He kissed the back of her neck, then rested his head back down on the pillow.

Kate closed her eyes and concentrated on keeping her breathing steady. She really did want to stay where she was. Maybe it would be okay for a little while. Just this once.

When the movie was over, she slid off the couch and went to get another drink. She was standing at the sink when Drake walked up behind her. She turned, looking up at him. His eyes were dark and shadowed. She hadn't bothered to turn on a light when she came in. The only light in the room was from a small nightlight she always left on.

"Do you want another drink?" Her voice was a bit shaky. He was very close, and from the look in his eyes it wasn't a drink he wanted.

"No, I don't. I think we need to talk."

She ran her tongue across her dry lips, regretting it when she noticed how intently he watched the small nervous gesture.

"About what?"

"About us." He raised a finger to her lips when she would have protested. "Yes, there is an us whether you want to admit it or not. I think some things about our relationship need to change."

"Like what?" she asked hesitantly.

"Like kissing for instance. I don't think I should kiss you."

How odd that relief could so easily disguise itself as disappointment.

"Okay," she whispered.

Drake moved a step closer, lowering his voice. "I think instead, we should kiss each other." Moving closer yet, he slipped his hands around her waist.

Kate's hands tightened their grip on the edge of the counter as she leaned back a little farther, "Drake, I don't... I mean, we..."

As Drake started to lean toward her they heard, "Good grief, Kate," from Sue who had just come in. "You'll have to excuse her, Drake. She's normally a very intelligent woman, capable of dealing with highly complicated and technical situations. Unfortunately it's the simple concepts she sometimes has trouble with." Sue stopped directly behind Drake reaching around him to pry Kate's hands from the counter top. "It's like this dear." She pulled Kate's arms up and wound them around Drake's shoulders. "That's much better," she said stepping back. "I came to get my other purse out of my room. I'll just grab it and be out of your way." Sue was down the hall and back in a flash. "You two have fun. I'll see you later."

When she was gone, Drake smiled. "I like your friends."

"Good. You can have that one."

Drake lowered his head and kissed her cheek. Then slowly kissed and nibbled his way to her ear and down the side of her neck. He gently pulled the tie from her hair, letting it spill across her shoulders and down her back. Winding his hand into the thick silky mass, he drew her head back allowing him room to explore the smooth sensitive skin at the base of her neck and under her chin. As he pulled her closer she whimpered softly, breathless and trembling in his arms, her fingers curled tight, each clenching a fistful of his shirt.

Don't kiss him, don't kiss him, don't kiss him.

She tried to concentrate as his lips trailed back toward hers. Then he whispered, "Kiss me, Kate. Don't think about it, don't fight it, just feel what's between us and kiss me." His words were husky and full of raw emotion, weakening Kate's reserve.

Maybe just this once. To see what it would be like to really kiss him. Just this once, just this, just this....

Kate had expected a hard passionate kiss. Instead Drake kissed her softly with such tenderness tears welled up in her eyes. Never before had she reacted to a kiss this way. She hadn't realized a simple physical act could be filled with such strong emotion. Unclenching her fists, she ran her fingers into his hair pulling him closer. The kiss deepened and a low sensual growl escaped him, sending ripples of pleasure spiraling through her body. She pressed against him as the kiss became more intense and demanding. Kate was completely lost to everything but Drake.

When he dragged his lips from hers, they were both shaking and gasping for breath. He pulled back slightly to look at her, then gently wiped away the tear that had spilled down her cheek. "Are you okay?"

"I think so." Her smile was uncertain and her words strained. "That was just... I wasn't expecting..."

Drake pulled her close. Settling her head on his shoulder, he whispered, "I know, I think it took us both by surprise."

*****

Drake was trembling as well, his emotions threatening to engulf him completely. He couldn't remember ever wanting to tell a woman he loved her before, but now, he was struggling to keep from it. He fought against it knowing she wasn't ready to hear it yet, but he would tell her soon.

Chapter Seven

Kate lay face down with her head under her pillow the next morning trying to block out memories. She had tossed and turned most of the night not being able to get Drake out of her head long enough to sleep. When she had drifted off, she dreamed about him. She never would have guessed a person with so little actual experience at something could dream in such graphic detail. Why was her subconscious torturing her this way? And why was her body so eager to help?

Drake had left shortly after kissing her the night before. He had held her for a few minutes, then gave her a soft goodnight kiss, bid her sweet dreams and left. "Sweet dreams, yeah right," she mumbled from under her pillow. Deciding she needed to get up and find something to take her mind off the man, she rolled out of bed.

It was shortly after ten when Kate came dragging into the kitchen. "You sure have taken to sleeping late on the weekends," Missy said.

"Even as late as it is, she looks like she could use a few more hours sleep," Sue added. "You look terrible. Long night?" she asked with a grin.

"Are you okay?" Missy asked. "You do look a little stressed."

"I'm fine, I just need some tea."

"So how did things go after I left last night?" Sue asked.

Kate turned and looked at the other two at the table. "Either of you want any tea?"

"I'd like some," said Kelsie. Missy shook her head no.

Kate went about her business.

"Well?" Sue said. "Are you going to tell us what happened?"

Kate looked at Missy and then Kelsie as she set a cup of tea in front of her. "I'm hungry, you didn't happen to bring anything for breakfast, did you?"

"Muffins," Kelsie answered, "They're beside the refrigerator."

"That sounds great." Kate grabbed the bag and her tea on the way to the table.

"Well?" Sue demanded, louder this time.

Kate looked at Missy. "I'll warn you now I'm not speaking to her. That way you can decide if you want to stay or not. We all know how obnoxious she can be when she's ignored.

Sue let out an exasperated breath. "Oh, come on. I was just helping you out."

Kate looked at Kelsie. "These muffins are really good. Did you make them or get them from that new bakery in town?"

They discussed the muffins, the new bakery, two other new stores that had just opened, and a few other things. Missy finally broke in, and said, "We came over to see if you had any plans for today. Your birthday is next Saturday, and we've decided what we want to do."

For as long as they had been friends, birthdays had always been treated special between them. They didn't try to do it bigger and better every year, simply different than what had been done before. They had made a vow as teens no matter what the rest of their lives were like to never get stuck in a rut when it came to celebrating birthdays.

To help keep that from happening it was also the tradition the three who weren't having the birthday got to choose the activity. That kept it interesting.

Kate couldn't believe she had actually forgotten it was time for her birthday. She took a deep breath. "So what's it going to be this year?"

"Something you would never come up with on your own," Kelsie smiled.

Missy continued, "We are going to go shopping and buy new evening wear so next weekend we can all go to that fancy new restaurant in Fort Wayne."

Kate nearly choked on her tea. "Evening wear? I hope you're talking about flannel pajamas for a restaurant hosting a theme party."

Kelsie laughed. "Of course not. It won't hurt you to dress up once in your life."

"I have dressed up. I have a dress in my closet."

"Yes, but it's as old as your car and would probably crumble from dry rot if you tried to take it off the hanger."

Kate gaped at her. Kelsie rarely spoke to anyone like that. She was always the quiet one. Surprisingly, she was the one Kate usually went to when she had a serious problem. Most people had the impression she was closest to Sue. In reality, her and Sue had lots of fun together and were good friends, but their basic values varied drastically when it came to personal issues.

"It's our decision," said Missy, "This is what we've decided. We can shop tomorrow or later in the week if you have plans today, but we are going."

Kate sighed, resigning herself to the fact it was going to happen. "I don't have any plans so we might as well go get this over with." She stood up and took her cup to the sink. "I'll go get dressed."

Kate arrived home five hours later loaded down with packages. Tossing them all on her bed, she couldn't believe she had bought so many clothes today. It wasn't the money that bothered her, she could afford it. What amazed her was she had just bought more clothes in one trip than she would normally buy in a two year span. She didn't shop often. Her friends teased her about being a penny pincher sometimes, but it wasn't like that. She simply didn't need much. After her bills were paid and she pocketed some cash to put gas in her car and the vending machines at work, everything else went into the bank. She didn't have a vast amount left over each week but it had added up over the past few years.

Her job was not conducive to an expensive wardrobe considering she came home stained with oil and machine coolant most days. So why did many of these bags contain sweaters, blouses, and pants that were not standard denim? Not to mention that slinky little black thing the girls made her buy. She groaned and flopped down on the bed. If they thought she was wearing it, and that contraption that went under it, out in public they had another thing coming.

Kate couldn't help but grin thinking about what the guys at work would say if they saw her in a slinky black dress. They would probably never stop laughing at her. She started to wonder what Drake would think about it, but slammed that thought shut before it could fully form. She wouldn't find it funny if Drake thought she looked silly in it. "It's not like he'll ever get the chance to see you in it anyway," she said out loud.

She hopped off the bed and dug through the packages. Deciding it was silly to have bought so many clothes she probably would never wear. She picked out a few pieces she especially liked and bagged the rest to take back Monday.

The dress she would like to take back, but knew according to birthday law she would have to wear it Saturday night. She hung it in the closet, then opened the little bag that came with it. Slowly she pulled the black silk teddy out and looked at it. "What were you thinking?" She groaned as she slid her fingers down garter straps that were attached and wrinkled her nose. "Like I would even know how to get into something like this."

Running a hand across the silk she had to admit it felt nice but wasn't sure she would feel comfortable having it on. It just wasn't the kind of thing she ever wore. "It's not like they'll know if I have it on or not." The deal had been they all bought new sexy dresses and matching underclothes with garters and silk stockings. Sue had gone for an outrageous sheer lace bustier with matching garter all the same dark red as her dress. Missy had chosen a jade dress with matching bra, panty, and garter set. Kelsie like herself had gone simple and black. "Everybody needs a little black dress," she said, repeating what Kelsie had told her.