Double Take (25 page)

Then he took her arms. Kait found herself on her back, beneath him, on the bed. His mouth took hers, and his chocolate-coated tongue thrust into her mouth. Kait slid her hands beneath his cashmere sweater, over the silken slabs of muscle that formed his back. He lifted her blouse, grasped both her breasts, kissing her almost desperately.

Kait managed to get his sweater off while their lips were locked. She dove for his belt, his fly. His mouth claimed one nipple. As he sucked, she freed him, grasped his fullness in her palm, and sighed.

“We’re going too fast,” he said, coming up for air. He tugged off her cotton pullover, unhooked and pulled off her bra.

“The door’s open,” Kait agreed.

Trev moaned and jumped from the bed, dropping trousers and briefs. As he slammed the door closed, Kait shimmied out of her own jeans and panties in record time. He dove onto the bed before she could remove her socks, and he was smiling as he pinned her flat on her back. “This
notion,
” he murmured, flicking his thumb along her jaw, “has been torturing me all day.”

“Bad, bad choice of words,” Kait whispered, aware of his having spread her thighs impossibly wide—and of his manhood straining against her sex. “Because now you can torture me all night.”

“That,” he said, reaching over her body, “is a very agreeable prospect.” He palmed her.

Kait gasped, as his hand was covered with cold gooey ice cream. He grinned at her. “Oh,” was all she could say.

Still grinning, he lowered his head.

“Damn,” she managed, completely incoherent.

He added more ice cream.

Kait was dressing with extreme care for Parker’s black-tie party. As she surveyed herself in the mirror, she thought that she had got it just right. She had opted for a knee-length dress and sexy silver sandals, but as the dress was by Ungaro, it meant that that ultrafeminine lace-edged floral chiffon floated over her body with breathtaking sensuality. The sheath had an uneven hem that was slit high up on one thigh, lace cascading down one leg, and both shoulder straps were for mere decoration, as they hung down over her shoulders uselessly. Kait had added one of Lana’s necklaces, a pearl choker with a platinum heart clasp, studded with diamonds. She had turned the clasp in front.

She had kept her makeup minimal—a dab of lavender shimmer on her eyes, pink gloss on her lips. She stared at her reflection. She had never looked prettier—she was radiant—and she knew why.

They had made love all night
. And Trev might dare to claim today that it had only been sex, but no man could touch and hold a woman with such tenderness and affection and not truly care. Of course, he had claimed no such thing. Trev had spent most of the day at the barn or in his study, and he’d had a lunch meeting in Three Falls. But the few times she had seen him in passing, he had smiled at her—with his eyes.

He no longer hated her.

Kait knew it. She knew it the way she knew that she had to inhale to breathe. She continued to stare at herself. For the first time in her life, she was as beautiful as her sister, as alluring, as seductive, but there was also no mistaking the worry in her eyes. She was in dangerous waters now. Trev had started to care about her, Kait, yet he thought she was Lana.

And she had fallen in love with him. She could no longer deny it.

Kait shivered, even though it was warm in the bathroom. She wanted a future with this man. She couldn’t imagine not being a part of his life, a part of Fox Hollow. And after the past five days, she couldn’t imagine not being his wife.

How much time did she have left?

It was Saturday night. Lana was due back on Monday. But Kait had left that damn message on her cell phone, begging her to return earlier. Now, Kait prayed that Lana had never gotten it, or that if she had she would ignore it.

Kait knew she was in over her head. Every free moment that she had was spent fantasizing. She would imagine herself explaining to Trev the reason for the switch. She would explain to him who she really was, how different she was from Lana. She would beg him to understand why she had done what she had done—how she had only wanted to protect her sister and have her sister back. That she had fallen in love with Marni at first sight, and from that moment only wanted to keep the child safe and sound. In her mind’s eye and her mind’s ear, every single explanation she made up, every excuse, failed to rationalize all that she had done, sounded absurd and hollow.

She didn’t even bother hoping that Trev might accept her explanation and forgive her for her lies. He would throw her out of Fox Hollow. He would be more than furious. He would hate her more than he had ever hated Lana—Kait was certain of it.

The mere concept of a future without him and Marni and Sam hurt so much.

Kait heard the telephone ring.

She actually jumped.

Her heart raced.

Even though she knew that Lana would not call her at the house, that was how nervous she had become. It stopped ringing—meaning someone had picked it up.

Kait had chosen a velvet patchwork evening bag with long leather fringe for the affair, and with trembling hands she put her gloss and perfume inside. Ill, she reached for her cell phone and took out the battery, then put the dissembled unit in a vanity drawer as if that might delay the inevitable.

Kait worked on her breathing as she went downstairs. Somehow, she had to let go of her anxiety and fear, because these last few hours and days with Trev and his daughters were so precious to her.

Marni was with her father in his study. Already in her grinning panda pj’s, she was earnestly studying a horse magazine. Trev was on the phone, clad in his tuxedo, his profile to Kait. She looked at him and lost her ability to breathe. She lost her ability to move, to think. She could only feel.

He married the wrong twin.

Lana’s words echoed now. God, she was right. Trev had married the wrong sister.

How was she going to live the rest of her life without him?

“Mommy! You’re so pretty!” Marni cried, jumping up and galloping toward her, her long, curly hair still damp from the shower.

Trev had half turned to smile at her. The look in his green eyes made her heart stop. And Kait recalled the fact that she hadn’t yet checked her own calendar to satisfy her curiosity about when she had last seen her sister in New York City and if, just possibly, she had been working on the charity event that she had hoped to hold at Fox Hollow at that time. Now the idea seemed far-fetched, coincidental.

Kait couldn’t quite smile back at him and she bent and hugged Marni. “I’m not half as pretty as you,” she said huskily, wishing that Marni were her own daughter. The moment the terrible thought appeared, she tensed and straightened. Marni was
not
her daughter. She would never be her daughter. She was Lana’s daughter, and after the divorce, Trev would have full custody. Kait no longer objected to that; in fact, he was right. As painful as the idea was, Lana had failed as a mother, and Marni would be better off living with her father.

Besides, if the cops were after her, then Lana had involved herself in something illegal.

The phone clicked as the receiver was laid down. Kait felt her cheeks heat and slowly she turned.

Trev was studying her, a gleam in his eyes.

She warmed beneath his regard. “I’m sorry if I’m running a bit late.”

“We’ll be fashionably late,” he said with a smile and a shrug. His eyes slid over her from head to toe. “That’s some dress. I haven’t seen it before.”

Kait felt herself flush, but now, with pleasure. “I was hoping you would like it,” she said softly. She had raced that afternoon to Neiman Marcus, where she had bought it. For once, she wanted to wear something that didn’t scream Lana. She had wanted to wear something that expressed her personality, that belonged to her, not her sister.

His green gaze locked with hers. And in that moment, she knew exactly what was on his mind, and she wondered why they didn’t simply skip the party. “I’d like to take it right off,” he said in a sexy murmur.

Kait heated, about to suggest they go upstairs, when she realized that Marni was standing right there beside her.

“But Daddy, the dress is soo pretty! Don’t take it off,” Marni cried in some alarm. “Mommy looks like a fairy princess!”

Trev flushed. “You’re right, darling. Mommy looks exactly like a fairy princess. Daddy’s mistake. Men can be such fools.” He smiled at his daughter—but then he sent Kait such a potent look that her knees almost buckled.

How was she going to do this? How was she going to leave him and his daughters?

If only Lana wouldn’t come back!

He swooped down on his daughter, lifting her into his arms, hugging and kissing her. “I’ll come up to say good night when I get home, but I won’t wake you up. We may be late.”

Marni frowned, tugging at the wisp of sunstreaked hair that fell over one cheekbone. “Don’t be late, Daddy.”

“Why not?” He chuckled. “You won’t know the difference, honey, you’ll be sleeping.”

“Because Mommy will sleep too late,” Marni pouted. “And she promised to make me special waffles for breakfast tomorrow. If you ask, I know she’d make them for you, too, Daddy.”

Kait laid her hand on her heart. It felt as if it were breaking. And she must never have that terrible thought again! Lana
would
return, only God knew what would happen when she did. She, Kait, was moving to Three Falls, but that was the only thing she was certain of.

“Honey? I won’t sleep late,” she said, and to her horror her tone was choked.

Trev looked at her. “What’s wrong?” His tone was mild, his regard was not.

Now was the time to act. She smiled, brilliantly. “Nothing. We’re late.”

He eyed her for a moment and acquiesced. After hugging Marni again and shooing her off to the kitchen where Elizabeth was cleaning up, he moved toward her. Kait was motionless. He took her hand. “Something’s wrong.” It wasn’t a question.

She wet her lips. “Not really. Do we have to go to Parker’s gala?”

His eyes widened. “I have to go—even if just for an hour or two. You don’t have to go, however—”

“No, that’s fine, of course I’ll come,” Kait said, overcome with desperation and urgency.

He slid his arm around her. “It will be an endless evening, won’t it?” he murmured, his breath feathering her cheek.

She was pressed to his side. She thought about how the evening would end—with her in his arms, in his bed. And in a few days, she would be packing up her office at work and her apartment in the city, sleeping alone.

“You seem sad tonight. Something’s wrong. What is it?”

Trev turned her so that she was in his arms. Kait started, because he was aroused. “I...I’m not sad. I’m...I’mtired...from last night.”

His gaze was searching.

Kait had to avoid his eyes.

His thumb stroked over her jaw. “I wasn’t kidding when I said it would be a long night,” he murmured.

She gripped his lapels, thrilled and heartbroken all at once. He mouth covered hers.

Kait melted as he brushed her lips gently, sensually, again and again.

She felt her mouth open, she felt him brush the inside with his tongue. Heat gathered in her loins, followed by moisture and need. His hand cupped one of her buttocks, and as the chiffon was so delicate, it was almost as if she were naked in his hand.

A cough sounded from the doorway.

Trev looked up and stiffened instantly, setting Kait away from him.

Had Lana returned?

Kait whirled in terror.

But it wasn’t her twin standing in the doorway; it was Sam.

She was wearing the Donna Karan dress that Kait had lent her. She looked tall and elegant and twenty-one, not sulky and sixteen. And the several funky silver bracelets and dark rose lipstick simply couldn’t detract from her beauty or elegance.

“Sam,” Trev breathed in admiration.

“Oh, Sam,” Kait heard herself cry. “That dress is so lovely on you!” Tears had come to her eyes. Kait rushed to her, hugging her. “You can have the dress, sweetie,” she whispered, “because you look amazing in it, just amazing!”

Sam darted a glance at her father, then fully faced Kait. “Do you think?”

“Honey, you’re stunning!” But Kait glanced back at Trev, and saw the disappointment on his face—Sam was still refusing to speak to her father.

“Is the lipstick too much?”

Kait hesitated. “Why don’t we blot it and add some gloss?”

Sam bit her lip, then nodded. “Okay. Can I really have the dress?”

“Of course you can,” Kait said. She extracted a tissue from her purse, dabbed off some of the lipstick, and handed Sam her gloss. As Sam was applying it, using a small compact from her own bag, Trev said, “Sam, you look just like your mother.”

Sam stiffened. She snapped closed her compact and handed Kait the gloss. She did not look at her father. “Thanks.”

Kait glanced worriedly at Trev. He was making a valiant effort to control his emotions, but she saw how hurt he was. “Honey, isn’t it time for you and your father to bury the hatchet?”

Sam whirled to face her father. “No! And I don’t look like Mom—she had dark hair—I look like you!”

“You look just like your mother did when she was your age, except for your hair,” Trev said hoarsely.

“I don’t care,” Sam said rudely. “She’s dead.” His expression hardened. “I expect you to come right home after Gina’s party.”

Sam glared. “We might want to go to the mall and get a pizza or something.”

Trev’s eyes darkened. “You mean, go see that Jenkins kid?”

“I can’t help it if he works there!” Sam cried.

“I told you, I don’t want you seeing him,” Trev warned.

Kait stepped between them, but not before Sam said, “You can’t tell me who to see and who not to see. I’m sixteen, not six.” She turned and walked out.

Trev started after her; Kait grabbed his arm. “Let her go, Trev.”

He turned to her with frustration. “At least she actually spoke to me.”

“You’re right. And that keeps the door open.”

“She’s going to go see Gabe Jenkins after the party—that is, assuming he doesn’t have off tonight and isn’t taking her to the party!”