Dreaming Of You (7 page)

“Yes.” Her heart pounded faster as her mind scrambled to remember their conversation at the pancake house. Did he mention that? She prayed he did. “I think you mentioned a boy and a girl.”

His expression relaxed. “They are four years old.”

She smiled. “That’s a fun age.”

His brows rose. “You have children?”

“No, but I have three nephews, ranging in age from two to ten. They are the most fun around four or five. They’re eager to learn, yet stubborn enough to try things on their own.”

Shane’s smile widened and he laughed. “That’s a good way to describe it.”

Gradually, her heart rate returned to normal—for running, anyway—and the worry she experienced earlier had left. Heaven help her, but she enjoyed seeing Shane smile, and she especially liked hearing him laugh. He was almost like the Shane she remembered from college.

Everything seemed to be going good now. She prayed she could keep their conversation light-hearted. As long as he didn’t touch her again, she’d be fine.

She hoped.

* * * *

Shane focused on the track, trying to remember what he’d said to Katelyn at Grandma’s Pancake House. He didn’t recall mentioning he had a boy and a girl, just said something about his children.

Distrust grew inside of him like an ulcer. Now he was certain she did know him. He’d have to lay his charm on thick and befriend the suspicious woman, while at the same time, not give away his main purpose.

“So, Katelyn, how long have you been writing romance books?”

Suddenly, she became stiff and wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“About seven years.”

“How many books do you have published?”

“I had just finished my tenth the morning we met.”

“Wow, unbelievable.”

Her cheeks flamed. “Thank you.”

“I’ve known a few people who’ve tried writing, but even after seven years, they still didn’t get a single word published. How did you get so lucky?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“Have you lived in the San Diego area your whole life? Perhaps you’ve made some influential friends?”

She laughed. “Yes, I’ve lived here all my life, but I only met influential friends after I’d published my first book.”

“What did you do before you were a writer?”

Her eyes widened and color left her face. Or was it just the way the outside lights hit her as she ran underneath? Suddenly, she stopped, her breaths heavy with exhaustion, as were his.

“Sorry I had to stop. I haven’t run for a week, and I’m out of practice.”

“That’s okay. I’m ready to stop.” He waited for her to meet his eyes, but she didn’t. Guilt etched her face, making him more leery of her. “Do you want to sit for a few minutes? In fact, I have a better idea. Do you want to go with me and get a cup of coffee?”

Her wide eyes finally met his, and this time he knew the color had left her face. 

“Thanks for the invitation, but I don’t drink coffee. I really must be going home now, anyway. It was nice running with you. I hope to see you again.” She smiled, turned and hurried away from the track to the beat-up old jeep waiting in a parking stall.

Sighing heavily, Shane ran his fingers through his damp hair and down his sweaty neck. That woman wasn’t good at hiding her expressions, and he could read her well. But did he have the charm with women he used to have? And could Shane make Katelyn Palmer confess the truth?

He was certainly up for the challenge.

Chapter Five

Shane didn’t know how Tori found out about the new preschool he had arranged for the children, but she met him and his kids there on their first day. His parents must have said something to her.

He forced himself to smile for Cori and Casey’s sake as he walked alongside Tori to the front door of the school. Tori had gone all out trying to make herself pretty. Heavy caked-on make-up and a wild style hairdo that made her blonde hair look as if she’d been in a windstorm walking backwards.

In his younger days, he’d thought Tori was the prettiest woman around. Once he’d met Amber, his focus moved. She did resemble Tori with an hourglass figure and bleached-blonde hair, but that was where the differences between the two women stopped. Their personalities were like night and day. Tori had always had her nose in the air, flaunting her wealth, while Amber took the time to get to know Shane, even though he was poor.

Now he thanked his lucky stars for putting Amber in his way so he didn’t have feelings—other than intense disgust —for Tori. She was as cold-hearted as they came.

Unfortunately, the longer he’d been married to Amber, the more she’d begun acting like her sister. Once his company started making money, his wife’s tastes turned expensive. She had to have everything her sister did or more. Soon, Amber and Tori were inseparable, and Amber’s neglect hurt him deeply. She’d come home late after being with Tori, smelling like alcohol and men’s cologne. After a few months of this, Shane confronted her, and she admitted to visiting clubs with her sister.

He’d been working long hours and so decided to devote more time to his wife, but by then it was too late. She was already enjoying her new life in the fast lane.

Was it any wonder Shane blamed Tori for ruining his marriage? He would have liked to blame his ex-wife’s death on her sister, too, but Amber was in another man’s car—both drunk—when they were hit head-on by a diesel truck, killing both.

Pulling his thoughts from the past, Shane concentrated on meeting the new teacher at the school he had chosen. By the upturned nose and judgmental arched eyebrow on Tori’s face, Shane could tell she didn’t approve. Tori would never be totally satisfied, mainly because she hadn’t picked out the school herself.

The teacher of this school was younger than Mrs. White by at least twenty years. In her early to mid-thirties, Stacey Hanley seemed like a very sweet and patient woman. Her kind eyes and tender words lured his poor, lost children into her classroom, and within minutes, Cori and Casey acted as if they belonged there.

The other children at the center responded to his kids, and accepted them wholeheartedly. As he watched his twins interact with the others, an inner peace settled in his chest. Genuine smiles spread across their enthusiastic faces, especially little Cori’s.

He’d definitely made the right choice.

Before he left, Tori knelt beside the children and gave them a hug, letting them kiss her cheek, but neglecting to kiss them in return because she didn’t want to smudge her inch-thick layer of lipstick.

“Tell Auntie Tori you love her,” she urged, and they chimed together their reply. “And remember—” Tori continued in her sick, sorrowful tone— “nobody loves you more than I.”

“Except Daddy,” he chimed with a smile and a wink. Shane held back his anger with Tori. She probably told his children that she loved them more than their daddy did. That could explain Cori’s resistance to express her love.

Shane waited until he and Tori had left the daycare and reached his truck before he stopped and glared at her. “What was that all about?”

Her weekly-waxed eyebrows rose as she put on an air of innocence. “What are you talking about?”

“That line you just laid on the children about how nobody loves them like their auntie?”

She shrugged. “It’s true, because nobody does. I have to keep reassuring them that I love them. After the divorce, I saw them more than you. All you had time for was your company.”

A deep growl rumbled in his throat, and he stepped closer to her. “That’s a bunch of crap, and you know it.”

“Your children thought differently.”

“Are you telling them I don’t love them?”

“Your actions speak loud enough.”

“Why, you…” He bit his tongue to keep from saying what he really thought of her. “You know I love them. It’s their aunt I can’t stand.” He stepped even closer, face to face with her. “Tori, I’m not going to have this argument with you again. I promise, if you do one more thing…just
one
more, I’ll slap you with a restraining order. And I have Mrs. White’s testimony that will help my case. Now
lay off!
” He took a deep, calming breath before marching toward his truck. He vowed to never see her again no matter what it took.

* * * *

The squeak of the grocery cart’s wheels echoed through the semi-empty store as Katelyn slowly pushed it up the aisle, glancing at the assortment of breakfast cereals. She picked up a box of a new cereal she’d seen advertised on TV, and read the ingredients. So far, everything looked healthy; whole grain, wheat, and barley. There even looked to be the right amount of essential vitamins listed.

When another cart started coming up the aisle, she stepped closer to the shelf, but continued to read. Within seconds the scent of a man’s cologne surrounded her—a smell of musky-spice she recognized from the other night while jogging.

Inwardly she groaned. This could
not
be happening to her. Fate could not be this unkind!

Trying to control her shaky hand, she put the box back on the shelf before turning around. Right away, she bumped into his body. She snapped her gaze up and met his.

“Oh, sorry,” she said quickly and stepped back.

His smile stretched, which made her heart flip. He wore a pair of blue jeans with small holes in the knees, and a white cotton shirt. Once again, she wished she didn’t like the way he looked.

“We’ve been running into each other a lot, haven’t we?” he noted.

She forced a laugh. “Yes. Isn’t that funny?”

He shrugged. “Is it?”

“Um…of course it is.” She swallowed hard. “So, how have you been?” It was a cheesy line, but she couldn’t think of any other way to start a conversation.

“Not bad. And yourself?”

“Keeping busy, as always.”

“Good to hear.”

Katelyn definitely didn’t like his short, clipped answers. A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth, yet his tone of voice and clouded eyes told her a different story about his attitude.

“How are your twins? Are they ready to return to Montana with you?” After she said it, she held her breath. Hopefully, she didn’t sound like she was wanted him to leave soon, when in fact, she did.

“We won’t be going back to Montana for a while yet.”

Inwardly, she groaned. She should have suspected he wouldn’t let her off the hook that easily. “Oh, well…I’m sure your parents will be happy about that.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Do you know my parents?”

Her nervous hands became clammy and she shoved them in the pockets of her jacket. “No, of course not. I just assumed they would miss you and the kids being away from your home town for so long.”

“Yes, they are happy we’re staying.”

“Good.” She licked her dry lips, praying to find a way to end this conversation. “Well, I hope to see you later. I have to finish my shopping.” She grasped her cold hands around the steel bar of the cart and moved ahead, only to have him step in front of her.

“Aren’t you going to buy the box of cereal?” He pointed to the shelf.

Chuckling, she yanked the box off the shelf and tossed it in her cart. “Silly me. I’d forgotten.” Hurriedly, she pushed the cart away from him and turned down the next aisle. She took a deep breath, hoping to regulate her heartbeat again.

She scanned the shelves of food, but couldn’t concentrate on what she needed for her kitchen. Instead, his accusing glare bothered her more than she was prepared for. When she turned down another aisle and saw him standing, still looking at her, she groaned. She smiled as best she could under the duress situation.

“Katelyn? Are you following me?”

She chortled loudly. “Following you?” She couldn’t stop her laughter from growing. “Didn’t you tell me the other day that you’ve just returned from Montana? And if that’s the case, wouldn’t it appear that
you
are following
me
?”

He folded his arms and tilted his head, his gaze boring deep inside her—enough to make her shiver. She couldn’t tell if his expression was of anger or humor. He was such a hard man to read.

“Actually, I was referring to here at the grocery store.”

Open mouth—insert foot.
“Oh, sorry. I misunderstood.”

“But since you brought it up,” he said, coming toward her, “I think we need to discuss this subject a little further. After all, I’m the man you wrote about in your romance novel. So it would appear that you’re stalking me.”

Panic consumed her and her throat tightened. Apparently, they hadn’t settled this subject at all. Before she could stop it, her defenses charged forward, leaving the sweetness she should show him behind in the dust.

“You are one arrogant man, Mr. Hunter. I can’t believe you’d think I’d lower myself to write about you. Every time I run into you, your personality gets worse, and I can’t wait to get away from you. So, if you’ll excuse me,” she ended, pushing past him as she hurried her cart away from him.

“Whoa-ho!” He stopped her cart again by grabbing the handle. “What’s this I see?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Hunter.”

“Where is that sweet, shy woman I met the other morning at the diner?”

“You chased her away,” she snapped. “I tried to be nice to you, but your insults and accusations have taken their toll, and I have no patience for men like you.”

Anger beat through every muscle of her body as she pushed him out of the way and marched down another aisle chucking items into her cart without looking to see what they were first. She couldn’t believe she’d let him do this to her. He made her mind a total mess!

Every other aisle she saw Shane, and especially his accusing, dark brown eyes that seemed to hold her prisoner. He must know she’d been lying. Why else would he act that way?

When she took her groceries up to the checkout, she stood in the shortest lane, hoping the person in front of her would not have a book full of coupons. The quicker she left the store, the better.

As the old woman in front picked up her bags, Katelyn sighed with relief then proceeded to place her items on the conveyor belt. It was then she realized she didn’t need half this stuff. But there was no way she’d take them back now.