Second Chances (23 page)

A seductive smile played at Sophie’s lips while she opened her gown, letting it drop to the floor in a puddle of satin. Her body was a sight to behold, and one he had taken pleasure in countless times. But right now, it sickened him.

“I know you still want me, David. I can see it in your eyes.” She sauntered over to him. Sophie laced her hands in his hair and pressed against him, covering his mouth with hers in a kiss. David froze, a stunned statue against her.
What the hell?
He clutched her shoulders and pushed her back, roughly this time. “Stop this, Sophie. Have you no shame?”

Sophie’s blue-gray eyes narrowed and she stooped to grab her gown from the floor, pulling it on haphazardly. Her face was flushed, but from embarrassment or anger, David wasn’t sure. “You can’t tell me that you want that dark-haired tart instead.”

Anger coursed through his veins like a snake. “That’s enough, Sophie.”

Sophie crossed her arms under her ample chest. “You’ll be nothing without me, David.
Nothing
. And your little harlot will lose everything as well. I will see to it.” Her acerbic tone sliced through the air.

So now, the banshee was openly threatening him and Kristin. Sophie’s true ugly side was finally showing through. All his hopes of reaching her were lost. “How could I have been so blind to your true nature all these years, Sophie? You are manipulating and cold. Did you ever really love me at all, or was I just another thing in your life to control to make it look perfect?”

Sophie’s chest heaved, her breathing doused with what he took as anger. “I guess that doesn’t really matter now, does it? You’re content to carry on with the new woman in your life.”

She straightened her shoulders. “By the way, your whore stopped by to see you tonight.”

The angry snake that slithered through his veins hissed. “Kristin was here?” David roared at Sophie as his chest tightened and he clenched his hands into fists.

“And she found you in my room!” His breaths came in gulps, the anger had him so riled.

A smug expression crossed Sophie’s features as she watched his fury unfurl. “Maybe your little fairytale won’t have such a happy ending after all.”

David snatched her by the shoulders roughly, he couldn’t help his fingers digging into her soft flesh. “What have you done?” David shook her as his voice echoed loudly in the room.

A prickling of panic raced around with the anger flowing inside his body. David paced frantically beside the bed. What must Kristin have thought, finding Sophie half dressed in his room? She had to have imagined the worst. He had to find her.

Running a hand through his hair, David hurried out of his hotel room.

~~~

“Kristin, please. I need to talk to you.” David’s fists pounded loudly on the wooden door as he pleaded. Luckily, the night clerk in the lobby was a fan, and took well to bribery involving autographs and photos. The final result being that David had found that Kristin’s friend Ingrid had reserved a room on the fourth floor. This had to be where Kristin was.

His fists hammered harder, clobbering the door until his hands hurt. David couldn’t let her leave. Not until he’d had a chance to explain.

“Please, open the door. Let me explain.”

The lock clicked, permitting him to cease the pummeling of the door. Relief flooded through him, but stopped short as Ingrid, not Kristin, stood in front of him.

“Are you bloody mad? You’re loud enough to wake the dead.” Her blue eyes searched the hallway, before returning to rest on him.

“Is Kristin here? I need to see her.”

Ingrid crossed her arms. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, love. She’s pretty upset, and with good right to be, from what she’s told me.”

White-hot pain shot through David’s chest like an arrow. “I need to explain. It’s not what she thinks. Please, Ingrid.” He reached forward and took her hand. “I
have
to talk to her.”

Ingrid’s eyes were gentle and contemplative, and she sighed. “I’ll try, but I won’t promise anything.” She backed into the room and shut the door again.

Panic slashed at his gut with icy talons. What if Kristin wouldn’t talk to him? Worse yet, what if she wouldn’t believe him? David had to convince her that it was all a ploy orchestrated by Sophie to keep them apart. He just had to.

The door creaked open and Kristin tentatively stepped forward. Her eyes were rimmed red, her face puffy and her cheeks stained with tears. A broken woman stood in the doorway. She peered at him uncertainly, and her dark eyes searched his face. That sadness he had been so sure he’d chased away dwelled within the depths of her gaze once again.

“It’s not what it looked like, Kristin.” Anguish shot through David at the sight of her. His passionate artist was now a wisp of a flower, waiting for the breeze to break her completely.

“Really? Because it looked like your supposed ex-fiancé was waiting in your room, with hardly a stitch on, for a romantic evening.” Kristin folded her arms, and her hands shook.

“Sophie convinced a member of the hotel staff to let her in. I didn’t know she was there, and I certainly didn’t have any plans for a romantic evening with her.” The ache to embrace her sat on his chest like a hot brick. But he knew one wrong move and she would run.

Her expression faltered for a moment, while she processed his words. “And why should I believe you?”

He leaned against the door railing with his right hand to steady himself. “Because it’s the truth. And because I love you, lass.”

Kristin blinked slowly and took a deep breath. “I’m finding it hard to believe that right now.”

“Then believe this.”

David placed his hand behind Kristin’s neck and firmly captured her lips in a kiss. She whimpered in surprise, and her body tensed in reaction. The kisses were soft, as his lips massaged hers gently. Kristin sagged toward him as her body relaxed into his.

His body responded in earnest to her touch, the craving for her only growing stronger with each moment their lips pressed against each other. David deepened the kiss, his mouth devouring hers. Kristin bristled and pushed him away.

“I—I can’t do this, David. Not right now. It’s too hard.” Her entire body trembled as she stood before him.

David ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t understand.” He reached out to her, and she took a small step backward.

“Things have been so hard with you. I never expected to love again, but I also never expected it to be so difficult, or hurt so much.”

The pain in her eyes terrified him. David couldn’t lose her. Not now. “Kristin.”

Kristin shook her head. “I need some time. I have to think about what I really want for my life now. And if I want that life to be spent with you.”

Her words tore at his chest, which was tightened in distress. “Please, Kristin. Don’t push me away, lass.”

She shook her head again as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. “I just want a few days to think. I’m too much of a mess to do that clearly right now.” Kristin backed into the room and shut the door softly.

David stepped forward and leaned against the door, his cheek resting on the cool wood. With his eyes closed, he could still feel Kristin’s lips, and smell her rose perfume. He loved her more than anything, yet he had caused her more pain than ever. If backing off was what she needed to sort her head, then he had to find the strength to do that for her.

Shoulders slumped, he plodded down the dimly lit hallway, back to his room.

Chapter Eleven

Kristin straightened one of the paintings on her office wall. A mundane task she could still complete, despite her wandering thoughts. Usually, her tasks at the gallery provided a competent distraction, but not today. Hell, not since Glasgow.

David had honored her request for time to think, and hadn’t contacted her in three days. One part of her was elated he’d respected her wishes, while the other part was crushed he hadn’t put up more of a fight. Well, she couldn’t have it both ways, could she?

At least something productive had taken place upon her return to London. Ingrid had stepped in at Haven and worked her magic. Her friend got a lawyer to draw up new contracts for the artists to sign, protecting both them and the gallery. A new business was found for the printing of invitations and brochures, also with an explicit contract and line of credit. In the end, Ingrid had even sunk some of her own money into the business to help get the bills caught up and pay for new advertising. Ingrid claimed the money was an investment. Kristin was positive her friend just did it out of love.

And, no sign of Sophie causing more problems at Haven. So with Kristin’s gallery woes under control, you’d think that sorting out her personal life would become easier.
If that were only the case
.

Kristin exhaled loudly and dropped onto her desk chair heavily. Trying to work right now was ridiculous, the way her concentration faltered repeatedly. Restless nights of rolling around in bed gave her plenty time to think about what path she wanted her life to take. But she still wasn’t any closer to making any kind of a decision.

There was no doubt in her mind that she loved David. In fact, she loved him so much it frightened her at times, because the intensity of it overtook her completely. Theirs was a love full of passion and fire, quite different from the sweet and honest longing she’d had with James.

David had allowed her access to all of the secret parts of his soul. In his eyes, Kristin found the courage to share her heart instead of keeping it locked away. He encouraged her passionate artistic side.

The incident in Glasgow had left Kristin crushed. The awareness of how easily she could be hurt by loving David so completely terrified her, the fear grabbing and shaking her in its bony hands. That same fear was what had clutched her when David had pressed his lips to hers. As Kristin began to give into the want for him that pulsed through her, fear reared up and shook her to her senses again. That possibility of being so drastically hurt once more was the reason she’d requested some time to think.

So here Kristin sat, days later, no closer to a resolution. But awfully close to another headache. She rubbed her temples as Celia buzzed her on the intercom.

Kristin wasn’t expecting anything, but who knew for certain, the way her mind had played dodge ball with her thoughts, bouncing them around inside her head.

Celia walked into the office, a large bouquet of red roses in her arms. She laid them on the desk in front of Kristin.

“There’s a card.” Celia pointed to the small card attached with a red ribbon around the base of the flowers.

“Uh huh.” Kristin stared at the roses, afraid to touch them. She knew who’d sent them, but she didn’t know if she wanted to read that card or not. She inhaled and swallowed.

Celia sighed and shrugged as she walked out of the office.

Kristin lifted a trembling hand and untied the ribbon that held the card in place. She opened it and her eyes scanned the small script.

Kristin,

Red roses always remind me of you, my lady in red. I have tried to be patient and give you your space, but it has become urgent that I speak with you. Please talk to me.

All My Love,

David

Kristin read the card again, hoping it would give her some clue about what to do.
No such luck.
Confused as ever.
But he remembered the red dress.

The office phone rang, and Kristin jerked in her seat. “Hello?” Not wanting to really speak with anyone, she could hear the tentativeness in her voice as she picked up the receiver.

“Do you like them?”

Kristin closed her eyes as David’s voice washed over her. All rational thought banished by that lilting brogue. “They’re lovely. Thanks.” She looked around the room in confusion. How did he know she had just received them? “What, are you standing outside or something?”

“Yes.”

Kristin rose, walked over to the small window and peered outside. David stood across the street, a light rain dotting his shirt and wetting his hair. “Come inside. You’ll catch your death, out in the rain like that.” Kristin hung up the phone and watched him walk toward the gallery, before she turned back to her office interior.

She smoothed her blouse and brushed off her skirt, waiting for him to walk through the gallery door.

David entered her office, his tall frame filling the tiny space. His white shirt clung to him, emphasizing those lean muscles she had so often run her hands and lips over. His hair was damp, but a few strands still had the audacity to fall over his eye in that way she found so adorable. Sparks of desire shimmered through her body.

David kept his distance, an aloofness in his stance, almost as if he sensed her fragile state. “How have you been, lass?”

He had to know how he made her breath catch when he called her that. “I’ve been all right.” It was hard to keep her voice steady.

Tiny drops of water dripped off his nose. Kristin grabbed a scarf from her bag and tossed it to him. “Here. Try to dry yourself off. I don’t have a towel, so this will have to do.”

Talking about mundane things helped her to focus. David dabbed at the water sprinkled on his face, then handed the scarf back to her. “Thanks.”