Sleep With Me (Be With Me) (9 page)

Chapter 7

“You look like hell. I hate to admit this, but I may have been wrong to send you on a vacation.”

Katherine stepped out of her friend’s hug and gave her a wry smile as they started toward the baggage claim. She’d called Candace from the airport that morning to let her know which flight she’d be on, and now she kind of wished she’d just grabbed a cab instead.

Except she had no cash left.

“It’s been a rough week.” An understatement if there ever was one. It was all kind of surreal though, now that she was back in familiar surroundings. Like an odd dream.

An odd dream with a hot guy and mind-blowing sex.

She felt her cheeks heating up, and knew she needed to get that under control before Candace noticed.

“How about you? How was your week? Same old, same old?” She glanced over, surprised to see a blush spreading across the other woman’s cheeks. She grinned, relieved to have something besides her own problems to think about for once.

“Something did happen! Tell Dr. Katherine. Is it a guy?”

Candace shrugged. “You could say that, I guess. I...sort of have a houseguest now. A very tall, comfortable-in-a-towel houseguest. It’s disconcerting, to be honest.”

“Ooo-la-la!” Katherine laughed, grabbing her bag off the conveyer as it slid by. “It’s about time you took your own advice. When do I get to meet him?”

Candace shook her head and held up both hands, her eyes wide. “No way. He’s not staying. I mean, we’re not together. It’s temporary, and purely platonic. No need for introductions.” She dropped her hands and motioned for Katherine to follow. “Now come on. I’m taking you home, and you’re going to tell me all about your trip.”

It wasn’t far to her house, and it felt weird walking into her tidy, organized home after a week of chaos and minute-to-minute living. Dropping her bag on the floor, she set her keys on the table and kicked off her shoes, leaving them in the hall as she padded across the living room to the kitchen in stocking feet. By the time Candace leaned against the kitchen doorframe, she was setting up the coffee pot.

“Caff or decaf?” Katherine asked, waiting with one hand on the cupboard door. Candace tilted her head, looking at her like Katherine imagined she looked at lab rats. Or would, if she worked in a lab.

“Caff is fine.” She watched intently as Katherine filled the filter and started the machine, taking two cups down and setting them side by side on the counter. Finally, Katherine looked up.

“What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

Candace raised her eyebrows and glanced back over her shoulder pointedly before walking over to the table and sitting down.

“You do realize that before you left, you never would have left your shoes and bag in the hall, right? Your keys would have been hung up, and you would have had to unpack before we could sit down.” She paused, and Katherine looked at her feet, waiting for the need to go unpack to wash over her. But it never came.

It could wait.

“Was I really that bad?” She switched the coffee pot for a cup, and then held the other one under the stream, replacing the pot before carrying both cups to the table.

Candace gave a noncommittal shrug. “Bad is a relative term. I like different better. You’ve changed, Katherine. Tell me what happened.”

“Everything?” Katherine practically held her breath, not wanting to say a word and yet barely able to contain the pressure that had been building ever since she’d left David in bed that morning.

Candace smiled, settling back into her chair.

“Everything.”

Two hours, a relocation to the living room and three cups of coffee later, Candace set her cup on the end table next to the couch and leaned forward.

“So you just left him there, sleeping? No goodbye, no note, not even an email address?”

Katherine shook her head, curling her legs up in the big armchair. “What’s the point? His life is there, mine is here. He doesn’t want to settle down - he said as much. So why stay in contact? It would only be prolonging the inevitable.”

Candace’s cell phone rang for the third time in half an hour. She looked at the display and sighed.

“A client?”

“No.” Candace rubbed a hand over the side of her face. “It’s Emmett. That house guest I told you about. I have no idea what he could possibly want. He’s been here long enough that he knows where everything is.”

Katherine grinned. “Maybe he’s lonely. He just wants to talk to you. Why don’t you just go home and see what he needs? You’ve heard my sordid tale, and I’m wiped out, honestly. We can chat more later, and you can tell me all about this guy.” She wiggled her eyebrows, earning an eye roll in return.

As if on cue, the phone rang again. Candace sighed, and answered the call.

“What do you need?”

Katherine could just hear a man’s voice on the other end.

“Candy! About time you picked up. There’s a guy here who says he’s your boyfriend. Won’t leave until he sees you, and he seems to want to pummel me into the ground. I need you here, like an hour ago. Where are you?”

Candace closed her eyes. “I told you, it’s Candace. What’s the guy’s name?”

“Robert...uh...Binstock. Yeah, Binstock. Do you know him?”

Katherine leaned forward and Candace just shook her head. Robert was Candace’s ex, and a world-class cheater who always came running back between women. Candace had to turn him down at least once a month, and apparently this was her lucky week.

“I’ll be right there,” she said, disconnecting the call with a sigh. “I guess I really do have to go. You’ll be all right by yourself tonight?”

Katherine laughed. “It was just a vacation,
Candy
. I think I can handle it.”

“Ugh. No matter how many times I tell him, it’s always got to be shorter with him.” She rose from the couch and Katherine followed her into the hall where she’d left her purse and jacket.

“Don’t feel too bad,” Katherine said. “David called me Kat. Said it suited my ‘sensual’ side better.”

“That actually does make me feel better, in an odd sort of way.” Candace opened the door and stepped outside. Katherine was surprised to see how dark it had gotten.

“Good luck with the guys,” she said, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a grin. “Candy.”

Her friend laughed. “Sleep well, Kat. I’ll talk to you soon. If I survive the night.”

Katherine waved and closed the door, locking it before she turned and saw her things in the hall where she’d dropped them. Briefly contemplating picking them up, she closed her eyes firmly and walked right by. They’d still be there in the morning, and she didn’t have to work again until Monday. Plenty of time to do the cleaning, cooking and household chores.

Right now, she just wanted to go curl up in bed with a glass of wine and a good book for the rest of the night.

With any luck, she’d even be able to sleep.

Katherine tossed and turned, comfortable enough, but unable to settle in to sleep. It was almost worse now, because she knew what it felt like to be rested, and that just added to her stress at still being awake. Checking the clock, she groaned. Three in the morning. Maybe if she just got up and did something she’d be tired enough to close her eyes.

She went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk, taking it into her office where the computer screen beckoned. She checked her email, deleting all the spam items. Only one message left, from an unfamiliar address. The subject simply read, “Kat.”

Her fingers trembled as she clicked it open.

Kat,

I got your email address from your scuba reservation. There are things I wanted to tell you last night, apologies I wanted to make. I know it doesn’t really matter now, but I wish things had ended differently, if they had to end.

I thought you might have trouble sleeping again at home, so I left something in your bag. I don’t know if it will help or not, but it’s worth a try.

If you want to talk, I’m here.

Sweet dreams,

David

Katherine got up and went to her bag, pulling things out and tossing them wherever until she found it. One of his shirts - just a plain black tee, but she held it up to her face and breathed in his scent, her eyes closing as her whole body relaxed.

Not even sparing a glance at the mess, she got up and went to the bedroom, pulling her own nightshirt off and slipping David’s shirt over her head. Turning off the light, she slipped into bed and pulled the covers up, his masculine aroma surrounding her like incense as she closed her eyes and smiled.

***

When she opened her eyes again, daylight was peeking through her bedroom blinds. She yawned, stretched, and got up, folding David’s shirt and placing it neatly under her pillow as she made the bed. A long, hot shower and a cup of coffee had her feeling...good, actually.

Picking up the clothes in the hall, she started the laundry, finished unpacking and put away her suitcase. Pouring another cup of coffee, she finally went into the office and sat at her computer, David’s email staring back at her from hours before.

She put her fingers on the keyboard. What could she say to him? Thanks for the shirt, obviously, but there was still so much left unsaid, and maybe it should stay that way. Shouldn’t it?

David,

I don’t know how you knew, but thank you for the shirt. It was just what I needed last night.

Please don’t feel that you owe me anything, certainly no apologies. Despite all the stuff we went through, I had some good times, and learned a lot about myself. Candace seems to think I made a lot of progress too.

I’m not sure what else to say. Everything seems so surreal, like a dream. I can’t thank you enough for everything you did to help me. I’ll never forget it - or you.

I guess that’s it. I hope you’re doing well.

Kat

She clicked the send button before she could talk herself out of it, feeling ridiculous for making such a big deal out of such a small gesture. But it wasn’t, not really. Not to her.

Closing her email, she opened her calendar and began the familiar task of making a list for the day. She had a few more days off, and a few things she wanted to get done before the normal work routine began again. Her mind kept drifting back to the island, and especially to that last night with David, but she forced it aside. Everything would be easier if she could just get back into her normal routines.

It had to.

***

David read her email for the fifth time in a row. Light enough on the surface, she was clearly appreciative, but there was more underneath. And the way she’d signed off as “Kat” - he knew that was important. The image of her sleeping in the shirt he’d sent with her was enough to make his jeans tighter than they ought to be.

Sitting back in his chair he shook his head and chuckled to himself. Who’d have thought he’d be sitting here analyzing a simple email from a woman he’d slept with exactly twice and known for all of a week?

More importantly, what was he going to do about it? He couldn’t seem to get her out of his head. Her scent still clung to the clothes he’d worn the night before she left. And that look in her eyes when she said she couldn’t stay would haunt him for a long time. She’d wanted to. So why had she left?

He leaned forward and clicked the reply button on her email.

Kat,

I’m glad the shirt helped - it’s one of my favorites. I bet it looks a lot better on you than it ever did on me.

I don’t think you ever told me where you work. What do you do?

David

His phone rang just as he hit send, and he checked the clock, swearing under his breath. Closing the laptop, he answered the call.

“Sorry Amy, I lost track of time. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

One last glance at the only link between him and the most intriguing woman he’d met in a long time, and he headed out the door.

“Are we gonna get sued?” Amy asked after he’d gotten the last of the divers off the boat later that afternoon. “Your latest conquest didn’t seem all that happy when we finally got her back to shore, despite your little talk.”

David got a mop and started cleaning the deck, enjoying the hot mid-day sun on his back. “I don’t think so,” he said, focusing on the job at hand. “She seemed...okay last time I talked to her.” He glanced up briefly to see Amy’s eyebrows raise.

“And when was that, exactly?”

He shrugged. “I got her email off the reservation form and we’ve exchanged a couple notes, is all.”

“Uh-huh.” Amy moved into his path, forcing him to stop. “What are you doing, David?”

“Cleaning up. What’s it look like I’m doing?”

She rolled her eyes. “I mean with her. Kat. What are you doing? She’s there, you’re here...is there something else going on?”

“Maybe. Probably not.” He looked out over the water, squinting at the bright light reflecting up. “Look, I don’t know. I just...there’s something, you know? And I can’t seem to let it go, even though I know I should.”

Amy watched him for a minute, and then laughed softly. “Oh man. You really don’t know, do you? Dude, I think you’re in love with this girl.”

David shook his head. “I’ve known her for a week, Amy. And I don’t even really know her. It’s just lust, that’s all. It’ll wear off eventually.”

She grinned. “Yeah. You just keep telling yourself that.” Moving out of his way, she gathered her things. “I’m taking off. Two tours tomorrow, so if you could be on time...”

“I’ll be here.”

He finished swabbing the decks and made another trip through the boat to make sure everything was put away and locked up before he finally left for the night. When he got back to his room, he stood staring at his laptop on the table for a long moment.

Cold turkey was probably the best way to deal with the whole Kat situation. Getting to know her would just make it worse. It couldn’t be love, not yet, and if he just cut himself off, everything would work itself out. She’d made her choice. Why should he put any more effort into a relationship? He didn’t even want a relationship.