Sleeping With The Enemy (A Stranger's Touch) (13 page)

“He did mention it. In fact he told me he’s crazy about you.” Kate didn’t have it in her heart to tell her father she was going through with her plan to file for divorce, when she found out Alex stopped by to visit him almost every possible day.

“Well, I know you don’t trust me, and I can’t blame you,” he added at her obvious reaction. “I know this doesn’t change anything and you still want the divorce, but I was thinking, couldn’t we let him think things were okay between us for a little while longer.”

“Alex, that’s not a good idea. Besides, I can’t lie to my father.”

“I know that, but I’m telling you it will make him very happy to think we’ve worked out our problems.”

“But what happens in six months when we’re no longer together. How bad is he going to get hurt by the news of our divorce after thinking everything is okay between us?” she argued gently. “It’s not fair to lead him on
e.”

“I would never do anything to hurt your father, but I have to tell you, this will make him happy for a little while. Couldn’t we at least let him think you and I were at least trying to work out our differences?”

“I don’t know...”

“Just think about it. And it wouldn’t exactly be lying since we are living together for six more months. Who knows...”

“Alex,” Kate laughed, frustrated by his answer. Why couldn’t he just accept the truth? Their marriage was a mistake.

“Kate, you have to know I don’t want this divorce. I’m not trying to hide it from you. But let’s not argue about it now. He’s your father. If you don’t want to tell him, then we won’t.”

She hated the coldness that returned to Alex’s voice. “I’ll think about it, okay? That’s all I can promise,” she said at last and wondered what she’d just agreed to consider. Telling her father they were working on their marriage, or actually doing it.

“That’s all I can ask you to do.”

Chapter
Thirteen

“Kate.” Robert, happy to see his daughter, opened the door and hugged her tight, then stood back in surprise when he spotted Alex standing next to her.

“And Alex
too...I don’t know what to say.” Robert’s glance went from his daughter to Alex then back to Kate. Kate smiled and kissed his cheek. “Does this mean...”

“Hi Dad. You look good,” she said without answering his question.

During her lunch hour, she’d purchased three separate pregnancy tests. They all promised instant, accurate results. She was planning to take them all at the same time when she got home that evening, but Alex actually arrived at the same time as Kate. She barely had time to shove the bag holding the tests in her purse before he found her.

“Hi there,” he’d said, stepping up behind her. “What are you doing?” She’d been standing in the kitchen reading one of the boxes when he walked in.

“Nothing. I was just getting some juice.”

“Wrong cabinet.” He moved past her to open up another cabinet and Kate held her breath. “Here.” Alex handed her a glass.

“Thanks.”

“Are you okay? You are as pale as a ghost.” He was watching her a little too closely.

“I’m fine. I’m just—long day at the store.” She moved past him to pour a glass of orange juice. “Would you like some?” When she turned to look at him, Alex was looking at her with interest.

“No thanks.” He smiled. “What time is your father expecting us?”

Kate glanced at her watch. “Oh shoot. We have twenty minutes to get there.”

So much for putting her mind at ease.

Alex drove the SUV through the evening traffic while Kate sat next to him, looking out the window at the growing darkness.

“So what did you decide to tell Robert?” Alex asked with interest. “I think we should get our stories straight before we get there, don’t you?”

Her gaze met his again. She’d been so angry at him for so long, she’d almost forgotten how handsome Alex truly was. Dressed casually in a black sweater and faded jeans, Kate found her mind wandering back to the first night she’d seen him. The night she’d fallen in love with him. Alex amazed her right from the start.

“You’re right, you know,” she said to cover her embarrassment. When she saw him arch an eyebrow she answered, “Dad deserves to be happy. If thinking we are together makes him happy then let’s let him think it. We’ll worry about the rest of it when the times come.”

“If the time comes,” he countered with a wicked little grin. She couldn’t bring herself to protest.

“Come inside, you two.” Robert hugged his daughter again and then gave Alex a quick embrace, before his gaze scrutinized Kate more carefully. “There’s something different about you, child,” he told her at last. Kate tried not to panic.

“You look tired. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. We’re just busy at the store. With the holiday rush coming on.” Her father nodded, apparently satisfied by her answer.

“So, you two are here together. Is this cause for celebrating then?” he asked hopefully.

Kate met Alex’s gaze. He was waiting for her; his eyes held hers with a challenge. Slowly she nodded.

“Yes, there’s cause for celebrating. Alex and I have decided to work on our marriage.”

Her father’s happiness was hard to take. Kate never lied to him and yet now she’d just told the biggest story of all. How could she possibly explain this to her father when the marriage dissolved in a few months?

“Oh, my baby.” Her father gathered her close and held her, while Kate’s gaze met Alex’s. “I’m so glad you two finally worked it out.”

Kate felt like the biggest cheat of all. She pulled away from her father’s embrace and smiled weakly up at him.

“Yeah, you were right, Dad.” Kate found her father’s apparent happiness hard to take. She had no idea her marriage to Alex had become so important to him.

“Alex, I’m so glad you didn’t give up on our girl.” Her father slapped Alex on the back affectionately. “So why don’t you and I make our Katie dinner tonight.”

“Dad, that’s not necessary.” But her father wouldn’t hear of it.

“I think that’s a great idea, Robert.” Alex turned to Kate.

“Why don’t you take it easy for a while? Your father’s right. You look tired.”

Left on her own, Kate wandered around the living room before finally settling in her father’s study. As a child, this room had been her favorite place in the house. Robert loved to read and passed his passion for books on to his daughter at an early age.

The minute she walked into the room, the smell of old books filled her with memories. Sitting on her father’s knee while he read to her. Working with books seemed to come natural for the Edwards clan.

Kate sat down at her father’s desk and smiled at the assorted clutter there. Robert was never good at keeping his study tidy. He used to tell her there was something about a messy study that relaxed him.

Her gaze fell on a stack of medical bills. Her father had gone to numerous doctors over the last few months, but every time Kate asked him about the bills, he told her not to worry.

She picked up
one of the statements. The amounts listed there were enormous, but each of the bills were marked paid in full. Kate wondered how her father had managed to pay so much with his limited income. She picked up another slip of paper. It was her father’s mortgage. It too had been marked paid in full.

Her father was a proud man. He hated accepting even the little amount of money Kate forced him into taking. He would never come to her or ask her to help. That left only one person. Alex. She couldn’t ask her father about the money. But she could ask her husband, because she needed to know why Alex had been so generous to her father.

As much as she loved spending time with her father, and as happy as he was by the news of their marriage, the evening was almost impossible to get through. More than once Kate found Alex watching, but she couldn’t say anything in front of her father.

Several times on the drive back to the house, Alex asked her if anything was wrong. But Kate couldn’t answer. She didn’t know how to feel about him anymore. This went against everything she believed she knew about Alex.

Once they were home, Kate finally found the courage to ask him.

“Did you pay my father’s medical bills?” she asked once he closed the door. Alex took his time facing her.

“Why do you think that?”

“Don’t play dumb, Alex. I saw the bills. They were all paid. My father doesn’t have that kind of money. Did he ask you to help?” She sounded jealous. Why hadn’t her father come to her first?

“No.”

“But you did help him, didn’t you?” 

“Yes,” he admitted at last.

Kate nodded. “Why?”

“Why do you think? Don’t you get it yet, Kate? I care about Robert. Hell, I love your father. He’s the closest thing I have to a real father anymore, and in spite of what you think, I would never hurt him.” He stopped when he spotted her tears. “You’re crying?” he asked slowly. “Why? Does it bother you that I would help him? Surely you don’t still think—”

“No! No, I believe you, Alex. I know you no longer want to hurt my father.”

He took a step closer. Suddenly, Kate became aware of all the things about her husband she loved. His warmth. His strength. His passion.

“Then why are you crying?” he demanded while his eyes locked with hers.

“Because…” Kate couldn’t say the words.

“Because why, Kate. Tell me.” He pulled her into his arms and held her close.

“Because that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for us. Because it’s more than I deserve. Because I’ve been such a bitch to you.” Her words died away the second his lips met hers. Right before Alex lifted her in his arms and carried her upstairs, hesitating for a moment outside her bedroom door. Then he walked past it to the room they’d shared their first night together.

“This is our room, Kate, and it’s not the same without you here. I’ve been going out of my mind all evening wanting you,” he told her, his voice rough with desire. Alex’s hands slipped beneath the band of her skirt, cupping her bottom.

She leaned against him and couldn’t stop the moan that escaped as his fingers cupped and kneaded her.

“God, you feel good,” he said in a voice laced with passion and so unlike the control she’d seen in Alex lately. His fingers moved up her body, beneath her top to stroke her breast beneath the thin covering of her bra before sliding back over the curves of her body.

“Alex,” Kate whispered, her breath catching in her throat as his fingers slid inside her body. She pressed closer to him. She could feel his arousal against her belly.

“I’ve imagined you here in my arms so many times. Tell me you want this too, Kate.”

She couldn’t deny it any longer. She’d wanted Alex from the beginning.

“Yes. Yes, I want you, Alex. I want you so much.”

His lips took hers. Alex kissed her like none other. His lips were gentle but demanding. He parted hers, his tongue tasting her. Kate met him touch for touch. Their tongues tangled together before his lips left hers to trail hot kisses across her cheek down to her throat. Kate’s head rolled back to allow Alex’s lips better access to her throat.

“Alex, I don’t want to wait any longer. Make love to me.” With a harsh moan, he lifted her up in his arms and carried her to their bed.

“Stay with me, Kate,” he asked once they lay in each other’s arms exhausted from their lovemaking. Alex looked so uncertain that Kate closed her eyes and hated herself for the way she’d treated him.

“Yes.”

“I don’t want to pretend, Kate. I want this marriage to work. I think if we both try it can.”

She looked into his eyes and slowly smiled. She wanted the same. No matter how many obstacles lay between them, they both still loved each other. Surely, that counted for something.

Chapter
Fourteen

Somehow, Kate managed to keep from being sick in front of Alex the following morning. She made up an excuse for going into work late the next day. He was so happy, he didn’t seem to mind.

“I’ll call you later then,” he told her and kissed her goodbye. Kate waited until she heard the sound of his vehicle disappearing around the corner, then she retrieved the pregnancy tests from her purse and took them all. There were three varying shades of pink positives.

She was going to have a baby. She and Alex were going to be parents. Kate wondered what his reaction would be. Would he be surprised or shocked?

Kate breezed through each day. She’d never been happier. Why had she ever doubted Alex’s sincerity? She loved him and everything he did seemed to prove how much he loved her as well.

“You know, we should spend Thanksgiving at my ranch,” Alex told her one morning while they lay in bed, unwilling to leave each other’s arms.

“Let’s invite your father and your cousin. We could have a real old-fashioned family Thanksgiving. When was the last time you had one of those.”

“Not since I was a little girl. Before my parents split. How about you?”

“Too long. I can’t remember. I usually work through the holiday.”

“Oh Alex, that’s terrible. Thanksgiving is for family.”

“I agree. But I haven’t had any family around in years. Not since my dad passed away.” Kate’s breath caught at those words. She wondered if he would be happy to hear he was going to have a real family of his own very soon.

“That must have been hard for you. I’m glad this year will be different.” Kate lay silent beside Alex. Things felt right between them. She’d made peace with their troubled past at last.

“Brandy will kill me if I don’t get to work soon. I’m going to take a shower,” Kate announced while trying not to look at him looking at her as she got out of bed wearing nothing at all.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Alex—no!” But it was too late. He lifted her up over his shoulder in cave man fashion and carried her to the shower. Alex turned on the water in his enormous walk in shower before setting her down under the soft water spray. It was freezing cold.

Kate let out a yelp, which he answered with another laugh just before the water turned warm. Then Alex joined her under its warmth and kissed her very thoroughly. Before long, his kisses turned to touching, followed by exploring, which turned into making passionate love until they both stopped caring about the world around them.

“Do you like pancakes?” Alex asked her much later. Kate tried to stop her fingers from trembling long enough to get dressed. As it was, she was over an hour late.

“Why?” Somehow, she got those words out without showing her reaction to the look in Alex’s eye.

“Because I’m going to make you breakfast, that’s why.” He reached for her from behind and pulled her back against his body, kissing her neck.

“Oh.”
Tell him about the baby
. But for some reason, Kate couldn’t get the words out. She couldn’t let herself trust Alex completely just yet.

“So, do you like pancakes?” Alex asked again, watching her reaction in the mirror. She laughed and shook her head.

“I love pancakes, but I’m late as it is and Brandy is going to be furious with me. We have a huge shipment due in this morning. And I need to get the holiday display up today.”

She turned to leave, but he caught her hand. “Alex,” Kate pleaded with a little laugh. Her gaze went to his. For a moment, she stopped. Something was wrong. Her heart skipped a beat. It was there in his eyes. Then he smiled and it disappeared. Alex reluctantly let her go. She blew him a kiss from the doorway then walked away, trying to dispel the feeling that something important went unsaid between them.

* * * *

“Dammit,” Alex said quietly to himself as he watched her go. Why couldn’t he just tell her about the bookstore? After all, he’d bought it as a wedding gift to her. So why didn’t he just tell her that. Because she still didn’t trust him completely that’s why. Kate was still expecting something to happen to destroy their happiness again. So was he for that matter.

Shouldn’t hearing he loved her enough to buy the bookstore she loved most as a wedding present be considered a good thing? Of course, it would for two people who trusted each other. But Kate didn’t trust him.

It took all of his patience just to get her to give their marriage a second chance. If she hadn’t found out about the things he’d done for her father, he wondered if she would ever have given him the chance.

But time was running out. Elise Montgomery wasn’t known for keeping secrets. Somehow, he’d managed to convince her to keep silent. She was crazy about Kate, which was the only reason she’d agreed to sell the bookstore to him in the first place, over one of those bigger chains who’d been trying to convince her to sell for years.

He’d tried to reach Elise several times at her sister’s place without any luck. He could only hope he got in touch with her before she blabbed the news to Kate.

“Tonight. I’ll find a way to tell her tonight,” he promised. It had to be tonight or sooner, otherwise if she found out from anyone else, who knows how she’d react to the news.

* * * *

“I was beginning to wonder what happened to you,” Brandy told her the second Kate stepped through the door.

Kate could only smile. In fact, she’d been smiling for weeks.

“Oh, for crying out loud! If I see that guilty little smile of yours one more time…” Brandy tried to sound angry, but Kate knew she was thrilled for her. Everyone around her seemed relieved she and Alex were staying together. Kate wondered why she ever doubted him.

“So have you told him yet?” Kate didn’t have to ask what Brandy meant.

“No, not yet.”

“Well, why not? What’s the matter with you? The man is crazy about you. Tell him he’s going to be a father. I want to see his face.”

“I will. I promise I will soon. I just have to find the perfect moment.”

“Well, you’d better do it soon. Otherwise I’m doing it for you.”

* * * *

“So, how do you like the new boss?” For a moment, Kate had no idea who was calling the store so late. It was after six and Brandy had long ago left for the day. Kate just finished arranging the window display for Thanksgiving and was about to leave as well.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Kate, it’s me—Elise!” The older woman seemed amused by her confusion.

“Oh, Elise, I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize your voice there for a moment. How are you? Have you been having a good time at your sister’s?”

“Yes, it’s wonderful not to have to worry about the store anymore.”

“Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I was wondering when I might talk to you about some of my ideas for the Christmas season?”

“Me? Why would you want to discuss it with me? You should be talking to your new boss.”

“My—new—boss?” Kate repeated slowly without understanding. She sank down to the stool behind the register. “What are you talking about, Elise?”

“He hasn’t told you yet! That man!”

“Who?” Kate asked but somehow knew. This was the moment of truth she’d been expecting, for weeks now. “Who hasn’t told me yet?”

“Alex Bradshaw. The new owner of
Montgomery Books
!”

“Alex owns the bookstore?”

“Well, of course he does, silly. He’s owned it since before you two were married...”

Kate dropped the phone back in its cradle without answering.

She couldn’t believe she’d actually trusted him! She was such an idiot! Believing she could trust someone like Alex after all the things he’d tried to do to her father. He wasn’t capable of telling the truth. She was done with Alex Bradshaw. He could tell the judge whatever lie he chose, but she wasn’t going to spend another minute in his house or in his bed.

She locked up the store and got into her SUV, pulling into the heavy downtown traffic.

Kate picked up the phone and dialed Alex’s office number. He answered right away. He’d told her he was working late.

“You lied to me!” she all but screamed at him. “You looked me square in the face and lied to me!” She was crying so hard it was almost impossible to see the road ahead. She had no idea where she was going. She headed the SUV down Interstate 35 going north while her fingers trembled as they held the phone.

“What are you talking about?” There was just enough caution in his voice for her to know he was stalling for time. Hoping to find another lie she might buy, no doubt.

“You know what I’m talking about, Alex! The store! When did you plan on telling me you’d bought the store?” she demanded.