Twist of Fate (16 page)

“Sam? Are you listening? I’m trying to tell you I think I had an affair with him at some point in our marriage.”

He watched in awe as she took more blame.

“I’m so sorry.” She reached out and touched his leg, his muscles tightened beneath his jeans. “I realize now that our marriage means the world to me. This house, you and the thought of starting our family again made me see how foolish I’d been.”

He couldn’t believe his ears. She’d seen him. She’d actually seen the man he’d feared she would find. Jill was right, Kate was blaming herself, and she had no clue. His heart dropped to his stomach at her complete look of devastation.

She laid her hand on his arm, forcing him to look into her eyes. “Whatever happened is in the past, and I want to keep it there.”

He was speechless. Guilt rained over him. Then, in an instant, it wasn’t guilt anymore. This was the sign he’d been waiting for. She hadn’t remembered the guy. Not a spark, not a flash. Nothing. Maybe this was the break he needed. He could tell her and she wouldn’t hate him. Hell, she’d stay with him. He would even find a way to get custody of her child when everything blew over. Yeah, maybe now he was on the right track.

As if confirming Sam’s thoughts, Kate continued. “Do you understand what I’m saying?  That man doesn’t matter to me anymore.”

He leaned over and folded her in his arms. “Kate.” Relief poured from his body as he held her close. He’d hoped to hear those words from her. He was no longer just concerned with her safety. Now that she cared about him, too, he wanted her in his life for good. He loved her, and he’d fight for her. He’d die rather than hand her over to those hoods.

“Are you all right?” She leaned back, her eyes searching his.

He couldn’t take his eyes away from her. “I’m better than all right.” Everything was falling into place. He placed his hand at the base of her neck, and caressed her cheek with his thumb, wanting to stay in the moment forever. Tonight they would be together. Hell, he’d even give her that baby she wanted. Nothing was going to stand in their way once he told her the truth.

“Kate, it’s my turn to tell you something.”

She looked at him from under her lashes while tracing a pattern up and down his arm. “I’d like to talk to you, too,” her sultry whisper teased.

“No, seriously, this is important.” He pulled back, but she didn’t let go.

She licked her lips. “I’d say what we’re about to do is very important.”

“Yeah, but what I have to say--”

“Can wait....because I can’t.” He saw her eyes go from questioning to smoldering. “Make love to me, Sam.”

He used his hand to guide her head toward his. Her eyes fluttered shut, her mouth relaxed. Ever since that day in town he’d been thinking of this. He still wouldn’t push, but he could tell she’d come willingly. The soft feel of her lips made him groan from deep within. He’d have all he could do not to take her right there on the couch. He knew it would be all the sweeter if he held out.

He gently touched her breast. When she didn’t stop him, he increased the pressure. At the sound of her moan, he deepened his kiss. She tasted of Bailey’s from the coffee. He liked it. She had her fingers knotted in his hair. He liked that too. The way she flicked her tongue on his lower lip made his head spin. He really liked that.

“Let’s go upstairs.” He pulled her from the couch. He kissed her again with a promise of what was to come. Oh, yeah, this was going to be a night to remember.

At the threshold of the bedroom pieces of clothing dropped to the floor. The touch of her fingertips on his bare skin had every muscle in his body quivering. Their lips met again as he pulled her naked body firmly against his own. With his lips still on hers, he backed her to the bed. He hated to break contact, but for as much as his lips wanted to kiss her, his hands wanted to explore her. He enjoyed every moan and whimper she made while he moved his hands freely across her body.

Dipping his head, he licked around each nipple before demanding more of them. Her fingers twined through his hair as if anchoring his mouth to her full, luscious breast. His fingers played with her other nipple while he sucked. When he moved to kiss between her breasts and then her stomach, she surprised him by taking his head in her hands.

“Come back,” she sounded breathless.

He could only grunt in reply as he tried to remain in control. She felt too damn good, and tasted even better. When his lips touched her inner thigh, there was no mistaking her sharp intake of breath. He ventured farther and to his delight she relaxed into him.

***

Kate lolled her head on the pillow as euphoria set in. Sam’s touch felt so familiar, but at the same time it was like nothing she’d experienced in a long time. When his lips softly touched between her legs, she’d been frightened of the passion pulsing through her. She started to sit up, not sure how to react, but knowing she wanted more.

When he moved to claim her, the ache had been so strong she gave into it to find relief. She fell back onto the bed, her hips rising up against his mouth. She wanted more, but couldn’t find her voice to tell him. He must have read her mind.

She whimpered again when he left her, only to gasp when the heat of him touched her. Her insides tingled as he moved within her. He entered her slowly at first, and then quickened the
pace to match her rocking hips.

He moved harder against her, and she found herself crying out at the sheer passion she felt with him. She arched into him with his final thrust, and her entire body shook as she reached a height she’d never thought possible. They both lay spent, hearts pounding, on the bed.

Sam picked up Kate’s hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re incredible.”

She rolled on her side to snuggle against him, kissing his ribcage. “I can’t remember when I’ve felt like that.”

“Me neither.” He propped himself on an elbow and grinned devilishly at her. “Think you could handle another round?”

She flashed him a sultry, flirty expression as she responded, “Can you?”

“Let’s get you ready first. I’ll catch up.” His hands reached for her, and she inched closer. She liked the lustful look in his eyes. Yeah, she wanted him again, too.

The beep of his
cell phone made them both stop.

“Don’t answer it.” She tried to stop his arm when he reached for the table.

One look at the caller ID, and he groaned. “I gotta take this.”

She let out a sigh and fell back onto the bed. A strange feeling of
déjà
vu crept over her as she studied Sam’s profile.

“Hey, Luke, what’s going on?” Sam cleared his throat. “What? When? Did anyone get hurt? No, no, it’s okay, I’m on my way.” He threw on his faded jeans and pulled a t-shirt over his head. Clipping the phone at his waistband, he tossed her an apologetic look. “Sorry, babe. I’ve got to go.”

“Wait!” She followed him down the stairs while tying the belt to her robe. “Is everything all right?”

“Luke said some supports caved at the Mall site. It’s a big mess. I need to find out what happened. This is our bread and butter, you know, I need everything to run smoothly. No mistakes, no cutbacks.”

“Of course, go, I understand.”

“I know, but I hate to leave when we were just getting started.”

“Go already, would you!” She shoved him toward the door.

“I’ll make this up to you, I promise.” Sam appeared preoccupied so he didn’t notice the half-hearted smile as once more Kate felt as if she’d been in this situation before with those exact words being spoken.

“You’d better,” she added, handing him his jacket.

“I might not get home until late. Don’t wait up.” He kissed her long and hard, and then walked out the door.

**
*

Kate hummed as she sketched in the sunny window of the nursery, intent on designing for the new baby. She and Jill picked out beautiful patterns she planned to use for a quilt, crib skirt and curtains. She gave her drawing another perusal, thankful for the wonderful life she had and the future ahead.

True to his word, Sam had gotten home late from the mall site. She’d had a hard time falling asleep without him, still trying to figure out why she’d been bothered by him leaving. As owner of Hackett Construction, it was his name and reputation on the line if something went wrong. She understood that but couldn’t help feeling like he’d done this a lot in the past. Well, she’d show him just what an understanding and positive wife she could be from now on.

He’d left again before the sun had risen fully, and she’d missed their morning cup of coffee together. He’d called mid-afternoon to say he’d be home for dinner, and he couldn’t wait for dessert. Her relationship with Sam had reached a new level, and she wasn’t intimidated by it at all. She actually welcomed it, as if a veil had been lifted. Her insides quivered in anticipation of what was to come. Truth be told, she couldn’t wait for dessert either.

They’d made love so intensely last night. She felt connected to him, like she’d always belonged with him. Tonight they would connect again. She wanted him more than she thought possible, and couldn’t wait to show him and tell him how much she loved him.

She had flowers on the table and candles set strategically about the house, especially in the bedroom. As soon as he walked through that door, she was going to disconnect the phone and turn off his cell. The thought of him touching and kissing her again made her insides heat up.

“Oh my gosh, look at the time.” She set her sketchpad in the rocking chair and then hustled from the room. Once in the kitchen she started to season the steak and cut up some vegetables, all the while thinking of Sam. “I’m so in love, I could do this forever.” Her joyful thoughts scattered when the phone rang.

“Hello?”

There was silence.

“Sam, is that you?”

She thought she could hear breathing.

“Sam? I think we have a bad connection. You’ll have to call back.”

She hung up and stared at the phone on the wall, but it never rang again. Another look at the clock told her it wouldn’t be long before Sam was home anyway. Whatever he needed to tell her could wait until he walked in, unless, of course, they went directly upstairs.

She laughed at such a lustful thought and tried to distract herself by putting the finishing touches on dinner, but it didn’t work. She wanted to light the tapers on the table, and searched through kitchen drawers for matches, but didn’t have any luck. Remembering Sam kept a humidor in his office, she scampered through the house wanting everything to be perfect. Scanning the top of his desk, there were no matches to be found. She sifted through papers and still found no book of matches or even the small silver lighter she’d seen him use.

When she heard the dull sound of his truck door closing, she shot into panic mode. She yanked open the top drawer to his desk and a large manilla envelope fell, spilling its contents on the floor. Kate slid the chair out of the way as she bent to scoop up the mess. When she stood, the papers dropped onto the desk as if they’d burned her hands. A picture of herself stared at her from a newspaper article. There were more clippings, her driver’s license and a ragged piece of paper.

“What’s all of this?” Her hands trembled as they picked up more papers, only to drop them as a piercing pain shot through her skull. She pushed on either side of her head as the room went dark then came back into focus. When she opened her eyes, a picture of her dark man stared back at her.

Only he wasn’t alone. He was holding the hand of a little girl. A cry ripped out of Kate’s throat as she stared at the girl. A girl who reflected the same image Kate saw every time she looked in a mirror.

“My daughter. She’s what’s been missing. That’s why I wanted to have a baby.”

Fighting for breath, Kate rifled through more of the papers. She picked up the driver’s license and read the name, “Katrina Pizzaro.”

Another pain throbbed against her temple. “That’s me. I’m Katrina Pizzaro.”

Her heartbeat slammed against her chest and blood echoed within her ears as she picked up the wrinkled piece of paper, unfolding it under the light. Looking down at the words, she had all she could do to remain standing. Her custody hearing had been three weeks ago. She’d missed it.

“Hope? What happened?”

She’d been deceived. The one man she thought she could trust had turned her injury to his benefit. Tears filled her eyes, spilling freely upon the papers. “Oh, Sam, how could you? I believed in you.”

Sam’s head popped through the doorway. “Hey gorgeous, didn’t you hear me? I said I took the steak out of the oven. I
...
”

She saw the fear in his eyes when he noticed the papers in her hands.

“Kate, what are you--”

“Doing? What am I doing?” The words shot out like venom, and she couldn’t control the rage building inside, like a gun ready to fire. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”

***

Sam rushed across the room. “Kate, it’s not what you think.”

“Oh isn’t it? You lied to me. You kept me from my daughter.”

“I didn’t want to, really.” He fumbled for the right words, knowing nothing he could say would make sense to her now. “I tried to tell you the truth.”