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Authors: Ana Corman

A Celtic Knot (21 page)

BOOK: A Celtic Knot
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Alexis extended her hand. “You have a deal.”

Catherine took her hand. “Does this mean I can see Kayla?”

“You were always so good to her, Catherine. She would be elated to have time with you. These two years away from you have been really hard on her. It would mean a lot to me if you would be willing to spend time with her.”

Catherine looked away as her eyes filled with tears.

“How do you think Olivia will feel about you spending time with Kayla?”

“I’ll have to talk to her about it.” Catherine fought back a flicker of worry. “But she has an enormous heart. I have to believe if it’s important to me, it’ll be important to her.”

Alexis rubbed her hand along the arm of the wooden chair. “I always knew you would find someone, but it still feels like a kick in the gut hearing about Olivia.”

“Good. I hope it felt like a kick in the ass, too.”

Alexis laughed. “It’s so good to see you haven’t changed. I want you to be happy, Catherine. I hope Olivia’s the woman you finally deserve.”

Catherine reached for the tissue in her pocket. “I’ve certainly fought it hard enough, but I truly believe she’s the woman I’ve been looking for my whole life.”

Thirty-Two

T
H
E NURSE CAME IN AT ELEVEN O’CLOCK
for her hourly checks of Kayla. Kayla seemed grumpy at being disturbed in her sleep but happy to see that Catherine was still in the room. When the nurse left, Catherine moved to the side of the bed and kissed the little girl on the top of her head.

“Are you going home?” Kayla asked.

“Yes, I am. But the wonderful news is that your mom said we could see each other again.”

Kayla’s eyes got big. She turned to her mother. “Can we go to the bookstore and have hot cocoa with Catherine, Mom?”

“We sure can, sweetheart.”

Kayla beamed. “I’m so glad that raccoon ran across the road in front of our bus.”

Catherine laughed. “I’ll call you at home tomorrow to see how you’re feeling.”

“Okay.”

“Our big St. Patrick’s Day celebration is on Saturday. Maybe if you feel better by then you and your mom can join us.”

“That would be great.”

Catherine leaned down and kissed her softly. “I love you. I’m so happy you’re okay. Be a good girl and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“I love you too, Catherine.”

Catherine pulled the covers up tight to the little girl’s chin, then slid off the bed and stood beside Alexis.

Alexis handed her a card. “That’s my business card with our home number and my cell-phone number.”

Catherine slipped the card into the pocked of her slacks. “Thank you,” she said, blowing Kayla a kiss as she headed for the door.

Catherine pulled out of the hospital parking lot and hit the preset button on her cell phone for Olivia. A surge of excitement and anxiety swirled in her chest. She took a deep breath and told herself to stay calm. She made sure the earpiece was securely in place as she listened to the ring tone.

“Hello there.”

Catherine swallowed hard. “Hi. Did I wake you?”

“Not in the least. I’ve been waiting for your call. How’s Kayla?”

“She’s doing great. They did a CAT scan, and everything looks fine, but they’re keeping her overnight, just to be sure.”

“I’m so glad she’s okay. You must be physically and emotionally exhausted, Catherine.”

“I haven’t been this exhausted in a long time. But my mind is racing, too. There’s so much I want to tell you, Olivia. May I come over?”

“You know the answer to that question. There’s nothing that would make me happier. Where are you right now?”

“Fifteen minutes from your house.”

“I’ll open the garage door for you.”

Catherine pulled her Volkswagen bug into the open garage beside Olivia’s Escalade. Olivia was standing in the open doorway dressed in black polka-dotted pajama bottoms and a form-fitting black tank top. Catherine felt both thrilled and overwhelmed. There was so much she wanted to say, and she didn’t know where to start. Everything had changed, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to say why.

Olivia walked around the front of her vehicle and opened the driver’s door. Catherine stepped out and caught her in a tight embrace. She slid her hands up Catherine’s slender back and into her short chestnut hair. She breathed deeply as she inhaled her orange-blossom scent. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Catherine looked into those tired amber eyes. “I’m so happy to be here with you.” She leaned closer and kissed Olivia with slow, tender warmth.

Her head felt light as they pulled apart. “I’ve been trying to decide the whole time driving here what to say. You are everything I need and want. I love you, Olivia.”

Competing emotions played across Olivia’s beautiful features—joy, caution, relief, fatigue. “There’s nothing I want to hear more than that.” She smiled. “But maybe not in the garage. Let’s go inside.”

They walked through the quiet house. Olivia closed her bedroom door behind them and sat on the bench at the foot of the bed. “How was your time with Alexis?”

Catherine brushed her fingers across the elegant mahogany footboard, intensely aware of the thick duvet and inviting pillows on the bed. “I let go of that part of my past tonight, Olivia. Everything changed. My feelings about family and relationship. My feelings about you.”

Catherine stood before the blazing fire nestled in the white marble fireplace. The full moon winked back at her through the narrow windows flanking each side of the fireplace. She turned as she saw Olivia’s reflection in the window, feeling an anxious fluttering in her stomach. “Spending this evening with Alexis made me realize what a favor she did for us by ending our relationship. It was never meant to last. What I want to last is what I have with you. I don’t want to lose you, Olivia. I want a life with you.”

Olivia stood and took Catherine’s hands in her own. “I’ve wanted a life with you since the first day I saw you. I love you, Catherine. I want to spend the rest of my life sharing every day and every night with you.”

“I’m here now, Olivia.”

Olivia leaned her forehead against Catherine’s. “This is certainly not how I imagined our first night together. It’s been a tough evening, for both of us. I spent some uncomfortable hours, worried that I would lose you to Alexis.”

Catherine touched Olivia’s face. “Did you really think I’d go back to her?”

“The thought did terrify my mind this evening.”

Catherine took Olivia’s hands and held them close to her heart. “I’m sorry my actions tonight frightened you. I need you to believe me when I say you’ll never lose me to Alexis or any other woman.”

“I’ve been longing to hear that with every fiber of my being. But you’re exhausted, Catherine. I don’t want our first night to be clouded by your emotional time with Alexis and Kayla.” Olivia brushed her lips against Catherine’s, softly, slowly. “I drew you a hot bubble bath so you can soak and unwind.”

“That sounds wonderful.” They walked into the bathroom. Catherine stood before the gray-marble Jacuzzi, filled to capacity with foaming bubbles. Large candles flickered around the room, filling the air with the pleasing aroma of vanilla. Two thick lush white towels perched on the edge of the tub beside a big inflatable pillow. On one corner sat a clear tray with a tall glass of ice water, and a crystal bowl of plump strawberries and shiny green grapes.

Catherine turned. “What if I hadn’t stayed?”

“I would have climbed in that tub myself, to ease my sorrow.”

Olivia moved behind Catherine and slowly lowered the zipper at the back of her lavender dress, the material parting to expose flawless olive skin. She placed the open palm of her hand against Catherine’s lower back and skimmed her hand upward. She brushed her lips against her slender neck and heard Catherine’s rapt moan of pleasure. “I’m going to leave you to your bath, my darling Irish girl.”

Catherine turned, confused. “You’re leaving? You’re not joining me?”

“I can’t tell you how much I’d love to. But I think it will quiet your mind, to soak alone. It’s been a long night for you, Catherine.”

Olivia touched her fingertips to the loose neckline of Catherine’s embroidered dress, then leaned forward and brushed her lips against her ear. “You should find everything you need in here.”

Catherine gripped Olivia’s waist tightly and pressed herself against her. “What I need is you.”

“You’re testing my self-control, Ms. O’Grady.”

“Exactly my intention.” Catherine grazed her lips along Olivia’s jaw then took a step back, slowly slipping her arms from the sleeves of her dress and letting it slide down her body, revealing a lacy black bra and matching panties. She stepped out of the dress and carelessly draped it across Olivia’s arm.

Catherine reached for the ties at Olivia’s waist and slowly loosened the bow. She skimmed her thumbs along the smooth skin of Olivia’s slender belly. Olivia took a shuddering breath and quickly pulled her close, crushing her lips to Catherine’s with voracious need.

They pulled apart. Olivia leaned her face against Catherine’s and struggled to catch her breath. “So much for self-control. But now I
am
going to leave you to your bath.”

Catherine brought her hand to her mouth and touched her swollen, tingling lips. She watched Olivia move away, resisting the desire to reach out and pull her back.

Olivia turned as she reached the door. “I put a nightshirt on the vanity for you. My mom bought it for me from Victoria’s Secret for Christmas, years ago. I’m more of a boxers-and-tank-top girl. Goes to show you what my mother knows.” She grinned and left.

Exhaustion washed through Catherine as the door clicked softly shut. She turned toward the tub. She couldn’t remember when she’d last taken a truly luxurious bath. As she sunk into the bubbles, she realized that maybe Olivia did know what she needed, at least for right now.

Catherine placed the empty bowl of fruit on the saffron-yellow-speckled vanity and turned off the lights in the bathroom.

She stepped into Olivia’s bedroom, surprised to see that it was empty, the inviting duvet undisturbed.

“Olivia?” she called out softly.

She heard Olivia’s voice from down the hall. “In here.”

Catherine made her way to her favorite of Olivia’s spare rooms, the one with east-facing windows. Olivia was just finishing plumping the pillows on the queen-size bed.

“We’re sleeping in here?”

Olivia looked up. “I’m getting the bed ready for you. Aren’t you a beautiful sight in that nightshirt. Maybe my mother does know what I like, after all.”

Catherine moved forward and grazed her fingers across Olivia’s tanned chest. Olivia pulled her close. She rubbed her nose along Catherine’s cheek. “You smell so fresh and clean.”

Catherine slid her fingers along the waistband of Olivia’s pajama bottoms, just beneath the soft cottony material. She touched her lips to Olivia’s, slowly and sensuously. She heard Olivia’s groan of frustration and kissed more deeply.

Olivia pulled Catherine closer with one hand, and slipped the other hand beneath the hem of the pink nightshirt, sliding it higher until it nestled on Catherine’s naked hip.

She knew she could quickly lose herself in this kiss. She let her hand slide back down Catherine’s thigh. “My darling girl, it’s taking every ounce of my self-control not to tear this nightshirt from your beautiful body and make love to you.” She took a breath. “If you still feel tomorrow that you want to spend your life with me, nothing will stop me. But tonight, just one more night, I think we should sleep in separate rooms.”

Catherine searched Olivia’s eyes, feeling both disappointed and grateful, aroused and exhausted. “Are you sure?”

Olivia nodded. “We’re physically and emotionally drained. I need to know you’ve thought this through with a clear head. I believe in us with all my heart. But I need to be certain that you believe it, too.”

Catherine slept more soundly than she ever could have imagined, with Olivia so close by. She woke at dawn, and padded softly down the hall to look in on the woman she loved. Catherine’s chest swelled with warmth at the sight of Olivia sleeping so peacefully on her side, with the duvet barely up to her waist, the form-fitting black tank top accentuating her shapely arms and firm breasts. This was a sight she wanted to see every morning of her life. But Olivia had been right. Last night had not been the right time for their first night together.

Tonight, she felt certain, would be the right time, though she wasn’t sure where the right place would be, to seal their future. She recognized that the differences between Olivia and herself couldn’t simply be washed away by the wave of her love. Their pasts couldn’t be washed away. Olivia might never feel comfortable joining her in a chapel, and there might be evenings when Catherine simply couldn’t bear another story about cancer. But she firmly believed that those challenges, if faced with honesty, wouldn’t undermine their partnership. They would only make it stronger.

She watched Olivia sleeping for several long minutes as a plan formed in her mind. Finally she returned to the guest room and snuggled back under the covers.

BOOK: A Celtic Knot
3.9Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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