A Celtic Knot (25 page)

Catherine glared at her mother. “Ruth, I’m counting on you to keep the peace. I’ll be right back.”

They all watched Catherine and Laura walk away.

Alexis took a deep breath. “It was a mistake coming here.”

Dana shook her head. “You didn’t think for one minute that we would pretend that the pain you caused Catherine never happened.”

Alexis faced Dana. “I guess I hoped we could all let go of the past, as Catherine requested.”

“Well, you’re wrong again, Alexis.”

Alexis tightened her grip on her purse strap. “I talked this out with Catherine, Dana. I don’t know what more I can say to you.”

“There isn’t anything you could possibly say to rectify what you did to my daughter. You never deserved her. Luckily, she somehow managed to survive everything we put her through, and is stronger and wiser.”

“You’re right, Dana. I never deserved Catherine. I truly loved her, but she chose to be there for you instead of me, and I couldn’t deal with that.”

“I understand that my breast cancer was difficult for all of us, but I never imagined that you would use it as an excuse for your own selfishness.”

Ruth put her hand on Dana’s arm. “I think this is the point where I step in to keep the peace.”

Dana took a breath. “If it were my choice I’d never want to see your face again. But Catherine is a much better person than I am, and she’s found a woman who loves her far more than you ever could have. She wants to rebuild a relationship with Kayla while she’s building her life with Olivia. I respect and admire that. From this moment on, I’ll be civil to you because I too adore your daughter. But I’m only going to tell you this once. Don’t you ever hurt my daughter again. Have I made myself perfectly clear?”

“Crystal clear. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to join my daughter.”

Ruth shook her head as Alexis walked away. “Wow. I think that’s the first time I’ve really seen your fiery Irish temper. You had me scared.”

“Maternal instincts bring it out in me.” Dana sighed. “Maybe I was too hard on her. I felt responsible for a very long time for what happened between her and Catherine. They were fine until my cancer.”

“Don’t even say that. You’re in no way responsible for what Alexis did. And Catherine’s right, it’s time to put the past behind us. Your daughter’s future looks wonderful right now. Yours does as well. And I never, never, would have wished breast cancer on someone as beautiful, generous, and honorable as you, but I’m deeply grateful you came into my life.”

They looked into each other’s eyes for several long moments before Ruth broke the spell. “Now, let’s head to where the harpist is playing. Then I want to get a front row seat for those Irish dancers you hired.”

Dana didn’t like the grin on Ruth’s face one bit. “Behave yourself, Dr. Ratcliff, or you might just see that tough side of me again.”

Ruth took her hand and guided her forward. “Promises, promises.”

Thirty-Seven

C
A
THERINE UNLOCKED HER FRONT DOOR
and Stepped aside. Olivia wheeled her suitcase into the foyer as Catherine turned the lights on and shed her jacket.

Olivia stepped down into the sunken living room. She dropped into the overstuffed beige suede couch and leaned her head back, sighing with pleasure. “I love your house, Catherine. Every time we come here I just want to snuggle into this couch with you forever.”

Catherine slipped in beside her. “With our busy lives, I’m just grateful to steal whatever moments we can to snuggle.” She laid her head on Olivia’s shoulder. “Are you tired, baby?”

“Not tired, just overwhelmed. Please tell me right now if every St. Patrick’s Day will be like this, because I don’t know how many more I can survive.”

Catherine slipped her hand into the opening at Olivia’s blouse. “Did O’Sullivan’s do you in?”

“Oh, my God. I’ve never been in such a high-spirited restaurant in my life.”

“But then again you’ve never been to an Irish pub on St. Patrick’s Day.”

“This is very true. Can you believe I lived thirty-six years without anyone expecting me to drink green beer like it’s water?”

“Wasn’t it so much fun, darling?”

Olivia slipped her hand along Catherine’s neck and deep into her hair. “It was more fun than I’ve had in a really long time and completely overwhelming, but that’s just how my life has been since the moment you stepped into it. Over the past several years I’ve had so little time for pleasure. You bring that to my life with a vengeance. That’s truly a gift you give me.”

Catherine leaned closer and kissed her sweetly and gently. “I’m glad. I had such a wonderful time with you tonight. You made my St. Patrick’s Day so special.”

Olivia pulled an envelope from her pocket and handed it to Catherine. “Speaking of this incredible day, I’ve got something for you.”

Catherine removed a shimmering green-and-yellow St. Patrick’s Day card and smiled at the leprechaun on the front. Inside was a slip of paper inscribed in large bold script. “Paris trip voucher for Catherine O’Grady.” She looked at Olivia. “What’s this?”

“You told me that you wished for your mom’s continued good health and Cocoa Cream to grow and prosper. Those dreams have been fulfilled. You also dreamed of seeing Paris. I want to fulfill that dream with you. I’m going to take you to Paris as soon as we can book the time off together. That’s my tenth-anniversary gift to you.”

Catherine blinked several times. “This is way too generous a gift, Olivia.”

“I seem to remember you telling me that certain events deserve extravagance. This is one of those events. You’ve worked hard for the success of Cocoa Cream. I want to celebrate with you. I love you and I want to spend lazy days sitting by the Seine River with you breaking bread, crumbling cheese, and sipping on expensive French wines. I want to fill our days with museums and magnificent churches. I want to spend the nights making love to you in a high-ceilinged Parisian hotel room.”

Catherine leaned her face against Olivia’s, realizing she was finally ready to accept such generosity. “I love you so much. It would truly be a dream come true to go to Paris with you, darling.”

“If it’ll make you feel any better, I’ll let you buy the baguettes.”

Catherine laughed. “I might even spoil you with crepes and marzipan.”

“Now, let’s not go crazy.”

“This has truly been a magical day. Do you care to end it with a bath? I can’t offer you the elegance of your Jacuzzi, but I think my simple bathtub will be quite cozy.”

“Lead the way.”

Catherine slipped into a tiger-print negligee and matching string bikini panties. She checked herself in the mirror before dimming the lights in the bedroom. She removed several thick pillows from the bed and turned down the duvet. She lit the sugar-cookie candle on her dresser and checked the room one more time.

She walked into the bathroom as Olivia finished washing her face. She marveled at her exquisite body. Her long shapely legs disappeared into black silk boxers that fit snuggly against her tight bottom. Her lines were sleek and fit beneath a black tank top that hugged firm peaked breasts. Catherine had to restrain herself from tearing her clothes away, especially when she saw the look of longing in Olivia’s eyes. “Are you hungry, darling?”

Olivia smiled. “Not after Mr. O’Sullivan’s delicious fish and chips. However, the sight of you in that gorgeous negligee certainly makes me very hungry for you.”

Catherine moved closer. “I was hoping I might be able to stimulate your appetite.”

“You do more than just stimulate me. You drive me absolutely wild.” Olivia gripped the tiger-print negligee by the hem, eased it over Catherine’s head, and threw it toward the bedroom. Catherine felt like liquid fire in her arms as she guided her backward and leaned her against the glass wall enclosing the shower. “You’re so incredibly beautiful. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.” She cupped each breast in her hands, leaned down, and grazed Catherine’s nipple across her wet lips before sucking her in deeply.

Catherine felt the cool glass against her back as the heat of rapture flushed through her body. She didn’t know how much longer she could remain standing as she held Olivia’s head close.

Olivia moved to her other breast and bathed it with her tongue. Feeling Catherine’s knees buckle, she wrapped one arm around her waist and molded the other hand to her firm, heaving breast. She brushed her fingertips down her flat belly and around her belly button before slipping inside her panties. She watched Catherine’s tense expression as she threaded her fingers between her velvety folds. Catherine’s guttural cry infused Olivia with urgency and she dove her fingers within her.

Olivia fed Catherine’s torrid need, kissing her deeply for several long moments, then slid from within her and caressed her rigid essence. Catherine moaned heavily against her lips as each stroke fueled her desire.

Catherine thrust one final time against Olivia’s exploring fingers before releasing a cry of pure erotic bliss.

She slowly opened her eyes. “Oh, my God, darling, that was incredible.”

Olivia smiled. “I love making love to you.”

Catherine grazed her lips across Olivia’s. “I think I’ll take you to O’Sullivan’s on a regular basis.”

Catherine grabbed the large inflated pillow from the bathtub and one of the large fluffy white towels. She laid the towel open on the vanity and leaned the pillow against the mirror.

Catherine guided Olivia back up against the gray marble vanity. She crushed her lips to Olivia’s and chased her tongue with a ravenous obsession. Then, in quick succession, she pulled the tank top over Olivia’s head, slid the boxers down to her feet, and slipped out of her own panties. She loved the unrestrained yearning in Olivia’s bright eyes as she moved in tight between Olivia’s parted thighs and pressed herself intimately against her.

Olivia thrust against her and cried with exquisite pleasure as Catherine slid her hands along her sides and over her breasts. Her nipples strained against the palm of her hands as she caressed them.

Olivia lifted herself up to sit on the towel on the vanity and lay back against the inflatable pillow. Catherine moved with her and pressed herself firmly between her parted thighs. She loved the feeling of Olivia’s legs wrapped around her waist as she gyrated against her wetness.

Catherine slid her hands along her thighs and onto her hips. She devoured her lips with an insatiable hunger and plundered her with her tongue in a desperate race for fulfillment. Catherine loved Olivia’s cry of surrender as she slid her fingers through her wetness and deep inside her.

Olivia tightened herself around Catherine’s fingers. She groaned with pleasure as Catherine slowly slid from within her and caressed her in her own wetness in small light circles.

Catherine felt Olivia tightening her thighs around her and tensing with each light stroke. She pressed her lips to her closed eyelids and across her cheek. Olivia quivered at her fingertip, then went very still before releasing a deep guttural cry of ecstasy, the tension rippling between her thighs then surging like seawater crashing over a breakwater.

Olivia held Catherine tight in her arms as she battled for each new breath. “Oh, my God, that was amazing.”

Catherine buried her face in Olivia’s warm neck. “You feel so wonderful.”

“You’re an amazing lover, Catherine O’Grady. If I knew that Irish women were like this I would have taken a trip to Ireland years ago.”

Catherine laughed. “Think of how much money I’ve saved you in travel expenses.” She kissed Olivia’s cheek. “I think we might be ready for bed now.”

Olivia kissed her way along her neck. “Who needs a bed when this countertop seems just perfect for our needs?”

Thirty-Eight

C
A
THERINE REMOVED THE LAST
of the books from the packing box, collapsed the box, and stacked it with the others. Gathering the books in her arms, she turned to the wall unit, which was nearly filled now with familiar volumes and other treasures—lush plants she’d nurtured since they were small, photographs of her and her parents.

The room where she’d spent her first night at 25 Carriage House Lane was slowly being transformed into her study. After a month of living between two houses, she and Olivia had decided that the big house would be home. Olivia had been very sweet not to push her, and the decision now felt abundantly right, particularly as Catherine moved more and more of her own home to Carriage House Lane. The house that once seemed overwhelming now seemed just right for four people, with a little one arriving soon.

Catherine was amazed by how quickly she and Olivia were growing closer, growing into each other’s lives. She actually found herself enjoying Olivia’s somewhat more messy style, a sign of her energy and commitment to her life outside the home. And it helped that she would have her own orderly room to retreat to.

All week they’d used Olivia’s Escalade to swap furniture back and forth between the houses. All the pieces Catherine truly cared about were now here. Several couches and chairs from the living room at Carriage House Lane, plus the bedroom furniture from the room that was now her study, fit perfectly at Catherine’s house, which they planned to rent furnished to two intern friends of Olivia’s. The puzzle was falling into place surprisingly easily now that they were committed to making it work.