Dreaming Of You (12 page)

* * * *

For two days Shane hadn’t been able to stop thinking of Katelyn. Good grief, even at night she was in his dreams, for heaven’s sake! During the day while he was at work, he found himself staring out the window and actually planning on when he would see her next.

Shaking his head, he drove his truck into the sandwich shop and stopped. Today for lunch, he wanted his favorite sub—meatballs drowning in marinara sauce, wrapped in a bun and topped with all the veggies. Too bad this place didn’t deliver or he wouldn’t have left the office.

He hurried inside only to stand in line behind several groups of teenagers. Perhaps he should have picked a different time to take lunch instead of when the high school let their students out.

After several, agonizing and boring minutes, the line moved again. The front door to the sandwich shop opened again, and in walked someone with a familiar face. He grinned as she dug through her purse, coming toward the end of the line. When she finally stopped and lifted her gaze to him, her eyes widened and a lazy smile touched her face.

“Well, hello again, stranger.”

“Hi, Mags. Fancy meeting you here.”

She shrugged. “What can I say? I love sandwiches.”

“And salads with lite dressing.” He nodded.

Laughing, she placed her hand on his arm. “I can’t believe you remembered.”

“Hey, we were very close a few years ago as we worked long hours together getting the Montana office up and running.”

“Ah, yes, the good old days.”

The line moved again, so they stepped closer to the counter.

“So how long do you have for lunch?” he asked.

“An hour. How about you?”

“Since I’m the boss…” He shrugged. “Two hours.”

She laughed. “You sure haven’t changed much.”

“What are you saying? That I took long lunches back when you worked for me?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

He shook his head. “Then you don’t remember me at all.”

“So what do you say?” She nudged him with her elbow. “Want to share a table today and eat our sandwiches together?”

“Sure, why not. It’ll give us time to catch up.”

He finally reached the counter and gave his order—and just like he used to do several years ago—he also paid for Margaret’s meal. They found a table for two and sat.

“Well, since you know about what happened to me since we last worked together, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been doing since you came back from Montana,” he began.

She explained how she struggled to find work at first, but then after four months, she found a good job and was able to move out of her friend’s apartment and afford a place of her own. Then she told him about the several men she’d dated, but just as always, the relationships were doomed from the beginning.

In the years he’d known Mags, he realized something about her. She flirted with all men, and she never really wanted to settle down with just one. If she dated a man for more than six months it would be a record. Shane didn’t speak his mind, he just let her talk while he ate his mouth-watering meatball sandwich.

When he took the last bite, she tapped him on the hand.

“Now it’s your turn to talk while I eat.”

He laughed. “There’s not much to tell.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. You need to tell me why your marriage broke up. What happened?” She frowned, although the emotion of her sadness didn’t quite reach her hazel eyes. “The last time we talked, you and Amber were still acting like it was your honeymoon.”

Shane’s thoughts drifted back to that time. Actually, his marriage had just started to get rocky just before Mags left, but he didn’t let anyone know. Amber was beginning to whine constantly about his late hours—and especially working with Margaret. He knew they were just friends and would always be friends, but for some reason, Amber couldn’t trust him. Of course now, Shane realized it was Tori putting negative thoughts into Amber’s head.

He opened up to Mags about how he and Amber drifted apart, due in part to Tori’s influence, until she finally moved out and filed for divorce. Then he explained how Amber’s wild life had led her to her death.

“That’s just awful,” Margaret whispered. “I’m so sorry you and those adorable twins had to be put through all of that.”

“Yeah, it’s been hard on all of us, but we’re slowing adapting.”

She finished her sandwich and wadded up the paper. “Well, I suppose I should get back to work now.”

“Me, too.” He stood, took their trash and threw it away. As they headed out the door to their vehicles, he smiled at her. “Thanks for having lunch with me. It was nice catching up.”

“I agree.”

Being a gentleman, he walked her to her car. She opened the door, then turned and looked at him. “Shane, I really do miss you. We need to get together more often. I enjoy your company. You always know what to say to make me laugh.”

Strange, but he didn’t find the same satisfaction being with her as he did many years ago before they had parted ways in Montana. “It was sure nice seeing you again,” was all he could think to say.

Her expression changed and seriousness took over, and even a hint of sultry lurked in her eyes. She stepped closer to him and gave him a hug. Being polite, he hugged her back, but when he tried to withdraw, she tightened her arms and wouldn’t let him. Instead, she turned her face and pressed her mouth against his.

Irritation flowed through him like chipped glass. He didn’t want
that
kind of relationship with her. Only friendship.

Quickly, he broke the kiss and stepped out of her arms. “Mags, I’m…well, I’m not ready for that,” he said softly. “It’s still too soon after the death of my ex-wife.”

“But my darling Shane,” she purred, running her hands up and down his arms. “The best way to get over her is to find someone else.”

The problem wasn’t that he couldn’t find someone else, he just didn’t want it to be with Margaret. In a flash, Katelyn’s face appeared in his mind, and he realized he wanted to start something with her instead.

“Mags, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can ever think of you more than just a friend.”

“Will you still consider me for your next secretary?”

“Sure. There’s nobody in San Diego that can run an office like you.”

The color of her hazel eyes turned darker…more spiteful, and he realized he said the wrong thing. Again. This was exactly how they parted ways back in Montana.

“Fine then. Keep me in mind,” she snapped, turned and climbed into her car. “See you later, Shane.”

She slammed the door and he jumped back before a piece of his clothes—or a limb—could get caught in the heavy metal. He thought about trying to stop her and try to explain, but then he realized this was really the best way.

As she tore out of the parking lot, he raised a hand in goodbye, but she never saw it. Releasing a sigh, he turned back to his truck and climbed inside. He’d deal with Mags later. There was just too much going on in his life to deal with her and Katelyn at the same time.

Chapter Nine

Katelyn stood inside the door to the country-western dance club with her friends Jennifer and Alisha. For the hundredth time, Katelyn asked herself what in the world she was doing here.

“Katie, you can’t chicken out now,” Alisha said. “If you’re going to be my bridesmaid, then you’ll have to take country-western dance lessons with me.”

“And if I’m going to do it, so are you.” Jennifer aimed her stubborn gaze at Katelyn.

Sighing heavily, she let her friends pull her into the dance hall. Alisha’s face beamed with excitement as she clutched Katelyn’s arm. Couples stood around the room, most of them looking as annoyed as she felt.

Katelyn leaned closer to her friend and whispered, “Don’t forget, I’ve got to be out of here by seven o’clock. My nephews will never forgive me if I’m late for their school play.”

Alisha gave a carefree wave. “We’ll be out of here by then, I promise.”

But with every minute that passed, Katelyn doubted she’d be out on time. The instructor was late getting there, and once he began teaching the dances, there were so many people who didn’t catch right on, he’d take a few minutes to show them personally. Katelyn kept glancing down at her watch, hoping the lessons would be over with soon.

Finally, when she didn’t think she could stay a moment longer, the instructor ended the lessons. Katelyn gave her friends a quick hug and hurried out the door. After trying several times to start the new heap of junk vehicle her brother had let her borrow to tide her over, it started and she hurried across town.

“I hate being late,” she grumbled as she searched through the legion of vehicles crammed in the elementary school’s parking lot. When she couldn’t find an empty space and had to park halfway down the street, she grumbled again. She turned off the engine and the scrap of metal shook, droning on for a few moments before finally stopping. She shouldn’t complain too loud. At least it ran and got her back and forth across town.

Katelyn jumped out of the car and hurried toward the school. The brisk night air chilled her legs. Of course, she didn’t have time to run home and change into her jeans. Her nephews were going to be mad at her as it was.

Her cowboy boots clicked on the pavement as she dashed into the school. She removed her jacket and hung it amongst the other garments in the front hall, then made her way to the auditorium. The music from the play confirmed her very late arrival.

She opened the door and peered inside. When she couldn’t see any available seats, she frowned. Making a quick decision, she turned and walked down the hall, around to the side of the stage, hoping to get a view from there. She breathed a sigh of relief when the double doors were open enough to watch the play.

Straining her neck, she searched for her nephews. When she spotted them wearing their brown and black Indian costumes, she smiled. Feeling almost as proud as her brother would feel right now, she leaned her shoulder against the wall and watched her talented nephews perform the very first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Indians.

Heavy footsteps echoed from behind, coming to stop near her, but she kept her attention on the play. A familiar man’s after-shave drifted to her and she quivered with delight. Shane stood behind her, and her body knew it.

She shook her head. This is too coincidental.
Why is this happening to me?

Trying hard to ignore Shane—or at least act as if she didn’t know he stood behind her—she straightened her stance and focused on the play. But his deep breaths brushed the back of her neck, very close to her ear. Tingles shot down her spine, creating awareness in her she wanted to ignore. Memories of the kiss they shared came back full force.

Taking a breath for courage, she glanced over her shoulder and realized he was much closer than she’d thought. He stood with his gaze directed toward the play, but the twitch at the corner of his mouth told her he was pretending.

She acted surprise. “Shane? What are you doing here?”

His warm gaze moved over her face, and his smile widened. “I was in the mood for a play tonight.”

She arched one of her eyebrows and cocked her head. “Liar.”

He chuckled softly. “Okay, you’ve caught me. The truth is my sister volunteered my company to donate the materials needed for the scenery. She also volunteered my labor.” He shrugged. “I had nothing better to do tonight, so I thought I’d see how my handiwork turned out.” He glanced back at the stage. “Not bad, even if I have to say so myself.”

Katelyn grinned and shook her head. “Well, if you’d waited a couple of seconds, you wouldn’t have to
say so yourself
. I think you did a marvelous job.”

He looked back at her. “Are you in the play?” He withdrew only inches as his gaze combed over her western wear. “I thought this play was about Pilgrims and Indians, not Annie Oakley.”

She just couldn’t help herself, and laughed. Sometimes his personality caught her off guard. “No, I’m not in the play, but my nephews are. And the reason I’m dressed like this is because I’ve just come from my dance lessons.”

His eyes widened. “Dance lessons?”

“Yes.” Her face burned with embarrassment, so she quickly continued, “My best friend is having country dancing at her wedding, so I thought I’d take some lessons before I made a fool out of myself in front of everyone at her reception.”

He nodded, still studying her attire, his focus starting at the off-the-shoulder black blouse with a round neck and dropping to her skirt. “Mmm, nice knees.” He moved his hand and cupped her shoulder, his thumb gently caressing the skin. Her heart hammered wildly.

“Why don’t you teach me what you’ve learned?” he asked.

Feeling uncomfortable, she folded her arms and leaned back against the wall, which moved her away from temptation’s touch. “You’ve got to be kidding. Why would
you
want to learn country dancing?”

He stepped closer and braced his arm on the wall near her head. “To be honest with you, I already know how.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“It’s true.”

His free hand came up and stroked her cheek then trailed down her neck, across her shoulder, then down her arm. When his fingers linked with hers and he pulled her away from the wall, her heart jumped to her throat.

“Come here and I’ll show you.”

Katelyn’s limbs shook as Shane led her away from the stage’s side door and down a darkened hallway.

“Do you know how to swing?” he asked.

She licked her dry lips. “Barely.”

“Let’s see what you remember.”

In her classes when she’d teamed up with a partner, the man put his arm around the woman’s shoulders, and the woman’s arm went around the men’s waist. But when Shane took her in his arms, his hand circled her waist as he pulled her against his chest the old fashion way. His other hand cradled hers while his lean fingers caressed her skin.

She swallowed hard. “I think you’re doing it wrong,” she told him softly.

“Yes, I know, but I was never comfortable doing it the other way.” His arm tightened around her waist. “This feels better.”

It sure does.