Dreaming Of You (18 page)

“I’m thinking how wonderful I feel right now. My heart is just bursting with happiness that I know God resides here. The grounds around the church are all lit up with Christmas lights, too. The reason I was shocked that you would bring me here was because when I was a child, my family would come here every Christmas to see the lights. Dad would tell us the story of Jesus’ birth. Picking this location was the perfect setting because there would always be a manger scene over there.” She pointed in the direction of the grounds. “After Dad told the story, we’d sing a few Christmas songs, and then Mom would take some pictures of us kids before we left.” Katelyn smiled from the memory. “Coming here on Christmas Eve made our Christmas Day even more perfect.”

Shane nuzzled against her ear and kissed it. “What a wonderful memory.”

Katelyn turned her head to look at Shane. “What about you? Do you have any memories like that?”

“Not like yours. All my parents ever did around Christmas time was drive us kids around to look at the Christmas lights. When we got home, Mom fixed hot chocolate with marshmallows.”

“What a lovely memory.”

“You really think so?”

She nodded. “You spent time with your family making memories…which is one of the things Christmas is all about. As long as you include God in your life, you’ll have lots of great memories to cherish.”

He pulled away and held her hand as they walked closer to the church. “A few weeks ago I attended church with my parents. I hadn’t been inside a church since before I went to college.”

“How did you like it?”

He shrugged. “I felt peaceful, yet at the same time, I felt…” His cheerful expression turned into a frown.

Sadness tugged at Katelyn’s heart. “What did you feel?”

He shook his head. “I felt like I had wasted my life being married to Amber. Sure, we had two amazing children, but…things could have been better. Going to church with my family and watching how excited it made my kids, made me feel guilty. I should have held on stronger to my faith and kept going to church, even after I was married. Maybe then, my life—and my children’s lives—wouldn’t have been so miserable.”

She stopped, faced him, and clasped his hands. “Everyone makes mistakes, Shane. Everyone sins. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay away from church. That doesn’t mean God will never forgive us.” She slid her arms around his waist, and he held her close.

“You make it sound like changing my life is easy.”

Katelyn shook her head. “It’s not easy at all—but it’s worth it.”

Slowly a smile stretched across Shane’s mouth. He stroked Katelyn’s cheeks. “Doing a little conversion yourself, are you?”

Katelyn shrugged. “I don’t know...is it working? Besides, there’s always an opportunity to share God’s love with others.”

“You’re an amazing woman, Katelyn Palmer.”

She laughed and melted against him. “Just as amazing as you are.”

Happiness filled Katelyn’s heart. Once again, dreams of becoming his earthly companion stuck in her mind. Because of their talk, she felt her dreams were finally within reach.

Shane kept his arm around her shoulders as they continued their walk. “Being with you like this makes all my worries seem like there’s hope of working them out. Katelyn Palmer, being with you makes me think I can accomplish anything.”

“And why would you think differently? You
can
accomplish anything you set your mind to.”

He sighed heavily. “Tomorrow when you’re not with me, I’ll feel differently, I’m sure.”

“Why?”

“Because I feel different when I’m around you, and when you’re not there, I’m back to being the same, distrusting, pain-in-the-rear Shane Hunter.”

Katelyn laughed. “You are just too charming.”

He tightened his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer, and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you, Katelyn. For everything.”

He walked them back to the truck, then climbed in. Katelyn worried that the time to tell Shane the truth was getting closer. Confessing the truth would definitely help her release this guilt that weighs heavily on her chest. And it was right. But would he still believe she’d been stalking him in college? If he ever discovered
where
she’d gotten her information about him, she feared he’d never forgive her. And now that she knew she was in love with him, she didn’t want to do anything to ruin her happiness.

At the same time, she needed to stop cowering. Telling him the truth would either make or break their relationship. But before she confessed, she had some praying to do, because she didn’t think she had the courage to do it without God’s help.

She wouldn’t tell Shane tonight. Their first date had been wonderful and she didn’t want to ruin it. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

“I really hate to cut our date short, but I have a busy day tomorrow,” he said, starting the truck.

“You don’t have to apologize. I understand.”

“My company is going paperless.” He glanced at her. “Do you know what that means?”

She nodded. “That means you’re finally getting rid of all your paper files and transferring them to electronic files.”

Shane blew out a breath and frowned. “Exactly. Do you know how hard that’s going to be?”

“Why haven’t you done it already?”

“When the company was turned over to me, I was too busy to get things scanned into the computer.”

“It’s easier than you think.” Katelyn laid a hand on his arm. “Do you want my help?”

“I couldn’t ask you to help me.”

“You’re not. I’m volunteering. Besides, I’d love to see you at your job.” She grinned.

He chuckled. “I really should hire a secretary. I haven’t had one since Mags left.”

Katelyn shrugged. “So hire her, but I will still come and help if you’d like me to. In fact, let’s go tonight. It’s still early in the evening. We can get a lot done. I’ll even show you how to do it. I promise you’ll catch on fast.”

Shane leaned closer to her, his gaze fastening on her mouth. Katelyn’s heart skipped with excitement. He wanted to kiss her again. She would never get tired of that.

“Admit it,” he said softly. “You just don’t want to leave my side.”

A blush stole over her face, but she didn’t turn her face like she usually did. Instead, she smiled wider. “You can read me well, can’t you?”

He stroked her hot cheek. “Yes, I can.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “But I’ll make a confession, too.”

“What?” she asked, breathless.

“I don’t want to leave your side, either.”

Warmth spread through her. It pleased her to know he felt the same happiness she experienced. If she gave herself time to really think about their relationship, she’d realize things were happening way too fast. But she didn’t want to think of that because she’d never been happier than she was right now.

“Then what are you waiting for? Let’s go to your office and start transferring those files.”

He laughed and pulled back, then shifted the truck into gear and drove away from the beautiful Christmas lights.

* * * *

The next morning, Katelyn couldn’t remove her smile and she couldn’t stop sighing with happiness. For the past little while, she’d awakened with Shane on her mind, but this morning was different. The perfect date with Shane kept returning to interrupt her thoughts even as hard as she tried to work on her current story.

They’d worked together in his office until one o’clock in the morning. She showed him how to convert his files to a paperless system and he caught on quickly. They didn’t get everything done, but the time they spent together was very enjoyable. She found it easy to laugh around him. His fun personality often caught her off guard.

Shane had given her a very passionate kiss last night as he dropped her off, and before climbing in bed, she had prayed for courage to tell him the truth. She’d awakened with a light heart, and surprisingly, no worry. Today was the day to tell him, but more importantly, she felt that he would understand and forgive her.

Although Katelyn wanted to rush to him right now and confess, she wouldn’t bother him at work. Tonight would be soon enough. He’d asked to take her out on another date, and she agreed. This time the twins were coming. Katelyn couldn’t wait.

She stared at her computer screen, wishing to clear her head enough to write, but it wouldn’t happen. She pushed away from her desk and dressed for the day. It had been a few days since she’d visited with her sister, and helping Stacey at the daycare would take Katelyn’s mind off Shane.

Just as she finished getting ready and sprayed on her favorite perfume, the front doorbell rang. She rarely had unexpected company, so her heart skipped a beat, anticipating Shane had come to surprise her.

Quickly, she fluffed her hair one last time before hurrying to the front door. When she opened it, she immediately lost her smile. Panic surged through her when she stared into the very cunning eyes of Shane’s sister-in-law, Tori.

Tori looked picture-perfect, as always; new clothes fresh off the top designer’s rack, and not a hair on her head out of place. She wore a malicious smile, and that too looked to be very expensive.

“Surprise!” Tori said with a lift to her voice.

“Tori? What—how—why—” Katelyn’s thoughts jumbled together.

The other woman laughed again and stepped past Katelyn, walking inside her apartment. “I would have called first, but I didn’t have your phone number.”

Katelyn closed the door and leaned against the solid hard wood, mainly because her legs were shaking so bad. “How did you know where I lived?”

“I happened to be passing by last night when I saw you returning from a date.” Tori winked. “I have to say, seeing you surprised me.”

Tori saw me with Shane?
Katelyn breathed deeply because if she didn’t, she’d surely faint from lack of oxygen. “Um…I surprised you?”

“Yes, you did.” Playfully, Tori punched Katelyn’s arm. “You have changed so much from when we worked together. No longer are you the mousy woman I knew.”

Katelyn laughed uncomfortably. “Thank you.”

“Your looks aren’t the only thing that surprised me, either.”

“They’re not?”

“I can’t believe you went out with Shane Hunter.” Shaking her head, she folded her arms. “Please tell me you’re not serious about him. Don’t you remember me telling you what a jerk he was?”

Katelyn laughed uncomfortably and walked toward her sofa. She needed to sit before her wobbly legs collapsed beneath her. “Tori, that was several years ago. I can’t believe you still remembered.”

Tori followed her to the sofa and sat beside her. “Katie, I know we haven’t kept in touch over the years, but I still feel like we’re friends, and as your friend, I have to warn you. Shane has not changed since we last talked. In fact, he’s gotten worse.”

Anger quickly replaced the panic flowing through Katelyn’s body and she bunched her hands into fists. “Tori, I have gotten to know Shane over the past few weeks, and I can honestly say he’s not the man you told me about all those years ago. He is a warm, caring and loving man who completely adores his children.”

Tori scowled. “Boy, he has you fooled.” Gingerly, she touched Katelyn’s arm. “Please don’t let him suck you into his deceitful world like he did my sister, Amber.” Tori frowned as she blinked back tears. “He killed my sister, you know. True, he didn’t physically do it, but she was dead inside before the car accident took her life, and I blame Shane for that.”

Katelyn pushed away Tori’s touch. “Tori, you can’t convince me of his faults this time. He has already proven to me what an upstanding man he really is.”

Tori sat back in the sofa and crossed her arms. Her beady eyes nearly bore holes through Katelyn from the animosity she projected. “Tell me truthfully, Katie. Were you in love with him back in college? Is that why you wrote about him?”

Katelyn’s gut twisted. “In love with him?” She forced a laugh. “Tori, I didn’t even know him, except from what you told me.”

Nodding, Tori tapped her finger against her chin. “Now I’m starting to see things clearly. You wrote about Shane in your book, twisting the truth around to make him look like a hero in your readers’ eyes.”

“Tori, it’s not what you think—”

The other woman tilted back her slender neck and released a haughty laugh. “It’s exactly what I think. You had been having an affair with him while he dated my sister.”

“
What
?” Straightening, Katelyn blinked at the other woman as confusion filled her quickly. “Tori, you know I would never do that. I wasn’t that kind of girl back then, and I’m certainly not like that now. Has it slipped your mind how shy I was in college? If you recall, I couldn’t even look him directly in the eyes.”

“Well, my little miss romance writer,” Tori snickered, “you have certainly given me an ear-full this morning.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong!” Katelyn wanted this woman out of her house. Now! “I have never understood why you hate him so much.”

Tori lifted a heavily penciled eyebrow. “Really? Isn’t it obvious?”

“What’s obvious to me is that
you
were the one who loved him in college, and because he picked your sister over you…” Finally everything made sense. “Of course! That’s why you hate him. You finally found a man who didn’t think you were the most perfect woman on campus. You finally found a man who didn’t kiss your feet and worship you.”

“Ha!” Tori’s hands flew in the air. “You couldn’t be more wrong. Nobody is going to believe you, anyway. They will believe me!”

Katelyn’s head pounded with worry, and she knew she had to tell Shane as soon as possible. If he heard the truth from Tori first, he’d never believe Katelyn’s explanation.

“I’m sorry you can’t accept the truth, but that’s your problem, not mine.”

“Don’t be too sure about that,” Tori snickered.

Katelyn stood and walked toward the door. “I don’t have time to chit-chat with you any longer. Please leave.”

Tori shrugged her thin shoulders and nearly bounced with enthusiasm to the door. Katelyn knew what the vindictive woman was thinking—something Katelyn couldn’t let her accomplish.

* * * *

Shane waited at the restaurant, tapping his fingers impatiently on the table. Tori had called him early this morning, requesting a meeting. She said she wanted to make amends because she didn’t want him to hate her and wanted to continue seeing the children. Against his better judgment he’d decided to meet her and see what she wanted.