Dreaming Of You (19 page)

Taking a deep breath, he slowly released it and leaned back in the booth, keeping watch on the door. Once he had gotten Tori taken care of, he was going to seriously date Katelyn. Since taking her to that beautiful church last night, he couldn’t stop thinking about what a great influence she’d been on his life after a few short weeks. He’d never met anyone like her, and the more he knew about her, the more he grew to love her. She was exactly the kind of woman he wanted in his life, married to him and loving his children. She was also the type of woman he wanted to have more children with.

He knew she felt the same way about him, which made being with her much more enjoyable. Her faith in the Lord gave him the strength to want the Lord in his life as well. She was his support, his encouragement, and he never wanted to let her go.

Funny how their relationship had started out badly. He couldn’t believe he’d accused her of stalking him—and the other insane notions he’d had. Perhaps she hadn’t known him a long time ago and it was just a coincidence that her hero shared Shane’s name along with his life.

An overwhelming, flower-killing, perfume drowned his senses mere seconds before Tori sat across from him. She linked her fingers together on the table and smiled in that victorious, know-it-all way of hers. He couldn’t wait to stick a pin to her head and burst her bubble.

“Have you ordered breakfast yet?” she asked.

“I’ve already eaten.”

“Oh, well I’ll just order orange juice, then.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. You’re paying for it, not me.”

She chuckled. “Little do you know…”

“Tori, I really don’t want to be here with you, so say what you’ve come to say so I can leave.”

She grinned—looking like the cat who’d swallowed the canary—as she drummed her fake fingernails on the table. “I actually want to call a truce between us. I’ll admit that it crushed me when you wouldn’t let me take the kids as Amber had wanted, and I’m very relieved to see you want to be their father now.”

He gripped the end of the table, wondering what she was up to now. Tori did not admit she was wrong…ever. So why was she doing so now? “Thank you, Tori. I’m glad you can see that.”

Tori shrugged. “And although you cheated on Amber while she was pregnant, I suppose I understand how easy it is to fall out of love with your spouse.”

“Tori, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve told you before that I have
never
cheated on Amber. I was faithful to her the whole time we were married—even before while we dated. I just wish my wife could have shown me the same faithfulness.”

“Shane, really. You don’t have to lie. I know you did. Don’t you think I have proof?” She laughed harder. “I wouldn’t be making these accusations if I didn’t have proof.”

He rolled his eyes. “What? The romance novel? Think again, Tori. That’s no proof at all.”

She stretched back in the seat, looking comfortable and assured. “You say you don’t know the author, Chelsea Mitchell, but I can prove you did.”

Shane’s heartbeat turned irregular. Anger didn’t have anything to do with it now. “You can prove I knew this author before I married Amber?”

“Oh, yes.”

Tori had seen him with Katelyn last night at Roberto’s, but that didn’t prove they knew each other back then. Shane wondered what Tori was up to now. “How?”

“Because she went to college with us, but was in the class just younger. Her real name is Katelyn Palmer. I worked with her the whole time you were dating Amber, and even after you two were married.”

College?
His chest tightened. Why hadn’t he thought of college? Then again, it was a large campus. There was no way he could know everyone. “Even if the author did go to college with us, it doesn’t mean I know her and had an affair with her, Tori.”

“My dear, stupid, brother-in-law. Don’t you think Katie and I talked when we worked together? She told me all about stalking you in college. She followed you constantly. She knew when you went to basketball games, and even when you studied at the library.”

Doubt clouded his mind, and the breakfast energy drink he’d had this morning threatened to come up. “Katelyn might have known me back then, but I can assure you, I didn’t know her. You still can’t prove anything, Tori.”

Tori shook her head. “Everyone who has read that book can tell the author had an affair with Shane Hunter. In fact,” she paused, her smile growing wider, “I’m quite sure if you asked her, she wouldn’t be able to deny being in love with you back then.”

Staring at his evil sister-in-law, he thought back to the times he’d asked Katelyn about the book—about how she knew him. She had many chances to confess, but never did. He always felt she was hiding something but then somehow convinced himself maybe he had just over-imagined everything.

If what Tori said was right, Katelyn had been purposely withholding the truth from him. Why would she do that, knowing he’d get upset when he discovered the truth?

“Tori, I can’t believe the lies coming out of your mouth this time,” he snipped.

“They are not lies, believe me. Katelyn and I talked about a lot of things. I told her how awful you were to Amber, especially after you two were married. Katie led me to believe she despised you as much as I did.”

Tori was lying. She had to be! Why would Katelyn have said those things back then when they weren’t true? Perhaps that was why she wouldn’t confess to knowing him now—she was afraid he’d find out.

“Can’t you see, Shane? Katie is using you to get ideas for her next book, just like she was using me when we worked together.”

The more he stared at Tori, the more he felt like a sinking man. He shouldn’t have pursued the author of that book. Obviously, it was a big mistake because now that Tori had seen him with Katelyn last night, his sister-in-law would only add fuel to the already roaring fire and make him question Katelyn’s motive.

Silently, he cursed Tori. Now he wished he’d never known the truth!

* * * *

Katelyn screeched her car to a quick stop and slammed it in to park. She flew out of the Pathfinder without even grabbing her purse, dashing toward the building where Shane worked. Because she didn’t know where he lived, she realized she’d have to disturb him at work after all. She couldn’t have Tori talking to him first.

She sprinted up the stairs, stumbled and nearly fell on her face, opened the door and hurried inside. Then stopped. She’d expected to see an office full of people. Instead, one woman sat behind a desk. Upon Katelyn’s noisy entrance, the woman jumped out of her chair and stood. Perhaps Shane did hire someone after all to finish converting the files.

“Hello,” Katelyn greeted.

“May I help you?”

Katelyn took a few deep breaths, hoping to calm her racing heart. “Yes. I need to see Shane Hunter. It’s urgent.”

Slowly, the woman moved toward Katelyn, keeping a smile upon her heavily glossed lips. “Shane isn’t here right now. If you’d like, I could take a message for you and give it to him when he returns.”

“Do you work here?”

The redhead nodded. “Yes.”

This must be the woman Shane had spoken of…Mags. Katelyn studied the other woman—prettier and younger than she wanted her to be—and wearing a form-fitting dress and spiked high heels that made Katelyn wonder who the woman was trying to impress.

“I’m Katelyn Palmer. Shane and I are…um, dating.” She stretched forth her right hand in greeting. The other woman took her hand and shook. “If you will have Shane call me as soon as he gets in, I’d appreciate it. It’s extremely important that I talk to him.”

The redhead lifted a quizzical eyebrow. “If you’re dating Shane, why don’t you have his cell number?”

Embarrassment crept over Katelyn. “We’ve only been dating for a couple days now.”

Margaret nodded. “Oh, I see. Do you know where he lives?”

Katelyn’s cheeks grew hotter and she stepped closer to the desk. “No. He picked me up from my place. But if you will give me his address, I’d greatly appreciate it. I need to speak with him as soon as possible.”

“Sure, I can tell you where he lives.” The woman’s smile widened as she explained how to get to his condo.

Katelyn realized Shane lived close to the high school track where she’d run into him that one night. Finding his place would not be a problem at all.

“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”

“You’re welcome. I hope you find him.”

“Me, too!”

Katelyn nearly flew out the door and down the few steps to her car. Once her seatbelt was in place, she started the car and took off. Fear lodged a dry lump in her throat, making it difficult to swallow.
It can’t be too late…
She prayed she’d make it to Shane before Tori did. Shane would certainly not forgive her this time.

As she approached the condo, she recognized his truck parked outside. Her heartbeat knocked a panicked rhythm against her ribs as she parked her vehicle and killed the engine.

Although she knew she would have to tell him the truth, words were not coming to her head.
Think, Palmer!
You’re a writer, for heaven’s sake!
Yet, she couldn’t at this time. In her writing mode, she could put herself in the character’s shoes and write how they would react. But now she couldn’t. Her mind grew a blank—the worst writer’s block she’d ever had.

Hopefully, the twins would be at the daycare because she didn’t want anything distracting Shane when she confessed the truth.

She climbed out of the car and walked with wobbly legs toward his place. Since her mind remained blank, she silently prayed for strength and prayed that Shane would understand and forgive her.

With a shaky hand, she knocked on the door.

Two very long minutes passed before the door opened. Through the screen door, the gloom written all over Shane’s face was visible. When he met her gaze, he didn’t smile.

Her heart dropped.
He knows!

Katelyn took a deep breath. “Shane, we need to talk.”

He arched an eyebrow and gave her a blaming glare. “Yes, we do.” He opened the screen door.

Twisting her hands against her stomach, she stepped inside. She kept her eyes locked to his, hoping to see a glimmer of hope in his expression, but none was detected. He hated her.

“Shane, I need to tell you about the book… about why I wrote the book.”

He shook his head and flipped his hand through the air. “No need. I know the truth.”

“I don’t think you do.” She swallowed the hard lump of guilt in her throat. “What Tori told you—”

“You know, I don’t usually believe my sister-in-law, but what she told me this morning made sense.” He turned away from her and paced the floor in his living room. “She told me we were in college together.” He threw a glance over his shoulder at her. “I looked you up, Katelyn. We did attend college at the same time.”

“Yes we did, but—”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He stopped in front of her. “I gave you several chances to tell me the truth, but you never did.”

Shame and guilt weighed heavily in her chest. Tears pricked her eyes as emotion choked her throat. “Shane, I’m sorry. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you.”

“Why?”

“I…thought you’d hate me when you found out. I worried that you’d never forgive me.”

He folded his arms. “Well guess what? You were right. Because of your deception, I can’t trust you, and I can’t get into a relationship with a woman I can’t trust. That is one of the things that ruined my marriage. I won’t allow something like that to happen again.”

Katelyn lost the battle with her tears, and they spilled forth and streamed down her cheeks. Piece by piece, her heart broke, and the pain from losing Shane was more than she could bear. Although she wanted to drop to her knees and beg his forgiveness, she knew it wouldn’t do any good.

“Please let me explain.” She clutched his arm. “We can’t end things like this.”

“What’s there to explain, Katelyn? You had a crush on me in college and stalked me until you had enough information to write a book. So, instead of asking my permission first, you used my identity and wrote the book anyway.” He brushed off her touch. “Did you really think you could get away with it and that I would never know?”

“But you don’t understand. I was going to tell you today. After our date last night I realized I could trust you enough to tell you the truth. That’s why I’m here.”

He shook his head. “I’m glad you finally realized you could trust me, but it’s too late. I know I can’t trust you now.” He breathed in several heavy breaths. “Our relationship is over.”

She wanted to shake him—to make him hear her side of the story. The problem was, he already knew her side. Yet, the way he talked about it, made it sound as if she had been spiteful seven years ago when she wrote the book. Unfortunately, he was not ready to listen to her heart-felt apology. Perhaps she should give him another day or two before trying to talk to him again.

Without saying another word, she spun around and ran out the door. A part of her wanted him to run after her and stop her, but he didn’t. It hurt knowing he disliked her that much.

Chapter Fourteen

Misery couldn’t be this painful—but it was. Several times in the last week, Katelyn had driven to Shane’s house, only to find nobody home. She wished she could call him, but she had never gotten his phone number. Although she could have gotten it from her sister, she didn’t want to pull Stacey into this mess.

Katelyn tried to reason with herself that her heroines had never once felt this awful or depressed. Not once did her heroines want to stay in their beds with the sheets pulled over their heads and not want to talk or even look at another person.

Unfortunately, real life was so different than fiction. Her heroines were so much stronger, too. Now Katelyn realized why she’d hesitated to get involved in a relationship. It hurt too much.

Days were not the same. Before she’d been ignorant in her lonely life, but now that she’d given her heart to someone, she couldn’t stand the thought of being lonely. Again. It was unbearable. Just knowing she had made someone hate her tore her heart to pieces, especially knowing that she could never make things right.