Falling Into Drew (11 page)

Drew stroked the bulge in his pants. “Oh, yeah. Step out of your jeans.”

Dressed only in a bra and thong, she playfully asked, “More?”

Suddenly Drew was behind her, his own jeans and black boxer briefs around his knees. He checked Kate’s readiness with one finger before sliding her tiny underwear to the side and plunging into her. She leaned forward to support herself on a nearby chair as he bent over her back and nipped her neck. He undid the clasp of her bra and his fingers pinched her nipples, then tugged on them as he slid in and out, in and out. “I’m not going to be able to wait,” he panted.

“Oh God, Drew, don’t stop.” He lowered one hand from her breast and slid it through her slippery heat to tease her, all the while thrusting harder and faster. Kate’s thighs quivered as her climax hit and a moment later he followed.

He wrapped a strong arm around her waist and slowly lowered them both to the thickly carpeted floor where they lay with bodies entwined, until sleep claimed them. Drew woke first and studied the woman who’d only been in his life for weeks. He didn’t know what to do about her. She made him feel and that made him vulnerable. If things continued this way his heart would be at risk and he wasn’t sure if he could deal with that. It would probably be better for both of them if they ignored the pull between them and kept things professional. The trouble was, he couldn’t imagine not wanting her and he was a man who got what he wanted. He sighed and stroked Kate’s flushed cheek with one finger, then carried her to bed, wrapped her in his arms, and joined her once more in sleep. They never made it to the hotel’s restaurant for dinner.

Early the next morning, after eating every bit of a full Irish breakfast of oatmeal, eggs, bacon, toast and scones, they set out for Galway. Although the direct route would have had them there in two hours, Kate wanted to see some of the countryside, so Drew stuck to back roads instead of the motorway.

A twenty-minute ferry ride across the River Shannon took them from County Kerry to County Clare. They followed the coast until reaching the spectacularly dramatic Cliffs of Moher, high above the Atlantic Ocean.

Kate lost her breath for a moment as they looked down at the steep, seven hundred foot drop to the roiling sea below.  She pushed her wind-whipped hair off her face before tightening her grip on Drew’s hand. “You ski faster than any human should and ride a Harley. Should I be worried about you doing something dangerous here?”

Drew laughed, his eyes sparkling. “My stupid days are over and besides, a few people get too close to the edge each year and fall onto the rocks. I don’t need that kind of thrill any more.”

“Good to know.” Kate shaded her eyes and pointed to something in the distance. “Are those islands?”

“They’re the Aran Islands — Inisheer, Inishmaan and Inishmor. There’s a ferry from Galway if you want to go. Inishmor has a totally unfenced cliff with a drop off way, way steeper than this one. It’s so abrupt that it looks like you’ve come to the edge of the world. It terrified me as a child.”

“Why?” Kate noticed that his face was suddenly shadowed, as if haunted by some memory.

“My father once threatened to push me off it. I was six-years-old, so I believed that he would do it.”

She abruptly turned away from the view. “Your father did that to you? What kind of parent would deliberately scare a child like that?”

He looked at her for a moment. “We should go.” And then he left.

Kate watched him jog downhill toward the car park without even checking to see if she followed, effectively shutting her out. Stunned by his behavior, she felt like her feet were glued to the ground. Not for the first time she wondered who the hell he was, this confusing man she was sleeping with, this man who could be so much more to her.

Damn it. As his co-author, she should be thrilled that he’d told her about something that helped to shape him. But it was very clear that he regretted it. It was obvious that he’d shared that painful memory with his girlfriend, not his co-author and the two roles were incompatible. She couldn’t be both, so now what?

She walked back to the car and found Drew leaning against it, arms crossed in front of his chest. Without a word, he held the passenger door open and she got into the car.  Once they were on the road, she turned to him. “Why did you leave me there alone like that?”

He took a deep breath and said the words that had been running through his mind since that morning. “I shouldn’t have brought you here and I never should have agreed to this book. There are things in my life, in my past, that are better left buried. I’ve done that successfully so far and I mean to keep things that way. If that’s a problem, this is where our working partnership ends.”

Kate’s body tensed. She narrowed her eyes and aimed a murderous glare at him before quickly turning away. Instead of bringing them closer, this stupid book was driving a wedge between them. Drew might be able to trust a girlfriend, a lover, with his secrets. But his co-author? Never. She felt like they were in the midst of a pool of gasoline waiting for the inevitable flame that would blow them sky high.

She should have rejected the proposal when Charles brought Drew to her office. They’d both felt the attraction that day, so maybe he would have invited her for a drink anyway and then there wouldn’t be this albatross on their relationship. They couldn’t continue this way.  Maybe she’d call Liz. Her friend always had good instincts about men.

Chapter 15

“Can we stop in the next village? I need to make some calls,” Kate said.

“Can’t you do that from the car?” Drew snapped.

“No. I’d like some privacy.”

“Fine. I’m hungry and wouldn’t mind finding something to eat.”

Kate got out of the car the moment Drew parked it near a pub. She said, “I might be a while,” and started to walk away.

“Should I order lunch for you?

“No need. I’ll buy some yogurt or cheese in one of the shops.” The tension between them was unbearable and Kate needed to be on her own for a while. It was clear that Drew felt the same.

He lost sight of her as she rounded the corner. He lowered his head and stared at the ground, wondering how their perfect vacation had turned to shit.  The answer was obvious — him. He’d done it all by himself. She couldn’t wait to get away from him and he wouldn’t blame her if she decided to catch the next plane back to New York.

What the hell had he been thinking when he’d agreed to this? Problem was, his mind hadn’t made the decision, his cock had. Christ, O’Connor, haven’t you learned not to trust that part of your anatomy?

He yanked the pub’s door open and found himself in the midst of a raucous group focused on the television above the bar. Soccer, it was always soccer, or on this side of the Atlantic, football. Drew leaned his elbows on the bar and when the barman raised his russet brows in question, he ordered a Harp. He was thirsty and the refreshing Irish lager would go down better than his favorite Guinness. He drained it quickly and ordered another. When that glass was half empty and he was about to buy a sandwich to help absorb the alcohol, the bar erupted in cheers as the home team took the lead.

The man nearest him elbowed him in the ribs in reaction to the play and, when he turned to Drew, he did a double take, his eyes narrowing. “I know you. You’re that skier, the one who brought glory to Ireland.” He tapped his head, thinking, then shouted the answer. “Andrew O’Connor! You’re him, aren’t you? Let me buy you a pint.”

About a dozen grinning men quickly surrounded Drew and took turns pounding him on the back, shaking his hand, and making sure his glass was always full. The uncomplicated ease of getting drunk with his new best friends was the best remedy for the painful memories of his father and the tension between him and Kate.

Kate checked the time before phoning Liz. It was early in New York, but her friend always had morning calls for the soap she acted in. Liz picked up on the first ring.

“Kate! I’ve been dying to talk to you since those pictures of you and lover boy appeared in the tabs. What’s going on with you two? They’re describing you as his latest conquest, brainy New York editor Kate Porter, and the kind of woman who is most definitely not his usual type. How are you dealing with that?”

She thought for a minute, tapping her front tooth with a fingernail. “So it’s not just pictures of us?”

“Hell, no. You’re famous.”

“Jesus. I still can’t understand why Drew’s such a big deal. It’s almost ten years since he won his medals. Why should anyone still care about his personal life?”

“Oh, Kate, you’re such an innocent. Drew didn’t just fade away into obscurity after the Olympics. Because of his looks and personality, Charles was able to land lucrative endorsement deals for him. Combine that with his TV work and the models and actresses he’s been connected with and you get what those historical romance novels that I love to read call a rake.”

“Of course you’re right. My bosses wouldn’t have been interested in taking on this damn book if he weren’t a celebrity.” Her words were accompanied by a scowl as she paced.

“I need to warn you that when you get back to New York, you can expect the paparazzi who hang out at the airport to chase you two.”

“It may just be me coming back, so that won’t happen.”

“Why? What happened? Is he being a jerk?”

“Not really. We were having a great time until this morning when he told me something about his family and instantly regretted it. He pulled away and has been acting weird ever since. Could he think the book’s the only reason I’m with him? It’s obvious that he doesn’t trust me. What should I do?”

“You really like him, yes?”

Kate chewed her bottom lip and her eyes filled with tears. “Yeah, I do. Probably more than is smart,” she said, quietly. “But you know that Taylor Swift song? The one with
I knew you were trouble when you walked in?
I felt like that the instant he showed up in my office. I should have paid attention.”

“Oh, Kate. We knew he could be trouble. Tell him that you’re dropping the project and watch his reaction. If he’s relieved and acts like he did before this happened, you’ll have your answer.”

“But then I’ll have to go back to New York and our trip will be over.”

“Not if you play it right. Your boss doesn’t need to know you’re not working. At the end of the week tell them that there’s nothing in his life that hasn’t already appeared in print and this book isn’t worth doing. Simple.”

“I could lose my job over this.”

“So what? You’re good at what you do and you’ll find another or you might even decide to change careers. Look at this as an opportunity.”

Kate nodded and smiled. “I knew I could count on you. I love you, Liz.”

“I know. I’m pretty wonderful,” she teased. “Hey, the car just stopped at the studio and I’ve got to run. Keep me posted!”

“I will. And Liz? Thanks. Text me about what’s going on with you and Charles.”

“He’s great. Kisses!” she shouted and ended the call.

Kate didn’t like lying to her boss, but one more week away from the office wouldn’t hurt anyone. It was time to put herself first and her job second, where it belonged. Instead of heading to the pub to find Drew, she decided to give him more time to cool off and wandered toward the center of town to find something to eat.

Drew wasn’t the kind of drunk who got nasty and picked fights — that honor belonged to his father. No, Drew was more of a sloppy, sentimental drunk. When Kate finally found him, tears ran down his face as he sang what sounded like a lullaby in the sweetest voice. A pretty young blonde had her arm around his shoulders.

One of the men leaned toward Kate. “He told us to expect his girlfriend. I’m guessing that’s you.”

“Correct. Why is he crying?”

“He said his Mam often sang this one to him. It’s called
I See The Moon
. Most of us know it, but it seemed important that he sing it alone. Evidently, it was her favorite, one he’d heard often as a boy before…he never finished the sentence so I’ve no idea what he would have said, but it’s clear the thought of it caused him pain.”

When Drew began the song a second time, the wholesome-looking blonde and a few of the men joined in the way people do when they’ve had a few. He only made it halfway through before he stopped abruptly after the second verse, his voice cracking as he sang, “Over the sea, back where my heart is longing to be.”

His head swayed forward and back like he was having trouble keeping it upright. His neck gave up the fight and suddenly his forehead hit the wooden bar with a bang. Drew didn’t seem to notice the clunk it made or how much it must have hurt.

Kate rolled her eyes and stood with her hands on her hips, considering what to do. First, she wanted the other woman’s hands off Drew. He may have appeared to be a free agent, but he was hers, at least for now. All it took was one murderous glare for the blonde to get the message and wander away. Kate realized that she was perfecting that look, but it might be wiser to act cool, as if women hanging on him were no more a threat to her than a bug. That reaction would take practice. With the way women threw themselves at Drew, she’d have ample opportunity to hone that skill.