Hot Cooking Spanker Wanted (25 page)

I
jumped up at his knock and took the menus. “Thank you. We'll call
when we have decided.” I slipped him a tip and he hurried away.

I
took the menus and handed the one I couldn't understand to Katherine.
She started to look it over like she was starving. It had probably
been lunch yesterday when she had eaten last. Ages ago.

“
I
know what I want,” she declared.

“
So
do I.” I looked at her pointedly.

She
rolled her eyes at me. “I want the number six and thirty-two.”

I
looked to see what they were. Some sort of soup and Schnitzel with
french fries and a small salad. “I'll have the same.” I picked up
the phone and ordered.

After
I was finished and went over to her and stared at her. She was being
quiet again.

“
Are
you warm enough?” I asked her.

That
got me a confused look. “What do you care?” She meant it. She was
honestly surprised that I would.

“
Katherine,
there is nothing on this earth that I care about more.”

She
smirked and snorted. She didn't believe me.

“
It's
true Katherine. It really is.”

“
Sure.”

“
Katherine
you are making me mad. You know that I love you. I feel that I have
been being very patient but this is just going too far. I'm sorry
that you lost the baby, but that doesn't give you the right to go at
me like you do,” I scolded her.

She
turned her head to the side and shook it. I was back to staring at
her. She was just leaning against the heater with her knees pulled
into her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Her head was turned
facing the wall. I had to wonder what she was really seeing because
it wasn't the wall.

There
was a knock at the door. She stood, but I was faster. I was at the
door taking the cart with our food, tipping the bellboy and closing
the door before she got there. She could have screamed out, but she
didn't. She was standing right behind me when I turned around.

Katherine
took a bowl, that was covered up with a saucer and a spoon and went
back to the heater to eat.

“
There
is a perfectly good table with chairs right here.”

“
I'm
fine.”

“
I
have to insist.” She was getting on my nerves. If I didn't love her
so much then I would have just left long ago. But I loved her more
than my own life so I would stay until I was sure there was no hope
for us.

“
I
have to decline.” She started eating.

“
Listen,
I'm tired of your smarting off to me. The faster you start explaining
why we aren't together anymore the faster I can decide if your
explanation holds water.”

“
What
are you saying? That you have the power to make me be with you even
if I don't want to be?” She spit those words out like I was some
sheikh who had kidnapped her and she hated me with all of her heart.

“
You
have been through so much lately and I fear that your sadness about
the baby has lead you to push me away. I won't leave you alone when
you so obviously need me.”

She
went back to eating. She ate quickly and then she brought her bowl to
the cart and took one of the plates and went back to the heater.
Katherine gobbled up her food, and then went back for the salad. She
certainly wasn't trying to impress me with her table manners.

When
she was finished with everything she went into the bathroom again.
She came back out and staggered a little. I jumped up to steady her.

“
I'm
tired.” I could feel the breeze of her breath in my face. She had
brushed her teeth.

“
I'll
bring you back to bed.”

“
No,
not until you leave.”

“
I'm
not going anywhere.”

“
Then
let go of me. Because I'm not staying.”

“
Yes,
you are.” I wasn't about to start negotiating with her.

Her
head fell against my chest and she pounded it against me a couple of
times while I held her. I tried to hug her but she stomped on my foot
and went back to the heater.

“
Katherine,
that hurt,” I said.

She
smirked a little.

I
went back and sat down to finish eating. I cleaned up the plates and
pushed the cart to the side, as much as possible. Katherine was
fighting to stay awake.

“
Just
go to bed.”

“
I
only want to sleep if I can sleep alone.”

“
Well,
there is just one bed and I am getting pretty tired too.” I
stretched my arms high over my head to make my point. She said
nothing. I went to the bathroom leaving the door wide open so I could
watch her. She looked like she was asleep already. I came back out
and climbed into bed.

I
made a big deal about how comfortable the bed was. She just frowned
at me. She looked so sad, lost and alone, that it was breaking my
heart.

I
laid in bed just watching her. She would nod off for a second and her
head would bob up again. She looked close to tears. I was being very
cruel to her, but a chance like this didn't come along very often.

I
felt myself drifting but when she started to speak I was at full
alert.

“
I
saw you with her myself. I flew to your hotel to tell you that I was
– Never mind. The point is that I was there and saw you. At first
you were at the bar with her and I heard you two talking.

“
I
had tried to call you all day but your cell was turned off. At the
hotel they wouldn't let me into your room and they couldn't get hold
of you either. I was so tired because I was – pregnant and it was
late. They didn't have any other rooms so I had to wait for you to
come back.

“
Then
I heard you and her at the bar. I followed you two up to your room
and watched you go in. Across from your room was a seating area. I
was in shock. I saw it and still I didn't believe it. I didn't want
to throw away what we had for a mistake. I waited right there in case
you were just bringing her to bed because she had had too much to
drink or something. But you didn't come out of your room until
breakfast was served. I left then. Will you please leave now?”

Understanding
hit me. This was all a huge mistake. “Katherine, I swear nothing
happened. She was an old girlfriend of mine. I met her in the bar.
She had just broken up with her boyfriend and she didn't know where
to spend the night. We didn't. You have to believe me.”

“
No,
I don't have to, and I just plain don't. I'm tired beyond words and
one would think that you would show a little thankfulness for me
bringing you here safely. Leave!”

“
No,
you can't punish me for something that I didn't do. I didn't sleep
with her. It was an American hotel room with two double beds. I slept
in one and she in the other. I stayed in my bed and she stayed in
hers. I swear to God that that is the whole truth.”

“
Why
was your cell turned off all day?”

“
I
must have forgotten to turn it back on after filming.”

“
A
relationship is built on trust. I don't trust you anymore. Thus we
have no relationship. Don't worry, you will find someone new.”

“
But
you wouldn't because you don't trust men anymore.” No, this
couldn't be happening. I had to get her to believe me but she didn't
at all. She was so hurt that she lost the baby. What had I done? This
was like a Greek tragedy. “Katherine, if we called her and talk to
her about it. She could explain the truth. I didn't cheat on you. I
love you.”

“
I
need to sleep now. I'll just sleep on the floor if you don't have the
integrity to admit it when you have been caught.” I'd bet each of
those words had hurt her.

“
But
I didn't cheat. I just offered an old friend a place to sleep for the
night. I would never do anything to endanger us. I'm so sorry that
that happened.” And because of it she had lost the baby. The
injustice of it was killing me.

“
Whatever
you need me to do to prove that nothing happened I will do it.” I
started doing the math. I grabbed my cell, called information in the
US and tried to track her down. Katherine was asleep on the floor in
the meantime.

I
got connected and Bailey answered. “Bailey, thank goodness. I have
a huge problem and I need your help. Katherine was at the hotel the
night you slept in my room. I need you to tell her that nothing
happened.” I hit the loudspeaker so Katherine could hear that I
wasn't trying to get her to lie.

“
Who
is this?”

“
It's
me Ryan. How many men have you spent a night with in their hotel
room?”

I
heard Katherine snickering. Great she was awake.

“
Oh,
Ryan. You and Katherine are having problems?”

“
Yes,
we are, thanks to you. I am going to hand her the phone and I want
you to tell her the truth.” I walked over to Katherine and held the
phone out to her. “Please Katherine. You said you didn't want to
ruin our relationship over a little mistake. It wasn't what you
thought it was.”

Katherine
reached up for the phone. “Hello,” she practically barked.

“
Hi,
umm – I'm sorry about – everything. I'll even admit I tried to
get him into bed but all him did was, tell me about his plans for you
and him. Big house, kids and happiness. My latest boyfriend had just
thrown me out and I was remembering what I had had with him. I dumped
him back then thinking I was better off without him. I wasn't.

“
Now
he is with someone like you, and he is a star. He has everything I
ever wanted. Listening to him go on with talk of you and him made me
want to order a few too many. He just brought me to his room and
tucked me into bed. He slept in his own bed. Nothing happened. I
swear on a stack of Bibles.”

“
Thank
you.” Katherine handed the phone back to me and ran into the
bathroom. I thanked Bailey and said goodbye to her, hopefully for
good.

“
Katherine,
may I come in.” I knocked on the door. She didn't answer. “Darling,
I'm coming in. If you don't want me there scream now.” I opened the
door and saw her sitting on the floor. She was crying, but she wasn't
making a sound.

I
sat down next to her and drew her to me and held her tight. I just
let her cry. Her hands were balled into fists and she was still so
sad.

“
I
killed the baby,” she sobbed.

I
was shocked. I couldn't believe that she would do something like
that. I didn't know what to say.

“
I
thought. And I cried day and night and then I started to bleed. The
ambulance came and it was too late. If I hadn't cried the baby would
still be alive.”

I
was a little relieved that she hadn't had an abortion. I don't know
how I would have reacted to that. “I am so sorry about that, Honey.
But we will have more children, or did the doctor say otherwise?”

“
No,
she didn't. She said we could. She said these things sometimes
happen, but it had been because I was so upset. I loved you so much
and when I thought you didn't love me back, and that blond woman was
just so beautiful, and I'm not. I can't compete with someone like
her.”

“
You
heard what she said. She was jealous of you. You are so smart and
strong and everyone loves you. You are the real star. I could be
replaced at the drop of the hat but you couldn't be and all of those
screaming people know that. I feel so lucky to have someone like
you.” I held her tight and rubbed her back. Awhile later I realized
that she was sleeping. I carried her to bed and kissed her forehead.

I
crawled into bed next to her. Then I just had to make another long
distance call. I went into the bathroom for that one. I called my
parents and told them what had really happened.

My
father kept repeating the he had known all along that it had been
something like that. When he took to someone then it was forever.

They
were both as pleased as could be for me.

When
I came out there was a knock at the door. I went to answer it in my
pajamas. I hoped it wasn't a reporter.

“
Is
Katherine here?” her agent demanded.

“
Shh.
She's sleeping.”

“
Katherine,”
she called out.

“
Ryan,
get rid of her. I have to sleep now.”

I
smiled at her. “You heard my fiancée. She can't work now. She will
call you when she can.” I tried to close the door but she had her
foot in it.

She
barged her way in and went to Katherine. “You are scheduled to be
on the radio in two hours. I expect you to be there.”

Katherine
lifted her head and looked at me. Her eyes said that she would do it
if she had to. I shook my head.

“
What
is scheduled for tomorrow?” she asked.

“
You
have a book signing at ten, different radio show at twelve and at
four you have to be at the cooking show.”