Perfect Stranger (28 page)

I lay restless all night, wishing things were different. I couldn’t turn back the clock, but I could move forward and do things properly this time. Show Kate how much I wanted her, and that I was willing to make the changes, if she’d have me.

There would be a lot of upheaval for me, but when I fell asleep, it was with a smile on my face. I’d made my decisions, and they felt good.

I talked to Marcus and Louisa first. They were surprised but supportive. Next was Cassie. To my relief, things weren’t awkward after the brief kiss we shared. I asked her to clear my schedule for the next few days. I also asked her to arrange a meeting with Thaddeus for the end of the week. He might be my father, but I didn’t get any favors from him.

Now for the hardest thing on my list—winning Kate back.

* * * *

It rained constantly, the traffic to Manchester was slow moving, and I still had another hundred miles to drive, according to the GPS. I wished I’d left earlier, but there was a mountain of papers to sign and decisions to make. Would I miss that? Probably not the hours I worked. I stopped for coffee and called Kate, to check she was at home.

“Hey.” She sounded surprised. Pleased? “I was just thinking about you.”

She was? I smiled. “Hey, you. I wanted to make sure you got home okay.”

Laughter trickled down the line. “Yes, I did. Thank you. I went to see Jenny. She’s moving into my old house, so I got home late afternoon.”

I’d imagined Kate moving back to Manchester at some point, but this was not the time to ask. “It was good to see you again,” I said. “Very good.”

“Yes.” She paused, and my stomach tied itself into a knot. “It was.”

Did I let her know I was on my way to see her, or surprise her? Or something between the two? “I’d love to see where you’re living now.”

“I’d like that.”

I closed my eyes. Yes. This was good news.  I made an excuse, said
goodbye
, and resumed the journey.

Half an hour after leaving the motorway, on the edge of North Wales, the countryside opened up into vast swathes of green, with snow-tipped mountains in the distance. The scenery was fascinating and a million miles from London. The sun peeked out from behind clouds, and it all looked even prettier.

My plan was to arrive around two in the afternoon, but weather and traffic slowed me down. It was closer to four, and the sun slipped down the sky. It’d be dark in less than an hour.

The GPS led me down a series of country lanes, and through a pair of stone gateposts and up a rough, graveled driveway, to a gray stone mansion. Whoa. This was Kate’s place? It was impressive and way bigger than I imagined.

I climbed out of the car, yawned, stretched, and breathed in a lungful of the fresh salt-tinged air. This place must be close to the sea. It was a nice location. Did she prefer living here to the city? It must be a hell of a change of pace.

I’d only walked a few yards, when I heard a snipping noise. I diverted to the sweeping lawn at the front of the house and saw Kate. Armed with a pair of pruning shears, she hacked at a bush, creating a stack of twigs and branches on the ground.

Tight, mud-spattered jeans clung to her ass, and she wore a long-sleeved sweater. A knit cap covered her hair. Her sweater had risen to expose a patch of delectable golden skin. I thought longingly about pressing a kiss to that very spot.

With muddy boots on her feet, she was a version of Kate I hadn’t seen before. Practical and vigorous. I liked it.

It wasn’t right to stay there watching though, so I cleared my throat, to get her attention. As she whirled around, I smiled at her pink cheeks and wide eyes.

“Hey.” I played it cool. “I was kinda passing, and you said I could drop by.”

“
Jordan
.” She stood frozen. “I wasn’t expecting you today. I mean, yes. Of course, you’re welcome. Where on earth were you going, if this was
kinda passing
?”

Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all. I managed a shrug. “I have a meeting in Manchester tomorrow.” Lie. “It wasn’t such a big diversion.”

Her lips curved in a smile. “I’m not so sure about that, but you must be thirsty. Would you like to come in for a drink?”

That was more promising. “I’d love to. Thank you.”

She abandoned her muddy boots and brightly patterned gardening gloves in the porch and led me inside the house. Padding across the tiled floor in fluffy pink socks, she glanced over her shoulder at me. “How soon do you have to leave?”

“I can stay a while if you’re not busy. I don’t wanna interrupt your plans.”

“No plans.” She opened the fridge and peered inside, then grabbed a bottle of milk. “Coffee? I’ve bottled water if you’d like a cold drink first.”

“Water is good. Thanks.”

She handed me a chilled bottle and waved toward the chairs at a long scrubbed wooden table. “Please, sit down.” She took off her hat, and her hair tumbled free.

“Your hair is long.”

She blushed. “I haven’t had it cut in months. I thought of having it restyled for the wedding, but I don’t trust the hairdressers around here. They’re more used to little old ladies.”

“Don’t cut it short again.” I spoke without thinking, and she gave me a questioning gaze

“I mean it suits you like that.” I changed the subject before I sounded like a pompous ass. “Before I forget. I found something you left behind.” I pulled the Oasis CD from my pocket and put it on the table, watching emotions fly across her face.

“
The Masterplan
. I’ve been looking for that everywhere.
Thank you
.” She picked it up, a brilliant smile on her face, and then frowned as she looked at me again. “You didn’t drive all this way, just to bring back my CD. Did you?”

What should I say? Ask her for another chance? Ask if she still felt anything for me? I agonized for a moment, then remembered the gift I bought her.

“There was something else.” I slipped a hand in my jacket pocket. “It’s an early Christmas present.” I held out the little velvet pouch and dropped it in her open hand when she approached.

Kate shook out the contents with care. Three silver charms. This time I’d picked a crescent moon, a glittering star, and an enameled butterfly. She examined them intently, and then looked at me with a beaming smile. “They’re beautiful. Thank you. I love them.”

“My meeting isn’t until tomorrow, so if you’re not busy we could spend some time together? It’s only a couple of hours to Manchester; I don’t need to leave right away.”

She frowned, and my heart sank. She was going to say she had plans already. But then she smiled, a little uncertainly. “If you like, you can stay here tonight and leave first thing tomorrow. The roads will be quiet then, and you should be able to get back in plenty of time.” She blushed furiously and looked away, seemingly unable to meet my gaze.

“Thanks. I’ll do that if you don’t mind the intrusion.” My mind whirled. I might still have a chance with her.

“You’ll be sleeping in the guest room, though.” There was a warning tone in her voice, but I was happy she’d asked me to stay at all. If she demanded I sleep on the lawn outside, I’d probably accept.

The air between us felt charged, and I was unsure what to do or say next. I took a long drink and glanced at my watch for inspiration. “Why don’t you take a shower, and I’ll see if I can sort out some dinner?”

“My fridge is almost empty. I need to get some groceries.”

“Do you wanna give me a list? I can go while you get cleaned up.”

She laughed. “I’ll have that shower, and then we can both go. I warn you, it’s not what you’re used to.”

I raised my eyebrows. “They don’t sell pastrami?”

“Maybe if you’re lucky.” Laughing again, she disappeared upstairs.

I wandered around, curious about her home, but not wanting to be too nosy. I stopped when I found a comfortable room with French windows that opened out to the garden. A worn but inviting sofa lay in the last rays of the late afternoon sunshine, and I sat down, for a minute. It was so quiet here. All I could hear was birds, a clock ticking, and the faint noise of the shower running upstairs. No traffic or people or planes. She had a peaceful spot here.

The sofa engulfed me, and I gazed out over the garden, noting the work she’d done, the freshly dug beds and young spiky plants. I felt strangely at home, and I yawned. The journey was long and tiring. I didn’t sleep much last night, and was up early.

My eyelids drooped, as I thought of Kate in the shower. How I’d love to be in there with her.

I hurried through my shower, my heart racing and my head spinning.
Jordan was here.
Just a couple of hours after calling. Was he really on his way to a meeting, or was that an excuse to see me? We didn’t talk much at the wedding, and I left feeling very confused. To have him here was amazing. And nerve wracking.

Of course he found me in the garden, filthy and probably stinking from working there. I was unable to resist the good weather and wanted to get some things done. I wanted my home to look nice.             

And therein lay a dilemma. If I wanted any chance at a relationship with Jordan again, how could it possibly work? It was impossible when I lived in Manchester. This was even further away. Would I consider moving to his London apartment? Yes. But at the cost of losing this place? I loved it here. It was my home.

It would be chilly tonight, and I was glad I’d brought in firewood and laid the fire in the little living room. After the kitchen, it was my favourite downstairs room, and one I decided would become my library.

I was amused to see Jordan sprawled out in there, fast asleep, with Billy curled up on his stomach. I perched on the arm of the sofa and took a good look at my husband. His face was pale, with shadows under his eyes, as though he wasn’t sleeping properly. I reached out to stroke Billy, who arched his neck into my hand, purring.

Jordan’s cologne, a musky, woody scent, was achingly familiar. I longed to slip my fingers through his thick black hair. To caress his face. I held back. The scars from our separation ran deep.

He acted as though he wanted to reconcile with me, but it couldn’t be that easy.

He married me out of a misguided sense of obligation, but that wasn’t enough for me.

I was in love with him. Nothing less would do in return.

It was difficult to tear myself away. He’d haunted my dreams for so long, I felt like pinching myself to wake up. His lips were irresistible, the temptation to brush my mouth over his overwhelming. I moved closer and leaned over him.

Quickly, I swept my lips across his, a feather-light kiss that was enough to wake him. He opened his eyes, dark pools I could lose myself in, and stared into mine. I pulled back, our gazes still locked.

“Hi,” he said sleepily and stretched. Billy dug his claws in at the sudden movement, and Jordan glanced at him. “I found this guy in here. You didn’t tell me you had a cat.”

“You never asked.” The spell was broken, but I wasn’t ready to move yet. Instead, I slipped a hand to Billy again and tickled him under the chin.

His loud rumbling purr returned, and Jordan stared at him, a smile growing on his face. “He’s cute. You had him long?”

“His name’s Billy, and he came with the house. I’ve never had a cat before, but he’s good company.”

Jordan yawned, shifting his position, and Billy jumped off and stalked over to the windows, where he sat and washed, ignoring us both.

My body gave me signals my brain was unable to follow, and I had to move before I did anything silly. I stood and went to close the curtains. It was completely dark now. I glanced back at Jordan. “Do you want to freshen up as well, before we go?”

He yawned again. “I’ll have a shower later if that’s okay.”

He said he’d drive, and as he started the car, his iPod began playing.

“Jordan, this is
The Masterplan
. I didn’t think you liked Oasis.”

He shrugged. “It kinda grows on you.”

It made me smile and lifted my mood further. We walked around the local supermarket like any other couple, with me grabbing the basics I needed while Jordan picked out cheese before browsing through the small wine selection. I bought large baking potatoes and a local specialty—lamb steaks in a mint marinade—for dinner.

Jordan followed my every movement. I longed to stand a little closer, hold his hand, or feel his arm around my waist, but at the same time it felt too intimate. I consoled myself with helping him to pack the groceries into bags and touching his fingers as we reached for the same item. I noted the curious glances of the other shoppers. This was a tightly knit community, and I was still an outsider. I’d never been seen with someone else.

While Jordan showered, I washed the potatoes and rubbed a little olive oil and salt onto the skins, to prepare them for the oven, the way I liked them. I had an hour or so before the steaks could be cooked, so I slipped upstairs, to make sure Jordan had everything he needed. I hesitated outside the bathroom door. I felt like the stranger now and was stricken with indecision.

The door opened, and Jordan stuck his head out. He looked taken aback to see me there, but he recovered quickly. “I wondered if you had a fresh towel? I didn’t bring one with me.”

My cheeks burned, and I turned away to hide my face. Jordan had one of my skimpy towels wrapped around his waist, and nothing else. I calmed myself while I got him another bath towel, but the sight of his near-naked body did strange things to me. I knocked, and then shoved the towel in through the door, noting his amused expression. I hurried downstairs again, and prowled around, while I waited for my face to stop burning.

Get a grip
, I told myself. I never used to be so indecisive. I needed to ask him what his intentions were. Find out if he loved me.