Road to Reason (18 page)

The ceremony was beautiful. The bride even more so. 

Cori made her way down the hot pink-carpeted aisle wearing a stunning fitted dress.  Kaitlin expected something…flashier given Cori’s personality.  The top of Cori’s dress was certainly sparkly, especially with the sun reflecting off the beading and crystals.  But the bottom of the dress was completely plain. Only a hot pink sash around her waist added a bit more flare to the strapless grown.

The men looked absolutely breathtaking in their charcoal gray suits.  Well, Ryan did. Jack didn’t look too bad himself, but Kaitlin only had eyes for Ryan standing there during the brief exchanging of the vows. 

Brooke, as always, looked classy. Even in the hot pink gown that Cori had chosen. But the cut and fit made up for the color and actually looked beautiful on Brooke. 

The best part was Jack’s boxer, Roxy.  She obediently sat next to Jack with a hot pink bow around her neck. On command she picked up the little white basket in her mouth when the judge, who was performing the ceremony, asked for the rings.

Afterward, the formal pictures were taken with the wedding party and the bride and groom’s parents—many of which were in the gazebo that Ryan had surprised them with.  Cori had burst into tears when she saw how thoughtful Ryan had been, threatening to ruin her makeup. Especially since Ryan had it decorated in extra pink flowers.

The wedding party was now gathered on the concrete patio that Ryan had cleared of furniture to be used as a dance floor.  The bride and groom had their first dance to a song the DJ announced had brought the two of them together in the first place, “Amazed.” 

At the end of the dance Cori loudly called Brooke onto the dance floor. “Brooke, are we done now? Help me out of this thing,” she demanded with a happy giggle.

Kaitlin watched in anticipation, along with the rest of the wedding guests to see what Cori planned to do.  You just never knew with her. 

Cori untied the sash from her gown, reached up and playfully put it around Jack’s neck, causing everyone to laugh.  Then Brooke unzipped the back of Cori’s gown, dropping the plain white skirt to the floor. Kaitlin had no idea the dress was two pieces.

Cori was left standing there in a short fitted mini dress, the bottom half matching the top part of her wedding gown. She was completely covered in crystals and beads.  On her feet were sexy hot pink-heeled sandals, with the matching pedicure she and Brooke received last night.  Now
that
was the type of dress Kaitlin expected Cori to be wearing.

“Let the party begin,” Cori announced, giggling some more. Then she reached up and plastered a big enthusiastic kiss on her husband’s smiling face.  

***

Hours later Ryan had been pulled over for more group pictures by the lake, so Kaitlin was relaxing at her table sipping a glass of wine. She was going to limit herself to two glasses for the entire day.  She was on her second and final one when she heard,  “Hello,” and turned with a start to the handsome man that had seated himself in the chair Lucas had vacated.

“Hello,” she replied back politely.  The wedding itself was small. Made up of just family and close friends, with a few co-workers.  Kaitlin had been introduced to most of the family and friends. So she could only assume this was a co-worker.

“I’m Roger. Are you a friend of the bride or groom?” he asked.

“Both, actually,” she said, then glanced at the wedding party again.

“Same here. I work with Jack.  We’re in the same department. Of course we all know Cori, too,” he said, lightly chuckling.

She had assumed he was a doctor and appreciated the fact that he didn’t come right out and say it in an attempt to impress her.  He actually seemed like the type of guy she would have been drawn to.  Good looking, slightly older than her, tall. Though not as tall as Ryan, nor in as good shape, but not bad either. Of course no one was as handsome as Ryan in her eyes. But Roger seemed friendly and not overly cocky. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t ask your name,” he said.

“Oh. Kaitlin.” She held her hand out to his.

“Do you live around here?” he asked.

“In Albany. But I’m originally from Saratoga Lake. I grew up on this lake, actually.”

“Do you work in Albany, too?” he asked, hope reflecting in his eyes.

“Yes. I work at Harper Investments,” she replied simply. She never told people her last name if she could avoid it. Or that her family owned the firm.  Least of all when she first met someone.  She would rather people get to know her, not form a judgment based on her name or family business.

“Maybe you would like to go to lunch together sometime. Or better yet dinner? Lunch is a bit tricky for me. I could get held up with appointments.”

Again, he didn’t announce he was a doctor.  She might have to get his number and introduce him to Sophia sometime.  They might hit it off well, even if it was long distance.

“Kaitlin,” Lucas interrupted nicely.  “Cori would like you for a few pictures,” he said, then shot a look at Roger, causing Roger to frown back.

“Oh, why does she want me in her pictures? They’re still taking group photos of the wedding party, correct?”

“They just finished up the more formal ones. Cori wants a few group shots of the wedding party and their significant others,” he said, aiming a pointed look at Roger.

She stood up and offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Roger.  I guess I need to have my picture taken. It was nice to meet you.”

***

Ryan hadn’t been happy a few minutes ago when he saw Roger hitting on Kaitlin. She wouldn’t have understood what Roger was about.  Roger was a nice enough guy.  Ryan had actually met him a few times.  And he was exactly the type of guy Ryan could have pictured Kaitlin with.

Thankfully it only took a look at Lucas, who knew what to do and didn’t need to be asked.   It had bothered Ryan more than he cared to admit to see her talking and smiling with Roger. However innocent it might have been.

She might have had her fair share of jerks in her life. But if she really looked, there were decent guys out there.

And they all seemed to notice her. It worried him.  She would have no problem finding someone to spend the rest of her life with. Someone that her family would think was better than him. Was good enough for her. Someone without as much of a jaded past either.

But she was his for now.  And he wasn’t letting go.  He looked down at her standing next to him, smiled softly and gave her side a little squeeze.

When she looked up and he saw the softness in her eyes, across her face, he couldn’t stop the catch in his breath. She reached up and ran her fingertips across his jaw tenderly. He tilted his head into it her palm, then grasped her hand in his and brought it close to his heart, finally placing a kiss on her forehead and pulling her in close.

***

Ryan was oblivious to the jaws dropping around him, witnessing the exchange.  Michele and Thomas Mathews looked at each other, then back at Ryan holding Kaitlin close.  “What do you think?” Thomas asked his wife.

“I think that neither of them is ready for what is happening.  But I hope it all works out in the end. And don’t you dare call William before I can call Isabel,” she warned him.

“Let’s tell them together tomorrow,” Thomas suggested. 

***

“That was a beautiful wedding. And a perfect day weather wise,” Kaitlin told Ryan later that night when they were changing for bed.

“It was.  I’m happy for Jack.  He deserves the best. So does Cori. They looked happy together.”

“That was a lovely toast you made.”  Ryan had stood up for the toast and jokingly told everyone, “You all know I have no problem standing up to talk, but I’ll keep this short and sweet. Just like Cori.” Everyone had laughed, and then he turned serious, even though his face softened and his smile melted her heart.  You could see he really loved Jack and Cori. “To Jack, may you have endless energy to keep up with Cori.” A few giggles could be heard. “To Cori, may you have endless patience to push Jack along.” Cori actually snorted, causing Jack to laugh.   “To you both, may you have endless love and happiness.”  Everyone clapped and raised their glasses.

“I saw a tear in your eye,” he said, teasing her. “I didn’t figure you as the sentimental type at weddings.”

“I’m not usually.  But for some reason I was today.” She didn’t want to tell him that the tears came from when he turned his head and stared right at her when he said, “to endless love and happiness.”  It had felt like he was speaking directly to her, not the bride and groom. 

She shook her head. She needed to redirect her thoughts. She was in dangerous territory thinking along those lines.  “I loved Roxy’s part in the wedding. But where is she going to stay while they’re on their honeymoon?”

“Jack’s parents are going to stay the week at his house and take a little vacation themselves. So they will care for Roxy while Jack and Cori are in Hawaii.”

“Hawaii sounds wonderful,” Kaitlin said wistfully. “Have you ever been?”

Ryan finished undressing and climbed into bed. Kaitlin pulled one of his shirts over her head and watched when he smiled at her. “No, have you?”

“No, but I would like to someday.” She climbed in next to him, cuddling at his side. She loved just lying next to him in bed at night, feeling both his warmth and strength against her. 

“Maybe we should take a little trip in the fall if we can both free up some time.  What do you think?” 

“I’ll think about it,” she mused. “And let you know. I need to look at my work schedule and such.” She didn’t want to tell him she would love nothing more than taking a vacation with him. But she needed to keep reminding herself this was only temporary. There were still months before fall. Anything could happen by then.

She frowned at him for a second. It almost looked like he was disappointed that she didn’t jump at the opportunity to take a trip with him. But then he kissed her on the forehead. “Well, let me know.” And quickly rolled on top of her. “But for now I think I need to have a little bit more fun with yesterday’s surprise.”

She laughed and pulled his head down for a kiss, happy the moment had passed, and glad he hadn’t pushed her on the vacation.  She really wanted to say yes, but she knew it was better this way.

Three weeks later Kaitlin’s office phone rang.  She looked at her watch, knew it was her appointment, but couldn’t disconnect the call she was on—it was more important than the client who was waiting for her.  Instead, she wrote a quick email asking her secretary to give the client her apologies, hand him some paperwork to start, and ask her father to take over for her if she wasn’t up front within ten minutes.

Nine minutes later she disconnected her cell phone.  Rather than rush up front to her client, she made a split second decision, picked up her phone and called Ryan instead.  She had to. She just wished she had more time to talk to him.  They hadn’t seen each other in ten days.  First he was away at a conference, then the day he returned she passed him in the air on the way to a different conference with her father. 

As happy as she was to spend that time with her father, she really missed Ryan. But she had used the break to her advantage. 

She tried to put her and Ryan’s relationship into perspective. They had been dating almost three months now.  Unfortunately, she still didn’t really know where they stood. 

At some point they were going to have to have a serious conversation about the future. She was just reluctant to be the one to broach the subject.

The last five days had stressed her out until she finally told herself to relax and enjoy her time with Ryan.  She was trying to, but it was hard. 

***

“Yes, Carol,” Thomas said into the intercom in his office.

“Is Ryan in there with you?” Carol asked.

“I’m here,” Ryan answered.

“Kaitlin is on the line for you.  Would you like me to tell her you will call her back?” she asked politely.

“No, I’ll take it, thanks.” He turned to his father. “Do you mind if I take it in here?”

Thomas shook his head while Ryan caught his father’s lips twitching.

“Hi, Kaitlin,” Ryan said, happily.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she rushed out quickly. “I don’t have time to talk. I wish I did, but I don’t. I just hung up with Layla, and I wanted you to know.  I don’t have time to give details now, either. I’ve got a client waiting,” she said, then paused for breath.

Ryan had sat up straighter when he heard Layla’s name.  “I’m off to court in an hour.  How about I come to your place after work?”

“Sounds good. Bye,” she said and hung up before Ryan could say another word.  He looked at his father’s questioning stare. “Layla called Kaitlin. I don’t have any details. I’ll get them tonight.  It’s progress at least. And good timing with the grand jury wrapping up soon.” 

Both sides had been presenting facts and details for weeks now, and it was starting to wind down.  He had been lucky to find two other ex-girlfriends to testify, but he really wanted Layla’s testimony. “With any luck I can get Layla to talk to me next.”

His father knew how much he had invested in the Fremont case. Ryan was positive he had enough evidence—with any luck—to not go to trial.  But he wanted that extra bit, and Layla could provide it.   But evidence or not, anything could happen with a grand jury.

“Just do your best, Ryan. That is all we’ve ever asked of you. It will work out in the end.  Even if we have to go to trial, you still have a solid case,” Thomas reminded him.

“I know. But I don’t want to drag it out. Brittany and her kids have been through enough already.”

Thomas nodded his head in understanding. “I know you want to prevent the trial.  But sometimes we learn more from the battle, and it helps us win the war in the end.”

“Agreed. But in this case, the battle is the war.  I want to end it now.”

***

Kaitlin didn’t even have a chance to shut her front door when she heard Ryan’s car pull in behind hers.   The stress of the day melted at the sight of him.  He was so handsome in his suit...
and dangerous at the moment with the way he was looking at her.  She had never seen a look like that from him before.  And it immediately sent shivers down her spine. He looked like a lion stalking his victim. 

He walked right up to her, shut her door and pulled her into his arms, then kissed the breath right out of her. “I’ve missed you,” he said minutes later.

Somehow they were in her living room, though she wasn’t sure how they had gotten there.  He must have been backing them up during the kiss. She had no clue.  She was too lost in the taste and feel of him. “Not as much as I’ve missed you,” she said softly.

He groaned and pulled her on the couch, situating her on his lap, facing away from him. He just held her tight, inhaling her scent.  “Stop wiggling, Kaitlin. You’re killing me.”

“Sorry. Been too long. I can’t wait.” She gasped and turned her head to the side giving him better access to her neck when he moved his tongue up to her ear.

“Me neither,” he said, his hands going to the buttons on her shirt.  One by one he slid them through the holes until her shirt hung open.  He looked down at the lace overlay on her pale yellow bra and sighed.  “You have some of the nicest underwear.  I’m willing to bet you have matching panties on, too,” he whispered, running the tip of his finger over the swell of her breast, then down to her waist and back up again.

She tried to laugh, but only a soft moan escaped her lips when he slid his hand up and unhooked the clasp that was in front of her bra, freeing her and filling his hands.

The tip of his finger brushed over her nipple, teasing sighs from her, his other hand moved down to her waist, then under her skirt. Rather than undo and remove her skirt, he moved his other hand down, slid both of them under the hem, raising it up over her thighs, over her hips. “Not only a matching set, but a thong. Even better.” She lifted her hips slightly and he raised the skirt up around her waist.

He pushed her forward on his thighs, quickly undid his belt, button and zipper.  Then he lifted her up, moved her thong out of the way and lowered her on top of him. It felt so good while he held still, hugging her tight. 

But a moment of stillness was all she wanted and she started to rock her hips back and forth on him.  He moved his fingers back down over her hips, under the front of her panties over her wetness, playing with her, bringing her to the brink.  He urged her on, continuing to stroke her faster, matching the pace of her hips rocking against him.

She couldn’t get enough of the feel of him inside of her—so deep, his hands on her roughly rubbing, bringing her to the point of ecstasy she craved, but she needed more and tried to raise her hips up. She wanted to feel him stroking the inside of her. 

Ryan must have sensed what she wanted, and grabbed her hips to lift her up, then slid her down.  Again and again, up then slowly down.  She didn’t need his help anymore, she found her own rhythm, was bringing herself up and down on her own, so he moved one hand between her legs, the other to pinch and rub her hardened nipple.

Together with his hands moving at their own accord, her hips rose up and down faster on him until she could do nothing more than stay still on his lap while she convulsed around him, squeezing him tight, his hands continuing to move around her pulling as much pleasure from her body as he could.

When her head fell back against his shoulder, her body depleted of energy, he lifted her off his lap, arranged her over the side of the couch, her backside in the air. 

He moved behind her, entering her fast. He grasped her hips tight and started to plunge into her in an unsteady offbeat rhythm, so unlike him.  Her breath caught, and she gripped the couch cushion in front of her, her bodying cresting again.

His hands moved under her, between her body and the arm of the couch. Touching her again, he found the point that he knew would send her soaring. 

Moving his hands away, he reached up and grasped her nipples, pinching down harder, his hips moving at a frenzied pace.  She buried her face in the cushion, trying to muffle her scream when she tightened around him the minute he let himself go. 

Somehow he found the energy to pull back—she wasn’t sure how, her energy was completely depleted yet again. He fastened his pants back up, then pulled her skirt down before he settled her on the couch. Cuddling her in his lap, he placed her head under his chin while they both tried to regain their breath.

“What was that?” Kaitlin asked in awe.  She looked down and saw her shirt wide open, her breasts bare to his eyes and hurriedly refastened her bra, then pulled her shirt together.

“Sorry,” he grinned ruefully.  “Must have missed you more than I realized.”

***

Kaitlin was just pulling a shirt over her head when he walked out of her bathroom.  He faced her with a serious expression, much different than what he had been feeling minutes ago.  She turned and saw what was in his hand and paused.

“How late are you?” he asked, holding up the unopened pregnancy test.

She took a deep breath. “A day. Not even, actually.” She walked up to him, calmly took it out of his hand and placed it back in the bathroom.

When she returned to her room he was sitting on her bed, shaken, running his hands through his hair. 

“I shouldn’t have even bought it. It’s nothing to worry about,” she said, trying to reassure him.

“Nothing to worry about,” he croaked out. “Why would you buy a test if you were only a day late?”

“Because I’ve gotten my period on time every month like clockwork. I know I’ve only been on the pill a few months, so I could still be a day or so late. Last night when I didn’t have it I panicked and ran out and bought a test.  But I told myself I would wait until morning to use it.”

“And you obviously didn’t? Why is that?” he asked, running his hands through his hair some more.  He wasn’t sure how he felt at the moment. 

At first when he saw the test his heart stopped.  He knew how much she wanted a child, but he knew she wouldn’t go behind his back and get pregnant on purpose.  It wasn’t her way.  She wouldn’t do that—he believed it wholeheartedly.

The other part of his brain wasn’t so panicked, though.  He even had a flash of her pregnant in his mind. And that didn’t cause his heart to race at all, at least not in a panicked way.

“Because when I woke up this morning I was calmer.  I told myself it was normal to be a day or so late and that I was being ridiculous.  I should have put the test away, but it slipped my mind.” She sat next to him on the bed.  “Relax, Ryan. I’m not worried, and you shouldn’t be. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Let’s get married,” he blurted out without thought.

“What?” She laughed at him.  “Don’t be silly, Ryan.” 

He tried not to be offended. Or hurt that she laughed at him.  Of course, he couldn’t believe those words tumbled out of his mouth. He didn’t even know what he was thinking when he said them. 

He wasn’t thinking at all, to be honest.  But he didn’t expect her to laugh at him either. “Who says it’s silly?”

“I do,” she said tenderly, then reached up and pushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “Let’s be reasonable, Ryan.  First off, that’s not a reason to get married.  Hence, it’s silly.  Second of all, I don’t need a man to marry me for that reason.  Nor do I
want
someone to marry me for that reason. I can clearly support myself.” She smiled at him, a touch of humor in her eyes, then leaned in and kissed him.  “See, silly.”

Her smile told him she clearly thought he wasn’t serious.  He wasn’t sure if he was or not himself.  But if she was pregnant, they were getting married. Silly or not.

But he wasn’t going to tell her that now.  For now, he would let her win this battle.  Like his father said, sometimes you learn something from the battle.  He just did.  He realized in that moment, Kaitlin was the war.  And he was going to win.  He just didn’t know how.

***

Ryan swore he had just fallen asleep when he heard his phone go off.  A quick glimpse at the clock told him his alarm would be chiming any minute.  He picked up his phone and saw the text from Kaitlin.
Good News. Didn’t even need to use the test. Told you not to be silly
.

He wasn’t so sure it was good news.  He spent most of the night thinking about things and came to the conclusion that though his mention of marriage was spur of the moment, he was dead serious. 

He wanted to marry her—and couldn’t imagine his life without her. Frankly, he didn’t even want to consider it. 

Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to feel the same way.  And he wasn’t sure what he could do to convince her.  For once in his life, he didn’t feel confident at all.  On the bright side, she never actually said no.

One good thing did come out of yesterday, though. They had finally gotten around to talking about Layla’s conversation.  Though Layla hadn’t come right out and said she would give a statement for Ryan’s case, or even testify, Kaitlin felt Layla would come around. 

The two women had talked for twenty minutes. Well, mainly Layla talked, telling Kaitlin about her fears.  Layla didn’t want anyone to know about her relationship with Jason and definitely didn’t want anyone to know Jason was her daughter’s father.  But she understood that by coming forward that secret would be revealed, so she just needed to decide what was best for her life and her daughter.