Sleeping With The Enemy (A Stranger's Touch) (14 page)

“Elise—dammit. She got to you first,” he almost sounded sincere. But then Alex was good at fooling her.

“No, she was honest with me. Something you can’t seem to do.”

“Kate, I was going to explain at the beginning, but you wouldn’t listen to anything I tried to say to you. And afterward, well there never seemed to be the right time.”

“Explain what? That you were selling the store out from under me. You knew how much I loved the bookstore. You knew I wanted to buy it someday! Thank God Elise called tonight, otherwise I’d never found out how low you were capable of sinking.”

“What? What are you talking about, Kate? I bought the store—”

“Stop it Alex! Just stop it! Whatever you plan on doing with it, I no longer care. I never want to see you again and this sham of a marriage is over!” Kate hung up the phone and tossed it across the seat. Why had she been so foolish as to trust him again?

Kate drove for a long time listening to the sound of her cell phone’s continuous ring, until she finally had enough and turned it off.

She needed to think. To figure out what she was going to do now. She couldn’t go home. Couldn’t call her father. Hearing about Alex’s latest betrayal would break his heart.

As she headed out of town, her tears begin to subside. None of this made any sense. Why would Alex want to buy the bookstore to resell it? He didn’t need the money and she believed he wasn’t trying to hurt her father any longer. He knew how much she loved the store. Everything he’d done since meeting Kate and her father was to try to make their lives easier. He’d proven his love for her and her father. He wasn’t the type of man to want hurt those he loved.

He loved her.

Kate remembered Elise’s call to Brandy weeks earlier. She’d known about her marriage and yet neither Kate nor Brandy—certainly not her father told her. How then had she known except through Alex?

“Oh—my—God. I’m such an idiot! He bought the store for me,” she said as the truth that should have been apparent right from the start slowly dawned.

Kate turned the car around and headed back toward the city. He’d bought the store for her. He’d helped her father financially. In fact, he was like a son to Robert. Everything Alex did he did because he loved them and all she’d done was accuse him of having ulterior motives.

“Please don’t let me be too late,” Kate said as she reached for the phone.

He didn’t answer at the office so she tried their home number, but the answering machine picked up. It was after midnight. Where could he be?

Please don’t let him hate me...

Kate was desperate when she called her father’s number. There was no answer there as well. She tried Alex’s cell phone again and finally reached him. He sounded frantic.

“Kate, thank God. It’s Robert. He’s had another heart attack. I’m with him now. We just arrived at the ER at St. David’s hospital. Please hurry.”

“No, oh dear God, no! Alex, how is he?” she said, her voice shaking with fear.

“I don’t know anything yet. The doctor
s’ are working on him now. I think you need to come quickly, Kate.”

“I’m on my way. Please don’t let him die.”

It took forever to reach the hospital. Kate found Alex waiting for her outside the ER. He spotted her right away. Kate ran to him and let him take her in his arms.

“He’s okay. He’s going to be okay, Kate,” he told her, smoothing her hair away from her fearful eyes.

“He is? Oh, thank God. Thank you, Alex. Thank you for being there with him.” There was no warmth in his eyes when he looked at her. It was almost as if she were looking at a stranger, not the man who’d once loved her so passionately. Kate couldn’t let herself think about that now and not fall to pieces. Her father needed her to be strong. He didn’t need to know she’d screwed up the only good thing she’d done in a long time.

“I didn’t do anything,” Alex told her in a polite but distant voice. He sounded as if he hated her.

Please God, don’t let that be the case.

“Can I see him? Where is he?”

“Sure, he’s been asking for you. Come, I’ll take you to him.”

Robert looked weak and exhausted, but he was smiling when he spotted her with Alex.

“My baby, I’m okay. I’m okay, Katie. I’m okay,” he repeated as she leaned over and kissed his cheek, before brushing away her tears.

“Daddy, why didn’t you call me? What happened?” she asked, reaching for his hand. Robert’s eyes met Alex.

“Alex, would you give us a moment. I’d like to talk to my daughter alone,” her father told him quietly.

“Sure, I’ll go find the doctor so he can talk to Kate. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Once they were alone, she wanted to reassure herself he was being honest with her. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay, Dad?”

“I’m fine, Katie.” Her father dismissed her fussing. “Alex told me everything. I can’t believe you still think he would hurt you like that.” Kate had to look away from the disappointment in her father’s eyes.

“Dad, I don’t—not really. I was just so upset he hadn’t told me the truth about the store. I don’t know what’s wrong with me anymore. I love him and yet I think I’ve screwed everything up.”

“Yes, you have. Alex is a wonderful man and you are lucky to have such a kind, considerate husband in your life, but his patience is at an end.” Kate flinched at her father’s directness. Had Alex told Robert he couldn’t forgive her?

“Baby, I know I set a terrible example for you of what a husband should be like growing up. I treated your mother inexcusably. And I know I was probably the reason why you got involved with someone like Seth Mathews in the first place. But Alex isn’t like Seth or me. He’s a good man, and he loves you very much. You have to find a way to conquer your doubts, Katie, before it’s too late.”

“I know that. But I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure I know how to conquer my doubts. I don’t want to lose Alex but—” The sound of footsteps outside the door interrupted their conversation.

In the past, Kate met Robert’s doctor several different times when she went with her father for his appointments. Now, he greeted her politely and then began to explain her father’s condition.

“As I explained to your father and husband earlier, what Robert experienced was another mild attack. Probably brought on by excitement. The first initial tests don’t show any significant damage to his heart, but I want to keep him here for a few more days for observation just to be certain. During this time we can decide what our best course of treatment will be.”

Kate was miserable. Her father had been worried about her. This was all her fault.

“He’s going to be fine, but your father needs to rest. Why don’t you and your husband go home and get some as well?” The doctor patted Robert’s hand and added, “I’ll see you in the morning, okay? If you need anything, just have the nurse page me. I’m on call all night.”

Once they were alone, her father told her, “Dr. Wilkes is right. You do look tired. Let Alex drive you home. I think you two have some things to work out. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you both in the morning, okay.”

In spite of Robert’s suggestion that they talk, the trip home was made in silence. When they reached the house, Alex unlocked the door and followed Kate inside.

“Your father’s right, you know. You look tired. You should try and get some sleep.”

When he looked at her, there wasn’t any warmth in his eyes anymore. She’d finally pushed him too far. Alex had reached the end. It was as if he’d already let her go.

Chapter
Fifteen

Alex turned away. He couldn’t even look at her anymore. He headed for the kitchen, but Kate followed. She couldn’t let it end like this.

“Alex!” At the hopelessness in her voice, he turned, waiting politely for her to speak. How could she ever hope to win his trust again?

“What is it, Kate?” he asked wearily. There was nothing left of the man who once loved her so deeply.

“I’m sorry
.” She hated that her voice actually shook. Hated the tears that were so close.

“For what. For thinking the worst of me?”

“Yes…” She wouldn’t cry. Not now. When so much was at stake.

“Your father told you the truth about the bookstore?” Alex said without any emotion.

“No.” Kate took a hesitant step closer. It was hard to continue in the face of Alex’s cold expression, but she knew she must try. Her future happiness depended on convincing Alex to give her one more chance. “No, I figured it out while I was driving around tonight. I don’t know why I jumped to the wrong conclusion, Alex. I’m sorry. All you’ve ever done for me and for my father was to try to make us happy and love me, and I’ve screwed it all up!”

Something shifted in his eyes. Just a tiny amount of warmth broke through before Alex’s anger replaced it. “That’s all I’ve wanted to do, but as it turns out I’ve only hurt you both.”

“No Alex.”

“I’m the reason your father had his attack tonight, Kate,” Alex admitted bitterly. “It’s my fault
.”

“No, that’s not true.” Another tiny step closer, before he moved away. Kate closed her eyes. This was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done—convincing Alex she deserved his love.

“It is true. I went to his house tonight looking for you. I told him about what happened. That’s when he had the attack. It was because of me.”

“No, Alex.” She touched his arm gently. “It wasn’t your fault, it was mine. I was the one who doubted you.”

“You were right.” He ignored her words. He looked at her without emotion. “This was a mistake. I should have let you get the divorce.”

“No, don’t say that!” The tears at last spilled over. She didn’t try to stop them. “Please don’t say that.”

“I’m sorry, Kate, but it’s true.” He spoke softly. “You knew it wouldn’t work. You were right. I think we need to separate. I’ve thought about this and I want you to stay here—there’s more room here and Earl likes the backyard. I’ll move in with your father for a while. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything with the judge.”

“No, that’s not what I want. I was wrong, you were right. I love you.”

His laughter cut through her pleas, filled with bitterness, but Kate moved closer. She couldn’t let it end like this.

“I’m sorry I hurt you, Alex. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, I’m sorry
…” She shook her head. “Please, give me another chance.”

“Kate.” He closed his eyes but there was just a tiny bit of hesitation. Enough to give her hope.

“Alex, I’m begging you—please. I know I don’t deserve a second chance but I’m asking you for one. I’ll do whatever you want—I’ll get down on my knees if you like. Whatever you want. I’ll find a way to deal with my trust issues. I know now, it wasn’t ever you. It was me. I’m the one who can’t trust. Dad made me see it tonight. So, please, please just give me one more chance. Please don’t leave me.”

“Kate, I can’t live with someone who doesn’t trust me,” he told her quietly. “And I can’t do anything more to prove my love to you.”

“I know that.” Kate brushed at the tears angrily before stepping closer. He didn’t move away this time. She felt her heart grow lighter. “None of this is your fault. I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll do my best never to doubt your love again.”

Alex reached up to touch her cheek. A little more of the coldness left his eyes at the sight of her tears against his fingers.

“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I can’t stand to see you upset.”

Kate scrubbed at the tears and tried to smile. “It’s not your fault. It’s mine. This is all my fault
. I am such an idiot.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her close.

“Shh…Don’t say that. And please don’t cry. We’ll work this out together, I promise. I don’t want to leave you. And this is as much my fault as yours. I knew how hard it would be for you to trust someone after the things you told me about Seth. It didn’t help that I wasn’t honest with you from the start. I should have told you the truth about my past connection to your father before we were married. I should have come clean about my reasons for coming to you that first night. I shouldn’t have rushed you into marriage—” Kate pressed her lips against his and Alex was silent.

“Does this mean you’ll stay? You won’t leave?” she asked and held her breath.

“If that’s what you really want,” he told her slowly. “But your father is right. We have to talk.”

“Yes, I don’t want there to be any more misunderstandings between us.”

“Come sit down. I’ll make some coffee.”

Kate thought about the baby and told him, “How about some hot chocolate instead. And I’ll make it—you sit.”

If Alex thought her request was strange he didn’t say anything. But he didn’t do as she asked. Instead, he got out two mugs and the cocoa and helped her make it. Then he made a fire in the living room and they sat on the floor drinking their chocolate in silence for a long time.

“You want me to start?” Alex asked and Kate nodded relieved. She needed to tell him about the baby, but when faced with doing so it was almost impossible to get the words out.

“Okay, but just promise me you’ll listen to everything I have to say before responding. Some of it’s not pretty,” he admitted and glanced her way. She nodded.

“I knew you were Robert’s daughter when I met you that night at the bookstore,” Alex said and looked her way again. It was hard not to react to those words, but he’d pretty much told her this before. Kate closed her eyes for a moment then nodded again.

“Okay, go on,” she told him at last.

“And everything you accused me of, I’d planned to do.”

“Alex…” Kate didn’t think she could stand to hear anymore. She sat the cocoa down and tried to get to her feet, but he reached for her arm, stopping her.

“No. You promised you would listen to everything.” Kate hadn’t planned on the words hurting so much to hear. But she knew she needed to hear him out. No matter how difficult it was to hear. Slowly she lowered her weight back to the floor.

“Thank you,” he told her quietly before releasing her arm. “I said I went there that night to follow through with my plans to hurt your father by using you, but the second I met you, I knew in my heart it was over, even if I couldn’t yet let it go just yet. You see, the real flesh and blood you wasn’t anything like what I’d been expecting. When you fell into my arms and I kissed you…well, it was so over for me. Once you told me, you didn’t believe in romance anymore I wanted to change your mind, and convince us both there was such a thing. I think I did. You certainly convinced me.”

Kate smiled and nodded silently. Oh yes, she’d become a believer again after their first night together.

“I tried to talk myself into ending things with you after that night. I knew how this would look if you found out. But when I thought about not seeing you again, I couldn’t do it. I know I should have come clean right away, and believe me I tried. But I thought once you and I were married, once I was sure you loved me as well, there wouldn’t be any way you’d ever want to leave me, even if you found out the truth.”