Turn To Me (44 page)

“Where are we going?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

“It's a surprise,” Blane said.  “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

I harrumphed.  “Fine.  Whatever.  Don’t tell me.”

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

Our eyes met and his lips twitched in an almost grin.

I flipped on the radio, searching through the stations until I found one playing Christmas carols.  I hummed along as Blane drove.  Before long, I realized we were nearing the airport.

“Going somewhere?” I asked, my eyebrows climbing.  My grip tightened on my coffee mug when I thought of Blane leaving.

“No,” he shook his head, glancing at me.  I knew the tightness in my voice hadn’t escaped his attention.  “We’re just the welcoming committee today.”

I frowned, trying to puzzle out his words.

A few minutes later, Blane parked and helped me out, his grip firm around my waist as we made our way across the slick pavement.  The hardness of his body pressed against mine made my pulse quicken.

The warmth of the terminal hit me as we entered and I took a deep breath.  The area was nearly deserted at this hour and on this day.  Blane led me past check-in and through security, flashing something in his wallet and speaking with the guard on duty.  Finally, we reached an empty gate and Blane carefully sat me in one of the chairs.

“It shouldn’t be long now,” he said, glancing at his watch.

I was dying from curiosity and suspense, and could not even begin to imagine what could be going on.  Blane moved to the window and watched the tarmac outside.  Getting to my feet, I hobbled over to him.

“What are we waiting for?” I asked, my breath fogging up the icy window.

“That,” Blane said, pointing.

I looked and saw a small plane had just landed.  As I watched, it rolled slowly to the gate where we stood.

Hearing noise, I turned around and saw people were heading our way.  To my surprise, I recognized one of the figures.

“CJ?” I asked in disbelief.

Her face split into a wide smile when she saw me and she hurried over.

“Kathleen!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.  “I can’t believe it!  Can you?  And it’s all thanks to Blane.”

She pulled away, her eyes bright, while my jaw hung open in surprise.

“CJ,” I stammered, “I thought you were in jail.”

CJ shook her head.  “Blane got me out,” she said.  “Didn’t he tell you?”

I turned accusing eyes to Blane, who ignored me, directing his words to CJ.  “Things have been busy the past few days.”

But CJ didn’t really hear him, her attention caught by people coming up the jetway.  I saw two people, a man and a woman, accompanied by two other men in uniform.

CJ rushed towards the couple.

I gripped Blane’s arm tightly, looking up at him.  “Are they...is that...” 

He just smiled at me.  “Watch,” he said quietly.

I turned back in time to see CJ hurtle into her father’s arms.  I could hear her sobs and saw the tracks of tears down her mother’s face as she hugged CJ.  My eyes stung and I quickly passed my hand over my face, wiping away the wetness on my cheeks.

The reunion was beautiful to watch.  I threaded my fingers through Blane’s, silently wanting to share the moment with him.  He seemed to understand, his hand closing around mine.

The men with CJ’s parents waited patiently for them to finish greeting their daughter before ushering all three away, leaving Blane and I alone again.

“Where are they going?” I asked.

“They’ll need to be debriefed,” he answered.  “Then they’ll relocate them somewhere, help them get their lives back in order.”

I looked up at him, still in stunned amazement at what he had done.  “How?  Why?” I asked.

Blane’s hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin.  “The how isn’t important,” he said.  “As to the why – for you, of course.  Merry Christmas, Kat.”

Something softened inside me and I reached up, pulling his head down to mine.  Our lips met and it felt like coming home.  I savored the familiar scent and feel of him.

His hands slid underneath my hair to cup my jaw, the rough pads of his thumbs brushing my cheeks.  He deepened the kiss and I eagerly kissed him back.  When we finally broke apart, my pulse was racing and his eyes had darkened.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, brushing a nervous hand through my hair as I stepped back.  “Thank you,” I said.  “That’s an amazing thing you did.”

He shook his head.  “Thanks aren’t necessary,” he said lightly, taking my hand.  Blane led me back outside to his car and drove us back to his home.

The sun was high in the sky now, about mid-morning, and we were greeted with the smell of bacon and coffee as we walked in through the door.

“Merry Christmas!” Mona said, stepping out of the kitchen.  She wore an apron over black slacks and a dove gray sweater.  “I hope you’re hungry.”

“Starving,” I replied.  “It smells wonderful, Mona.” 

A familiar “meow” drew my attention and I looked down to see Tigger winding himself around my legs.

“Merry Christmas, Tigger,” I said, leaning down to give him a pat. 

Blane helped me into the kitchen where we filled our plates and ate.  Mona was a fabulous cook and I was glad I wasn’t living here permanently or I could easily gain ten pounds.  She sat down with us, as did her husband, Gerard.  They were in high spirits and chatted easily, telling me stories of when Blane was a child and his refusal to go to bed on Christmas Eve because he was determined to catch Santa.

I laughed, looking at Blane who smiled good naturedly with the teasing while he sipped his coffee.  His arm was resting possessively on the back of my chair, his hand now and again touching my neck through my hair. One ankle rested on his knee and his whole body was turned fractionally towards me.

It was nice and I really enjoyed it.  It had been several years since I’d had people with whom I could share Christmas, and before that, Mom had been sick.  The kitchen was warm and cozy and smelled like a home.  Gerard and Mona made me laugh and I could see the brilliant white snow outside glistening in the morning sunshine.  I didn’t want it to end, but eventually my yawns could no longer be hidden.

“You need to take a nap, dear,” Mona gently chastised me.  “You haven’t got your strength back yet.”

“No,” I protested, rising from my chair.  “I want to help you clean up.”

“Nonsense!” she waved me aside.  “Blane, take her upstairs, please.  She needs to rest.  We’ll have dinner at six this evening.  Bob and Vivian are joining us.”

Blane led me from the room, his hand on the small of my back, gently guiding me. 

“The Senator?” I asked.

Blane nodded.  “He and Vivian often come for Christmas dinner, if they’re in town.”

“Is Kade coming as well?” I asked, trying to sound casual, as if I weren’t holding my breath waiting for his answer.

“He’ll be here,” was Blane’s curt response.

I didn’t say anything more until we’d reached my room.  I sat down on the bed with a tired sigh.  My leg ached and I was glad to be off it.  I watched as Blane moved to the window, bracing an arm against the frame as he peered outside.

“Why would you think I was Kade?” Blane abruptly asked.

“What?” I was taken aback at the change of subject and the question.

Blane turned toward me, his eyes meeting mine.  “Earlier,” he clarified.  “Why would Kade be here?”

I scrambled for an explanation, knowing I couldn’t give the real one – that Kade had been here last night with me.  It had been innocent, yes, but I knew Blane's possessive streak might not see it that way.  “I was half-asleep, Blane.  I don’t know what I said.”  The fib felt sour on my tongue, but I wasn’t about to instigate something between Blane and Kade.

“He cares about you.”

I shook my head in denial.  “Kade cares about Kade, Blane.  He was just doing what you wanted him to – keeping me safe.”

His lips twisted into a slightly bitter smile.  “Yes, ironic, isn’t it.  I pushed him on you, and now I may pay the price.”

I tried to puzzle out what he meant.  “I don’t know what you mean,” I finally said quietly.  I passed a weary hand over my eyes.

“It doesn’t matter,” Blane said, coming to my side.  “I shouldn’t have said anything.  Get some rest.  Do you need another pain pill?”

I shook my head as I climbed under the covers.  “No, I'm done with those,” I replied.  I didn't like how they made me feel.  Bending down, Blane placed a light kiss on my lips.

“Don’t let me sleep through dinner, please,” I said as he turned to leave. 

“I won’t,” he replied before exiting the room, the door closing gently behind him.

Blane’s words turned over in my head as I lay there.  It almost sounded as though he were jealous, but there was nothing to be jealous of.  Kade and I had grown closer over the past week, that much was true, but I knew nothing could happen between us.  I refused to become a wedge between Blane and Kade.

The sexual attraction between Kade and me couldn’t be denied - I wasn’t stupid - but if my relationship with Blane had taught me anything, it was how very vulnerable making love with a man had made me.  I'd been devastated when I’d seen Blane with Kandi, no matter that I believed the reasons he'd had for allowing it to happen.  I wasn’t anxious to put myself and my heart at someone’s mercy again – not until I knew I could trust them.  Blane had vowed he’d earn my trust back, that he wanted us to be back together.  I wondered if he could - and if I would let him.

Eventually, I drifted to sleep, thoughts of Blane and Kade twisting through my mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Kirk household dressed for Christmas dinner.  Really dressed.  I looked at the black velvet dress Blane had left for me and wondered if I’d be able to fit into its confines.  Blane may have underestimated the exact size of my ass, I thought, as I regarded the dress skeptically.

I’d showered again and washed my hair, blowing it dry and curling it.  It now lay in soft ringlets down my back.  I’d applied a smoky gray shadow to my eyes and a red gloss to my lips.  The makeup helped accentuate my blue eyes, which stood out sharply with my fair skin.

I stepped into the dress, pulling it up over the black bra and matching panties I’d put on.  I had to wriggle a bit when it hit my hips, but then it fell into place.  I pushed my arms through the short cap sleeves, smoothing the soft velvet over my abdomen.  The dress clung to me, falling to mid-calf and covering my bandage.  A slit in the back made it easy to move.  Reaching behind me, I pulled up the zipper, but couldn’t get it all the way.

A knock at the door made me turn and I called out, “Come in.”

Blane entered and the sight of him momentarily robbed me of breath.  He’d dressed in a black suit, the shirt beneath a blinding white, his tie a deep burgundy.  The jacket stretched across his broad shoulders, making him appear even larger than he was.

His eyes took an appreciative path down my body and back up, lingering on the neckline which, with the help of the bra, displayed an impressive amount of cleavage right on the line between tasteful and tacky.

“Can you help me?” I asked, turning my back to him and lifting my hair so he could reach the zipper.

I could see his reflection in the glass of the window as he approached me.  His fingers brushed the skin of my back and I caught my breath. 

Blane took his time zipping my dress, easing it up millimeter by millimeter.  He was so close, I could feel the warmth from his body at my back.  I could barely breathe, my response to his nearness something I couldn’t control – as though I belonged to him and he could command my body.

I released my hair, only to have Blane softly sweep it aside, placing his lips on the skin between my neck and shoulder.  His arms slid around my waist, enveloping me.  I felt small and protected in his arms, my eyes sliding shut at the touch of his tongue against my skin.  The slight abrasion of his jaw made me shiver.

“You look gorgeous,” he rasped, lifting his head to meet my gaze in the window.

“Likewise,” I said breathlessly, my pulse racing.

The corners of his mouth lifted in an almost smile and I could see the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes that he knew he was affecting me.

“Shall we?” he asked.

I nodded, slipping on a pair of black flats.  Heels with my leg still tender seemed like a bad idea.  Lightly placing his hand on my back, he guided me out the door and assisted me down the stairs.

The long dining room table I’d seen the first time I’d come to Blane’s house was now laden with china, silver and crystal.  The candelabra in the center glowed with newly lit candles.

I expected to be seated at the table, but Blane kept us moving past the dining room.

“I thought it was time for dinner,” I whispered.

“Cocktails in the library first,” he replied.

I nodded, my hands twisting together in a sudden fit of nerves.  Christmas dinner with my family had been jeans and sweatshirts and filling our plates in the kitchen to carry to the table.

We entered the library and I was surprised to see not only Senator Keaston and Vivian there, but also George and Sarah Bradshaw, Keaston’s campaign manager and wife.

“Good evening,” Blane said with a smile, guiding us to where they stood talking, drinks in hand.  “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you, Blane,” the Senator said jovially.

Vivian stepped forward and clasped Blane’s hands.  “Merry Christmas,” she said as Blane placed a kiss on her cheek.  She turned to me then.

“You remember Kathleen?” Blane asked.

“Indeed I do,” Vivian said with a gentle smile.  “Merry Christmas, Kathleen.  How are you feeling?”

“Better, thank you,” I said quietly.

Blane had been drawn into the circle of men talking when Mona approached me holding a martini glass.

“Cocktail, dear?”

I gratefully accepted, hoping it would calm my nerves.  I sipped at the cold liquid, the glass rimmed with festive red sanding sugar and garnished with three fresh cranberries on a skewer.  I could tell the vodka was premium, slightly tinted with cranberry juice and a bit of vermouth.  It was very good.