Unbreak My Heart (Childhood Sweethearts Reunited) (16 page)

"You had so many plans," Kate said sadly. "What happened to your dream of visiting the rain forest?"

Andre's gaze became unfocused. "Life happened." He compressed his lips, glanced down at the book he held, then closed it and set it aside. "Running the hotels wasn't what I'd planned to do, but Grandpa loved the Caspian and the Court Royal. He left them to me because he knew Dad would sell them off the moment he got the chance."

He checked another folder, and added it to the discard pile. "Grandpa was there for me after Mum and Dad split and she went back to France. Without Grandpa, my father would either have left me with a nanny or passed me around among his girlfriends. I owed the old man, Kat. He asked me to make the Caspian the best hotel in Europe, so that's what I'm trying to do." Andre glanced around the room; his gaze skipped across his treasures and books. "Sometimes life doesn't work out how you plan, but you have to make the best of things."

She tried to imagine what he'd gone through, the compromise he'd made to abandon his dreams in favor of his grandfather's. Her mind skittered away from the insight like an animal fearful of being trapped. "Do you have any regrets?"

Andre sighed. "It's pointless to dwell on what might have been. But I do have regrets. They get me down occasionally." Their eyes met and held. "Sometimes you just have to let the past go and move on. I did what I had to do, and it's not so bad. I love the Caspian as much as Grandpa did. Every time I walk into the foyer and absorb the history-soaked atmosphere, I'm happy to be here, happy to have the future of this beautiful building in my hands so I know it's safe."

Kate looked down at her lap. Andre spoke of his own experience, but his message was clear. He thought she was stuck in the past and should change. She'd been determined to resist earlier. Now she felt ambivalent. The new clothes, the sleek hairstyle, the party, none of it had been as bad as she expected. In fact, the confrontation with Eric Tierman had empowered her. If she were honest with herself, she'd actually enjoyed the party.

"Success!" Andre brandished a black folder. "The dragon records, milady, in all their mythical, medieval splendor." He vaulted up and piled everything else back in the bookcase. "I'm famished. Let's go down to the kitchen and have a sandwich while we go through these notes."

***

On the morning of Andre's birthday Kate wandered into the cottage kitchen and was surprised to find him sitting at the table drinking coffee.

He held up his cup. "Pour yourself one, and let's toast our new brand. Everyone seems to like the idea. I rang Edmund yesterday and explained we were using dragons as a motif and magic and mythology as a wider theme." Andre glanced down at the list of taglines they had brainstormed. "I can't decide if I prefer 'The Caspian Hotel, Experience the Magic' or 'The Caspian Hotel, A Taste of Magic.'"

"I've used the second one in the mock-ups." Kate poured herself a coffee feeling strangely subdued. She was delighted Andre liked her concept and the designs and logo ideas she'd worked up. But now her work was finished she had no reason to stay.

"Cheer up! This is a celebration. Why so gloomy?"

"I'm pleased you're happy, really. It's just…" Kate wanted to ask if she could stay, but what reason could she give? She needed to get on with her life and stop hitching a ride on Andre's coattails. He had encouraged her to make her own way, develop her career. He obviously didn't expect her to be a permanent lodger. He probably wanted his privacy back.

"What's the matter?"

"What will you tell Edmund about our supposed relationship when I leave?"

Lines gathered between Andre's eyebrows and he looked down. "Why do I need to say anything? People conduct relationships at a distance."

"I suppose, but why pretend it's continuing when it was never real?"

Andre shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when we reach it."

Weren't they already at the bridge? Kate couldn't understand his reluctance to talk about their fake engagement.

"I've scheduled the Caspian to close for two weeks over Christmas this year for any redecoration and refurbishment required to complete our new image. I want this in place for next season."

Kate sat down and buttered a piece of toast. "I'm glad you're pleased with what we came up with for the Caspian. It was fun wasn't it, brainstorming together again?"

"I suppose in the end it was a joint project. Does that mean I only have to pay you half the fee?"

"We never talked about a fee," Kate retorted.

"Let's say it was bed and board."

"So which part do I have to give up?"

Andre laughed.

"Look upon my help as part of your birthday present."

"I thought you'd forgotten my birthday. You hadn't mentioned it."

"Neither had you." Kate leaned toward him and tapped the back of his hand. "A thoughtful person would have dropped me a hint so I didn't forget."

He turned his hand quickly, caught Kate's fingers and meshed them with his own. "I think you deserve a reward for coming up with the Caspian idea," he said, in a low intimate tone. Her heart rate picked up, and she tried to calm herself.

"Let's have a special dinner tonight. We can celebrate your success and my birthday at the same time. Mrs. Cooper will baby-sit so we have a little time to ourselves."

"Sounds nice," she said.

"Good." He gave her hand a quick squeeze, then released it. "By the way, don't worry if you see Jerry Markham this afternoon. He's here to write an article about the Caspian. He's going to interview me. I'd like a photo of the two of us together to go with the piece. I thought it would be nice to have one of us taken this evening when we're dressed for dinner."

An icy chill raced up Kate's spine."That creep! Why choose him? Aren't there other journalists who could interview you?"

"I know him, Kat. It was the easiest way. And you might not like him but he gets his pieces in the major newspapers."

"You could have waited till I'd gone before you invited him back." Her stomach clenched and she put down her toast, unable to believe Andre could be so insensitive after all she'd been through. He claimed to have told Jerry the truth about Keiko to get the journalist off her back yet a few days later he'd invited the man back.

Andre came around the table and put his arm over her shoulders. "Don't worry. This time we're making use of him. He's only staying one night, and Keiko won't be involved."

"I'm not comfortable with this, Andre. I don't want to see him, and I certainly don't want to pose for photographs. You dress up and have your photo taken. I'll stay here."

"But it's my birthday dinner, Kat. Are you going to make me dine alone?"

She rubbed her eyes and sighed out a frustrated breath. Perhaps she was overreacting, but why Jerry? Okay, he was an old acquaintance of Andre's, but still.

"I promise he won't be intrusive. You'll hardly know he's here," Andre cajoled. "It will be wonderful publicity for your career to have your name and photograph in the paper with the article about the hotel."

And now Andre was pushing her career in her face again. Kate rested her chin in her hand and resigned herself to seeing Jerry. "If that man comes near Keiko, I'll hold you responsible."

"He won't, Kat. He's coming here simply to write about the hotel."

Kate nodded, but nothing would convince her Jerry Markham didn't have his own agenda. She couldn't believe Andre was this naive.

***

Kate sat on a kitchen chair she'd placed on the slab of slate outside Andre's front door. Her gold chiffon dress was pulled up over her knees to catch the last rays of sun on her bare legs. She tipped back her head, closed her eyes, and breathed in the sweet fragrance of the pink climbing roses around the door.

Her relationship with Andre kept shifting beneath her feet like sand. She wasn't sure how he felt about her or even if he wanted her to stay or leave. And now she had the added worry of Jerry Markham again.

At seven thirty, she stirred from her contemplation at the sound of muted voices approaching. Andre came through the gate into his garden with Mrs. Cooper at his side.

By eight, he had showered, changed into a silver-gray suit and white silk shirt, and they were walking over to the hotel for dinner.

As they walked side by side along the narrow path beneath the trees, Andre brushed his hand against the diaphanous material of Kate's skirt. "Nice dress. Do you like it?"

"Yes." Her response was rather abrupt due to her troubled mood, but she did like the dress far more than she had when she tried it on in the store. Perhaps she was getting used to wearing this type of outfit rather than the long, loose garments she normally favored. She wore the white sandals with diamante detail as well and the result had pleased her when she examined herself in the long bedroom mirror.

"You don't sound very enthusiastic. It's not because I bought you the dress, is it?"

"No, don't be silly." She linked her arm through his, feeling guilty at dampening the mood on his birthday. "I'm just not keen on wearing it for Jerry Markham."

Andre stopped and stepped around to face her. "You're not dressing up for Markham, Kat. You're dressing up so you feel good about yourself." Then he grinned, a wicked flash of white teeth against his tanned skin. "And you're dressing up for me." He touched his fingers to the small wave of chiffon that formed the cap sleeve. "It definitely works for me."

For long moments they stared at each other and something hot and elemental burned in his eyes, echoed along her nerves, something she had never felt before. She loved Andre, had always loved him, but this need, this desire that seared away her good sense was new and unknown. Her childish love had transformed over the past few weeks to something far deeper.

"Come on, we'd better get going," he said and taking her hand, led her out of the woods to the back of the hotel. He showed her to a round table set for two at the secluded end of the swimming pool. Their view of the Caspian was framed by an archway adorned with a tangle of fragrant honeysuckle.

Andre held her chair and she sat. He bent closer, his breath warming her ear. "Here comes Jerry now. One photo, then they'll leave us in peace."

Despite telling herself not to worry about Jerry Markham, a rod of cold steel shot up Kate's spine at the sight of the man. If he called her Frosty Kate, this photo opportunity would be over before it started.

Andre placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Five minutes. That's all." He briefly shook hands with Jerry, and the photographer took a few moments to position lights and reflectors. A waiter appeared with champagne, opened the bottle and filled their glasses. Kate stared at the small golden bubbles leaping from the bottom of her champagne flute, making a dash for freedom. She took a sip and the mad rush of eager escapees tickled her tongue.

Jerry Markham stood with his feet planted wide and his hands on his hips surveying them. "Andre, mate, cuddle in closer to the lady. Hold up your glasses."

Andre scooted his chair beside hers, so their thighs touched, and lifted his glass. Kate took another quick sip of champagne to fortify herself and raised her drink.

"Come on, Ms. Frost, nobody's died, darling. Pretend this is your wedding day, the happiest day of your life. Give us a flash of the engagement ring."

Unconsciously, Kate had curled her left hand so the engagement ring didn't show. Although Andre had told her to wear the diamond for the photos, she didn't want the lie of this fake happiness displayed in the newspaper for the entire world, including her mum, to see. It was a reminder of what she yearned for, what she had always yearned for. This engagement charade was nothing but a cruel joke at her expense.

Andre leaned closer, the smooth fabric of his jacket brushing her shoulder. The subtle scent of his aftershave tempted her memory back to thoughts of his kiss. Suddenly all her hormones hyperventilated.

The camera flashed. Kate blinked in the light. Jerry issued a few words of instruction and the camera flashed again. "Okay, we're done. I'll let you know when the piece is going in, Andre. Enjoy your dinner."

After the photographer had removed the lights and Jerry had gone, Kate expected Andre to move his chair to its original position—he didn't. With his thigh pressed against hers, he laid his fingers across the back of her hand. "See, it wasn't so bad, was it?"

Kate tried for a dismissive shrug, but only succeeded in rubbing her bare shoulder on Andre's sleeve. A sleeve filled with hard muscular arm.

"Now we can celebrate the real reason we're here." Kate raised her glass and when Andre followed suit she touched his with a clink that echoed like a fairy bell over the still surface of the pool. "Happy birthday," she said.

"Thank you. And congratulations, Kat. This could be the first step toward a new career for you. If the publicity works, you'll be in demand."

Kate didn't want to go there now. She simply wanted to enjoy her dinner. "Can we not talk about work? I know you think I should seek out the big time and be more career-minded, but right now my top priority is Keiko." She met his gaze and held it, determined to make him grasp how serious she was. "She'll only be little once."

Andre returned her gaze, equally intent and serious. "I know you want to spend time with her. That's why I'm suggesting you develop a reputation so you can go freelance. It will allow you to work at home and still earn a decent income. If you're going to look after Keiko on your own, you need money. I hate to think of you scrimping."