Instinctual (5 page)

Kate let her shoulders drop and relaxed into the atmosphere and view, happy to blend in to the town’s activity. She belonged here.

She felt truly blessed to be able to live somewhere so picturesque while still earning a living. It really was the best of both worlds. Remembering her father’s words about going home, she had to smile. Home was where the heart was and her heart was definitely in Vernazza. She doubted she’d blend back into the Western culture now after having lived and breathed the Italian way of life for so long. She was as much a part of it as it was of her. No. Her father would just have to accept the fact that this was where she wanted to be, regardless of how much she missed her parents.

After about half an hour a waiter emerged with spaghetti and a glass of red wine.

“Grazie!” Kate grinned as the waiter placed everything in front of her.

She was so tempted to dive head first into the oversized portion of al-dente pasta and tomato sauce but the crowded street held her back. Instead, she ate like a lady until the giant hole in her gut lessened in size and the embarrassing bubbling noises subsided.

Kate wondered what Carlos was doing. He’d probably eaten alone. Maybe she should have called and invited him to join her. After all, he wasn’t leaving until tomorrow. She’d been so caught up in work that it hadn’t even crossed her mind. He was probably in bed now, though, getting an early night for his trip. She let herself off the guilt hook by thinking that. For some strange reason, she was actually enjoying her own boring company tonight, being able to practically inhale the spaghetti ravenously while watching passersby strolling, chatting, and enjoying the cloudless night as much as she was.

Vernazza had the X-Factor, that certain quaintness, oozing history with a hint of elegance. Something special that defied explanation. It was the perfect piece of paradise. Regardless of the fact that it held painful memories, it had also been her savior in times of need. Locals had embraced her as one of their own and rallied around to lift her spirits. It was so easy to shun the rest of the world and pretend it didn’t exist when everything she needed was right here.

“So, my dad isn’t keen on me never returning to the United States? He’ll have to deal with that. I miss my family big time, but I’m not about to give up the solitude and serenity in my life right now to return to chaos. Let them visit me. It’s not as if they’re short of a dime. The force has been kind to Dad financially.” It was more thinking out loud than insanely talking to herself.

Just as Kate was about to slurp up shreds of spaghetti that were too sparse to wind around the fork, she sensed someone watching her. Looking up, a dark stranger caught her eye. He seemed oddly out of place, even amongst the immaculately dressed Italians and tourists. It wasn’t so much the head to toe black garb or the sunglasses that still sat on top of his matching dark hair, or the fact that he was reading his tourist guide upside down. It was more the fact that she caught him eyeing her more than once in as many minutes. Every time Kate looked his way, he pretended to be reading his upside down guide, yet when she looked away she could feel his eyes return, drilling into her and watching her every move. A sudden shiver had her pulling her cardigan tightly across her chest, leaving the morsel of divine pasta on the plate and walking into the restaurant to pay the bill. From inside she could see the man only because he sat under an antique street light, otherwise he would have melted into the charcoal background. He was huge even sitting, his crew cut accentuating a large head. Muscles fought to stay contained beneath his tight clothing. He brought with him a sense of power that made her nervous.

Kate stalled at the counter, hoping to buy some time by fumbling in her purse for the correct change. Home seemed miles away. Was he following her? Spying on her? Why?

She needed to think and act fast. She desperately wanted to be behind locked doors in the sanctuary of her apartment. The one-man fan club outside had put his book down and was focused on the restaurant. Maybe he didn’t think she could see him watching from inside, but for a brief moment they appeared to be eye to eye. Kate didn’t like the look of him one little bit and could find no reason why he’d chosen to focus on her, especially given what she was wearing. Underneath the beauty and grace of Italy lay a very different world. An underworld of crime. Murder. Drugs and other unlawful goings-on. A world that stayed invisible to most people. Like a thorn in Italy’s side it was sitting below the surface, simmering. Carlos had always warned Kate of that and to be aware of it when she was out on her own but she’d shrugged it off nonchalantly, as if she’d already convinced herself that it didn’t affect her and she had no need of the knowledge. What horrible things could possibly happen in Vernazza?

The saving grace of the evening came in the form of a rowdy mob of people walking past. At a guess there were twelve people, all adults. Some couples had their arms around each other and others walked side by side. Either way there was enough coverage for Kate to hide behind and ease into the
night. Quickly, she exited and sank low, using the group as a human shield, feeling more like a criminal than an innocent woman trying to hide from a seedy stalker. Well, she didn’t actually think he was a seedy stalker or that he was going to hurt her, but he was focused on her for a reason and she wasn’t hanging around to find out what it was.

Her plan seemed to have worked because soon her new allies had turned the corner out of view, merrily on their way to God knows where. The gentleman beside Kate slapped her on the back in a show of glee, raising her to her feet, real quick. She hoped she hadn’t gone from one fire into another. It appeared he thought Kate had decided to join their little soiree and was out for a night of boozy celebrations. She hated to break the bad news to him and didn’t know if he’d be able to understand it if she opened her mouth, so she just smiled and hurriedly walked on ahead, turning to make sure no one was following the group before detouring into a side street and running the rest of the way home. Once inside she locked the door, made sure all the windows were firmly shut, and pulled the curtains. It was a little unnerving to say the least. Things were getting weird.

Pulling her cell phone from her pocket, she dialed Carlos’ number.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

“Come on, pick up. I know you’re probably asleep, but answer, damn it.”

Ring. Ring.
It went straight to voice mail, so Kate put on her, “I’m happy and there is nothing wrong” voice and left a brief message, wishing him well on his insurance seminar tomorrow. If that’s even where he was going, which her all-knowing was telling her he wasn’t.

Suddenly doubting her ability and wondering if she was just being skittish and un-necessarily distrustful, she undressed and crawled into bed, placing the phone on the bedside table just in case Carlos returned the call. She decided to leave the living room light on in case the boogieman chose to invade her villa in the middle of the night and then she snuggled deep under the covers, willing herself to think about festival day, hoping sleep would grab her quickly. It didn’t take long as she felt herself drift off, pushing aside the images of the dark man at the harbor.

Chapter Five

Brooding for most of the night and angry for the mistakes of old, the run down, detached house jutting precariously towards the ocean on the outskirts of town, had sheltered Jake for the night.

What the hell was he doing? He wasn’t a part of Kate’s life anymore, that was clear. She was happy, obviously with a guy she loved. He should just go. Leave her to it. Ignore the pull. Leave the past behind. Move on. It was good in theory but to actually put it into practice was impossible. He was weak and selfish. To let Kate go would be to say goodbye to a part of himself forever.

He just needed a glimpse. To see her. Those eyes that could feel like endless lashings when angry, yet like sizzling pools of fire when aroused. The need overpowered all else. She was the first thing he’d thought of since his
predicament.
In fact, at the moment, she was all he could think about. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he rose to look out the bedroom window towards the ocean.

Would they still have that fervid bond? Well, he knew he still did, but would she? Would she be able to feel him in Vernazza? If her gift was still strong, surely she would. Maybe she could help him find answers. Could he be so bold as to ask her for help? Hell, he knew how well that would go down. “Hi, Kate. How have you been for the last five years? Would you mind getting me out of a bit of a jam?”

First things first. He needed to see her.

At a loose end, he ventured into town again, on foot this time via the hiking track, to see what the day would bring and to think things through. He didn’t need to walk but thought it might help him settle, taking in the unprecedented scenery while trying to sort through things in his head that had become jumbled and indistinct.

Snippets of memories blurred his vision. Hot, steamy, summer nights spent with Kate, sharing the very vista to his right, promising her the world. Naked with just a sheet draped around them, standing facing the vast blue expanse, Jake’s arms tightly wrapped around her from behind, nuzzling her neck, whispering in her ear his love, over and over, Kate’s head thrown back on his shoulder, totally oblivious to the rest of the world.

His whole body surged with pleasure just thinking about it. He only had to think her name and he was in agony with desire. His Kate. She would always be his. Time seemed to cease even when daydreaming of her and before he knew it the familiar haphazard, brightly washed buildings beckoned him forward.

Pain like he’d never known. Running. British accent. It overcame him in a flash, cutting into his memory of Kate without any warning, causing him to stop walking and grab at the metal railing that framed one side of the walking track. He winced at the sudden onslaught, not liking the anger that came with it.

A few people passed him by, looking on curiously as he clutched his head in response to the image overload.

“Get it together, Jake. Breathe. They’re just memories. Not real anymore. Don’t let them get the better of you.” He whispered the chant between gritted teeth, needing to get his shit together and not lose it. The salty air seemed to help fade the assembly of snatched visions of his recent escapades and he was able to push on.

The celebrations engulfed the stillness as he tried to rein in his emotions. Festivals in Italy were a big affair with people coming from far and wide to celebrate. Locals and tourists alike forgot their cares for days and nights, eating and drinking merrily, welcoming all who cared to stumble upon this slice of heaven.

Jake needed a diversion to gather his thoughts and piece together a plan. He really did need Kate’s help to get him out of his own mess. Could he use that as an excuse for his return to Vernazza? Whether or not she would agree to assist him would remain to be seen.

Confronting someone who was ready to sell his soul to the devil needed a little diplomacy. Getting her attention would be the first hurdle.

It seemed like an instant and he was in the thick of it.

He was glad to be back, if just for a flicker of a moment. Vernazza was in his blood and stole his heart all those years ago, when work had led the lovers here. It seemed a lifetime ago. He’d been young. Reckless. Invincible. Desperately in love. Traveling through the Cinque Terre region with Kate had left them enchanted by the picture-perfect beauty of the coastal region.

Not very much had changed since his first visit and he imagined it would remain unchanged in the future, which was part of its allure.

His toes started to tingle, spreading quickly to his legs and thighs. Before long his entire body was buzzing with static. An erotic thought sped across his mind so fast he stopped short. Kate.

His keenly tuned radar led him further down the uneven cobbles of the main street, towards the town square where revelers were already drinking and becoming merry.

“I need you, Kate. Now. More than ever. I need your help. Where are you? Feel me and guide me. I know you can. You are the only one. Use your gift.”

He closed his eyes and waited for a signal, drinking in the warmth of the oversized sun, letting the buzz and constant hum of his energy settle down. Market stalls lined the small piazza, making it even more cramped than normal. Fishermen, fruit sellers, and crafters were all out to cash in on festival day. Buskers sang for their lives, nodding intermittently as coins were thrown into makeshift piggy banks. Restaurant tables made up the cramped space with chairs and umbrellas spilling out onto any available space. There was barely room to move with hordes of people zig-zagging through the clutter.

The quaint harbor sparkled like blue diamonds with its small fishing boats filling the marina.

Jake suddenly felt as alive as the festival itself, which was in stark contrast to his mood half an hour ago. Music soothed him. He let it wash over him, mingling with the smell of freshly baked breads, pizza and limoncello.

Like a magnet drawn to metal he moved through the crowd with agility, letting the pull guide him. His six foot tall frame towered over much of the crowd, enabling him to scope the entire square down to the wall that sheltered the small marina.

Men, women, and children haggled at the market stalls noisily, waving their arms and raising their voices to be heard above the already raucous din.

“Come on, baby. Find me.” It was hard to focus on any one thing with all the activity.

He closed his eyes, trying to tune in to her. Flashbacks rocketed forth at a million miles per second. Kate running into the water as he chased her, laughing and squealing, carefree and wild, pretending to push him away when he caught her, then falling into him, letting him wrap around her before they fed off each other hungrily. Bam! Another image. Running again. More shots. Falling to the ground. Unable to breathe. Drunken nights drowning his sorrows with low-priced booze and even cheaper women.

He struggled to pull free from the deluge of images pouring into his brain as he stood stock still, his left hand grabbing onto the stone harbor wall for support. He stifled a cough as his throat constricted. Feelings of dread and fear hovered way too long. Kate again. Basking in the glow that was Kate. Her allure tantalizing him to the point of insanity. She didn’t even have to be in the same room to affect him. His mind wandered again.

“Do you feel that, baby?” They were in the back of a cab in Rome, not touching but sitting close.

“Jake! I feel you. I always feel you. I crave you so much right now.”

The entire day had been spent fighting off the urge to strip each other naked and go at it like rabbits beside the Trevi Fountain. Even to touch had been painful. A burn so intense, they’d chosen not to even hold hands until they’d arrived back home where they could douse the flames with an erotic marathon that lasted for hours.

That same intense sensation hovered in the air now, pulling him. Tempting him like a forbidden fruit in an enchanted garden.

Swaying from the heat of the sun and the buzz coursing into him, he had to place two hands on the three foot high wall.

“You feel so close, Kate. Like I can almost touch you.”

He turned and walked away from the harbor, becoming absorbed into the mass of tourists.

He headed towards the Santa Margherita d’Antiochia church built in 1318 with its octagonal bell tower the focal point. The Ligurian gothic structure built by Maesti Antelami showed off an impressive 40 meter belfry, built on rock at the foot of the town.

Jake had never been religious or gone to church, but with all that had gone down lately, he was starting to wonder if he might enter the giant house of God to pray for help.

He was almost there when he stumbled. Lust powered into his loins. His heart hammered. Like an untamed Goddess,
she
appeared. Riveted to the spot, the crowds blurred and the noise seemed to evaporate. He felt fully charged and alert. Her name caught on his breath. Like a tiger on a hunt he crouched lower, moving with her. His eyes were locked on and focused. She was breathtaking. The last few years in that second had been erased and it was just the two of them again. Nothing else mattered. He drank in her beauty as she moved with confidence and grace. The creamy texture of her flawless skin covered an amazing body that sparkled like jewels. That body! His eyes followed the curves of her breasts and lingered a moment too long before returning to her face. Even side on, she took his breath away. This was his Kate. The one he’d vowed to love always. The one who’d cemented her love for all of eternity by pricking a finger and joining their blood.

She was standing looking through some tourist wares at a stall near the church’s entrance.

His head swam. Her energy seared a path to his heart and burned him to the core. A gentle moan escaped him. He longed to caress those dynamic curves and have her scream out his name. Everything else surrounding them vanished. The harbor. The chaos.

Seemingly feeling something, her head turned and he could have sworn she looked right at him, searching him out. A distant look in her eyes.

Her sudden reaction pained him, yet didn’t surprise him.