Love and Honor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 7 (22 page)

Kit stiffened as she saw Kurt reach out to introduce an attractive, dark-haired young woman to Mrs. Wilson. He was looking down at her almost adoringly. Swallowing hard, Kit tried to sound flip as she laughed. “Oh. well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll admit he’s handsome, but I’ve also heard he’s a womanizer. I certainly don’t want to get involved with his kind.”

“Yes, you do.”

Kit stared at her. “I beg your pardon?”

“Yes, you do,” she gave her a quick hug. “Please don’t be offended, Kit. It’s just that I can tell you really like him. Even though he’s with someone, we could still ask him to join us. Then you can decide whether his date is any real competition,” she added with a mischievous wink.

“No, I couldn’t…” Kit said, sounding uncertain.

Valerie was looking past her. Suddenly she grinned. “Well, you’re going to get your chance anyway, because he spotted you, and they’re coming over here.”

“No…” Kit moaned. She looked about frantically and saw the doors leading out to the terrace. “I’m going outside. Tell him I’ve gone to the powder room if he asks for me.” She hurried away before Valerie could stop her.

Even outside in the cold, crisp air, Kit felt flushed and overheated. Walking to the edge of the terrace, she looked out at the lights of Washington and wished she were anywhere but there.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her bare shoulder, and she shivered. He had moved through the night like a stalking panther. “Kit…” His voice was husky. “Why did you run away from me?”

Kit slowly turned to face him, despising herself for the hot, sweeping tremors that were moving through her body. “I did not run away from you,” she protested.

“But you did,” he said, a slightly mocking smile on his sensuous lips. “Because you’re jealous of the young lady I brought with me.”

Kit gasped, shocked not only because he had guessed the truth, but because he was bold enough to say so. “Oh, you flatter yourself, Kurt Tanner. I couldn’t care less who you’re with—tonight or any other night! I’ve told you before that we seem to bring out the worst in each other, and I see no reason for you to pursue me. Now, if you don’t mind, I will excuse myself.”

She started to move past him, her head held high, but he reached out and grabbed her. Spinning her about, he said, “Oh, but I do mind, Kit. You’re the most incredibly desirable woman I’ve ever met, and I’ve been waiting to do this…again.” He crushed her against him, his lips hot and demanding.

Kit resisted him, but only then she surrendered to the strange, driving hunger that seemed to possess her mind and body whenever he touched her. She trembled with delight as she felt his hand move to her breast, stroking softly. Time stood still in that magical, enchanting moment. Fantasy had become reality, and Kit realized that she was exactly where she had wanted to be for so very, very long.

Finally, reluctantly, he released her. For the first time his expression was not arrogant or mocking. Instead, he gazed at her with adoration, and she glowed with happiness. She did not want the moment to end—there was such an intimacy, an unspoken acknowledgment that something wonderful was growing between them. Then she heard a soft coughing sound and turned to see the young lady who’d been with him earlier. She stiffened defensively, but Kurt smiled confidently.

“This is my cousin, Rebecca Henley, from Georgetown. She was only too happy to be my date this evening.” To Kit, he whispered, “Because I didn’t know how to find you.”

They exchanged pleasantries, and Kit was beside herself with joy. An inner peace filled her because she was no longer running from her true feelings.

Rebecca said, “Kurt tells me you’re a wonderful dancer, and that the two of you shocked a few folks at the embassy ball in Madrid.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever hear the end of that.” Kit laughed. “I’m just glad the orchestra isn’t playing a tango tonight. I’m afraid we have a few friends here who’d insist on a command performance.”

From within came the lilting strains of a waltz. “Well, perhaps they’ll settle for an old-fashioned dance,” Kurt murmured. Without taking his eyes off Kit, he politely asked his cousin, “Would you mind?”

Rebecca could not help teasing, “Of course not. I knew the minute we walked in that you were looking for someone, and I must say that I approve of your choice.”

Kurt led Kit to the dance floor, and they began to move in smooth, gliding steps. They couldn’t take their eyes from each other. Kit wondered if her excitement showed, if her face was aflame with the heat that his touch had ignited in her body. She felt almost light-headed, as if his arm around her waist was the only thing anchoring her to earth.

He shook his head slightly, as if to reassure himself that this was not a dream. “I want to kiss you again and again. Hold you and never let you go. He looked deep into her eyes. “And you want it, too,” he whispered. “You fought it, tried to hate me, but it was meant to be. It
will
be.” His smile faded, and he seemed to consume her with his eyes as he held her even tighter.

Kit swayed dizzily. She lost her rhythm for a moment, and Kurt quickly, smoothly, covered her misstep.

She closed her eyes and felt the heavenly warmth of his body. No more pretense, no more hypocrisy. No more running from her destiny.

The waltz ended, but not the feelings soaring between them.

“When do you leave Washington?” he asked as he led her back across the floor to where Rebecca patiently waited. “I’d like to call on you.”

“Why?” she asked impishly. “To try and take Pegasus away from me, or the ranch you think I cheated you out of?”

He gave her a look of mock anger. “Oh, you’re going to pay for those little capers later, my dear. I’ve got special ways of punishing vixens like you.”

She squeezed his hand. “I can hardly wait!” She laughed. Then, becoming serious, she explained, “I don’t know when we’ll be leaving. My grandmother is quite ill, and I’m sure we’ll stay here till she’s better.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Tell me where you’re staying, so I can call on you there.”

“Kit! I found them.” Travis beckoned to her. “I’ve arranged for a toast in the library. Marilee is bringing Mom and Dad.”

Kit felt uneasy. “Did she tell them what this is all about?”

“No, she’s not telling them anything.” Travis snapped. “
I’m
making the announcement. Now do you want to be there or not?” Noticing Kurt for the first time, he said coolly, “Will you excuse us, please?”

“Wait here,” Kit said. She hated to leave him for even a moment. “This is a family matter, but it won’t take long.” Kurt nodded in understanding and Kit went to the library with Travis.

As they reached the library, Marilee appeared with Jade and Colt. Jade demanded to know what was going on, then she saw Valerie standing just inside the door. She stiffened, her expression a mask of instant hostility. She turned to leave, but Colt caught her arm and steered her inside.

“Valerie and I have something to say,” Travis began nervously, “but we’re waiting for her parents.’’

Growing pale, Jade held up a hand in protest. “Travis, if you’ve called us together for the reason I think, I must say that this isn’t the time or place, and—” She stopped when a butler knocked discreetly on the door.

“Come in,” Colt said, and the butler approached him, whispering urgently so that only Colt could hear.

“Kitty’s very sick,” Colt explained to the others. “We have to get to her as quickly as possible.”

Jade was two steps outside the library when she suddenly froze. For an instant she seemed to be paralyzed, her face deathly white.

Kit watched, bewildered. Her mother’s eyes grew wide with terror, and she raised trembling hands to her mouth. Turning to see what unknown horror had caused such a reaction, Kit saw a strange man and woman standing directly in her path. They, too, seemed petrified, rooted to the floor.

Jade felt herself fading away. The last thought she had before she lost consciousness was that she was seeing a ghost—the ghost of Bryan Stevens.

And in that awful moment, her worst nightmare came to life.

Chapter Twenty-One

Another nightmare was taking place with Kitty. Dr. Talton removed his stethoscope, his face filled with deep concern. At the moment, Kitty appeared to be sleeping, and her breathing was slow and labored.

Tight-lipped and grim, Colt stood at the foot of the bed. Suddenly he exploded, “What are you waiting for? Dammit, she needs to be in a hospital!”

Beside him, Kit touched his arm gently. Oh, how she wished her mother were here! Something very strange, even terrible, had happened to Jade back at the White House. Colt had carried her to the car, and she’d awakened during the frenzied ride back to the Buchers’. She had said not a word, and her face was a mask of horror. What had caused such a reaction? When the car had stopped in front of the Buchers’, she had leaped out and run up the walkway as though the devil were chasing her. There was no time to question her, however, because Kitty’s critical condition was their overriding concern at the moment.

Colt jerked away from Kit’s restraining hand. “Well, are you just going to let her lie there and die?” he shouted at the doctor.

Dr. Talton sighed and shook his head. In his many years of practice he’d witnessed this scene so often that he knew exactly what to expect of distraught family members. He folded his stethoscope carefully and put it in his worn leather bag, then motioned Colt to follow him outside, Kit right behind him.

Dr. Talton took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Mr. Coltrane, but Kitty’s so weak I don’t want to move her now. I can’t do any more for her in the hospital than I can here, anyway. It’s just a matter of giving her medication, trying to bring down her fever, keeping her comfortable. But I’ve got to be honest and say that I don’t think she’s going to pull out of this.”

“You’re wrong,” Colt said, his voice hoarse with desperation. “You can’t give up! There’s got to be something more you can do to save her.” Kit watched her father anxiously as he took a threatening step toward the doctor.

“I’m sorry,” Dr. Talton said quietly. “It’s pneumonia, and it’s bad. If she’d gone to the hospital earlier, it might have made a difference.”

Colt stood there frozen, unable to remove his eyes from the doctor’s face. Kit was determined not to go to pieces. Kitty would expect her to be strong. She drew in her breath and said quietly, “Tell me what to do for her.”

“Cold cloths may help bring down the fever,” the doctor said. “Someone should be with her all the time. When she’s awake, she’ll probably be delirious.

“How long…?” Kit forced herself to ask.

“I don’t know,” Dr. Talton confessed. “I have a feeling that she’s a strong-willed woman. She just might have some fight left in her. I’ve done all I can do though. It’s up to the good Lord now. I’ll be home if you need me for anything,” he said wearily as he turned to go down the stairs.

Kit went back into Kitty’s room and drew up a chair next to her bed. Kitty had not moved, and the ominous rattle in her chest was the only sound in the quiet, shadowy room. Kit touched her cheek cautiously, gasping at how hot she felt.
Dear God
, she prayed silently,
help her…and help me…to be strong.

She heard the door opening and looked around to see her father. Never had she seen him look so sad and forlorn. She sensed that he was hardly aware of her presence as he leaned forward to take one of Kitty’s hands and press it to his lips.

Carasia came in with a bowl of ice water and a cloth, and Kit sponged Kitty’s face. As she worked, she listened, spellbound, as her father began talking, not to her, but to Kitty. He told her of his deep and abiding love for her and his father. Kit felt like an intruder, listening to his intimate reflections, but she was far too fascinated to leave. It was like being an actual witness to his past life, and as he spoke of things she’d never known, a fierce love for both her father and Kitty seized her. When Colt finally stopped speaking, he bowed his head and began to weep with deep, choking sobs.

Only then did Kit tiptoe from the room.

Jade felt as if she were suffocating. Bryan was alive! Oh, God, to have her worst fears confirmed was more than she could bear. She tried to tell herself that it did not matter,
could
not matter, because Bryan had no claim on her. He was married to someone else, and he had a daughter. But, she thought with a great, wrenching shudder, what if the fear she’d tried to bury within herself all these years proved true? What if Bryan were Kit and Travis’s father? There was no way to know, no reason he should suspect, but what about Travis and Valerie? Travis could be in love with his own sister! Jade bit her lip to keep from crying out loud. She swayed dizzily and tried to gain control of herself as she heard the door open softly.

Turning about, she found herself facing Colt. His eyes ran over her coldly, and she knew she must look completely distraught. Swallowing hard, she asked, “How is Kitty?”

He threw himself into a chair by the window. “She’s in and out of a coma. Her fever is still high, and she’s delirious. She thinks I’m Dad…” His voice broke, and he covered his face with his hands.

Jade’s heart went out to him. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, momentarily forgetting her own misery. She dropped to her knees before him and took his hands in hers. “Oh, Colt, I’m so very, very sorry.”