Nantucket Romance 3-in-1 Bundle (48 page)

That evening Lucas was fixing a broken lamp when a knock sounded at the back door. Kate, who was in the kitchen loading the dish-washer, opened the door. Lucas heard his sister’s voice. “Is Lucas home?”

“Of course,” Kate said.

Jamie entered the living room, and Lucas saw tears sparkling in her eyes. He set the lamp on the table. “Hey, what’s wrong, sis?”

Jamie plopped beside him and crossed her arms over her T-shirt. “I just got back from Meredith’s house and she said—” Jamie sniffed as a tear escaped. “She said Aaron said I was a loser.”

“Now why would she say that?”

Jamie flicked the tear off her cheek. “When we were at the beach last week, you know, after I talked to you, I went up to Aaron and sat with him. We talked and I tried to, like, show him I was interested like you said.”

Lucas’s stomach sank. He hoped he hadn’t given her bad advice. The last thing he’d do was hurt her.

“I thought things went pretty well, but he didn’t come to the beach anymore that week, and I haven’t seen him since.”

“And then you went to Meredith’s today?”

“Yeah. We were having a good time and everything, and then she just brings up Aaron and says that he called her a few days ago after I sat with him on the beach, and that he called me a loser!” Jamie wept into her hands. “I made such a fool of myself!”

“Oh, honey, come here.” Lucas wrapped his arm around Jamie, and she turned in to his shirt.

“I flirted with him and everything.” Her hands muffled her voice. “I practically threw myself at him.”

Lucas rubbed Jamie’s shoulder. Across the room, Kate loaded a plate in the dishwasher and met his glance, a sympathetic smile on her face.

Lucas returned his attention to Jamie. “Now, hang on. Why did Aaron call Meredith?”

“What?”

“You said Aaron called Meredith and he said you were a loser. Why was he calling her?”

She uncovered her mottled face. “I don’t know.”

“How do you know she’s telling the truth?”

Jamie sniffled. “Why would she lie?” Her eyes widened.

“Well,” Lucas said. “Relationships can be complicated. For instance, what if Meredith likes Aaron? What if she’s jealous?”

Jamie straightened a bit and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I guess that could happen. But if Aaron called her, he might like her and not me.”

“That’s possible too. I’m just saying you should think it through and not necessarily believe everything you’re told.”

Jamie tilted her head and stared at the stone fireplace. “He did seem interested at the beach.” Jamie ran her finger along the couch’s trim. “He even said I have pretty hair.”

Lucas smiled. “That doesn’t sound like a boy who thinks you’re a loser.”

“I know. I thought he’d call, but it’s been almost a week, and he hasn’t been at the beach either.”

Lucas squeezed her shoulder. “Give it time. Maybe he doesn’t want to appear too anxious.”

“I guess.”

Jamie and Lucas talked until she felt better, and when his sister left, she hugged him before sliding out the back door.

Kate changed into pajamas and opened the closet door, peeking at the suit she’d bought for her appearance with Dr. Phil. It was a dove-gray Ann Taylor with a structured jacket and streamlined pants. The classic white oxford under the jacket was a good contrast for her skin tone and black hair.

She ran her fingers down the soft material of the suit coat, feeling anxiety work into her fingers. She’d been invited on the show to advise an engaged couple who was having difficulty merging their personalities. What if she said the wrong thing? Worse, what if Dr. Phil disagreed with her advice?

Relax. You’re trained for this. You’re an expert.

Except in my own relationships, where I’m the epitome of disaster.

Nobody knows that. As far as they’re concerned, you married your Mr. Right.

But what if the media attention from this appearance invited scrutiny of her marriage? What if someone figured it out? What if one of Bryan’s relatives saw the show and leaked the truth?

Kate closed the closet door. She could only hope for the best. She’d already taken preventative measures. Maybe one more call to Bryan, asking him to check in with his family, wouldn’t hurt.

But maybe that was just her wanting to talk to Bryan. She was suddenly tired, though it was only nine o’clock. She approached the nightstand, ready to set her alarm, when she noticed a box on the new nightstand Lucas had brought home.

The box was wrapped in pale pink paper with a white bow. She picked it up. “To Kate,” it said on the tiny gift tag in Lucas’s left-handed scrawl. She pried open the piece of tape, unwrapped the package, and pulled out a navy-blue velvet box.

The hinge creaked as she opened the lid. Inside, a delicate pair of earrings were nestled side by side. Elegant in their simplicity, they were the same silvery tone as her wedding band.

“Hope you don’t mind.” Lucas’s voice startled her from the doorway. He looked boyishly shy, and she couldn’t keep from smiling.

“What kind of woman minds getting jewelry?”

He shrugged, walking toward her. “You don’t wear much jewelry. I just thought . . . Well, it’s been a month today.”

Their anniversary, such as it was. Lucas stopped at the foot of the bed. She watched a blush creep into his cheeks.

“It was very thoughtful. Actually, they’re perfect for the
Dr. Phil
show.”

What did the gift mean? Flowers was one thing, jewelry another. Was Lucas trying to make their relationship appear real? Or was there more to the gesture? Her insides fluttered at the thought. She remembered the way he’d laid a kiss on her head. It had been sweet. It made her feel . . . protected.

She glanced at the box in her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

Lucas waved her off. “I didn’t expect you to. I saw those in the window at Pageo’s and thought of you.”

He was making nothing of it. Maybe it didn’t mean anything, but it had been a thoughtful gesture. Lucas had some irritating qualities, but he could be awfully sweet when he wanted to be. Carried away by the moment, Kate reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Her lips tingled against the roughness of his jaw.

When she pulled back, she saw something in Lucas’s eyes and wondered if she’d crossed some invisible line. But then he rubbed the back of his neck and turned away. “You heading to bed?”

She closed the lid of the box, watching him go. “Yeah, I’m beat.”

He turned as he pulled the door. “’Night,”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you I talked with your mom this morning. The subject of conflict came up and I asked her about her and your dad.”

Lucas stilled, his hand on the knob. “What did she say?”

Kate sighed and rolled her eyes. “She thought I was asking her because we were having trouble. Like I wanted her advice on how to handle conflict.”

Lucas chuckled. “That’s rich.”

Kate frowned at him. “It’s not funny. She must think I’m a lousy counselor.”
She’s wondering what kind of idiot her son married
.

“Relax. She’s just doing what moms do.”

Well, then. How would Kate know that? In her experience moms didn’t give advice and nurture. They went out and came back unexpectedly and left you wondering what would happen next.

“Anyway,” she said. “I wanted to tell you I’d gotten the ball rolling, that’s all.” She sat on the bed. “Good night.”

After Lucas pulled the door shut, Kate threw the wrapping paper in the trash and tucked the jewelry box inside the top nightstand drawer. She flipped off the lamp and crawled under the covers, but it was a long time before she drifted to sleep.

Be yourself. Although it’s tempting to try and
impress your date, you’re doing both of you a
disservice. Be honest about who you are and
what you like and encourage him to do the same.

—Excerpt from
Finding Mr. Right-for-You
by Dr. Kate

Chapter Fifteen

Kate stepped from the fog of the bathroom and toweled off her wet hair. She could smell bacon frying and hear it sizzling on the griddle. She’d come to expect Lucas’s big breakfasts on Saturday and had decided it was a nice start to a weekend. As long as she stayed out of the kitchen while Lucas cooked and she didn’t have to see the counters splotched with pancake batter or the cracked eggshells in a pile near the sink. If she faced the wall as she ate and didn’t have to see the mess, she could almost put it from her mind.

Kate was shoving her towel into the bedroom hamper she’d bought when the phone rang. By the time she entered the kitchen, Lucas had answered.

“Who’s calling?” he asked, setting the greasy spatula on the counter. “Just a minute.” He handed her the phone, wearing an inscrutable expression.

“Who is it?” she mouthed

“Bryan.” Lucas turned and stirred the pancake batter.

Kate’s adrenaline spiked like she’d had three shots of espresso. Why was Bryan calling? She walked toward the back door and put the phone to her ear.

“Hello?” Her tone was cool and collected.

“Hi, it’s me.”

It rankled that he could still say that.
It’s me.
Like they were still so close he needn’t identify himself. Had he forgotten he’d dumped her for someone else? Kate stepped out the back door and closed it behind her, keeping Bo inside.

“Bryan. How are you?” There was nothing in her voice to make him think she actually cared to hear the answer.

“I’m good. Better than I’ve been in weeks.”

“Wonderful. Is there something I can help you with?” Polite. Friendly, but not too friendly. It unnerved her that it was such a strain. Was it just barely over a month ago that he’d kissed her good night on the eve of their wedding day?

“Kate, I’m so sorry. It’s killing me to hear you like this. Like we’re strangers or business acquaintances.”

Did he have any right to tell her about his pain?

“I called to say I was wrong,” he said. “I know that now.”

Kate stared toward the horizon and leaned against the square column that supported the roof.

“Things are over with Stephanie.” He said it like he expected her to shoot off fireworks in celebration.

Stephanie.
So that was her name. It was no one Kate knew. She was glad for that.

The pause was deafening. Emotions twisted in her like vines around a tree. She wasn’t sure which was strongest.

“Kate, did you hear me?”

What did he want from her? Now that he’d dropped his other woman, was Kate supposed to fall in his arms again? “What am I supposed to say?”

“I know. I know,” he said. “I—” Kate could hear the frustration in his voice. She imagined him running his hand through his blunt cut.

“I was a fool,” he continued. “It was just like you said. It was nothing more than a fear of commitment. I was afraid and looking for an outlet, and Stephanie was convenient.”

“Your outlet was costly.”

Costly
wasn’t the word. It had changed her life, changed their future. It was a little late to realize he’d made a mistake. Did he think he could fix it so easily?

A seagull cried out overhead and swooped over the beach, soaring with wide wings. Kate wished she could leave all this behind her and soar over the landscape of her life as the bird did.

“I miss you, Kate.”

The words, spoken softly, pried at the door of her heart. Kate closed her eyes.
I will not tell him I miss him.
He didn’t deserve to hear it, and she wasn’t even sure it was true. Her feelings for him were muddled, blurry, like the line between the ocean and sky. How could that be when she’d been so certain of her feelings for him only five weeks ago?

“I’m married, Bryan.” It gave her no pleasure to say it. She’d heard the pain in Bryan’s voice, and even though he’d hurt her terribly, she didn’t wish to hurt him.

“I know.” He swore. It was the first time Kate had heard him swear. Why had he called? He didn’t know her marriage was temporary, though he must realize genuine feelings weren’t involved. Did Bryan think she’d divorce Lucas the moment he returned?

“Who is he, Kate? Do you know what it’s doing to me, imagining the two of you together?”

“Yeah, actually, I do,” she snapped.

“I’m sorry. Of course you do.” He sighed. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m just—I’m just going crazy over here. My whole life has been so planned, all my ducks in a row, and now I just feel like it’s all exploded in my face.”

Have you forgotten you’re the one who lit the fuse?
She wanted to say it out loud, but what good would it do? What was done was done. She had to stay married. The media would have a heyday if she divorced Lucas and married Bryan. She shook the thought from her head. It was ludicrous to even entertain the idea.

“You don’t love him, do you?”

Kate grabbed the hair at her nape and squeezed. To tell him yes would be a lie, but to tell him no felt like a betrayal to Lucas. She let the silence grow. She wanted to ask if he’d loved Stephanie, but what did it matter now? The other woman’s journey with Bryan was over, and she had nothing but a foiled wedding as a souvenir.