Saving Katie Baker (22 page)

Blake grabbed her coffee cup out of her hands and put both mugs on the floor. He cupped Katie’s face between his palms. “I’m in it for the long haul. I want you, Katie Baker. I find your mess quite beautiful.”

He leaned in again and she met him halfway this time. They kissed deeply. Her hand moved to the back of his neck. She didn’t want to stop. She wanted to keep kissing him, she wanted to take his shirt off and feel his skin against hers, but he stopped her. It had been so long since she had been with another man. Two years.

“Not yet. We can’t.” He said as he pulled back. “I want you to be sure.”

Katie was surprised at her intense desire. She had only been with one man and never thought that there would come a time when she would feel another man’s lips on hers, but here she was ready to give everything over to Blake. She thought being intimate would be hard. Even after pondering the “what if’s,” she thought it would take a while for her to desire to share his bed. But now the thought took over her mind. She couldn’t wait.

Just then, Micah came walking into the living room. “Look who’s awake? Perfect timing,” Blake said with a smile.

Micah threw herself onto Blake’s lap, knocking over the cups of coffee that were sitting on the floor. Katie quickly jumped up and ran into the kitchen to grab another towel.

“Sowy, Mommy,” said Micah and tears began to well up in her eyes.

“It’s okay, baby, accidents happen.” Blake said to the little girl.

Katie watched the interchange.
He was going to make a wonderful father. Would he end up being Micah’s father? Was this arrangement the first stumble towards forever? Perhaps it was a blessing that she was already calling him daddy.
Katie bent down and began cleaning up the mess when she glanced up and caught Blake’s line of vision. He was watching her intently.

Katie attempted to figure out what Blake was so mesmerized by, and realized that her shirt had been gaping while she was cleaning up the mess and Blake could easily see down into it. This waiting was going to be harder for them than they thought.

CHAPTER
22

T
he kitchen cabinets had grown bare as Katie and Blake continued to deplete them, leaving them to scrounge around for something they could throw together for a meal. Blake walked around with a silly grin on his face, like a schoolboy who had just gotten his first kiss. If Katie would admit it, she was pretty happy herself. Everything seemed to be working out. She didn’t know how, but it just was.

In preparation for dinner, Blake tried to slide past Katie in order to set silverware out for their meal. His body came close behind Katie’s and she could feel his chest press up against her shoulder blades. The buckle from the belt that was holding his shorts up could be made out against her lower back. She immediately became aroused at the thought of his body pressed against her own.

“Sorry,” he said, yet it was obvious he knew exactly what he was doing.

Katie smiled.

“Tomato soup and grilled cheese okay?” Blake asked.

“Sounds perfect,” said Katie before turning to instruct Micah to slow down just as the little girl came running into the kitchen in her game of chase with Montag throughout the house.

“It’s a wonder he doesn’t grow tired of her playful antics. You’d think she was torturing him.” Katie said to Blake.

“Nah, Montag is happy to have her around giving him so much attention. He’s gotten a new playmate. I think he totally digs her.”

Katie laughed, thinking how Micah was probably much like a puppy herself.

Dinner was nice, simple, and sweet. It felt normal, as if they’d been dining together for as long as Katie could remember. There were a few times that Katie felt Blake’s foot graze against her own under the table, and their bare feet soon became enveloped on top of one another’s. He’d wink at her whenever she would glance up at him. Katie felt excitement at the day coming to an end. Once Micah went to bed for the night, they’d have some alone time to further define their relationship.

The thoughts surprised Katie. It had been the first time she found herself wanting to be alone with Blake, counting down the hours until bedtime. She couldn’t wait.

The evening seemed to move on slowly, just as everything did when you were hyped up with anticipation and excitement. It reminded Katie of childhood summers when she’d wait and wait for the last day of school to finally arrive and bring with it summer vacation. It felt like the moon would never come out, and the songs of night serenade her daughter’s eyes closed.

Katie was sure that her heart was beating like a hammer. It seemed like it had been so long ago. Was this all really happening? Had she finally found joy in being alive?

It was finally bedtime for Micah. Katie walked the little girl to the bed and lay down next to her, continuing their evening tradition of lullabies and nighttime snuggles. Katie debated, for the first time, inviting Blake to help tuck Micah into bed.

That’s crazy
, she thought to herself.
We’re not there yet. It’s better not to confuse Micah any more than she already is.
Once Micah was asleep, Katie kissed her little cheek and slid off the bed to head back to the waiting man.

Katie tiptoed out and carefully closed the master bedroom door behind her. “She’s finally asleep,” she said as she walked over to take a seat next to Blake.

Katie found herself excited and terrified that they were alone again. The moment that she had anticipated all day had finally found her, and she didn’t know how to act or what to do.

“Want a glass of wine?” Blake asked.

“Sure,” Katie replied, thinking that perhaps a little wine would help her nerves calm a bit. Her eyes followed Blake into the kitchen, watching his movements.

Blake brought back two glasses of red wine and handed her one. “Cheers to all things new,” he said.

The two clinked their glasses together and took a sip. Katie wasn’t sure what to do next, so she sat holding her glass waiting for Blake to make the first move.

Blake put his arm around Katie and pulled her closer, “Mind if I kiss you again? I’ve not been able to get your lips out of my mind all day.”

Katie smiled as Blake took her glass from her and set it down on the coffee table. She leaned in to accept his invitation. It all felt so right. Being here with Blake. For once, it felt like the world was offering her a taste of something good, and she was accepting it—embracing it as a sacred gift. Everything was perfect. Her daughter sleeping in the bedroom, the taste of red wine lingering on Blake’s mouth, even the crickets that chirped incessantly outside seemed welcoming.

Like destiny, it now appeared clear to Katie that she was supposed to end up right here—across the street in the arms of the motorcycle man. She wanted him. She wanted everything to work out, for the three of them to become one big happy family. She craved this: Blake to be her happily ever after.

“Katie,” Blake said as he pushed her away.

“I don’t want to rush you; I want you to be sure this is what you want before we go any further. If at any point you aren’t comfortable, then stop me. Can you agree to that?” He asked.

“Okay.” It was brief, but it was all she could mange to say since her breathing had become heavy.

After that, Katie let go of everything that had built up over the last two years. She leaned in and kissed Blake softly and tenderly before pulling off his shirt. The years of bitterness and anger melted away with each grasp of Blake’s fingers through her hair and down around the back of her neck.

Blake kissed her lips, her cheeks, and her neck. Katie embraced the chills that erupted as his lips grazed each place on her skin; she leaned her head back as he lay her down across the couch. Her hands found his bare arms and she caressed upward, toward his chest. He smiled, looking down at her as she explored his exposed chest with her eyes first, and finally, with her hands.

Katie had wanted to touch his chest all day. Her fantasies were being realized as her hands roamed over Blake’s bare skin. The warmth was inviting.

“I’m ready,” she said as she looked up into his eyes.

Blake didn’t wait for another cue; he stood up, lifted Katie into his arms, and carried her into the guest bedroom.

Katie was elated when Blake undressed her. She didn’t worry about what he thought of her body. All her fears had run away as they lay there, beneath flannel sheets, warmed with the heat from their close naked bodies. Katie led Blake’s hand up to her breasts and everything seemed to move in slow motion after that. He was gentle and patient. Katie’s body responded in hopeful anticipation of everything that came next.

Blake tenderly explored her torso, down to Katie’s belly button and back up. “You are stunning, Katie Baker. Perfectly stunning.”

He kissed down her neck and lingered at her collarbone. She simply lay back and enjoyed each place that his lips traveled, moaning as the erotic feelings took over. His lips continued to roam; they moved slowly and sweetly down to her chest.

Katie became a little nervous as Blake paused just beneath her breast, at the birthmark. He looked up at her and smiled that gorgeous smile of his before kissing it and picking up right where he left off.

Katie’s heart leapt, and with even more passion she pulled Blake back up to her face and kissed him more fervently. Their breathing became difficult to control. Her knees were spread alongside Blake’s legs, and when Katie couldn’t take the anticipation anymore, they came together as one. Katie’s breath caught in her throat at the connection.

The world seemed to spin all around her. “Oh God,” she said as everything finally felt right. Everything finally made sense.

Blake was sensitive and romantic. He continued to kiss Katie’s neck as their bodies moved in sync. “I love you, Katie Baker,” he said while their bodies continued rhythmically with one another.

It was then that she knew. There, in the midst of making love, she was convinced she too felt exactly the same way. Katie tightened her grip around Blake’s shoulders, and in between her moans she said,

“I love you, too, Blake Quinn.”

The moment was beautiful. Afterwards, Katie lay there naked next to this gorgeous man who was now “hers” as she attempted to catch and control her breath. She was surprised that this didn’t frighten her. Blake laid his head just below Katie’s breasts as he traced her stomach with his fingertips before turning and kissing his way back up to her lips.

The rest of the night was spent making love, sweet then passionate—the couple couldn’t get enough of one another.

“You know what?” Blake said as they lay trying to catch their breath.

“What?” asked Katie, adjusting to rest her head on her elbow.

“Saving you, Katie Baker, was the best decision I’ve ever made in my whole life.”

EPILOGUE

Mrs. Blake Quinn woke up, surprised to find that she still preferred to sleep in the guest room. Perhaps it’s because in this room, everything changed for Katie, and there was still something so magical about it. It had been a wonderful night for her. Katie finally felt that she was home. She looked at her new husband, still asleep next to her. How could he be so gorgeous even when asleep? Katie smiled and felt honored to be called Blake’s wife.

It didn’t take long for Micah to realize the couple was in the other room. She came jumping onto the bed, waking Blake up upon impact as she climbed right between the newly married couple and put her hands on their faces. She rested one of her little hands on Blake’s and the other on Katie’s.

“I wonder how much she understands?” Blake asked Katie. “Should we try to explain things to her?”

“You worry too much,” Katie said, giving Blake a mocking smile. She knew that in this moment, she sounded a lot like he often did when he was trying to convince her to “chill” so many times before. It was ironic to Katie that their roles had been reversed, and now here she was attempting to get Blake to relax a little.

“She knows that you are her new daddy, I think she figured that out even before I did, remember? Kids are much smarter than we give them credit for.” Katie smiled. She felt Blake’s hand move under the covers to her belly.

“Do you think that someday you might be open to having another?”

Katie was a bit surprised that he was already talking about children—they’d only been married for one day. In reality though, nothing they had done so far was normal, so why they start now?

“I might be open to it in the future since I’m not totally opposed to the idea. We need to figure out what we want to do with my property first. It’s been cleared for six months. We can’t just leave it there like it is, empty.”

Blake smiled, “I already have a plan, sweetheart. I’ve been waiting to talk to you about it, though. I wanted to make sure you weren’t going anywhere before I shared it with you.”

Katie placed a sweet kiss on Blake’s lips and said, “Well, you’re stuck with me now, like it or not.”

Katie thought about how very close she had come to leaving him; she was so glad she’d changed her mind. She would have missed out on this wonderful adventure of saying yes and learning to love again. She looked at her husband, now blowing raspberries on her daughter’s belly. He really was her happily-ever-after.

“So, my idea,” Blake continued, “what do you think about rebuilding? I spoke to your dad about it, and he said he’d love to come down and spend a few months with us while lending a hand.”

Katie was surprised, “What do you mean? Like build a new house? Why would we do that? Why do we need another house? You’re not thinking of renting it out are you?”

Blake smiled. “I think it’s about time that you get back into painting. You have such talent, Katie. I don’t want to see you let it go to waste. I was thinking we could build a studio for you, and a place for you to teach watercolor and art to kids who are passionate like you and want to be artists one day.”

Katie was surprised at how much Blake seemed to have this plan thought through. Would he really re-build and make all that for her? She didn’t know what to say.

“Are you sure that’s what you want? There are so many other things that could be done with the place. And besides, who would want to take classes from me? I’m not really that good.”

Blake smiled, “You are very modest, Mrs. Quinn.”

Hearing her new name still gave Katie pause. The butterflies in her stomach felt as if they were flitting their wings uncontrollably. She never tired of it. She looked over at Blake and was sure that her delight was easily detected on her face.

“I guarantee you that you will have students lined up at your door to take classes from you. Now, on the topic of other things I could do with the place . . . I might make a few dirt bike tracks throughout the back of the property if it wouldn’t be too much of a bother with your work. It’s just too great not to take advantage of,” Blake continued.

Katie giggled at the puppy dog eyes her new husband gave her as if he needed to plead so that she would say yes.

“You are a funny man,” Katie said.

Micah touched Blake’s nose and repeated the words that her mother had just said, “funny man.”

Blake turned to his new daughter, “Oh really? You think I’m funny, huh? Well let’s see about that.”

Blake started to tickle Micah; she giggled, rolling over on her side, laughing and squirming.

“Hmmm, lets see if Mommy is ticklish.” Blake said, as he turned with his hands, ready and waiting to meet her sides.

“Oh no you don’t,” Katie said, and she jumped off of the bed and ran into the kitchen. “Remember, you promised when I agreed to marry you that you wouldn’t tickle me. You know how much I hate it.”

This didn’t stop Blake from running after her.

“You know you’re not going to get away from me,” he said with a flirty grin on his face.

They blocked one another. Katie would start to go to the left and Blake would follow. Eventually, she gave in and he caught her, tickling her as he had just tickled Micah. Katie laughed hard. She couldn’t stop. Blake wasn’t even tickling her anymore, and she was still laughing.

“I love to see you smile and to hear you laugh.” Blake said as he looked at his love, who was now lying on the floor.

“And I love you,” Katie responded.

Blake sighed, “I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”

“I’m glad,” said Katie.

Micah came running towards them with her hands in front of her in the shape of claws.

“The tickle monster is coming,” Blake yelled out and jumped up as if running for his life. Micah took off chasing him. She pretended to tickle him once he allowed himself to be captured, and the laughter erupted again.

The phone rang in the kitchen, interrupting the tickle war. Katie ran to get it. “Hello,”

“Hi girl, it’s Jill. So, tell me everything. I here that married sex is even better than dating sex,” she said.

Katie just laughed. “Oh, if only you knew. Listen, I need to go, my family is having a tickle competition. It’s very serious. Can I call ya back?”

“Do I have an option?” Jill asked, sarcastically.

“Nope. Love you.” Katie hung up and lay with her husband and daughter, both of whom had collapsed on the living room floor, exhausted from all the tickling. They just lay there, all three of them staring up towards the ceiling.

“I like our new family,” Katie said. She looked over at Blake and Micah and felt thankful for this moment. Everything in her story had been written even better than she could ever anticipate. She wished in this moment that they could linger here, on the floor, together forever. Katie wanted to always remember this moment—her first morning as Mrs. Katie Quinn.

Blake agreed, “Me too. Our family is awesome.”

“Me too,” said Micah.

Katie thought of her life, of all the messy chapters that had been in her past, all the heartbreaks and thunderstorms. All the houses broken down and rebuilt. She no longer felt as though she were a broken Humpty Dumpty. Somehow along the way, someone did come back and begin ever so slowly to put her heart back together again. She wasn’t sure how it had happened, but it had.

Katie stared up at the ceiling and said a quiet thank you to the universe. Her problems with faith weren’t solved, her problems with motorcycles were definitely not solved, and there were still many questions that lingered. But lying here on the floor with her new husband and her little girl, Katie felt loved.

Not just by Blake and Micah, she felt loved by something even greater. Loved by Someone who wasn’t playing a game of chess, but rather carefully and tenderly helping her pick up her tattered, broken pieces.