Stroke of Love (33 page)

He’d gone to bed at three in the morning, and now it was nine and he was sitting in his attorney’s office, wishing he had another cup of coffee. Or five.

“You look like hell.” Marshall Taybor was a fiftysomething attorney with hair more gray than black, piercing dark eyes, and thick eyebrows that rivaled Eugene Levy.

“Yeah, well, I’m a little tired.”
And lonely, which I’ve never been before, and it sucks.

Marshall cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “Tell me it’s not drugs, or drinking, or any of that shit.”

“You’ve been my attorney for four years. Has that ever been an issue?”

“No, but you never know. Better men than you have fallen prey to the powder or the bottle and lost just about everything they had.” Marshall leaned back in his leather chair and crossed his arms. He played racquetball every morning at five, which he never failed to remind his clients, and even in his suit coat, his muscles and lean physique were evident.

Sage sighed. “It’s not that, Marshall. Can we get going here?”

“In a hurry? Sure. Okay, here’s what I’ve got.” Marshall pushed a stack of papers across the desk to Sage.

Sage felt Marshall’s eyes scrutinizing his every move as he looked over the papers.

“It’s all there. Once you elect a board of directors and officers, we can prepare the articles of incorporation, adopt bylaws, and file the necessary tax paperwork, the whole deal.” Marshall leaned across the desk. “Wanna tell me about all of this? Why invest time and energy into starting something like this when you can just write a check to a company that already deals with charities in those areas?”

“Because it’s what I want to do.” Sage glanced up from the papers in time to see him raise his hands.

“What does that mean? You know there’s a lot of administration that goes into this, right? You’ll have to file annual reports. Someone’s got to run the damn thing. If you’re really thinking about international work, then I assume there’s travel. Isn’t that going to impact your work? Your life?”

Sage set the papers down on the desk. “I know all of that, Marshall. Have you ever felt like you wanted to do more? To give more? To be involved in helping others have a better life?”

“That’s what the checkbook’s for.”

Sage laughed. “Yeah, I guess for most people it is.”

“I thought you were just blowing smoke when you told me last year that you needed something more in your life.”

Sage remembered the meeting well. He and Marshall had been discussing investments, and Sage had asked him what other people in his financial position did to give back. “Yeah, I remember you telling me to find a good woman and let someone else worry about the rest of the world.” He took the paperwork and rose to his feet. “Now I’ve found both. A good woman and a way to give back.” He shook Marshall’s hand.

“That explains the bags under your eyes. You could have said that instead of letting me worry.”

“Letting you worry is so much more fun.” Sage opened the door to leave. “Thanks for everything, Marshall.”

“Get back to me when you’re ready. We’ll get it all set up. And, Sage?”

“Yeah?”

“For what it’s worth, the world needs more people like you.”

“I’m not doing anything you couldn’t do,” Sage said.

Marshall sat back down in his chair and picked up his pen. “No, but you’re giving up what half the world wouldn’t. Your time and, at least at the beginning, a hell of a chunk of money.”

Sage left his office confident about his decision. He pulled out his phone and texted Kate.
What should we call this little company of ours?

KATE’S NERVES WERE strung so tight, she felt as though she might snap at any moment. She’d been on Skype with Raymond for the past twenty minutes. AIA was not pulling out of Punta Palacia. The spotty Internet connection had caused her to misunderstand what he’d been saying. AIA was having funding issues, and because of that, they needed to keep the celebrity volunteer program alive. Celebrities donated large amounts of money, which Kate knew some did for the sole purpose of gaining media attention, and hearing it again from Raymond had turned her stomach. Raymond had also spent the last ten minutes telling her all of the reasons that quitting AIA was a mistake.

“Raymond, you know how I feel about all of this. We’ve talked about it for two years. I think I’m ready for a change.”

“But you can work with another site. You can run an area with real volunteers, not celebrities. Kate, you’ve worked with us for almost five years. You’re one of our best volunteers.”

She heard the sincerity in his voice, and it brought a wave of guilt.

“We haven’t committed to your next location yet. I’ll let you pick where you go,” Raymond pleaded.

She could think of a million places where she’d like to go. Where she could do some good. A lot of good. But she couldn’t think of a single one that was worth not being with Sage.

“Kate, how can you give up a known thing for something that isn’t even a company yet? What if this guy blows it off? You’ve known him for two weeks. That’s not very long. You know how these things go. You know how being away from the real world can change your perspective. How do you even know you’ll be compatible when you’re back in your real-life situations?”

Jesus. How could he know exactly where her fears were founded?
Sage had put those fears to rest, but what if…

“What do your parents think?”

She was calling her parents after talking with him. She’d been trying to figure out how to tell them. She wanted all of her ducks in a row. She’d wanted to say she’d already handled things with AIA and was firm in her decision.

The text came in from Sage as she contemplated Raymond’s words.

What should we call this little company of ours?

“Kate?”

She lifted her eyes back to the monitor.

“How about if I promise you’ll be done with celebrities forever. I’ll never send you back to that location. No more. I’ll even put it in writing.”

How many times had she asked for that over the past two years? Five? Ten?

Another text from Sage came through.

I’m thinking Hydration Through Creation (HTC). Picked up legal docs. We’re almost there. Miss U.

Kate clenched the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white as two things became perfectly clear to her.

“Kate?”

She looked at Raymond again. She’d trusted him for the past five years. She’d spent two years begging him to make the very changes that he was now offering.
Two years
of being told he was doing all he could. Two years of him rationalizing why celebrities were needed there in the first place.
Two fucking years
. She dropped her eyes to the phone again. She’d known Sage for two weeks.
Fourteen days
. And in those fourteen days she’d never had to ask for a thing, and he’d given her so much more in those fourteen days than Raymond ever could. It didn’t take a threat of her leaving for Sage to see the need right before his eyes, and he didn’t need a threat as the impetus to do the right thing. He did the right thing because of who he was, led by his generous heart. The heart she’d fallen madly, deeply, passionately in love with. The heart of the man she knew she could trust beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Raymond’s eyes were filled with worry. His mustache twitched nervously.

“Raymond, you’ve been really good to me for the most part, but I’m sorry. This is going to be my last assignment with AIA. I’ve made up my mind.” She ended the call with Raymond, adrenaline sending her to her feet and spinning around toward Makei. He lifted his eyes to her from where he sat at the bar, and she felt a smile spread across her cheeks.

“I love him, Makei. Sage, the man I brought in to use the Internet. I love him. I do. I love who he is. I love what his vision is for his life. I’m doing this. I’m not going to stand in my own way anymore. I’m not gonna worry about lists, and
what-ifs
. I’m gonna take the chance and see what happens!” She hugged him, and he stood rigid in the same way Caleb had. “I’m sorry,” she said as she pulled away.

Makei raised his eyebrows. “This is news to you?”

She laughed. “Well, kind of.”

He shook his head and patted his hand over his heart. “Kate, I saw this love in you the first time you brought him in.”

“You…You did?” She thought about the first day they’d come to the café. The way Sage had pulled her in front of the monitor to talk to his mother and the zing of electricity—and annoyance—she’d felt. She reached up and rubbed the back of her neck where he’d held her. She connected the dots of their love in her mind. Each heated glance, every time she pulled away, the way he’d looked at her on the bus during the ride from Belize City. There were too many moments to count. Yes, she believed Makei had seen her love for him early on. She’d just been too blind to see it. It wasn’t on her list.

“You did,” she said as she walked out the door.

She texted Sage.
U should have been on my list!

As she walked back toward the compound, Sage texted back,
Should I worry that u’ve had 2 many beers?

She laughed as she responded.
If u were on my list those first few days, I would have known not 2 waste them. Never mind. Silly stuff. I love the name. I love u.

HYDRATION THROUGH CREATION
. The name had come to him as he left Marshall’s office earlier in the afternoon. Sage had placed a call to Shea Steele, the public relations specialist that Luce had recommended, and they’d scheduled a time to meet the following week. The pieces were falling nicely into place, and for the first time in a few years, Sage didn’t feel like he was stuck on the wrong path. This is what he needed, a way to give back. A way to make a difference.
And Kate
.

Christ
. He hadn’t even known he wanted a relationship, much less to be with a woman every second of the day. His feelings for Kate had taken him completely by surprise. Now he stood before the canvas that had arrived a few days after he’d come home and he drank in the image of Kate in the loose-fitting dress. In the nights since it had arrived, he’d completed painting the jungle around her, where their love had come to life. Last night, he’d finished painting the beach behind her. Remembering their lovemaking in the warm sun made him miss her even more.

His phone rang, startling him from his thoughts.
Siena
.

“What’s my baby sister doing up so late? Don’t models need their beauty sleep?”

“Ha-ha. I was out with my friend Willow and remembered that you’d texted earlier about holding your phone at the gallery, so I thought I’d call. I knew you’d be up.”

He had decided to give Siena his phone at the show so that he wouldn’t miss any messages from Kate. If he was in an interview or talking with potential buyers, Siena would make sure he got Kate’s message when he was done, and of all his siblings, Siena was the one who lived and breathed with her phone in hand. If anyone would understand the importance of watching for Kate’s calls or texts, Siena would. Sage laughed.

“How did you know I’d be up?”

“Oh my God. Look at Dex and Jack. When they were first with Ellie and Savannah, it was like they never slept. I’m convinced that once you fall in love, your entire mind revolves around the other person. Night and day.”

“Is that jealousy I hear?”

“No way. I’m too much of a control freak to let anyone take up my thoughts like that. Anyway, I’m glad you’re back. I can’t wait to see you. I’m happy to hold your phone, but if you’re busy, what exactly am I supposed to say if she calls and there’s a problem with her travel arrangements or something? Should I interrupt you? I figured we should clear the details before the show.”

Sage hadn’t thought that part through. “Hopefully, there won’t be any issues, but if there are…flag me down if I’m talking to a buyer and I’ll excuse myself if I can, but if I’m in an interview, just tell her you’ll get the message to me. Does that work?”

“Sure. Do you care if I talk to her? Mom got to meet her.”

“Now,
that
is jealousy.” He laughed, knowing how much Siena hated to be left out of anything having to do with family gossip.

“Shut up. If you love this girl, I should check her out, right?”

“Whatever. Sure. Talk all you want. You’ll love her.”
Just like I do
.

“When do we get to meet her?”

Sage looked at the painting again, wishing he was looking at the real live Kate instead. “Well, she’s leaving Belize tomorrow to go see her parents for a few days. Then she’ll come here. It probably won’t be before Monday or Tuesday, but I’ll make sure you guys get to meet her.”

“I can’t wait! And I’m excited to see you tomorrow, too. I’ll be there early so we can coordinate.”

Sage realized that Siena’s organization skills rivaled Kate’s, and he imagined they’d become fast friends.
Maybe even share sticky notes
.

Siena continued. “I think everyone’s gonna be there, except maybe Kurt. He wasn’t sure.”

One of the things Sage loved most about his family was that when one of them had an event, the others tried to support them. Before he’d left for Belize, they’d held a surprise party to celebrate the release of one of Dex’s record-breaking PC games, and his entire family had been there despite their busy schedules.

“That’s great. I can’t wait to see you, too, and thanks for helping with my phone.”

Sage ended the call and stood before the painting of Kate. He could almost feel her hands as they broke through the jungle, pushing the leaves to the side, one leg up, midstride, the other gracefully stretched behind her. Her short dress barely covered her sexy thighs. It had taken him forever to get her beautiful blue eyes just right, and as he scrutinized his painting, he realized he’d nailed her lips perfectly. He’d captured the slim corners and the gentle, alluring fullness in the center. He thought of her first smile each morning when they’d woken up together and the way it seemed to say,
Oh good. You’re still here.
He loved the way she sighed right after the smile formed, and then snuggled against him. He loved that moment of surety, when her cheeks relaxed and her muscles melted against him. God, he missed her. He checked the time. It was past midnight in Belize. She’d be fast asleep; he was sure of it. He imagined that she had all of her lists lined up and ready for the next morning when she was supposed to leave for the airport. He smiled thinking of the colorful sticky notes along her wall, her sink, and even on her mirror. He was going to be tied up all afternoon and evening at the show tomorrow. He had to hear her voice again—even though they’d already said good night a few hours earlier.
Just a quick call
.