Ties That Bind (18 page)

“Thank you.” Kate really was grateful to know
where Tara stood. “And thank you, for bringing Gavin back for a few
days.”

“Oooh, I almost forgot. Were you surprised?”
Tara’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, it was amazing.”

“Your flight…” Gavin reminded Tara when she
appeared ready to insist on every detail.

“Oh right. Fill me in when I get back.”

“Have a safe trip,” Gavin opened the door for
her.

“You just want her all to yourself,” Tara
accused as she rushed passed him.

“True.” Gavin admitted with a smile. The
second the door was closed he turned to Kate. “Do you want
children?”

“Excuse me?” She choked on her coffee.

“Just then, when you were talking to Tara, I
got the impression it was the furthest thing from your mind.” He
seemed concerned by that fact.

“Well, at the moment, it kind of is. I would
imagine I’ll want children someday. I haven’t really thought about
it. Why, do you?”

“Absolutely,” he said without hesitation.

“How many?” She asked warily.

“I don’t know. A couple I guess.” He
shrugged.

“I can live with that.” It occurred to Kate
that they were discussing this as if the other person’s opinion on
the subject would have a definite impact on their own future. Kate
wondered if that should frighten her at all.

“I’m glad,” he smiled crookedly at her as he
pulled her into his arms for a lingering kiss. Any fears
scattered.

“We’d better go before I find another way to
spend the day,” she finally pulled away when Ty wedged himself
between them with a plaintive whine. As Ty’s excitement grew,
Kate’s apprehension did. Her relationship with Joan was just
blooming. It was suddenly very important that Joan and Gavin like
each other.

As Kate tried to share a seat with Ty in
Gavin’s Audi TT, she wished she’d rented a car like she normally
did. Ty’s breath was hot and smelly in her face, a fact Gavin
seemed to find incredibly amusing. Stinky breath and all, Kate
couldn’t help basking in the playful banter that passed the time.
The warmth of it bathed her like a sunny day and she laughed until
her face hurt.

His eyes danced merrily and she knew he was
enjoying himself as much as she. There wasn’t much room left for
nerves by the time he walked around the car to open the door for
her. He took her hand to help her out of the car and then held it,
allowing their clasped hands to swing between them as they walked
the short distance from the parking lot to the wine tasting room,
where Kate knew she’d find her Aunt Joan.

Any fears she might have had about the two
not getting along were quickly put to rest. It was obvious they
clicked instantly. Watching Joan with Gavin, Kate realized how
similar her aunt was to her mother. A little more daring maybe, a
little less reserved, but definitely cut from the same cloth. It
felt a little like having her mother back. Still, there was a piece
of Kate that couldn’t help wishing her mother could have been
standing here, laughing with the man she loved.

They had dinner with Joan and Mason that
evening on the veranda with Ty lying at Kate’s feet, his tongue
lolling and a doggie-smile on his face. It was pleasant, peaceful.
This was easily Kate’s new favorite place to be. Well, not counting
curled up in Gavin’s arms with the first sunbeams of the day
playing across his skin.

“Why didn’t I get to see you more as a
child?” Kate wondered aloud. “Did my mom hold a grudge that
long?”

“Your mother was afraid if you spent too much
time with me, you might find out more than she’d intended about
Jack and our parents.” Joan’s smile faded.

“Why was that so important to her? Was she
that afraid for me to find out she’d been human once upon a time?
For the record, it was difficult growing up in the shadow of
someone so… perfect.”

“No, she wasn’t afraid of you finding out she
wasn’t perfect,” Joan chuckled at the thought. “She actually
assumed you thought she was a moron for most of your teen years.
She didn’t want you to ever feel like you were anything other than
wanted.”

Kate sat silent and thought about that. “She
gave up a lot for me, didn’t she?”

“And never regretted it for a second,” Joan
assured her.

Joan was an infinitely more insistent
chaperone than Ty. Kate’s room was on the opposite side of the
house from Gavin’s, with Joan’s situated in between. That didn’t
stop Gavin from slipping through her window to give her a
heart-stopping goodnight kiss. But either fear or respect kept him
from staying. They even went with Joan to the Sunday service at the
little country church she attended. After a picnic lunch, Gavin and
Kate ambled around the grounds, holding hands and exploring.

“Want to?” Gavin got a gleam in his eye when
they came upon a lake with boats for two lined up along the
dock.

“Do you remember the last boat ride we took?”
She looked at him like he was crazy.

“Just don’t lunge at me this time and we’ll
be fine.”

“Don’t call me grandma and I’ll try to
restrain myself.”

“Come on, please?” he gave her a look he knew
she couldn’t resist.

“I never should have told you my
weakness.”

He was headed for the boats before she’d
finished her sentence.

“You know, you’re going to wind up owing me
quite a bit,” she cautioned.

“How’s that?” He held his hand out to help
her into the boat before settling in his own seat.

“Well, I’m being much more reckless than you
are responsible.”

“You think so?”

“I flew to London on a moment’s notice. I
crashed a wedding. I’m in a boat with you again.”

“Hey, I’m respecting your virtue during the
whole courting thing,” he countered proudly.

“But that’s your idea.”

“Two of the last three things you mentioned
were your idea.”

“I’m still ahead of you.”

“I went to church with your family today,” he
informed her.

“Still ahead of you.”

“You’re not getting out of what I have
planned for you since I hired a housekeeper.”

“Why are you making me wait so long for
that?”

“Because I can’t take you before September,”
he shrugged lightly.

“The plot thickens. I have to say I am
curious.”

The only response she got was a mischievous
smile. Thunder rumbled low in the distance and Kate realized just
how far from the shore they had gone. Gavin’s mischievous smile
turned absolutely wicked.

“You might get a two-for-one today,” he said
with a wink. “I think we’re going to play in the rain. That’s not
very responsible at all.”

She just shook her head and leaned back,
content to let him row them back to shore. She liked watching the
muscles in his shoulders and arms while he worked.

“What did I ever do to deserve you? You’re
amazing.”

“You do know you’re completely adorable,
right?” He paused rowing as if to emphasize his point.

“Never mind,” she waved him off with a
furious blush, surveying their surroundings rather than meeting his
eye. “You know, this place is incredible. I wonder what my
grandparents would have thought about me inheriting half of it. All
those people whose opinions they worried about, they know about me
now. I’m out there, sullying the Williams name.”

He resumed rowing as lightening streaked
across the sky, his jaw set furiously. “Men like Jack or your
grandfather—boys like Peter—they don’t determine your worth Kate.
You have got to stop letting other people tell you whether you
matter or not.”

“If you don’t matter to anyone but yourself,
does it count?” She teased, trying to poke holes in his logic.

“First of all, you matter to more people than
you realize. Second, you have to know that by virtue of being you,
your life has worth, my darling. It happens to mean the world to
me.”

Kate just shook her head. “I don’t know; I
certainly seem to cause enough problems by existing.”

“Stop it.” He growled softly. “Ten years ago,
when I was awkward and gangly and shy and no one noticed me, do you
honestly believe I was somehow worth less than I am now? I was the
weird, quiet guy who took pictures just so I’d have something to do
with my hands, a reason for being a part of things. Then one day my
pictures got picked up by a local magazine. Suddenly I was booked
for a show and people were interviewing me and women were chasing
me because I was mysterious. The only reason no one knew anything
about me was because, until about three years ago, no one cared to
ask. Am I somehow worth more because the women who had ignored me
now think I’m the answer to their problems?”

“Of course not,” Kate folded her arms across
her chest and pouted. He was taking the fun out of watching him
row.

“Then why do you act like you are worth less
because Jack’s a fool?”

“It’s not just Jack,” she scowled at him and
climbed onto the dock.

“Fine. Peter was an idiot, too!” He was
beginning to shout in his frustration.

“Says who? Maybe it was me who was the
idiot!”

“By not wanting to get married until you were
sure? That’s called not compounding the issue, Kate. Peter was a
moron!”

“Why are you shouting at me?” she glared at
him.

“Why are you shouting at me?” he glared right
back at her.

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to acknowledge that none of this
is your fault. Jack and Danielle made their choices. Your
grandparents were stubborn old fools. You had a right to the choice
you made. Stop wondering why I love you—or at least listen to me
when I tell you.”

The first fat raindrop landed on Kate’s face
and she knew they’d spent too much time arguing to not get soaked.
They stood there staring each other down, their breath coming in
great heaves. Kate wasn’t sure when that stopped being out of anger
and turned into desire. She just knew the moment they stepped
forward and into each others’ arms.

She couldn’t remember why they’d started
fighting anymore and it all seemed silly anyway. The heat caused by
his proximity collided with the chill of the rain, creating a
delicious paradox. Kate would have gladly stood there in the
downpour with him all day in an unending kiss, but she could hear
Ty’s bark and her aunt’s call somewhere in the distance.

“Should we make a run for it, then?” He
finally pulled away from her.

“Are you afraid you’ll get wet?” She teased;
they were well past wet.

“So your aunt doesn’t worry.”

“Alright, come on.” After the initial
slipping and sliding, Kate took off in a sprint towards the house.
It actually felt wonderful to race through the driving rain. She
could feel each drop that splashed her face. She burst onto the
veranda, skidding to a halt just before she hit the door; Gavin was
right behind her. She was pretty sure, given the seven inch
difference in height, he’d let her win that one. Her suspicion was
confirmed when he wrapped his soggy arms around her and pulled her
back into him, nuzzling her neck.

“It’s pouring out here,” she reminded
him.

“And we’re already wet.”

“But my aunt….”

“Can see through the window that we’re fine.
Just close your eyes, stand still, enjoy the moment.”

She obediently closed her eyes, allowing her
other senses to take over, allowing them to experience the moment.
He was right. It was inexplicably pleasurable standing in the
pouring rain with his arms wrapped around her, her back to his
chest. She didn’t even care that she knew her uncle was looking at
them like they were insane. It was Ty’s incessant whine and
increasing insistence he be included that finally caused her to
reluctantly end the moment.

They dried off in the mudroom before changing
for dinner. They’d decided to stay for one more meal to see if they
could wait out the storm. Kate wasn’t looking forward to the
prospect of riding home with a wet 80-pound dog in her lap. She
really was insisting on a larger car next time.

For the next twenty-four hours, Kate and
Gavin were each others’ shadow. Gavin called to check on his
mother. Kate called to check in at work. Otherwise, they soaked up
every possible second of being together. Every smile, every laugh,
each look and touch, they were all to be treasured. Kate was trying
to store up enough sweet memories to carry her through the next
three weeks—especially knowing two of them would entail Jack
scowling at her at every possible opportunity.

Kate couldn’t help the fact that the closer
Gavin’s departure was, the more she feared she wouldn’t see him
again. On some level, she knew that clinging to that fear meant she
was taking away from the joy to be had in the moment. But she
couldn’t seem to help herself. And he knew it.

“Alright, go get dressed.” Gavin finally
demanded.

“Why?” She was instantly wary. She could tell
by the look on his face, he was about to owe her another act of
responsibility.

“Because we’re going out.”

“Where?” She didn’t budge.

“It’s a surprise. Now go get dressed. I’ll
call Jessica and Liz to see if they want to meet us,” he
promised.

That allayed her fears enough to get her
moving. He refused to tell her what to wear, so she went with a
cute little ruffled dress with a bow that tied above the waist. She
chose strappy high-heeled sandals to show off her pink toe nails.
All in all, she felt pretty good about herself. And in five-inch
heels, she and Gavin made a striking couple. By the time she
declared herself ready, he had walked Ty and changed into jeans and
a gray button up. When she slid into his sleek, black roadster she
was feeling downright powerful; it was a heady experience. He was
parking the car so quickly Kate wondered why they’d taken it. Of
course, he could have been taking pity on her in the heels.