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Kaitlyn tiptoed from Sadie’s room, closing the door as quietly as possible. She’d finally gotten her to sleep for her afternoon nap. Frankly, Kaitlyn needed one herself. Crying all night and most of today had left her exhausted, yet she couldn’t seem to stop. As she moved away from the door, the sound of a knock on the front door made her jerk with surprise. Glad not to hear Sadie cry out, she figured it was probably Sam checking up on her. Not in the mood for his big brother act, she sighed and moved toward the door, pulling it open.
“I’m fine, Sam—” Seeing Riley standing there made her words catch in her throat. Without a word, he simply strolled in then spun around to stare at her.
“I need you to come with me, Kaitlyn.”
Too tired to have this argument, Kaitlyn sighed. “We’ve been over this, Riley. I’m not going with you. I won’t take Sadie away from everyone she knows and loves.”
“Damn it. She’ll get past it. She’s too young to remember, and you’ll both make new friends.” He took her hands in his. “Please, Kaitlyn. I love you. I want to marry you and have more children with you...to make a family for Sadie.”
“We can do that here.”
“No, we can’t,” Riley snarled turning away with his hands on his hips, she saw him take a deep breath then exhale before turning back to face her. “I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. If you’re not at the cabin tomorrow night, then I’ll know you’re not going with me.”
“I won’t be there,” Kaitlyn’s voice caught on a sob.
Riley hung his head and shook it slow from side to side. “I-I wish...Katie, tell me about your husband.”
Kaitlyn gasped. “Who...? Sam. I’ll kill him,” she muttered turning away.
“I want to know. I’ve wanted to ask about him for quite a while but never thought it was a good time. I want to know now. I think I need to know.”
Sinking into the sofa, Kaitlyn took a deep breath but didn’t look at Riley. “Kevin came through Clifton about five years ago. He lived in California. I met him in the diner. The place was packed so I had to sit beside him at the counter since all the tables and booths were full. We started talking, and he asked me out.” She shrugged. “I said yes, and the romance began. Only I fell in love and he fell in lust. Some people tried to warn me about him, but I wouldn’t listen. We married within a year and it wasn’t long before the rumors started flying about him.” Her eyes shifted to Riley and saw he wore a tight-lipped expression. “Kevin couldn’t keep his pants zipped, you see. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if I’d move to California like he’d wanted me to do originally. Hell, living here in Clifton was bad enough because I spent most of the time alone in the house we lived in. You see, he was always with his mistress while I sat home alone, and I hated it. If I hadn’t had my friends and Sam here, I don’t know what I would have done.”
“Do you think I’d do that to you?” Riley’s voice rose.
“I didn’t say that, Riley. Please let me finish.” When he nodded, she continued. “We talked about having children before we got married but on our one-year anniversary, I asked about starting a family and he told me he’d changed his mind, that he no longer wanted children. I’m sure he thought kids would tie him down, interfere with his good times. His refusal to have kids devastated me. I was a fool because he had a mistress even before we got married, but I refused to listen to the people who tried to tell me. One night, we got into an argument and I told him I knew about his mistress. He said if I was more of a wife, he wouldn’t need a mistress.” Kaitlyn shrugged. “I told him it didn’t matter anymore because I’d never sleep with him again. He...he dragged me to the bedroom and raped me.” She heard Riley hiss in a breath but couldn’t bring herself to look at him. “Right after I discovered I was pregnant, Kevin and his mistress died in a car accident. They were coming around Copper Ridge Road when a truck came around the turn too fast, and crossed the centerline. I’m ashamed to say I felt no grief for his death. I’d loved him at one time and I was carrying his child. A child he never wanted...but...” She took a deep breath. “I thought about how glad I was that I never went to California with him. I would have been left alone out there, and so I promised myself I’d never leave here. My shop is here, lifelong friends and of course, Sam is here. I doubt he’s leaving—ever. It’s bad enough that our parents don’t live here anymore, but I’m so close to Sam that I’m okay with that.” She turned her eyes to Riley. “This is my home, Riley, and I won’t leave it. Not now, not ever.”
Watching him, she saw him take a deep breath and suspected it was in resignation, and then Riley moved toward the door. “Then I guess we’re at an impasse since I won’t stay here. I’ll let you think about it. We could visit...I’d fly you home anytime you wanted, Katie. You’d never want for anything. I’m sorry for what you went through and if he were alive right now, I’d kill him. You deserve someone who loves you, and I love you. I want you with me—you and Sadie—but in Texas. Tomorrow night.”
Frozen, she stared at the spot where he’d stood, the sound of the door slamming behind him still echoing in her ears. He just didn’t understand. Sure, he could fly her home any time but it wasn’t the same thing. Her shop was here, her business, her success...a place she loved and enjoyed working. It was the only other thing besides Sadie that Kevin had left her. Having listed her as his beneficiary, she’d inherited quite a bit of money, enough to buy the shop, and still have enough left over for Sadie’s college fund while living comfortably for the rest of her life. Kaitlyn didn’t need to work, but she wanted to. True, she was nowhere near as wealthy as Riley was but she would have no money problems either.
There was no question as to her being there tomorrow night. She wouldn’t be there. Her heart was breaking thinking of him leaving. It’s your own fault. You knew from the start he wasn’t staying in Clifton. He has no reason to stay. Her hands clenched into fists. Damn it! He did have a reason to stay...two of them...Sadie and her. Weren’t they reason enough?
****
Riley drove home feeling as if his entire life was in shatters. He’d gained a mother and father but lost the love of his life. He knew she wouldn’t show up at the cabin. This little town was such a huge part of her life, and Kaitlyn loved every person and part of it. Parking in front of the cabin, Riley sat in his truck for a few minutes thinking about everything. Son of a bitch! He knew it was a mistake getting involved with her. Damn, but it hurt to think of life without her. Was he being selfish? Everyone implied as much by asking him how he could walk away from Kaitlyn and Sadie. Then wasn’t she being just as selfish? Shaking his head, he stepped from the truck and headed inside. His bed beckoned knowing his two favorite girls would fill his dreams.
The next day, Riley headed to the work site. The men already had the exterior walls up, and he was pleased. It was going up faster than he expected. Walking the interior, he decided the house was going to be beautiful. As if in a mirage, Riley could see Sadie running through it with her hands clutching her bunny.
“Fuck!”
“Something wrong, boss?” Gus asked from behind him.
Riley spun around. “No. I...hell, I don’t know.”
Gus chuckled and shook his head. “Stuttering and swearing...sounds to me like you have a female on your mind.”
“Two of them,” Riley muttered.
Gus’s bushy eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. “Two? That’s real trouble, man.”
In spite of himself, Riley let out a laugh. “You got that right.” Continuing through the house with Gus on his heels, he nodded his approval. “It’s going to look great.”
“I agree. It makes me think of retiring and moving to this little town. It really is nice here. The people are real friendly.” Gus smiled.
Agreeing, Riley grinned. Yes, the people of Clifton were friendly and the town was nice, but it wasn’t for him. He knew it and Kaitlyn had to see it too. God, he hoped she showed up tonight. If she didn’t...well, he didn’t know what he’d do. She just had to. Taking a deep breath, he continued through the house. Four bedrooms. Three filled with children. It was as if Riley could hear them running around the house—each one carrying a blue stuffed bunny. Shit! He ran his hand down his face and sighed. Saying a silent prayer, he hoped she showed up tonight because with or without her, he was out of here tomorrow morning. Rubbing the spot over his heart, he thanked Gus for his hard work and left.
By nine o’clock that evening, Riley knew she wasn’t going to show. Anger and pain filled him so much he seethed with the emotions. Sitting on the sofa, he stared straight ahead seeing nothing. His eyes burned and he rubbed the heel of his hands against his eyelids. Like everyone else who hadn’t cared, she hadn’t loved him enough to come with him.
“Fuck,” he shouted to everyone and no one. How could she let him leave when she told him she loved him? Swearing, he stood and headed off for a shower then bed because he had a long drive to the airport in front of him tomorrow. Riley hoped he’d be able to sleep but he seriously doubted it.
****
Kaitlyn lay in her bed staring at the ceiling. Her eyes hurt from crying so many tears. Was it possible to dehydrate yourself by crying? Because she thought she was at the point where she had none left to shed. At least she’d thought so until one slipped down her temple into her hair. Yet again, she chastised herself over, and over. You knew he was going to leave. It’s not like he lied to you. He’d been honest from the beginning, saying he was going back to Texas. You knew it was wrong to get involved with him.
Damn, but she’d loved him since she was a young girl, practically from the first time she saw him, and his beautiful eyes...whiskey colored eyes that darkened with passion when he was making love to her. Her insides quivered and craved him as she thought of him moving inside her, making her orgasm so hard at times she thought she’d pass out. Riley was a fantastic lover and she knew, deep in her heart, there would never be another man who could ever make her feel that way again. Not with the passion and heat, only Riley could bring her. Hugging her pillow, she cried some more. Sadie would forget him in time, but Kaitlyn knew she never would.
The next morning, Kaitlyn drove to work. The bright sunshine glared through her windshield, making her squint. Lowering the visor, she put her sunglasses on, and tilted her head back against the headrest. After not getting much sleep the past two nights, she was running on empty. Today Riley was leaving. In fact, he may already be gone. Kaitlyn hadn’t heard from him...not that she expected to. Not knowing what time he was leaving today, for all she knew he was probably already on his way home to Texas. A tear rolled down her face and she angrily brushed it away. Pulling into the parking lot, she took a deep breath, shut off the engine, and climbed out. Gathering up Sadie and her things, she entered her shop to find Madilyn settled in behind the counter. Her friend smiled at her but it died fast when she saw the sad expression on Kaitlyn’s puffy, sleep-deprived face.
“He’s gone, isn’t he,” Madilyn asked softly.
Kaitlyn nodded. “I believe so. He said he was leaving early today and since it’s after ten, I’m sure he’s already gone.” Her voice ended on a sob. Sadie started fussing. “I think she’s getting another tooth.”
“Or she can feel that you’re upset.” Madilyn reached for Sadie, taking her from Kaitlyn. “I’ll be fine out here if you want to sit in your office for a while.”
Taking a deep breath, Kaitlyn nodded. “I just need to freshen up my makeup. I’ll be right back.”
Once inside the bathroom, she gazed at herself in the mirror.
“You have to get past this, Kaitlyn. It’s simple, he’s gone, and you have to move on.” She took a shuddering breath and blew it out. After repairing her makeup, she walked out front to start the first day of not having Riley in her life.