Why had she agreed to this? Kate wondered for the millionth time. They were walking on the path that led through the trees, following a small creek. They had been walking for a while, and she had answered all of his questions about the flowers and trees as they kept up a light conversation about the town and his sister. All very safe topics. For the past fifteen minutes or so they’d been walking along in companionable silence, taking in their beautiful surroundings and it had given Kate some much needed time to think. She needed to get her head on straight.
It was one thing to be a nice hostess, but Kate didn’t know how much more alone time she could take with this man. She had never felt this way before. He was so… so charismatic. That was the only word that came to mind. No wonder so many women fell for him. She’d read all the magazines; she’d seen all the tabloids. He went through women like they were a dime a dozen and they probably were for him.
But she wouldn’t be one of them, she reminded herself. Maybe those women could handle a short-lived fling with this man, but Kate knew herself, she knew she could never be in a casual relationship. It just wasn’t in her. Everything in her was screaming danger when he was around. She knew if she let herself fall for him, or even give in to her desire, she would fall hard and she would fall fast and before she could say “boo” he’d be on his way out of town and she would be a distant memory.
Besides, she reminded herself, this man, the man who was so nice and easygoing, was not the real Rick Salinger. She had gotten a taste of the real Rick Salinger and he was not the kind of man she could love. So she was safe, she told herself.
She nearly bumped into him when he stopped short on the path. He had crouched down next to the river. She came over next to him to see what he was looking at.
“Tadpoles,” she said, to his unasked question.
Rick smiled up at her and she couldn’t help but smile back. He looked like a little boy. A little further on he stopped again and started taking off his shoes.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“We’re wading.”
“Come on,” he said when he realized she was still standing there watching him.
She hesitated for a moment before bending down to untie her shoes. Now that the sun was high overhead it was starting to get pretty hot. She had already taken off her sweatshirt and was only wearing a tank top. And the cold water looked incredibly tempting. She sat down to roll up her pants when she glanced up at Rick. She felt her breathing become shallow. He too had taken off his sweatshirt and the T-shirt that he had worn underneath was damp with sweat and sticking to his chest and back. Every muscle was visible, and Kate could only watch breathlessly as he made his way cautiously to the middle of the creek.
“Are you coming?” he called back to her.
Kate stood up quickly and tried to quell the gnawing ache low in her belly. What was wrong with her? She had never reacted to anyone like this before. It was like her body had a mind of its own. If it did, she thought to herself, it sure had a cruel sense of humor. She finally felt the kind of lust she had only read about and it was for a man she didn’t even like. And even if she did, she reminded herself sternly, he was clearly off limits. There was no way that she would be another notch on his bedpost and there was no way a man like him could want anything more. He was a guest and nothing more.
Kate felt a little more confident after her little speech to herself and she went to join Rick in the creek. The water was deliciously cold and she couldn’t help but smile as she eased in to the water. She hadn’t waded in the creek since she was in high school. Rick was grinning too, and she was suddenly struck by how young he looked, not at all like the experienced playboy she had met at the party. Kate had made it no more than three feet in when her foot slipped on the moss on one of the rocks. She cried out in shock and braced for impact.
Kate opened her eyes in surprise. Two strong arms were holding her tight. She found herself pressed up against the same hard, muscular chest she had been admiring only moments before. Neither one of them made any move to pull away. Kate couldn’t get her mind to work. She had instinctively grabbed his arms when he had caught her. She felt his muscles tense and ripple under his shirt. What was she doing? A voice in her head was screaming. She felt like she was watching herself in a movie. The intelligent, rational part of her brain could only scream uselessly while her body responded to the man who held her. His hands were on her back, pressing her up against him. His breath was hot on the side of her face, on her neck. Their faces were inches apart. It would only take a turn of the head…
She tilted her head lightly, not even aware that she was doing it. But it was enough. His lips met hers halfway and they kissed with a passion that left Kate trembling. She moaned softly and the noise seemed to bring her back to reality. What was she doing? Her mind was back in control and she reluctantly pulled herself away, trying to ignore her body’s violent protest.
She was still trembling but she forced herself to back away. She looked at Rick, looking into his eyes for the first time. She knew that the desire she saw in his eyes must be a mirror image of her own. She could see him trying to pull himself together. She turned away and went back to shore where her socks and shoes were waiting.
She had just finished tying her shoes when he sat down next to her.
“Kate – “
She shook her head. “Please, don’t.”
She couldn’t wait to hear what he would say. She knew what she had to do. He was dangerous, for her emotions and for her future. He was way out of her league. It was clear that she wanted him but she had to make sure that she never gave in to his advances again. She had to make sure that he didn’t try anything again.
“I just wanted to say that I… I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he said.
He reached out and brushed her hair back from her face so that he could see her and the simple gesture was nearly her undoing.
“It can’t happen again,” she said. It came out more abruptly than she had intended.
He looked like someone had slapped him and Kate felt a twinge of guilt. She hadn’t meant to sound so harsh.
“It’s just that… it’s just that,” she scrambled to come up with something plausible to take the sting out her words. “I have a boyfriend.”
Kate didn’t know where it had come from. The moment it came out of her mouth she wanted to take it back. She had never been any good at lying and this was just ridiculous. He might be staying with her for months, how on earth did she plan to keep it up?
“You have a boyfriend?”
Kate couldn’t tell if it was disappointment or surprise that put an edge to his voice. She found a little part of her hoping that it was disappointment. She took a deep breath. It was too late now. There was no getting out of it.
“Yes, Tony McCormack. His family’s orchard is right down this path here.”
Kate couldn’t read his expression but he muttered darkly. “Tony McCormack.”
Once their shoes were on, they headed back the way they had come. Awkward silence prevailed for the first half of the walk but finally Rick broke the silence.
“Kate, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry–”
“Don’t apologize,” Kate said quickly. “It was just as much my fault as yours. Besides, how were you supposed to know that I have a boyfriend?”
Rick smiled. “No, I didn’t mean that. I meant...” He stopped and turned to face her. “I owe you an apology for the way I behaved at the McClaine party.”
Kate was speechless. She had assumed that he wouldn’t bring up her horribly humiliating moment. She had thought that they had had a sort of unspoken agreement.
“Um… well…”
“You don’t have to say anything. I just needed to tell you how sorry I am for jumping to conclusions like that. It’s just that…”
Kate glanced at him as he struggled for words. He looked sincere, she noted in surprise.
He sighed heavily. “I guess I’ve just been living in Hollywood for too long. I’ve started seeing ulterior motives everywhere I look. I guess I let my paranoia get the best of me.”
He seemed so sincere and so contrite she had a hard time holding a grudge. “And I suppose Mrs. McClaine’s accusations didn’t help matters…” Kate shot him a mischievous grin and he let out a relieved laugh. “Mimi McClaine is quite the character isn’t she?”
After that they let the subject drop and carried on an easy conversation for the rest of the walk home. Kate realized that she was more than a little disappointed when the house came into view.