Page 471 of Conveniently Wed
“Katherine, what is it?” The urge to curl his arms around her nearly overwhelmed him. He needed her to say her piece and leave him alone.
“Emmaline, my birth mother, showed up today. I don’t know what to do.”
Her words were so unexpected, he could barely make sense of them. “She’s here?”
“Yes.” Her voice broke as she still stared out the window.
No surprise she was shaken and confused. What in the world did that woman want with her now? He threw better judgement to the wind and closed in behind her.
As he closed his hands around her arms, the warmth of her skin, even through her dress, burned his palms. He eased her back against him as they had often done many moons ago, and the feel of her leaning into his chest was as close to heaven as he’d been in a long time. She didn’t resist but relaxed into his embrace. He inhaled the sweet fragrance of rose water, and they stood that way for a long moment.
She didn’t deserve more trouble. He’d given her a mountain, and yet she hadn’t retaliated. This new Katherine had remained strong and loving, despite his accusations and prickly behavior. A shudder of remorse slipped through him, stealing away his good sense and leaving behind only the need to comfort her.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and massaged her stiff neck. She used to like that, and apparently she still did, as she melted into his hands. At last, he turned her around to face him. He needed to see her face. Needed to hold her.
She looked up at him with those luminous eyes drowning in questions. “What am I supposed to do? I feel nothing, and she… I don’t know what she wants.”
“It’ll be all right, Katherine.” He pulled her close. “Hush now, I’ll help you.”
She sank into his arms, and little sobs shook her shoulders as she clutched his waist. He smoothed his hands through her hair, inhaling her scent. Remembering… “We’ll figure this out.” He pulled away, patting her arm as one would a sister. He had to put some space between them.
She looked up with her soulful eyes burning into his. “Thank you.” A step forward and a lift on her tippy toes, and her mouth touched his.
Fire swept through him. With a hunger so deep, so wide, so high, he allowed himself the enjoyment of a real kiss, a kiss where flame met fire, and her lips crushed against his, then opened to the sweetness within. Soul connected to soul. Bodiesmelted. Hands played in the dance. He moaned at the depth of his need.
He dragged his lips from hers. “Supper is waiting. We have to go.” He could barely breathe, much less speak.
She smoothed a hand over her disheveled hair and tugged her dress back into place. Had his wandering hands done all that?
“I know we must.” Her smile looked so vulnerable. “But I’d much rather not.”
It took every bit of strength he had to open the door with one hand and place his other on the small of her back as he lead her out of his bedroom…instead of to his bed.
Early the next morning, before Emmaline had even surfaced, someone was hammering on their front door. Katie set her coffee on the kitchen table and hurried down the hall.
When she opened the door, Ma swept in like a hornet disturbed from its nest. “Where is that despicable woman? The nerve of her to show up unannounced after all these years.”
“Ma—”
“That’s just like her, to think the world revolves around her and her agenda. Mark my words, this will not go well. She’s up to something.”
“Ma, please. Take a deep breath. People have been known to change?—”
“Good morning. Is that my sister’s voice I hear?” Emmaline flowed down the staircase like a princess to a ball. “Doris, is that you?”
Ma pointed a hard finger at her older sister. “Don’t say a word, not one word, until I’m done speaking.”
Katie had never witnessed her ma so outrageously rude.
“Let’s go into the parlor.” Katie waved her hand down the hall and lowered her voice. “Out of earshot of the entire household.”
The two women followed, although Ma sent at least one glare at Emmaline along the way. As soon as the door closed, Ma let loose. “You have no right to be here meddling in my family. You forfeited that right years ago. I want you to leave immediately. After all I’ve done for you, you owe me at least that much.”
Emmaline opened her mouth and closed it again.
“Well, that’s got to be a first.” Doris braced her hands on her hips. “My sister at a loss for words.”
Huge tears slid down Emmaline’s cheeks as she dropped onto the settee and draped a hand over her forehead.
