Page 44 of Heal Me
Chapter Twelve
After scarfing down some frozen pizza and French fries, Kate and Ric settled down on the sofa with some wine. Kate put a pillow on the coffee table and had Ric prop his foot up on it. She’d put on a gray lounge outfit and a pair of slippers while Ric wore one of Phil’s old robes. She should feel funny about that but she didn’t. It felt right. It felt like Phil understood and liked Ric.
“Come here,” Ric said, putting an arm around her shoulders.
She snuggled against his side and looked into his gorgeous eyes. “I’ve never been in a long distance relationship. Have you?” Putting a hand on his jaw, she stroked her thumb over his five o’clock shadow. “I don’t want to stop seeing you when you go back to New York. I’m happy to earn frequent flyer miles.”
His eyes widened for a moment before he smiled. “I was going to say the same thing to you.” He picked up her hand and kissed it. “I know that this was just supposed to be a casual affair, but the fact is that I’m crazy about you. You’ll think I’m nuts, but I think I’m falling for you.”
His statement caught Kate completely off guard. Had she heard correctly? “You are?”
He nodded. “Yeah. What do you think about that?”
Kate examined her feelings carefully. It scared her a little that she could have such strong feelings for Ric so soon, but she couldn’t deny that they were there. She wasn’t a schoolgirl who was crushing on a handsome boy. She knew the difference between infatuation and the kind of attraction she felt for Ric.
But was she truly ready for something more serious?
When she’d first agreed to see Ric, she’d never imagined that anything more than some companionship and sex would come of it. They led such different lives. She’d thought that it would be over when he moved back to New York. What did they have in common that could sustain a relationship, let alone a long distance one? What she shared with Phil was alive. They were both vets and loved animals. But the thought of not seeing or talking to Ric anymore depressed her.
“I feel the same way, Ric.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand how this could be happening, but I care for you very much. And you’re not a rebound or whatever you would call that. Phil died over eighteen months ago. I still miss him, every day, but I have to live my life. What I feel is genuine.”
Ric nodded. “I know Phil will always be in your heart, that’s as it should be. I do hope, however, there is room for me.” His words made Kate’s heart skip a few beats. He tightened his embrace and lowered his lips to hers in a tender kiss that conveyed much more than physical attraction. She felt emotionally closer to him as she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
When it ended, she laid her head on his chest. “Ric?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you like to stay?”
A warm chuckle sounded under her ear. “I was hoping you’d say that. I brought clothes and my shaving kit with me.”
She raised her head and grinned at him. “You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
“No, just prepared.”
“Like a boy scout, huh?”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “I know how to tie some pretty good knots and start a fire.”
“You’ll have to show me that sometime,” she said with a flirty look.
“Anytime you want.”
A wet, cold canine nose was suddenly thrust between them.
Kate laughed and hugged Daisy’s neck. “What’s the matter? Are you jealous? You’re going to have to get used to it. He’s my boyfriend, Daisy, and I’ll fight for him.”
Ric squeezed her thigh and pet Daisy’s back, but he caught Kate’s eye. “Are you claiming me?”
Kate raised her chin a little. “Damn straight, I am.”
“Good. I’m claiming you, too. No seeing other people,” he said. “We can make this work, Kate. I’ll come home as much as possible, although right now, I might be there a lot because we’ve got some problems.”
The worry in his eyes made Kate concerned. “What kind of problems?”
Ric let out a heavy sigh and filled Kate in on the situation with Lisbon and Horizon’s stockholders. “So I’m going to have to go to New York tomorrow to prepare for Wednesday’s meeting. I should be able to come back Friday night, but I can’t guarantee that.”
Kate squeezed his shoulder. “It’s okay. You have to take care of business. I completely understand that since I own my own practice. Do what you need to and come to me when you can.”
