A
week later, Patrick was in a rental car, hoping the GPS was right, or he was in trouble. He knew nothing about these roads and wasn’t one hundred percent sure he would recognize what he was looking for if he saw it. When the feminine British voice told him he was “arriving at destination,” he breathed a huge sigh of relief and his heart practically jumped out of his chest.
The house was beautiful. It was a large, two-story farmhouse with wide, white siding. The second floor had double windows on each end and a single window in the middle. The large porch wrapped around the right side of the house with a swing in front of a large bay window on the left, directly under one of the large double windows. The steps were centered on the porch and there were two feminine figures standing on them. One of those figures was facing him with a look of confusion on her face. Patrick recognized her as Kelsey’s sister.
Kelsey’s back was turned to him and he took a moment to reacquaint himself with her figure. She was wearing a pair of black pants, loose in the leg but hugging the curves of her hips and derriere. She had on a maroon sweatshirt and when she looked over her shoulder at the approaching car, he saw her hair was being controlled by a black bandanna. Not a look he’d ever expected to find attractive, but it looked good on her.
She turned to watch as he stopped the car in front of the house, slowly put down the garland in her hand, and descended the three steps. When Patrick climbed out of the car, she froze. Kelsey’s eyes widened and for a moment Patrick was afraid he’d made a mistake. He’d wanted to surprise her so he hadn’t called, but she looked ready to run. He couldn’t tell if it was toward, or away from, him.
“Hi.” The corner of his mouth turned up as he closed the car door. He moved to the front of the car, watching her reaction, waiting for a signal that it was okay for him to be there.
Janelle gasped and Kelsey’s expression softened.
She took a few steps closer and her lips lifted. “Hi,” she said softly, staring into his eyes. Her hand went up to her head and her cheeks were slightly pink, but she looked relaxed and happy.
Patrick cast a quick glance at Janelle, frozen on the porch, before he closed the distance and wrapped Kelsey in his arms. When she put her arms around his neck and held him tightly, he knew there was no place he’d rather be. He pulled her closer and she laid her cheek on his shoulder.
“What’re you doing here?” she asked.
“I missed you,” he whispered into her ear and fought the urge to kiss her.
“Oh.” She picked her head up. Her eyes met his again and his heart raced. “Is that all?”
“Why else?”
She smiled warmly, her dimple showing, as she took a step back. She motioned to her sister and Patrick glanced at Janelle. She was still watching, frozen on the porch, smiling from ear to ear. He wondered what Kelsey had told her about him. About them.
He walked forward. “You must be Janelle.” She came down the steps holding out her hand to greet him. Patrick gave her a brief hug and she stifled a squeal in his ear. He bit back a laugh.
When Janelle stepped back, she began to giggle. “Yes,” she said between titters. Kelsey, smiling, shook her head and looked at her feet. “I can’t believe you’re actually here. I mean, a real movie star. At my house.”
“What about Kelsey?” Patrick asked and a chuckle escaped.
“Oh, well, she’s my sister so she really doesn’t count.”
“Spoken like a true sibling,” Patrick said and they all laughed. He glanced at the porch. “So what’re you doing?”
“Hanging garland and lights,” Janelle answered.
“Looks like fun.” He turned to Kelsey and grinned. “What can I do? And I won’t take ‘nothing’ for an answer.”
Kelsey’s eyes danced as she looked at him. “Okay.”
She described what she wanted and he went straight to work. When they’d finished hanging garland between the columns, Kelsey stepped off the porch and turned to the house. The look on her face was priceless, pure joy. It took his breath away.
She looked directly at him. “Perfect,” she said and gave two thumbs up.
Janelle rushed to her side and turned to look at the house. “Oh,” she sighed. “It’s beautiful. The kids will love it.”
He watched from the porch as Kelsey and Janelle walked arm in arm up the steps. They all cleaned up the empty boxes and trash, and Janelle took the trash bag around to the back of the house, leaving Kelsey and Patrick alone.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, as she leaned against the wall.
“Glad I could help.” He’d do anything for her to look at him the way she had when she’d seen the house.
She eyed him speculatively. “I thought you’d be on your way to Aspen.”
“Not for another two weeks,” he said.
“How long are you staying here then?”
Patrick took a step closer and said cautiously, “A few days, if that’s okay.” When she nodded her agreement his dimples deepened. “So, should I find a hotel?”
“Yeah, right,” Janelle said with a snort as she came around the corner. “You can’t stay in a hotel around here.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You do have them, right?” he teased.
Kelsey reached out to smack him and he grabbed her hand. “Yes, we have hotels here,” she laughed as he stroked her knuckles with his thumb, sending a delicious shiver through her.
“You can’t stay in one if you want to be left alone,” Janelle said. “You’ll have to stay here.”
Kelsey looked owl-eyed at her sister. Was she kidding? Patrick couldn’t stay here. What would their mother say? Kelsey felt certain that Mary would know all about Patrick, or at least what she read in her tabloids.
And what if the press found him? Would they then delve into her past to see what they could dig up? She couldn’t afford that. She’d spent the past six years keeping herself out of the spotlight and her secrets safe.
She glanced at Patrick, saw the disappointment in his eyes, and for the first time realized how much she’d missed him. She squeezed his hand reassuringly. “She’s right.”
“I don’t want to impose,” he argued.
Kelsey laughed quietly. “I think we can manage.” She placed a finger to his lips as he opened his mouth to argue. “We’ve got plenty of space. It’s no big deal.” Before she could put her hand down, he kissed her finger and Janelle giggled again.
“If you insist,” he said with a smirk.
Kelsey nodded. “I guess we should get you settled in then.”
They retrieved his suitcases and he moved his rented black BMW out of the driveway. As he climbed the steps, Patrick asked, “So, where am I sleeping?”
Kelsey pointed to the upper floor. “You can sleep in my room. It’s the last door on the left.”
“Where are you going to sleep?” he questioned with a twinkle in his eye.
Kelsey flushed slightly. The thought of sharing her bed with him had only crossed her mind a dozen times or more since Thanksgiving. “In the spare room,” she said.
“No,” he shook his head, “you don’t need to give up your room. I can sleep in the spare room.”
Kelsey smiled sweetly. “No, you can’t. It’s too much of a mess. We have things stored in there from the remodel and decorating for the holidays. What kind of hostess would I be if I made you stay in there?”
Janelle was looking away from them, her lips pressed tightly together to hide her amusement.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m positive.” Kelsey nodded and chuckled. “Now, go on up and I’ll help you get settled in a minute.” He picked up his suitcases and went into the house.
“Aren’t you generous?” Janelle asked, once the door was closed. “You’re sure you want to do that?”
“He can’t sleep in the spare room, you know what it looks like,” Kelsey answered.
“I meant are you sure you want to sleep in there? Your bed’s big enough for two.” Janelle’s look was all innocence, except for her mischievous eyes.
Kelsey’s cheeks flamed. “Janelle, no!” she exclaimed in a whisper.
“Fine. Then you can have my room and I’ll sleep in yours.”
“You will not,” Kelsey hissed and Janelle tried, and failed, to repress a giggle. Kelsey rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at her sister as she went into the house, Janelle’s laughter at her back.
Kelsey slowly ascended the steps, still in a mild state of shock and excitement over Patrick’s presence. This couldn’t possibly be happening, could it? Sending flowers, text messages, and e-mails were one thing. Actually showing up at her house, unexpectedly, was something else entirely.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she walked down the hall and paused at her bedroom door. He was looking at the pictures on her mirror, studying them. She slowly approached and, with arms behind her back, looked around his arm. She followed his gaze to the picture he was looking at.
It was Sean.
The photograph had been taken shortly before he’d returned to school that last semester. They’d spent the day at the lake riding wave runners. His dark brown hair was windblown and his sunglasses were hiding his deep blue eyes. His boyish grin was big and bright and brought a tear to her eye. “That’s Sean,” she stated. “It’s one of my favorites.” Patrick turned to look at her as she wiped her cheek dry.
He glanced back at the picture then studied her face. “Looks a lot like you,” Patrick said.
Kelsey smiled wanly and she looked back at her brother’s face. “No, his eyes were blue.” She met Patrick’s studious brown eyes.
“You really don’t have to do this. I can sleep in the spare room or even on the couch downstairs.”
Kelsey took his hand and her heart skipped as his warmth seeped into her. She led him across the hall to the room she would be sleeping in and opened the door. Rubbermaid tubs and white banker’s boxes were stacked almost to the ceiling, leaving only a foot-wide path to and around the bed. Kelsey laughed at his expression.
“You can’t stay in there either,” Patrick reasoned as she closed the door and walked him back to her room.
“It’s my mess, so I can deal with it for a little while. And if I can’t, then
I’ll
sleep downstairs,” she replied. “Zach’s in school for another two weeks, and he has to get up early. I don’t want our morning routine to disturb you, and if you were downstairs, I’m sure it would.”
He raised an eyebrow, wondering how she always thought of everything. He knew the discussion was over when she retrieved a set of clean towels from the armoire and laid them on the bed. He was reminded of the night they’d rehearsed together, how she wouldn’t relent her position that night either. He leaned against the wall between the window and small dresser and watched her with a smirk. “You’re quite stubborn when you want to be, you know that?”
She turned and glared at him, her lips puckered in a slight pout. “Is that a bad thing?” she sweetly asked.
“No, not at all.” He took a few steps in her direction. She was suddenly very interested in her fingers as they trailed along the edge of the comforter and Patrick stopped. Maybe she wasn’t as comfortable with him being here as she’d acted. Why was he surprised? She was always causing him to second-guess her. “So, have you heard from Veronica or Grayson?” he asked, deciding a change of subject might help.
She glanced at him and walked toward the armoire. “Veronica e-mails me almost as often as you,” she answered as she pulled out some clean sheets. Patrick walked to the foot of the bed and picked up the towels. “She wants to design a dress for me to wear at the premiere.” She stacked the sheets on the pile in his arms and began to strip the bed.
“Really?” he questioned as he laid the linens on his suitcase. He’d known Veronica for years and didn’t know she designed clothes. Kelsey shrugged and they talked a little more about Grayson and Veronica, then Janelle and the kids, as they unmade, then remade, the bed.
When they were done, Kelsey looked around the room. “Do you mind living out of your suitcases for a few days?” she asked and he shook his head. Her nervous behavior, while slightly humorous, was making him uneasy. “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything for you to use.”
“Kelsey.” He slowly approached her and gently put his hands on her upper arms. “It’s okay. This is already more than I was expecting.” He looked around the room. “I’m just happy,” he paused and grinned widely, “no, more than happy, to be here.”
“I’m happy to have you here.”
“Are you sure?” he asked softly, studying her closely until she slowly nodded. “Then please stop.” Her eyebrows came together and she took a step back. “You’ve been moving nonstop since you came up here. Don’t go out of your way for me while I’m visiting. Just do what you’d do if I wasn’t here. You told me how nice it is to come home and be normal, so just be normal.”
“This
is
me,” she lowered her head in a mock bow, “being a normal hostess. I need to make sure my guest is happy.”
Patrick pulled her into his arms and held her. She relaxed, and he sighed contentedly when she put her arms around his waist. “This makes me happy,” he said. She couldn’t possibly know just how happy he was at that moment. He laid his cheek against her head and inhaled deeply. He could stand like that with her for the rest of the day.
A door opened downstairs and a deep voice called for Janelle as Kelsey pulled away. “Zoe’s home,” she said and stretched up to kiss him quickly.
He froze, pleasantly surprised, but she stepped back and stared at him like a deer in headlights. It took everything he had to resist the urge to grab her and kiss her again, the way he had in her hotel room.
“Um . . . yeah . . . so, take your time. Lunch will be ready in a bit. I’m gonna go downstairs.” Her cheeks were slightly pink and she turned, grabbed the sheets, and quickly left the room.
Patrick stood in the middle of the room and let his smile deepen. With that brief touch of her lips, she’d erased any doubts he’d had. He felt sure she truly was happy to see him. Dating her was becoming a very real possibility. With any luck, this visit would help to solidify their relationship. It was probably too much to hope that she shared his feelings. That would almost be too perfect.
But so far, so good.
He took the towels to the bathroom, splashed some cool water on his face, then headed downstairs. He heard the voices coming from the kitchen but couldn’t make out what they were saying until he was halfway down the steps.