that she was vibrant and exciting and passionate, even if a little too driven and rigid for his taste. For a time she might make him feel alive. She might chase away the memories of death and mortality. But then what?
David sighed. “I know that’s what Alicia would want,” he said, agreeing bleakly with his assistant. “But sometimes living is just too damned painful.”
The conversation with Dorothy had accomplished one thing, though. David decided against canceling the dinner with Kate and Davey. It would have been the cowardly way out and probably would have added ammunition she could use later, if she pursued this damnable divorce.
With his stomach tied in knots, he approached the informal restaurant she’d chosen in Century City. He blamed the upset on trepidation. The truth of the matter was, though, that it was probably anticipation that had him nervously pacing the outdoor mall as he watched for Kate and Davey to arrive. She had insisted on picking up his son, almost as if she feared he might exclude the boy at the last minute. The realization that she obviously felt she needed protection from him cheered him slightly. It evened the playing field a bit.
When he spotted the pair at last, his heart seemed to climb into his throat. Still the consummate professional, she was wearing a bright red suit accessorized with a twist of chunky, expensive gold at the neckline. Her hair had been pulled back into what had probably started as a neat style. Now stray wisps had tugged free to create wayward curls.
And, though she looked as if she were dressed to step into a courtroom or the pages of a career woman’s magazine, the expression on her face as she listened to Davey was what stunned him. She looked genuinely entranced, that generous mouth of hers curved into a smile, her eyes bright with amusement. Whatever his son was saying obviously delighted her. When she laughed, the pure, musical sound carried to him, and he regretted more than he could say that he hadn’t been in on the joke.
He walked slowly toward them, feeling like an outsider. When she glanced up and saw him, the sparks in her eyes didn’t die as he’d anticipated. Instead, her smile broadened to include him, a touch of sunshine that warmed him.
Basking in that smile could be dangerous, he thought for a fleeting instant, and then he simply responded to its sheer magic. Cares slid away and for this moment, his family was whole again, untouched by sorrow, united by love and laughter. He was a man used to living in a world that made fantasy seem like reality. He realized with a start that he wanted this particular illusion to last more than he’d wanted anything in a very long time.
“Hey, Dad, did you know that Kate has a house at the beach?” Davey said excitedly. “She said we could use it sometime. Wouldn’t that be great?”
David met her gaze and wondered at the generosity. “It would be great,” he agreed. “But I’m sure Ms. Newton likes to get away herself on the weekends.”
“We could all go together,” Davey said eagerly. He glanced at Kate. “Is there enough room?”
“Sure,” she said.
Despite the quick response, David caught the sudden uneasiness in her eyes. He doubted if her impulsive offer had taken into account this possible turn of events. Lazy days, sun-kissed sand, sparkling blue Pacific…and the two of them. It was the most seductive arrangement he could imagine. If dinner had made her nervous, he could just imagine her reaction to this proposal.
He couldn’t resist giving her a long, level, considering look that left no doubts about the provocative direction in which his imagination had roamed. The color that crept into her cheeks almost matched her suit.
“I’m starved,” she said in a breathless rush. “Shall we go inside? I made the reservation for seven.”
Over their meal, it was Davey’s chatter that filled the silences. David hadn’t felt quite so tongue-tied in years. As for Kate, he had
David sighed. “I know that’s what Alicia would want,” he said, agreeing bleakly with his assistant. “But sometimes living is just too damned painful.”
The conversation with Dorothy had accomplished one thing, though. David decided against canceling the dinner with Kate and Davey. It would have been the cowardly way out and probably would have added ammunition she could use later, if she pursued this damnable divorce.
With his stomach tied in knots, he approached the informal restaurant she’d chosen in Century City. He blamed the upset on trepidation. The truth of the matter was, though, that it was probably anticipation that had him nervously pacing the outdoor mall as he watched for Kate and Davey to arrive. She had insisted on picking up his son, almost as if she feared he might exclude the boy at the last minute. The realization that she obviously felt she needed protection from him cheered him slightly. It evened the playing field a bit.
When he spotted the pair at last, his heart seemed to climb into his throat. Still the consummate professional, she was wearing a bright red suit accessorized with a twist of chunky, expensive gold at the neckline. Her hair had been pulled back into what had probably started as a neat style. Now stray wisps had tugged free to create wayward curls.
And, though she looked as if she were dressed to step into a courtroom or the pages of a career woman’s magazine, the expression on her face as she listened to Davey was what stunned him. She looked genuinely entranced, that generous mouth of hers curved into a smile, her eyes bright with amusement. Whatever his son was saying obviously delighted her. When she laughed, the pure, musical sound carried to him, and he regretted more than he could say that he hadn’t been in on the joke.
He walked slowly toward them, feeling like an outsider. When she glanced up and saw him, the sparks in her eyes didn’t die as he’d anticipated. Instead, her smile broadened to include him, a touch of sunshine that warmed him.
Basking in that smile could be dangerous, he thought for a fleeting instant, and then he simply responded to its sheer magic. Cares slid away and for this moment, his family was whole again, untouched by sorrow, united by love and laughter. He was a man used to living in a world that made fantasy seem like reality. He realized with a start that he wanted this particular illusion to last more than he’d wanted anything in a very long time.
“Hey, Dad, did you know that Kate has a house at the beach?” Davey said excitedly. “She said we could use it sometime. Wouldn’t that be great?”
David met her gaze and wondered at the generosity. “It would be great,” he agreed. “But I’m sure Ms. Newton likes to get away herself on the weekends.”
“We could all go together,” Davey said eagerly. He glanced at Kate. “Is there enough room?”
“Sure,” she said.
Despite the quick response, David caught the sudden uneasiness in her eyes. He doubted if her impulsive offer had taken into account this possible turn of events. Lazy days, sun-kissed sand, sparkling blue Pacific…and the two of them. It was the most seductive arrangement he could imagine. If dinner had made her nervous, he could just imagine her reaction to this proposal.
He couldn’t resist giving her a long, level, considering look that left no doubts about the provocative direction in which his imagination had roamed. The color that crept into her cheeks almost matched her suit.
“I’m starved,” she said in a breathless rush. “Shall we go inside? I made the reservation for seven.”
Over their meal, it was Davey’s chatter that filled the silences. David hadn’t felt quite so tongue-tied in years. As for Kate, he had
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