Who lived in these houses now? She had no idea. But as she ran past them, the long-ago names floated into her brain like a forgotten languagethe Missonis, the Ballingers, the McClintocks, and finally the Wilmers, where she encountered the chain-link fence. Though a little winded, Kat had enough air to thoroughly laugh at herself. Once upon a time, she could vault this barricade without a second thought, hardly even slowing from a run. Tonight, she came to a full stop, grabbed the fence post, gingerly shoved the toe of her right shoe into a link, and prayed she could pull herself over. She felt a rush of pride when she hoisted her leg above and landed on the ground near the cedars. /The old girl still had it!/ Like always, Kat ran across the lawn to the side of the house, where she pulled herself onto the central air-conditioning unit to reach the porch railing. In her youth, this same railing had seemed as wide as a diving board. Tonight, under the porch light, it felt more like an emery board.
So she held her breath and raced across it with a quick tiptoe before she could lose her nerve. Kat gratefully found her way along the ledge of the dining room bay window, then held on to each of the three equally spaced window frames on the turret to reach the roof of the carport.
It was there she had second thoughts. She must be crazy! She was a thirty-seven-year-old woman with thirty-seven-year-old bones. What if she fell? And besides, it wasn't like Big Daddy was patrolling the premises anymore. She didn't have to sneak inside, did she?
Kat was about to climb down when it dawned on her that she didn't have a key, and Riley might not be in the most gracious of moods after their argument, throwing open the front door to welcome her. She was almost there anyway.
Kat took a deep breath, steadied herself, then remembered the loose tiles. Sure, they'd probably been fixed at some point in the last twenty years, but she did her best to steer clear anyway, just to be safe. She was crawling along on her hands and knees when the tile she'd chosen to hold her weight gave way. She started to slide, and in a panic, she reached out and prayed that her fingers found the edge of something sturdy. Her foot hit the gutter and the slide stopped.
Kat closed her eyes for a second, steadied herself, and slowly, so slowly, climbed her way back up the carport roof.
She said a silent prayer of thanks as she reached the window, then, as quietly as she could, raised the wooden sash, feeling inside to see if a screen or storm window blocked her way. She found neither, and silently balanced her rear end on the window ledge, then swung her legs around.
She was in. Quickly she closed the window and tiptoed toward the bed.
She'd never really asked Riley if he still slept in his childhood bedroom, but there was most certainly a man sprawled out on the bed in the darkness, breathing deeply, and since Riley was the only current resident of the Bohland House, she figured it was mission accomplished.
Almost.
As soon as she took off her shoes and slipped out of her coat and pajamas, she realized how cold she was. With a shiver, she pulled away the comforter and slipped her naked body into Riley's private cocoon. It made her smile to see that he still slept on his right side, and she curled up against his back and pressed close. He was warm. His body hair tickled her. She nuzzled her nose into the nape of his neck and breathed deep.
Hey there, said a sleepy voice. Riley flipped over to face her. What took you so long?
Kat giggled, noticing right away that he was naked, toogloriously, fabulously naked. I'm middle-aged. I don't run as fast as I used to, and scaling the roof was a bit dicey, she said.
With his fingertips, Riley began to stroke her cheek. Middle age looks real good on you, in case I haven't mentioned that, but I did leave the front door unlocked for you. Kat could see his wicked grin.
What? She smacked his biceps and laughed. You mean I didn't have to risk life and limb to get to you?
Nope. He left little kisses all over her face and neck. But you got to admitit's pretty damn hot that you did.
He was right. It was damn hot. Kat grabbed his head and brought her mouth hard against his. She wanted to inhale him, eat him alive, melt into his flesh.
Riley groaned in pleasure, extending the kiss down to her throat. You do know that this has been my primary sexual fantasy for the last twenty yearsKat Cavanaugh coming through my window, curling up against me, begging me to make crazed, unrestrained love to herright?
She giggled. How about having a crazed, unrestrained heart-to-heart talk with her?
Riley stopped kissing her throat. That was always a close second.
I want another chance with you, Kat said suddenly, before she lost the nerve.
OK
I want to get to know you againas the complex grown man you are, not the kid of my memories. I want you to know me, too, all of me, including my darkest mistakes and my brightest hopes.
I want that, too, Riley said, his voice warm and gentle.
I want to see if there's a future for us. I'm so sick of wondering and guessing and fantasizing about you and meI just want there to /be/ a you and me. Kat's eyes began to fill with tears. Riley, I know I was stupid and selfish yesterday and You sure were.
She laughed in surprise. Yeah? Well, you were stupid and selfish, too.
My God, I certainly was.
I'm sorry, Riley.
I'm sorry, too.
The tears streamed down the sides of Kat's face. Riley wiped them away.
Kat, there's something I want to say. I need to get it out there.
Let me go first. Can I go first?
Riley kissed her gently, smiling at her childlike enthusiasm. Sure.
Kat took a giant breath. She wanted to get through this without too much blubbering. I ask that you forgive me for keeping Aidan from you all this time out of spite. You were rightthat's exactly what it wasand I'm so ashamed to admit that. Kat squeezed her eyes tight; then, when Riley tried to speak, she shook her head to convey that she wasn't done.
Forgive me… oh God, Riley, please forgive me for taking away your right to be a father.
Kat opened her eyes again and stared at him expectantly, swallowing hard as she waited for his answer.
I forgive you, Kat. I truly do.
She mouthed a silent, /Thank you./ When she closed her eyes in relief, a whole flood of tears was released.
Please forgive me for sending you away like I did. The words broke from Riley's throat in a scratchy whisper. Kat, forgive me for not even giving you a chance to tell me you were going to have my baby. I understand now how much you loved and needed me, and I know it must have killed you when I told you I didn't want you anymore.
She nodded quickly. It did. But I forgive you, Riley. From the bottom of my heart, I forgive you.
Riley placed a gentle kiss of thanks on her trembling lips and breathed in the relief of the words they'd spoken to each other. He'd always heard that forgiveness was just as healing to the person doing the forgiving as the person being forgiven. Now, as they both basked in a double shot of forgiveness, he knew how right that was.
Riley gently cupped her face in his hands. Here's my promise to youwe will be able to handle anything the world throws at us, as long as we face it together.
She smiled. I like that.
Who do you love, Kat? he asked, his eyes on fire in the darkness.
That's an easy one, she said. I love Riley James Bohland, forever and ever, the way I've always loved him.
And who does Riley Bohland love?
Katharine Ann Cavanaugh, forever and ever.
What kind of car do you want?
A loaded Jaguar that I drive right off the lot, paid for in cash. She started giggling.