Meant for Each Other Read online

  Growing more and more uncomfortable as the miles passed without a word from Wade, she finally broke the awkward silence, deciding it would be vastly safer to question him about his present plans.

  "Alice tells me you're engaged," she said.

  "Which couldn't possibly be of any interest to you, so we won't talk about it."

  At his caustic remark, her hand almost snapped the chain on her purse. "For your information, this was not a situation I precipitated." Her voice shook with indignation. "If I'd had any idea you'd be picking me up at the airport, I would never have come."

  "Exactly why I chose to take matters into my own hands."

  She swallowed a retort. "Now that you've accomplished your objective, I can see no point in dragging this out any further. Let me off in Logan and I'll take a bus the rest of the way."

  They were cresting the summit of Sardine Canyon; shifting gears, he shot her a menacing glance. "Obviously you feel no compunction about hurting the family even more than you already have."

  "How dare you say that to me!"

  "It's the truth," he said, seemingly unperturbed, his apparent disregard for her feelings infuriating her all the more. The Wade she'd once known would never have been so cruel. "They've accepted your flimsy excuses for staying away all these years, but that doesn't mean they've been happy about it. I, for one, would like to spare them any additional pain."

  "I don't know what you're talking about." She tried to sound calm but failed miserably.

  "Don't patronize me, Kathryn. It never worked in the past, and it won't work now. The fact is you never once visited Afton with your husband. Perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that Dad felt maybe his humble home and his lack of a college education wasn't good enough for you and your professor with his fancy beach house and his trail of impressive degrees."

  "You're crazy!" she almost shouted at him. What he was saying now made a horrible kind of sense when viewed from Clyde's perspective, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Kathryn hadn't wanted the family to see how her marriage had failed. And more than that, she couldn't bear the thought of facing Wade, because she'd never satisfactorily resolved the issue of her attraction to him.

  When the family came to the beach for a week's vacation each summer it was easy enough for her and Philip to put on a good front, since there were so many activities to keep them all busy. But bringing Philip to Afton would have been a mistake she would have regretted in too many ways to even consider.

  "Hit a nerve, did I?" Wade taunted as he slowed to make a turn onto a side road, which led to a rustic inn noted for its succulent roast beef. She had been here with Wade on several occasions in the past, and she didn't want to be reminded of those times when their awareness of each other had made her forget common sense and propriety.

  His unexpected action confused her, so that instead of answering with a scornful comment of her own, she said, "Why are we stopping?"

  He turned off the ignition and opened his door, allowing the wildflower-scented breeze to fill the cab. "Perhaps you had dinner on the plane, but I haven't eaten since breakfast. Besides which, my horse needs exercise. If you'll go inside and order some sandwiches, I'll be along shortly to pay for them."

  Arrogance never used to be part of the self confidence she'd always associated with Wade. The years seemed to have changed him into someone harder and much more remote.

  "I'm not hungry, so I'll walk your horse while you buy something to tide you over. That way we can get to Afton sooner."

  With a grimace, he subjected her to another thorough appraisal, one that made her strangely uncomfortable. "You look as if you haven't had a proper meal in days," he said flatly, not bothering to acknowledge her offer.

  "I'm sorry if my appearance displeases you." As soon as the words left her mouth she realized her mistake. She was letting Wade get to her, responding to his gibes when she ought to ignore them.

  "Did I say that?" he lashed out.

  Trying not to let his abrasive manner fluster her, she said, "Wade, I don't know what you hoped to accomplish by picking me up, but now that you've had your say, let's go home. It's been a long day."

  "Tell me about it," he said in an oddly hoarse voice, his eyes intent on her face. "But just so we understand each other, Allie and Dad expect things to be the way they used to be. You and I both know that's impossible, but for their sake we're going to arrive at the house and pretend. We're going to act as though we like each other―even if the idea is repulsive. And if you had any thoughts about only staying for a few days, you can forget them."

  His assessment of the situation astounded her so much that she was slow to understand. "I―I'm not sure what you mean."

  After a long pause he said, "The folks have plans for you that involve more than a weekend visit. Provided you're willing, of course."

  "What plans?" she whispered, still reeling from the effect of his words.

  "Since it's their idea, I'll leave it to them to explain." Whatever he knew, it sounded as if he liked the prospect even less than she did.

  "I―I'm not exactly sure of my plans except that I'm going to see about a teaching job, preferably in Colorado."

  Much as she enjoyed the ocean, Kathryn had always disliked the crowds and jammed freeways of California, and she missed the mountains, particularly the Tetons. She actually craved the relaxed casual pace of a Western college town like Fort Collins or Boulder, where she'd gone to undergraduate school. If she secured a teaching position at either university, she would spend the rest of the summer finding a condo to decorate and getting herself settled before the fall term started.

  "If you care at all for the family's feelings, I suggest you keep your future plans to yourself. For tonight, anyway," he added in a warning voice.

  Flashing her another distinctly hostile glance, he got out of the truck and slammed the door. A few minutes later she could feel the vibration of hooves as Wade led his horse from the trailer, leaving her to her own tortured thoughts.

  She should have heeded the foreboding that told her not to let Alice pressure her into this visit. Already Wade's physical presence was having an alarming effect on her senses, despite the years of separation. How could she stay longer than a weekend with him around? Yet how could she leave so abruptly after what he'd told her about Alice's plans?

  I was a fool to come back, she cried inwardly, hiding her face in her hands. Wade had placed her in an impossible position.

  On the plane from San Diego to Salt Lake, Kathryn had felt a hundred years older and wiser. And she'd reasoned that now Wade had grown up, he, too, had finally put aside what had happened in the past, relegating it to proximity and an excess of hormones.

  Knowing he had a fiancée and that he'd only be an occasional visitor to the house had convinced Kathryn it was possible for her to accept Alice's invitation. But nothing had turned out the way she'd imagined. Whatever had possessed her?

  CHAPTER TWO

  "I THOUGHT YOU WANTED to eat," she commented when Wade returned to the truck only a few minutes later.

  "I thought so, too," came the oblique reply as he inserted the key into the ignition and flicked on the radio to an all-news station. The broadcast prevented further conversation while they drove the last hour and a half to Afton. But even if World War III had been announced, Kathryn wouldn't have heard a word. She was far too aware of Wade's nearness, the way his well-honed body maneuvered the truck with practiced ease.

  She found herself wondering about his fiancée. Were they deeply in love? How long had they been seeing each other? Was their relationship an intimate one? Unconsciously she tightened her fingers on the chain of her handbag.

  "Kathryn?"

  She jerked her head around guiltily, astonished to discover that he'd been talking to her. "What is it?"

  "Good grief," he muttered, "you're as jumpy as a cat! In case it escaped your notice, we're home."

  Sure enough, she could see the little red two-story brick house wit
h its beckoning white shutters as Wade pulled to a stop at the end of the long driveway. The rows of poplars that lined it created a sensation of peace and order, a complete contrast to her thoughts. Kathryn had been so preoccupied she hadn't even noticed the sign indicating that they had entered Afton. It was one of several hamlets in the Star Valley area, which was famous for its dairy herds and Swiss cheese.

  "No matter what your personal feelings are, we'll present a united front to the family. Agreed?" be demanded harshly. "That means hiding the revulsion you feel toward me."

  Revulsion? she mouthed to herself. Did he honestly believe she hated him for what had happened in the past? She couldn't take it in.

  "Welcome home!" Alice cried in delight as she flung open the passenger door. The commotion prevented Kathryn from responding to Wade's faulty interpretation of her actions.

  "Alice, Clyde," she said in a strained voice as she climbed down from the truck and hugged them both. Laurel, dark and petite like her mother, stood a little behind her parents, waiting impatiently to embrace Kathryn.

  While Wade walked back to the trailer to tend to his horse, John came out of the house and caught her in a bear hug. He, too, was dark-haired like Alice, and though not as tall as his father, his body was well-defined from lifting weights. He had a conventionally handsome face that attracted a fair share of admirers.

  But it was Wade who exuded such potent male sexuality that few women were immune. Kathryn had never met another man like him, and she blamed her lack of response not only to Philip but to all the other male acquaintances in her life on her dangerous attraction to him.

  Steeling herself not to look at Wade, she gave the family her full attention while they helped take her things into the house. The second she stepped inside the cozy living room with its early-American decor, Kathryn detected the wonderful aroma of barbecued spareribs and homemade rolls. Everything looked exactly the same as it had five years ago, and it was suddenly hard to remember she'd ever been away.

  "While you freshen up, Laurel and I will put the food on the table," Alice told her. "We had a snack earlier, but didn't want to eat a big meal until you came, and frankly we're starving." She raised dark eyebrows, which met her bangs. "So, hurry, okay?"

  Kathryn gave her sister another hug. "I'm starving, too," she lied. "I'll be as fast as I can."

  "I put you in Wade's old room," Alice said to Kathryn, who had reached the staircase. "Today I cleaned it thoroughly and made the bed with clean sheets-and a new quilt I sewed for you. I hope you'll be comfortable."

  Eyeing her older sister with affection, Kathryn murmured, "You know I will. In fact, I've always loved this house, because you've made it the ultimate home. No wonder Clyde's crazy about you. But remember, I'm family, not a guest, and I'll do my share of the work while I'm here." Which won't be for very long, Kathryn promised herself as she dashed up the steep narrow staircase to the second floor.

  Two bedrooms adjoined a small bathroom at the head of the stairs, where the hall was lined with family photographs. Wade's room was the attic, a cleverly renovated area reached by yet another, even steeper flight of stairs. She approached it with pounding heart, trying desperately not to remember what had happened in this room the last time she'd been in it with Wade.

  A dresser and wardrobe stood against one wall, the same as before. With the exception of a framed photo of a ten-year-old Wade holding up a huge trout as he sat in a rowboat next to his father, all the familiar mementos and pictures were gone.

  On the other wall was his old bed, and above it a round window. Despite the deepening shadows, she could see the fertile Swisslike countryside stretching far into the distance.

  As she crossed the threshold, she immediately caught sight of the beautiful new patchwork quilt. Alice had pieced together hundreds of colorful fabric scraps in a traditional wedding-ring pattern. Kathryn recognized many of the prints from dresses she and Alice and their mother used to wear. There were even a few pieces cut from some of her dad's old neckties.

  A rush of heartwarming memories flooded her mind. Her eyes misted as she stepped past her bags to examine the perfect stitches, reflecting on the hundreds of hours it must have taken Alice to make the quilt.

  "It's gorgeous," she whispered to herself, hugging a corner of it to her chest, unable to handle so much emotion at one time.

  "Allie worked on it day and night." The deep voice reached her ears at the same moment that her sunglasses landed on top of the quilt. Kathryn spun around to see Wade lounging against the doorjamb, gazing at her thoughtfully. "It's her welcome-home present."

  Kathryn's mouth went dry at the sight of his solid frame so close to hers, dwarfing the dimensions of the little room, haunting her with memories. "It's the most beautiful gift I've ever received in my life, but I couldn't possibly keep it. Alice made it and it belongs to her."

  Frown lines marred his features and he straightened. "Last year she quilted a similar one for herself. She'd be crushed if you didn't accept it."

  Kathryn had no reason not to believe him, but his proximity prevented her from thinking, let alone making conversation. Perhaps now that Wade was engaged, it didn't bother him to be alone with her in his old room. But Kathryn didn't think she could cope with the situation much longer.

  She smoothed the quilt back into place. "Please tell Alice I'll be right down."

  He stayed where he was, his legs casually crossed at the ankles, and raked her with a probing gaze. "You're pale under that tan. If you don't feel up to eating with the family tonight, we can bring dinner to you."

  "I'm fine. A little tired, but surely that's natural."

  His mouth tightened in displeasure. "There's nothing natural about the bags under your eyes or the way your clothes hang on you. From what I've heard, divorce is supposed to be something positive, fix what's wrong. But I suppose it depends on who asked for the divorce, and as I understand it, that was Philip. Are you so much in love with your ex-husband you've stopped living?"

  She took a steadying breath to fight the shame she felt whenever she thought of how she'd failed Philip. He had been a charming bachelor who'd chaired her doctoral dissertation at UCLA and had pursued her from the moment she arrived in San Diego. But with hindsight, she knew she would never have said yes to his proposal if she hadn't been so guilt-ridden over Wade. "I'd rather not discuss it."

  "Maybe you should. A twenty-pound weight loss hasn't done you much good."

  "Fifteen," she corrected him. "Sometimes miscarriages affect women that way." Not to mention a disintegrating marriage. Philip had been so decent about everything it bad made the situation that much more devastating for Kathryn.

  A bleak look entered Wade's eyes. "I'm sorry you lost your baby, Kathryn, but more than ever you need to take care of yourself."

  She bestowed a false smile on him. "I'm stronger than I look. Besides, being thin is fashionable."

  "For a model, perhaps," he said, his lips twisting unpleasantly. Kathryn turned away from his assessing eyes, unaccountably hurt by his censure. But maybe that was because there had been a time when he had told her, shown her, how beautiful she was to him, and her feminine pride wanted him to retain that image.

  "I need to wash before we eat."

  "Be my guest." He stood aside with his bands on his hips while she brushed past him. The slight contact made her senses come alive, and she hurried down the stairs to the bathroom where she could lock herself in and be alone with her chaotic thoughts.

  But she couldn't stay in there indefinitely, not with everyone waiting for her, anxious to catch up on months of news. And though she knew the family wouldn't bring up the divorce or anything to do with Philip, Wade would be watching her from across the table, listening to every word she said, analyzing her responses with that keen intelligence of his.

  After rinsing her face and hands, she applied more blusher and lipstick, then arranged her hair in an attempt to look in control, if nothing else.

  When she walked into the
kitchen a few minutes later, the family was already seated at the square wooden table. Alice had placed a bowl of wildflowers in the center and the effect was lovely.

  A beaming Clyde stood up and pulled out a chair, indicating she should sit between him and Alice. When she took her place, he gazed around at each of them with a suspicious brightness in the hazel eyes so like his son's. Twice he had to clear his throat before he could begin, and all the while she could feel Wade's inscrutable glances.

  "Kathryn," Clyde said, "I guess I don't have to tell you how thrilled I am to see this family together again. You've been missed, by your sister and me, your niece and your nephew. Now, let's give thanks."

  After the blessing, Kathryn expressed her happiness at being under their roof once more, then grasped her sister's hand and started to thank her for the quilt. But too many feelings were erupting, and she burst in to tears.

  Alice smiled, obviously touched by such a genuine display of emotion. "I told you that one day I'd do something with our old dresses."

  After a minute Kathryn pulled herself together.

  "It's a gift I'll cherish all my life. I wish there was an other way to thank you besides saying those two simple words."

  "Maybe there is." Clyde winked mysteriously, reminding her of the conversation with Wade, and her heart sank. "But let's eat first."

  Everyone concurred, and for a little while the talk consisted mostly of requests to pass the ribs and the scalloped potatoes, interspersed with questions from Laurel about life at the beach, a topic she seemed to find endlessly fascinating. Wade remained aloof, though from time to time he stared broodingly at Kathryn, who did everything in her power to act as natural as possible.

  She chatted with her niece and nephew about their studies and managed to ply Clyde with dozens of questions about his business, which appeared to be thriving. This went on until the hot apple pie with rich cream and cheese slices was served. At this point everyone praised Alice for the terrific meal, and silence reigned until dessert had been eaten.