WHISKING IT ALL
CHAPTER EIGHT
By the end of October, Kate was second-guessing every decision she'd ever made. Her choice to return to the firm, to go a month without seeing Rick, even becoming a lawyer in the first place. She'd returned to an overwhelming number of assignments that had her working sixteen hour days and weekends, so she'd needed to cancel plans to visit Rick and see the dairy in all its fall glory the weekend before Halloween. He'd sent plenty of pictures, and they talked when they could, but it wasn't the same as feeling his strong arms around her or getting lost in his corn maze in person.
As she dragged herself home after nine on a Thursday night a month after returning to Manhattan, she was so tired - from lack of sleep, working nonstop, of everything - that she almost didn't see the person lurking by her door. When she saw a shadow move, though, she jumped, her briefcase falling to the floor with a loud thud.
"Jeez," she gasped, her hand flying to her chest, trying to calm her pounding heart. "What are you doing here?"
Rick took a step towards her, concern lining his face. "Did you get my messages?"
Kate dug in her pocket and pulled out her phone. "No, my phone hasn't gone off...oh." When she looked at her screen, she saw several missed calls from the previous two hours and even more messages, and also that her phone was on silent. She had a vague recollection of silencing it when she was going into a meeting, but that had been at four. She felt her face flush and she looked up at Rick. "I'm sorry."
Rick sighed in relief and reached for her. Tugging her into his arms, he dropped his cheek to the top of her head. "I was worried, Kate," he murmured into her hair.
Kate closed her eyes and let herself relax against him, until he was almost entirely supporting her. After several long moments of their embrace, she took a step back and took his hand. "Let's get out of the hallway," she suggested, pulling her keys from her pocket.
She shut and locked the door behind them, and as Rick looked around, she kicked off her shoes and hung her briefcase and coat. Despite the late hour she'd planned to work more at home, but she scrapped that. She hadn't seen Rick in a month. Work could wait.
Rick dropped his duffel bag by her shoes and turned back to her, lips upturned in a crooked grin. "Nice place," he teased, his voice coy as he stepped in front of her. His hands came up to cup her face, and he leaned down, brushed his lips against hers. "Can I see the rest?" he murmured.
Kate smiled and nipped at his bottom lip, her body singing with desire. She looped her arms around his neck. "Do you really want a tour of my apartment?" she teased, "or should we go straight to the bedroom?"
Rick didn't budge when her alarm sounded the next morning, even after she showered and dressed for the day. She took a moment to brush a lock of hair from his forehead as she watched him sleep for a few moments, a wistful smile on her face.
Despite wanting to stay awake with him, Kate had fallen asleep shortly after their reunion, and aside from waking once to wash her face and brush her teeth, she hadn't moved until morning. She leaned down to press a gentle kiss to his forehead, then stood and made her way to the kitchen.
God, she needed coffee, and a lot, or she wouldn't make it through the day.
As the coffee brewed she plugged in her laptop and turned it on, and by the time she settled at her dining table with her mug, she heard Rick moving around in her bathroom.
He shuffled up behind her as she opened her email, and she smiled when his arms circled her from behind. "Good morning," he rumbled in her ear, his low husk sending a shockwave of arousal through her.
Kate giggled when his lips found her neck behind her ear, and she squirmed away. "That tickles," she teased, grabbing her mug so she didn't knock it over on accident. She turned her head and smudged her lips along his jaw. "I hope I didn't wake you," she muttered, apology lacing her words.
"Not really." Rick pulled the second chair next to her and sat down, his bare knee brushing against her trousers. "I woke up because I was cold. My heater left," he added, nudging her knee.
Kate smirked and gave him a quick kiss before turning her attention back to the laptop. "Sorry, babe," she called out when he got up and went to the coffee pot. "I didn't get to work last night like I'd planned."
"Oh, but you did work. You worked very hard," he teased from the kitchen. When he rejoined her at the table, he gave her mug a gentle tap with his. "I've missed this," he said, pressing his lips to hers. "Sleeping in the same bed. Not sleeping," he added with a wink. "Having coffee together."
Kate realized she wasn't going to get any work done - not that she wanted to with Rick there - so she shut her laptop and shifted to face him. "Me too," she admitted, her cheeks flushing as she remembered the previous night. How he'd rendered her breathless with a single touch...God, she'd missed him. "I didn't think you could get away from the dairy, though. What about the maze?"
Rick shrugged. "My staff can handle it." He reached out his hand and curled his fingers around hers. "I know you've been struggling, Kate. Being here for you is more important than standing around."
Kate's eyes filled with tears at his words. She was so used to prioritizing work over everything else, and being around like-minded people, that Rick leaving his dairy on one of the busiest weekends of the year left her speechless. All she could do was press her hand to his cheek and lean forward to kiss him.
She felt him smile against her mouth and she returned the smile when they parted, and she brushed her thumb along his day-old stubble. "I love you," she breathed. "I wish I could stay home today. But I have meetings all day, and I can't get out of any of them."
"Don't worry about it," he assured her, curling a hand around her knee. "I haven't been here in ages, I'll go explore. Maybe I can bring you lunch?" he suggested.
Kate winced when she heard her phone alarm go off. She glanced at the time and silenced the alarm, then pushed back from the table. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
She put the laptop and charger in her briefcase and poured the rest of her unfinished coffee in a travel mug. Rick followed her to the door, and after he helped her into her coat, she went to the small entry table. After rummaging around for a few moments, her fingers hit what she was searching for, and she let out a quiet "a-ha!"
"Here," she told him, holding out a spare key. "Come and go as you please."
Rick grinned and took it from her, slid his other arm around her waist and tugged her into him. He bent his head and captured her lips in a fiery kiss, his tongue sweeping against hers before he stepped away. "Have a good day," he said in a sing-songy voice.
Kate blinked a few times to clear the lust from her mind, and when she could properly breathe, she cleared her throat. "Right. Um, I don't know if I'll even have time for lunch," she admitted, regretting her packed schedule. "But I'll tell you what. I'll do my best to get out at a decent time tonight, and maybe you can meet me for dinner?" she suggested.
Rick gave her a crooked grin. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed. He tucked his finger in his coat pocket and glanced inside, tapped her phone. "Don't forget to take it off silent this time."
Kate rolled her eyes even as she gave him a parting kiss and headed out the door.
"I understand you're on a tight deadline, Mr. Anderson," Kate assured her client, glancing at her cell phone when it buzzed. She smiled when she saw it was a text from Rick, but when her client spoke again, she turned the phone face down so she wouldn't get distracted.
"Monday, Kate. If I don't sign it by Monday morning at 8, I'll lose the building."
Kate nodded. "I'll look at it tonight," she promised, "and send it back to you by tomorrow afternoon." When the line went dead without another word, she pulled the receiver from her head and looked at it. "You're welcome," she muttered before hanging up. She opened the attached purchase agreement from her email and settled in to review it.
Her phone buzzed again a minute later, pulling her attention from her computer, and she saw another notification from Rick. This time she opened it, chuckling at the handful of selfies he'd been sending from various parts of the city. Despite being a cold and drizzly day, he seemed to enjoy his sightseeing, although the picture of him in front of the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park filled her with a wistful regret that she couldn't join him.
Looks like you're having fun, she sent, including a crying face emoji. She snapped a picture of her office, making sure there was no client information in the view before sending it to him. I'm probably warmer here, though.
His reply was immediate and had her flushing. Oh, I'd keep you nice and hot.
She cleared her throat and decided to call him instead of taking the time to text back and forth. She could spare a few minutes.
"I found a place for dinner," Rick said in greeting. "It's close to your office, and I was able to make a reservation. Hopefully seven isn't too early?"
Kate winced. Oh, he sounded so excited. "About that," she started, "I'm really sorry."
"You have to work." Rick said, his voice losing all its excitement.
"It's a last minute but urgent thing from a client," she explained. "I have to finish it by tomorrow and I'd rather do it tonight than lose another day with you." She heard a long exhale through the phone, and her mind raced for other possibilities. "I can bring it home, though. We can order in, so at least we can be together."
Rick sighed. "Okay," he finally agreed. "I'll cancel the reservation."
"I'm really sorry," she repeated.
"Don't worry about it, Kate. I knew this could happen." She could almost hear him shrug, and a smile was evident in his voice. "I'm dating a superstar," he continued. "I guess I just have to deal with dinner plans changing."
"I'll make it up to you," she assured him. "I promise."
"Oh, I'll hold you to that."
Kate was awake long after Rick fell asleep, although she sat against the headboard, her iPad as dim as she could make it, her fingers sifting through Rick's hair as she reviewed the client's contract. It looked like a straightforward bill of sale, and she was optimistic that she'd finish it long before her self-imposed deadline.
Rick shifted beside her, and she lifted her hand from his head, glanced down when he turned to face her and snuggled into her thigh. He nuzzled his nose against her leg, and one arm draped over her lap, holding her to him, as if they were spooning.
She covered her mouth with her fingers to muffle a snicker, and she set the iPad down so she could grab her phone and take a picture. Rick stirred when the phone flashed, and he blinked, looked around before his gaze landed on her.
Kate brushed his hair off his forehead. "Sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Rick gave her a sleepy smile and pressed his lips to her thigh. "It's okay," he mumbled, stretching up so his mouth could meet hers. "Try to sleep at some point."
Kate ran her hand over the back of his head and gave it a light scratch. "I will," she promised, but he was already asleep again. She smiled, but it faded when she remembered he was only there until Sunday morning, when he was taking the train back home.
She had vowed not to let a month pass again without seeing him - she did need to visit the bakery at some point as well - but if she was being realistic, it was a promise she probably couldn't keep. And it wasn't fair for Rick to put his life on hold so he could visit her.
God, she loved him. Over the previous month, she'd begun to reconsider her intent to stay at the firm. What good was having a successful law career if it meant sacrificing time with the man she loved?
She finished her paperwork just after two in the morning, sent it to her client despite the hour, and laid back down. As Rick pulled her into her arms and she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder how long she could juggle her two lives.
"I don't know what to do," she told Lanie Sunday afternoon when she handed over a bottle of wine. Lanie pointed at the couch, so Kate sat while her friend poured the drinks. Rick had been on the train to Hartford that morning, and she already missed him so much it almost hurt.
"Maybe you can be one of those weekenders," Lanie suggested, joining her on the couch. "Be here during the week, go up to Southbridge on the weekends."
"Last time I did that I almost got fired, remember?"
"Right." Lanie sighed. "Okay, how about once or twice a month? You and Rick can even alternate. By the way," she continued, leaning back, "when do I get to meet him?"
Kate flushed. Had she thought about it, she would have told Lanie that Rick was in town before he'd left so they could meet. But she was so wrapped up with him, that it hadn't even crossed her mind until she'd shown up at her friend's door.
Before Kate could answer, though, her phone rang, and she dug it from her sweatshirt pocket and saw the FaceTime request. She glanced at Lanie. "Sorry, it's-"
"Go ahead," Lanie told her, waving her hand. "But no sex stuff in front of me. And I wanna talk to him when you're done."
Kate stuck her tongue out, then answered the call, smiled when Rick's face appeared on the screen. "Hey."
Rick grinned. "Hi. Just wanted to let you know my train got here safe."
"I appreciate that," Kate said, grateful that he'd decided to call and not just text her. She missed his face already. "Hey, I'm at Lanie's so I can't talk, but she wants to meet you." She tilted the phone to her friend.
Lanie took the phone from her and stood up. She shook her head at Kate when she protested. "Nuh uh. I'll bring him back in a minute."
Kate reached for her wine and sipped as she relaxed against the couch. As tempted as she was to eavesdrop, she knew Lanie had the best intentions, and Rick could hold his own. She had no doubt that her best friend and boyfriend would get along just fine.
"Send it to me and I'll see what I can do."
Kate looked behind her when she heard Lanie's voice again, and she furrowed her brows at her words.
Lanie shook her head and looked back at the phone. "Here's your girl. Talk to you later."
Kate watched her friend bypass the couch and go into the kitchen, where she busied herself at the fridge. She turned her attention back to her phone and her smiling boyfriend. "What was that about?"
Rick shrugged. "Nothing. I like her," he added. "She's fun. Remind me not to piss her off, though."
Kate glanced at a very proud-looking Lanie. "Yeah, she's pretty great," she agreed. "I should probably go. Girl talk, you know."
Rick chuckled. "Have fun. Love you."
"Love you too." When she ended the call and put her phone on the table, she looked up to find Lanie grinning at her. "What?"
Lanie shrugged. "He's not bad," she teased.
"Lanie!"
"I'm just kidding, jeez." Lanie brought over a plate of cheese and crackers. "I like him, Kate. And he's crazy about you."
Kate flushed. She was crazy about him, too. "I know," she said. She popped a cracker in her mouth and used the time it took to chew it to think.
Before she could continue, though, Lanie spoke up. "Give it a few weeks," she suggested. "Go up there next weekend. Maybe even for Thanksgiving. Talk it over with him."
The restaurant was already full when Kate and Rick entered for the large town Thanksgiving potluck, and as he greeted everyone, she spotted Alexis at what appeared to be the dessert table. "Did other people come into our territory?" she joked, accepting the redhead's hug.
Alexis chuckled and took one of the pies from Kate's hands. "No. A few years ago, Jenny brought a dessert, and I thought Theresa was going to strangle her. Ever since, the dessert table has been off limits for everyone except the bakery."
Hours later, Kate was relaxed for the first time in weeks, thanks in part to the food and wine but also the warmth of the people she'd become friends with, who had welcomed her with open arms. She glanced around the room as everyone mingled, and her eyes found Rick, who appeared to be deep in conversation with Roy.
Her lips curved in a smirk as she focused on his hands, one holding a soda - he had offered to drive - and the other gesturing in time with whatever he was saying.
Before she could move to get up, she was joined by Martha, who followed her gaze, then gave her a knowing smile. "You two can stay at the B&B if you want," she offered.
Kate felt her face flush and she looked down at her lap. "Oh, um, thanks," she managed. "But he didn't have anything to drink so he'll drive."
"I meant if you can't wait to get back to the dairy," Martha replied with a wink.
Kate opened her mouth to respond, but Rick was in front of her before she could, his hand extended towards her.
"Mother, are you embarrassing my girlfriend?" he teased, pulling Kate up when she took his hand. His arm circled around her waist. "Ready to go?"
Kate leaned into his side and slid her hand in his back pocket, gave his ass a squeeze. "Absolutely. Bye, Martha."
Martha smirked. "Have fun, kiddos."
Rick reached behind him and gripped her wrist, gave her fingers a squeeze as he extracted her hand from his pocket. "You shouldn't grope me in public like that," he murmured, his lips against her forehead as they walked away. "Especially when I can't return the favor."
Kate giggled and looped her arm through his. She stopped him and stood on her toes so she could smudge a sloppy kiss to his mouth. "Just getting you warmed up for later," she teased.
Rick narrowed his eyes and smirked. "Sure you are. Let's go."
Kate managed to keep her hands off him as they said goodbye and accepted several containers of leftovers, but as soon as they were in Rick's truck, she curled her hand around his thigh. She grinned at his strangled groan, and she slid her hand higher, let it brush against the front of his pants.
"Kate," he warned in a low voice, covering her hand with his and glancing at her, "do you want me to crash the car?"
She drew her bottom lip between her teeth, but withdrew her hand and leaned back in the passenger seat. He had a good point. It was only twenty minutes to his home; she could wait.
"At least we got the leftovers in the fridge."
Kate chuckled and played with the short hairs at the back of Rick's neck as he panted into her shoulder. They'd managed to put the food away, but as soon as the refrigerator door was shut he'd lifted her to the counter, had her gasping within moments.
She pressed her lips to his temple and nudged him off her. "True," she agreed. When Rick stepped back, she hopped off the counter and finished removing her bra, grinning when his gaze immediately dropped to her bare chest. "Come on, stud, let's relocate to the bedroom."
Rick tore his gaze from her chest and smirked. "I'll meet you there. Would you like a nightcap?"
"Absolutely. Oh," Kate continued, pausing at the door and turning back to him, "bring some extra ice." She laughed as his groan followed her through the house, and when she reached his room she dropped her bra and sweater on her overnight bag.
She pulled down the comforter and moved her pillow to the headboard, but when she went to his side and reached for his pillow, something on his nightstand caught her eye. Her heart sank at the words "Bill of Sale" at the top, and as she skimmed over the first page, she vaguely heard Rick's footsteps behind her.
"I can't wait to see why you want the ice - Kate?" His footsteps stopped just inside the door. "What is it?"
She lifted her eyes to meet his. "You're selling the dairy?" she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
Rick tilted his head. "Not exactly." He glanced around, shrugged, and set the drinks on the floor before approaching her. "I'm considering some options."
"Options? For what?"
Rick sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, patting the mattress next to him. When Kate sat, the papers in her hand, he continued. "For years, this place has been my life. I live and breathe it. Literally," he added, motioning to the window that faced his land. "But lately, I've realized that there's more to life than this."
He took the papers from her hand and set them aside, and took her hand in his, laced their fingers together. "I love you, Kate," he continued. "I love being around you, and I wish I could see you more."
Kate opened her mouth to respond, tell him all the doubts she'd been feeling about her career, but he continued before she could say anything.
"So I talked to Roy, and Lanie looked at my books, and we determined that if I sell part of the dairy or get an investor, I'd still be in good shape financially and be able to free up a lot of my time so I can see you more."
Kate let out a relieved exhale. "I thought-" She chuckled. "I don't know what I thought, actually. That you were going to sell the whole place, maybe. And I wouldn't let you do that." She squeezed his hand. "I wouldn't let you give up your whole life for me."
Rick shrugged. "I'd do it," he admitted. "If I ever had to choose between you and the dairy, I'd choose you. Every time." He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and cupped her jaw. "Having all this, the dairy, the land, the money? It's not worth it if I can't share it with you."
Kate's jaw dropped and she gaped at him, his words leaving her speechless. It almost sounded like he was about to propose, but they hadn't been a couple for that long, and besides, they'd never had a serious conversation about their future. He wouldn't ask her before they'd talked about it...would he?
She glanced around the room, wondering if he had a ring stashed somewhere, if he was about to retrieve it. "Rick," she breathed, "are you…" She touched his ring finger, unable to get the words out.
Rick looked down at their hands, then back up at her, his eyes wide. "Oh, no. I'm not." He paused. "Out of curiosity," he continued, a slight tremor in his voice, "what would your thoughts be on that?"
Kate couldn't help but chuckle. "It's too soon." When he nodded and looked down at his lap, she cupped his cheek so she could look in his eyes. She remembered his rejection letter, what he'd said it meant to him, and she echoed his words. "That's not a no," she clarified. She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "It's a 'not now.' Time, Rick. Just give it some time."