Chapter Eleven:

They were laughing over something inconsequential as they went into the Cohen kitchen. Ryan paused suddenly and Kate had to stop quickly so that she didn't bump into him. She looked over his shoulder and realised that they weren't alone. Kirsten and Sandy and Seth were there, Seth the only one still in pyjamas. They all looked at them and Kate unconsciously scooted more behind Ryan's back, a little embarrassed that they'd been caught together.

"Morning Ryan, Kate. I take it you slept well?" Kirsten enquired. Kate closed her eyes as humiliation burned through her. She rested her forehead against the back of Ryan's shoulders, felt his muscles tense.

"I…I…yeah… thanks…" Ryan stuttered.

"It's okay you two, she's just pulling your legs…" Sandy interrupted and Kate let out a quiet sigh of relief. She straightened a little and peeped over Ryan's shoulder to see Kirsten watching her, a glint in her eyes that confirmed what her husband had said was true. She moved around to stand more beside Ryan and felt his arm slip around her waist.

"I know you have rules… and it was only one night…" Ryan began to explain.

"It's okay. We don't mind, really. I'm glad you both stayed, I take it was too late to call a cab?" Kirsten asked.

"It was after two. You're sure it's okay?" Kirsten sighed and looked at him.

"You're older now. And yes, we're sure. Want some coffee? Breakfast?"

Her cab arrived. He walked with her to it. For a long moment they stood there, looking at each other, each remembering what happened the night before. He wanted so much to touch her, to kiss her again.

"You'll be in touch with contracts and plans?" he just nodded. He watched her turn to get into the cab and he reached out and grasped her wrist. With a gasp she turned around and looked at him.

"I don't want this to end like…this," he told her. She looked down at his hand clasped loosely around her wrist and then she looked up at his face.

"Neither do I Ryan. Call me?" he nodded and then tugged her towards him. She lost herself in his kiss.

He walked back into the house and got the strongest sense of déjà vu. Sandy was clearing away the breakfast dishes; Kirsten leaned against the breakfast bar and sipped at her coffee. Seth still sat at the table, still in his pyjamas and robe, still looking half asleep. Kirsten turned her head and looked at him as he appeared.

"Kate leave okay?" she enquired and he nodded.

"I just wanted to say…thanks… it couldn't have been easy for you guys…and it's your house…" his voice petered off in embarrassment.

"It's okay Ryan, honestly. We still want you to think of this place as your home and as we said before, you're older now…" Ryan glanced away.

"So does that mean that you and Kate are involved?" Seth's sleepy teasing voice interrupted from his position at the kitchen table. Ryan shot him a glance of semi-irritation.

"None of your business," he retorted. Kirsten handed him a mug of coffee and he wrapped his hands around it feeling the heat of it burning his fingers. He took a sip and smiled to himself. Hot coffee was most definitely better than cold coffee.

"Ryan and Kate, sitting in a tree…" Seth began to sing, watching as Ryan got closer to him. Ryan passed his friend on the outside and slapped the back of his head as he went by, satisfied at the yelp in response.

Chapter Twelve:

Kate knew that right now, if she planned to stay in Newport Beach, then she really should begin to look at houses. But she held off. She knew that the realtors would be falling over themselves to sell her the perfect property, but a sliver of the old Kate Carpenter was firmly embedded in her psyche. It didn't matter that she had enough money to buy the most spectacular house in the area; it was the idea that she would have to live in it alone. Ryan had been surprised that she'd sold the house; she'd been more surprised that he hadn't even known that she had. After her mother's death, she had her attorney's go through the legalities. She hadn't stepped foot back in that property, hadn't wanted to. She hadn't even attended her mother's funeral. When she'd left Newport Beach, she firmly left all of that behind. She wasn't going to become a hypocrite and mourn her. She genuinely hoped that whoever had purchased the house, cherished it and loved it because she certainly never had.

The anonymity was a balm to her soul. Oh she knew that people recognised her but she was grateful that they left her alone. She wore a hat and dark sunglasses as a barrier, a disguise and over the last few years had gotten good at it. Since she'd achieved major success, the paparazzi had been a constant companion. Every single aspect of her life was documented, picked over, dissected and discussed. Every time she turned around there was a camera lens in her face. At first she'd enjoyed all of the attention, who wouldn't? She'd been flavour of the month and she'd been of the belief that all publicity was good publicity. Then it had gotten intrusive, constant and suddenly it wasn't fun anymore and subsequently the photographers had turned on her, hounded her. Trust was misplaced, people she'd once believed in sold wildly salacious stories to the media and the pressure had piled on. It made her a recluse in her own home until she finally decided that she couldn't take any more of it and she'd left. She'd headed straight back to Newport Beach and to Ryan.

Her thoughts took her along the pier, past the hot dog and soda stands. The sun bleached down on her and she was thankful for those sunglasses. She stopped and looked out across the marina, out to sea. The warm breeze pressed the material of her long white skirt against her legs and tickled at her hair peeping beneath her sunhat. The smell of the salt air was strong and even after all of this time, somewhat familiar.

"Hey," the voice that she wanted to hear most of all sounded so real that she wanted to believe that he was right beside her.

"Are you ignoring me?" a hand touched her arm and she flinched and turned. He stood beside her, wearing his suit, well half of it, the jacket was looped over one arm, and the business like white shirt was unbuttoned. For all intents and purposes he was just any other guy at the end of a working day enjoying the summer sun, but to her he was Ryan. She smiled.

"How did you know that I was here?" she breathed. He glanced out across the sea, his eyes squinting against the sun.

"I didn't," he replied. He looked back at her and reached across and slipped the sunglasses off her face.

"That's better," he murmured and lowered his head and kissed her. Her hands came up to rest against his chest, curling into fists and taking handfuls of the soft cotton material in the process.

They ended up walking along the beach, the soft sand squishing between their bare toes, their fingers loosely linked and other bits of clothing in opposite hands. They didn't talk much, just enjoyed the silence between them, and enjoyed each other's company.

She caught him looking at her.

"What?" she half laughed. He smiled in semi-embarrassment. His grip on her hand tightened a little.

"Just can't believe that you're here with me," he admitted. She frowned briefly in puzzlement.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he shrugged. She stopped walking. He did likewise and looked at her.

"Why wouldn't I want to be with you Ryan?" she asked softly. He looked away.

"You could have anyone that you wanted and I mean anyone but you're here in Newport Beach. With me," her heart throbbed in her chest at his admission.

"I'm here because I want to be here with you," she told him, her voice low. He stared at her, into her eyes in that intense way that made her feel as though she was the only other person in the entire universe. He touched her face, sliding his fingers along her cheekbone, slipping down to gently cup her jaw as he lowered his head and kissed her. Her arms found themselves around his neck as she returned the embrace, her body stretching to fit against the entire length of him. Slowly Ryan drew away from her, his breathing ragged and stared at her again. If this was love, its power was slowly sucking him under. If it wasn't, then he didn't know what it was but it felt good.

They grabbed a dinner of burgers, fries and milkshakes, sitting together in a little booth in the diner at the end of the pier. Itreminded her ofold times, happier times. They talked and they laughed and stole the occasional kiss. Kate allowed herself the chance to lower her guard completely and enjoy his company and the way that he made her feel.