Chapter Fifteen:

Ryan stared into the full-length mirror and sighed, fiddling with the knot in his tie. It was Valentines Day and there was a ball being held at the Country Club to raise funds for some heart charity, he forgot which. There were events such as this one regularly and after a while they blended into each other. All that he knew was that as part of the Cohen family, and with Kirsten being head of the Newport Group, they had to attend. He surveyed himself in the mirror. Black suit, white shirt, and black tie. His hair was combed into submission and he was presentable. But still he frowned. Today was the day for lovers, love was everywhere, and Cupid's arrow was on target as always. If he was to be absolutely honest, then he was feeling a little left out. Seth was happily hooked up with Summer and more often than not he felt a bit like a third wheel. Automatically his mind went to Kate. He was really in to her, not that she knew anything about it. It felt a bit like the Marissa situation, good friends with a slight undercurrent, at least he would like to think so. Okay, maybe scratch the whole 'like Marissa stuff', she was nothing like her, except being related to the richest man in town, that she hated her mother and loathed her stepfather even more… he frowned…maybe he was wrong… he sighed, shaking his head. Right now to Kate, the most important thing in her life was her music. She'd never once given him the slightest hint that she was interested in anything other than friendship.

He saw her straight away as they made their entrance. Ryan hovered near Kirsten and Sandy as they said their hellos and indulged in small talk. She stood across the room, vibrant in a red dress. Her normally tousled hair was neatly pinned up and she looked stunning. Ryan took a deep breath as he stared at her. She looked honest to God bored. Maybe she'd like a bit of company. He turned his head to glance at his foster parents and then looked back to where Kate had been standing to see that she'd disappeared. He looked through the crowds of people and quickly saw her again. Someone was handing her a drink and she smiled at him. He was tall, handsome with dark hair, he also looked wealthy and she looked happy. He swallowed down a surge of jealousy. Kate wasn't interested in him romantically, had never given him the slightest inclination, he had no right to feel this way but it didn't mean that he didn't.

Kate sipped at her soda, the words of her companion going in one ear and out of the other. She had even forgotten his name but he was the son of a colleague of Marshall's. He and her mother had insisted that she attend tonight when all she wanted to do was either curl up in front of the television or talk to Ryan about the rip off that was Valentine's Day. But her mother showed up at her door with a designer dress and insisted, no…forced her to attend and already she was bored out of her skull. She scanned the hoards of faces here tonight and saw Seth on the dance floor with Summer, completely enveloped in each other as always. If those two weren't fighting then they existed only for each other, they were a strange couple at the best of times but they worked. She frowned slightly. If Seth was here, then surely Ryan would be too? Her eyes scanned the faces more rapidly but she couldn't see him.

It was a little later and Kate had shaken off the son of her stepfather's friend and was getting herself something to drink.

"It's Kate isn't it?" a male voice enquired, Kate turned and saw Seth's father standing behind her.

"Hi Mr Cohen, yeah, it is," she smiled.

"Enjoying yourself?" she shrugged.

"Well if you're looking for the boys, Ryan is outside if you want to say hello, I'm sure he'd appreciate it," he indicated the double doors and the groups of people milling around. Kate nodded.

"Thanks" she replied and headed outside.

He was standing with his back to her, staring out across the gardens. He turned when he heard footsteps and smiled briefly when he saw her.

"Didn't think this was your kind of thing" she commented coming to stand beside him.

"It isn't usually but it doesn't mean that I don't attend. You look nice" she glanced down at her dress and then looked back at him, wrinkling her nose.

"Thanks. Mom's choice unfortunately. Somehow I don't think my jeans and t-shirt combo's would've been appropriate tonight," she replied. She reached across and smoothed the lapel of his jacket.

"You brush up pretty good yourself, Armani?" he shrugged.

"No idea. Kirsten is the expert in all things designer label," he replied with another smile. She made a show of straightening an already perfectly straight tie and smiled into his eyes.

"She has excellent taste,"

"I'll be sure to tell her that" he murmured.

They went back inside and Kate felt infinitely calmer that she had Ryan by her side. She caught her mother's eye from across the room, noticed the marble-cold glare emanating from her eyes and was very tempted to smile back. She didn't know who Ryan was, and because he wasn't the date she'd personally approved, Kate knew there would be trouble. She turned her head and glanced at Ryan who seemed oblivious to her mother's evil eye.

"Why don't we dance?" she suggested and Ryan looked at her, mildly horrified and she frowned.

"What? Don't you dance?" he shrugged.

"Not particularly well," he admitted. She slipped her hand into his.

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" and he followed her onto the already busy dance floor. The music was slow, romantic and Ryan's gut churned. Of course they'd play romantic music, it was Valentine's Day. He took a deep breath and relaxed. All they were doing was dancing, nothing else, it was no big deal.

He wasn't such a bad dancer after all, Kate realised. He possessed a little more grace than some of the guys she'd danced with in the past and he held her gently but not possessively and she liked that. His hair felt soft against her cheek and he smelled good, incredibly good she realised, her stomach pitching a bit. Okay, now where had that come from? She mentally banished those thoughts from her brain and briefly closed her eyes.

A little while later, Kate watched as a piano was pushed onto the stage and her heart thumped in her chest. She glanced at Ryan who looked at her.

"You wanted to sing didn't you?" her eyes widened as she realised what was going on.

"Did you do this?" she hissed. He shrugged.

"When you sing at The Bait Shop, you get a lot of interest. I know how much you love performing, and now's your chance. I spoke to the band and they're willing to give you a slot for tonight," Kate looked back at the stage. She knew that her mother and step dad would be extremely pissed off if she did this. That gave her pause and then she smiled. She leaned across and pressed a kiss on his cheek and he blinked at her in surprise.

"Thank you," she told him.

Ryan watched her as she was introduced and she walked across the small stage to the piano. He'd heard her play guitar when she'd managed to get the time to perform at The Bait Shop and he had accidentally discovered her playing piano at school one lunchtime and realised just how talented she was. Some singers were blessed with a great voice but Kate had the ability to sing and to play a variety of instruments. She'd played and sang back at school without realising that he was there to witness it. And he'd been blown away. He wanted the rest of Newport Beach to see that talent for themselves.

It was just Kate playing piano, singing a composition that Ryan didn't recognise and assumed that it was one of her own. He watched the audience watching her and felt a spurt of satisfaction. She was good and they all realised that. She seemed oblivious to the people around her as her clear voice echoed around the ballroom. When it ended, there was a brief silence before the applause began to ring out and then came the requests for an encore. He turned his head when he sensed someone beside him and saw Marissa standing there, watching Kate.

"She's really good"

"Yeah, she is, isn't she? You should hear her when she's at The Bait Shop," Marissa looked at him.

"You sound like her manager. You organised this tonight didn't you?" he just shrugged.

"Aren't you glad that I did? This party ran the serious risk of being really boring," a brief smile flashed across her face.

"I'm glad,"

When Kate came off stage a little while later, she was literally glowing. People surrounded her, offering congratulations and words of praise. She found Ryan standing to the side of the stage. She hugged him, and surprised by the force of her embrace, he couldn't help but hug her back.

"Thank you," she murmured into his ear. She looked at him, to see the puzzled expression on his face.

"You already said that," he told her. She smiled and shrugged.

"So I'm saying it again. I appreciate that you did it for me," She seemed lit up from within and Ryan had a sneaking suspicion it wasn't entirely to do with her performance, but she wasn't saying anything.

"Katherine," Ryan turned his head and saw the woman standing beside him. Not as tall as Kate, but her hair was the same shade and her eyes were icy blue. Ryan then noticed that Kate seemed to deflate slightly and he looked again. This had to be her mother. The older woman literally glared at Ryan as she reached across and took her daughter's arm.

"We're leaving now," she told her. Kate glared at her.

"No we're not," she replied. The ice in the woman's eyes deepened. Ryan almost shivered.

"I can bring her home Mrs Cole," he offered. The woman didn't even look at him.

"That's very kind of you…"

"Ryan" he supplied. She glanced at him.

"Ryan. But Katherine is leaving with her father and I immediately, it's been a tiring evening" Ryan watched Kate wince and saw that her grip had tightened on her arm.

"It's not a problem Mrs Cole. I don't mind bringing Kate home later" Ryan intervened

"What did you say your name was?" she demanded and Ryan blinked before replying.

"My name is Ryan Atwood Mrs Cole, my guardians are Sandy and Kirsten Cohen," he felt he had to explain. Something seemed to click in Vivian's eyes.

"Oh yes. Atwood. The boy who burned down Caleb Nichol's model home, one of Sandy Cohen's charity cases. I've heard all about you. Why don't you stick to interfering in Marissa Cooper's life? I've heard you got really proficient in that, don't even think of getting involved in my daughter's" Ryan went pale at the attack and Kate looked horror-stricken.

"Mother!" she hissed. Vivian looked at her.

"It's common knowledge Katherine. He's nothing but trouble. Let's go," and without a pause, yanked Kate away. Ryan could only stare after them, cold with shock and deep anger.

"What the hell just happened there?" Ryan straightened when he heard Sandy's voice.

"I've just met the woman who makes Julie Cooper look like a novice," Ryan murmured.

Chapter Sixteen:

A single light glowed. Ryan lay in the king sized bed and stared up at the ceiling. Kate lay beside him, snuggled into him, sleeping. He looked at her. Her face was hidden by that tumble of hair. He reached across and gently moved it over one tanned shoulder. Her eyes were closed, her breathing was even and it looked as though she was dreaming, judging by the soft smile that curved her lips. She looked peaceful.

He helped her to pack the last of her clothes. All around them were suitcases of all shapes and sizes. He looked at her.

"You pack for the long haul, don't you?" he half teased and she smiled at him.

"I don't plan on going back to Los Angeles ever again. Everything that I own is in these bags" he looked dubiously at them and then back at her.

"Everything?" She rolled her eyes.

"Almost everything. All my clothes anyway," she amended.

She watched him load the cases into the back of his SUV and was amazed that he'd gotten them all inside without having to plan a second trip. She'd checked out, if there were any paparazzi in the lobby then they didn't approach her and for that she was glad.

"Ready to go?" she looked at him.

"Let's get out of here," she replied.

The route was coastal all the way. She wound down the passenger window a little and inhaled the salty air. She could hear the rush of the waves, the water crashing against distant rocks.

A while later they arrived at a set of ornate iron gates. Kate watched them glide open and she looked at him in surprise as they drove through. He glanced at her.

"Not what you expected, huh?" she could only shake her head.

"Well I like my privacy too. You'll be okay here, no one will hassle you. We're right on the coast and the beach below is private and there's nowhere for the press to hang about to take secret pictures of you" he parked in front of his house and looked at her. She leaned over and kissed him.

"What was that for?" she drew back and smiled at him.

"For being you, that's all" she replied.

The house was smaller than the others they'd passed en route. She waited as he unlocked the door and followed him inside as he went to disengage the alarm. She walked into a huge lobby with white painted walls and a blue and white tiled floor. Straight ahead of her were huge patio doors that led out onto a balcony and a devastating view of the ocean. She walked towards it. Ryan had left it plain, beach chairs and an ornate white painted iron table the only furniture. She could imagine him sitting here at sunset, or enjoying the heat of the day. She turned and saw him coming back into the house, a couple of her suitcases in his hands. She started forwards.

"No, it's okay. Look around and get to know the place. I have this" he assured her. She stopped in her tracks.

"Just so you know, I'm not a diva. I'm quite willing to carry my own luggage," she assured him and was rewarded by a brief smile.

"I know, but I know you're the curious type so consider yourself relieved of luggage duty," and he vanished through a door to the left of her. Piqued, she followed him through to a corridor. To the left she discovered the lounge, which was comfortably furnished with a huge picture window giving her the same view of the ocean as before. Across from the living room was a staircase that obviously led to the first floor. She decided that a more detailed exploration of the lounge could wait and she followed him upstairs.

The upper floor was huge. From the outside the property looked deceptively small but inside was another story. Ryan had utilised every inch of space. The four bedrooms were spacious and flooded with natural light. Three of the rooms she discovered were bedrooms, the fourth and smallest, he'd converted into an office.

"You want to choose a bedroom?" Ryan invited. He turned to look at her, waiting for her response. A minute ticked by.

"Do you want me to?" he smiled a little and glanced away.

"I asked first," she smiled and walked towards him.

"Can I share with you?" His smile widened.