Chapter 11

For the next week and a half, Katelyn made a conscious effort to hold Jarrod's hand or put her arm around his waist in her mother's presence. It didn't take long though, for the actions to become second nature. She was holding his hand without being aware of doing so, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Which it was. What wasn't going to be natural was stopping.

But she couldn't go back. As Jarrod had so often reminded her, appearance was everything. If only it didn't leave her heart unprotected and vulnerable. If only it didn't mean, in the end, the hurt would be much greater.

Jarrod sat in his office going over some witness statements when he thought he heard Katelyn's voice. He waited a moment and then walked toward the door. When he opened it, he saw Katelyn and Mr. Pierce talking. Katelyn looked up at him, her cheeks turning slightly pink. Jarrod smiled at her and then asked Mr. Pierce if he would mind delivering some papers to the court house. The other man rose and followed Jarrod into the office. Katelyn was about to leave when Jarrod said, "Could you stay a few minutes Miss Mahoney? I need to ask you some questions about a deposition you took for me."

Katelyn nodded and waited for a few minutes. Mr. Pierce returned from Jarrod's office and said good-bye. Jarrod then motioned for Katelyn to come into his office and closed the door behind her.

"So, what brings you here today?" he asked, hardly able to refrain himself from taking her into his arms.

"My mother was feeling rather tired after our shopping trip so I decided to run a few errands. I needed to come by and pick something up that I had left in my desk."

Something wasn't quite right. Katelyn wasn't looking Jarrod in the eye which told him she wasn't telling him everything. He looked at the appointment calendar on the desk and noticed he was free for the rest of the day.

"Well, I'm done here, so why don't I go on your errands with you?"

Katelyn did look at him then. Her eyes were wide with shock and she shook her head.

"I'm sure you have better things to do-"

"Now what better thing could I find to do?" he asked, walking toward her. Katelyn shook her head again.

"Really, there's just one place I need to go and -"

"And I would really like to go along with you. I have some shopping to do as well."

Katelyn still looked uncomfortable, but agreed. Jarrod retrieved his hat and coat and the two were on their way. As they sat in the hired carriage, Jarrod asked where to instruct the driver to go.

"Park Place," was Katelyn's terse reply. Jarrod raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

Their trip was quiet, Jarrod watching Katelyn's profile as she stared out the window. That she was not happy with him coming along was clear. He couldn't help but wonder why though. Lately, she had seemed to really warm up to him. Of course, that had always been in front of her mother. He had encouraged her to "play the part", and had to wonder if that was all it was for her. He knew a moment of sadness at the thought. He was hoping that she was developing the same feelings for him as he was for her.

Katelyn was very aware of Jarrod's close scrutiny, but she refused to look at him. How she wished she hadn't had to go to the office before going to the jewelry shop, but she had to have the receipt with her to make the payment. She had thought that since his door was closed he wouldn't have been able to hear her and even if he had, that he wouldn't have come out, let alone wanted to accompany her! The carriage pulled to a stop and Jarrod helped Katelyn down.

"I'll meet you back her in say, half an hour?" she said and didn't wait for him to respond. He watched her walk away and waited for just a moment before following her. Katelyn was so intent on getting her mission accomplished that she didn't notice him. Jarrod watched her go into a small jewelry shop. He peeked in the window and saw her waiting to talk with the clerk. He decided he would go on in and see what this was about.

She was looking at some necklaces when he said, "Those are nice."

She jumped, not expecting him to be standing there.

"I thought you had shopping to do?" she asked uncomfortably.

"I'm done already," he said. She raised an eyebrow telling him that she clearly didn't believe him. He smiled innocently and she turned her attention back to the display case.

"Are you looking to buy or just trying to avoid me?"

She didn't respond or look up. He wished he could see her reaction. Looking down into the case that had her rapt attention, he spotted a strand of pearls and pointed to them.

"Those would look nice on you."

She looked at him in surprise.

"May I help you?" the clerk said, having finished with his other customer.

"I would like to make a payment," Katelyn said, digging through her purse for her receipt.

"Mahoney, isn't it?" Katelyn looked up in surprise that she would be remembered. Jarrod wasn't. She was a woman who would stay in a man's memory. He should know. Although he had been involved with Amanda at the time, Katelyn's face would pop into his mind at the oddest times. He tried not to think about her and had pretty much succeeded until he had rescued her from the cat. He smiled at the memory.

"Ah yes, I remember you. It isn't often that a woman comes in to buy a wedding ring. Usually the man takes care of that." The clerk looked at Jarrod with a strained smile, hoping he hadn't said anything out of line. But Jarrod wasn't paying any attention to the clerk now. He looked at Katelyn's left hand and realized she was wearing a wedding ring. It was a simple gold band, but it had a small solitary diamond set in the top. He supposed he had noticed it before, but it hadn't registered to him what it really was.

"How much do you want to put on this?" the clerk asked Katelyn.

Katelyn started to answer but Jarrod spoke instead.

"I'll go ahead and pay it off."

"But-"

Jarrod squeezed her shoulder and continued on as if she hadn't spoken. "And I'd like to see those." He pointed to the pearl necklace he had noticed. The clerk unlocked the display case and set the necklace on the counter.

"Is it all right if she tried this on?"

The clerk nodded and handed the necklace to Katelyn. When she didn't take it right away, Jarrod did. "Try them on for me, kitten, please." Katelyn opened her mouth to protest, but Jarrod gave her his most endearing smile.

She nodded and turned around for him to put the necklace around her neck. When it was in place, she looked into the mirror that the clerk had provided for her.

"Beautiful," Jarrod said. "And the necklace is nice too. Do you want it?"

"What?"

"The necklace. I'll buy it for you."

Her eyes widened. "No!" She quickly removed the necklace and laid it on the counter.

Jarrod could have kicked himself. Why had he done that? Of course she wouldn't accept jewelry from him. Was it his subconscious testing her?

"I guess not today," Jarrod said, smiling at the clerk and pulled out his wallet to pay for the ring. It pleased him that she wasn't a money grabber like so many people these days. So why did he feel like such a heel?

They walked back to the waiting carriage in silence and rode back to the town house. Carol was still asleep and Katelyn had gone out into the garden to gather her thoughts. She still couldn't believe he had paid for the ring. She'd struggled with the idea, wondering how she could afford it, and finally decided it was the right thing to do. But she had only made her down payment. The gratitude she felt for Jarrod's kindness threatened to overflow.

It had mortified her when he came into the store. She'd been careful not to mention anything about it, so sure that he'd tease her for buying such a thing. Instead, he had paid for it.

Appearances are everything, remember?

Maybe so, but she would enjoy them nonetheless.

Jarrod had been watching her and decided to join her. She smiled at him when he came to stand beside her.

"These flowers are beautiful," she said, trying to fill the uncomfortable silence.

"Yes, beautiful," Jarrod said, but he wasn't looking at the flowers.

Katelyn's gaze drifted to the house and Jarrod's followed. The curtain to her mother's bedroom moved just a bit, letting them know they were being watched.

Jarrod smiled.

"Shall we give your mother something to talk about?" he asked.

Katelyn looked over at him and noticed how close he was standing next to her. She swallowed and said, "Something... to talk about?"

Her breathless little echo of his words - combined with the flash of anticipation he saw spark in her eyes - dissolved whatever control he had been exercising. He drew her close, lowered his head, and did what he'd been waiting to do for days.

He kissed her. Really kissed her.

And he didn't intend to come up for air until it was absolutely necessary.