Chapter 15

Although the day had been pleasantly warm, the temperature had dropped some since sunset. Katelyn wrapped her arms around herself to no avail. It was as though the cold came from within as without. She drew in a couple of calming breaths. It would have to be enough. She turned to go back inside and nearly bumped into Jarrod.

He steadied her, his hands on her upper arms. "What are you doing out here? You're cold," he said, slipping out of his jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders. His warmth, his fragrance, enveloped her.

She closed her eyes. "I was just going back inside."

He slipped his arm around her shoulders and walked her back in. "Your mother said you looked upset when you raced out of the ladies lounge, that she saw you almost run down another poor woman." He gave her a sideways glance. "Will you tell me what upset you and sent you outside?"

What upset her? Tell him what upset her?

She fought the irrational urge to burst into laughter. Either that, or tears. How could she tell him what had upset her? There was too much to choose from! This had, without a doubt, been the worst day of her entire life. Jarrod had caught her paying for a ring to go along with her lie. A strange man nearly walked in on her in the bedroom. She was surprised by her "in-laws" and forced to compound lie on top of lie. She'd been humiliated on the dance floor. And last, but most definitely not least, there was the charming Amanda Altman. How could she even begin to describe that encounter?

Oh, not to worry dear. I just had an unpleasant run-in with a woman whose tongue is as sharp as razors and who minced no words about being after the man I'm in love with. But really, it was nothing.

Upset? Oh no, she wasn't upset. She was ready to explode! But the last thing she wanted to do was tell Jarrod all of that. So she just gazed up at him wide-eyed.

"What makes you think I'm upset?"

"For one thing, your hands are shaking." He took them in his. "And they're ice cold."

"It's just from being outside. I'm fine." She freed herself from his grasp.

"Sweetheart, please - " His tone and the concern in his eyes were almost Kate's undoing. She couldn't resist when he took her hands again, tugging them gently. She was about to throw caution to the wind and move forward, letting him fold her into a comforting embrace and spill all her worries, all her fears...

But she was saved by the bell. Or rather, by a well-modulated voice from behind them.

"Jarrod, darling. Fancy seeing you here."

He went stiff, as did Katelyn, and he clenched his jaw at the sound of Amanda's velvety voice.

Jarrod turned and hooked his arm around Katelyn's waist. "Amanda." Katelyn was relieved to hear how cool his words were.

"I hear congratulations are in order." She looked from Jarrod to Katelyn and back again, then held her hand out to him.

"Thank you," he said with a nod to her hand but made no move to take it.

If he truly disliked this woman as much as he acted, then why didn't he tell her to just go away? Why suffer her company a moment longer, unless...

Unless there was some truth in Amanda's words.

The woman's coy smile slid to one of disdain as she looked from Jarrod to Katelyn. "All part of the game, sweetheart. Right, Jarrod dear?" She batted her lashes at him and turned with a flare, making a grand exit to keep all eyes on herself.

"What was that all about? What did she mean by game?" Jarrod's voice held a no-nonsense tone.

"It's nothing really. Let's go back to the table." Katelyn made a move to go, but he stopped her with a hand on her elbow.

"Was Amanda in the ladies lounge?"

Katelyn stared at the ground, her lips clamped shut. The last thing she wanted to do was get into this now.

"She said something to you, didn't she? What?"

"Jarrod, please. This is hardly the place."

"She said game. You didn't tell her what is really going on between us, did you? She could and would ruin everything."

Katelyn had a sinking feeling something was going to come of her conversation with Amanda, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it. And she wasn't sure she would like the outcome. "She...she sort of saw my ring."

Only because I shoved it in her face.

"So she thinks we're married?" He sounded relieved.

"Wouldn't you?" She noticed Nick approaching and added quickly. "Jarrod, please. Can we drop this? Here comes your brother."

"Smile," he said, turning toward his brother.

"There you two are," he said and came to a stop. "We were beginning to wonder if you skipped out on us for a secret rendezvous. I was sent to fetch you back." He smiled. "I could always tell them I couldn't find you."

"But that would be a lie, and the last thing we want you to do is lie for us," Katelyn said, trying to smile. She turned to Jarrod. "Lying never works, does it, darling?"

Jarrod's eyes flickered at that, but Katelyn just turned from him and took Nick's arm. "Come on, brother Nick. Let's get back to the party."

At long last the time came for them to go home. Jarrod pulled Nick aside and asked him to take Carol and their mother back to the townhouse. Nick smiled and winked at Jarrod, making Katelyn roll her eyes. Nick apparently thought they were trying to sneak off to spend some time "alone".

Nick, Victoria, and Carol got into a carriage and rode off. Jarrod took Katelyn's arm and led her to another.

"Where are we going?" Katelyn asked.

"It's been a long day. I thought you could use a break from our families. It will also give you a chance to tell me exactly what Amanda said to you. This time, without interruption." His tone left no room for argument.

Katelyn swallowed hard. She thought this conversation was finished. Evidently not. "It was nothing, really." Please drop the subject. She didn't want to think about that woman at all. She could still feel Amanda's icy stare and hear her haughty laugh.

Jarrod reached over and took her hand. Katelyn looked at him in surprise. Why would he do that when they were alone?

"Kate, it's clear she upset you and I want to know what lies she is spreading."

Hope sparked inside her. Lies? Were they lies? She hoped so...with all her heart. "Why do you think she told me lies?"

"Amanda Altman is incapable of telling the truth. Unless, of course, it gets her what she's after." Jarrod still couldn't believe he had ever had any interest in her. His mouth was a thin, hard line. "She will say anything to get what she wants."

"And she wants you." Kate hoped she didn't sound as jealous as she felt.

"Well this is one time Amanda is not going to get what she wants. I have absolutely no interest in her. All I want from that woman is her absence."

"She said you two were seeing each other at your office."

Maybe that's why he gave you the time off...so you wouldn't see them. She closed her eyes against the suspicions. Shut up. Just shut up!

"She said that?"

Don't embellish, Kate. You've done enough of that. Speak the truth. "Well, no...she implied it."

Jarrod turned to face her. "Tell me every word she said." His words were forced like it was a chore to get them out.

He was not going to be dissuaded or put off. Fine then, she would tell him. He asked for it. This day had already gone from bad to worse, she might as well make a complete disaster of it. "Let's see, she started off by saying that my dress was drab and that I am a lowly employee and beneath you."

Jarrod's face became a hard mask. Katelyn could tell he was upset.

"She said she broke your heart when she left you and the engagement ring you offered her was much bigger than the ring you'd given me, so I was unimportant."

"Me, marry her?" His words came pouring out. "I never proposed to that woman. She did all the chasing. But I knew before long that she was the type of person to get what she wanted, then stab you in the back and laugh while washing the blood from her hands. She's a user and manipulator."

He leaned his head back against the seat, running a hand over his eyes. "Whatever attracted me to her in the first place?"

The fact that he had been attracted to her stabbed at Kate's heart. "She's beautiful."

"Kate, there is beauty-" his voice dropped a little and he touched her shoulder-" and then there is beauty. Amanda Altman is an ugly person where it counts."

"She was convinced she's going to get you back. That you were just using me to make her pay for hurting you."

"I broke it off with her. And she is not going to 'get me back.' Things are over between her and I and if she can't accept that, then that is her problem."

Katelyn couldn't help but wonder if Amanda would try to make it her problem as well. Realizing her face was probably betraying every thought, she turned away. She hated being so transparent to him. Could he tell she loved him? Probably. If he returned her feelings, he would have said something. But he said nothing of the kind.

"We should get back." His tone was weary and resigned. "They'll be wondering what happened to us." Jarrod knocked on the side of the carriage to get the driver's attention. He instructed him to take them back to the townhouse.

He turned back to Katelyn and reached out to lift her chin with a light touch of his finger. The tenderness in his eyes was heart wrenching.

"Ah, Kate...what you do to me."

His hand cupped her face, and the gentle touch sent shivers coursing through her. She knew he was going to kiss her and she was glad. She wanted him to do it. Now. Here. With no one around to see them.

But even as she leaned toward him, his hand fell away. Mortified, Kate sat there, gripping her hands in her lap. She was such an idiot! Why would he even think of kissing her? She was a friend, nothing more. Someone he'd promised to help.

The sooner she got that through her stupid head - and her foolish heart - the better off she'd be.