(Chapter 8)
"I really did mean what I uh, said before about wanting to get away from all of this with you, you know," Vincent mentioned while trying to keep his eyes on the road, but the sound of her rapid heartbeat was distracting him. The drive to the cabin from New York City took a little over 5 hours as they approached Cedar Woods, heading in the direction of Adirondack State Park in Northern New York. They rode through the dense abandoned road on their way to a long-overdue cabin trip.
"I know," Catherine replied as she looked out the passenger side window and saw the sky was beginning to get darker. She knew it was because of the blackouts that halted their time and possibly whatever was going to transpire that day. Especially after that long conversation they had on the fire escape the night before. How Vincent was so worried about both JT and her becoming collateral damage, that he would sacrifice himself. It seemed he wanted to spend more and more time with her after the last couple of months. The more she got to know him, the more she wanted to spend time with him and even in secret. Vincent was worth it. She continued watching him as he was about to come up onto some paved road, the gravel crackled under the tires as they rode along. Before they both noticed a one-story wooden log cabin with a window on each side of the front door and a small porch in front. She exited the car with Vincent and stood in front, admiring the cute little log cabin and the surrounding beauty.
"So, what do you think?" Vincent asked as he came up beside Catherine after getting the bags from the trunk of the car and walked around to where she stood.
"It's beautiful, Vincent," Catherine took in the sight before her again and then turned smiling up at him. "it looks cozy."
"Yeah, yeah it does." Vincent agreed while returning the smile as he put his arm around her and led her to the small porch. He took the key out of his coat pocket that JT picked up on his way home yesterday from work and unlocked the door. "After you." He gestured to Catherine inside with his other hand.
As they entered the log cabin they noticed the interior had a country-style feel to it. In the great room, sat a medium size marble fireplace with an overstuffed leather couch that was in front of it. A throw blanket was folded over the back of the couch along with decorative pillows on each end. Two white candles sat on top of the fireplace mantel and the typical accessories a pile of logs, a shovel, and poker sat on the side of the fire gate. There were two end tables on either side of the sofa with decorative lamps sat on them. In front of the fireplace laid a Native American style area rug and behind the couch was a one-bedroom with a queen-sized bed. A small nightstand sat beside the bed with a wooden-style medium size dresser that sat against the wall. There was a full bathroom that stood off to the right-hand side with a toilet, a sink, a double shower, linens, and towels filled up the shelves. The kitchen itself was fully equipped with a refrigerator, a stove, and an oven. They continued to wander inside, the dining room, which was medium size, had a dark-colored dining table and chairs.
"You okay?" Vincent asked after they unpacked what they needed from their luggage and placed the stuff on the floor. She seemed quieter than usual and her heart was racing like crazy. He could sense that something was bothering her after they left the warehouse. Was Catherine still uneasy about Alex trying to pursue him? He had to reassure her that wasn't to be the case anymore, there were other things he needed to get off his chest and those feelings that he couldn't hold back much longer.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Catherine lied while trying to calm her anxiety down, but she was still concerned about Connor's last warning before getting shot at and how there was a chance for Muirfield to track him down. She was glad she decided to take that extra medical leave, hopefully, it will help her relax a bit.
"Okay. Thank you for, uh, for coming."
"Of course," Catherine replied while placing the brown paper bag she got from the mini-market around her way.
"What's this?" Vincent inquired while walking over to where Catherine placed the open paper bag on the kitchen table and peeked inside.
"Oh that, well you still owe me a dinner date." Catherine smiled pleasantly at him.
"A dinner date?" Vincent raised an eyebrow at her, not sure what she was talking about.
"Um, the one that you were supposed to have come on my birthday." Catherine reminded him.
"Ah," Vincent remembered that night, he was heading towards her place and about to stop by one of the newspaper stands. He wanted to pick up a bouquet for her, that's when the stupid ass blackouts started blocking any chance to enjoy the evening and celebrate a birthday with her.
"I figured since it'll be just the two of us. "Catherine looked up at him with a smile. "It'll be a perfect time."
"Right." Vincent looked down at her returning the smile.
"Why don't you go get some wood for the fire?" Catherine suggested as she started to get the food prepared. "And I'll have the food ready by then."
"Okay I'm going to text JT first and let him know we made it," Vincent said while taking his cell out and texted him so he knows they made it to the cabin. Before going outside to gather some of the wood. He needed this time to figure out what to say to Catherine. Maybe after they have dinner, since his social skills aren't that great anymore.
Alex arrived at Catherine's apartment, hoping to confront her before she left for the cabin with Vincent. She decided to leave the hospital earlier saying she had an emergency with one of her clients. She slowly approached the door to her apartment, shaking out both hands, before placing one inside her open purse and wrapping her fingers around the handle of the gun. Her other hand began knocking on the door a couple of times and got no answer. That's when she started pacing in front of the door restlessly, she must have missed her and Vincent. She tried to figure out what to do next.
"Ms. Chandler isn't home." One of the tenants stated while watching the young redhead pace in front of Catherine's door nervously. "She left a few minutes ago."
"Oh I uh, I needed to see Detective Chandler. It's important." Alex answered the older woman with the long brunette curly hair.
"Well, she's not here right now." The woman told her, watching Alex while she kept twisting her fingers like she was nervous about something.
"You wouldn't know where she has gone? Do you?"
"She said she was heading up to a cabin somewhere in Adirondack State Park." The woman looked at her a bit concerned since she was going to be with a doctor friend. "Why?"
"Oh, I just want to um check on her and see if she's alright," Alex lied while giving the woman a concerned look. Trying to find a believable lie to tell her. So she told her. "I'm Alexandra Salter from New York General. I was one of the nurses that tended to Ms. Chandler after the accident."
"Oh I see, I'm sure she'll be okay. It'll be for a couple of days tho."
"Well it's a policy for me to go check on my patients, so uh, I can notify her doctor," Alex explained with another lie, she wanted the lady to believe that she was there for a legit reason.
"I see, well she mentioned that she was going to be with a doctor friend of hers." The woman looked at her questionably, either her nurse was that clueless or there wasn't much communication between them. Which worried her a bit more.
"Oh really, he must have forgotten to mention it to me earlier," Alex replied, trying to sound honest about it, but was disappointed that she missed Catherine leaving.
"He must have."
Alex thanked her politely while quickly heading for the elevator and entered. She waited for the doors to close, so she could take out her cellphone and typed in Google search for cabins in Adirondack State Park in Northern New York. It came up with one near the McKenzie Mountains, it was about a 5-hour drive from here. She remembered the business card Claire had given her earlier and started dialing the number. "Hi, Ms. Claire gave me this number, she said you're the people to call when I found the location." She exited the elevator and headed for a parked car. "I'm about to head out there now."
"The plan is in motion, Ms. Salter took the bait," Claire told Agent Warren as she entered the room at the Beau Monde hotel and locked the door behind her. She was just informed by one of the agents that Keller's fiancee did call to give them the location and how she got the information. "It won't be long now until we'll have Mr. Keller."
"Excellent." Agent Warren's voice sounded pleased through the phone and then paused for a moment. He needed to know something. "So, how did you manage to convince her?"
"I just told her the truth, that Keller has been following the detective around all those years while she was grieving for him," Claire smirked while taking off her high heel shoes.
"Also, where did you get that type of information from." He questioned her, wondering how she obtained it. When Muirfield didn't find out until now that he still was alive.
"I have an informant that knows one of the beggars off the street around her apartment building. He told me that they have spotted him around there, mainly on the roof across the street." She told him, remembering Jeff giving her the detailed description of Mr. Keller and how he's been jumping long distances on top of the roof a couple of times now.
"Interesting." Agent Warren sat back in his chair behind his desk and rubbed his chin.
"Hopefully by the time the rest of the team shows up, Ms. Salter would have already taken care of the detective for us," Claire said proudly as she unbuttoned her coat.
"She better Ms. Sinclair or it'll be your ass on the line." Agent Warren said threatening through the phone.
"Oh don't worry, she has more than good reason for wanting to get rid of Ms. Chandler." Claire smiled through the phone remembering the conversion she had with her before.
"We'll see. I already notified the team and they're on their way there." He told her.
"Good, then I'll see to it that she'll bring him here afterward she tranqs him," Claire told her boss as she went to her suitcase and took out the small silver briefcase.
"Wow, not only did it smell great but it tasted good too." Vincent complimented on the dinner that Catherine made while taking a seat on the couch. He was sorry he did miss out on the birthday dinner with her before.
"You're not just saying that, are you?" Catherine teased after finishing up on drying the dishes and then took a seat next to him on the couch.
"Uh, no it was great.." Vincent answered her in a serious voice while giving her a pleasant smile.
"Good, because it's been like a while since I made it." Catherine smiled she was a bit surprised about how the Chicken Alfredo with the broccoli recipe came out. Since the last attempt was a waste, she used the situation by having leftovers.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, uh, I missed that opportunity with you." Vincent apologized, looking away, unable to meet her eyes, embarrassed by the way he had treated her after that day. If only he would have told her the truth why he didn't show. He just felt a little jealous after seeing Evan kiss her and her enjoying it for a moment. It didn't help his mood at the time.
"Hey, it's okay, the important thing is that you're here now," Catherine commented, briefly touching his arm to get attention, she knew something must have gone on that night or he wouldn't show. Then there was the way he acted towards her afterward. She was just thankful that it wasn't Muirfield again.
"Yeah. You know, you, uh, you really put yourself out there the last couple of days for Alex and me, especially for someone who isn't one hundred percent well." Vincent commented sincerely in his voice.
"Yeah. Well, you are my doctor?"
"Look, Catherine um I am so," Vincent wanted to explain the reason he did what he did but was cut off by her pressing lips firmly together and glaring at him.
"Seriously, what were you thinking?" Catherine complained about an upset voice as she got up quickly from the couch and stalked away from him. She stood in the middle of the room with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"I wasn't going to sit back and let anything else happen to you like at your dad's wedding," Vincent explained to her honestly while getting up from the couch and following her to the center of the living room. He stood behind her. He wasn't going to let her get herself more injured or worse.
"You have to be more careful." She cautioned, turning to face him angrily, warning him. He already risked coming to see her at the hospital that day. She knew he was trying to do the right thing, but that right thing got him seen by someone who thought he was dead and then calling the precinct only risked his existence even more. He was lucky Muirfield couldn't hack into his disposable phone. She started to complain. "You know if Muirfield had hacked into your burner..."
"I know, okay," Vincent acknowledged while stepping closer and looking down at her. He wanted to explain the reason he did what he did by continuing. "You've been risking your job for me and now Alex. You were willing to protect me unconditionally, and no one..."
"Okay, I-I I wasn't honest with you before..." Catherine interrupted him, she took a moment trying to recollect her thoughts and walked to the left side of the couch to think. Tonight was the night she needed to confess to him the strong feelings she had for him since the wedding. Hopefully, the feeling was mutual.
"When?" Vincent wondered, walking over to where she stood and looked at her with concern. He wasn't sure what she was trying to get at but understood when she started talking about his ex.
"I can't compete with the life you had with Alex, but...I don't want to give up on us before we've even begun." Catherine communicated, taking hold of Vincent's hand and held it in hers.
"Look Catherine, I need to be honest with you too," Vincent replied while running his thumb over the back of her hand, caressing it. He looked down at their joining hands, just like he did when they were in the hospital a few days ago. He then brought their hands together up to his cheek where his scar is and began leaning into her hand like he did that first time. Enjoying the softness of her skin against his and continued. "When Alex touched my cheek, I didn't uh, get the same incredible feeling as I got from the first time you did, you know."
"Vincent." Catherine looked up at him with an uncertain look, she wasn't sure what to believe.
Vincent forgot about his ex after saving Catherine in the woods that night. He would find ways to be near her, but not engage with her. Until that day she found him in the warehouse and then everything changed. He wanted to avoid her in the beginning, but when he was around her more his body came alive, and now those feelings started up again as she stood near him, just like at her father's wedding. He looked down at her with his lips hovering over hers, still trying to figure out what to say since her father's wedding. He needed to assure her that his ex wasn't important to him anymore by confessing with a husky tone. "What I felt for you, it never went away. Never. Not for one second."
"I love you and want to be with you, Vincent..." Before Catherine could finish confessing what she wanted to tell him, she was cut off by Vincent's lips crashing onto hers, kissing her slowly and softly for a few moments. Then watched him lift his head, looking at her with desire burning in his eyes.
"I am so in love with you," Vincent expressed to her with a husky voice, bringing up his other hand to touch her cheek. He devoured her mouth with his tongue tasting the sweetness inside. He could hear a moan escape her lips as she returned the kiss and then moved his hand farther in the back of her head to deepen it. Wrapping his other arm around her, he pulled her small body closer towards him and felt her hand on his cheek where his scar was. That was sending a tingling sensation throughout his entire body down to his hard shaft. He moved the hand that was around her waist further down to her small round ass, squeezing and caressing it slowly. He wanted her more than ever now as they continued kissing. He began to guide her towards the bed, but stopped when she started pushing on his chest.
Catherine was startled by Vincent's intimate kiss as she drew his tongue into her mouth, tasting him. She couldn't get over how good of a kisser he was as he pressed her against his hard member. Every muscle in her body tensed with expectation, she waited for this moment since the dance and now it was happening to her. She felt him guide their bodies towards the bed, she needed to take a moment to breathe and recollect her thoughts. Was this the right time to be 'jumping into bed with him? "Wait."
Vincent stopped kissing long enough to lean his forehead against hers, trying to slow down his breathing and his throbbing shaft. He didn't want his adrenaline to cause him to be beasting out, not while they were making their move just yet. Like always he can hear the rapid beating of her heart and that usually meant she was either excited or nervous about something. He hoped she was excited just like he was, so he asked her with a sigh. "What is your heart doing now?"
"Beating a million miles a minute..." Catherine hesitated to take in much-needed air and tried to slow down her pulsating core, still.
"Mine too..." Vincent shared as his sweet warm breath lingered just above her swollen lips. His one hand was still on her cheek, caressing it softly. He had known after they confessed their feelings for each other, what was the next step. He asked her. "So where does that leave us?"
"Maybe we should probably take things a little more slowly," Catherine suggested while still trying to calm herself down, she didn't want to make the same mistake she did with the past boyfriends she had and rush into things.
"Totally." Vincent agreed, but it was a little harder to resist with the pounding of her heart and the smell of her arousal overriding his senses right now.
"You know, let things unfold naturally," Catherine implied breathlessly, but she knew in her heart she was lying to herself. The thing is, it turns out she couldn't control her heart, it does what it wanted and right now it wanted Vincent. As she started reaching for the bottom of his grey tee shirt.
"Right," Vincent responded as his lips came closer towards her again. He knew she had trust issues, thanks to her previous jerks that she called boyfriends, and understood her hesitation. However, he glanced down watching as Catherine began lifting it slowly, and smiled a bit to himself.
"I think I-I, we need some time to think..." Catherine trailed off, stopping herself from going any further with his shirt, and noticed Vincent hesitated. She figured something outside must have got his attention as he began glancing sideways towards the door of the cabin. "Vincent?"
To be continued...
