Chapter 21

Rick... Mid-July 2003... 5 years later...

Rick ducked into the Starbucks, taking cover from the sweltering heat wave. The Starbucks was overcrowded, people crammed everywhere. Rick stood in line, he pulled out his phone, ignoring the 12 missed calls from his publisher and 15 from his agent. Both reminding him a thousand times over about the book launch party he had this evening for his latest Derrick Storm thriller. He'd managed to escape his loft, along with his mother, who had moved in with him at the beginning of the summer and his ten-year-old daughter patronizing him on almost everything. Now to add gas to the fire his phone was ringing again, warning him of another incoming call from his publisher and second ex-wife, Gina Cowell, this would her thirteenth time calling to bug him, did he know what he was going to say tonight?, what was he going to wear?, did he know what time it started?. Finally he made it to the front of the line. Ignoring the loud, obnoxious beep that his phone gave off, signaling a missed call and new voice-mail.

After he ordered he moved aside to the small counter to wait for his drink. Another few minutes passed, before he heard his name, he moved to the counter, grabbing his drink, he turned and ran straight into someone.

"I'm so sorry." He blurted out, looking down at his front, coffee staining his shirt.

"No, it's not your fault. I stepped in front of you." He could almost recognize the voice. A voice that haunted his past and old memories. A voice he couldn't place, but knew all to well. The tone had changed, it was harder, less up-beat and fun. When he looked up his jaw dropped as he met the hazel eyes he definitely would never forget. But the eyes too had changed, their sparkle was gone, now masked by a cold stone-like hardness. The ghost of a smile haunted the bare lines of the face he hadn't seen in exactly five years. He could tell she was trying desperately to hid her emotions; clouded behind the invisible mask that hid the girl he once knew.

"Kate?" He whispered.

X-X-X-X

The silence was long on the brink of awkwardness. Rick couldn't bare it. He looked up at her. They were seated at an outside table, sitting opposite of one another. He just stared at her, taking her in. Her hair was darker, shorter too. Her make up was darker as well. She looked hallow, empty of feeling and memories. She was staring at her hands, checking the time every so often.

"Funny." He said softly.

She looked up, confused. "Excuse me?"

"Sorry. What I meant was that it's funny we were reunited the same we met." He smiled crookedly at her.

She smiled, forced, he noticed. "Yeah."

"How have you been?" He tried again at conversation.

"Pretty good." She lied, she was miserable, her mother murdered, her father in rehab because he had turned to the bottle when Johanna had died. "How about you?" She asked even though she already knew everything that was currently going on in his life thanks to the tabloids.

"Great. I've written a lot. Alexis is growing up, a little to fast I might add. And Mother is fine."

Silence fell over them once again. She looked down at her watch.

"I should get going. I've got wor-"

"What are you doing tonight?" He asked interrupting her. She looked at him.

"I'm off duty, so nothing."

"The only reason I ask is I have this book launch party tonight and I was wondering if you might want to grab some dinner and go with me?"

"That sounds nice." She smiled. They both stood. "Remy's? 7:30?" She asked.

"Sounds good to me. If you have a nice dress, I'd suggest that." His eyes sparkled.

X-X-X-X

Dinner started out quietly. Both shy and waiting for the other to start a conversation. After a while things started to pick up and they were both laughing and enjoying everything, food, company, but mostly just that fact that they were friends again, that they were talking and enjoying each other. The book party was loud and crammed with women of all ages and a handful of guys. It was past midnight, but Rick had invited her back to his place for drinks afterward, despite that fact they both had a couple glasses of champagne. He couldn't stop staring at her in that short black dress that hugged her in all the right places.

He was fumbling with the keys, trying to get the right one in the door, when he felt her hand brush lightly at his neck, her long fingers running down his jaw. He looked over at her. She licked her lips, her gaze dropping to his thin smile. She stepped closer, angling her head up so her lips were tantalizing close to his ear her hot breath warming his ear canal.

"I missed you." She whispered in his ear, her tongue teasing his earlobe. He lost every once on self control, wrapping his arms around her waist he found her lips and kissed her deeply, pushing her against the door to his loft, he blocked her there, putting his arms on either side of her. Their tongues danced for dominance, their hands searched hungrily. He pulled away from her only to move his lips to her neck, she gasped when he nipped at a spot on her neck. He smiled and licked the same spot to try and elicitate another sound from her.

"I think we should take this inside." She husked.

Okay. Sorry for the long wait and the short chapter, but I've been pretty busy lately.

But here you go. I don't where this is going anymore. But I sense an ending in the near future. But anyway, enjoy now. :)

And as always, please leave your thoughts/ideas/comments. Thanks again for reading. :)