Jennifer Probst - Searching for Someday

Michael groaned. “TMI, dear sister.”

Max followed his wife, supporting her by the elbow. “I’ll get you some seltzer, babe.”

Carina groaned and placed her hands on her massive belly. “I miss alcohol. I miss seeing my toes. I miss sleeping.”

Alexa and Maggie shared a look and patted her shoulder. “I know,” Alexa said. “But in a few weeks you’ll have all the joy and happiness you can imagine. Motherhood is an amazing, perfect gift that makes all of this discomfort well worth it.”

Luke streaked across the lawn, naked. His crazy spiked hair and manic laugh reminded her of a comic book figure. His bare buttocks winked in the sun and groups of children hooted and hollered, pointing and jumping up and down with glee.

Maria followed. Her princess dress was covered in mud and she raced after him with one shoe on, one shoe off, screaming his name into the wind.

Carina lifted her brow. “You were saying?”

Maggie sighed. “Never mind. Labor will hurt. Motherhood will make you a slave. You’ll be sleep-deprived, mean, crazed, and the happiest you’ve ever been in your life.”

Alexa nodded. “Yeah. What she said.”

Gen smashed a knuckle against her mouth and tried to keep a straight face. “Umm, I’ll go check on them. And, umm, find Luke’s clothes. Kate?”

“I’ll help.”

“Thanks, guys,” Maggie said.

They trudged across the lawn after the nephews and nieces, drinks in hand. Kate smothered a giggle. “Your family is a trip.”

“Yeah, but your mom smokes pot. That’s pretty damn cool.”

The next few hours whizzed by in a dizzying rush of children, sugar, screaming, playing, and drinking by the adults. They sang “Happy Birthday,” cut the cake, and lounged around the massive kitchen, sipping cappuccino and espresso. David finally showed up, and Kate watched as her friend relaxed into David’s embrace, seemingly comfortable and at ease. That same odd warning voice flashed within, and Kate casually brushed both of their arms to see if she caught any type of sensation between them.

Nothing.

She frowned. Were they not suited? Or was her gift still missing? Surrounded by happy couples, Kate made her way back to the bar, where Alexa and Nick held hands and spoke in low voices. She edged in, determined to prove once and for all if her gift lingered. The couple usually gave her quite a jolt when touched, a strong sign of a soul match. Kate reached for a glass, murmuring an apology, and managed to graze both their wrists.

Nothing.

Her hope plummeted. The touch hadn’t returned. What if she’d lost it permanently? Kate pressed her back against the wall for support and tried not to panic. If sex hadn’t worked, what was she missing? All the time she cursed her gift, she realized it was also a part of her. She’d built Kinnections on the knowledge she’d be able to confirm a good match, weaving a solid foundation so clients were well taken care of. What now? What was her role if she had no touch?

A voice distracted her from a total freak-out.

“Well, isn’t this cozy? The power couple ready to take on the world. Surgeons unite and all that jazz.”

Silence fell over the kitchen. Gen’s twin sister, Izzy, stood framed in the doorway. Leather pants that hugged every ripe curve, thigh-high boots with wicked spikes and silver studs, and a black tank dipping way too low in the front to display the thorned rose tattooed on the curve of her breast. Numerous silver chains tinkled around her neck, and her diamond nose ring flashed in the light. Gen’s voice broke the tension. “We missed you, Iz. The boys were asking about you. How are you?”

Izzy shrugged. “Good to know someone noticed. I’m fine.”

Alexa stepped in, her gaze registering disapproval over her sister’s outfit. Her hug was barely returned. “Hot date tonight?” Alexa teased. “I know you didn’t dress up like this for us.”

Isabella’s head whipped around. “Why do you assume I’m giving it up to some guy? I dress like this to please one person. Myself.”

Nick’s voice slashed across the room. “Enough. You know Alexa was only joking. Take it down a notch.”

A mutinous expression crossed her face. Kate caught a glimpse of raw longing like she regretted her remark but had gone too far to back down. “Whatever.” She clicked away on her high heels.

David shook his head. “Unacceptable behavior. She shouldn’t have come.”

“She’s family,” Gen said.

David frowned. “That girl is heading toward destruction, and I’m not letting her take you with her. You shouldn’t be involved with anyone doing drugs. It could ruin your career.”

Kate was about to speak up for her friend when she was interrupted. Gen’s best friend, Wolfe, stood framed in the kitchen, his massive height dwarfing the rest of the room. His shaved head, sizzling blue eyes, and powerful body gave the impression of hot and bad boy in one firm twist. A wicked serpent tattoo curled up his shoulder and the side of his neck, and a diamond winked in his left ear. His brow was also pierced, and he wore leather wristbands with a long-sleeved black shirt, giving him an edgy look that usually made women drop their panties.

Somehow, Kate had never been affected, maybe because of his long-term friendship with Gen. She always wondered if there was something more between them, especially since Wolfe seemed to loathe David, but her best friend always insisted there was no sparks between them and they were only friends.

“She’s not on drugs,” Wolfe declared in his deep, husky voice. “She’s in pain,” he said simply.

Gen bit her lip. “I can’t reach her,” she said. “I’ve tried, but she wants nothing to do with me. She acts like she hates me.”

“Be patient. Eventually, she’ll need you.”

David let out a breath. “She’s jealous of Gen’s success. Better to give her space and let her be.”

Wolfe studied David for a while. Then shook his head and walked away.

“They’d be perfect together,” David muttered. “Surprised they never hooked up. Or maybe they did.”

Kate tapped her lower lip. Hmm, Izzy and Wolfe? That was a match made in explosive heaven. They both seemed to seethe with some underlying pain, but Wolfe had a much tighter hold on his emotions than Izzy did on hers.

Kate glanced at her watch. Time to get back to Robert. “I gotta go soon, Gen. I’m going to hit the bathroom.”

Her friend nodded.

Kate put down her mug and headed upstairs. She climbed the sprawling staircase, her fingers skimming the smooth mahogany banister. Past the dripping Swarovski crystal chandelier, down the hallway, until she heard voices. Uh-oh, intimate conversation ahead. She turned on her heel to retreat and then recognized Wolfe’s tone. Then Izzy’s voice rang clearly through the air. Kate froze.

“Why do you torture yourself? I see the way you look at her. She can’t give you what you need, babe, but I can.”

Kate battled the awful need to see what was going on against her respect for privacy. Her bad side won, and she stood silent, listening to the unfolding conversation.

“Don’t.”

The low warning was ignored. A husky laugh and the sound of heels on wood. “You say no, but your body says yes. What are you fighting so hard for? Gen’s with David and she’ll never look at you the way you need. Besides, she’s like a timid little virgin in the bedroom. I can satisfy you the way you need.”

Kate craned her neck to peep through the doorway. Izzy posed before Wolfe, one hip cocked, her breasts thrust out so he got a perfect view of her impressive cleavage. He stood still, the lines of his face carved in anger, arms crossed in front of his chest as if he had no interest in her seduction attempts.

“I’m not stupid, Izzy. You’re going through a bad time right now and just want to be distracted. But sex doesn’t do it. Neither does hate. You have an incredible family ready to support you. Why are you fighting so hard to drive them away?”

Isabella shimmered with fury and practically spit in his face. “Don’t play the therapist role with me. You know shit about my family or the way they treat me like dirt. Believe I’m less than my perfect twin sister. Refuse to accept who I am because it doesn’t fit in with their idealistic view of their children. I’m sick of them and their expectations. Even you got conned.”

She closed the distance and pressed her body against his. Wolfe hissed in reaction but didn’t move. With a predatory smile, she rose on her toes and stopped inches from his mouth. “You’re just like me, you know. You think Gen will bring something good and right into your life. But you’re not meant to be that man, Wolfe. You live in the dark. You like dirty sex, and a bit of pain, and see the reality in life. Not like my silly, sheltered sister. Why don’t you just be the man you are and take me? I’ll give you everything you ever wanted.” She licked her lips and ran a finger down his cheek. He stiffened, his gaze locked on hers. “I’ll even let you pretend you’re fucking her if you want. Won’t that make it even better?”

The air sparked with tension. Kate waited for Wolfe’s reaction.

He pushed her gently away and stood back. His face reflected a mix of regret, lust, and pity. “It doesn’t work like that, Izzy. I don’t know what happened, but it’s tearing you up inside. You can talk to me, you know. I’ll listen.”

Izzy pushed him hard, snarling like a pissed-off cat. “Fuck you, Wolfe. I hope you’re happy in your ridiculous fantasy that my sister will notice you one day. You’re way below her standards for a lover. I feel sorry for you.”

Kate couldn’t hear anymore. She slowly backed up and headed toward the other bathroom. Whoa, that was heavy stuff. Was Wolfe in love with Gen? Did Gen suspect? Or was that just Izzy’s crazy assumption in order to cause drama? It was like General Hospital on steroids.

Kate finished up, washed her hands, and headed back to the kitchen. David gave her an uneasy feeling, but she never interfered with her friend’s love life. Gen seemed happy with the surgeon, but maybe Kate should tell her what she overheard. She rarely kept secrets from her best friend.

She was about to get her coat and begin her good-byes when David snagged Gen’s hand and pulled her to the center of the living room. Foreboding washed over her as David raised his voice for everyone’s attention. Guests milled in groups and lounged on the coffee-colored sofa and chairs, huddled by the bar, and sat cross-legged on the Persian carpet. “Excuse me, everyone. I’d like to say a few words.”

Yep, this whole day was jacked up, beginning with Slade walking out the door.

“When I first met Genevieve, she turned my world upside down. She’s a stubborn, brilliant, beautiful woman who turned my life from black and gray to color. I never want to go back to the person I was. And being here with everyone tonight, in the warm clasp of family, made me realize I don’t want to waste another second.”

David dropped to one knee. Removed a small box. And snapped open the lid.

Gasps of pleasure surrounded her. “Genevieve MacKenzie, you are the woman of my dreams. I love you with my heart and my soul, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

Kate watched a dozen expressions cross her friend’s face. Shock. Confusion. Happiness.

And fear.

What was that about? Gen’s gaze wavered, then shifted across the room. As if seeking someone out. Kate glanced over and caught Wolfe staring at the couple. His face like carved stone, no emotion was evident in his features.

Kate held her breath, wondering what was really going on. Then her friend’s answer echoed through the room.

“Yes, David. I will marry you.”

When Kate looked back, Wolfe was gone.

And she wondered if Gen was keeping her own secrets.

HE WAS A dickhead.

Slade stared at his computer and tried to make sense of the endless notes for his next client. Sunday was a complete blur, with moments of clarity where he fought the need to show up at Kate’s door and beg her forgiveness. He’d certainly won the Prick of the Year award. After trying to seduce her in every way possible, he finally got her in bed, spent hours in orgasmic ecstasy, and treated her like some freak because she was a virgin. He belonged in one of those bad eighties flicks and he wasn’t even in high school.

Shame beat through him. The truth taunted and kept him from calling her. One night with Kate Seymour would never be enough. He craved more, wanted to spend hours in her company, learn all her secrets, and go over every inch of her delectable body. He wanted to hang out with Robert and watch movies. He wanted to cook for her, bring her coffee, and read the paper in bed.