Kate licked her lips and tried to maintain her composure as he backed out of the room. What in the world had just happened? Letting out a slow breath, she tried to shake the fog from her brain, but then went to the window and watched him walk across the lawn. The twilight made the whole scene surreal. The fading light on the colorful leaves and the sight of the big man turning and glancing up at her window had her heart pounding against her ribs. He waved; she stepped away, determined not to encourage him.

Encourage him? Not likely. It was over; David was never coming back. This was a pity trip, something to help him feel better. Kate shook it off and tried to forget how his lips felt against hers, how his hands felt warm on her skin. She had to forget it all.

*

Richard kept his fingers steepled so his attorney would know he was serious. Intimidation was one of Richard’s most effective tools. As a rule, people didn’t like him, and he never really thought about it. He used his arrogance to his advantage, bullying people to do what he wanted.

“I know what she’s worth. I have no doubt that she can afford to pay the child support and a settlement.”

“Richard, I understand the child support, but two million dollars? How do you justify asking for such an amount?”

“If I hadn’t taken charge of raising Laura, Kate wouldn’t have had time to write, much less promote her books. It’s all she’s ever really been interested in anyway, and I feel that the time I spent with our daughter should be recognized.”

“Kate isn’t exactly the picture of a literary diva or the neglectful mother. It’s going to be difficult to convince a judge that you deserve two million on top of the support you’re asking for.”

“I want you to try. I heard there’s a new contract in the works, her current book’s been on the major bestseller lists since September, and negotiations are taking place with several film studios about turning her last book into a movie. The movie based on the first book is being cast as we speak. If I do get full custody of Laura, and I expect I will, I’ll require the support to keep her in the style to which she’s become accustomed.”

“Okay, but during our last meeting her lawyers gagged when I mentioned the amount. One actually laughed.”

Richard stood, pulled up to his full height, and ran a hand over his blond hair. “I suggest you start working on it. Please call me when you know about the hearing.”

Richard shook the attorney’s hand, stuffed a file in his briefcase, and left the office.

Once he was on the street, he thought about his ex-wife. Kate was on the verge of signing a four book contract worth five million dollars. She wouldn’t see all that money at once, but Richard wanted to make sure he got a piece of it. Since getting his hands on her family’s money hadn’t worked, he figured he was entitled to it. He’d gotten over the fact that she wrote such crap when her books started to make them rich, but Kate herself was too much work.

However, marriage to her had been profitable.

*

David doubted if anything was more relaxing than a Sunday afternoon watching football. It was too bad he wasn’t relaxed. He sat on the couch in Jay’s den watching the half-time report while Jay wrestled his twin toddlers down for their naps. It wouldn’t be easy. They liked hanging out with Daddy and Uncle Dave and Uncle Cam too much to sleep.

He heard squealing coming from upstairs and he knew Jay would be playing with the kids for a while. Looking through the French doors, he saw Cam on his cell phone, probably dumping his latest girlfriend. The guy had two difficult ex-wives, so even if he met the right woman, she wouldn’t have a chance, which made David think about his situation with Kate. He just didn’t know what to do about it. It made his head hurt, so he refocused on the TV, and about thirty seconds into the scoring recap, Annie Hemmings sat next to him on the couch. He’d been waiting for this.

“So,” she began. “Tell me about the teacher.”

“I’ve been here two whole hours and you haven’t said anything. You’re losing your touch.” David took a pull on his beer and accepted the fact he wasn’t getting out of talking to her about Kate. And if he was honest with himself, he’d admit he needed her take on what had gone down.

“I figured if you had a beer or two I’d get more information. Jay said you’re obsessed. That’s new for you.”

“Thanks.” No surprise that his best friend’s wife had something to say about his reputation.

“You can’t possibly be offended, Dave.” She picked up Jay’s beer and took a sip. “You have no attention span when it comes to women.” She poked his shoulder like an annoying little sister. “What’s different about this one?”

What wasn’t different about her? He leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees and tried to grab onto the one thing that made her special. “She didn’t care who I was.”

Annie took another sip and considered what he said. “That makes no sense.”

“I said that badly.” He savored the taste and the chill of the liquid as another swallow of beer slid down his throat. “She wanted to know all about me, the person, not the hockey player. My career is just something I do. For her, it’s not who I am.”

Annie leaned back, sinking into the sofa and smirked. David could see she understood.

“So,” she began, “You like her because she’s not impressed?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s part of it.” David scrubbed his face with both hands, exasperated, trying to get a handle on what he wanted to do about it. “She’s got this life that has nothing to do with me. She’s successful, educated. She doesn’t—”

“Ha!” Annie cut him off. “She doesn’t need you.” Pulling her legs under her, Annie leaned toward David. “You’re attracted to a woman who doesn’t need you to be somebody. That’s freakin’ awesome.”

“How do you figure that?” It was the kind of revelation that could change the way a person led his life and David felt his mood sink. Vulnerability was not something he was used to, but he’d known from the start that Kate could cause him a mountain of trouble if he let her in.

“What’s her name?”

“Kate.”

“She’s a teacher?” Annie had officially launched into the third degree.

“And a writer.”

“She’s hot. That’s what she is.” Cam entered the room and flopped in the big arm chair.

“Shut up, Cam.” Annie laughed as David scowled. “What has she written? Anything I’d know?”

David couldn’t help himself, he smiled and took a sip from his beer. “Uh huh. Her new book is called Past Lives.”

“What?” Annie drew in a deep breath. “You’re talking about Katherine Adams?”

David nodded and rolled the beer between his palms, knowing he’d blown her mind sufficiently.

Annie was actually a little star struck. “I can understand why she intimidates you.”

David never thought of himself as intimidated, but maybe he was… a little.

Jay walked in the room and leaned on the arm of the sofa right near his wife. “So you figure out what’s wrong with our boy?”

Annie smiled and patted David’s leg. “Yup. He’s scared, and it’s almost understandable.”

Jay laughed. “That’s pretty much what I figured.”

“You’re such a girl, Burke.” Cam took a mouthful from the bottle and shook his head. “Man up and go after her.”

They were having a lot of fun at his expense and he’d have been pissed off if Annie was wrong, but she wasn’t. On some level, he was afraid.

“I’m glad you three are enjoying this.”

“David, you had to grow up sometime. You finally realized that the girls you’ve been dating aren’t right for you.” Annie leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

He’d love for Kate to meet Annie. But David had yet to show her he wasn’t a complete ass. Another photo had made the newspaper; a picture of him and Chelsea that was taken months ago, and he kept wondering when he would get himself out of the gossip columnists’ cross hairs. Each time he’d seen Kate since California, he’d managed to piss her off, upset her, or both. He needed time to figure this out, but if he waited too much longer he’d be out of the game—for good.