"No, silly girl, about you. I dreamt you denied the touch with Slade and your entire life was ruined. One bad choice and you never recovered. What happened after I left?"
Unease shot through her. Great, she'd be the cat lady and she'd always been more of a dog person. Kate sighed. "I don't want you to worry. Slade isn't meant for me. Simply put, he doesn't believe in love, marriage, or forever. He believes in oxytocin."
Her mother shook her slightly with impatience. "I don't care what he says he believes. I want to know about you and your actions. Have you told him you love him? That you want to fight for him? That you believe enough for the both of you?"
Panic flared. She broke the grip and stepped back, needing the distance. "Don't be ridiculous, of course not. Women don't do those things today. Besides, I'm sure it's for the best."
Her heart shattered and screamed her a liar. Her body ached and punished her. And her mother let out a shriek of frustration Kate had never heard before. Madeline was a river, she flowed and melted, becoming one with every challenge in life and rarely fought against the tide. The woman before her quaked, her aura vibrating so wildly Kate would've shoved a joint in her hands if she had one. "Mom, what's wrong?"
"What's happened to you?" Madeline whispered. "When did you stop believing in yourself? In your gift? In what you deserve?"
Emotion choked her. She couldn't handle this; it was too close to home. "I tried. He knows I care about him, and he's been honest about what he can and can't handle. He thinks I've screwed up his sister and that I'm a liar. And as for my gift? I didn't want to tell you, but it's gone. And I don't think it's coming back. I need you to drop this."
"No. You're going to listen to me, darling, and don't interrupt. Now, sit." Her mother pointed to the chair. Kate trudged over, sat down, and waited. She'd learned long ago not to argue when her mother wanted to have an open discussion. "It's time to stop running, Kate. You say you lost your gift. When did this happen?"
"After I discovered Slade and I connected. That was the last time I felt anything. I've been numb, even around couples who are married and have a connection, I get nothing."
"But you still feel the touch with Slade?"
She nodded. "I thought I was blocking myself by denying our attraction. So I slept with him. I figured I'd get it back, but that didn't help either. My gift is gone."
Madeline pursed her lips. "Your gift is being denied, my darling girl. You are the first one in generations to feel this with other people. Most of the women who own the touch can only sense it with her true mate. You have been blessed to spread your knowledge to the world. But when confronted by your own truth, you chose to run and hide. Wrapping it up in sex, having rational conversations about how things can't work between you. You've lost your way."
Kate rubbed her temples. God, when her mother waxed poetic it got hairy. Like a bad acid trip, she supposed. "I don't get it. I didn't hide. I told Slade I believed in love and wanted forever. He said he can't give that to me. We went our separate ways. Over and out."
"Did you tell him you're in love with him?"
Kate froze. "N-n-no. There's no point."
Her mother squinted with intensity. "No point in confessing the truth to the man you love? Have I raised a coward?"
Kate flinched. "Why? So he could say thanks very much, but it's not going to work out? So he can take the last shred of my pride and leave me broken and bleeding? No thanks."
"There is no halfway, no safe place to hide when it comes to love. You are luckier than most to be guided to the man meant for you. By denying the truth, or making light of the connection, you deny the gift, yourself, and are no longer worthy of it."
The words hit her hard, like brutal jabs in the ring, and Kate felt something inside begin to break. Hadn't she been clear enough about how she felt? Hadn't she fought enough? Or was her mother right? She'd rationalized and pushed him away and only allowed him into her bed, not her heart. She'd never stood her ground and challenged his ridiculous beliefs.
"I don't know what to do, Mom," she choked out. "He can break my heart and I'm scared."
"How does he make you feel?"
She dragged in a breath. "Like my better self. He lights up my body, and satisfies my soul. He makes me laugh. He loves Robert and wants to take care of him. He's everything I've ever wanted and I've never been so terrified."
Madeline moved over, took her hand, and squeezed it tight. "You must be fierce and admit to love, my dear girl. It is the only way to win. And if you do lose, well, at least you lose fairly, with your head high and with no regrets. How could you possibly feel shame for leading with your heart? It is simply the bravest thing anyone can do in this world. It is what you based your business on, and your livelihood."
The truth took root, shook her to the core, and grew. In that moment, she realized every step in her journey had been halfhearted. But no longer. She was worthy of more.
Kate reached up and hugged her mother tight. "I love you, Mom. Thank you."
"Welcome. Now go get your man."
"WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM."
Slade studied his boss, who perched behind the sprawling teak desk with a look of concern on his face. Shit. First, his personal life, now his career. Was he upset he'd left early those few days? No, Bob usually let his employees run their own schedules, confident they'd get the job done. Had he realized his relationship with Kate was a big fat lie? Had Melody gotten nailed for the speeding ticket? Slade adjusted his cuffs. "What is it, Bob?" he asked calmly.
His boss pointed toward his computer. "Billing hours came in for approval. Yours doesn't add up. Want to tell me what's going on?"
Relief loosened his chest. That he could handle. "I had a client who wants to pay on the back end once I win the case. Forgot to tell you. I'll send you the details as soon as I get back in my office."
Bob shook his head. "Can't do it. I told the associates you bill up front now. Too many pro bono and cases lost in the firm."
Annoyance surged through him. "Have I ever cost you money on a case? I need some leeway on this one. Guy's wife froze the accounts and he's in a hell of a fix. Needs custody rights. I'll win."
"I don't doubt it. But no more bleeding hearts. His story is no different than a million others coming through those doors. Look, I understand you want to do good by him, but he's got to pay the bill. If I didn't want to make money, I'd be working for the district attorney's office or be a not-for-profit lawyer."
Slade swallowed his frustration and tried to look at the big picture. But God, he was so tired of it. He wanted to do one thing for a person who needed it, and his hands were always tied. "Fine. I'll pay for this one out of my salary. Dock my pay."
Bob lifted a brow. "A bit extreme for someone you don't know. What's going on with you lately? I'm deciding on partner soon, and I need a closer. This is a brutal business--eats you up and spits you out. If you can't handle it, I think Samuel may have the edge."
His boss's gaze was razor sharp and Slade knew it was a test. Did he have what it took? The goal of partnership had been his sole focus for the last five years, but suddenly his future flashed before him and it was all more of the same. More work, more stress, and less satisfaction. The challenge was on the table for him to pick up. Cut the client loose and gain Bob's respect. He sensed he had an edge over Samuel. One tiny agreement and it was all over.
"I lied, Bob."
His boss stared at him hard. "About?"
"Kate. We never had a relationship. I hired her from a matchmaking agency to pose as my girlfriend because I knew you favored executives who are settled. She's not an accountant, her father's no court judge, and she owns a company called Kinnections."
Bob frowned and shook his head. "Wasn't that the name of her accounting firm?"
"No, she's the owner of a matchmaking agency. I set the whole thing up because I wanted to beat Samuel. I've wanted that damn partnership for years, and I wasn't about to let not having a relationship stop me from getting it."
Silence fell. A lightness filled his chest, and he waited for the fallout. Would Bob fire him? Maybe. Throw him out as a contender? Probably. At least he didn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't.
Bob threw back his head and laughed. "I've seen creative moves before to climb to the top, but this is a first. We had no idea. In fact, my wife was so crazy about Kate, we were going to invite her to dinner this week. You got us good. And though I'm pissed you lied, I have to give you credit for ambition. That's the type of man we want, Slade. You saw the problem, thought of a solution, and went for it. Too bad, though. Melody's gonna get nailed for that ticket."
Slade managed to catch his surprised gasp and turn it into a badass grin. "I'm glad you're not upset. And I'm sorry if I put you in an awkward position."
Bob cut his hand through the air. "Nothing I can't handle. Appreciate you coming clean before I made my decision."
"I'm not giving up this case, Bob. It won't affect my caseload or billing hours, but I want it."
His boss let out a breath. "Fine, take it. You've always been a stubborn son a bitch. Just make sure you win."
"I will. Thanks." He got up and headed toward the door when he heard his name. "Yeah?"
Bob's eyes twinkled. "Let's just say I think you'll be happy with my final decision on partnership by the end of the week."
The meaning was clear. As Slade left the office, his head spun. Damn. He'd snagged the position. But as he strode down the hallway, a giant emptiness pulsed in his gut, a need for a woman he'd pushed away, and a question if he'd ever feel satisfied again.
KATE WAITED ON HIS front steps. She glanced at her watch again and hoped he wasn't working too late. She'd already been sitting for an hour, and with every minute that ticked by, she'd been tempted to dump the plan and hurry back home. Nothing like a big love confession to freak a woman out.
"Kate?"
She turned her head to the right and her heart leaped. He was so beautiful. His towering length and lean muscles filled out the navy blue Prada suit, his snowy white shirt and red tie cutting a sharp image. He'd probably gone to court. Lines bracketed his mouth and his eyes, hinting at his fatigue. The gold-rimmed glasses gave him the scholarly look that only made him sexier. She stood up and drank him in with her gaze, her body already alight with the need to touch him, push back his hair, caress his hard cheek. She swallowed. "I need to talk to you."