Betrayal - Fern Michaels [8]
The hint of Old Spice sent her spinning around. “Morning, sweetie.” Alex wrapped his arms around her waist. Kate took in a deep breath, loving the smell of Alex’s freshly showered still-moist body against her own.
“Coffee’s almost ready,” Kate said.
Alex dotted kisses along her jawline. “That’s not all that’s ready,” he teased.
Kate stepped out of Alex’s embrace, playfully swatting him on the chest. “Hey, we have company, or did you forget?”
Alex smiled. “That’s never stopped me before.”
After thirteen years of marriage, Kate was as much in love with Alex as she’d been the day they’d married. Their love life hadn’t slowed down a bit either. She was lucky. She’d heard other women talk and knew that her and Alex’s relationship was unique, one of a kind. She was so happy, she felt a little bit guilty that her friends didn’t share with their husbands what she and Alex had together.
“Well, for now you’ll have to wait.” Kate poured coffee into Alex’s favorite golden retriever mug. “Here you go.”
Alex took a slow sip of his coffee. “You don’t have to wait on me, Kate.”
Kate pulled out her chair and sat across from her husband. “I know that. I do things for you because I want to, not because I have to. You know that, too.” She reached across the table and rubbed his forearm. Being married to Alex was easy.
Alex held a palm up. “Okay, okay. You can pour my coffee anytime.”
“And mine, too,” Don said.
Kate stood and gave Don a hug. Alex grabbed him in a bear hug and ruffled his perfectly combed hair. For a split second, Don looked miffed, then he raked his fingers through his messed-up hair. “Damn, buddy, I just spent ten minutes combing this do.”
“And you can still see your bald spot,” Alex teased.
“Hey, Alex, that’s not a nice thing to say to company, especially before he’s had his coffee,” Kate added. She poured Don a cup and placed it before him on the table.
“So, how long is the cruise gonna last this time?” Alex asked.
Debbie and Don were avid cruisers and had been on more than fifty cruises since they’d married. The four of them often joked that Don and Debbie had spent more time on water than land.
“Two weeks. I hope that’s okay with you both,” Don replied.
“Of course it is. We’re thrilled the girls still want to come for visits. I know they’re getting older, and that’s when you usually lose them to boys and makeup. I plan to teach them how to use the pottery wheel this visit,” Kate said.
“Emily will love that. She’s always had a keen interest in your work,” Don said. “Sara, on the other hand, I’d be careful. She’s going through somewhat of a clumsy stage right now. Make sure nothing valuable is in her path.”
“Are you talking about me, Daddy?” Sara whined from the doorway. “You know I hate it when you do that.” Sara trudged across the kitchen and plopped down on her father’s lap. Kate thought she was too big for that but kept the thought to herself.
“Are we having breakfast?” Sara asked of no one.
“I’m making blueberry pancakes and bacon. How’s that?” Kate announced.
“Goody! I love pancakes. Can I have six extra-big ones and six pieces of bacon? And make the bacon very crisp the way Mommy does,” Sara said matter-of-factly.
Don added with a smile, “Debbie burns the bacon.”
Sara crossed her arms over her hefty middle. “She does not! I like it that way. She cooks anything I want just the way I want it, too!” Sara glared at Kate as if daring her to contradict her.
“Well, then if you want your bacon well-done, that’s exactly how I’ll make it.” Kate winked at Don and Alex. “Sara, why don’t you run upstairs and see if Emily wants to have breakfast with the rest of us.”
“Do I have to? I hate her. She’s such a bit—, I mean brat. She won’t let me look at her diary anymore. Mommy says it’s ’cause she’s hiding something.”
“Sara, don’t call your sister names, and you should be ashamed for snooping. You’re old enough to value Emily’s privacy, and so is your mother. Now run upstairs and tell Emily it’s time for breakfast,” Don ordered. “And leave your mother alone. She’ll want to sleep in, I’m sure.”
Reluctantly,