Treading Water: Coming Home Part 16

"I-"

Her reply was cut off by the ringing of his cell phone to the tune of "Can't Take That Back," one of Buddy's biggest hits. "G.o.dd.a.m.n it. That's Buddy. I have to take it. He wouldn't bother me this week unless he really needed to."

Amused by his dismay, Jill slid off him so he could retrieve his phone.

"This had better be good," Ashton said into the phone, smiling at her as he stood in the middle of the room in all his glory, looking better than any man had a right to look.

Jill propped herself up on one arm to take full advantage of the view, which was how she saw his smile fade.

"You gotta be freaking kidding me. What the h.e.l.l were they thinking?"

Concerned about what he was hearing, Jill sat up and tucked the sheet over her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Ashton began to pace the room as he listened to Buddy.

Filled with anxiety, Jill wanted to go back in time to before the phone rang.

"Yeah, I'll do what I can, but with something like this, once it gets out, it's hard to contain it." He paused before he added, "I'll get in touch with Jill to let her know." Another pause ramped up Jill's already out-of-control apprehension even further. "Right. I'll call you later. No, I'll be home tomorrow. See you." He slammed his phone onto the table, making her start. "Fan-f.u.c.king-tastic."

"What is it?"

"My dad, your sister, frolicking nude in St. Kitts. Caught on film. Apparently, it's all over the Internet already."

Kate perused the listing for the house in the c.o.c.klesh.e.l.l Bay area, overlooking the island of Nevis across the narrow channel that separated the two islands. "What do we need with four bedrooms?"

"It's not about the bedrooms," Reid said. "It's about the location." He reached for her hand and tugged her down the walkway toward the house.

Her cell phone rang, but Kate ignored it, anxious to see the house. She reached into her pocket to put the ringer on mute.

The real estate agent led them through an open, airy s.p.a.ce that called to Kate at once. "This is the best one yet."

"I agree," he said, squeezing her hand.

"You're Kate Harrington, the singer, aren't you?" the agent asked.

"Yes, I am."

The agent smiled. "I saw you on the Internet."

People usually said they'd heard her on the radio. "Oh, right. Well... "

"About the house," Reid said. "How soon is it available?"

"At the end of the month. Would you like to see the rest?"

"Sure." Reid put his arm around Kate. "We'll wander." They checked out the three bedrooms and bathroom on the lower level before walking up the stairs where the living room, kitchen and dining area were one big room that overlooked the water.

He led her onto the s.p.a.cious deck. "What do you think? Would this do as a home away from home?"

"I was thinking," Kate said as she leaned on the rail to watch a sailboat head toward Nevis. "What if we made Nashville our home away from home and this was our primary residence?"

"You'd want to be here more often than there?"

"I think I might. Could we bring Thunder here?"

"I suppose we could, but he's getting on in years. He might be happier in his own home."

"That's true."

"We can be here as often as you're able to be, and when you're ready to quit touring, it'll be here waiting for us."

"I still have trouble believing we're going to make this happen. That all I had to do was come here to find you."

"Apparently, I was waiting for you and didn't even know it."

"Should we look at the other two places?"

"It's up to you. If you're happy, I'm happy."

"We probably ought to check out the master bedroom," she said with a coy smile.

"Lead the way."

The master shared the deck with the living room. Kate went through the sliding door into a large room with a thatched-roof ceiling. "Oh, look!" she said, looking up at the ceiling. "That's so cool!"

"You'll feel like you're sleeping in a hut on the beach."

"I love it." She went into the bathroom that was even nicer than the one at the resort. It had gla.s.s tile and basin sinks that sat on top of a teak countertop. The shower walls featured the same green, blue and white gla.s.s tiles. "This is gorgeous."

"I agree, and we'd have plenty of room for guests if your sisters or family want to come down."

"Do you think Ashton would visit if I'm here?"

"Hopefully."

Kate turned to him. "Would it hurt you if he didn't?"

"Don't worry about him. I'll see him, even if I have to do it on my own. I'd never allow another breach to form between us."

"I wouldn't want to be the cause of that."

"Let's not worry about him for now. Let's focus on what we want, and then I'll do my best to sell it to him. Okay?"

"Okay." Kate returned to the deck for another look at the view.

Reid followed her, slipping his arm around her waist.

The agent came out to join them a few minutes later. "What do you think?"

"We love it," Kate said. "I was wondering, though, are the owners interested in selling?"

"I could certainly check with them. Let me give them a call."

After she walked away, Reid glanced down at her, grinning. "You're full of surprises, darlin'."

She shrugged. "If we're going to put down roots, I say we go all the way."

"Only if we can go all the way together."

"You know that's my favorite way to go," she said with a chuckle.

He laughed. "I mean financially, you crazy girl."

"You'd want to buy it together?"

"I'd prefer to buy it for you, but I suspect you wouldn't go for that."

"You suspect correctly."

"I had a feeling..."

The agent came back outside. "You're in luck. The owners are willing to entertain an offer."

Kate glanced at Reid. "What do you think, Mr. Matthews? Should we make an offer?"

"By all means, Ms. Harrington."

An hour later, their offer had been accepted, and they were the proud future owners of a beach house in St. Kitts.

"That was a little too easy," Kate said as they drove away in his convertible. With the top down, the wind rushed through her hair. Kate raised her hands above her head and let out a giddy squeal.

Chuckling, Reid rested a hand on her thigh and squeezed. "Happy, darlin'?"

"Very, very happy."

"That's how I like you best."

His phone rang, and he drew it out of his s.h.i.+rt pocket to hand it to her. "See who it is."

Kate took the phone and glanced at the caller ID. "Ashton. Want to take it?"

"Not now. I'll call him later."

That was when Kate remembered the call she'd ignored earlier. She retrieved her phone and found six calls from Jill, two from her father and one from Maggie. "Oh G.o.d. What's going on?" Memories of the day Maggie had fallen off the ladder came rus.h.i.+ng back, reminding her of how things could change in a heartbeat. Her hands shook as she called Jill.

"Thank goodness you called," Jill said.

"What's wrong? You called six times, and Dad and Maggie..."

"Oh, great. So they know, too."

"Know what?"

"Are you sitting down, Kate?"

Reid reached for Kate's hand, and she held on tight to him as she braced herself for what she was about to hear. "Just tell me, Jill."

"There's a video on the Internet. You and Reid, naked..."

Kate felt the blood drain from her head, taking all her thoughts with it. Surely, she'd heard her sister wrong. There was no way...

"Kate? Are you there?"

"Did... Did you see it?"

"Yes."

"And you can tell it's me?"

"Yes."

"Oh my G.o.d!"

"What, Kate?" Reid asked. "What's wrong?"

Kate tuned him out for the moment to focus on the conversation with Jill. "I... What should I do?"

"I'm heading home later today. When I get back to the office, I'll see what I can do about a cease-and-desist order, but I have to warn you. The damage is already done. All the entertainment websites are all talking about your s.e.x video going viral. It's already a huge story."

Suddenly nauseated, Kate said, "Pull over. Please stop the car."

Reid brought the car to a stop by the side of the road.

Kate bolted from the car and bent in half, sucking in deep gulps of humid air that didn't do much to alleviate the nausea. She felt Reid's hand on her back and could hear Jill calling her name through the phone.

"Yes," Kate said to her sister after a minute. "I'm here."

"Are you okay?"

"Sure, I'm great. The whole world is watching me have s.e.x. Other than that, I'm fine."

Reid's sharp gasp made her feel bad for letting him hear it that way, but was there any way to sugarcoat news like this?

"I'll do what I can on my end."

"Oh my G.o.d. Dad called. And Maggie. I'm going to be sick."

"Is Reid with you?" Jill asked.