Body and Soul (Body and Soul Trilogy) Read online

  Kate just nodded, at a loss for words. All she could think about was the fact that Rico’s hands really were soft and rough at the same time. It had been hard to determine whether it was the truth when he had touched her before. The other times had all seemed to pass by quickly. This time she was caught in time. Kate’s mind was cluttered, swirling around the things that she was afraid of, the things she didn’t want to happen to her, and the things that she wanted a lot of right now. The first thing on the list of things she wanted was Rico’s rough hands tangled with hers.

  Chapter 8

  Kate woke up alone the next morning; a note scribbled and tossed on Adriana’s pillow let her know that she and Rico would be back before lunch. Kate found herself milling around the kitchen after she showered, her freshly dried curls tumbling over her shoulders. Kate’s cream top was cut low in the back and was held together by a thin ribbon tied at her waist. Kate couldn’t help but think that Adriana would appreciate this top a little bit more than the others because of the black ribbon, and especially because it was paired with black cotton shorts.

  Kate found a frying pan and pancake mix in the huge kitchen. She crossed her fingers as she looked for blueberries in the fridge, and was pleased to find some. She set to work, expertly mixing the ingredients, adding in the dash of vanilla her mother always used to sweeten up the recipe. When Kate finished cooking, she sat down in one of the mismatched chairs at the dining room table to eat.

  Behind her a door opened but Kate wouldn’t turn around, afraid of looking too eager to see Rico, afraid of giving Adriana the satisfaction of watching her suffocate in front of him.

  “Who are you?” someone asked.

  Kate turned, not recognizing the voice that asked her such a simple question. Her eyes found a young man that looked to be about twenty-five. He had a deep tan and sandy hair that was messy, yet short. His eyes, however, lent truth to the fact that he was older than he looked, and Kate guessed that he must be Adriana’s father.

  “I’m Kate,” she said. “I spent the night here last night since you weren’t here. Adriana didn’t want to be alone so she asked me to come over. I hope that it was alright for me to stay here,” she added, not wanting to seem rude.

  The man smiled and moved toward the table. He caught sight of the stack of blueberry pancakes and pointed at them before speaking. “If you’re sharing those you can come back anytime, sweetheart.” He laughed and sat down.

  “Of course,” Kate said, gesturing to the pile, showing him that he could have as many as he wanted. She grinned as he picked one up with his fingers, folded it twice, and popped the entire thing in his mouth. When he finished chewing it, he praised Kate, telling her that it was the best blueberry pancake he had ever had in his life.

  “That’s not very nice,” Adriana joked as she joined them at the table. “You should try telling me that my pancakes are good, Dad. I might have to stop cooking for you if you’d prefer Kate’s cooking,” she added with a smile.

  Adriana looked at Kate’s outfit then, and winked in approval. “Dad, this is Kate. Kate, this is my dad, Donovan.”

  “Sweetheart, Kate and I have met already but thank you for the introductions. I haven’t found the opportunity to state my name yet, since my mouth was filled with her delicious pancakes. Nevertheless, we’ve shared pancakes and bonded over their exquisite flavor. I’d say we’re close friends, actually. Wouldn’t you agree Kate?” Donovan winked, teasing Kate. His smile was friendly and genuine, and Kate decided instantly that she liked him.

  Kate nodded and smiled at Adriana. Adriana rolled her eyes and grabbed a pancake. She poured copious amounts of maple syrup on top of it, so much so that Kate wondered if she would need to be diagnosed as diabetic after breakfast. Kate smiled as Donovan grabbed more and piled them on his plate. He didn’t put quite as much syrup on his pancakes.

  The three of them ate breakfast together, partaking in small talk about Kate’s thoughts of the town so far and the weather. Donovan was friendly, and Kate could tell that he loved Adriana very much. He watched her movements and listened to her comments with adoration, proud of his beautiful daughter.

  When Adriana dropped Kate off at home later that afternoon, Kate was sad to watch her go. She had enjoyed breakfast and spending time with Adriana’s father, even though he looked a little young to have a daughter Adriana’s age. Kate wondered, absently, how old he was when Adriana’s mother became pregnant, as she stepped into her less extravagant, yet homey, beach house.

  Kate was walking in a dark wooded area. The air was wet; a blanket of fog covered the moss and grass underneath Kate’s bare feet. She lifted up the long ivory gown that she wore, making sure that the bottom didn’t get too muddy as she wandered through the dense forest. Birds whistled all around Kate, announcing the sunset. Kate looked up, trying to find a break in the trees, searching for the sun to see how much time she had left. She couldn’t see it, and quickened her pace, afraid that she wouldn’t arrive in time.

  Kate began to fear that she was lost, moving in circles, stuck in time. Her fears taunted her, but she pushed them into the corners of her mind and kept moving. She didn’t have much time and she couldn’t, no she wouldn’t, be late. Confused, Kate searched her memory, asking herself why she was so anxious to find this place but came up empty handed. She wouldn’t dwell on it too long, though, because it took precious time to think of things other than where she needed to end up.

  Another moment and Kate spotted a break in the trees ahead. She began to run toward it, her bare feet raw from striking the rocks that lay hidden in the soft grass. She pushed herself forward, though, knowing that what she found on the other side of the trees would save her and those she loved most.

  Kate stopped suddenly, almost afraid of what she would find beyond the trees. She took careful, deliberate steps and found herself on one side of a curtain of vines. She lifted a trembling hand, her fingers stretching to push the vines aside.

  Heat. Kate’s hand felt dry warmth as it moved closer to the curtain. She flexed her fingers enjoying the sensation, and pushed the curtain to the side, so that she could see what she was searching for, what she craved.

  Kate fell to her knees, tears tumbling down her cheeks, drowning out the scream that was caught in her throat. Before her, the world caught fire, burning so brightly the light chased the shadows into the forest. She watched in horror, knowing that the people she loved burned in those toxic flames.

  Kate woke with a start. Her blankets were sticky with sweat and her skin was burning; her head spun from the heat. Kate got out of her damp bed, tearing the blankets and sheets off in frustration. She tossed them into the hamper before taking a cold shower. She couldn’t think before a shower.

  While Kate stood under the frigid water she tried to decipher her dream. She wasn’t truly afraid of the world catching fire, so what did it mean? She found herself sifting through a plethora of explanations: It was so warm in the house that she felt as though it would catch fire. No. The flat stovetop at Adriana’s, the way it changed into an orange circle as it heated up, sparked the dream. Not likely. Kate’s heart would burst into flames if she fell for Rico. Utterly ridiculous.

  Kate stepped out of the shower, no happier than before she got in. She wrapped her towel around her body and stepped out into her warm bedroom.

  “Don’t undress,” Rico said quickly, scaring Kate. She stepped back, bumping into the wall, and grabbed her heart, afraid it would burst.

  “Don’t you ever do that again,” she said, glaring at Rico as she rifled through her drawers, snatching up the clothes that she needed to put on immediately. She rushed into the bathroom, her hands full, and locked the door. She emerged a couple moments later, her damp curls already soaking her tank top.

  “I apologize for scaring you,” Rico said.

  “How did you get in here? Are my parents gone already?” Kate spat, still upset.

  “Your parents are gone. I came through the front door. It’s not smart to
stick a key on top of the door frame, you know. By the time I got up here you were already in the bathroom so I let you shower in peace.”

  “How sweet of you,” Kate retorted.

  Rico ignored her comment and looked at the pile of blankets and sheets in the hamper. He looked at her, clearly curious.

  “I didn’t wet the bed if that’s what you think.”

  “That wasn’t my first thought. I assumed you had a bad dream. However, if you do still wet the bed I’ll try my hardest not to tell Adriana. I don’t know if she would ever stop laughing at you.”

  Kate stuck her tongue out at Rico in response.

  “Well?” he demanded. “Was it a bad dream or what?”

  “Yes,” Kate said. “It was weird,” she added, turning to look at Rico when she spoke. “I was walking through a forest, searching for something that I wanted to find. When I found it, it turned out to be something I would never want. It was awful.” Kate sat down on the edge of her bed, lost somewhere in her mind, reliving the worst part of the nightmare.

  “What did you see, Kate?” Rico asked, pressing.

  Kate stared out at the ocean without even seeing it and shook her head. “I can’t say,” she said. “It was terrible and I won’t tell you.”

  Rico pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed. Kate instantly pushed up her defenses, ready for the argument that would come next.

  “You need to tell me, Kate. It’s important. I wouldn’t ask you to tell me if it wasn’t important.”

  “I’m sorry, Rico. I won’t tell you. I’m not ready to face it myself. Why would I tell you if I can’t even decipher the meaning on my own?”

  Rico glared at her, infuriated by Kate’s persistence. He opened his mouth to persuade her further but she held up her hand, stopping him.

  “Don’t try to convince me right now, Rico. I don’t feel like fighting with you this morning. I’m tired and hungry. Please, don’t start an argument with me.”

  Rico sighed silently, purposefully not giving Kate the satisfaction one gets from winning a single battle. He didn’t want her to think that she won, because she would end up telling him eventually; if not, he would find out, one way or another.

  Instead of leaving in a fit of rage, Rico stood up and held his hand out to pull Kate up as well. As soon as she was standing, Rico pulled his hand away and moved toward the door so that she would follow him. Rico led Kate to the kitchen where he rummaged through the refrigerator and cabinets, searching for the things he needed. He turned to Kate, taking his index finger and spinning it around, making a motion to tell Kate not to look at what he was doing.

  Kate was perplexed by these actions. One minute Rico was angry at her for not telling her the end of her nightmare. The next minute he was gathering ingredients for a meal, and telling her to leave so that it would be a surprise. Their awkward relationship seemed like it could be more than just petty arguments and defensive remarks. Kate would have to wait to see if conversation remained light during the meal; this was still their weakest area, considering they fought every time they spoke.

  Rico, somehow, seemed fine after the attack. Kate imagined that he would be limping around his house somewhere, a pack of ice taped to his shoulder. She thought that he might be begging Adriana to melt the steel rods so that they couldn’t be used as weapons anymore. Kate didn’t expect to see Rico cooking breakfast right now, especially her breakfast.

  Twenty minutes later a plate was set in front of Kate. It was overflowing with granola and banana nut pancakes. A second later, two smaller plates, along with forks and glasses of orange juice were placed on the table as well. Kate’s stomach rumbled, eager to taste Rico’s cooking. She took a bite of the steaming pancakes, fully aware that he was probably buttering her up, tricking her to tell him about her dream.

  “Why did you do this?” she asked after a few minutes of silence.

  “You said that you were hungry. Why wouldn’t I cook you breakfast?” Rico responded.

  “I don’t know. It might have something to do with the fact that we can’t have a normal conversation. I mean one without arguments.”

  “We were about to have one,” Rico commented. “However, we can still try if you want, Kate. I don’t care.”

  Kate rolled her eyes at him.

  “Hey, you were the one that brought it up. I was just disagreeing with you,” he said with a smile.

  “Wow. You’re really something,” Kate retorted.

  “Thank you, Kate.”

  Kate raised her eyebrow at Rico, and stared at him. He really was something. He enjoyed being serious at certain points but would make fun of Kate a minute later. She didn’t understand Rico or his intentions, especially because they seemed to be centered on her while spinning out of control at the same time.

  “This is delicious,” Kate said in an attempt to change the subject.

  “Thank you. I truly appreciate it, Kate. It means a lot to me that you like my pancakes, considering I was told that you make the best ones.”

  “I don’t make the best pancakes.”

  “That’s not what Adriana and Donovan said,” Rico commented. “You should take their compliments; they aren’t handed out very often.”

  Kate looked at Rico. Here he was being nice again. A rush of exuberance flashed through Kate at this thought. Maybe they had moved beyond the petty arguments.

  When Rico left after breakfast, he took no new knowledge with him. He knew that he wouldn’t learn any more about Kate after the first few minutes of breakfast. She was quick to believe his words but took time to speak her own. His thoughts moved from Kate to her dream, sifting through her words and analyzing them. This was added to the information that was already known about the demons hunting her, which didn’t add much. Rico ruffled his hair in frustration as he continued walking toward his home, unsure of where to move next.

  Chapter 9

  Kate found herself lounging around outside a couple of hours later, flipping through a trashy magazine, and finding enjoyment in the miserable lives of celebrities. She wondered how they handled their seemingly perfect lives. People just wanted to see them fail, or at the very least see them without makeup. They didn’t care about the positive aspects of their lives, like their charities or thoughts on the world.

  Kate was so engrossed by a disturbing picture, describing the newest teen heartthrob and his possible relationship with another teen star, that she didn’t hear the soft shuffle of the gardener at first. She turned to find him making his way around the side of the house. A younger man followed him, carrying the equipment.

  The gardener moved over to Kate; his empty hands swayed by his sides, almost as if he was using them to propel himself forward. Today he wore khaki cargo shorts and a sky blue t-shirt, along with a straw hat to block out the heat of the sun.

  “I’m sorry that I was unable to come back out the other day, Miss,” he said apologetically. “This time I brought the help of a friend a mine if you don’t mind.” His smile was kind; his eyebrows were knit together in concern. He really was asking Kate if it was okay to bring along someone to help him.

  Kate shook her head and pointed once again to the door behind her. “It’s open,” she said to the two men. “Go on and let yourselves inside. Thank you for all of your help, by the way. The plants and flowers are beautiful.”

  “Thank you, Miss. I appreciate that you’re taking the time to look at the plants,” the gardener replied kindly.

  Kate smiled and watched both of them step inside; the younger man helped the older man over the threshold. The younger man had large muscles and close cropped hair. His arms were covered with tattoos of swirling patterns and runes. He wore a tight tank top that showed off his broad chest; his jean shorts were loose. If Kate hadn’t seen him help the older man, she might have thought him scary.

  Kate pushed the two men out of her mind and focused on more important things, like celebrity gossip. She allowed herself to dwell on the celebrities’ seemingly perfe
ct lives and tried to imagine what it would be like to have a life that was inspected under a microscope. She shook her head, deciding that it was better to be normal, even her new and twisted version of it.

  Kate looked up a few minutes later to see the younger man walking back outside to deal with the shrubs and trees that grew at the sides and front of the house. She peeked over her magazine and watched him; his movements were slow and deliberate, almost as if he was learning how to garden and protect the plants. She wondered why the older man brought him if he wasn’t fully capable of doing the work. She decided that his muscle made up for his lack of natural ability.

  When the younger man finished his designated area, he walked back inside to help the older man finish up his part. Kate heard the pair exchange words. It sounded like the younger man was offering the older man the opportunity to wait in their vehicle. A minute later, the older man maneuvered over the threshold and down the stairs, shuffling all the way to the truck. Kate watched him disappear around the corner, somehow mesmerized by his slow, casual walk.

  “Hey, Miss, I was wondering about these plants with the yellow flowers in the kitchen. Do I need to spray these also?”

  Kate turned, barely hearing the question that came from inside. She couldn’t remember a plant with yellow flowers in the kitchen, but then again the only thing she had seen in the kitchen was Rico.

  Kate stood up and headed inside with the assumption that Blaire had purchased more flowers. The interior was dim compared to the light outside. Kate’s eyes had to readjust to the limited light in the house, and she blinked several times to make the process move faster. When her vision finally cleared she wandered into the kitchen, searching for the man and the yellow flowers.

  An image formed in Kate’s mind, and she remembered her mother’s bouquet of yellow and red roses. Blaire received this bouquet each anniversary and every other romantic holiday. They symbolized her deep friendship and passion with Aaron.