Chapter 22

The only way Micki could be with Patrick was to fully embrace him. To give into the moment and not think about the heartbreak that was about to come. Her orgasm whipped through her. She felt it in every cell of her body. She worked to hold onto the sensations. To memory of his touch. His gaze. All of it so she could keep it in her heart forever.

As the sensations dissipated, she realized that Patrick hadn't joined her. She opened her eyes to ask him why but the expression on his face, the emotion in his eyes stole her voice. Her heart soared and broke at the same time.

She leaned in and kissed him. "Come with me."

His kiss turned fierce, nearly feral as he lay her back on the bed. His hands pushed her arms over her head. Palm to palm, he laced his fingers with hers. His gaze was raw and real as he entered her again and began to move.

God, she loved this man. What a tragedy that their lives were such that this love couldn't be nurtured. But she pushed that thought away, focusing only on this moment. The love. The sensations. The connection she knew would never be broken, even if she never saw him after tonight.

His body picked up the pace. Faster. Harder. Her body responded, coiling tighter and tighter.

"Michaela." His voice was hoarse, filled with emotion. He let out a growl and drove into her, holding inside, grinding as warmth filled her. She let go again, her body pulsing around his as they shared this moment as one.

She held on to him as they moved, together until the storm passed. She nestled into his arms. Tears threatened as she contemplated leaving him again. Her parents' words came back to her. She didn't know if they were a part of Sydney's plan, but she understood now what they wanted for her. They encouraged her to explore the possibility of a life outside of Kincaid Lake. She'd never felt pressured by them to take over, yet she had felt an obligation. Not just to her parents but to the resort itself. She loved it there. She wanted others to experience the wonder of nature. The peace it provided. She'd never considered doing anything else.

But maybe her parents were right in that she hadn't experienced alternatives to know for sure taking over the resort was what she wanted. Until now, with Patrick, she hadn't seen the need.

Could she live in New York? It wasn't like there weren't opportunities in hospitality here. She was aware there were smaller, more country-like communities outside the city. Were they close enough that she could enjoy the outdoors still? Would Patrick even want her to be with him? She fell asleep against him without having an answer, but thinking that maybe, this wouldn't be the end.

Micki woke to an empty bed.Disoriented, she glanced around thinking maybe last night was all a dream. But she wasn't in the guest room at Sydney's apartment. She was in Patrick's bedroom. She rose from bed, and finding his shirt on the edge of it, she put it on, inhaling the scent of him. She wondered if he'd notice if she stuffed the shirt in her purse and took it home. She rolled her eyes at her silliness.

The scent of coffee lured her to his kitchen. He stood shirtless, looking out the window sipping coffee. As she entered, he turned and smiled. "Good morning."

She took in the sculped beauty of his chest. "It sure is."

In an instant, she was in his arms, and he was kissing her until her toes curled. "I love the way you ay good morning."

He nipped at her bottom lip. "I love you…in my shirt. Very sexy."

For a moment, she thought he was telling her he loved her. She hid away the disappointment that he wasn't.

"Want breakfast? I'm sorry it's not a full southern special, but I have eggs."

"Coffee is fine for now."

He went to pour her a cup. As he handed it to her, his phone rang. He cursed but answered it. His gaze held hers as he listened. "Yeah. I'll handle it."

He gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I need to go to the office for an hour or so."

"Even the boss can't play hooky." She smiled supportively.

"I only need an hour. Will you stay? You can make yourself at home. When I get back, I can take you sightseeing?—"

"Is that a euphemism for sex. If so, yes."

He laughed and then gave her a quick kiss. "Cold shower for me this morning."

She wanted to tell him he didn't have to do that. She could help him out, but the sooner he dealt with business, the sooner he'd be back. She'd have that time to figure out if she could let the dream of running her resort go so, she could be with him…if he wanted her.

Once he left, Micki pulled out her phone and texted Sydney to let her know she was fine. Sydney probably knew that, but it was polite to inform her. Micki also shared that she planned to spend the day with him.

Sydney texted back with a few eggplant emojis that had Micki rolling her eyes. Then she said:

Please make him happy.

God how she wanted to.

After texting Sydney, Micki drank her coffee, gazing out the window, her mind racing with the possibilities that lay ahead. With Patrick by her side, perhaps a life in the city wouldn"t be so daunting after all.

She was considering taking a shower and getting dressed, when there was a knock at the door. She planned to ignore it since no one would be there to see her.

"Ms. Kincaid." A woman's voice echoed through the door.

Micki frowned. The woman didn't sound like Sydney or her friends. Who else did she know in New York who'd know her?

She opened the door a few inches and peeked through. "Yes?"

The woman shoved on the door, pushing Micki back.

"Hey—"

"I'm Dr. Isla Andres." The woman's tone was condescending. As if her introduction was also saying she was better than Micki.

It took Micki a moment, but then she realized who the woman was. "Dr. Andres. Patrick's mother. It's wonderful to meet you." Micki greeted her warmly, hoping to disarm the prickly woman.

Ushering the older woman inside, Micki noted the disapproving sweep of her gaze. She realized she was still in Patrick's shirt.

"Excuse me a moment." Embarrassment flushed her cheeks. "Let me get dressed real quick."

"You do that."

Micki hurried to Patrick's room and slipped on her shirt and capri pants she's worn the day before. She was glad she wasn't in her usual cutoff shorts but had a feeling this outfit wouldn't impress Patrick's mother either.

She plastered on a smile as she reentered the living area. "Patrick isn't here."

"I know that. I'm here to see you."

Micki swallowed at the ominous tone the woman spoke to her with. "Oh…well. Can I get you coffee?"

Mrs. Andres waved a dismissive hand, her lips pursed in a thin line. "No. I"m not here for pleasantries, Ms. Kincaid. I"m here to understand exactly what kind of woman my son has become involved with."

Micki blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of the statement. She opened her mouth to respond, but Mrs. Andres held up a hand, silencing her.

"I"ve heard everything about you and your...family"s establishment." The disdain in her voice was palpable. "A dilapidated resort in the middle of nowhere. Tell me, what could you possibly offer my son that would make him abandon his responsibilities?"

Micki felt a spark of indignation flare within her, but she quickly tamped it down, replacing it with a disarming smile. "Mrs. Andres?—"

"Dr. Andres."

"Sorry…Dr. Andres, I can assure you that I don't have any intentions." Okay, so that wasn't quite true. But Patrick should hear about them before his mother. "As for responsibilities, you must know that Patrick is serious about and committed to his duty to your family and business."

The older woman"s eyes narrowed. "Yes, well, a man like that needs a woman of culture and refinement. Not someone—" Her disapproving gaze swept over Micki again. "Like you."

Micki's jaw tightened. "I see."

"I don't think you do. Patrick is a good man, too good sometimes. He sees a pretty woman who's nice to him. He doesn't see what I do. A woman who thinks Patrick will save her and her family."

Micki gaped. The woman was calling her a gold digger. Then again, Patrick did at one point too, so maybe she shouldn't be surprised considering his mother was clearly an elitist snob.

"You arrived with Dr. Preston and her friends, did you not?"

It took a moment for Micki to place Dr. Preston. "It's Dr. McKenna now."

Dr. Andres made a face. "It should have been Dr. Andres, did you know that? She should have married my son." She waved a dismissive hand. "In any case, I'm aware that she brought up two other women who were successful at fooling successful men into marrying them."

Micki had enough. "Oh please. You clearly haven't seen Drake and Jagger with?—"

"Don't be rude."

Back at you, Micki thought.

"The point is, you won't get your claws into my son or his money. I won't allow it."

The woman"s contempt was meant to shake Micki. To make her feel inferior. But it would take more than a snobby rich woman to make Micki feel like she was unworthy. She met the older woman"s steely gaze with unwavering composure.

"I can assure you, Dr. Andres, that my interest in your son has nothing to do with his family"s wealth or status."

Mrs. Andres scoffed, her manicured brow arching in disdain. "Right. Well, if that's the case, then you won't have any problem leaving and never contacting him again."

"I said my interest isn't in his money, not that I didn't have any interest. I care for him."

"If that's true, you'll still leave. He's a brilliant psychiatrist, poised to take over a thriving pharmaceutical empire. Do you really think a rustic resort in the middle of nowhere is a suitable place for him?"

Micki felt a surge of protectiveness wash over her. "Kincaid Lake is my home. One filled with love and acceptance. Patrick has found peace and fulfillment here, something he clearly wasn"t finding here."

The older woman's lips curled into a sneer. "How dare you suggest he isn't happy here." She let out a derisive laugh. "You're na?ve if you think you're more than a temporary dalliance. You wouldn't be the first."

Micki"s hands fisted, but she forced a smile. "It's not really any of your business what Patrick's and my sexual relation?—"

Her eyes flared. "How vulgar."

Micki nearly laughed. Was this woman for real? In the south, Dr. Isla Andres would be clutching her pearls or waving her hand over her face to stop from fainting.

"This is going nowhere." Dr. Andres pulled a checkbook from her purse. Micki watched in bewilderment as Mrs. Andres poised a pen over a check prepared to write. "What will it take to make you leave? Would fifty thousand be enough to ensure your family"s resort remains afloat?"

Micki stared at the woman, her eyes widening at the insult.

Dr. Andres arched a brow. "Come on and answer. I"m offering you a chance to walk away with your home and future secure. Take this money and leave my son. He has a future to attend to, and I won"t allow you to jeopardize that."

Dr. Andres declared her an unsuitable match for her son, but Micki refused to let the older woman"s condescending words shake her self-worth. Micki was a strong, confident woman who knew her own value, and she wasn"t about to let the pretentious airs of Patrick"s mother diminish that.

"You don't have enough money to pay me what I'm worth, Dr. Andres."

Still, the woman's were a brutal reminder of the vastly different worlds they came from. Not only that, but they both felt family was important. She'd been contemplating a new life, but could she really do it? Could she really give up her home and her family? And while she didn't agree with Patrick's mother that she was inferior, Micki had to consider the challenge it would be to adjust and fit in as a corporate wife. Yes, Lexie and Chelsea managed it, but they grew up in town, working as a nurse and teacher. Micki grew up in the woods, something his mother wouldn't likely let her forget. How long could she and Patrick survive if his mother was always disparaging her? It was hard enough he had to work in a job he didn't want, but to have to endure his mother's disapproval of his choice in woman would be too much. She had to face facts. Her momentary thoughts of a life in New York with Patrick weren't realistic.

Micki swallowed hard, the realization that there was no future for her and Patrick settling like a lead weight in the pit of her stomach. She had allowed herself to dream, to imagine a life by his side, but now those fantasies crumbled away.

Squaring her shoulders, Micki met Dr. Andres" steely gaze. "I don't know why you're here. If this is just a dalliance, as you say, then I'm no threat."

She sniffed, her head tilting up making her look down her nose, literally, at Micki. Before she could respond, the door opened, and Patrick entered. The smile on his face faltered when he saw his mother.

His gaze darted between the two women. "What"s going on?"

Dr. Andres straightened, her expression hardening. "I was just having a little chat with your...friend, Patrick." She spared Micki a withering glance. "Coming to an agreement."

Patrick"s eyes narrowed, tension coiling in his shoulders. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"She was trying to buy me off." Once the words were out, Micki second guessed outing his mother. After all, soon Micki would be gone, while his mother would still be in his life.

His mother sent a withering glare Micki's way. "You have responsibilities here, in New York. You can't let your libido distract you from that. This little plaything of yours needs to go."

Patrick"s jaw tightened. "My responsibilities are my own to manage, Mother. And Michaela is not a ‘play thing' – she"s..." He trailed off, glancing at Micki with an unreadable expression. What was she to him?

"She"s what, exactly?" Mrs. Andres pressed, her tone dripping with disdain. "A temporary amusement before you come to your senses? You should be done sowing your oats. It's time to find a suitable wife."

"Do you hear how offensive you are?" He turned to Micki. "I'm sorry?—"

"Don't apologize for me!" His mother shrill tone echoed through the apartment.

"I"m done discussing this, Mother. If you can"t respect my choices, then I think it"s best if you leave."

For a moment, the two Andreses locked gazes, in a battle of wills. Then, Dr. Andres addressed Micki. "I do believe we came to an understanding."

It gutted Micki to do it, but she nodded.

"Good." Patrick's mother turned on her heel and strode towards the door.

As the door slammed shut behind her, Micki felt a palpable tension in the air. She turned to Patrick, her heart aching at the conflicted emotions she saw in his eyes.

"What understanding?" He demanded.

She shrugged. "I didn't take her money, if that's what you're thinking."

He scrapped his hands over his face. "God. Michaela, I"m so sorry. I had no idea she would come here."

Micki reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "It"s not your fault. I'll admit I was surprised. Good lord, I thought women like her only were in movies."

His lips twitched upward. "Unfortunately not." He drew her in, holding her. She allowed it because she needed to feel him one more time.

Finally, she pulled away. "I think I need to go."

His brow furrowed. "What? Why? Not because of her."

Her heart was shattering again after only just melding back together. "I care for you Patrick, I really do?—"

"Then stay."

"You know I can't. And you can't come with me. Our lives, our worlds, our duties, they"re just too different."

The same frustration and pain she felt shone in his eyes. She ached to take him in her arms, to soothe away the turmoil they both felt. Finally, he shook his head, and understanding, resolve filled his expression. He knew as she did that a future together was impractical.

They stood there, suspended in a moment of utter anguish. But as much as it pained her, she also knew that it was the only way forward, for both of them.