Chapter 29

Kate woke up with Hollis's arm draped over her stomach, and she closed her eyes again, taking a deep breath, savoring this moment, because she knew they only had a few more days like this left.

These last three days with Hollis had been magic. It was a preview of what their lives would look like if this really did work out, and Kate couldn't get enough of it. All of it. Waking up in Hollis's arms, taking turns making breakfast or dinner, stretching out on the couch to watch a movie with no space between them.

Hollis stirred beside her, her arm sliding away, and Kate rolled onto her back. "Morning," Hollis said, her voice rough. "What time is it?"

"Almost ten." Kate stretched her arms over her head. "I wish I hadn't agreed to work today. I have to get up." She leaned in to kiss Hollis's shoulder before slipping out of bed.

"Have a shower." Hollis propped herself up. "I'll make us some coffee and something to eat."

"I won't be long." Kate leaned over the bed to kiss her. She knew if she stayed in bed beside Hollis, she'd be late for work.

Kate padded into the master bathroom, turning on the water, and stepping under the hot spray. As she ran her hands through her hair, she couldn't help but replay the last few days in her mind. It was all the little moments that stuck out. They hadn't done anything special, other than spend time together. They'd barely left the house, just to go for a hike and some lunch yesterday afternoon. But it was how quickly they'd fallen into this domesticity.

When she'd agreed to come here for the holidays, she hadn't put too much thought into what that would look like. Would it be awkward? Would they get sick of each other spending that much time together when they were still getting to know one another? They'd essentially be living together for the better part of a week. If this wasn't going to work, it wouldn't take long for them to discover that.

But the days had gone by smoothly, effortlessly almost, and Kate was already thinking ahead to how she was going to go back to their previous routine of meeting three or four nights a week for dinner or a quick drink.

Kate finished washing her hair and toweled off. She wasn't going to spend anymore time doubting this. So far, other than Hollis still being married, everything had been so natural between them since they saw each other again last month. They'd just have to figure out how to navigate the next few weeks or months or however long it was until Hollis was finally free.

The idea of walking down the street or on a beach in the spring, hand in hand, had her smiling to herself as she put on her work clothes. She pulled her hair back into a messy bun and put on some light makeup before going downstairs her sling back on her shoulder, following the delicious aroma of coffee and eggs.

"Thank you," Kate said, coming up behind Hollis as she turned off the stove, placing a kiss on her shoulder.

They ate at the breakfast bar as they had every morning, and Hollis said exactly what she was thinking about. "I wish this didn't have to end in two days."

"I know." Kate finished her eggs. "I was thinking the same thing. In the shower. Now. I was too afraid to say it though," she said as she got up and loaded the dishwasher with their empty plates. "I feel like I'm the one trying to show restraint now."

"Hey," Hollis said, catching her hand as she came back around the counter. She reached up to caress Kate's cheek. "Nothing about this has been conventional so far. Why would it be now?" Hollis kissed her tenderly. "Do you have time for another coffee before you go?"

"Sure," Kate said, pulling away. "I'll get them. I've got about thirty minutes before I have to get going."

Kate had just brought over two mugs of coffee when they both jumped, their eyes wide as they both caught the distinct sound of a key turning in the front door before it swung open and then clicked shut. Kate's heart stuttered, and the way the color had drained from Hollis's face told her that she wasn't wrong to jump to the worst conclusion.

Her husband was home.

Kate sunk onto the bar stool, her stomach twisting into knots. There was nowhere to hide. Thankfully, her things were all in Hollis's bedroom, so it wouldn't look like Kate had been living here for the last three days, but how was Hollis going to explain this random woman in their house? Would she say they were friends? Would he even believe that?

At least they were both dressed. Kate was grasping at straws, trying to find something positive to fill her mind with while her body tensed up, his footsteps approaching the kitchen.

"What are you doing home?" Hollis asked when he entered the kitchen.

Kate felt the blood drain from her face, the sight of Professor Clarke standing just a few feet away from her making her light headed. No. No. How…?

He hadn't noticed her yet. His eyes narrowed, locked on Hollis. "What a greeting?" he said with a sarcastic laugh. "I felt like coming home a few days early. Is that a problem?" His eyes shifted to Kate, and she had to hide her now trembling hands, sliding them off the counter and onto her lap, her pulse swishing in her ears. His eyebrow lifted, and Kate couldn't miss the smirk that came to his lips. He recognized her. She wasn't sure if he would considering that she sat at the back of his lectures. How was she going to explain being here?

"Dave," Hollis said, her voice rough. "This is Kate. She's shadowing me."

Dave's gaze never left Kate's. "You want to be an interior designer?" His smile was sickly sweet. "And you're working over the holidays?" he asked Hollis, finally looking away from Kate.

"Not every client celebrates Christmas," Hollis said cooly.

"Uh huh." Dave nodded, his eyes returning to Kate.

"I have to go," Kate said, already standing up, her legs wobbly. She barely glanced at Hollis. Her heart was ready to jump out of her chest. Her stuff was upstairs, but she couldn't get it. At least, she had her bag and her car keys. She'd have to come back later to get her weekend bag or maybe Hollis could bring it the next time they got to see each other.

Kate strode out to her car without looking back. She fumbled with her keys, fishing them out of her bag and pressing the button to unlock her car. As she reached for the door handle and pulled it open, a strong hand grabbed it before she could get in.

"My wife is a terrible liar. Even if you weren't in my class, I would have known that was bullshit." Professor Clarke's heated stare was fixed on her, his jaw clenched. "I know you're into women. Students don't think their professors notice anything, but we do. And you seem to have a few admirers closer to your own age. Why don't you forget about my wife, huh?"

"Does she know about your weakness for women half your age?" Kate asked without thinking, her voice surprisingly steady while her heart raced, and her stomach lurched.

"Well, apparently she has the same problem," he sneered.

Kate swallowed hard, trying to get this conversation to end as soon as possible. "In a few weeks you'll be divorced and none of this will matter."

"Oh, it matters." His piercing gaze studied her for a second, and it was as if a lightbulb had gone off in his mind, his eyebrows slowly lifting. "No wonder she let me have the house. She just wants this to be over."

"Don't you?"

"I've got a reputation to protect."

Kate scoffed. "You have a reputation, alright."

"Hey," he practically growled, his tone becoming more aggressive. "You know you have to pass my class to graduate, don't you?"

Kate's pulse jumped. "You wouldn't."

"I wouldn't? Why not? It's your word against mine about these alleged affairs I'm having with my students."

Kate inhaled a shaky breath, a wave of anxiety washing over her. "What do you want?"

Professor Clarke stared her down, his voice low. "Stay away from her. She's still my wife."

"Jesus Christ," she muttered under her breath, her hand on her forehead as she leaned back against her car. She couldn't deal with this now. She was going to be late for work. "Get your hand off my car," she snapped at him, unable to hold back her anger any longer.

He held her gaze, like he was debating challenging her before finally taking a step back and walking over to his own car, opening the trunk and taking out a suitcase.

Kate jumped in her car and got out of there as quickly as possible, her hands clammy on the steering wheel. She needed time to process everything that had just happened, but she wasn't sure there was much she could do. Right now, she needed to focus on the road and then get through her shift. She'd have to talk to Lexi later.