"Miss Palmer, what a pleasure to see you again."

Kate Palmer froze. That voice, rigid and biting, haunted her every dream. But as it boomed in her ears now, Kate was acutely conscious of being awake. This is it, Kate, she thought, clenching her fists until the knuckles blanched, the moment you’ve been dreading for five years.

Jake Preston stood tall and straight, his arms crossed protectively across his broad chest, as he waited for the woman who had broken his heart to turn around.

And finally, knowing that she had no alternative, Kate turned to face him. Wow! He looked as gorgeous as ever. Never mind his smug expression, Kate saw only those familiar piercing sea-green eyes, blood red lips, and long, tousled locks the color of unadulterated beach sand. "Hello, Jake," Kate whispered.

"Hello, Jake. That’s all?" Jake countered. "No dishes hurling my way, no glass of champagne in my face? My, my, how you’ve softened over the years, Kate."

Irate at Jake’s callous sarcasm, Kate stiffened. How dare he speak to her in that tone, say such horrid things. Had he forgotten why their relationship ended that way? "Don’t do this, Jake," Kate pleaded. "Please, I don’t want to argue with you. I’m here to pick up my friend Erin's children. As soon as I meet with the preschool Director, I’ll get the children and leave."

Holding out his business card, Jake grinned as Kate read it: Mr. Jake R. Preston, Director, Faith Academy Preschool. Kate’s jaw dropped, and for the time being, she forgot about being angry with Jake. "What about your painting, Jake?" she asked.

Immediately, Jake’s expression hardened. "Let’s just say I lost my inspiration," he replied.

To Kate’s relief, Maggie and Allison burst through their classroom door before the conversation could continue. "Katie, Katie," the twins shouted, "can we have pizza and soda for dinner? Please, Katie, please."

Kate laughed at the sight of the two little bouncing redheads tugging affectionately at each of her arms. "Sure, pumpkins," she conceded, hugging each in turn, "but it will be our secret – okay?"

The girls giggled. "Okay, Katie," they promised. "Let’s go."

One twin tucked safely under each arm, Kate bolted for the door, grateful that her unanticipated encounter with Jake was over. But Jake had other ideas, and Kate shuddered when his strong hands firmly gripped her shoulders, abruptly halting her exit.

Kate spun around to glare at Jake, bracing against more stinging accusations, but to her surprise, Jake smiled at her.

Jake Preston looked at Kate Palmer as if for the first time that day. As beautiful as ever, Kate’s hair was longer and darker, but nothing else had changed. Blazing royal blue eyes, full, pouting lips, inviting shapely curves - just as he had dreamed every night for the last five years. The last five years. They had been hell without Kate. 

Clueless as to Kate’s reason for so vehemently rejecting his proposal of marriage, Jake had been devastated, and within months, he had made a sorry mess of his life.  When his best friend, Doug, offered this job to him, he had scoffed at it at first, but in the end, it saved him. Jake loved everything about this place: the work, the staff, and especially the children. The future promised peace and happiness once again.

Now Kate Palmer stood before him, dredging up feelings of loss and failure that he had fought so frantically to suppress. Jake hadn’t expected to see her - at the preschool of all places - and he was furious at first, angered as much by her mere presence as by his own reaction to it. But as he watched Kate leave, something implored him not to let her go a second time.

"Wait, Kate" Jake began, "I’m sorry for saying those awful things to you just now. I’d really like it if we could be friends. Please, have dinner with me tonight."

Stunned by the unexpected invitation, Kate stared at Jake like a deer in the headlights not knowing in which direction to run. Jake Preston was smiling that heart melting, lopsided grin at her, had just asked her to dinner. Jake Preston, the man that, despite everything that had passed between them, despite how hard she had fought to despise him and discard him from her mind, she still loved with an all-consuming passion, wanted to be back in her life. Kate could feel the excitement swell within her, but she remained wary of Jake's motive. Yet in the end, Kate conceded. After all, what harm could come from one dinner? she asked herself.

"Okay, Jake," Kate replied, hoping that she sounded more composed than she felt. "I have Maggie and Allison until 7:00 p.m. Pick me up at 7:30 p.m. – you know where."

♥♥♥♥♥♥

The Proposal -2 (Continue)