Read Kate's Vow (Vows) for Free Online Page A

Newton understands that rules are rules around here.”
    “I certainly do,” Kate said with obvious gratitude.
    Davey grinned. “You just don’t like losing.”
    “Nope,” Kate agreed. “Never have.”
    He regarded her hopefully. “Could you tuck me in? I don’t really need anyone to do that,” he added quickly. “But I thought maybe you’d want to, since you don’t have any kids of your own.”
    Kate swallowed hard, touched by the bravado that masked a cry for affection. “I would be happy to tuck you in.”
    “I have to take a shower first, but I won’t be long. You won’t leave, will you?”
    Kate cast a look at the usually stiff housekeeper and discovered that her eyes were surprisingly misty. Sensing no disapproval from that quarter, she shook her head. “I’ll wait right here,” she promised.
    When Davey had gone, Mrs. Larsen regarded her somberly. “The boy misses his mother. What you’re doing for him is a real nice thing,” she said stiffly.
    She walked out before Kate could respond. Kate wondered if she knew the real reason Kate was around or if she’d simply been referring to her agreement to remain to tuck the boy in.
    When Davey came in a few minutes later, he was wearing pajamas, and his damp, sandy hair was slicked back. He showed Kate his room, pointing out pictures of his softball and soccer teams, the trophy he’d won for football. “We were champions,” he told her as he smothered a yawn.
    “I’ll bet your dad was really proud,” Kate said.
    Davey shrugged. “I guess. He didn’t get to the game. He had to work.”
    “Things like that happen sometimes,” Kate told him, thinking of how many times she had put social engagements on hold because of a backlog of work. It wasn’t the first time it had occurred to her that she might have been every bit as distracted from parental responsibilities as David Winthrop, and without the recent loss of a spouse as an excuse.
    “I’m sure he wanted to be there,” she said, mouthing the platitude in the faint hope that it would reassure Davey.
    “He never even asked about it,” Davey retorted, then sighed. “I guess he just forgot.” He glanced at Kate. “Do you ever wish you had a kid like me?”
    Kate felt an odd and definitely unexpected twinge of yearning deep inside. “Yes,” she said. She meant it only to reassure him, but as she spoke she realized with amazement that it was true. Right this instant she did wish she had a child who cared whether she was home at night, a child who wanted desperately to share the excitement of accomplishments, a child who would give meaning to an existence that had recently seemed to lack focus.
    She smoothed his hair and smiled as his eyelids fluttered closed. “Yes,” she said again softly. “I wish that I had a boy just like you.”
    * * *
    It was nearly one in the morning when David finally trudged wearily into the house. He’d meant to get home earlier, but somehow the work had been so engrossing that he’d never even noticed the time.
    Who was he trying to kid? He hadn’t been able to bear the thought of spending another night trying to figure out how to form a new bond with his son. The weekend had been sheer torture. Davey’s patient, hopeful glances had filled him with an intolerable level of guilt and left him wishing that parenthood came with an instruction book. It had never seemed difficult when Alicia was alive. She had planned outings. She had been the driving force that had filled the big old house with laughter.
    He walked into the den, tossed his jacket on the back of a chair and poured himself a drink. Only then did he notice Kate Newton, sound asleep in a wing chair in front of the French doors opening onto the patio.
    He stood over her, indulging this odd fascination she seemed to hold for him. She was wearing another one of those power suits, this one in a pale gray. A ruffle of ice blue silk edged the deep V neckline. She had kicked off her gray high heels and sat