Free Breakaway - A Contemporary Romance Drama Story by kate hopkins

to see her."
     
    "Of course." Kate handed over the infant seat and then went to the living room. She found Nathan sitting on the sofa flipping through the channels on the TV. "Hi."
     
    Nathan glanced up and smiled. "Hey, Katie."
     
    Kate settled on the sofa beside him. "What brings you by?"
     
    "I promised your father I would drop off some books on blood pressure and how to maintain it. Where's Gaby?"
     
    "Richard has her."
     
    Nathan shut off the TV and put the remote control on the coffee table. "What brings you by?"
     
    "This is my home," Kate said. "I didn't know I needed a reason to stop by."
     
    "You don't," Nathan said. "I was just being nosy." He reached out and tucked a strand of Kate's hair behind her ear.
     
    His touch was tender. After the day she had Kate needed a little tenderness. Without thinking she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him. Laying her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes and sighed.
     
    "Are you okay?" Nathan asked, slipping his arms around her waist.
     
    "I am now," Kate said. "It's been a rough day."
     
    "Do you want to talk about it?" said.
     
    I can't, Kate thought. I want to. I want to tell you everything so badly. "No. I just need a hug."
     
    "Well I'm glad you chose me for that hug," Nathan muttered.
     
    "Me too." Kate rubbed her cheek against Nathan's shirt. The scent of his cologne filled her nostrils while his even breathing lulled her into a peaceful state. Edward and all her troubles were momentarily forgotten as Nathan held her close. Nothing else mattered but him and the hunger for affection that was like a constant ache in her heart. Nathan drew back and Kate gazed at him. She brought a hand up and caressed his cheek. "Thank you for making me feel better. Instead of prescribing pills you should try giving out hugs."
     
    Nathan grinned. "I don't think my patient's would want me hugging them."
     
    "Oh I don't know about that," Kate said. "I'm sure there's a few of your female patient's that would love a hug from you."
     
    "I just bet-"
     
    "What are you two doing?" Mr. Miller asked, walking into the room.
     
    "Nothing indecent, I assure you," Nathan said. "Your daughter had a bad day and needed to be comforted."
     
    "You want to tell your old dad about your bad day, sweetheart?"
     
    "No." Kate removed herself from Nathan's arms and stood. She moved into her father's embrace and kissed his jaw. "How was your day, dad?"
     
    "It was fine," Mr. Miller said. "Lets take a walk in the garden. It's a lovely evening."
     
    Kate, Mr. Miller and Nathan stepped outside. The sun was setting, turning the sky shades of pink, orange and blue. A light breeze carried the fragrance of roses on the air. Kate looped one arm through Mr. Miller's and the other through Nathan's.
     
    "When I smell roses I always think of Nora," Nathan said. "If I close my eyes I can almost see her puttering among the bushes."
     
    "Nora loved her roses," Mr. Miller said. "That's how I met her. When I was in college I worked part time delivering flowers. Her fiancé bought her a dozen roses for her birthday. I wasn't scheduled to work that day, but the guy who was had come down with a cold, so I covered for him. Those roses paled in comparison to her. When she opened the door and I saw her I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. When she smiled at me I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It wasn't easy stealing her from her fiancé. He was a persistent bastard. I had to really work hard to win her heart, but I didn't care. I would've done anything for her."
     
    To Kate's surprise she found her cheeks were wet with tears. Her father's story moved her and made her yearn for a love like he and her mother had shared.
     
    "I'm glad you didn't let a little thing like a fiancé stand in your way," Nathan said. "If you had we wouldn't have our Katie here with us now."
     
    "You wouldn't be here either, Nathan," Mr. Miller pointed out. "Without Katie you would have choked to