Solitaire by Lindsay McKenna Page B

people?”
    Throwing the chewed stalk of grass away, Cat picked another. A frown creased her brow. “Yes. Only I didn’t realize the depth of his treasure fever. The whole thing came to a head when he found gold on some land he had purchased near the Kalgoorlie mines.”
    With a whistle, Slade turned around, facing her. “The Kalgoorlie gold mines are among the best in Australia.”
    “Overnight, Greg became a very rich man,” she recalled, bitterness staining her words.
    Slade picked up her hand. “But?”
    “What we had became second best,” she admitted hoarsely. “Greg put gold above us. He really didn’t need what I had to offer him. Gold fever became his wife, friend and lover.”
    Slade ran his thumb across her soft cheek. How he wanted to gather Cat into his arms and hold her! He could see tears glistening in her eyes and he gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
    “Listen to me, Cat,” Slade said in a low voice charged with emotion. “Greg didn’t deserve you. Anyone who puts money ahead of the most priceless gift in the world hasn’t got his head screwed on straight.”
    Cat fought back the tears and met Slade’s level look. “Do you, Slade?”
    He shook his head. “I may have green-fire fever, but it has never come between me and the woman in my life.” His hands tightened momentarily on her shoulders. It was important that Cat believe him. “I do know what money can and cannot buy. Do you understand that?”
Please, say you do,
he begged silently.
    Impulsively, Cat leaned forward, placing a kiss on his cheek. Slade smelled male, of sunshine and perspiration. “I believe you,” she said huskily, smiling up at his surprised expression. Running her fingers down his left arm, she sat back.
    Shaken by her spontaneity, Slade felt a molten heat spread through his hardening body because of her touch. He gave her a shy smile, the words coming haltingly. “I hope, Cat, that you always know you’re more important to me than any business concern.” Gathering his courage, he added, “I like what you and I have. Money can’t buy that.”
    Without a word, Cat rested her hand in his. “I like what we have, too, Slade. But I don’t know where it’s going.”
    “Is that important right now?” He tried to brace himself for an answer he did not want to hear.
    “No,” Cat said softly. “My entire life’s in a tailspin professionally. The only good thing to come out of all this is what we share. And for that, I’m grateful. You’re steady and you’ve offered me someone to lean on. And right now, I need that.” She smiled tenderly. “Maybe this restless, globe-trotting mining engineer needed that all along and was too blind to realize it.”
    “Well,” Slade said huskily, “a crisis has a funny way of putting things into proper perspective. Having you here is like sunlight to me, Cat. I don’t know where we’re going, either, but I like it. I like what you bring out in me, and the talks we have. You’re important to me…”
    Leaning toward him, Cat placed her arms around Slade’s shoulders. She wasn’t able to give very much of a hug because of her healing ribs. “You have a funny way of making yourself a part of my life, Slade,” she whispered near his ear.
    Gently, Slade placed his hands on her waist. “You’re more valuable than any gold mine, sweetheart. Believe that with all your heart and soul.” As he got to his feet and helped Cat to stand, a sweet euphoria swept through him.
    * * *
    Three days later, Slade was still remembering their conversation as he doodled absently on a note pad. There was plenty of work clamoring for his attention, but he had a hard time concentrating on anything except Cat. Slade turned around in his leather chair, staring out of the window toward the patio below. Suddenly Cat appeared, dressed in a pair of kelly-green shorts and a white tank top. She was slowly taking her afternoon stroll across the brick-topped patio. She looked lonely–just as