The Source: Book III of the Holding Kate Series by LaDonna Cole

It was true. Something had happened between Corey and Najwa last night.
    “Why wouldn’t we be?” Kate forced her expression to remain as blank as a slate.
    “Did you, have you talked to, did Corey tell you about us?”
    “Tell me what, Najwa?”
    “We didn’t mean for it to happen, Kate. We have just worked so closely together and feelings just grow between a man and a woman sometimes without realizing it, before you know it you are head over heels in love and you can’t keep your hands off each other and nothing else matters.” She stopped her tirade and gasped. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”
    Kate’s mouth hung open as she searched Najwa’s expression. She felt like she was going to be sick. She clutched her stomach and backed away from Najwa as though she were a viper and back stepped around to the side door. She reached behind her and turned the knob. With a shuddering breath, she flew outside and down the stairs as fast as she could go.
    Najwa walked to the window, peered through the curtain and smiled as she saw Kate run into the house she knew she would.
    Corey came out of the bedroom buttoning his shirt. “Something smells delicious and I am not talking about the sausage.” He drew up short when he saw Najwa. “Uh, good morning, Najwa.” He looked around. “Where’s Kate?”
    “She said she had some things to do with Stealthlin this morning and she called me over to make you breakfast.” Najwa walked over to the tray sitting on the table and pointed at the chair. “Sit down and enjoy your meal and then we will go to work together.”
    “Oh. She did?” Corey glanced at the door as though trying to decide something, then he seemed to deflate a bit and sat down to eat.
    Disappointment flooded Corey. He could remember only two days in the last thirty-seven years that he and Kate had not started in each other’s arms. The night she and Stealthlin escorted a group of orphaned children to a neighboring settlement, and the night of the big fire the second year after they arrived. All other nights and mornings found them together. Today he needed her more than ever. He needed to talk to her, look into her loving eyes and know everything was right in the world. I’ll come home for lunch. We can talk then.
    Najwa talked and talked, but Corey heard nothing she said. His mind was occupied with thoughts of beautiful Kate and wondering what urgent business she had with Stealthlin this morning.
     

     
     

 
     
     

     
     
    KATE WATCHED FROM Stealthlin’s and Candol’s front window, expecting Corey would run out to find her any moment. She couldn’t believe what Najwa insinuated. No! What she outright said. Corey loved Najwa? How long had this been going on? Who else knew about it? Kate’s face burned with embarrassment. I’m arrogant. I believed that what Corey and I shared couldn’t be touched. But the longer he stayed in the house with her, the more Kate had to admit something was going on. If he really cared about Kate’s feelings, he would have rushed out after her. He didn’t. He stayed in Kate’s house with the other woman. Kate burned with jealousy, wondering what they were doing in there for so long.
    Candol walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Go talk to him, Kate.”
    “I can’t.”
    “You must.”
    “She is in there with him.”
    “What? You left him alone with her?”
    “I couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her. I couldn’t hear anymore of her hateful words.”
    “Come on, we are going to talk to them.”
    “No, I can’t. It hurts too bad.” Kate put her face into her hands and cried.
    “Oh, Kate.” Candol cradled her friend into her embrace and wept with her.
    Stealthlin walked over and wrapped his arms around them. He noticed movement across the street. “I think they’re coming out.”
    The girls broke away from him and peered through the curtain. Corey and Najwa walked out the front door. Najwa talked with hands flailing in