Katie's Marriage Dilemma

By Mave Priestley

Katie was dating Jack Taylor, while unaware of his success in business, she understood theirs to be a casual friendship while he was in town, for at the most six weeks. She was shocked when he put forward a proposition.
In concluding telling her he would allow her one week then he would expect her to give him her answer.
His proposition left her in a quandary. While she desperately needed to help her Mum and Dad, her dilemma, could marriage to Jack be the answer?
Jack understanding her dilemma saw it as fate assisting him in his aim to take Katie as his wife. As the ever successful business man he grasped the opportunity it offered.
Katie knowing she could not allow sentiment for Jack or her parents to sway her as she seriously considered his offer, while pulled by her attraction to the man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mave Priestley
• Release date: Nov 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005275167

Mave Priestley

Born and brought up in Lancashire, England, in the North West coastal town, Barrow-in-Furness.Married in my early twenties and lived in various parts of Europe, then returned to the UK to live in Bradford, West Yorkshire. For the next eighteen years raised a family and held down a busy career in Human Rescource writing tin the evening and any free weekends a form of relaxation.After thirty eight years of marriage, our children having families of their own; we having five lovely Grandchildren, we then moved to France.Moving on from the previous sentence we celebrated our fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in 2018. Still have our home in a quiet part of Morbihan, Brittany. I continue to enjoy writing Romantic Novels, while my husband gardens, providing fresh produce all year round. Plenty to keep us busy, visits from family and friends, and an active life within the local French community. (The present Pandemic unfortunately has restricted that contact between friends and family ) At this point I must give thanks to a friend Dr Jenny Sullivan, for her encouragement in editing my earlier novels also her continued support as a friend.When needing to take a break from writing my novels go to my sewing room: creating Clothes, quilting, other items for our home. Exercising is a must, in the absence of the Gym and Aqua Gym being open, also walking, not so much hiking these days. Plenty of housework, cooking, making my own bread and seasonal bottling of fruit and vegetables. All of which keep me active physically and mentally.Back to my writing, I want my readers to enjoy my stories as much as I enjoy creating each one. A happy conclusion is a must. Continuing the theme of romance, I chose the present photo for my profile from snaps when attending the wedding of a niece since that was over ten years ago, I will in the near future update the profile photo when I have the time to look through recent snaps.

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Katie’s Marriage Dilemma

Mave Priestley

Copyright 2020 Mave Priestley

Published by MP Publishing Colpo at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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TOC

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Katie released a heartfelt sigh as she washed her hands thank-full she had done all she needed to this morning. ‘Lunch time,’ her taste buds exploring her hunger. Quickly taking what she needed from the fridge she tossed together a chicken salad, then cutting into one of the wholemeal loaves she had baked earlier, sliced two slices. Spreading each with a good helping of butter, murmured ‘For energy,’ taking a quick bite of a succulent slice, ‘hm, delicious. Placed utensils on a tray as the coffee issued an aroma, recovering the floral mug of coffee steadily beside the plated salad along with an apple.

Entering the Conservatory where the morning sun added welcoming warmth, eased her slightly aching body down into one of the well-used chairs, raising her legs placing her feet on the faux leather buffet she gave a smile of contentment, settling the tray, relaxed she settled to her lunch.

She thought ahead to the evening she was meeting up with her Dad, at the hospital where with her Aunt Laura would be visiting Mum. Poor Mum, she had been in hospital for three weeks following a stroke which had left her paralysed down her left side, also having damaged her right hip when falling in the garden. Having improved sufficiently along with a replacement Hip joint, tomorrow, afternoon her Mum was coming home but would have bed rest, remain upstairs for the next two weeks on Doctors orders.

Katie was on a mission, her final task today to purchase her Mum a more comfortable chair. When allowed downstairs she could sit and look out onto the garden, which had a degree of privacy. Walking along the High Street Katie was thinking how lucky it had been for her to be between jobs just now, though in reality, it sucked, luck, was not the best term, for her or her Mums situation.

Her role as Secretary to the Chairman at a family firm had ceased when it was announced that the company was closing. She had relished in her work, on being informed of her redundancy she had been given a reprieve when asked to take on the task of assisting the receivers brought in to cover the closure. For now, her job search was put on hold.

Stopping at the front of Taylors’ Furnishing, not seeing what she was looking for she entered the store. She experienced a feeling of comfort, offered an aroma and leather hanging in the air. Looking around her gaze honed in on a display of the style of chair she had in mind. On mentioning to Mac on his last visit home, that she intended buying their Mum a more suitable chair he immediately told her he would go halves, I know what you are like Sis; you will be paying out for odds and ends, and not telling Dad. A quick peck on her cheek, saying, I hope the next time I visit, Mum, will be sitting comfortably in her new chair." He had brought Julie his current girlfriend with him, this time the relationship seemed serious. They had taken a load off Katie’s shoulders over the weekend. She hadn’t dated for quite some time. Her last inroad had left her depressed in the manner of its ending.

She wasn’t alone, lifting her head seeing a man walking towards her, assuming he was a customer, she returned her mind to considering the chairs to walking around each. Clearly both had the look of offering comfort, with the provision of height for the sitter to rest their head back good wide arms and a foot rest. One a pale blue leather, having a manual lever at the side; the other in pale pink Brocade, a number of buttons at the front of one arm rest, with a lever at the side.

‘Now which of you is it to be?’ it was a habit of hers to have this tendency to talk things through aloud when feeling under pressure, this was a time of pressure. With all that had gone by in the recent hectic weeks, added that she was to spend a tremendous amount of money on one chair. She felt so tired, but she knew that it was important that she made the correct purchase. ‘You both look so right to me I wonder.......’ Smoothing her palm across the seat of the leather chair, when from the corner of her eye she caught a slight movement. A man’s deep smooth voice interrupted her thoughts, stilling her hand in the process.

‘You should give each of them a try out, the only sensible way to enter into purchasing a good chair, or bed; come to that.’ Whipping round, her silky black hair flying from side to side as she had turned to see it was the man whom she had seen earlier. Broad shouldered, his arms folded across his equally broad expanse of chest, as he too studied the chairs, ‘Is the chair for you or for an invalid perhaps?’ he asked looking down at her from a height.

He, being head and shoulders taller than her she realised even though she was now standing to her full height of 5ft 5ins, those five inches suddenly vitally important. Struck by the way he spoke, his smooth deep tones suited to his physic. A gorgeous handsome man, though his nose had an ever such slight kink to it, maybe gained while playing Rugby, the muscles encased in the dark blue suit only enhanced those muscles. What her Mum would term as a fine specimen of a man swallowing back a giggle managed a greeting ‘Oh Hello’ in the nick of time stopped herself from continuing with the rhetorical question, and what have we here? ‘You work here?’ she asked. On him nodding she was encouraged to continue, ‘Mr Taylor is he around at all? I really would like his advice. I am looking for a suitable chair for my mother.’

She knew that she was probably frowning and tried to relax her lips into a smile, guessing she must have managed something passable as he grinned and nodded.

‘Mum is due out of hospital tomorrow she had a stroke and broke her hip at the same time. My brother and I thought it would be a good idea for her to have a comfortable chair for when she is eventually allowed downstairs.’

‘Well as I suggested,’ the man while speaking looked down at her in a kindly manner, ‘try them out, and in the meantime, I will go and call Uncle Richard,’ he indicated with a wave of his large tanned hand for her to sit.

Hmm, she was thinking, a nephew, of course, he had a look of Richard Taylor. Taking him up on his suggestion she sat down, he had answered one question: she now knew who he was, but not his name, that she found frustrating. Katie decided she would sit for a few moments, moving over to the Pink Brocade chair, there carefully eased her weary body down, she settled into the comfort. Hmm, this is nice on that thought found she was sinking further down into the chair, leaning back resting her head to the soft cushion, her thoughts drifted to the man who had just left. He was probably in his thirties she was thinking as she felt her eye lids lowering. ‘Hmm I’ll just relax’ she was so tired the chair was just so comfortable and welcoming.

Jack strolling along the shop floor towards his Uncle’s office his rugged features softened by a smile on thinking what a cute little dish she is. And sexy with it, she could be fun, in a nice way, of course, he emphasized to himself. Not tarty, not at all. Apart from her attractive form, her eyes had immediately caught his attention as she had glanced up at him, holding a twinkle, green eyes, so clear and direct. They were quite beautiful for all that he had also noticed they had a tired look about them, the worried frown on her forehead had been mirrored in her eyes. Perhaps her mother was hard to deal with. He decided he would like to get to know the young woman. It wasn’t normal for customers to ask to see Uncle Rich. Maybe the family were family friends. He would ask Rich.

He had felt an instant attraction to the young woman that, in itself was worth following up, it didn’t happen very often to Jack, he had been kept so very busy in recent years building up his own business. Travelling one of the reasons, bringing his villa in Portugal to mind, he would like to take her there. Money was no problem he had amassed a small fortune by investing wisely and growing his own retail business. He shelved that for later.

Rich, as the family lovingly referred to his Uncle was no doubt going over the books again, it must be hard for him all this change, but there would be compensations he would be able to relax once he had retired. His nephew hoped that his Uncle and Auntie Clara could manage to get away for the long holiday they had promised themselves. When the contracts had been signed it was he, Jack, who would be the new owner of the store and he would be incorporating it into his own group of stores acquired over the few years he had been in the business of home furnishings. The conception of the company had been by his Grandfather in the ’50s’ to eventually be split between two brothers, his own father and Uncle Richard when they joined their father. Very soon the company would return to being again under the ownership of one member of the Taylor family, himself.

As with all the men in the family he too has a good work ethic encompassing a good business mind. His, own father and Uncle had kept their respective retail groups, ticking over, even when the economy would have dragged lesser men down. Glimpsing the top of his Uncle’s head he told him, ‘There is a customer who would like your advice.’

Richard looking over smiled before asking, ‘You could deal with it surely?’ while rising from behind his large mahogany desk.

The desk, Jack intended to keep, but not at this office, instead, he would be sending it off to his Head office in Solihull in the Midlands. ‘Well now Uncle Rich’ he drawled in an amusing manner, ‘the young lady particularly requested you by name. Such an earnest young lady she is too.’ He smiled whimsically, before adding ‘I would be happy to oblige, but I fear it is you she wants.’

Richard smiled grudgingly at his nephew; he loved the boy, not a boy any longer, now a young man, in his thirties, but still a boy to him. ‘I could do with a break. Right I will come and see who it is that feels it is so important that she needs my help,’ raising his eyebrows in an exaggerated manner.

Jack amused Rich could still get a lift out of speaking to a young woman, he imagined Auntie Clara laughing at him, in a kind and loving way, there would be no malice.

Walking his Uncle over to the area where he had left the young woman looking at the relaxing chairs, unable to see her for a moment until he saw a shoed foot tilted to one side. ‘Here you are Miss...’ Jack fell quiet, standing both men looked at the young lady who was now fast asleep in the Pink Brocade chair.

Chapter 2

‘Oh! Katie love,’ Richard whispered her name with such deep feeling and affection. Turning to look at his Nephew, he shook his head and smiled, ‘Poor lass, she must be absolutely exhausted, Ron, her father rang Clara only last week to let her know Sue was much better, and that Katie, who was luckily having a break from work and was taking good care of them.’

‘Putting others first as always, it’s not on Katie, not on at all,’ he whispered affectionately while shaking his head in sorrow. Raising a finger to his lips, this he often did when mulling over a concern. Turning to Jack, speaking very quietly so not to waken Katie, he told him, ‘I’ll pop and ask Clara to make a pot of tea; you stay near then should Katie wake up, which doesn’t seem very likely to me, not so soon anyway, tell her I will only be a minute.’

Jack nodded and sat down in one of the arm chairs across from where the young woman was sitting, taking the opportunity to study her while she slept. Her exhaustion clear, her skin appeared to have a soft lustre under the lights while being unnaturally pale. Rather more than when he had first seen her. More colour to her cheeks, he was thinking would enhance the natural loveliness of the heart shaped face. To him, she was likened to a large porcelain doll that had been placed with care in the chair. He was disturbed by his thinking as he once again he swept his sultry gaze over her sleeping form. Not at all how a gentleman should behave. Especially, when they had not been introduced, nor when the young woman, had no idea of his regard.

Shuffling to his feet, lacking his usual grace, on realizing he had disturbed her. Her, eyelids raised slowly. He was surprised how much he desired to see her dazzling green eyes once more gazing up at him. Instead, her eyes held a look of alarm before taking a sweeping glance around clearly unsure where she actually was. Jack wanting to reassure her, smiled across at her wanting to ease her concern, for a second of silent regard followed by her own rather weak smile, then so quickly her lips rounded in what he took to be a silent Oh.

He was entranced.

It was that man again after her immediate surprise Katie relaxed somewhat, he really is gorgeous. He almost made her forget what she was doing sitting in a chair in the store. Taking in her surroundings then remembering she had asked to speak with Mr Taylor, she was about to repeat her request but the man standing looking down at her, smiling at her with that so wonderfully beguiling kind smile. It was almost hypnotic she found she had no response other than to remain exactly where she was. He was absolutely gorgeous, well in a rugged manly sort of way. Her eyes taking in everything about him, his smile made her toes curl, charisma oozed from every pore of this very spectacular male specimen.

‘Hello again, I should introduce myself, I’m Jack, Richard Taylor’s nephew, he will be along in a moment, so do remain seated.’

‘Thank you’ her reply a whisper, adding the tiniest of nods in acknowledging while vulnerable, shocked at the position in which she now found herself. To think she had slept unaware of his presence. What must this man think of me? she inwardly asked of herself.

Her whispered thank you trailed over Jack as if it were a soft warm breeze. Good grief, I’m really was losing it, he moaned on the thought watching while she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips moistening them.

Quickly turning his head to glance the full length of the store, imagining how those soft moist lips would feel beneath his would taste; he had the greatest difficult in keeping it together. He hadn’t had this feeling since his teenage years when awakening to what sexual attraction was all about. He was relieved to see Rich and with him Aunty Clara and his cousin, Patricia.

‘Katie, Katie,’ exclaimed Pat rushing up to stand beside the chair. ‘What’s happened? Your Mum, is everything alright? We missed you at the Badminton. Lost three matches in a row,’ Pat in her exuberance, to get answers to her questions had startled her friend. Jack could see that Katie was trying to smile, while tears brimmed.

‘Patricia, now stop that do you hear, leave Katie be.’ Aunt Clara spoke quickly and in a tone that made her daughter stop just short of the young woman sat in the chair. Her anxiety obvious Clara suggested ‘Katie love, how about joining us in having a cup of tea, we normally have one before we close up for the night, don’t we John helps us wind down before going home. We can discuss which chair you would like to have at the same time.’ She smiled at Katie with concern.

Katie smiled back and thanked her.

‘Patricia, please go and get those few sandwiches I have ready made in the fridge.’ Her daughter smiled at Katie before rushing off to do her mother’s bidding.

By now fully awake, Katie noticed the Nephew sat down only after his Aunt had made herself comfortable in one of the chairs Katie had been considering. About to sit he sat he leaned forward and pulled a glass topped table forward for their use.

‘Thank you, Jack, glass top, good thinking,’ Clara by the loving smile she donated on him, clearly adored her nephew.

Jack, Katie was thinking, his name suited him, but, Jack what? How silly, Taylor of course so obvious the two men were related.

Richard Taylor butted in, ‘This young man is my nephew Jack Taylor, my eldest brothers’ son.’ Turning his attention back to Jack told him, ‘Katie Palmer, a daughter of one of our friends from the church.’

Katie and Jack each smiled in compliance of the introductions.

Once the older couple had tactfully got all the facts from Katie regarding her mother and her current state of health, and what she could or could not manage to do it was agreed that the Pink Brocade chair in which Katie was sitting would be most suitable.

Jack had interceded in the conversation now and then, usually on the attributes of the chair. He reassured her that the chair was available in other colours and in either Brocade or Leatherette.

Katie had been wondering if she could manage to afford to buy her Dad the blue chair, though she would have preferred a darker shade of blue. Again, Jack confirming that was possible. Saying she would have both chairs, though the blue she would prefer to be darker but in Leather and asked how soon both chairs could be delivered, she had calculated she could manage with Mac’s help to buy both. Informing Mr Taylor of her decision, ‘I will take both chairs, please. This one, Pink Brocade, for Mum and another in the darker blue leather for Dad, you can deliver this week I take it?’

Jack hid a smile, this, Katie was quite charming. He would like to get to know her. In fact he wanted to have her in his bed and soon. He had heard friends talk about being bowled over by a young woman. Something he could never understand, now though he got it. He only hoped that his reaction to her wasn’t too noticeable to the others. His first hint of trouble had been when he acknowledged he was being drawn to her beautiful green eyes.

It was arranged that the chairs would be delivered Saturday. Katie left the Taylors and the store in a cheerful frame of mind.

Striding out, for some reason she felt as if she had a spring in her step, the few minutes sleep she had must have made all the difference. Dusk had arrived early this evening, glancing at her watch, only for her steps to falter, aghast she saw that instead of five o’clock or