DREAMING OF YOU GO PL

by Barbara Freethy

  "Not even the hot guy?" Shari gave her a thoughtful look. "Or have I hit the nail on the head? You met someone, didn't you?"

  Kate shook her head, not really wanting to get into her very brief conversation with Barrett Fox. "No. And there's nothing to tell. I spoke to Olivia and Candice, and I think they're genuinely interested in using us. They want to set up a meeting this week."

  "Great."

  "I'm going to start work on their proposal now."

  "Before you do that…we have one more problem. Our downstairs neighbor wants our pink-and-white wedding wallpaper removed from the entry and stairwell."

  "That's ridiculous. We got permission from his company to put up our wallpaper when we moved in."

  "Some woman who calls herself his assistant says that it's inappropriate for his business," Shari replied. "She called a short while ago."

  "Well, then he should just take his business back to wherever he had it before. I am not removing that wallpaper. This is just ridiculous. I already spent a fortune moving the cupids, and now we have to live through his remodel. It's too much."

  "I don't think we have a choice. He's the landlord."

  "We'll see about that," she said, knowing that with her splitting headache and her inexplicable desire to see Barrett again, she probably should not go downstairs. But she couldn't stop herself.

  After several knocks on his door went unanswered, she pushed it open. There were two guys pulling down sheetrock, and she could see Barrett standing in the larger office by the front windows. He appeared to be putting together a bookshelf, which seemed a bit odd, but she was too irritated to think about that.

  She moved quickly into the inner office. "We need to talk," she said. "Now."

  He slowly turned his head, an odd look in his eyes. "Hello, Kate. How are you?"

  "How am I?" she sputtered. "I'm extremely annoyed."

  "Why?"

  She frowned at his calm question. "Because you are turning everything upside down. I have clients coming to my office this afternoon and the stairwell is covered in dust, not to mention the fact that we can hardly hear ourselves think. And now I find out you want us to remove our very expensive wallpaper."

  "Yes, that has to go. It's not appropriate for my business."

  "How can wallpaper interfere with your business? And why are you renovating this office? If you don't like it, surely, you have another space you can use in some modern downtown building. Why wreck this beautiful, charming historic space?" she demanded, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently.

  "This space suits me. It's private, and I think my clients will like that."

  "Your clients? I don't understand. Doesn't Fox Management deal in real estate?"

  "Among other things. But Fox Management is run by my father and brother. I'm an attorney—a divorce attorney. And I don't think your wedding wallpaper will make my clients happy."

  She stared at him in astonishment. "You're kidding."

  "Why would I be kidding?"

  "Because I can't imagine why on earth you would want to move your offices right downstairs from a wedding planning firm."

  "I didn't know about your business when I made the decision to move. My current office was recently damaged by a water leak. This is the only place available that fits my needs. So, for the next several months, this will be my new home."

  She shook her head. "This is not going to work. I don't want my brides exposed to the senseless bickering of divorce clients."

  His lips twisted in an ironic smile. "I feel the same way, only in reverse. No one wants to be reminded of their wedding day when they're getting a divorce. I think the best thing we can do is to stay as separate as possible, and the common areas should be decorated in neutral colors."

  "The wallpaper that's up is very subtle."

  "Not subtle enough. We have to coexist. We have to compromise."

  "I seem to be the one doing all the compromising," she said.

  "Well, my family's company does own the building."

  "So, you keep reminding me."

  "It will be fine. In fact, we may both increase our business. You'll get them on the way in, and I'll get them on the way out."

  She didn't find his cynical humor at all amusing. "That's not funny."

  "It's true."

  "Not everyone gets divorced."

  "And not everyone lives happily ever after. In fact, most people don't. The statistics would agree with me."

  "I'm not interested in statistics."

  "Why would you be? You make your money on foolishly-in-love brides and grooms," he pointed out.

  "It's not just about making money. I'm trying to make people happy, to kick off their marriage in the best way possible, to give them a day to remember."

  "That day might be the only thing they want to remember."

  "I'm not taking down the wallpaper."

  "Then I'll have it done," he returned.

  "You're extremely…" She couldn't find the appropriate word.

  He gave her a mocking smile. "I was thinking the same thing about you."

  "I was hoping we could be good neighbors, maybe even friends, but you're making that impossible."

  "There are a lot of things we might be, but I don't think friends is one of them," he returned, giving her a look that sent an odd shiver down her spine.

  She wished she had a snappy comeback, but she couldn't seem to find her voice. There was so much tension between them, and it wasn't all about their jobs or their opposing views. It was about an unexpected, unwelcome attraction. She could not possibly desire someone she didn't even like, could she?

  "I should go," she said.

  "You should," he agreed. "I have a lot to do."

  "So do I."

  "Then…"

  Wondering why it was so difficult to walk away from him, she finally forced her feet to move, taking a little delight in slamming the door to his office behind her. But she didn't think a closed door was going to stop Barrett from continuing to turn her life upside down, and she wasn't just talking about wallpaper.

  Chapter Three

  Kate was one beautiful, stubborn, romantic spitfire, who was no doubt going to bring nothing but trouble into his life. Barrett smiled to himself, as he ran a hand through his hair and stared out the window. He should really keep her at arm's length, but when she'd been ranting on about happily ever after, his thoughts had gone more in the direction of pulling her into his arms and kissing her into quiet.

  He could only imagine how that would have gone. She probably would have slapped his face. On the other hand, the way she'd looked at him with her beautiful blue eyes…well, he had a feeling she'd been feeling some of the same heat. Even though she clearly did not want to feel anything for him.

  He stood against everything she believed in—and vice versa. The last person he needed in his life was some dreamy-eyed woman who wanted a fairy tale. He didn't deal in that kind of optimism anymore.

  And Kate certainly didn't deal in his brand of cynicism. She couldn't even handle ripping down some corny wallpaper. She'd acted like he wanted her to rip her heart out.

  No. She was too much of everything.

  He needed to stick with women who were on the same page as he was.

  The door to his office opened. His heart gave a ridiculous leap at the idea that Kate might have come back for round two. But it was his younger brother, Matthew Fox, who walked over the threshold.

  Matthew and he shared similar features, with brown hair and green eyes, but that's where their likeness ended. Matthew was an outgoing, talkative salesman, who liked nothing better than entertaining and closing a deal. He also enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, the result of those deals.

  There was no question that Matt was his parents' favorite. Matt was the one who'd gone into the family business, who now worked with his dad, who played golf at the club and loved a good party. Whereas he didn't like golf, parties, or the business.

  But he did like his brother.

>   "Matt. What are you doing down here?"

  "Checking out your new digs. Not exactly a step up from your last place. Why didn't you stay at the tower? We've got plenty of room on the thirty-sixth floor."

  "I like to keep my feet a little closer to the ground. A couple of days there was all I needed."

  "Too close to Dad?"

  "That was one of the reasons I decided to leave sooner rather than later."

  Matthew grinned. "Understood. But this old Victorian should be housing a tea shop, not a law firm, not that you have much of a firm, since it's only you. And did I see that the upstairs office is a wedding planning company?"

  "Yes, it is."

  "How's that going to work with your business?"

  "I have no idea. I didn't realize what the company was until I came by on Friday night." He shrugged. "It will work out. So, what are you doing here?"

  "I'm here for Mom."

  He groaned. "What party do I need to be at now?"

  "The Winter Ball on Friday night. Mom wants you to take the daughter of her best friend Karen Cummings. Karen's daughter, Elaine, is in town and is dying to go to the party. She needs an escort—you."

  "Why don't you take her?"

  "I can't. I already have a date, but you do not."

  He let out a groan. "I do not want to go to that party."

  "I don't think you have a choice."

  "Let me guess—Elaine is single."

  "Definitely. But she's also very attractive, so this might not be bad, as setups go."

  "Mom needs to concentrate on setting you up. I already went down the aisle once. It's your turn."

  "No, thank you. I am enjoying my life as it is. Plus, I'm only thirty, whereas you are pushing thirty-four. Mom wants grandchildren."

  "Well, I hope you're planning on procreating, because I'm not."

  Matt frowned. "I hope that's not true. You'd make a great father."

  "That would require being a husband, and I was not good at that—kind of like our old man." Their parents had divorced when they were young teenagers. His mom was on her second marriage, his father on his fourth.

  "You're nothing like Dad. And Vanessa was not right for you. Next time, you'll make a better choice."

  "There won't be a next time. I'm not interested in marriage. I certainly don't see a lot of happy ones in my line of work, or in my own life."

  "I get it, but I still think the right woman might change your mind. At any rate, are you up for the Winter Ball? Before you say no, Mom told me to remind you that you owe her."

  "Damn. I do owe her. She sent me a very lucrative client a few weeks back."

  "Then it looks like you have a date Friday night. You might like her." Matt paused. "Unless there's someone else you're interested in…"

  Kate's pretty blue eyes passed through his mind.

  "Wait a second," Matt said, a gleam entering his gaze. "There is someone—who?"

  "No one. Nobody," he said quickly.

  "You're holding out on me. You've got someone on your mind."

  "I'm not holding out on you. I barely know her." The words slipped out before he could stop them.

  "Her? Does she have a name?"

  "Not that you need to know. Look, I'll take Mom's friend's daughter to the party. But, right now, I need to get this bookcase put together, so unless you want to help…"

  "God, no," Matt said with a laugh. "You know I'm not handy with tools."

  "You could be."

  "I don't want to be."

  He smiled. That was another thing they had in common—they both knew exactly what they wanted. And they usually knew how to get it.

  But as his brother left the room, he reminded himself that not everything he wanted was good for him and getting involved with the tenant upstairs would be a really bad decision.

  Although, it might be interesting…

  * * *

  "That man is the most obnoxious man I have ever met in my life," Kate declared, pacing back and forth in front of Shari's desk. She'd had a good twenty minutes to calm down, while Shari had been on the phone with a client, but she'd only gotten more annoyed with each passing minute.

  "I guess he still wants the wallpaper removed."

  "Do you know what he does for a living?" She didn't wait for an answer. "He is an attorney, but not just any kind of attorney. He is a bloodsucking, greedy, cynical divorce attorney."

  "Really? I thought he worked for Fox Management."

  "He said that's his family's company. Breaking up marriages is his real profession."

  Shari frowned at her description. "I don't think you can blame a divorce on the attorney."

  "Maybe not. But I've never met an attorney who tried to help the couple work out their problems. They're too busy looking for a way to make money."

  Shari raised an eyebrow. "He is really annoying you."

  "This is just crazy." She waved her hand in the air. "How can a divorce attorney and a wedding consultant share the same office building?"

  "It is ironic, but you need to try to calm down. The Simpsons will be here in five minutes. And you have a full schedule the rest of the day."

  "You're right. I'm just so mad. That man is…"

  "Really getting under your skin," Shari finished.

  "I want him gone."

  "Are you sure that's what you want? Because I've never seen you this worked up over a guy."

  "You haven't met Barrett Fox."

  "No, but I'd really like to," Shari said with a gleam in her eyes.

  "He's going to be bad for our business."

  "We'll make it work. It's not like we have another choice. We have a lease. And this is a great location for us."

  She really hated that Shari was making so much sense. "I know you're right. I just don't like it."

  Shari gave her a thoughtful look. "What's really bothering you, Kate? You're always the cool, calm, poised person. You soothe anxious brides and work your magic on controlling moms. You can handle one cynical divorce attorney."

  "I know I can. But he made fun of my business. He thinks I'm creating a wedding day that no marriage could ever live up to. He blames over-the-top weddings for the increasing divorce rate. They set expectations too high. The bride and groom aren't living in reality but in a dream world."

  "But you don't believe that."

  "No, I don't, but he did make a point." Not that she'd admitted that to him. In fact, she'd denied that any of her wedding clients had problems, but that wasn't completely true. "Look at Gretchen's wedding last year—it was completely over-the-top, and now she and Joel are talking about a separation. Was I part of the problem?"

  "Gretchen is a looney tune. Forgive my bluntness, but it's true. Joel just took a long time to figure that out. You give people their dream, and that's a wonderful thing. You create happiness. You bring lovers together. Barrett Fox just cleans up after the ones that don't work."

  "You're right. And you and Todd are still happy together, and you were my second client four years ago, so that's saying something. I don't know why he made me doubt myself."

  "I don't, either, because you never doubt yourself. You've been single-minded and focused since I met you. It's been all business all the time."

  She had a feeling that was part of the problem. With her last two friends getting married, she was beginning to wonder if she'd put too much time into her business and not enough into her personal life. She was starting to question a lot of her decisions. But regardless of whether or not she worked too much, she loved her job. And it was time to get back to doing it.

  "I'm going to review the Simpson file. I'll be in the conference room."

  "I'll send them in when they arrive. And, Kate, if you ever need to talk, I know I'm not one of your girlfriends from college, but I am here."

  "You are one of my best friends as well as my right-hand person. I couldn't do this without you. I know I don't say that enough."

  "We're good." The phone rang at the end of Shari's st
atement. "Back to work."

  "Back to work," she echoed, happy with that thought. She knew how to work. It was what she was good at it, and the rest of her life would just have to figure itself out.

  Chapter Four

  Barrett stopped by his office late Friday afternoon to check in on the remodel. To his relief, everything was done. The walls were painted, and the new carpet installed. Warm lighting bathed the rooms, and the furniture had been delivered and set up. His first client would be coming in on Monday, and he was ready for business.

  However, as he considered the sleek couch and glass coffee table in the reception area, he found himself wondering if he might have gone a little too modern. This décor had probably fit better in the downtown office he'd previously inhabited, rather than this old Victorian with its nooks and curves, some of which he'd had recently eliminated.

  Modern was good, he reminded himself with a frown, hating that Kate's voice had gotten into his head. And it wasn't just her voice, either; it was her fiery blue eyes, dark hair, and beautiful curves. Yeah, he'd definitely spent way too much time thinking about her the past week. He hadn't actually seen her since she'd stormed out of his office several days earlier, but he'd been acutely aware of footsteps overhead and the occasional melodic laughter that drifted down the stairway.

  He tensed as he heard the outside door to the building open and then close, followed by a knock on his door. He walked over to open it, mentally preparing himself to go another round with Kate, who would no doubt have noticed the new wallpaper that had gone up in the entry and stairwell the night before. But it was an attractive redhead standing in the hall.

  "Can I help you?" he asked.

  "I'm Shari. I work upstairs with Kate. I thought I'd say hello. I assume you're Mr. Fox?"

  "Barrett Fox," he said, shaking her hand.

  "It's good to meet you."

  "Is it?" he couldn't help asking.

  Shari grinned. "I know you and Kate didn't get off on the right foot, but the cupid statues were more my fault than hers. I was the one who placed the order, and I was the one who suggested we store them down here." She glanced past him. "Wow, you've really changed everything, and in only a couple of days."