by Sandy Loyd
Aside from dealing with Paul, her biggest hurdle now was getting James away from work. But she didn’t want to think about that now.
Banishing all disturbing thoughts from her mind, she slipped out of her skirt and stepped into more relaxing jeans. While tucking in her sweater, she caught her reflection in the mirror and noticed a few smudges of dirt.
She washed her face, ran a brush through her short dark hair, and applied fresh makeup. A touch of mascara framed what she considered her best feature, her brown eyes, making them appear bigger. She finished, not needing more than a bit of blush and a dab of lipstick, before eagerly dashing out the door.
Judith and dinner at her favorite restaurant on Union Street awaited.
~
“Hey, gorgeous,” Paul Morrison said, after spotting Judith Reid seated at the bar. Miguel’s was packed as usual. Not with tourists, but with neighborhood professionals, like him, ready to reel in the weekend with a drink and relaxation during happy hour.
“Hi, Paul. You’re looking very GQ today. Business with a client?”
“Yeah.” He grinned at her reference to his clothes. An Armani was definitely more formal than the worn-out jeans and sweatshirt he usually wore while working out of his home office. “Nathaniel A. Baker just left. I have to look the part, you know, if I’m to impress him enough to tell him where to put his money.” Yep, appearance was everything when meeting anyone new, and he had to admit, he certainly felt the part. His grin spread. “And Mr. Baker handed me a million-dollar account, which means I’m buying.”
“Thanks.” She held up a glass of what had to be BV cabernet, since that was her favorite. “I already bought one and I plan to nurse it all night.” Taking a sip, she kept her warm gaze on him as he grabbed the stool a stranger had just vacated.
“So, what’s up with you?” he asked.
“Kate’s meeting me for dinner.” She smiled. “We’re celebrating her birthday a little late. You’re welcome to join us,” Judith offered.
He nodded. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.” His time was limited and having dinner with Kate Winters was at the very bottom of his to-do list. “But I’ll share a celebratory glass of wine and keep you company until she gets here.” He waved to the bartender and ordered.
Judith sighed and gave him a disapproving frown. “I don’t understand why you two don’t like each other when you have so much in common.”
His drink appeared. Paul picked up the wineglass and sipped while considering her words. “I can’t speak for her, but for me it’s a matter of taste,” he finally said, scrunching up his nose. “She’s definitely a go-getter, but she’s too opinionated.” While he appreciated her business acumen and her ability to sell antiques, her pushy personality always rubbed him the wrong way—which didn’t make sense, considering he usually admired that type of person. Hell, he strived to be one himself.
Judith remained silent, eyeing him thoughtfully. “Are you sure you two can handle three days with each other at Lake Tahoe?”
“Sure.” Kate had been the main instigator in organizing the getaway and Paul had jumped on the chance to spend an entire weekend with Judith. He’d known Judith since they were kids on the same summer swim team. In college, thanks to his efforts, they’d become good friends, yet he’d always wanted more. Judith had recently talked about marriage, so he’d mentioned taking their relationship to another level. She soon backed off, saying she didn’t want anything to spoil their friendship. For Paul, it was damned frustrating to be relegated to ‘friend’ status after all this time. “Have you thought more about the trip?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Apparently, it’s important to Kate, so I’m working on clearing my schedule.” She gave him a pointed look. “But we’re going just as friends. We agreed, remember?”
“How could I forget?” he said, wishing she’d never brought up the M word. He should have known she’d be skittish about something so permanent, when it had taken him years to gain her friendship. He reminded himself that she had recently made the move to the city, which was a good thing. Baby steps. Now that she was only minutes away, rather than an hour’s drive, they could spend more time together. He held up his wineglass. “Here’s to clearing your schedule.” He had three glorious days to change her mind about being more than friends by showing her how great they were together. Thank God, Kate’s ballsy approach was finally useful for something besides irritating him. “When’s she due?”
“Anytime. I’m a little early.”
“Well, I’ll clear out once she shows.” Paul had to remain on his best behavior. It wouldn’t do to hang around and verbally try to get a rise out of Kate, something he had a hard time resisting. He had to prove he could get along. Otherwise, Judith might add to her schedule rather than clear it. “So, how’s work going?” he asked, switching to safer topics. She was a commercial designer who’d ventured out on her own after relocating from San Jose two months earlier.
Judith had just finished detailing her latest project when he glanced up to see Kate breeze through the restaurant’s entrance. Once she spotted Judith, she jostled through the throng of bodies. A salmon had an easier time swimming upstream than she had working her way to the bar.
When her gaze hit his, she halted and her smile faded somewhat. “Hey, Paul.”
Her unenthusiastic greeting rose above the din of the noisy bar.
Paul nodded. “Don’t worry,” he said, to put her mind at ease. “I’m finishing my drink, then I’m outta here.”
“Don’t rush off on my account,” she purred, but her sweet tone was as phony as her too-tight smile. She turned to Judith, who’d stood, and offered a more natural smile.
As the two women exchanged hugs, he laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of rushing.”
“I’m so glad to see you,” Judith said, sitting back down as Kate perched on the empty barstool on the other side of her. Her attention on Kate, she asked, “Would you like a drink?”
Kate nodded, then made eye contact with the bartender and pointed at Paul’s glass. “I’ll have white wine too. Chardonnay, please.” She leaned forward to glance at Paul through the space between the bar and Judith. “I see you’re dressed up today.” The genuineness of her smile slipped a bit, hiding behind her salesperson’s insincere mien. “You look very professional.”
His jaw clenched at the part of the sentence she left off—for a change. After making too many comments about his laid-back work habits in the past, she didn’t have to say it for him to know she was thinking it.
Their gazes remained locked, until he shook his head. He shouldn’t care what she thought. Hell, he usually had three or four hours in by the time most people arrived at their jobs, including her. Besides, results mattered most in his business. And he provided results. His connections, together with his intellect and long hours, had proven to be quite profitable since starting his own firm, for both him and his clients. He didn’t need Kate Winters’ approval to validate his success.
“Our table should be ready soon,” Judith said, drawing his attention. “So, how was your trip?”
“Great!” Kate replied. “I missed you, though.”
“You’ve been on a trip?” Paul snared her gaze again and flashed a quick grin. “I didn’t even realize you were gone.”
She turned to Judith with eyes that said, See what I have to deal with?
When Judith glared at him, he shrugged his shoulders, and formed his features into an innocent expression that said, What?
“So when did you get in?” she asked, turning back to Kate as the bartender placed a glass of Murphy Goode chardonnay in front of her.
“Late Monday night.” Kate took a sip and sighed. “Today was a backbreaker because one of the deliveries from my buying trip arrived.”
The two women discussed Kate’s antiques store, while Paul stayed silent. Finally finishing his wine, he stood and gave Judith a peck on the cheek. “I’ll let you two continue talking business.”
“You’re sure you
don’t want to join us? You are welcome, you know,” Judith offered, throwing Kate a warning glare, daring her to disagree.
“I know, but I’ve got stuff to do. I’ll give you a call and catch up with you later, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Bye, Paul,” Kate said, in that same too-sugary voice.
“See ya, Kate.” He smiled and waved.
~
As she watched Paul go, Kate whispered, “He stayed longer just to bug me.”
“Cut it out!” Annoyance flared in Judith’s eyes.
“What?” Kate huffed. “I didn’t do anything but try to be nice.” Paul scored a ten in the looks department, but that was mainly because he favored James. Both were striking blond men with the same sexy blue eyes and six-foot frame, but Paul was slightly leaner. Sporting a navy business suit, he looked as if he’d stepped out of a magazine.
Everyone but her saw Paul as a great guy—funny, intelligent, hardworking—a successful self-starter, so no one understood why the two of them were at odds. Heck, sometimes she had trouble understanding the reasons. Somehow, they just fell into their combative pattern and she had no clue as to how it happened. For as long as she could remember, Paul seemed to derive a lot of pleasure from pushing her hot buttons, and tonight had been no different.
“You heard him say he didn’t realize I’d been gone.”
“I doubt he meant it the way you took it.” Judith stood, waded through several bodies toward the hostess, and asked about being seated.
Kate knew exactly how he meant it. He might have a decent sense of humor, but he also used subtlety like a weapon. When he aimed that subtle humor her way, she felt like some moronic bimbo who chased after his brother. Like he had room to joke about relationships. But Judith was right. His comments struck a nerve because she sometimes felt like a lone aggressor, the sole participant doing anything to maintain a relationship with James. It was definitely past time to put petty grievances aside, especially since they’d be spending a few days together. And if everything worked out, they would be related, which meant she had to work harder on changing her attitude toward him.
The hostess grabbed two menus and nodded. “Your table’s ready. Right this way.”
“Come on, let’s sit down and you can tell me all about your buying trip,” Judith said, reaching for her drink.
Maintaining a contrite smile, Kate joined the procession through a maze of crowded tables. The hostess stopped at a small one in front of the main window overlooking the busy street.
After sitting, Judith opened her menu.
Kate sat opposite and tried to focus on her menu, but too excited by all her news, her enthusiasm sprang free. “Oh, Judith, it was such a great trip. I got more than I’d imagined. Some great deals and a few good contacts.”
“I’m glad.” Judith lowered her menu and smiled. “I know what success means to you.”
“And this only adds to that success.” She didn’t struggle any longer, not like before, but she still had to budget. The salary she gave herself allowed for her two greatest pleasures—traveling and snow skiing. She used her buying trips to satisfy her traveling bug. As for her skiing passion, dating James had its perks. The two used the Morrison family lake house in the mountains for ski weekends. Only this year, he’d been too buried in projects to take a day off, so she’d gone without him too many times. And skiing alone was the pits.
“Tell me about your trip.”
Kate nodded. “You wouldn’t believe the places I’ve seen in the past two weeks.” She recounted her trip to Charleston and Savannah, providing tidbits of her observations while scouting out auction houses and other resources for the most interesting pieces to buy. “A couple of times I was out in the middle of nowhere—well, not really because I was usually no more than an hour or two from any city. But, I have to admit, the tune from Deliverance kept going through my head on some of those back roads, considering the looming live oaks bordering them with moss hanging down on branches touching each other and blocking out the sky. I felt all alone and out of my element.”
The waiter who’d taken their orders earlier returned with a tray full of food and began serving them.
“I don’t know how you do it, but you can always make a mundane business trip sound like an adventure of a lifetime. I wish my life could be half as exciting,” Judith stated, picking up her fork and digging into her salmon.
Silently, they ate.
“I’m bidding on a new project,” Judith finally said, breaking their lull. “It’s not big, but it’s a start, and hopefully will lead to another job.”
“Tell me about it.” She listened intently while Judith chatted about designing the interior of a new store. Kate understood her desire to make something grow from nothing but an idea and a dream, as her friend was doing with her new commercial designing business.
“I still have several irons in the fire for more jobs, but the process takes time and I won’t hear anything back for several days, maybe weeks.”
Judith’s voice faded to silence. The two continued eating.
“You haven’t changed your mind about the ski trip next weekend, have you?” Kate asked, bringing up the subject after swallowing a bite.
“No. Paul’s ecstatic. Unfortunately, I have a feeling spending three days with him as a foursome might be a big mistake.”
“Wait,” Kate said, holding up her hand. “I’m lost. I thought you guys were talking about marriage?” Heck, their situation was what started her discontent in the first place. That and Chrissie’s engagement. Both made her realize her biological clock was ticking and she wanted a family more than anything.
“We were.” Judith sighed and stirred the food around on her plate. “But suddenly I have huge misgivings. I told him how I felt and just want to keep things light, but I sense he’s on a different schedule than me. I really wish we could go back to the way it was before I said anything.” Her expression was torn. “So you see my dilemma.” She hesitated before adding, “Why do you need us along, anyway?”
“Because if you and Paul don’t go, James won’t either, and it’s important that he go.” Kate cleared her throat. She couldn’t admit her real reasons, when doing so would lead to questions she didn’t want to think about, much less answer. “I kind of told him we needed to socialize more. And in doing so, may have inferred you and Paul needed the time together.”
“Oh, great. I hope James doesn’t repeat that to Paul.”
“I’m sorry. I assumed it wasn’t a big deal.” She met Judith’s eyes, hers pleading. “It won’t be so bad.”
“Aren’t there other couples you could ask?”
“I tried.” Kate shrugged. “No one else could make it.” Which was why she’d turned to Judith and Paul in a last-ditch effort to salvage plans for next weekend. She felt James slipping away as it was and, if she waited longer, he’d most likely be enmeshed in another all-consuming project.
Judith searched her face for several beats. “So, let me get this straight. You decided to include us when you can barely stand Paul. Yet, you’re willing to spend a weekend with him? What’s with James anyway? Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. He just works too hard.” Kate focused on her wineglass, uncomfortable with her friend’s probing eyes. “I can handle Paul for a weekend—especially since we’ll be skiing most of it.” Besides, she’d already decided not to let his little verbal jabs get to her. She brought her glass to her lips and took a drink.
“You know, this might work out for the best. I mean, once all our marriage phobias are worked out, we’ll be related. We all need to learn how to get along.” Kate had good reason for disliking Paul, but she suspected Judith wasn’t overly fond of James, an idea that started in college. “I know James isn’t your favorite person.” Over the years, she’d nixed too many of Kate’s attempts at forming a foursome like best friends usually did. Of course, Judith rarely dated in college, which played a big part, as did being GUL—geographically u
ndesirably located—for living an hour’s drive away for most of that time. Still, even after moving to the city, she claimed to have plans if she knew James would be around. Judith treated him with the same reserve she did all other men, except Paul. And Kate had always wondered why.
“What do you mean?” Judith asked, drawing her gaze.
Kate eyed her thoughtfully. Although her friend feigned confusion, she didn’t buy it. “Why don’t you like him?”
“I don’t dislike him.” She frowned. “He just seems a little unapproachable.”
“Unapproachable?” Taken aback, she thought about it for a moment and shrugged. “Maybe he’s just mirroring you, which is all the more reason to come skiing. To become better friends. He may end up being your brother-in-law, you know.” To be fair, if she expected it of Judith, she should be willing to do the same with Paul. “Don’t worry. You’ll survive and so will I,” she soothed, squeezing Judith’s hand. “You might even enjoy it and have fun.”
A nice weekend away without distractions was what they all needed. She only had to remember that. And once James understood how serious she was, he’d propose. “We could both use some downtime.” She grinned at Judith’s skeptical expression, suddenly feeling more encouraged…more like her old, optimistic self. Her plan would work. It had to.
“What’s so amusing?”
Kate shrugged. “It’s too bad we can’t flip-flop the guys’ timing.”
When Judith’s expression turned questioning, she explained. “I know James loves me, but the white picket fence isn’t a priority for him yet. Work is. You love Paul, and he’s embracing happily-ever-after. You don’t want marriage right now and I do. Wouldn’t it be great if their timing matched ours?”
“Hmm, I never thought of it that way. Paul’s a great guy, and I do love him, but I can’t see myself married to him. Or anyone, for that matter.”