by Rachel Lacey
Outside, it was another gorgeous day as Mother Nature attempted to stave off the arrival of fall. The sun shone brightly, reaching between buildings to form pools of light and warmth on the sidewalk. His morning swim had been canceled due to a problem at the Y, so he’d decided to walk to work for exercise instead.
Josh liked to study the architecture of the buildings he passed. He was fascinated to think of their original inhabitants, over a hundred years ago, women in long dresses, men in bow ties and tall hats. One of his favorite sights on the daily walk to work was the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral on Ninety-Seventh Street. Built at the turn of the nineteenth century, it was an impressive red brick structure with arched doorways, stained glass, and five onion-shaped domes topped by crosses that hailed directly back to Tsarist Russia.
It was easy for Josh to get lost in time as he made his way through the streets.
He reached his office with just minutes to spare before his first class. This had been a long week, readjusting to the routine of the university after a quiet summer spent studying in Spain. He was already counting the days until his sabbatical there began.
He filled his briefcase and headed downstairs to teach his favorite class, “Miguel de Cervantes: Don Quixote and Beyond.” He and his fifteen students would spend the semester examining the book in detail, reading it from cover to cover as they discovered the themes and symbols that made it such a classic.
The majority of the class were seniors, and although they’d only met once so far this semester, Josh knew most of them from previous classes. They were a good bunch, and he was excited to discuss the first assignment with them. They had read the prologue and first two chapters and peppered him with questions over Cervantes’s flowery prose.
He took an early lunch at his desk, then taught a class on Nineteenth Century Iberian Culture. He was packing up for the day when his cell phone rang. The number came up unknown. “Hello?”
“Josh?” Her familiar voice stole the air from his lungs.
“Yes?”
“It’s Kate. You know, the girl with the fluffy white dogs who should have introduced herself right away as Katherine Hayes.”
“I know.” He could practically hear the smile in her voice and felt his lips twitch in response. She was irritatingly charming.
“Well, you hung up on my assistant, so I had to track you down myself.” Her voice was light and musical, just as he remembered. The sounds of New York traffic echoed behind her on the line.
“And how exactly did you get my number?”
“Oh, come on, ‘Josh who teaches Spanish at Columbia.’ You weren’t hard to find.”
Maybe not, but somehow the idea of her going to the trouble of tracking him down was irrationally sexy. Gabe appeared in the doorway to Josh’s office, satchel on his shoulder. They had agreed earlier to grab a beer together before heading home. Josh shook his head, pointing to the phone. Gabe shrugged and settled a shoulder against the doorjamb to wait.
Josh glowered and motioned him away.
Gabe’s eyes widened. He mouthed Is that her?
Josh tried again to wave him off, even as he knew there wasn’t a chance in hell his friend would miss the chance to listen in on this conversation. Christ.
“Are you mad about yesterday?” Kate said in his ear. “I really didn’t mean for it to go as far as it did.”
“It’s fine.” He scraped a hand across his brow. In retrospect, he could understand how it happened, after their chance encounter rescuing her dog. By the time they got around to introducing themselves, it would have been awkward any way she’d handled it. Still, the call from her assistant yesterday irked him. As if she were too important to call him herself. Of course, she’d just done exactly that.
“I understand if you’re a little pissed, really,” she said in a laughing tone.
A smile tugged at his lips. “Well, maybe a little.”
In the doorway, Gabe watched with amusement.
“I got carried away, and I’m sorry. I’d really like the chance to make it up to you. Would you like to go to dinner?”
“Dinner?” No way in hell. But Gabe was nodding vigorously, and Josh realized with a sinking feeling he would never live it down if he said no. Besides, if he went to dinner with Kate, it should free him from Lily’s quest to set him up on a blind date. What safer way to get his sister off his back than a date with a woman he would never see again?
He cleared his throat. “Ah, sure.”
Kate clucked her tongue. “Such enthusiasm. You’re an interesting man, Josh Randall. I like that about you. Does tonight work? But early. I’ve been up since three o’clock.” She chatted so easily.
By contrast, he still felt two steps behind. “Since three?”
“Yeah, did you see me on TV this morning?”
He pictured her with the curls and jeweled clothes, and his throat went dry. “I did. A buddy of mine called and told me to turn it on.” He shot Gabe a pointed glance, and his buddy grinned, offering a thumbs-up.
“Ah.” She let out a hearty laugh. “Was he impressed?”
“Oh, it wasn’t…it wasn’t like that.” Josh mentally slapped himself on the forehead.
“Lighten up, Josh. It’s okay. There’s no privacy in my world, believe me. But if you’re going to sell me out to the tabloids, don’t tell me until after dinner, okay?”
As if he’d know how to do that, even if he wanted to.
4
Josh stepped through the doorway of Bóheme, the restaurant Kate had suggested for dinner. His eyes settled on her, and he stopped cold in his tracks. Wow.
She was luminous, her hair swept in shiny waves over her shoulders, eyes crinkled in one of her irresistible smiles as she chatted with the maître d’. She wore a bubble-gum-pink dress, straight cut to her knees, with a scooped neck that showed a hint of cleavage, and a black belt that accentuated her narrow waist. Her legs were bare except for strappy black sandals, toned and sleek and sexy as hell. She stood out in the room like a rose among carnations.
What in the world was he doing, having dinner with Katherine Hayes? Bóheme clearly catered to celebrities. He spotted a local newscaster at a nearby table and an actor whose name he couldn’t recall at another. The décor was trendy, with track lighting, colored lights, and brightly patterned tapestries hanging from the walls. Everyone in the room sparkled with money, class, and importance.
Josh straightened his tie and briefly entertained the idea of slipping out the front door before she’d spotted him. But standing a woman up wasn’t his style, and anyway, Kate chose that moment to glance toward the entrance. Her gaze settled on him, and her smile widened.
He blew out a breath and returned her smile.
“Josh.” She walked over and planted a light kiss on his cheek. The tantalizing aroma of her perfume drifted over him, reawakening memories of their time together in Central Park.
Lust tightened in his gut. “Kate.”
The maître d’ showed them to a table near the back, pausing to pull the chair out for her. Kate sat with the grace of someone used to such service while Josh bristled at the interference. Sitting across from her now, he was reminded just how painfully long it had been since he’d gone on a date. Way too damn long.
“So.” Kate leaned across the table to squeeze his hand. “Can I have this opportunity to reintroduce myself?”
He forced a smile. “Sure.”
“My name’s Katherine, but my friends call me Kate. Well, except for my publicist, who has persisted in the annoying habit of calling me Katie. When we met, I had no idea we would end up spending an hour walking and talking in the park. I was just kind of enjoying not being myself for a few minutes. I’m really sorry for the way it turned out.”
A young girl stepped up to their table, her eyes wide. “Excuse me, Ms. Hayes? I’m sorry to interrupt, but could I have your autograph? I’m such a big fan.”
Kate smiled warmly. “Of course. What’s your name?”
&
nbsp; “Tanya.”
Josh watched as she signed the piece of paper the girl held. This wasn’t the Kate he’d met yesterday in Central Park. This was Katherine Hayes, big-shot celebrity. It was hard to reconcile the woman who sat across the table from him with the Kate from yesterday, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. He had no interest in fame and celebrity. He could only hope this fancy restaurant boasted fast service, because as far as he was concerned, tonight couldn’t be over fast enough.
The waiter approached the table with a bottle of wine. “Your usual, Ms. Hayes?”
She looked to Josh for approval, then nodded. The waiter filled their glasses, and Kate clinked hers against Josh’s. “New beginnings?”
He sipped his wine. It was a Merlot, rich and velvety with a hint of blackberry. Kate’s taste in wine appeared to be as classy and refined as the rest of her. They ordered, and the conversation flowed smoothly as they ate. Kate spoke with great animation about her work, her eyes bright with excitement as she talked about her upcoming tour.
They were interrupted twice more by fans requesting autographs, and each time, Kate obliged with a ready smile. Josh thought it rude of them to interrupt her while she was eating, but Kate didn’t seem to mind. As they were finishing their meal, the actor he’d noticed earlier strolled over to their table. Josh stifled a groan. What on earth had he been thinking to accept this dinner invitation?
“Ted, what a wonderful surprise.” Kate stood to greet him with the same dazzling smile and kiss on the cheek Josh himself had received earlier that night.
“You look beautiful, as always.” Ted was tall and blond, with a tan a shade too orange to be natural and sun-kissed highlights that were probably equally fake. His smile was genuine enough, and it was fixed on Kate with blinding intensity.
“Thank you.” She returned to her seat. “Ted, this is Josh Randall. Josh, Ted Wilhelm.”
Ted flicked a brief glance in Josh’s direction. He grunted a quick “hey” before returning his attention to Kate.
Ted Wilhelm. Josh knew that name. The man had starred in more than a few box office hits, most memorably a string of action movies where he played a former Marine out for vigilante justice.
“I saw you on the Today show this morning. Killer performance. My TV is still smoking,” Ted said, his attention still riveted on Kate.
Josh tensed. The balls of this guy, blatantly hitting on her right in front of him. He felt the completely inappropriate urge to deck the idiot, right here in the middle of this fancy restaurant.
Kate smiled at Ted. “Thank you. What brings you to town?”
“Press junket for War Days. Premiere’s Tuesday at the Ziegfeld.”
“Of course. I’ve heard wonderful things about it.”
“I hear you’re about to go on tour.” Ted rested a hand on her shoulder, and Kate treated him to another dazzling smile.
“Next month. And you’re filming Nantucket Summer with Nicole Wells, if I’m not mistaken?”
“Only because you turned it down.” Ted didn’t attempt to disguise his disappointment.
“I know, that was a tough decision. But the tour… Music comes first for me, I guess. Besides, after Harrington Grove, people would start talking if we costarred again so soon.”
“Let them talk,” Ted said, his eyes locked on Kate’s.
Josh ground his teeth. Not that he planned to see Kate again after tonight, but Ted didn’t know that. He drained the last of his wine to keep from making a scene as Ted and Kate said their goodbyes.
Kate caught Josh’s eye and winked.
“Sorry,” she said as Ted Wilhelm finally headed for the door. “Ted’s a little bit…well…” She bit her lip. “Sorry.”
Josh shook his head. He’d learned his lesson. He and celebrities did not mix. Period. Only because of manners too deeply ingrained to ignore did he agree to leave with her. He would see her home, then be on his way.
By the time the Mercedes—driven by her own personal chauffeur, of course—pulled to a stop in front of her building, Josh had decided he would walk her to her door, then take the subway home. He was ready to put tonight behind him.
She turned toward him. Soft light from the street spilled across her face, illuminating blue flecks in her eyes and the pink sheen of her lips. “Will you come up for a drink?”
“Kate, I, ah…” He drew a deep breath, then shook his head when words failed him.
She placed a hand on his. “I understand.”
“I’ll walk you in.”
She nodded, then turned to speak to the driver. Josh grasped the door handle and swung it open, intending to come around and open her door for her.
“Josh, wait,” Kate called behind him. “There are pap—”
Her words were lost as he stood from the car, and the night exploded around him. Cameras flashed in every direction, blinding him. Men shouted. Josh took a step back and tripped over the curb. What the hell?
A hand slid into his, and he turned to find Kate at his side. She smiled for the cameras, looking every bit the glamorous superstar. She leaned in to place a kiss on his cheek and murmured an apology in his ear.
His pulse raced at the brush of her lips against his skin, betraying his anger with a rush of something much warmer but just as unwelcome.
As they made their way through the throng of paparazzi toward her building, a young woman stepped from behind the photographers and approached them. “Excuse me, Ms. Hayes?”
“Yes?” Kate turned to her with a smile. Their eyes met, and Kate’s expression hardened.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but—”
“No, I’m sorry,” Kate interrupted her, “but as I told you yesterday, I don’t sign autographs at my home.” Her tone remained friendly, but Josh heard a subtle shift from her relaxed, conversational voice to the more polished, reserved way she spoke on camera.
He slipped an arm around her waist, feeling an unwanted need to protect her, from what, he wasn’t sure.
“I’m, ah, not looking for an autograph.” The woman glanced around at the photographers surrounding them, her eyes wide. “Is there any chance I could speak to you privately?”
“Who are you?” Kate’s back stiffened, and Josh tightened his arm around her waist, drawing her closer.
“My name’s Lori Booth.” She paused and watched Kate as if this name should mean something to her. It didn’t appear to. Lori stepped closer. She cast a wary glance at Josh and turned her back to the photographers.
Beside him, Kate watched Lori in silence, her expression betraying nothing.
“Wade Rynes was my father,” Lori whispered.
Only because he was holding Kate so tightly did he feel her rib cage expand as she sucked in a breath. Her smile never wavered.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know anyone by that name.” Kate threaded her fingers in his, pulling him through the doors before them and into an expansive lobby.
He absorbed a quick impression of polished marble floors, a twenty-foot crystal chandelier, and a trickling waterfall along the back wall. Kate waved at the doorman, not slowing until she had led Josh down a hallway to the right, out of sight from the watching eyes of the paparazzi—and Lori Booth.
“Sorry about that.” Kate kept her eyes straight ahead. “They’ll be gentler when you walk back out alone, or, if you prefer, I could have Anton pick you up in back. He’ll drive you home.”
He stopped, turning her to face him. “Are you okay? Who was that?”
“Some overzealous fan who’s been hanging around for a few days.” She shrugged, ignoring his first question.
“You’re shaking.” He squeezed her hands, and she jerked them free. She blinked, but not before he’d seen the tears shining in her eyes.
She crossed her arms over her chest, raising her chin defiantly against his concern. “I’m fine.”
Her stage face was back in place now, but he wasn’t buying it. Lori Booth had upset her. His chest tightened, and his jaw clenched. There was
no way in hell he could leave her standing there, looking like that. Still, he tried to tell himself it was nothing personal as he led her toward the elevators when he should have been running for the door.
* * *
Kate closed the door to her condo behind them. She rested her forehead against it for a moment to collect herself before turning to Josh.
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked as she headed for the bar.
“Sure.” He walked over to stand beside her, and she could only hope the lighting was too dim for him to see the slight shake of her hand as she poured. She turned to hand him a glass, and their eyes locked.
“So, what was that all about, or is it none of my business?”
“I’m sure it’ll be everyone’s business by morning.” She brought her own glass to her lips and took a long sip. “Look, if you’re headed for the door, then go. Don’t stick around out of misplaced guilt, because I promise you, I’m fine.”
“I’m not headed for the door.” His eyes were intense, and she was suddenly aware of how close they were standing. She could feel the heat from his body and smell the fresh scent of his cologne. Her heart thumped in her chest, spreading warmth through the chill that had taken hold deep inside her.
“Really? Because five minutes ago, that’s exactly where you were headed.” She took a step back, returning some space between them.
Sitting in Bóheme, he’d been jumpier than a fan before a meet and greet. Yet the moment they stepped from the limo, he’d once again been in control, not in the macho way she was accustomed to, but with a quiet strength that put her at ease.
“Dinner was awkward,” he said. “I think we can agree on that. I figured I’d save you the formality.”
“The formality?” She wasn’t sure whether to be offended or amused. “I like you. I wouldn’t have invited you up otherwise.”