“The feeling is mutual.”
Kathleen brought her hands together over her stomach and began twisting her fingers. “I’ve handled this event alone for a few years now, so when Robert said he wanted to raise the bar and have you work with me, I wasn’t sure how that was going to go. I can be a bit territorial.” Her expression morphed, and she was now looking at me with concern.
I nodded at her predicament. “That’s understandable, but you hide it well.”
The alarm on Kathleen’s face deepened. “I didn’t mean to say that I resent you. Or that I didn’t like you. I just have trouble sometimes.”
“Trouble with what?”
“Allowing others to get close, I guess. What I mean to say is, working with you puts me at ease. If you think interviews and photo shoots come naturally to me, I think it’s only because you make things like this worth looking forward to.”
I hadn’t received a compliment like this in a long while, and the pleasure Kathleen’s words gave me was a boost to my ego. The urge to ask her on a date damn near overtook me, but I swallowed it whole. She deserved the best version of me I could muster. I didn’t ask her out in that moment, but I would soon.
I chose my next words with joy. “I want nothing more than for us to succeed.”
Kathleen nodded. “I’d like that, too.”
ON A cloudy, unassuming Friday morning six weeks later, I gave Heide some added instructions along with an extra hug. I’d be working late that night and arranged for a babysitter to welcome my daughter home in the afternoon. Heide would be in bed by the time my day was over, so she humored me.
The drive to the office was uneventful. I pulled into my usual parking space and made my way inside. There was an unusual gathering of employees in the break room. The chatter from the group was boisterous and caught my attention. Wondering what it was about, I popped into the break room rather than dropping off my things in my office.
“And there’s the man of the hour!” Robert bellowed from across the room. He was staring right at me, but I looked over my shoulder, convinced he was addressing someone else. He wasn’t. I turned back to look at him, perplexed.
“Over here, Jack!” Robert beckoned me with an enthusiastic wave.
As I made my way to him, our colleagues stepped aside, creating a path. They were smiling along with Robert, and I couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t my birthday, and I wasn’t up for a promotion. Then I figured out why and stopped in the middle of the room.
On an easel in a back corner was an enlarged copy of a magazine cover. One brilliant word dominated the headline: Aurora. Right below it, Kathleen and I were prominently displayed, standing close together with magnificent smiles on our faces. I had to admit it was a decent picture of me, but Kathleen’s splendor consumed my attention.
I’d never seen her smile like the one captured in our photo shoot. I stood there, recalling every time I’d found her attractive and it was nothing compared to this photo of her, my finger secretly touching her porcelain skin. She was joyful. She was gorgeous.
I’d known the picture would turn out well, but this was beyond anything I’d imagined. We were a professional match made in heaven. Transfixed by the enlarged photo of us, I saw something new.
We were good together. Really fucking great.
“Where is Kathleen?” I asked her father. “Has she seen this?”
Robert lifted one side of his mouth in a half smile. “She saw it. Took a quick glance and turned around. She’s in her office.”
“This is great, but it’s a bit surreal, and she’s been nervous about the article. Are you going to keep it in here long?”
“Nervous? Why?” Robert fixed me with a penetrating stare.
I realized I had information he considered valuable, but I wasn’t going to breach Kathleen’s trust.
“She didn’t want to let the family down. She knows how important this type of coverage is for the firm. Perhaps a less central location would put her more at ease.” I was nervous about my suggestion and willed myself to hold Robert’s gaze while he considered it.
“What would be a better place for it?”
I grinned in relief. “Your office seems good.”
“Very well. I’ll have it moved this morning.”
“Thanks, Robert.”
“Thank you, Jack.” Kathleen’s father turned back to the picture and an unfamiliar expression transformed his rugged features. He clenched his jaw as he sought to withhold his emotion.
“What is it?” I asked, wondering what could affect Robert Brighton so strongly.
“She has her mother’s smile. It’s just been a very long time since I’ve seen it,” he said in a thick voice. He cleared his throat as he stared at Kathleen’s picture.
I searched for a question to move the conversation forward. “Have you read the interview yet?”
At this, Robert’s eyes returned to mine. “No. Is there something I need to be aware of?”
I smiled. “You’ll be proud. She was fabulous. Have a good day, Robert.”
After a quick handshake with my boss, I left the break room. I pondered checking in with Kathleen to say hello and congratulations, but her office door was closed. I decided to respect her privacy.
Instead, I entered my own office and went about my normal routine. I unpacked and stored my messenger bag before sitting down at my desk. As I reached out to turn on my computer and answer my morning e-mails, a glimmering reflection in the monitor caught my eye.
I swiveled around in my chair and spotted a silver gift bag on top of my file cabinet. There was a small envelope nestled in white tissue paper. My name was written in feminine handwriting, and I opened the card.
Jack,
Thank you for all you’ve done to help me.
You are a soothing presence in a life often brimming with irritation.
Your Friend,
Kathleen
Delighted by the unexpected gesture, I read the card several times. Happiness from her declaration of friendship washed over me. After setting the note down, I removed the tissue paper and pulled out a large picture frame with our magazine cover.
In combination with her handwritten card, the present overwhelmed me. I carried the frame to my desk and sat down in my chair. Now that I could study the cover shot in private, I traced the outline of Kathleen’s face with my finger. I’d never been one to believe in signs.
Until this moment.
I considered my options while staring at my naked ring finger. My divorce from Allison had finalized two weeks earlier and my wedding band was now tucked away in a desk drawer in my home office. My intentions had been to wait out the summer before asking Kathleen out on a date, but the events of the morning had changed everything.
I didn’t rush to her office, although the temptation was strong. Instead, I happily went about my work with my mind made up about Kathleen. The importance of the Portland event was paramount. I wanted her to succeed in every way she could. I was going to see to it. I’d committed to a long work day and I wanted to reach my goals. Frequent glimpses at Kathleen’s precious gift energized my mood. When my cell phone alarm jarred me out of the zone at seven, I stood up from my desk and stretched. It was Friday night, and many had cleared out of the office as early as they could, but I heard a distant noise elsewhere on the floor.
I stepped outside my office to investigate the source. It didn’t take long. Kathleen’s door was halfway open, light shining from within. I heard the distinct noise of her fingers on the keyboard. We were the only two people in the office.
It was now or never.
I approached Kathleen’s door with care. I didn’t want to scare her, even though it was inevitable, and did my best to make my presence known in a gentle way. I closed my fist and knocked softly on her office door.
Kathleen’s chair squeaked as she whipped around.
I pushed the door open and stayed on the threshold, hoping to calm her. “Hey,” I said.
She looked relieved. �
�Hey, yourself.”
“I saw you were still here and just wanted you to know it was me here with you.”
“Thanks, but late night on a Friday, huh? You must be working on some big event.” Kathleen grinned.
I waved a hand and stepped inside the office. “I worked on that all day. I’m catching up on a few other things tonight.”
“Is everything going all right? I hope this luncheon isn’t taking too much time away from other projects.”
“It’s fine. I’ll be leaving for the weekend with a clean slate.”
Kathleen nodded and turned back to face her computer screen. “I shouldn’t keep you waiting. I’m sure you want to get home to your daughter.”
“My stuff is done, but what about you? Can I help you with anything?”
Kathleen shook her head and kept her eyes on her monitor. “Thanks, but I promise I won’t stay much longer. Maybe another hour or so. I came in early, too, so I’m losing my focus. Head on home. I’ll see you Monday.”
“No.”
Now I had her full attention. She leveled me with a serious expression. “No?”
“I don’t like the idea of leaving you here alone. You shouldn’t walk out to your car by yourself.”
Her look of bafflement was adorable. “I’ve been doing it for years.”
“That doesn’t make it right.” I leaned against the wall and rested my hands on my hips. I wasn’t going home until she did.
Kathleen watched me, and her eyes slid over my frame in the way I ached for every single day. Something about her attention this evening was different. Significant. Her green eyes lingered on my left hand and she stilled.
“Give me ten more minutes?” she finally asked.
“Very good.” I moved back to her doorway when another thought occurred to me. “Thank you for the gift this morning. And thank you for the card. I like them both very much.”
She leaned forward, placed an elbow on her desk and scratched her shoulder absentmindedly. “Really? Are you sure?”
“I’m a part of the Aurora team now. It means a lot to me.”
Kathleen’s bashful nature took over and she avoided eye contact. “I was on the fence about it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I worried it might be vain. I just… I enjoyed our time together that afternoon. I thought it would be a nice keepsake for your office.”
I glanced around Kathleen’s workspace. “Did you have one made for yourself?”
She blushed and let out a quiet laugh. “How about I just come over to visit yours?”
I dropped my voice to a serious, honest tone. “Of course. Anytime.”
Not knowing what else to say about the matter, I shifted topics on her. “You came in early this morning?”
“Yeah.”
“When was the last time you ate something?”
She pointed to a desk drawer. “I brought my lunch in with me.”
“Lunch was over seven hours ago, Kathleen.”
She had no response to that, and she glanced at a decent stack of files sitting on her desk.
“Why don’t we go get some dinner?”
Kathleen’s sharp gaze landed on me, and I almost flinched. I’d spent weeks training myself to take things slow with her, but I’d lost my willpower. It was impossible for me to break old habits. On impulse I’d just asked my future boss out on a date in the middle of the office. She was going to turn me down, and I wouldn’t blame her one bit.
Idiot.
“Do you have somewhere in mind? Or should we just pick at random?”
Now, it was my turn to be surprised. “How about someplace… grown-up?”
Kathleen raised a playful brow. “Getting tired of Red Robin?”
“Please don’t tell Heide.”
We both laughed, and Kathleen crossed her heart, her slender fingers gliding along her chest.
Damn.
“Have you been to The Blacksmith?” she asked.
“Not yet. Will we need a reservation?”
“Probably not this time of year. Either way, I know the manager. I’ll let him know you’re a dutiful father on a rare night out.”
“You know everyone,” I teased.
“Some better than others,” she shot right back.
“The Blacksmith it is. I’ll go get my things and make a quick phone call, if that’s all right?”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Kathleen waved with another friendly smile and turned her attention back to her computer.
A few minutes later, we were headed to the parking lot.
“I’d like to drive you, but maybe it makes more sense for me to follow you to the restaurant?” I didn’t want her to worry about anything, including how to break away once our dinner was over. It was supreme luck that she had accepted my invitation, and I wanted her to lead the rest of the night.
“I suppose you’re right,” she told me, although I registered a hint of disappointment in her tone. I walked with her to her car, even though my own was nearby. She opened the door and turned to me. Her eyes sparkled with the light from a nearby street lamp.
“Do you know where we’re headed?”
My anticipation spiked. “I think so.”
She reached out boldly and smoothed my necktie. “Someplace grown-up.”
Kathleen began to pull her hand away from me, but I wasn’t ready for that yet. Without thinking, I closed my left hand over hers and pressed it against my chest. I couldn’t think of a thing to say, but my heartbeat was strong as it pulsed against her palm. We stood in comfortable silence for a good minute before I stepped back from her. I smiled at Kathleen while she took her seat behind the wheel of her sedan, and then pushed the door closed.
The night had only just begun, and it was already memorable.
AS WE waited to be seated at The Blacksmith, anticipation swirled in the air, rendering us both silent. I studied our surroundings. The dining area was accented with brick walls, black leather furniture and low, romantic light. Kathleen could have taken me anywhere for a quick bite, but instead she’d chosen a steakhouse that guaranteed a leisurely meal.
I stayed one close step behind her as we walked to our table. I paused to pull out Kathleen’s chair and placed a light hand on the small of her back, guiding her into the seat. I removed my fingers from her body and opted to sit on her left rather than across the table. We both settled in and when our eyes met, she pulled me right back in. I reached over and covered Kathleen’s hand with my own.
“This is on me,” I said.
“Thank you so much,” she returned, gracious enough not to argue.
“Consider it my thanks for a night at the grown-up table.”
We both laughed, and the movement of our bodies reminded me that my hand was still over hers. She hadn’t pulled away and didn’t appear to be in a hurry to do so. I ran my thumb along her skin, slowly. I took my time to withdraw from her and only did so with great hesitation. The moment gone, we picked up our menus and regarded our choice of items until our server approached the table.
“Can I interest you both in a starter and something to drink?”
I deferred to Kathleen and was thrilled with her next question. “Will you share one with me?”
“I’d love to. Your choice.”
She glanced back at her menu and made her decision. “Tuna poke, please.”
“And to drink?”
“How about the German Riesling?” I suggested.
“That’s perfect.”
“Two glasses or a bottle?” the server asked.
“Just the glasses for now,” I replied, looking up from the menu. “We may want to select something different for the entrée.”
“Very good.” The server retreated, giving us our privacy, so I started a new conversation. “You mentioned that tonight wouldn’t have been your first time walking out to your car alone. Do you work late often?”
Kathleen sho
ok her head. “It’s not a habit. If anything, I prefer to set things aside and come in on the weekend.”
“So why did you stay tonight?”
She shrugged. “It’s been one of those weeks.”
“What kind of week is that?” I prodded with a smile.
“The kind where you work like a fiend but can’t seem to make any headway. Quitting time came, and I still had good focus. I figured I could get things squared away and guarantee myself a normal weekend. So, I stayed.”
I nodded. “I remember pulling a lot of nights like that in Baltimore. I can’t say I miss it much.”
Kathleen took a thoughtful sip of her water. “It has to be trickier for you because of your daughter,” she said, setting her glass down on the table. “You must have to plan ahead for those kinds of things.”
“I do.”
“Where is she right now?”
“I have a sitter at home. She also has a friend over, so it’s a treat.”
Kathleen rested her hands on the menu and leaned forward. I mirrored her movement, bringing our faces close together. Her green eyes twinkled with mischief and candlelight.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” she asked. “I’m curious about something.”
“Uh-oh,” I teased.
“How did the Valentine’s Day party go? You never told me.”
I leaned back in my seat as a rush of heat surged through my cheeks. “Oh. That.”
“I’ve been dying to know,” she confessed with a dazzling grin.
“Well, I guess I’d have to call it a success, although I feared for my masculinity at one point.”
“How so?” Kathleen giggled.
I raised one hand. “Let’s just say I was lucky to get out of the living room without getting my fingernails painted.”
“What color?” Kathleen didn’t miss a beat.
I squirmed and scratched my chin, but not because I needed to search my memory. “Dandelion yellow,” I mumbled with a smirk.
Kathleen laughed heartily, and my heart pounded in response to her giddiness. “Oh my,” she exclaimed, placing her hand right between her breasts. “That’s a bold one.”
Her jubilation emboldened me. “It was Crayola.”
Chaos (Constellation Book 2) Page 18