“I didn’t.” He heard her take a deep breath. “Your plant renovations are amazing.”
“Told you,” he said proudly.
“Austin, I hope I wasn’t too presumptuous in inquiring about your insurance. My work has consumed me too much, it seems.”
Austin felt a prickle of suspicion at the back of his neck. Just how much of her apparent friendliness was heartfelt and how much was business driven? Was he just another client to her? He needed to tread lightly. Very lightly, where Katia was concerned.
“I guess I hogged the conversation all afternoon. I didn’t ask you a single thing about yourself. What a pighead I can be sometimes. Comes from being alone too much.” He cringed. Why had he said that? He didn’t feel bad about living alone, and in fact he liked it just fine. He studied the top of his burled-wood desk. He had a million questions he wanted to ask her. Was she married? Divorced? Children? Boyfriend? Was she happy? Did she suffer after leaving him as much as he had when she left?
“Austin?” Katia said. He’d been silent a moment too long.
“Why are you moving here?” he blurted out. “You said yesterday that you wanted to apologize to me, and you did that. You’ve done that. So why not just go back to Chicago?”
“You’re right, Austin. We have a great deal to talk about, don’t we? My company is relocating to Indiana because it’s gotten too tough in Illinois with all the taxes and costs going up. Well, you understand that, I’m sure.”
“I certainly do.
“One of my bosses is convinced that the internet is the way to build business these days, and I agree with him, to a point. My other boss thinks more like I do—that it’s the one-on-one, personal relationship with clients that’s most important.”
Austin was sure he wasn’t the first person to get this speech from Katia. She probably repeated it to every prospective client.
Maybe she had done some investigations into what he would need for the museum. It made sense. She’d always been smart as a whip. Something told him she never passed up an opportunity when it came to her career. It was his bet she was about to give him her best serve. He stood, ready to deliver his backhand.
“Austin, I’ve taken the liberty of putting together some suggestions for you and the museum. This is just a stepping-off point, mind you, since you’d have to give me exact figures for the automobile values.” She laughed lightly.
Austin put his palm to his forehead as he remembered how much he’d always liked her laugh. It was lyrical and sounded like music to him. Katia had a lovely voice, he had to give her that. No wonder she did well in sales.
Katia continued. “I know it’s too late to discuss it this week, and I have my movers coming on Saturday. Would it be possible for me to visit with you on Monday?”
His heart sank. So this was all about business. Was anything she’d said to him sincere? Her apology, her reminiscences...were they just part of her campaign to win his account? Austin started to answer, but his anger caused his tongue to stick in his dry mouth. “I’m not sure—”
“Maybe another day would be better. I’m flexible,” she offered.
“Not Monday. Not any day. I’m not interested, Katia,” he finally managed. Austin was surprised at how cordial he was. He’d wanted to blast her and call her out for being conniving. Perhaps it was his upbringing that caused him to dismiss her instead, as if she were nothing more than a telephone solicitor, or if wisdom had overridden his anger and hurt.
“Austin, I have the very best product. I thought that since we were friends you’d—”
“Friends?” Now he raised his voice. “You never intended to be my friend, Katia. You came here to get my money. To increase your monthly quota. You thought you’d get to me by apologizing for the past, and I fell for it. I’ve gotta hand it to you, Katia, you’re really good. Sociopath good. I bet you don’t have the first ounce of remorse for what you’re doing. Thanks, but no thanks!”
He slammed the receiver down.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
KATIA STARED AT her cell phone, wondering if she’d lost the connection or if Austin had cut her off. She guessed it was the latter. Her heart was pounding again, and her hand was shaking. She still didn’t quite believe what he’d said. How was it possible that they’d slid from bonding into a free fall back to enemy territory? What had she said? What had she done?
Was Austin so paranoid that he saw her as a con artist or a manipulator? If she was honest with herself, she could see why he might think that; in a way, she was using him to secure her job.
Katia was light-headed and out of breath. Though she had very few belongings in her apartment, she remembered that Tina had stuck a pack of brown paper lunch bags in one of her boxes. She rooted around for them, opened one and held it to her face.
Breathing slowly, Katia reminded herself that she was not a vixen or a user. She was concentrating on her own survival. True, she had to land Austin’s account to keep her job. That was the prickly part of the equation. And Austin had every right not to trust her or want to do business with her.
If she thought she was the bad guy before, she was really stepping into dangerous territory now. Her choices were glaringly apparent. If she was truly Austin’s friend, she would walk away and never mention her insurance proposal again.
But if she did that, she’d lose everything she’d ever worked for and held dear. Katia had no family left, other than her few cousins in South Chicago, and her career was everything to her. She wanted to be Jack’s savior. She desperately wanted to be the one to save his company, or at least put it back on track. Katia was sure that once Jack arrived in the new office and threw himself into carrying out their vision, they would find a way to grow Carter and Associates.
For now, they needed to survive. In the process of packing up the Chicago office, she’d accidentally picked up a pile of overdue bills and unpaid tax notices. There was no question that Jack and Barry had been so eager to move forward with Katia’s idea because if they didn’t do something drastic, they’d go under.
Katia knew she had to make her own drastic move with Austin or the company would be dead in the water before they were even afloat.
Katia put the brown bag down. Her heart rate had returned to normal. She didn’t know how she’d done it, but she’d beat back her fears and anxiety one more time.
She was determined to find a way to get through to Austin McCreary, even if it meant their relationship would only ever be professional.
This isn’t over, Austin. I need you, and you’re going to help me.
Although she knew Austin would still be fuming, Katia believed the best approach in this kind of situation was to address the problem, put out the fire and make amends. There was no time like the present.
Katia started down the stairs and was about to leave Mrs. Beabots’s house by the back door, but she noticed the older woman in the kitchen as she passed, dressed in a white terry-cloth robe with a Ritz-Carlton logo on the lapel.
“Oh, hello, dear. I’m making hot chocolate. Seems like a perfect night for it.” She glanced at the purse and business portfolio Katia was holding. “Are you going out?”
“I am. I don’t know how long I’ll be, so I’ll take you up on that hot chocolate later.”
“Anytime, dear,” Mrs. Beabots said. “And give Austin my regards when you see him.” She poured the cocoa into a large mug and placed a jumbo marshmallow on top.
“How did you know—”
Mrs. Beabots’s wily smile was hard to mask, though she kept her head down as she lifted the silver tray. “Just a wild guess.”
“It was not,” Katia countered.
“I know. Have a good time, dear. See you in the morning.”
Mrs. Beabots moved toward the front parlor, where she often listened to light classical music and watched the residents of Indian Lake go by in the evening. Tonight, many people would be out decorating their houses for Halloween.
“Here, let me carry that tray for you,”
Katia said. “I’ll let myself out by the front door.”
“Thank you so much. Please feel free to use the front door whenever you like. I don’t mind your presence in my part of the house. Actually, I got quite used to others coming and going when Luke’s children were living here. It’s always amazed me how children can be in a dozen places all at once. They just move so quickly.”
“I suppose that’s true. I don’t have much experience with kids.”
They entered the parlor, and Mrs. Beabots sat in her favorite Victorian chair. “Never had any myself. That’s why I’ve pretended to adopt so many of the young girls in Sarah’s circle. You better watch out. I just may adopt you, as well,” she said cheerily.
“It would be my honor,” Katia replied, placing the tray on the table next to Mrs. Beabots. “Do you need anything else while I’m here?”
“You run along. I’ll be fine.”
Katia said her goodbyes and let herself out. She wondered if Mrs. Beabots would be so friendly to her if she knew how devious she was going to be with one of her oldest friends.
* * *
KATIA RANG AUSTIN’S DOORBELL, and when there was no answer, she pressed it again. The last time she’d come here, it had taken two rings. She wasn’t about to phone him, because he would only ignore her call. He did that a lot, she thought to her embarrassment.
Katia felt like a fool as she glanced down at the folder containing her well-researched quotes and comparisons. She had to prove to Austin that he needed her services.
I’m helping him. That’s what I’m doing, she thought to encourage herself. She pressed the doorbell again.
When there was still no answer, she took a few steps back. There were plenty of lights burning on both the first and second floors. Now she felt a bolt of anger strike her, laced with fear. She’d apologized for her behavior in the past, and she’d meant it; what more did he want? Surely they could put aside their personal issues and do business like two adults. At least she hoped so. Her career was counting on it.
“You can’t ignore me, Austin,” she growled.
Reaching into her purse, she withdrew the tennis racket key chain that still held the key to Austin’s house. Her former home.
What am I thinking?
She was anxious to talk to him. She couldn’t leave things as they were. She had to take drastic measures.
You really are desperate, Katia. She wiped the perspiration from her forehead. She turned around and started to walk away. Then she stopped and went back to the door.
With the key still in her hand, she balled her fist and banged on the door. “Austin, are you home?”
She doubted the key would even work, but it was worth a shot. She inserted it into the lock, and it slipped in easily. She turned it.
“No way!” she gasped and pushed the door open. Quickly, she stepped inside. “Austin?” she called loudly as she walked into the living room. “Austin?”
He wasn’t in there, and a brief inspection revealed he wasn’t in the dining room or library, either.
“Daisy? Are you here?” Katia called from the hallway.
She headed to the kitchen, where the dishwasher was running and the lights were dimmed. Daisy must have retired for the evening. If Austin was at home, he would have to be his room.
Katia went back into the hall and started up the stairs. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this.
“Austin? Are you up there?” she yelled.
She heard a door slam, then Austin grumbling as he rushed to the top of the stairs.
He was soaking wet, his blond hair dripping water down his face. He held a navy terry-cloth towel around his waist, and his chest heaved as he shouted at her. “Katia! What are you doing in my house?”
Katia had just opened her mouth to respond when the front door banged open and three uniformed men burst into the foyer. Two were city police officers and one wore a Security One uniform.
“Mr. McCreary! Are you all right? We got a call,” the taller of the two young policemen said.
“An intruder,” the security guy said, staring at Katia with far too much gleam in his eyes to be professional. He pointed a nightstick at her. “Is she the perpetrator?”
Austin glared at Katia and then ran his palm over his soaking hair to move it off his forehead. “Apparently.”
Daisy came running into the hallway. She was dressed in gold-and-brown-plaid pajama pants and a gold T-shirt and was carrying a copy of SAVEUR. She looked from Katia to towel-draped Austin to the security guard and the two cops. “Who tripped the alarm?” she asked.
“It was me,” Katia confessed.
She felt like wringing her hands, but she didn’t. She had to stay calm. If she lost her nerve now, she’d never win Austin over and she’d lose her shot at his business. She had to pretend she had every right to be in the house. At the same time, these police were here to potentially arrest her. She had to be convincing. She had to be contrite and sincere.
“It was all my fault, and it was a mistake,” she said to the cops. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think there would be an alarm. There didn’t used to be an alarm.”
“I had it installed after my mother died,” Austin said angrily.
“Oh,” Katia replied sheepishly, staring at the key in her hand. “I still had my key.”
Daisy, the security guy and the two officers looked at the tiny tennis racket dangling from the key in Katia’s hand. The four of them pasted smiles on their faces and exchanged knowing winks.
“Okay, I’ll be going, then, Mr. McCreary,” the security guard said, sailing toward the front door.
“Sir, are you sure you don’t need anything further from us?” the shorter cop asked.
“No,” Austin replied reluctantly, though he continued to glare at Katia. “I think I can handle this.”
“So you won’t be pressing charges, sir?”
“Not this time,” Austin said.
“Then, we’ll say good-night,” the tall policeman said as they both left.
Daisy put her hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes. “Are you going to stand there half-naked all night, letting us admire you, or do you want me to show your visitor to the library? The living room? What?”
Austin glanced down at his towel and spun away from the stairs, stomping to his bedroom and slamming the door.
Daisy smiled at Katia. “He’ll be just a few minutes. Would you like some chamomile tea while you wait? I always find it soothing at times like this. I have some killer shortbread to go with it.”
Katia exhaled for the first time since she’d entered the house. “Did that all just happen to me?”
Daisy pursed her lips and nodded.
“I’ll take the tea. A double, I think.”
* * *
KATIA SAT IN the library with a warm mug of tea, feeling mortified and desperate. She was not only afraid that she was about to lose Austin as a client, but also that she’d ruined any chance of repairing their relationship. She was miserable and sick inside.
“You deserve the chutzpah-of-the-year award,” Austin said, striding into the room carrying a crystal brandy balloon with a small amount of golden liquid inside.
Katia slapped her palm against her cheek. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did that.”
“Me, neither.” He chuckled, sitting down and taking a sip of his drink. “Mind telling me why you wanted to break into my house?”
Katia was confused by Austin’s casual demeanor. She was completely mortified and afraid of losing him forever, but clearly, he was amused by her actions. Still, there was no question she owed him an explanation. “I wasn’t breaking anything. I just wanted to see you.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to...”
She took a long slug of tea to wash away the shame at the back of her throat. “Our conversation ended...abruptly earlier. I didn’t think we were done. Austin, I would really like to talk to you about your insurance.”
“Hmm. I figured a
s much,” he replied in that robotic, emotionless tone she’d come to despise. He was already telling her he wasn’t interested.
“Did you?” In her mind’s eye, she saw a graph that revealed her chances of landing Austin’s account plummet to zero.
“Let me guess. You’re Carter and Associates.” He ground out the name. “I saw the sign on the window. Good job.”
She smiled. It was a tiny bit of headway, and she’d take it. She needed every positive increment she could get from this conversation.
“Yes, that’s us. After I saw your presentation the other day, I took the liberty of putting together a proposal for your museum. This is a huge endeavor, Austin, and I don’t want someone who doesn’t understand what you’re doing to take advantage of you.”
His blue eyes locked on to hers, and she felt the full impact of their earnest expression. “And do you understand what I’m doing?” he asked.
Katia did understand. All the memories of Austin, the kisses and secrets they’d shared, and that she’d long ago tried to bury, told her exactly why he was building this museum. “It’s your homage to your father.”
“And my grandfather and great-grandfather,” he said proudly. “Ancestry is important to me, Katia. If it weren’t for all their innovations, the daring leaps they took to break new ground in the automotive industry, I wouldn’t enjoy the life I have. I owe them.”
“Daring leaps?”
He rolled his cognac in his glass. “Yes. Daring. Just like you tonight. My guess is that you’d break just about any rule in the world to get what you wanted.”
“Well, not all of them,” she teased.
“But you get my point. My great-grandfather designed those first Duesenbergs. They were works of art back then. He was a stylist. A creator. In many ways, I probably idolize him even more than I did my father. I wish I’d have known him. I like to think we would have been good friends.”
“I’m sure you would have been, Austin. You’re easy to like.”
His glance was searing. “I’m far from that. Ask anyone in town.”
“They don’t know you like I do,” she countered. “And I’ll take on anyone who says otherwise.”
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