The rest of the afternoon proceeded in much the same manner. A steady stream of visitors came to the house, complimented Austin on the museum and asked Katia about the Christmas tree, which they had dubbed the sugarplum tree. She was quick to give credit to Mrs. Beabots, who’d taught her how to make marzipan fruits dusted with sugar. She’d hung them on the tree with nearly one hundred cookies in the shapes of snowflakes, stars, Santas, mittens and snowmen.
Daisy stood at the dining room table and served up plastic cups of homemade wassail, complete with floating baked apples for the guests. As the night grew darker and the crowds dwindled, Austin almost felt sad that the tour was winding down.
Katia left the living room and came to stand next to Austin at the front door. “It’s been going really well, I think.”
Austin smiled. “I’ve loved it,” he said, turning to kiss Katia’s cheek. He put his arm around the back of her waist and leaned into her. “Thank you for all you did, Katia. I had no idea how much fun I would have. I’ve seen friends of my father’s I haven’t seen for twenty years. And my mother’s old friends, too. I can’t believe I lost track of them.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, Austin.”
“Me, too, Katia.”
The moment was broken by the sound of someone clearing his throat.
Standing in the doorway, wearing a black wool coat and a very dark scowl, was Jack Carter.
* * *
IF JACK HAD blown in on the north wind, his presence couldn’t have been more chilling.
Katia was quick to notice that Jack’s gaze was fixed on Austin’s hand at her waist. She hadn’t noticed his hand, only his comforting arm around her back. Still, she was standing in the circle of Austin’s embrace, as loose as it was.
Katia felt like a little kid caught stealing from the candy jar.
“Hi, Jack! How good of you to come and support the Indian Lake Heritage Foundation,” she said brightly, trying to wrench away from Austin.
The flash of anger in Austin’s eyes looked like lightning.
Katia remembered that expression. She’d seen it plenty of times when they were kids.
As she beamed at Jack, she felt the heat of Austin’s eyes on her, but she pretended to ignore him and his foul mood.
Jack walked forward and extended his hand to Austin. “Glad to be here,” he said in a clipped tone. Katia knew that the smile he offered to Austin was forced.
Katia figured there were at least a dozen words Jack would have liked to use at that moment, but he was much too polished to do so.
“Have you enjoyed the tour so far?” Austin asked with an equally forced smile.
He slipped his hand back around Katia’s waist and actually tried to pull her closer to him.
There was no way Jack could miss the gesture, and sure enough, he was staring at the negligible space between them.
What was Austin thinking? He knew that Jack frowned on any kind of intimacy between agents and clients. Was Austin throwing Jack a gauntlet? And why would he put her in such a tenuous position? He knew that her career meant everything to her. She didn’t believe for a minute that Austin was being arrogant. But possessive? Absolutely.
Though she knew she was walking that same tightrope again between Austin and her career, she felt her anger rise to an inferno. She’d always had self-control, nearly to a fault, and tonight she needed every bit of it to beat back her emotions.
Feeling the pressure of Austin’s hand against her waist, it hit Katia that perhaps this wasn’t about Jack at all. What if the Christmas spirit and the ambiance of the night had whisked Austin back to the past when she had been his and his alone? What if he was subconsciously displaying his true feelings for her?
What do you feel for me, Austin? Do you care about me still? And if you do, why can’t you just say so?
The sound of Austin’s voice broke through her thoughts as he carried on a polite conversation with Jack.
“I just got back into town, so this is the only one I’ll have time to visit,” Jack replied. “Judging by the music outside and how inviting you’ve made this, I should have returned earlier.”
Austin turned to Katia with a dazzling smile. “It was all Katia, believe me,” he said. “She had really great ideas. Wait till you see her sugarplum tree in the living room. It’s—”
“Right through this doorway,” Katia interjected quickly, moving away from Austin and gesturing to the living room. Another couple and two children walked in the front door behind Jack, and Austin turned his attention to them.
“Curt and Sherry! How great to see you. Come in!”
Jack paused next to Katia before entering the living room. “I’ll see you at the office in the morning,” he whispered.
“I have an eight-o’clock meeting. I should be finished by nine-thirty.”
“That’s fine,” he said coldly.
Katia swallowed the lump of nerves that threatened to choke her. She had to figure out how to handle this. She couldn’t deny what Jack had seen. Meanwhile, she’d only recently won back Austin’s trust, but not once had he said anything that led her to believe there was anything between them but friendship. That was why his possessiveness tonight didn’t ring true to her. Maybe Austin was simply trying to show up Jack, as if she was some kind of trophy in a game. If so, then this wasn’t the same Austin she’d known long ago. Of course, people changed; she certainly had. But she hoped she was wrong.
Katia was stupefied by the irony of her situation. Just a few months ago, when she’d moved here, she’d asked only that Austin would forgive her for the past, and that he’d consider her business deal. Now she was only a few months away from his signature on the remaining contracts that would make him her largest client ever.
She’d gotten precisely what she’d asked for, and she’d never been so unhappy. All these years, she’d never guessed that she was still in love with Austin or that she would fall in love with him all over again.
Tonight she’d managed to anger both Austin and Jack. There was a real possibility she could lose everything.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
KATIA KNEW THAT if one was about to face down a foe, it was best to enter the battlefield with plenty of ammunition and, at the very least, diversionary tactics.
Jack was in his office with the door shut when Katia arrived after meeting with a potential new client. She took off her coat and hung it up, then went immediately to Melanie’s desk.
“I told Jack I’d meet with him at nine-thirty. I hear voices. Is he on the phone?”
Melanie shook her head. “He’s interviewing a new associate.”
Katia’s eyes grew wide with disbelief. She hadn’t had a chance to tell her side of the story yet and Jack was already replacing her? Obviously, he was very serious about his policy against dating clients.
“Do you know anything about him?” Katia asked.
Melanie lifted a sheet of paper. “She is from South Bend. She brings clients with her, and she’s willing to move to town rather than commute.” Melanie handed the resume to Katia.
One glance told Katia that Claire Ebberhart had a BA from St. Mary’s College and she’d worked a variety of jobs in accounting and banking before settling into the insurance world. “If she’s even halfway personable, I’d hire her,” Katia said. “She looks very good on paper.”
“They’ve been in there for over an hour. That’s a rather long interview, isn’t it?”
“Jack hired me in less than twenty minutes. He prides himself on going with his gut.”
Katia went to her desk, checked her phone messages, turned on her computer and glanced at her emails. She was just returning a quick text to Sarah when Jack walked out of his office with Claire.
“Thank you for taking so much time with me, Jack,” the dark-haired, slender woman said.
Jack shook Claire’s hand. “I’ll be in touch. Melanie has all your contact information. Have a safe drive back home.”
“I will,” Claire said,
extending her hand to him.
Katia couldn’t tell if Jack was ignoring her or if he simply hadn’t seen her. It wasn’t like him not to introduce her to a potential employee. Not unless he considered Katia an ex-employee. This was no time to fade into the background. Katia stood up and walked around her desk. “Hello, I’m Katia Stanislaus. You must be Claire Ebberhart.” Katia held out her hand.
Jack’s eyes tracked from Claire to Katia. “I didn’t see you, Katia. Just get in, did you?” he asked pointedly.
If that’s how Jack wanted to play this, Katia was ready for him. “Yes, I did,” Katia replied, gracing Claire with a bright smile. “I had a breakfast meeting with a large client this morning and just got that contract signed. Most corporate clients expect to meet on their turf. Accommodating them is key to winning their business.”
“Oh, I absolutely agree,” Claire confirmed.
Jack instantly dropped his acerbic expression. “I’ll be in touch, Claire.”
“Thanks,” she replied, heading out the door.
Jack gestured toward his office. “I believe we have a meeting scheduled, Katia.”
“We do.”
“Hold all our calls, Melanie.”
“Done,” Melanie said as she plucked the ringing phone off the hook.
Jack sat in his chair and placed his hands on the arms with a firm grasp. He looked as if he was holding himself down, and Katia wondered if he was trying not to jump across the desk at her. “Mind telling me what the heck is going on between you and Austin McCreary?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do. I walked in last night, and you two appeared awfully chummy for a business relationship. He had his arm around you with half the town traipsing in and out of that house. How many people saw you like that? A hundred?”
“Four hundred and ten, I’m told,” Katia replied. “Sarah said ours was the most viewed house on the tour.”
“Ours?”
“I meant my committee’s project house. Sarah Bosworth, Mrs. Beabots and I did all the decorating. Most of the afternoon, I was in the living room explaining the sugarplum tree to the visitors.”
Jack pursed his lips and rubbed his forehead. “I’m not talking about the decorations. I’m talking about the way you looked at him. As though he was your dream guy.”
Katia kept her tone light and nearly flippant. If she even hinted that Austin actually was the most important man in her life, Jack would replace her with Claire Ebberhart before the morning was through. Katia had worked too long and too hard to lose her position with this company. If she had to start over someplace else, she’d have to prove herself all over again.
Until Jack had seen her standing with Austin, Katia had known exactly where she stood with Carter and Associates. She had no idea where she ranked with Austin on his romance meter. Weighing those two facts, she chose to keep her job.
“Austin is an old friend, and he’s the biggest single client this firm has ever seen. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have his business. In addition, I just came from the Indian Lake Hospital president’s office,” she said more forcefully than she’d planned. But given the circumstances, she felt the power play was warranted. “A few weeks ago, we agreed that going after the hospital and the county’s business were the most prudent next steps for us.”
“Yes. Yes. We talked about this. I remember.”
“I presented our package to him, and this morning he signed with us.”
Jack’s mouth fell open. “He told me three weeks ago that corporate wouldn’t switch from their current provider. How’d you do that?”
“Emory Wills has been the hospital president since I was in high school. He’s a friend of Austin’s. I went to Emory and asked for a donation for the Heritage Foundation. I told him about the Candlelight Tour. One thing led to another, and we talked business. Real business. Next year, they’re expanding the hospital again. He’ll need a policy for the new wing. I talked him into coming over to us for the entire campus. He agreed. Remember when I told you I was looking into insuring just the hospital equipment? It’s an area we’ve never worked before. But Emory wants to go with us on that policy, as well.” Katia leaned back in her chair while Jack absorbed everything.
“I couldn’t get that guy to budge an inch. Now I feel as if I’m losing my edge,” Jack said glumly.
“Not in the least. It’s just that I have history here, Jack. A lot of people remember me and my mother. I’d forgotten how many friends I had here. And how much I missed them. It’s been a revelation.”
Jack rapped his fingers on the desk. “All the more reason that it’s imperative you stick to my rules. No dating. Not Austin or any other client.”
Katia stared at him for a long moment. This was the time to push her agenda. She was in the driver’s seat with Emory’s signed contract. “Business in Indian Lake is a bit different than other places, Jack. Companies here want to work with people they know and trust. Being friendly and social with them is expected. That makes it even more difficult to keep the two worlds apart. Maybe you should rethink that rule...”
Jack shot to his feet. “Absolutely not! Most corporations have a no-dating policy. It’s there for a reason. I learned that the hard way. Do you know why I adopted it?”
“I have a feeling I’m about to find out.”
“When I first started in this business, I worked for a good-size firm. I was a real hotshot, or so I thought. In six months, I was leading in sales. My boss threw me a big bone. He wanted me to sign up a new women’s softball team. Sports-injury insurance. I was so sure I was on my way to a whole new career. I saw myself working with major-league teams. I was going to meet legends in basketball, football and baseball. Oh, I had stars in my eyes all right. The owner of the softball team was a real lioness. She knew she had some talented women on her team. Olympic material. I got her the best policy at a really good price. But she wanted more. She wanted me. We dated for several months. When she became coldhearted and vindictive, I broke it off.
“She went to my boss and not only cancelled the contract, but told him all kinds of lies about me. She was very well connected. She told other sports-management people I had been dealing with that I had romanced my way to my contracts. She told them I couldn’t be trusted. They believed her. I got fired.” Jack took a deep breath. “I won’t have that happen to me again, Katia. My firm will never be accused of garnering clients that way. What you do, or any of my employees does, reflects on me. It’s imperative to me that my reputation and this company’s remain pristine.”
“I understand, Jack” was all Katia could say.
“I’m not an idiot and I’m not blind. You have feelings for Austin. It’s written all over your face. So unless you’re engaged to the guy or you want to work someplace else, it stops here.”
“I’ve worked alongside you for too long to just walk away, Jack. I’m doing my absolute best to bring this company back to life. It was my idea to move here, and we’ve already saved thousands of dollars. I’ve got half a dozen contracts that will sign before the year is out. By March 1, when Austin starts moving the rest of his cars here, he’ll be signed up for the remainder of his contract, as well. I couldn’t be any more on board, Jack, unless I owned this company myself.”
Jack considered what she’d said. “So Austin is just a client.”
“A friend and a client,” she corrected. “I imagine he’ll introduce both of us to even more clients in the future.”
“I hope that happens.”
“I don’t see why not. All I have to do is ask.”
Jack nodded. “Well, I think we have a very clear understanding now,” he said, dismissing her.
Katia stood and walked to the door. “Oh, what about Claire?”
Jack’s expression was granite, and his eyes were as hard as steel. “I’m hiring her. She could be a real asset.”
Katia felt the blood drain from her face. Jack didn’t believe her explanati
ons about Austin in the least. “Good decision,” she said, and closed the door.
* * *
DECEMBER HAD ALWAYS meant long workdays and weekends filled with holiday preparations for Katia. This year, because she felt Jack scrutinizing every move she made, Katia came to work early and left late. She set up meetings and pitched her product with her usual competence and thoroughness. She made a point not to return to the office until she had the contract signed.
Katia ordered all her gifts online and had them shipped to her friends in Chicago. She told Mrs. Beabots to expect daily deliveries for her. Katia didn’t know when she’d have time to wrap gifts, much less see her friends.
In an email, Katia told Austin that she was working double time. He asked her to join him for dinner at an Italian restaurant in town.
Katia’s internal alarm system kicked in immediately. She’d just smoothed things over with Jack, and she had at least a semblance of solid ground beneath her feet, despite the new hire. Yet she wanted to see Austin.
To make sure no one in town saw them together, she’d suggested that they meet at his house. He’d agreed, and that was the reason she was now sitting next to him at his dining room table.
The center of the table was covered with spruce, pine and cedar greens and small silver bowls holding lush, crimson amaryllis blooms. Red votive candles flickered merrily. Daisy had prepared roast pork loin, garlic mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. For a cold winter night, the meal was perfect.
Unfortunately, nothing Katia said to Austin seemed to lighten his dark mood. They were halfway through their meal when his fork clattered on his plate. Katia jumped, which told her she was sitting on far too many pins and needles around Austin.
“What is it?” she asked.
“What are we doing, Katia?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. She’d wanted to be with him, but now she realized she’d made a mistake. “Besides the obvious of sharing a meal, as friends, I wanted to see you.”
“Why?” He shoved his chair away from the table and tossed his napkin down.
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