"Yes, they are, although with the convenience of not having to commute, it might be a good idea to find a place nearby. I'll ask around for you, if you want. I have some contacts in the real estate market."
"That'll be good. Thanks, Blake. I really appreciate all this, you know."
"Please don't mention it. I'd love to help you any way I can. If there's anything at all you need, promise you'll ask me?" he asked softly.
Blake's gaze was a tad too serious and a little too intense that Kris was glad when their dishes arrived.
She kept the discussion centred on dancing and choreography as they ate their meal. While he seemed to be at pains to hide it, she was pretty sure Blake was interested in her. She didn't want to encourage him, but at the same time she wanted to develop a friendly, easy-going professional relationship with him. After all, he was giving her the best career opportunity she'd had since she sold her own business.
"By the way," Blake said as he signalled for the bill. "After this I have a surprise for you."
Kris eyed him suspiciously. "A surprise?"
"Yes. More accurately, I'm taking you somewhere else."
"Um, I really have to go home after this, Blake," she said uncomfortably.
"I know this is all totally unexpected, but you really have to go with me to this place," Blake insisted.
She shook her head. "Sorry, Blake. I can't."
He sighed. "Well, I guess I have to tell you what it's about now. I plan to take you to a special private party for a couple of people. They'll be among the first clients you'll work with."
She frowned. "Why is it such a surprise? Wouldn't I be meeting them in two weeks anyway?"
"Oh, but they're not just your ordinary clients," he said, before mentioning the names of two of Australia's biggest international movie stars.
"Get out of here!" she said with disbelief, her jaw dropping to the floor.
He chuckled. "Well, once I've paid for dinner, we will get out of here and meet your mega-star students. They'll be filming a movie that involves some dancing, and that's where we come in. I had to really beg and pull some strings before I got the green light to take you with me to tonight's affair. Obviously, with their profiles, this party is strictly by invitation only. I had to convince them that you being there tonight was important since you're my sidekick for this project. They need to get to know you just as much as they already know me."
"Oh, my gosh," she whispered, her earlier annoyance evaporating to be replaced by star-struck enthusiasm.
"The only thing is," Blake continued, producing a folded document from his coat pocket, "I'd need you to sign this before we go there. It's a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Basically, you can't say anything to anyone about tonight. Everything about this project is still under wraps."
"Oh, okay," she said, taking the one-paged agreement from him and reading it quickly. She didn't find anything amiss or untoward so she held out her hand for the pen Blake had readied for her and signed the paper.
"Also," Blake said as he took the document back from her, "don't be surprised if you're asked to dance impromptu. Knowing the director, he'd take this opportunity to suss you out. But if you're asked, I already know you'll blow them away, judging by your performance for me during our interview."
"Who's the director?" she asked, trying to keep her tone casual.
Blake told her.
"You're kidding me, right?" she asked, still trying to grasp the idea that she, Kristen McCann, would be working with two of the most recognisable stars on the planet and an Oscar-winning director.
"Nope," Blake said with a big grin, obviously delighted by her reaction.
She was still staring at Blake in excited disbelief when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and her heart skipped a beat. "Trey! Hi."
"Hi," Trey said with a small smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. He turned to Blake. "Hi. It's Blake, right?" he asked.
"Yes, it is," Blake confirmed. "If I remember correctly, you're Kris' friend whom we met at another restaurant?"
"Yes, that's right," Trey answered hesitantly, seeming to want to say something else but changed his mind. "Kris, why don't you join me at my mother's party when you're done here?" he asked, staring at her with an inscrutable expression. "We're in the restaurant's private function room."
"I'm afraid Kris and I have a party to go to right now, Trey," Blake answered for them with a pleasant smile.
Trey narrowed his eyes and looked at her quizzically. "A party?"
"Yeah. Blake offered me the job and this was, uh, unexpected. Sorry, Trey," she said weakly, her system in too much of a shock to come up with something better than that. Plus, she was conscious of the NDA she'd just signed.
"I get it," Trey said coldly after a long second. "Enjoy yourselves." Then he turned and walked away.
"I'll call you later," she called after him. But either he didn't hear, or he chose to ignore her. She wanted to repeat what she'd just said, but it would mean raising her voice and disrupting the other patrons. Besides, it would take a bit of time to explain to him why she was with Blake and not with him at his mother's party. Shit, shit, shit!
She glared at Blake. "You should have warned me about your plans for tonight," she said accusingly.
Blake gave her an apologetic smile. "Hey, please don't be mad. I was only able to pull it off right before I saw you earlier. That was why I was late. I was on the phone to them wrangling for you to be added to the guest list. I'm sorry. I would have told you sooner if I could."
Blake's phone vibrated. "It's our limo," he said.
"Limo?"
"The people who organised this party don't do things in half measures. Let's go."
She shook her head in exasperation as she stood up, her excitement of a few minutes ago totally evaporating, replaced by worry over what Trey might be thinking.
Damn it! So much for wanting to surprise him with her good news.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"You okay?" Rebecca asked Trey gently.
"Sure," he answered, trying for a smile but failing miserably.
Why should he be bothered by the fact that Kris was out with another man? Even if she was on a date with the moron, why should it matter? It wasn't like he didn't know how casual relationships work.
And casual was all that was going on between him and Kris. It might have felt something more to him in the last few days, but clearly, for Kris it was still a fling and nothing more.
His fingers tightened around the bottle of beer in his hand. The urge to smash it was so great he had to consciously force his fingers to relax.
"What's wrong, Trey?" Rebecca asked softly.
"Nothing," he lied.
"Why are you seething?" his sister pressed.
"I just saw Kris outside having dinner with another man."
"Kris? The girl who was supposed to be with you tonight?"
"Yup."
"Oh. Maybe it's a friend?"
"Well, apparently he's her new boss now. And he's taking her to a party," he said sarcastically.
"Huh?" Rebecca said in confusion. "She didn't come here with you to go to another party?"
"Exactly."
"Maybe there's a good explanation for it," Rebecca offered.
He shrugged, trying for an I-don't-care attitude. "Kris can be with whomever she wants. There's nothing going on between us."
Rebecca regarded him for a long moment. "I think that's bullshit. Look at you. You're all rattled."
"I am not rattled," he said insistently.
"Cut the crap, Trey. What's the point in lying? To me?"
He sighed exasperatedly. "Fine. So I'm rattled. So what?"
"So what? You obviously have feelings for that woman!"
He scowled at Rebecca. "Yeah. So what? I get the picture, time to move on, no hard feelings."
"What do you mean time to move on? Don't be silly, Trey. What if this is all a misunderstanding? Don't jump to conclusions."
His hand that wasn't holding the beer clenched to his side. God, he was burning with anger right now. How could he allow himself to be fooled again?
His gaze landed on his mother flittering from one guest to another, hanging on the arm of her new, wealthy fiancée. He had to hand it to her. Even at fifty-one, his mother hadn't lost her ability to attract men. Many of them were still willing to worship at her feet. Well, money did help her take care of her looks and she did make an excellent, respectable-looking partner for busy entrepreneurs who wanted a wife who could hold successful events that aided their causes.
He'd learnt tonight that his future stepfather owned one of the most successful tour companies in the US. No wonder his mother decided to dump her last boyfriend to be with this one.
His mother's ex was just as rich, but apparently he had become sick of touring one country after another. He had wanted to stay in his country estate to enjoy the quiet life. Trey's mum, of course, couldn't bear the thought. She loved travelling. She had been bitten by the travel bug many, many years ago, and still suffered from it.
A clear concept formed in his head as he watched his mother. Of course, Kris would prefer Blake now that he'd given her a job. Why wouldn't she? Dancing was her first love and her lifetime ambition, and Blake was giving her a fantastic career opportunity.
A deep sorrow blended with his anger. For all the money he had, he couldn't give Kris what Blake could. Hell, he couldn't even dance. If he were to be rational about it, he couldn't really blame Kris for her choice. Why shouldn't she prefer Blake? They were much better suited to each other.
"Trey?" Rebecca said softly, rubbing his arm comfortingly.
"Listen, Bec. It's cool. Really, it is. You know I'm not the relationship kind of guy anyway. It's better that things between me and Kris didn't go any further. Just let her be happy with her new job and … new life." He wanted to be magnanimous enough to mention Blake's name but he simply couldn't.
"That's it? You're giving up?" Rebecca cried in dismay. "What if Kris had a good explanation for tonight? At least find out if she's willing to explain."
"I think she made her choice when she cancelled on me tonight to be with another man," he said.
His heart constricted so hard it surprised him his voice didn't crack.
*******
Trey walked into his apartment and left the lights off. Without thought, he strolled to the window and stared at the view that Kris loved so much. Merciless hands squeezed his heart as he thought of her.
Fuck. How the hell did it happen so fast? It was absolutely crazy. If it wasn't him who was experiencing it, he would have contended it was impossible to feel something so deeply for someone so quickly.
But as Rebecca had said, why lie?
He raked his hands through his hair. Okay, so he had fallen in love. Big deal, right? He'd get over it, and he'd do anything to make sure it was sooner rather than later.
He'd forgotten for a short while why he preferred the bachelor lifestyle, but he remembered it now.
He already had everything he needed in life. Sure, he might not have the one woman, but he had his pick of many. He didn't need a relationship. He had been genuinely fine without it before, so he'd be fine without Kris.
He bit his tongue to distract himself from the lancing pain in his chest. What could he do to hasten his recovery?
His ringing phone startled him. Kris? He fished it out of his pocket and scowled in disappointment.
"Hey, Adam," he said flatly.
"Hey, dude. You home?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I'll be there in two minutes," Adam said and abruptly hung up.
He sighed, preferring to be alone but Adam didn't give him the chance to decline his company.
He sat on the tub chair near the window and smiled wistfully as he remembered the few times he and Kris made love there.
He gasped at his thoughts. Good God. He'd lost his marbles. He must stop thinking at once! Well, actually, that wasn't right. He must stop feeling at once!
He heard a click and a light streamed in from the doorway, silhouetting Adam.
"Trey?"
"I'm here."
"Why are the lights turned off?"
"Oh. Well, you can turn them on if you like," he answered.
He squinted as he waited for his eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness of the room.
"Are you okay?" Adam asked concernedly as he walked toward him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What's up?"
Adam sat on the chair next to him. "Rebecca rang me. She said you might want some company."
He snorted. He should have known.
"Hey," Adam said softly. "She told me what happened. I think you're overreacting."
He arched his eyebrows. "Overreacting?"
"Yeah. So you saw Kris have dinner with her new boss. Who knows, maybe it's to celebrate her appointment. You can't go around thinking she's dating him all of a sudden."
"Why not?" he countered. "We're not together. We were just having a fling. She's free to date other men without letting me know about it."
"But why jump to conclusions, Trey? There's something between you and Kris even if you won't admit to it."
"Why are you guys so keen about this? So what if Kris and I don't end up together?" he asked, more than a little peeved.
"Because we've never seen you this way before, bro," Adam said quietly.
"I appreciate your support," he said sincerely. "But why don't you give Kris the space and don't push me onto her. Let her make her decision without undue pressure from her friends."
"What will you do? Just sit there and do nothing?"
He rubbed his face in frustration and pain. "Adam, Blake said he was taking Kris to a party. Who takes a mere employee you've just hired to a party? First they have dinner then they go to a party? It reeks of a date to me. And you know what? Kris looked absolutely excited about it. If I was more important to her, she would not have gone with him especially since I asked her to join me at my mother's party. My expression would have told her I wasn't happy with the whole thing. And she still went."
He let out a harsh exhale. "To be honest, Adam. Looking at her two choices—him or me—I can understand why she'll go for him. It sucks, but he could give her what I can't."
"You don't know for sure that she's chosen him."
"Well, right now she's with him and not with me. What does that tell you?"
Adam took a slow, loud sigh. "Okay. I see what you mean. Wanna hit the clubs?"
He contemplated for a moment. He almost walked into one on his way home, but he didn't feel up to being approached by single women looking for some fun, which almost always happened.
"Oh, what the hell," he said out loud. "Yes, let's go."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kris walked out of the building where the client's function was still going strong, relieved that she was finally able to leave. It was already the early hours of the next morning, and she was dog tired.
She hadn't thought they'd finish this late. Blake hadn't either. He would have been happy for her to leave much earlier, but just as she was about to go the Hollywood director had asked her and Blake to give an impromptu performance for the guests' entertainment, just as Blake had predicted.
After that, she had lost count of the people who'd wanted to have a chat with her, with some even asking for a quick, short lesson right there and then. Blake had pulled her aside and asked if she didn't mind staying a bit longer to humour the guests. She couldn't blame him for asking. Some of them were just as famous as their hosts.
Despite the fact that she had her professional hat on, conscious that she was there to represent Blake's studio, there was much joviality at the party, and she was made to feel like she was one of the guests. She did try to enjoy herself, but she couldn't fully let her hair down. Trey was in her mind all night.
She stepped into the taxi that the valet attendant had called for her, grateful that she could now switch off. After sh
e'd given the address to the driver, she pulled out her phone and stared at it. Was it too late to call Trey?
She was really itching to talk to him, just to make sure everything was well between them. But he was probably in bed already so she decided to send him a text instead.
*Hi, Trey. I wanted to call, but you're probably in bed by now. Can I see you tomorrow? Please call me when you wake up.*
*******
Awareness that the sun was well and truly up came to Kris when she opened her eyes. It must be close to mid-day.
She stretched on her bed, feeling refreshed. It was good to catch up on some sleep. Since she'd been staying with Trey most nights lately, she hadn't had much of it. Then there was last night's surreal party to top it off.
She sat up in bed and snatched her phone from the bedside table, only to sniff in disappointment. Trey hadn't responded to her text.
Without hesitation, she dialled his number, but he didn't answer. She left a message on his voicemail for him to call, fervently hoping that he would soon. The worry she had when she left the restaurant last night had returned in full force.
Maybe he's just busy this morning.
She rang Ari.
"Hi, Kris," Ari greeted.
"Hi, Ari. How are you doing?"
"Good, thanks, but panicking a little bit. There's been another delay in the delivery of materials for one of my customers' wedding dress, but the supplier did promise my orders will be here tomorrow."
"I'm sure it'll be fine," she soothed. "Um, do you know if the three boys are busy with work today?"
"They're always busy. Dylan's been holed up in his study since eight this morning. Why?"
Kris sighed. "Do you have time for lunch today? I'm heading there to pop in at Trey's."
"Sure. Ask Sam if she wants to come too. I'll see you soon."
*******
"But it wasn't a date!" Kris protested as Ari relayed the conversation Dylan had with Trey that morning, after she and Ari had talked.
"I'm sure you'll have your chance to set things straight," Ari consoled.
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