“Ah. That’s what I smell. I think I might like to sample your cooking some time soon.”
She was pleased with the compliment but refused to let him know it mattered. “If you’re lucky.”
Ton and Charles came in the door together.
“See, they haven’t come to blows yet,” Charles said.
“What are you talking about?” Will asked.
“Tori was worried that you two might have another fight before we could arrive to act as buffers.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. Kate and I were just discussing our future friendship,” Will assured Charles.
Kate caught Tori’s surprised look and offered her friend a smile in return. Kate could understand Tori’s lack of faith in her agreeableness. She’d seen Kate lose her temper more than a few times. But I’m going to stay calm for Pop’s sake.
“Shall we go?” Charles asked. “I’m starving.”
Will insisted on driving, so Kate once again settled in the front seat of his Jaguar. She could get used to such luxury...which, considering her earning power at the moment, wasn’t a good thing.
They went to Fedora’s, a chic restaurant on the Plaza, the elegant shopping area in Kansas City. Kate wasn’t surprised when Will’s name gained them the privilege of being seated at once, though the restaurant was crowded.
As they walked to their table, the two men seemed to greet almost all the patrons.
“I think I may owe you,” Tori whispered to Kate.
“Why?”
“It can’t hurt my reputation to be seen with Charles Wilson. He’s already a partner in a very prestigious firm.”
“His father’s firm. Are you sure he earned it?”
“Oh, yeah,” Tori returned. “I’m sure.”
“Ladies,” Charles said, holding out a chair for Tori as Will did the same for Kate.
After they were seated. Kate concentrated all her attention on the menu, reading the description of each offering as if she were studying for a test.
“You must be starving,” Will commented.
She stared at him blankly.
“Occupational hazard,” Tori explained. “Kate considers all restaurants her competitors.”
Kate offered her companion an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Mr. Hardison, but I want your investment to pay off.”
“Don’t you think we could be a little more informal, at this stage?” he asked her. “After all, we are engaged.”
“All right, sorry, William.”
“Will.”
She’d heard several people address him as Will, but she was still surprised that the head of a large corporation would choose to be addressed by a nickname.
When she said nothing, he leaned toward her. “Goes well with Kate, don’t you think?”
Tori chuckled. “Especially when you think of Taming of the Shrew. It took a lot of will for Petruchio to overcome Kate’s temper.”
Kate groaned. “Please. I’m tired of those jokes.”
“Have you two known each other long?” Will asked.
“Only since kindergarten,” Kate replied.
“Ah, I thought there was more than an attorneyclient relationship in that comment.” He looked at Charles. “Charles and I met as freshmen roommates.”
The conversation continued, and as they explored each other’s backgrounds Kate was surprised to find she was enjoying herself.
By the time dinner ended, Kate believed she and Will could actually become friends, as long as she ignored the attraction that rose in her every time he leaned close or touched her.
As they were debating the wisdom of ordering dessert, they were interrupted by a distinguished older gentleman.
“Will? How are you, my boy?” he asked in a booming voice.
Will rose to his feet at once. Benjamin Atwood had long been a friend of his father’s. “Ben! How nice to see you. How are you?”
“Fine, fine. I can tell you’re fine, too,” Ben said, his gaze roving over Will’s dinner companions. “Are you going to introduce me to these two lovely ladies?”
Will made the introductions, including Charles. However, when he said Kate’s name, he noticed that Ben’s reaction was a quick frown. Kate greeted the man charmingly, so it couldn’t be her behavior that caused it.
“Mind if I steal Will away for just a minute?” asked Ben, his smile not as warm as it had been.
Will accompanied him to the lobby, wondering what had caused the change in his friend. “Everything okay, Ben?”
“You tell me. Is that the young lady who upset your mother last night?”
Will stiffened. “Yes, it is.”
“Boy, you’d best be careful. That kind of woman will trap you into marriage before you know it.”
Will was surprised at how quickly his temper rose...almost like Kate’s. “What do you mean, ‘that kind of woman’?”
“I’ve heard from more than one source that she didn’t belong at the gala. I’m sure it was as embarrassing for her as it was for your mother. Ladies like her might be fun for a change, but you don’t want to embroil yourself with one permanently.”
“Too bad, Ben, because I already have. I’ll bet you’ve already heard that I told Mother we are to be married.” He’d never considered Ben a snob, but it appeared he was wrong.
“Damn it, Will, sleep with her if you must and get her out of your system. But don’t marry her!”
“Why not? She’s the prettiest woman in the room. You can’t deny that. What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s a waitress, damn it! You told your mother so yourself.”
“I lied. She owns a diner. She’s a businesswoman. I laid it on too thick because I wanted to irritate Mother. But even if she were a waitress, that’s no reason why I shouldn’t marry her.” Will squared his jaw, becoming more irritated as the conversation progressed.
“You have nothing in common. Your father would be horrified.”
“Would he? My father should be pleased. I have no intention of marrying someone like my mother, because I don’t want to be miserable the rest of my life like him!”
“What are you talking about? Your father loved your mother.” Ben seemed taken aback by Will’s words.
“Never mind, Ben. Tell Mother you tried. I make my own choices, and I choose Kate.”
“I think you’re doing this just to aggravate your mother, boy, but I’m telling you, this woman may take advantage of you. Trap you. It’s happened before.”
Will felt guilty that his motives were so easily suspected. That meant he’d have to be a better actor than he’d thought. “Any man who gets Kate in his bed won’t be complaining, Ben. Trust me on that one.”
Ben muttered something under his breath, persuading Will that his old friend believed that Will had already shared a bed with Kate.
The longing that suddenly consumed him sent panic through his veins. He might wish others to think Kate had caught him by her charms, but he wanted to be able to control his physical response to her.
He had to admit, however, that he hadn’t enjoyed himself this much in quite a while. Kate had a quick wit and a musical laugh that brought a smile to his lips whenever he heard it.
Not to mention the sexual attraction he felt.
Better not to mention that, he warned himself. Not if he intended to keep his distance and remain unsusceptible to her magnetism.
When he returned to the table, the other three had decided on desserts. They placed their orders and then relaxed.
“Where are you two going to be married?” Charles asked lazily. “I’ll need to get my tux pressed if it’s going to be formal.”
“It will be,” Will assured his friend, a smile on his face.
At the same time, Kate said firmly, “It won’t be.”
Tori looked apprehensive, Charles curious.
Will turned to Kate. “What are you talking about? Of course it will be. We’ll be married in church—”
“Absolutely not. We can’t do tha
t.”
“Did you plan on going to City Hall and standing before a stranger?” he asked, his voice rising with incredulity.
“A formal wedding isn’t necessary...and would cost a lot of money.”
He’d told himself women had cash registers where their hearts should be, but since he’d met Kate, he’d thought maybe he was wrong. Until now.
“Do you ever think of anything but money?”
His growl must have been more offensive than he’d intended—Kate blanched, and even Charles protested.
“This is a business arrangement,” she muttered, looking away.
“I didn’t mean to be rude, Kate, but I think I can stand the expense of the wedding without cutting into your loan.”
“The wedding is the bride’s expense,” she said quietly.
Surprised by her words, he suddenly realized the difficulty. According to Tori, Kate had no money.
“If I’m paying for the bride, I may as well pay for the wedding, too.” He intended his words to reassure her. He even smiled slightly.
To his surprise, anger gleamed in her eyes before she turned away.
Chapter Five
Kate refused to look at Will, but her attorney took umbrage for her.
“I see no need to insult my client because she accepted your offer of marriage.”
“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” Will hastened to say.
“My client only spoke the truth,” Charles chimed in.
Kate spoke up. “You’re absolutely right, Mr. Wilson.” Without pause, she added, “I find I don’t care for dessert after all. Can we go?”
Will studied her face, but there was no trace of anger in her expression now. “Kate, relax. I didn’t mean anything by my comment.”
“As we’ve all agreed, you only stated the truth. And I still don’t care to have dessert.”
“Fine,” he snapped, annoyed by her stubbornness. He waved the waiter over and canceled the desserts. “Don’t bother taking them off the bill,” Will told him as picked up the tab for dinner. “I apologize for the inconvenience.”
They walked outdoors in silence, waiting for the valet to bring the car. Once he was behind the wheel, Will tried again. “Kate, part of the plan is to have a visible wedding. That will require some kind of show. I thought you understood that.”
“Your agreement didn’t spell out the details,” Tori observed from the back seat, while Kate remained silent.
“I didn’t think it necessary to be quite so specific,” Charles protested. “Anyone with common sense would see—”
“Are you insulting my client now, also? Like client, like attorney?” she returned quickly.
“You’re being ridiculous,” Charles snapped. “Your client signed the agreement, which clearly states that she must provide a visible presence.”
“Which could be interpreted as making occasional appearances at his side as his wife. It doesn’t necessarily translate to a big church wedding!”
As the battle of words raged in the back seat, Will watched Kate out of the corner of his eye. What was she thinking? Since they’d left the restaurant, she’d made no further comment.
As he pulled into the diner’s parking lot, Will reached out to cover her hands, which were tightly clasped in her lap. Startled, Kate stared at him before turning away again and pulling her hands free.
“Kate? Will you forgive me for being insensitive?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. I apologize for any misunderstanding. I will comply with whatever you think is necessary.”
Her calm words startled him. A reasoned, sedate response wasn’t what he’d come to expect from her. But it bothered him that she didn’t once look at him as she spoke.
“Are you—”
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” Charles warned from the back seat.
“Well, really!” Tori huffed as she reached for the door handle.
“Wait, Tori, I didn’t mean to offend you, but your client—”
“Has been perfectly reasonable.” She got out of the car and slammed the door behind her.
“You’ll still send the check in the morning?” Kate asked, gazing steadily at Will.
Ah-ha! There was his answer. She’d had time to consider her behavior and feared it might interfere with the flow of money. Back to the cash register heart. He answered her question with an abrupt nod.
In dealing with his mother, he’d learned the only way to control her was through finances. It appeared his pseudofiancée was just like Mother in that respect.
With a quiet thanks for dinner, Kate slid from the car and disappeared into the diner after her attorney, before Will thought to escort her.
“Well, that certainly worked out well,” Charles said, his voice laden with sarcasm.
“What did you expect?” Will asked bitterly. “We’re dealing with women.”
As she brushed her teeth the next morning, Kate patted herself on the back for her calm response last night. It wasn’t often she managed to hold on to her temper. You’d have been proud of me, Pop.
It hadn’t been easy. She hadn’t liked feeling that she’d sold her soul to Will Hardison.
But what was done was done, and she’d do it again. She was determined to restore The Lucky Charm Diner to its former glory...and make Lucky Charm Catering a well-known and respected name in Kansas City.
And it wasn’t just for her. Kate and Maggie had talked about how Pop would’ve wanted to provide for Susan, their newly discovered sister. Making a go of the diner would let Kate do that.
She dressed eagerly, anxious to set her dream in motion. First she had to make breakfast for the regulars, start several dishes for lunch, then change clothes and go to the bank as soon as Will’s check arrived.
Shortly after nine o’clock, in the middle of preparing her special spaghetti sauce, Kate heard Paula call her name. “Yeah?” she said without looking up.
“You got company.”
She hadn’t expected Will to deliver the check himself, but the shiver that coursed through her told her that she didn’t find his presence unwelcome. Scary thought.
Untying the apron, she smoothed back several untamed curls that had escaped the barrette holding back her hair and slipped through the swinging door.
Expecting Will’s tall, masculine presence, Kate didn’t notice his mother standing by the front door until Paula waved her hand in the dowager’s direction. Kate sucked in a deep breath.
“Mrs. Hardison? Hello, welcome to The Lucky Charm.”
Her lips pressed tightly together, Kate’s guest appeared anything but charmed. “I would like a word with you, Miss O’Connor.”
“Certainly. Come this way. Paula, bring us each a cup of coffee, please.”
She led the way to the last booth in the corner, where she’d met with Will and their respective lawyers. By the time they were both seated, Paula had arrived with the coffee.
“Need some cream, honey?”
Mrs. Hardison looked up at the waitress, affronted. “No, thank you.”
“Sorry,” Kate offered softly after Paula walked away. “She’s used to waiting on truckers.”
“I’m not surprised,” Mrs. Hardison returned, her voice stiff with outrage.
Well, she’d tried to be generous, but Kate could only tolerate so much condescension. “Feel free to take your business elsewhere, Mrs. Hardison.”
“I have every intention of doing so after I speak to you, Miss O’Connor.” Rather than continue their conversation, she opened her purse and took out a checkbook. Flourishing a Mont Blanc pen that cost more than most people’s food bill for a month, she then looked at Kate. “How much?”
“I beg your pardon?” asked Kate, momentarily confused.
“How much to abandon your plan to marry my son?” The woman’s glare never wavered.
“You’re insulting me, Mrs. Hardison,” Kate said evenly, praying she could control her temper.
“Nonsense. I don’t believe this i
s a love match. I would’ve heard about William’s activities if he’d flaunted you in public. He’s doing this to irritate me...or you’ve cast a spell on him. Whatever the case, I want you to jilt him.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t.”
“You mean you won’t. Don’t you realize a marriage to you will ruin him?”
Kate opened her mouth to tear a strip off the snobbish woman’s hide, but then reconsidered, moved by the genuine anguish she heard in the older woman’s tone. “I promise I won’t do him any harm, Mrs. Hardison,” she said mildly.
“Not do him harm? You’ll ruin all my efforts on his behalf!”
“If your son doesn’t think—”
“What does he know? I’ve slaved tirelessly to keep first my husband and now William at the highest level of society. I’ve smoothed his path, given him connections—and now he’s going to marry you?”
Kate swallowed her anger. This woman really believed what she was saying. But before she could respond, Mrs. Hardison spoke again.
“I’m prepared to be generous. Will fifty thousand do?”
Slapping a hand over her mouth, Kate tried to pretend her choking was a cough. Maybe she could make a career out of not marrying socially acceptable men.
“Mrs. Hardison, I—”
“Mother, what are you doing here?” Will growled, suddenly appearing beside the booth.
Mrs. Hardison. had obviously no notion her son might appear—of course she knew nothing of the check that he’d evidently decided to deliver personally. She paled. “Why aren’t you at work?”
“Never mind me. What are you up to?”
Kate was upset by the harsh way he spoke to his own mother. “Your mother was kind enough to pay me a visit,” she lied. “I think it was very thoughtful of her.”
Both Hardisons looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. Maybe she had. Why was she protecting a woman who considered her a social inferior and a gold digger? Kate supposed she was touched by Mrs. Hardison’s concern about her son.
“I thought I made myself clear!” Will’s mother exclaimed.
Kate swallowed the chuckle that almost escaped her. Before she could say a word, Will gave a loud sigh.
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