Kat's heart sank. All that money ... it would have helped so many women!
"I can't do that, Jared would only ask me why..."
George cut her off. “Tell him what you want, Ms. Sullivan. Give him any excuse under the sun. Just make sure you announce at that meeting that you're declining the position. If you don't I'll take those pictures and..."
"All right.” Kat held up a hand, palm out. “I will."
"Wonderful!” George crowed again. She packed up the pictures and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Just a minute,” Kat came from around the counter. “What's number three?"
"Hmmm?"
Kat fumed. “I said ... what's number three?"
"Oh! Of course, point number three."
"Spit it out!” Kat snapped.
"Oh, my, my, my ... you are a nasty one. I'll just have to send those pictures out tonight..."
"Just ... tell me,” Kat implored. “P-please."
"Well now, that's better.” George batted her eyes at Kat. “Point Three. I've saved the best for last."
Kat wanted to kill her. If she had a gun in her hand, she would have shot Ms. Snotnose right there on the spot.
"You stay away from Jared, Ms. Sullivan."
Kat's mouth hung open. “I'll do no such thing."
George lifted a brow.
Kat felt nauseous. Her hand went to her belly to calm the queasiness inside. She should have told Jared about the real reason for the lingerie party ... about her mother and sister dying and how she had to help other women so they wouldn't have to go through the same thing her mother and sister went through. “A-alright. I-I'll do it. I will ... stay away from him.” Her voice broke.
George laughed, her pale blue eyes grew icy. Kat recoiled looking at them, they reminded her of Jerome Waters’ eyes. “It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Ms. Sullivan. A real ... pleasure."
She turned on her elegant high-heels and marched out of KISS, leaving Kat to wonder why she never listened to that little voice in her head...
Everything changes.
It always did ... and never for the better.
* * * *
That Tuesday, Kat sat in her office in the back of KISS, trying hard to concentrate on the inventory numbers in front of her. The figures danced and swam before her eyes. No matter how hard she focused, she just couldn't keep her mind on the task.
Everything changes.
She wished she had a switch to shut off the noise in her head, particularly that particular message.
Jared gives me full authority to close these deals ... that's because we've known each other for quite some time, now.
Kat cradled her aching head in her hands as she thought about Georgia O'Reilly. What a fool Kat had been to be sucked in by the likes of Jared Martin ... a corporate snake. A lowdown, no-good...
She shook her head to clear it. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reconcile the two Jareds—the one who loved his family, the one who loved MegaMart ... the one who said he loved her.
No, this man was worse than Jerome Waters, worse than Arthur, worse because she had given her heart ... and KISS ... to him.
Fool! She had been such a fool. And now, she had duped her town, too. Summerville. The place she loved—she would sell out everyone in Summerville to the giant, corporate beast ... MegaMart ... and Jared Martin.
The bell above the door to KISS jangled. Kat didn't move. Melissa had been in the last couple of days, working full-time hours. Kat had given her strict instructions that she was not to be disturbed. Kat hadn't even gone into KISS that Sunday, claiming she had been ill...
She had been ill. Sick with worry and sick of her thoughts of Jared—of his magic hands and mouth, her wild passionate panther.
Kat heard raised voices outside. Melissa's and ... a man's. Kat rose from her seat. As she did, Jared opened her office door and swept inside. She sucked in a breath as he walked in and shut the door, his tall frame crowding the small space of her office.
"I told Melissa I didn't want to see anybody."
Jared reached out and grabbed Kat's chin in his fingers. “Why are you so pale?” he asked, worry lacing his voice.
She jerked her chin back, he dropped his hand to his side. “I wasn't ... feeling good."
"So I heard,” came his curt reply. Softening his tone, he said, “You didn't come into KISS on Sunday and you haven't returned my calls."
"That's because ... I was ... sick."
She wished he would leave. If George found out they were together ... oh, fuck George, her brain screamed. And fuck Jared Martin! Then Kat thought about the pictures George had. Her body shook.
Jared narrowed his eyes. “Kat, sit down,” he eased her into a chair. “Here,” he reached for a bottle of water in the small fridge near her desk. Opening it, he brought it to her lips and said. “Take a sip."
She did, the cold water reviving her.
Jared pulled a chair over and took the seat next to her. “Kat, sweetheart, what's wrong?"
She lifted her eyes and met his beautiful, dark, golden orbs. “N-nothing."
He leaned back in the chair, studying her. “All right. Out with it."
She paled even more.
He grabbed her hand. “Are you pregnant?"
She blinked once, registering what he had just asked her.
"I said..."
Kat held up a hand. “I heard what you said, damn it."
He grinned. “Well?"
She looked up at him. He had such a happy, goofy, grin on his face.
"No, I'm not ... pregnant,” she replied petulantly.
His face fell. “I just thought, well, we've been together so much and perhaps you didn't use anything, I mean,” he ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, I know I certainly didn't."
"I use something and, like I said, I am not pregnant."
Jared rose to his feet and paced the small confines of her office. Kat suddenly felt very warm.
"Let's spend the rest of the day together, Kat. And tomorrow ... take some time tomorrow and come with me ... I'm going to see my father."
"No!” she shouted.
He turned, eyes narrowed. “Why not?"
She held up a hand. “It's just that ... I'm still not feeling a hundred percent better."
"It would do you good to get out ... you work too hard."
Kat rose to her feet, too, barely. “Stop it,” she snapped. “Just stop telling me I work too hard. This is my life, KISS is my store. At least until ... MegaMart comes in."
Jared cocked his head in her direction. “Is that what this is about? You don't want MegaMart here in Summerville? Have you changed your mind?"
"Oh God, Jared, no, please ... just go,” she shooed him away. “I've got to finish these inventory figures."
"We'll have dinner then."
She stood her ground. “No."
"Kat..."
"Just ... go. I'll see you Thursday at the Civic Association meeting."
Jared grabbed her around the waist and tugged her forward. “I can't wait that long, my she-cat,” he purred in her ear. “I can't. I ... I miss you. I miss ... us.” He moved to kiss her, but Kat turned her face away. His lips collided with nothing but air. Kat could feel the anger and tension emanating from him.
"Damn you, Kat, what's wrong?” he growled low in his throat.
She felt his arousal brush across her thigh. Her response to it bothered her—she grew hot and damp, her breasts felt heavy. Would Jared always have this effect on her, she wondered—no matter what she thought of him?
"Nothing's wrong.” She pushed him away again and moved on wobbly legs to the door. Kat opened it and swept her hand out in front of her.
"I said I'll see you at the meeting and ... I will."
"Kat...” he intoned.
"Goodbye, Jared."
He gave her one; long last look then strode out the door. Kat closed it, then walked over to the desk and sat down.
She laid he
r arms on the desk and pillowed her head on top of them.
Kat didn't cry, she couldn't.
She just felt numb.
* * * *
His she-cat was hurting.
That single thought swirled through Jared's mind that afternoon as he drove his car back to the Pink Lily. Kat wasn't right. Hadn't been for days.
And she didn't want or trust him enough to tell him.
He still wasn't convinced that she wasn't pregnant. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part. A child. He'd be ecstatic if she said she was carrying his baby.
The twenty-minute drive ended soon enough. Jared pulled his car into the parking lot of the Pink Lily. The familiar odor of trumpet lilies hit him as he strode up the walkway.
When he entered the lobby, it was to see George sitting there.
The day, Jared thought, was turning out worse than he could have ever imagined.
George smiled brightly and waved in his direction. Damn, but the last person he needed to talk to now was George.
He walked up to her and barked, “What are you doing here? I thought you weren't due in until tomorrow."
She pouted. “Is that any way to treat your assistant?"
Jared shook his head, running a hand around the back of his neck. “No, I, uh ... I'm sorry, George."
She stood up, bag in hand. “I was just waiting for them to get my room ready. They are slow as shit here, Jared, I swear..."
In one swift movement, he reached out and grabbed George by the shoulders. He gave her a little shake and said, “Don't ever ... ever ... let me here you say something like that again, do you hear me?"
"Hey! You're hurting me."
Jared released her. She rubbed the top of her arms and scowled. “God, what's got you in such a crappy mood?"
Kat. That was it briefly.
Kat.
"Nothing. Look, I'm going upstairs to lie down..."
George smiled slyly. “I could join you."
He whirled to face her. “Knock it off, George, I'm warning you."
"All right, all right ... jeez. You're so ... testy lately."
Jared turned on his heel and bounded up the stairs.
* * * *
George watched Jared as he strode up the stairs of the Pink Lily. She sighed, admiring the perfect animal grace in which he moved, his long legs eating up each tread on the stairs.
"Ms. O'Reilly?"
She turned to see Betty standing there. “Your room is ready."
"It's about time,” George snapped. “You people are slow as...” She glanced up the stairs and saw Jared standing there, looking at her.
She turned back to Betty and smiled thinly. “Thanks,” is how she finished. George followed Betty to her room. Betty made sure the key worked and asked, “Is there anything you'd like Ms. O'Reilly?"
Yeah, I would ... Jared. In my bed. Now.
"No, nothing."
She watched Betty walk away. Then she turned and stuck her tongue out at Betty's retreating back.
"No one tells Georgia O'Reilly what to do,” she muttered as she opened the door to her room and sailed in.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Nineteen
Thursday evening couldn't come quick enough for Jared. As he sat in the meeting room of the Summerville Town Hall, he glanced at his watch. Eight p.m. and no sign of Lilith ... or Kat. Lilith had said Kat would be coming with her. At least he had Lilith on his side. She too, felt that Kat just hadn't been right these last few days, and she had no idea why.
Damn, Kat! Why wouldn't she talk to him?
He ran a finger around the collar of his dress shirt. The meeting room was packed to the rafters—everyone in Summerville had come to hear about MegaMart. He watched as Fred grabbed the microphone in front of him. “We'll begin in just a few minutes,” he told the assembled crowd. “Everyone, please find a seat,” he finished saying as the people milling around took the available chairs.
Jared turned in time to see Lilith walk in with Kat. Kat took the vacant seat on the end. Lilith stared at her then bent her head to whisper something in Kat's ear. He saw Kat shake her head negatively. Lilith walked over and took the seat next to Jared.
"I have no idea,” she whispered to him. “Why she won't sit next to you."
He turned slightly and slipped his arm around the back of Lilith's chair, leaning back in his own. He tried to catch Kat's eye from where he sat, but she hadn't looked at him since she walked in. “Has she said anything to you, Lilith?"
"Nothing. She's clammed up so tight; I can't get a word out of her."
"All right. Now that everyone's here, we'll begin,” Fred told the assembly. “Welcome to the monthly meeting of the Summerville Civic Association. Tonight, our guest is Mr. Jared Martin, the president and CEO of MegaMart Corporation."
Jared stood to a round of applause.
"Mr. Martin, in accordance with the bylaws of the Summerville Civic Association, you have twenty minutes in which to give your presentation, followed by a twenty-minute question and answer period. You may begin your presentation now."
Fred took a seat. Jared walked over to the podium and began to speak. When he glanced in Kat's direction, she turned away, but not before he noticed her eyes.
Jared would have sworn he saw tears shimmering in her beautiful sea-green eyes.
* * * *
George's cold, pale, icy-blue eyes bored into Kat. It chilled her, though the meeting room felt hot as hell. Kat's skin grew clammy.
Jared started to speak. Kat took a deep breath, letting his deep voice wash over her. How she missed hearing that voice!
"I love Summerville,” he began. He glanced back for a few seconds to look at Kat.
Kat appeared uninterested, but was all ears as she idly scribbled on a piece of paper. When she looked up it was to see Jared staring at her.
Many in the audience murmured among each other. Kat heard comments like, “Who's he kidding? He doesn't love Summerville!"
Jared looked out onto the crowded room. “Many of you, I'm sure, don't believe what I just said. You're saying to yourself right now, ‘He's just a visitor. He has no idea what this town is like.'” For just a second, Jared's eyes met hers from across the room.
"But I do love Summerville."
Kat looked away.
"And I'll tell you why. It's the people. The wonderful people that form this town of Summerville. Oh, you hear things like, ‘Summerville is great. It never rains in Summerville,’ or ‘Summerville's a great stop on your way to the Hamptons,’ but it's none of that. It's you.” He pointed at everyone in the audience. “All of you, the people who live here, whether it be for a lifetime or ... a short span of time. It's all of you that make Summerville the great town it is."
He got another round of applause.
"I know many of you are thrilled about what I'm about to propose—the new ‘Shops at Summerville Inn.’ And I also know that some of you are ... opposed. All I ask is that you allow me to make my presentation, then I will answer any questions you have."
The lights dimmed. Kat barely heard him. All she could think about was KISS, and the photographs George O'Reilly had. If George showed those pictures to anyone, and told that story, she'd be out of business. All her years of hard work would go up in smoke. And her friends. Kat looked at the dear faces of Lilith and Fred ... Doris and Harvey ... Evelyn ... Annabelle. They'd all be ruined, too.
Her dream of ever helping anyone again would be gone, too. Her mother and sister's pain and suffering would all be for nothing.
Soon after the presentation ended, the questions began.
One man stood up and asked. “Why should we trust you? An outsider. You say now that nothing will change, but I know your kind, you come into a town like ours and take it over with all your fancy ideas and ways."
Jared grabbed the microphone and walked out into the crowd. “I know how you feel, but please believe me when I say ... the pictures you just saw are what I'm proposing.
Nothing will change unless the citizens of Summerville say it will. Right now, every single detail of the Shops at Summerville Inn is keeping within the lines and structures of existing properties on Main Street."
"You'll bring more jobs?” One woman stood up and asked.
"Yes. More jobs. You'll have more business, so they'll be a need for more skilled help."
"Cashiers. Waitresses, waiters ... menial workers!” Someone shouted. “Who needs more menial workers?"
Jared's face grew hard. “My father and his father before him started out as you say—'menial workers.’ They took jobs for fifteen cents an hour. They struggled, they didn't make much at those jobs, but they were proud to have them. No job is menial, sir.” Jared eyeballed the man. “There are only menial people."
That brought Jared a round of applause.
"Who's going to oversee all this?” Someone asked.
Kat froze in her seat.
Jared smiled at the woman asking the question. “Why, that's a very good question, ma'am. I'll let the person who's going to help us oversee this project tell you about it herself.” He walked back over to the dais. “Ms. Kat Sullivan has agreed to oversee this project with me, and MegaMart is proud to have her, as I am."
From the corner of her eye, she could see George glaring at her. Kat's hand shook as she grabbed hold of her microphone, rising to her feet on wobbly legs.
"Good evening everyone,” she murmured. She heard someone in the back shout, ‘Louder!’”
"I'm sorry. I-is that better?” Kat raised her voice a fraction. “Mr. Martin has given us a wonderful presentation this evening and I want to tell you all that ... I wholeheartedly endorse this project.” There were murmurs coming from the audience. “It will be good for Summerville."
Kat stopped, her heart galloping. She looked at Jared when she could will herself to talk again. The room spun for a few seconds. Kat grasped the edge of the table and spoke in a rush. “And while I do think this project is r-right for Summerville, I just want to say, I cannot accept the job that MegaMart has offered me. The job to help oversee this project."
Kat saw Jared's eyes widen, then narrow, his face a mask of anger and ... confusion.
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