by E. L. Todd
I turned to Joey, waiting for an explanation.
Joey gave her a bright smile. “We met at a newsstand.” He shrugged. “It’s a long, romantic story.”
“Well, I’d love to hear it,” I said.
“And I’d love to tell it,” Joey said. “Another time.” He turned to Cato and greeted him with much more warmth than before. They shook hands, and Joey even patted him on the shoulder before he found his seat with Amy.
I sat beside Cato then looked at him.
He looked back at me.
Perhaps we were spending too much time together, but it was becoming easy to read his mind. Even though he didn’t react in any noticeable way, I could tell he was just as surprised as I was that Joey brought a date, especially after our last conversation in the diner.
Like before, Cato put his arm around my shoulder and remained affectionate with me. He was a phenomenal actor, and sometimes I forgot I was paying him to behave this way. He charmed everyone at the table, including Joey’s parents. I wondered if anyone thought it was odd that both Joey and I brought dates. It was pretty odd to me.
We had dinner and Cato moved his hand to my thigh. He managed to eat with one hand with perfect manners but still act desperately in love with me. A few times he made eyes at me, and he even leaned in and rubbed his nose against mine. I thought he might kiss me, and I admit I was a little disappointed when he didn’t.
After dinner, Cato went into the kitchen and helped my mom with the dishes.
He really was worth every penny.
“He’s a fine young man,” Dad said.
“Thanks,” I said. “I like him.”
“And that’s all that matters, honey.” He gave me a sweet smile before he drank his scotch.
We moved into the living room with our beverages. We had small talk, and Joey was more affectionate with Amy than I’d ever seen. They even had a short make out session, which made everyone uncomfortable.
“Thank you for helping me, dear,” Mom said to Cato as they joined us.
“Don’t mention it,” he said. “After cooking a wonderful meal like that, it would be against the law to let you clean.”
She brushed off his comment. “Stop.”
Mom was clearly smitten.
Cato moved to my side and put his arm around me. “I missed you.” He kept his voice low but I was certain everyone could hear him.
“I missed you too.”
Then he leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss.
I let the affection ensue, unsure what else to do. But I liked it so it wasn’t that big of a deal. His lips were soft and he knew how to use them. They tasted like wine and I wanted more of it. I wanted those lips all over me. I didn’t understand why he was kissing me when Danielle made it abundantly clear he wouldn’t. But I wasn’t complaining.
When the kiss ended, everyone was staring at us. Joey’s gaze was intently on us, and the joyous look on his face a moment ago when he was kissing Amy was gone. But then he recovered himself quickly and acted normal. It made me wonder if I ever saw anything to begin with.
After an hour of socializing, people broke off into groups. Mom cornered me on the couch and asked me how the winery was going. She never participated in the business, choosing to do charity work or yoga with her friends. The news she heard was from my father and me.
Cato was talking to my father quietly, and judging all the random names they blurted out, they were talking was about sports.
Mom lowered her voice. “I’m so glad you found someone, dear. We feared this would never happen for you.”
“I know, Mom. Thanks.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was an elaborate lie.
“I hope you don’t feel guilty. You shouldn’t be alone forever.”
I didn’t feel guilty. But I wasn’t doing anything wrong.
“Does that mean Joey is really out of the picture?” she asked sadly.
“Well, he seems pretty busy with his girlfriend anyway…”
“Oh, come on.” She gave me that meaningful look I’d grown accustomed to. “He’s just trying to make you jealous. I’m sad to see it isn’t working.”
“No, he isn’t,” I said. “Joey doesn’t play games. And this game wouldn’t make any sense at all. I already said I didn’t have feelings for him. Therefore, it would be impossible to make me jealous.”
“Do you love this man?” She watched me with intent eyes.
“Yes.” It was hard to say it out loud, especially when it was completely untrue.
“I’m glad you found happiness. Your father and I were really worried.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I said quietly. “Cato and I are great together.”
“Do you think you’ll marry him?”
It’d been on my mind lately. “One can only hope.”
She eyed Cato for a moment before she turned back to me. “I think it’s safe to say he’s hoping for the same thing.”
If only she knew.
***
After we said good night, we headed home.
Cato was quiet in the driver’s seat. He drove with one hand and kept the other in his lap.
I was tired from all the talking and socializing so I looked out the window and leaned my head against the glass.
“So, Joey has a girlfriend?” Cato asked.
“Apparently,” I said. “I’m happy for him.”
“Don’t you think that was a little sudden?” he asked. “He confessed his undying love for you just a few weeks ago and now he’s sucking some girl’s neck like a vampire?”
“Maybe I hurt him enough to make him move on. I’m happy if that’s the case.”
He shook his head. “He’s up to something.”
“What?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But he is.”
“Well, whatever it is, it’s not working.”
“Time will tell,” he said vaguely.
I watched the trees pass outside the window and noted the skyline of the city in the distance. We were about to enter the bridge. “You’re good with my family.”
“They are nice people. Easy to get along with.”
“Yeah, but you fit in pretty well. My parents are picky when it comes to men.”
“Well, I’m not just any man.” He gave me a playful look before he focused on the road again.
“No, you aren’t,” I agreed.
“You melted when I kissed you.” His comment was random and came out of nowhere.
“No, I didn’t. I just played along.”
“Bullshit,” he said. “You practically melted into a puddle at my feet.”
“Again, it’s called acting. And you aren’t supposed to kiss me anyway.”
“I do what I damn well please.” He stared straight ahead and glanced in the rearview mirror a few times.
“Do you kiss all your clients?”
“No. Not one.”
“Then why do you kiss me?” I asked seriously.
“I think you’re hot,” he blurted. “Why else would I kiss you?”
I shook my head then looked out the window.
“We both know you liked it but I’ll be a gentleman and dropped the subject.”
I released a quick laugh. “You’re nothing like a gentleman.”
“I beg to differ.”
We reached the city and he parked along the curb. Then he walked me to my door, keeping his hands in his pockets as he moved. I snaked my keys from my purse and thought about the conversation I wanted to have with Cato. It wasn’t light or easy to explain. But he’d had this conversation with other women before. It wasn’t that odd.
We stopped in front of my door.
“Why don’t you ever invite me inside?” he asked.
“Why would you want to come inside?” I countered.
“To see that picture of us on your nightstand.”
“You mean the bathroom?”
He smirked, a teasing glow in his eyes. “No, your nightstand.”
“Since wh
en did you get a vote on where I put that picture?”
“Fine, at least the refrigerator.”
“Nah, that’s tacky.”
“And the bathroom isn’t?” he asked incredulously.
I chuckled then looked down at my hands. “When I find a place for it, I’ll let you know.”
“Where is it now?”
“Sitting on my kitchen table.”
“Well, that will do. For now.” He kept his hands in his pockets but he was standing close to me.
I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous to discuss this. Cato was always professional when it came to business. Of all people in the world, he could have this conversation. “There’s something I want to ask.”
“Yes, I’m into anal.”
I rolled my eyes and released a sigh.
He chuckled. “Kidding. What were you going to say?”
“Forget it.” Now I didn’t have the courage. I turned to the door.
Cato grabbed me and pulled me close to his chest. His face was near mine and a serious look was in his eyes. “I’m sorry. Please tell me.” His hands were on my hips, and it somehow felt like he’d touched me this way before, that we’d been intimate somehow. He touched me like he’d done it a hundred times already. “Come on, Katarina.”
I stared at his chest for a moment before I found the courage again. “You said you pose as a husband to a client.”
“Yeah.” He stared at me with confusion in his eyes.
“Could you do the same for me?” Would he think I was weird for asking such a thing? I was already paying him to be my boyfriend so that was weird enough.
His eyes focused on my face and he seemed at a loss of words. “May I ask why?”
“It would make my family happy to see me married off. That’s all.”
He nodded slowly. “But pretending to be married is a big lie. You’re expecting me to commit to this for years.”
“I understand it’s a lot. I’ll pay you a higher rate if that’s the issue.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he said quickly. “I thought you hired me so your family would accept the fact you and Joey would never be an item. I think that’s been accomplished.”
“Well, I want more,” I said. “They’ll get off my back for good if I settle down.”
He rubbed the back of his neck then looked away for a moment. His eyes were dark and distant.
“I don’t expect kids if that’s what you’re worried about.” I never wanted to have kids.
“That’s not what’s on my mind,” he said quietly.
“Well, is it something you’re willing to do?”
He ran his fingers through his hair, making it messy but in a good way. “I need to know something first.”
What?
“Why do you want to pretend to be married? I know it’s not because of Joey. There’s another reason.”
There was another reason.
“Katarina?” he asked. “What is it?”
I held my silence, unable to form the words with my tongue.
“Why won’t you tell me?” he asked in a hurt voice. “Do you think I’m going to judge you?”
“No, I just don’t want to talk about it.” I didn’t want to talk about it with Cato, a man I’d just begun to know. Talking about Ethan was hard, and I hated the looks of sympathy people gave me. Every time I discussed it, which hardly happened, I started to cry. “It really doesn’t matter anyway.”
“But it does matter,” he said firmly. “I’m not asking to get into your personal life. I’m asking because it’s my job. How do you expect me to help you if you won’t tell me what the problem is?”
He was backing me into a corner and I didn’t like it. “Cato, do you want the gig or not? I’m not required to tell you anything. So, just accept that.”
He finally backed off. “Of course I will. Anything you need, I’m here. But I wish you would trust me and open up to me. I’m your friend, Katarina. Friends talk through their problems.”
“And I appreciate that, but there’s nothing you can do to help me.” Actually, there was nothing anyone could do.
He sighed in defeat. “I really hope you change your mind someday.”
“Maybe I will…but I don’t think I ever will.”
He looked at me with pity, the exact look I didn’t want to receive. “A beautiful girl like you should never be sad.” His voice came out deep and quiet, and his eyes carried his emotion.
I didn’t know what to say or how to deal with his sympathy so I looked down.
Cato’s fingers moved under my chin and he lifted my face up. He stared into my eyes like he was trying to read me like a book. Then he came close to me and wrapped his arms around me. He held me close like he had no intention of letting go.
It was nice to be held, for no reason at all. It was nice not to feel alone in the world. It was nice to feel like someone cared. I returned his embrace and rested my head against his chest. His heart beat slow and thudded in my ears. I closed my eyes and treasured the affection, unsure why I loved it so much.
Cato
Katarina wanted me to marry her. I would pretend to be her loving husband for years to come. It was a long-term gig and a guarantee of work. The other guys would love the offer because it was easy money. But her request concerned me.
It was one thing to marry a longtime friend for the political advantages even if there was no love involved but to hire someone to be a spouse was a different ballgame. At least if she married Joey she wouldn’t be alone. Living a lie like this was a guarantee she never wanted to settle down with anyone.
Why?
I already asked her and she wouldn’t confide anything in me. She was a locked chest and I didn’t have the key. An ex-boyfriend obviously hurt her, shattered her into unfixable pieces.
I wanted to break his neck.
Whatever he did, he really damaged her. She didn’t believe in love and wouldn’t even make the effort to give it another chance. Such a loss of faith could only be caused by something unspeakable.
Katarina deserved more than that. She deserved another chance at love. I didn’t want to agree to this arrangement because of that reason, but I also wanted to agree so I could show her how different her life could be.
When we hung out, she opened up and let her smile shine through. She laughed and had a good time. Once her guard was down, her happiness and joy was infectious. She was just like the girl I met in Times Square two years ago. The playfulness was her most recognized trait, and she didn’t hide it when she was around me. But it took a long time for me to pull it out of her.
Whenever she wasn’t thinking about whatever it was that was causing her so much pain, she was a happy person. She let her hair down and ran around like she didn’t have a care in the world. When I pushed her into the wind tunnel, she screamed at first but then she embraced the fall. She extended her arms and laughed as she fell to earth. The moment I saw the picture of her I had to buy it. Perhaps it would encourage her to remain this way.
I headed to the winery at lunchtime to see her. Perhaps she and I could get a bite to eat. Whenever I wasn’t with her, I was looking for reasons to see her. I’d never gone out of my way to spend time with a girl, but Katarina completely changed the type of guy I was. Sometimes I wondered if I really liked her, or if I just liked her because she was the first woman to reject me. But it didn’t really matter.
I arrived at the vineyard then walked inside. The building was classy and elegant, and there were bottles of wine on display. People in black slacks and black collared shirts walked around. There were offices as well as a restaurant inside.
“Can I help you, sir?” a man asked me as I examined my surroundings.
“I’m looking for Katarina.”
He nodded. “I see. This way.” He led me past the restaurant and down the hallway. The building expanded into different sectors, and we reached a large office and a secretary sat at her desk just outside it.
“Thank you,�
�� I said to the man as he walked away.
The young brunette behind the desk looked me up and down, trying to be discreet in her gaze but failing miserably. “Can I help you, sir?”
“I’m here to see Katarina.” I loved her name. It was so sexy and it rolled right off the tongue.
“Do you have an appointment?” She opened a binder with a calendar and looked up today’s date.
“No. I just wanted to see if she wanted to get lunch.”
“She’s very busy,” she said dismissively.
Her secretary was aggressive but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. “Could you tell her that her boyfriend wants to take her to lunch?”
“Oh.” She nodded her head slowly. “My apologies…I didn’t know.”
“It’s quite alright,” I said politely.
“She’s with someone right now but I’ll let her know you’re here.”
‘Thank you.” I put my hands in my pockets and waited.
The secretary made the call. “Your boyfriend is here, Kat.” She listened to the other line and nodded. “Right away.” She hung up. “Go on in.”
Fancy treatment. “Thank you.” I opened the door and stepped inside.
Joey was sitting in a large leather chair facing her desk. A yellow notepad sat on his lap and he had one arm propped on the armrest. His fingers rested on his lips. He looked at me when I entered and quietly acknowledged me.
“How are you?” I said politely.
“Well, you?”
“Good. Thank you.”
Katarina came around the desk and gave me a confused look. She had no idea why I was here or why I wanted to take her to lunch but she couldn’t outright ask me that. She gave me a quick hug and wrapped her arms around my neck.
I took it a step forward and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
She kissed me back then pulled away, giving me that look that said, “Why do you keep kissing me?”
It was hard not to. I’d already kissed her before she hired me, and since I knew how damn good that kiss was I wasn’t going to pass it up again. “Hey, baby. Hope you don’t mind me stopping by.”
“I never mind,” she said affectionately.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” I glanced at Joey then looked at her again.