Erica Lucke Dean - To Katie with Love (6 page)

JUST ANOTHER TUESDAY

I
woke up earlier than usual on Tuesday, well rested but restless just the same. I’d dreamt about being locked in the vault with Cooper, and the things we did there would have made Vicky blush.

I forced myself to focus on the day ahead. I even forced myself to not think
his
name. I tried to dress casually, but I found myself tossing outfit after outfit onto my bed, completely dissatisfied with every article of clothing I owned. I settled on a long black cashmere sweater dress—something I’d bought quite a while ago but never worn—so I could wear my new boots with it. I knew wearing the scary heels again was dangerous, but I was living dangerously lately.

Even after taking the time to dry and style my impossible hair, I got to work early and closed myself in my office again. Silvia was back to normal. She didn’t hover outside my door, as though she was satisfied I’d gone to lunch with
him
yesterday. She also seemed to approve of my outfit, which was somewhat unsettling given her propensity toward the unconventional. After all, she was the one who thought I looked hot dressed like Julia Roberts in the opening scenes of
Pretty Woman
.

I wandered out of my office at nine to send a fax. I caught the tail end of a conversation between June and Phil that managed to perk my mood right up.

“Phil, you’re only one step away from being a full-blown asshole.” She shook her finger inches from his nose.

I had never heard June so angry. I’d always thought she let people push her around too much. She’d obviously been holding back.

“Are you sure it’s a whole step?” Silvia piped up as she rounded the corner. “I would have said he’s closer to a half-step away.”

I didn’t think Silvia knew what he’d done either, but it didn’t matter. It was apparently Pick-on-Phil day. That was perfectly fine with me, since yesterday’s tension had apparently been lifted. As soon as June turned her back, Phil put his finger to his temple like a gun and squeezed his thumb like the trigger, jerking his head back and rolling his eyes dramatically.

“Katie, you look extra nice today. Is that a new dress?” June asked. “Are those the boots you got for your birthday?”

I laughed. “Yes to both. New dress, same boots. I don’t know if I should have been so brave. I may need a ride to the emergency room if I wear these all day.”

“Hey, Katie,” Vicky purred as she joined the congregation surrounding the fax machine. “Your hair looks good. You must have gotten up really early today. I wonder why?” She winked and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Wanna see my new piercing? I showed everyone else yesterday while you were at lunch.”

“You showed everyone?” I darted a glance at Phil, who shook his head vigorously. I smirked at her. “I was certain it was someplace a little too private for public viewing.”

“It is. Trust me. You don’t want to see,” Silvia assured me as she jumped up from her chair and went back out to the lobby.

Vicky didn’t even have the decency to blush. “It’s okay, Katie. You don’t have to look. We all know you’re a little on the shy side. It’s not a crime.” She flashed a friendly smile in my direction, and I was instantly suspicious.

I had no idea when we had become frenemies. We’d never been close or anything, but we’d never been adversaries, either. “It’s just a little too much information for me, Vic.” I flashed my teeth in a wicked grin. “There’s not much uncharted territory left for you now, is there?”

“As a matter of fact…” she started.

I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing left that you could do or say that could gross me out any more than what I’ve already heard.”

“I’m having my anus bleached,” she deadpanned.

“That’s my cue,” Phil said and nearly ran out of the back.

“You’re kidding, right?” I almost laughed, but her expression was so serious. “Anal bleaching? Where do you come up with this stuff?”

“I’m not joking. My husband found something on the internet about it, and I thought he might like that, so I’m having it done to surprise him. What man wouldn’t want their wife’s anus to be fresh and new?”

“Fresh and new?” I was completely flabbergasted. I didn’t know whether to laugh or shudder with revulsion. I wondered what kind of internet search her husband had been doing when he ran across that bit of information.

Silvia walked back into the room and looked between my face and Vicky’s. “Let me guess. She told you about having her asshole bleached? Why anyone would spend good money on something like that, I’ll never know. If I’m going to fork out that much money to make something look new and fresh, it’s going to be something people get to see a little more often. And the vaginal rejuvenation brochures she
anonymously
left on my desk is not an option either.” Silvia grabbed an incoming fax and zipped back to her office.

I didn’t waste any more time. I sent my fax and went to my desk to prepare for my morning appointments. I was pulling up the daily rate sheets when Vicky slipped into my office and dropped into the chair across from me.

I raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Still trying to shock me?”

“No. I just wondered if you were sleeping with Cooper yet.” She rocked back in the chair and put her feet up on my desk.

My mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, don’t play coy. You heard me. Are you sleeping with Cooper?”

“First of all—and this is really the most important thing—that is absolutely none of your business. I’m offended you would even ask.”

Vicky opened her mouth to speak, and I held up one finger. “That being said,” I continued, “I don’t think you’re capable of leaving it at that, so I will tell you no, I haven’t slept with Cooper.”

“You forgot the ‘yet.’ You haven’t slept with Cooper
yet
.”

“There is no
yet
. I’m his banker; he’s my client. I don’t think the bank would appreciate me crossing that line.”

“Well, if you aren’t going to cross it, I might. I just thought it would be fair to warn you first.” Vicky stood and wrapped her hand around the door handle.

“You’re married!”

She laughed. “I didn’t say I want to marry him. I want to do the horizontal mambo with him.” She swiveled her hips.

“Vicky, people don’t actually say ‘horizontal mambo’ anymore. That’s ridiculous.” I was getting hysterical.

“They may not say it anymore, but believe me, Katie, they still
do
it.”

“What… what about your husband?”  

“My husband likes to watch.” She tossed that out with a shrug and left, only to poke her head back in two seconds later.

“Oh, and one more thing…” she whispered just loud enough for me to hear. “I would ask him where he gets all that money you’re investing for him, because the way I see it, it’s not by conventional means… if you know what I mean.”

“What are you talking about?” I snapped.

“Seriously, have you ever once heard him talk about a job?” She stared at me for a second, waiting for whatever weak comeback I might have attempted.

I had nothing.

“I didn’t think so. At least Dean has a verifiable income.” She left quite satisfied with herself, if her expression was any indication.

I spent the next couple of hours in a state of worry and panic. Worried about Vicky. Worried about Cooper. That was no way to live. I’d made it all the way to my birthday without a drop of anxiety. I could have been blissfully unaware of Cooper’s skill at kissing if I’d just stayed home with a glass of wine and a book.

Knowing Cooper had an upcoming appointment, I was too nervous to function. By the time he finally showed up, I was utterly and completely uncomfortable in his presence—a predicament that in and of itself was new. I couldn’t keep my mind from drifting back to our last kiss while he sat in front of me.

Cooper leaned back in the chair with his fingers entwined behind his head, making his white pullover tight across his hard chest. “You’re staring at my lips again. Should I just come over there and kiss you or—” He turned and took a quick peek at the group of people outside my office pretending not to watch us. “—do you think it might cause a stir?”

I laughed, but it sounded sort of panicky. “I think it might cause more than
just
a stir. You seem to attract attention like a rock star.”

Cooper rolled his shoulders back, angling his body to the opposite side of his chair. “That’s ridiculous.”

“What?” I asked, still trying to recover from his threat of coming over here and kissing me.

“The whole ‘rock star’ thing? I don’t remember causing this much commotion in all the time I’ve been coming here.”

“You haven’t been paying close enough attention.” I glanced at the faces outside my office. “And now they see the potential for some action worthy of watching.”

He unlaced his hands from behind his head. “What exactly do they think is going to happen in your office?” He tried to hold his lips in a straight line, but his lopsided grin threatened to shatter his serious face.

I leaned in to mirror his stance. “I think they’re waiting for us to do it right here on my desk.” My stomach fluttered at the mere mention of such a thing, and my boldness in saying it. I held my breath.

That undid his resolve and the grin was back—bigger than ever. “I’m game if you are.”

After he left, I felt a little empty. I’d made a point of keeping the rest of the meeting professional, sitting up straight in my chair with my eyes glued to the computer screen. I spent the rest of the day retracing my steps over the past year. I tried to recall all the times I had been asked out. It was a short list—only two names. Not counting Cooper.

The first one didn’t really count, or rather I didn’t want it to count because it was so embarrassing. He was the bagger at the grocery store I shopped at. We flirted back and forth. He was cute; what could I say?

After several months of pushing my cart to the car, he leaned against my trunk and asked for my number. For some crazy reason, I gave it to him, probably either out of boredom or hormones. Whatever the cause, I was glad it hadn’t gotten out to anyone at the bank. They would have absolutely loved hearing about how I almost ended up at the local high school prom.

High school boys looked older all the time. I had to switch grocery stores and change my cell phone number. Once, I dreamed I ended up on an online list of neighborhood predators and got pelted with tomatoes every time I left my townhouse. The saddest part was I really liked that grocery store.

The second date wasn’t even worth mentioning. He was just a guy in my neighborhood. The only real importance my dating history had was that it was nonexistent. I toyed with changing my computer password to PaTh3T1c.

June popped her head into my office at two o’clock. She had the funniest expression on her face.

I laughed. “What?”

“He’s back!” she exclaimed in a whisper.

I didn’t need to ask who. I jumped out of my chair, caught the back before it tipped over, and ran to my office door just as Cooper came in through the main entrance. He had a very determined look on his face. Serious, yet smoldering. I darted back to my chair and fell into it. I put my hands on my desk, then changed my mind and pulled a sheaf of papers in front of me just as he walked through my door carrying the most wonderful scent of peppermint and spicy citrus with him.

DINNER?

“S
ilvia,” I whispered from the doorway of my office the minute I was sure Cooper was gone. When she turned to look at me over her leopard-print reading glasses, I frantically waved her over.

She stood and came to my door. “What?”

“Cooper asked me to dinner,” I choked out, gripping my long pearl necklace in one hand for support.

“Well, it’s about damn time.” She gave me that wicked little smile, making me think she knew something I didn’t, and perched her perfectly manicured hands on her hips in triumph.

I looked down at my own hands as I mangled the long strand of pearls between my fingers, twisting and untwisting until the necklace creaked under the pressure. “I’m not going. I told him, as his banker, I really should maintain some level of professionalism.” I was seriously getting tired of that word.

“Katherine Grace James! You did
not
say
no
to his dinner invitation?”

A chill cut through me at the way she said my full name. I’d never heard Silvia quite so upended. I was almost afraid to answer. “I didn’t actually say
no
, but I didn’t give him much to hope for, either. I just said it wouldn’t be a good idea for us to get any further involved.”

“Oh, Katie… you didn’t. What did he say when you turned him down?”

“It was awful… the look on his face. He just nodded and walked out. I feel horrible.”

Silvia glared at me. “You know damn well you’ve been pining for him for almost as long as he’s been pining for you. It’s been
ridiculously
difficult to watch without interfering.”

Her revelation shocked me. I had no idea Cooper was pining for me. In fact, I found it pretty much impossible given the other choices he had.

“How could I possibly say yes? He’s my client! You know the bank frowns on things like that. We’re not just their bankers; we’re accountants, priests…
babysitters
.” I tried to sound firm, but my voice came off weak. “And I seriously doubt Cooper has been pining for me. He’s just like Dean or Mrs. Gilroy or your Mr. Hannigan. They
all
come in once a week for us to hold their hands through the process.”

Silvia clicked her tongue. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, do
not
compare Cooper with other clients. He doesn’t come see you twice a week because he’s worried about his money. And don’t you dare blame the bank for your fear of relationships.”

That was precisely why I had refused his invitation to dinner. Fear.

“I’m serious, Katie. I’m going to kick your butt if you don’t go.” She took me by the elbow, steered me back to my desk, and gave me a little shove into my chair. “Dial.” She pointed at the phone. “Get him on the phone and tell him to pick you up at five.”

Yes, Mom
. “What if he’s already made other plans?”

“I seriously doubt he’s made other plans in the less than ten minutes since he left here. Now dial.” She tapped a pointed-toe pump against the low pile carpet.

I dialed Cooper’s number from memory—a fact Silvia seemed to relish, given her smirk. I looked away from her to stare at the digital display on my phone, counting the seconds as I waited for him to answer.

“Hello?”

My breath caught in my throat. “Um… hi… Cooper?” I felt like a complete idiot. Again. How often would he witness my graphic attempts to humiliate myself? “Yeah, hi… it’s Katie James? From the bank?”

Silvia threw up her hands and shook her head.

“I don’t know if the offer is still good, but I would very much like to have dinner with you tonight. That is… um… if you’d still like to… you know, have dinner with me.” There. I did it. I managed to get all of the words out without dying of embarrassment. Of course, it could be a slow death.

“I’m glad you changed your mind.”

“Me too.” And amazingly I
was
glad. More than glad, I was relieved. I really hated that I’d upset him so badly. I wouldn’t tell Silvia how happy I was. She would be impossible to live with if she knew how ecstatic her little matchmaking project had made me. “Can you pick me up at five? At the bank?” 

So I’d swallowed my pride and pushed back my fears, and for the first time in I didn’t even know how long, I had a real date. I wasn’t counting the fact that I’d already slept in his bed, or that I had already tasted his lips and his peppermint breath… to the point I would always remember it with a stomach flip worthy of a rollercoaster.

Three hours stood between me and five o’clock. I managed to stay busy, which usually made the day go faster, but the time still dragged. By ten minutes to five, I was thankful for two things. One, I was wearing the cashmere dress. And two, everyone else had gone home early. Phil and I were the only ones left by five before five. And even though Phil was “just one step away from being an asshole”—or a half-step away if I were to believe Silvia—he was a welcome break from the watchful eyes of the others.

“Where is this joker?” Phil teased, but I knew he liked Cooper, and in a more rational way than the females in the office, myself included.

I looked at my watch: one minute past five. “Oh!” He was late. “I don’t know. Should I call him?”

Phil rolled his eyes. “Even
I
don’t count one minute as late. Wait until he’s at least five minutes late to call.”

I know Phil would hate it if I told him so, but I often thought of him as just one of the girls. He had his moments, but most of the time, he fit right in with the other women in the office.

“Ah… see?” He nodded toward the parking lot. “Here comes your knight in shining BMW as we speak.”

I bolted for the door, elated and terrified at the same time. Cooper was already climbing out of the car as I reached the sidewalk.

He walked around to open the passenger door but then stopped. “You look nervous. Are you sure about changing your mind?”

You have no idea.
“Of course I’m sure,” I squeaked, a frisson of fear sinking in again.

He nodded then opened the car door. He stood there while I got in, then closed the door for me. After sliding into his seat, he pulled his seat-belt across his chest and clicked it into place.

A strange expression crossed his face, and I angled myself toward him so I could look into his eyes. “Is something wrong?”

He pursed his lips and pushed his hand into his hair. “Are you intentionally trying to keep me from knowing where you live?”

My mouth fell open. “Why would you think that?”

“You wanted me to pick you up from the bank. I’ve only ever picked you up from here, and when I drove you back on Saturday, you would only let me drive you back to the bar to get your car. I’ve never been to your house.”

I caught my lip between my teeth. “My house is nothing special.”

“Anywhere you sleep is some place special,” he murmured.

The man was making a habit out of melting my insides. I leaned over and kissed him. I couldn’t help myself. He was clearly caught by surprise, but he didn’t stop me—more than that, he kissed me back. His seatbelt held him trapped in his seat, and it was all I could do to keep from climbing into his lap.

I ran my tongue over his lips and tasted the peppermint. “You always taste so good, like you’ve just brushed your teeth or something.”

He laughed but didn’t explain. “Will you
please
show me where you live?”

“Right
now
?” My heart began to race at the thought of him seeing my townhouse and the messy state it was in.

As if sensing my discomfort, he kissed the tip of my nose. “We don’t have to go in. I just want to know where you live. And—” He paused to kiss my lips. “—you can drive your own car there so I can take you home tonight. Like a real date.”

A real date. Was that all he wanted? It was kind of romantic in a way. I nodded and melted into his arms as he kissed me again. We sat in the bank parking lot kissing for a few more minutes before I remembered Phil was probably watching from the lobby. I was too happy to be embarrassed, but I broke off the kiss and slid back into my own seat. It had gotten dark while we sat, oblivious to anything but each other.

“Ready?”

I cleared my throat and nodded again. “Ready.”

He got out and opened my door for me, then walked me to my car. I climbed behind the wheel of my Prius and pulled out of the bank parking lot with Cooper following. When we reached my townhouse, I parked and got back into his BMW.

I spent a few minutes describing the interior of my little home—as if it were actually clean. “I never got around to painting the walls, so they’re all the same boring white they were when I moved in a year ago. The most interesting things about the whole place are the gleaming wood floors and the brick fireplace. Though I’m not sure if the fireplace works; I’ve never had a reason to use it.”

He didn’t seem at all bored as I went on about my stack of paperbacks and love of reading. He even sounded interested in my favorite authors, but I wasn’t sure if he was just being polite.

“Okay, are you ready for the evening I have planned?” His smile threatened to split his face in two.

I couldn’t imagine what he’d planned, but I was certain I was not
even close to being ready for it. “I hope so.”

The long cobblestone driveway, lined with dormant crepe myrtles dressed in white lights, hinted at what lay beyond. Cooper’s house was sequestered behind a grove of old, twisted walnut trees. I wasn’t sure what we were doing there, but when we pulled in, I realized it was the first time I could actually recall seeing the front of his house. It was magnificent… a European-style country manor in aged bricks and stone.

“Stay here,” he said. Then he ducked down to quickly press his lips to mine in an all-too-quick kiss. “Don’t move.”

I felt as though I were returning to the scene of a crime. My only relief came from the fact that he didn’t come around and open my door.
Maybe he forgot his wallet.
He disappeared through the heavy wooden front door and was gone for what seemed like an eternity but was really only a minute or two. When he came back out, he seemed nervous, as if he was holding back some sort of secret he wasn’t sure I would like. He sauntered over to the car, opened my door, and offered his hand.

I automatically took it, but I was instantly terrified and fought to keep the hysteria from my voice. “Are we having dinner here?” I was prepared for a crowded restaurant, even an intimate one, but definitely somewhere with people. Not his house. Not completely alone. I wouldn’t have the excuse of being drunk. I wouldn’t have the gut-wrenching vomiting to save me from myself.

He froze. “Would you rather not eat here?”

I felt his anxiety. One word of rejection, and I would shatter him. I was sure of it. I forced a smile. “No, this is fine. I’m just surprised. I didn’t know you could cook.”

“I didn’t cook. I hired a good caterer.” He pulled me against him, wrapping his arm around my waist, and led me through the front door.

“Okay, now I don’t want you to jump to any conclusions.” He closed the door behind us. “No matter how it may seem on the surface, nothing about tonight is meant to be anything other than dinner. I don’t want to scare you off, and I’m not trying to seduce you.” He paused for an impossibly long moment. “Not that I wouldn’t love to, but I’m perfectly capable of being a gentleman. I promise. I just wanted you all to myself tonight, with no prying eyes or people eavesdropping.” He let his hand slide from my waist and down over my hip for a brief moment before drawing it back. “And your wonderful dress gave me the idea.”

“My dress?” I squeaked, trying not to be afraid. I told myself to be brave, but he was leading me toward the stairs, and I knew what was up there.

“Mm-hmm.”

Stomach flip. Big time. He had a nice moan.

“What about my dress gave you the idea?”

He kissed my cheek. “I’ll tell you later.”

Music played softly somewhere in the house—Chopin, one of my favorite nocturnes. I stole a quick glance at him. He was holding back a smile, but at the same time, his eyes searched mine as if he might be afraid of my reaction. As soon as we hit the upstairs landing, I smelled food aromas, only recognizing a few: fresh-baked bread and herbs, seafood and succulent fruits, fresh bacon—a wonderful blend I could almost taste. I relaxed a little, knowing there was actually a dinner planned. I wasn’t even worried that the hallway wasn’t lit. A glow came from the floor below, and a hint of moonlight shone through a window.

He let go of my waist and took my hand, towing me down the hall with childlike eagerness. I could feel the excitement pouring off him in waves. That bolstered my nerves, as well. He stopped at the closed door at the end of the hallway and turned to face me.

He placed his fingers under my chin and tipped my face up so he could look into my eyes. “This is just dinner.” Then he kissed me lightly and turned back to the door, pushing it open.

Oh. My. God.

It was… was… “Beautiful.”

“Do you really like it?” he asked, pushing his other hand into his hair.

“I have no words.” I dropped his hand and stepped all the way into the room. I blinked back tears, pressing my hand against my lips to keep my mouth from falling open.

The cozy little sitting room that led to his bedroom had been transformed into something I could’ve only imagined in one of my books. He had moved the sofas—to where, I had no idea—and in their place, two chairs faced a round table draped in a floor-length white tablecloth and topped with fine china and a silver candelabra complete with flickering white tapers. The fireplace blazed with crackling logs, the smell of oak blending with the bacon, and a row of white votive candles burned in clear glass cups along the mantel. A rolling cart like the ones used in fine hotels was stacked with silver-covered dishes, and a bottle of wine chilled in a silver bucket.