Chapter Nine
I made my escape from the conference room only to be faced with him. What was he doing here so early? Where I used to love how open our loft style office was, I was lamenting it now. There was no ducking and hiding from him from where I stood. My office was too far away, and he had seen me.
Daphne, our receptionist, had just finished greeting him in a way too breathy I’ll-love-you-forever tone when Nick’s and my eyes locked.
He was dressed to steal hearts in a shirt and slacks that molded to him in a way that enhanced his broad shoulders and trim waistline. He knew he looked good by the way he swaggered my way wearing not quite a smile, but a look that said he was pleased. His eyes drifted over my tapered jeans and off-the-shoulder blouse—it was casual in the office on Fridays since we didn’t see clients.
I felt self-conscious before I reminded myself that I had no reason to feel that way. I looked fine enough for the office and I wasn’t dressing to impress him. I didn’t even want to impress him.
“Kate.” He never greeted people with simple words like hello.
“Hello, Nick.” I walked toward my office hoping that was all he had to say to me.
Nope. He followed.
“Can I help you with something?” I asked, trying to make it to the safety of my office.
“I have no doubt you could.”
What did he mean by that? I stopped to face him. I shouldn’t have. His eyes drew me in like one of those cobras that could put you in a trance before they poisoned you.
He edged closer to me, reeling me in. “Why do I feel like I’ve met you before this week?”
His question shook me out of my stupor. I had to be more careful around him. “Where would we have met?” I responded with a question of my own, knowing I couldn’t own the truth, but not wanting to lie. The woman he met fourteen years ago no longer existed, even if I missed her occasionally.
He inched closer. His scent filled me. I held my breath while he studied me.
His eyes went from searching to frustrated. “Have you ever been to LA?”
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
“Yet?”
“I have a mental health professionals conference there next month.” I was looking forward to it. I was extending my visit and planned on doing some sightseeing. And after this new assignment, I was going to need the vacation.
His stare was still trying to place me.
Did he really remember me? No matter. I headed back toward my office. “Good luck with your interview.”
“I don’t need it.”
I couldn’t hide the eye roll. It naturally appeared after such a cocky statement.
He arched the one eyebrow. “This isn’t something new for me,” he defended himself.
“Right. Well, then have a good weekend.” I darted into my office.
He didn’t get the social cue that I didn’t want to continue our conversation and invited himself in. “Speaking of the weekend, I’m going to need you to go on that client date with me tomorrow night.”
I held on to my desk for support. “I don’t think a client date is necessary.” Panic interspersed every word. “I’ve already chosen your first connection. I’m just waiting to get word that she’s coming in to sign your NDA. You can take her out,” I stumbled over my words.
A pressed-lip smile danced on his face as he approached my desk. “I’m going to pass.”
“You haven’t seen her yet.”
“This event calls for someone . . . I can trust. Just for this weekend.”
I could feel the crease between my brows increase exponentially with that confusing statement. “You don’t even know me.”
“I have a sense about these things. Besides, I don’t know the other woman at all, and this is important to me.”
“I’ll show her to you and you’ll see what a catch she is.” I was desperate to convince him.
His hands pressed against my desk while he leaned over it, getting too close to me. “What are you so afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid,” my voice shook. “But really, you should take Chanel.”
“What if I—”
Thankfully, Kenadie interrupted us. “Oh, good you’re here.” She stood at my door. “Did Kate tell you who she paired you with?” Kenadie’s eyes shined with excitement. She loved seeing a good match made.
Nick stood up straight. “We were just discussing her.” He gave me a gratified look. “We can pick up where we left off after the interview.”
My shoulders fell before I dropped into my chair. With Kenadie watching I couldn’t refuse. “Sounds good.” I hoped he heard the implied I loathe you right now in there.
By the look of his smirk he heard it loud and clear.
So much for me leaving early.
He and Kenadie walked off together. Kenadie was chirping happily about some of her thoughts regarding the interview. I hoped he didn’t disappoint her.
Meanwhile, I was reaching for the peppermint oil and rubbing it into my temples. I was going to my parents’ tomorrow, so my dad could adjust me and my mom could massage away the knots in my back caused by Nick, if they hadn’t killed each other yet. More than likely I would have additional knots when I left because my visit would turn into a marriage counseling session. I rubbed more oil into my temples.
I sent a desperate plea disguised as a follow-up email to Todd asking him to let me know as soon as Chanel could come in and sign that stupid NDA since Nick was asking about her. So I stretched the truth a tad. I was banking on Chanel running in here waving a pen, ready to sign her life away to have the chance to date the ex-superstar. There was no way I was going on a date with him tomorrow, even a platonic client one. And what was this event that was so important to him? He had to have flocks of women willing to go with him on a moment’s notice, even if Chanel happened to not be available. Really, she would be better company for him than me.
I did my best to focus on the mass influx of questionnaires we had received this past week knowing it would only get worse from here, especially once the interview Kenadie and Nick were doing today aired, not to mention the commercial he was doing. Kenadie may need to hire another psychologist if this kept up, or that raise I was getting better make up for the new chaos in my life. I wondered how long his contract was with us. His profile didn’t say and when I tried to access it, the information was blocked.
I was so distracted, I only got through two questionnaires in an hour and a half. Before I knew it, I heard the rumblings of a camera crew and unfamiliar voices in the office. I walked over to my door so I could close it to drown out the sound, but before I did, my curiosity got the better of me. I peeked out to see what was going on. They were staging some chairs in front of the wall of bliss where a picture of each engaged and married couple we had matched hung. It was Kenadie’s pride and joy.
I observed Nick perusing the wall with interest. That was, before he turned around and caught me staring at him as if he knew I was watching. What gives? Even from the distance, I could tell how gratified he was that he found me paying attention to him. I slipped back into my office and shut my door. I took a deep breath. And another.
I’d barely sat back down when there was a knock on my door. Kenadie popped her head in before I could acknowledge it.
“Hey, Nick thought it would be a good idea if you came out to watch the interview since you’re his relationship manager.”
I blinked a million times hoping I heard her wrong. I was ready to give her an excuse to why I couldn’t, but she didn’t give me the chance.
“I think it would be nice too. It would show that we’re a team here.”
How was that going to be conveyed? I had a sneaking suspicion he was only doing it because he knew it would get under my skin, and that would amuse him. Which, I might add, was a sign of a narcissist.
I reached for the ibuprofen in my top desk drawer. “I’ll be right there.” I couldn’t say no to her. She was lit up from the inside and it obviously meant a lot to her.
She flashed me a huge smile before leaving me to try and remedy my headache. I had a feeling it wasn’t going anywhere. Along with the two pills I popped, I took several sips of water, delaying walking out there. I resigned myself to my fate and headed to the crowd gathering near where the interview was going to happen. Additional lighting had been brought in, and there were a few people from the news station prepping. Jason, Kenadie’s husband, was there looking on with pride. It was sweet of him to come and support his wife. Zander stood next to him, still looking unsure about his current circumstances, but doing his best not to show it.
The women in our office were in herd mentality and clustered together. They followed every move Nick made, from the way he ran his fingers through his thick, styled hair to the way he flirted with the lifestyle reporter, Dana Zimmerman. I noted how he was like two different people when the spotlight came on. He was all ease and please while talking to Dana. Here was an idea, he could take her to his “event” if Chanel wasn’t available. Dana certainly looked interested.
Which reminded me. I made my way over to Todd, who was the only other person in this office showing any signs that he was still sane. He was more interested in his phone than the hullabaloo.
I sidled up near him. “Have you heard back from Chanel?”
Todd smiled up from his phone. “I was just checking my email. Not yet.”
I smiled back to hide my disappointment. It was almost 4:00 p.m. and we closed at 5:00. I would volunteer to stay late if I had to. “Thanks.”
Todd went back to his phone, leaving me on the edge of all the action to watch the man causing me more consternation than I’d had in a long time. Nick glanced my way for a split second while talking to the reporter. Before I knew it, though, he was making his way to me through his admirers.
Every eye in the office took notice.
I stood tall, doing my best to act unaffected and professional about it. “Mr. Wells.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Should I start calling you Dr. Morgan now?”
A small smile escaped. Dang him. “No.”
He took that as invitation to stand too close. “In that case, I spoke to Kenadie about my dilemma tomorrow night during our meeting.”
I leaned away with an air of skepticism. “Dilemma?”
“I’m in need of a date for the charity event I’m attending.” He kept his voice low.
I tucked some hair behind my ear. “I’m still waiting to hear back from Chanel.” My eyes drifted toward Dana Zimmerman applying some taupe lipstick to her luscious lips. She looked like an exotic beauty with dark hair and skin. She was perfect for a charity event. “You could ask the reporter.”
“Now how would that look since I’m using Binary Search?”
He had a point, but . . . I had one too. “Client dates don’t include doing charity events.”
“They do now.” His blue eyes electrified with his declaration.
My stomach dropped as well as swirled with feelings reminiscent of my twenty-year-old self. His eyes had an effect on me that I didn’t wish to acknowledge.
I swallowed. “What do you mean? I just talked to Kenadie. She didn’t mention me going.” I could barely speak above a whisper.
His head tilted forward in a seductive manner. “I wanted to be the one to give you the good news.”
I had no words.
“Kenadie is excited to not only make a sizable donation, but to have a representative at the Fallen Officers Charity Gala supporting the spouses and children they left behind.”
“Sounds like a worthy cause,” was all I could think of to say that would be appropriate given the audience nearby.
“One that’s close to my heart.” It was the sincerest thing I had ever heard him say.
I wasn’t ready to give in. “I really think Chanel—”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Todd was holding up his phone. “Chanel emailed and she wants her brother who’s a lawyer to look over the NDA before she signs it.” Todd gave Nick an apologetic smile. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s ecstatic, but she’s nervous about signing an NDA.”
“Understandable,” Nick responded. “Tell her to take her time.”
Todd nodded and walked off, leaving me with nothing left to cling to.
Nick gave me a real smile and it was heart stopping.
I had to turn from it. I caught Kenadie staring at us, and she gave me two thumbs up. This was all a great business opportunity for her and I’m sure she thought this was playing into the whole I needed to spend more time with him to fix him angle, which I understood, but . . .
I looked back to Nick. “I may be polishing my resume after this.”
He came dangerously close and whispered in my ear, “I wouldn’t be too sure. You haven’t seen me in a tux yet.”
Oh, I had.
That was part of the problem.