Watching them, Kara felt guilty intruding on their tender moment. “What time should we come over, Mom?”
“Dinner is at seven, so early enough to help set the table.
I’m fixing herb chicken and baked potatoes, Briana’s favorite. Poor thing hasn’t been able to keep much down.”
“What? No baby ribs or pork chop?” their father teased.
“Cliff, you know that stuff is not good for…,” Kara was sure she meant to say ‘you’ but substituted, “anyone. Briana is eating for two but must eat only healthy foods. I plan on making coleslaw too. For dessert, I’l make—”
“Something sweet and unhealthy, I insist.” Their father grabbed Penny by the elbow and puled her through the open doorway then added over his shoulder, “We’l see you tomorrow, pumpkin.”
They voleyed comments al the way to the car and waved one last time before her father puled away.
Kara closed the door, and since Mrs. Marten was already in bed, locked up. It was almost ten o’clock when she finaly went into her bedroom, brushed her teeth and changed. Getting comfortable under the covers, she dialed Baron’s number.
“Hey, sweetheart. I was wondering when you’d cal. How’s your sister doing?”
The endearment sent a gentle whoosh of warmth through her, but his dreamy voice hurled an ilicit thril straight to that sensitive spot between her legs. She leaned back against the pilows with a grin.
“Eating, but stil driving me crazy. I would’ve caled earlier but my parents were here. I need al my faculties to deal with my mother.”
“Is that so? I’ve always found her to be very charming.” He would. Penny adored him. “She is most of the time, but when she wants me to fal into line, al gloves are off.”
“What happened?” His voice deepened with concern.
Should she burden him with the drama? From what she knew about the Fitzgeralds, they were close, loyal, and very loving, and she’d hate to have him think her family was dysfunctional.
“Talk to me, Kara.”
Okay, a little sharing never hurt anybody. Besides, she couldn’t resist that coaxing tone of his. “My mother wants me to stay in San Diego for a little while. In fact, she prefers I start my business here.”
A long silence folowed.
“Baron?”
“Are you going to do it?” he asked.
“No, I’ve grown comfortable in L.A. You could say I’m now an
Angelenos
.” His husky laugh filtered down the line and Kara could swear she heard relief in the sound. “Although some of the quirks of L.A. people can drive me nuts.” He chuckled. “Like always chasing the latest software and hottest gadgets?”
“Or latest fashions. No wonder they say we shop at trendy-R-us,” she added.
Another chuckle teased her ear. “And gridlock on the freeway?”
“Don’t you just hate when that happens. You’d be cruising, and then the next moment it’s bumper to bumper for miles.
Whoever came up with car DVD players must have researched consumers in L.A. Ever notice how many people watch movies while in traffic?”
“Or play video games. Stil, you have to admit we have the best…weather.”
“Weather,” Kara said at the same time and joined him when he laughed.
Their conversation stayed on life in and around L.A., restaurants, night life and beaches. Baron even promised to introduce her to his favorite snorkeling alcove in Newport Beach.
Kara wondered why he’d suggest such a thing since their plan was to see each other while in Idaho only. Not wanting to spoil the flow of conversation, she let it slide.
The discussion shifted to childhood and Kara found herself talking about growing up in San Diego, her favorite places and moments. When it was his turn, she was surprised at the trouble he and Chase got into as kids. Apparently, having an identical twin hadn’t been easy on him, especialy when friends and relatives expected them to act alike.
“Are you stil heading back to L.A. tomorrow?” Baron finaly asked.
The one topic she’d been dreading. Kara exhaled gently.
“No, I’l be going back on Thursday morning.” When there was silence on the line again, she added, “I’m sorry this messes up your plans for Idaho.”
“I like to think of the trip to Idaho as
our
plan, Kara. What made you decide to stay longer?” he asked in a toneless voice.
She explained about Jim’s mother’s flight woes.
“I see.”
Kara frowned. His response baffled her. She’d expected him to suggest a new date for their trip or maybe even show a little regret that she wouldn’t be back to accompany him. Didn’t he want to go anymore? Earlier, she’d told Briana about her plans to leave on Thursday and surprisingly her sister hadn’t complained either.
But then again, that was Briana’s way of dealing with things. Once she got her way, she usualy became very agreeable.
Kara added, “I’l finish the Halè piece by Friday. The owner’s supposed to pick it then but I’l explain to him what happened.”
“Good. I should be back by Friday too.”
Kara frowned. “Back from where? I thought you were headed home when you left here?”
“I was but had to take a detour. What are you doing Friday night?”
“I’l probably work late.”
“Can I stop by for dessert?”
Doing things together before or after going to Idaho wasn’t part of their agreement. Kara searched her brain for a plausible reason to say no but drew a blank. The man had disrupted his day and messed up his brother’s schedule to fly her to San Diego. The least she could do was to be a little accommodating.
“Sure,” she said.
“Do you have plans for Saturday?”
Kara blinked, taken back. “I have Rick’s nephew’s bar mitzvah to attend in the morning.”
“Afternoon?”
She hesitated, not sure if spending so much time with him was the right thing to do. “I could be free. Why do you ask?”
“I’d like you to meet some people.”
Kara frowned. “Who?”
“It’s a surprise,” he said mysteriously.
“Seriously, who are they?”
“Don’t be impatient. Don’t you know wonderful things happen to those who wait?” He sounded like he was smiling.
“I hate waiting.”
He chuckled. “It’s a date then?”
“Al right.” Her tone came out resigned.
He laughed out loud. “Sweetheart, you’re good for my ego.” Then what sounded like a doorbel filtered through the line.
“I’ve got to go. I’l cal you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Goodnight.”
She hung up and stared into the darkened room, barely seeing the striped wal paper or the Monte Carlo fan in the ceiling.
What would she wear for their date? She mentaly went through her entire wardrobe and couldn’t think of anything suitable.
Stop acting like a high school senior planning her prom
night.
It wasn’t a date, just a bunch of people he wanted her to meet, probably business contacts. She had four days to find something suitable to wear.
***
Doubts about the Idaho trip, Friday ‘dessert’, and Saturday date kept Kara on edge the next day. She was getting in too deep with Baron. The gorgeous man never did things halfheartedly. He was a go-getter, and resisting potent charm was pointless.
Part of the reason she’d liked his two-week Idaho proposal was because it would be a casual tryst at a location far away from prying friends and coleagues. Something to be tucked away for future reference, or retrieval when she was alone in the dark. But the change in her relationship with Baron was quickly mushrooming into something bigger, and she was helpless to stop it. Her sister knew about them. Baron’s brother probably did too if the two shared such personal information. Of course, her meddlesome, tactless mother would definitely get the details from Briana once her sister stopped being self-absorbed.
Should she go to Idaho, authenticate the colection, but say a firm no to an affair with Baron? Could they work together after she rejected his proposal? What did the dessert on Friday entail?
Who were these people he wanted her to meet? Were they business associates or personal friends?
Oh make up your mind, Kara. Think of what you need.
She needed that gorgeous hunk in her bed for those two weeks. If that meant late night desserts and unexpected meetings so be it.
Despite her decision, Kara stil worried about the whole thing. Briana caught her staring into space and raised her brow in question.
“I have a lot on my mind,” Kara said firmly, not inviting questions.
She accompanied Briana to the doctor’s office and only half-listened as the doctor explained the physical, emotional, and chemical causes of mood swings to her sister. Seeing the sonogram picture of her future nephew lifted Kara’s spirits somewhat, but Briana couldn’t keep her eyes off the picture once they left the doctor’s office. On their way home, they stopped by the Mary Birch Hospital to check out the prenatal Lamaze class.
Unfortunately, they were in the middle of their six-week course.
Briana signed up for prenatal yoga but informed the woman in charge she would take the next Lamaze session when her husband was available to join her.
Later at a donut shop for snacks, Briana finished her second chocolate iced custard-filed donut and took the barely touched piece from Kara’s hand.
“Don’t look at me like that. You weren’t eating it anyway.
So out with it. Why are you moping?”
“I’m not. Give me back my donut.”
Briana broke it into two then offered half to Kara. “Either you’re pining for your man, which is something I understand, or something is bothering you.”
There was no way she’d confide in her sister about her problems. Briana had a knack of bringing up the past when they fight.
“I need to buy a few outfits and I’m muling over what to buy,” Kara said, using Baron’s invite to get Briana off her back.
She stil had no idea who she’d be meeting on Saturday but was determined to look her best.
Briana licked the cream off her fingers. “Office clothes?”
“No, something nice and comfortable.”
Briana wrinkled her nose.
“Okay, sexy without being skanky.” Her sister’s idea of comfortable was skin-tight, trendy outfits and six-inched heels.
“Now you’re talking my language. Come on, we’re going to my favorite joint.”
An hour later, Kara had tried on more than a dozen outfits in a very expensive and exclusive boutique while Briana sat on a white overstuffed chair and plotted her demise.
“For chrissakes, Kara. You look great. Doesn’t she look great?” she asked the saleslady for the umpteenth time and didn’t wait for an answer before fixing her gaze on Kara, green eyes flashing. “You look fabulous.”
Kara studied her image and sighed. The dress was amazing, but she’d have to dip into her business savings to get it, too.
“I think I’l take those two.” She nodded at the ones on Briana’s lap.
Her sister made a face but didn’t argue.
As Kara changed back into her clothes, she could hear Briana asking the saleslady about maternity stores. When Kara joined them and paid for her dress, Briana plopped the last dress Kara had tried on the counter.
“What are you doing?”
“I’l take this one,” Briana told the cashier and handed over her credit card then turned to face Kara. “I love the numbers you picked, I realy do, but this one…this one is you.” Kara glanced around. With customers miling around, private conversation was nearly impossible. Kara waved at the cashier. “Don’t ring that, please.” She took her sister’s arm and led her to the side. “I can afford to pay for my own purchases, Briana.”
“You used to buy me stuff al the time. I don’t recal ever complaining.”
Kara narrowed her eyes. “That was different and you know it. I was working and you were a student.”
Briana looked over her shoulder and nodded at the cashier.
When Kara glanced at the woman, she was already slipping the outfit in a dress bag. “Why are you doing this?”
“Your taste in clothes sucks? You always wear vintage.
Even the two you picked are vintage-inspired. The last one is different.”
Kara roled her eyes. “Please.”
Briana glanced away as though searching for words. When she looked at Kara again, she wore a defiant expression. “Can’t you just accept it as a gift?”
“No. The two I picked were enough. Come on. Let’s go home.”
Briana didn’t move. Instead she whispered through clenched teeth, “Okay, fine. I owe you.”
“Excuse me?” Kara realized they were drawing stares.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“With the dress,” Briana said firmly.
Kara glared at her for a few seconds then sighed. “Fine.” They were back in the car, heading back home when Briana said, “I spoke with Jim last night and this morning. Al that talk about him messing around behind my back shouldn’t have come out of my mouth. He loves me and I love him.” She patted her stomach. “We’re going to have a beautiful, beautiful baby, just like his daddy. Did you see how cute the sonogram—?”
“You’re hedging, Briana.”
Her sister sighed. “I know that our marriage wouldn’t last without trust. I almost drove him away with my, you know, drama mess. He was hurt because I didn’t trust him.” Kara didn’t want to say “told yah,” so she kept quiet and waited. When she stopped at a light and glanced over at Briana, her sister was studying her manicured nails with feigned intensity. Mirth caused Kara to press her lips together. She burst out laughing when Briana scowled at her
“Okay, sheesh,” Briana said in an exasperated tone. “You were right, I was wrong. I owe you. There. Happy?”
“No.” Kara laughed harder.
“Fine. Thank you for the pep talk.”
“What’s so hard about admitting I was right or saying a simple thank you?”
“Because I’m street savvy, the sister who knows stuff about men and relationships while you,” she waved toward Kara, “are my brainiac, clueless older sister.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“Seriously. You’re single. I shouldn’t be getting advice on marriage from you.”
“Tough. You just did.”
Briana’s mouth twisted as she suppressed laughter and punched Kara on the arm. “And I was a total bitch to you when you didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry, sis.”
An apology? Wow. “That’s okay. That was your out-of-control hormones talking.”
Briana sighed. “I don’t know how you put up with me.”
“Me too,” Kara said, grinning.
Briana grinned back.