Authors: Stephanie Julian
And someone else would say, “And did you see who left with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome
that night? Kate Song practically dragged that man out of the building—”
Annabelle snapped her fingers in front of her face, startling her out of her thoughts.
Shit.
She looked down to make sure she hadn’t scorched Mr. Morrissey’s pants. Luckily,
the iron stood upright at the end of the board.
“Hey, you winked out there for a minute,” Annabelle said. “If last night was so amazing,
why are you scowling just like your boss? Could you stop? You’re kinda freaking me
out.”
Since she had a love-hate relationship with Joe Parisi, who’d hired her straight out
of college with no experience whatsoever but had the patience of a gnat and an Italian
temper to go with it, she gave Annabelle one of Joe’s favorite hand gestures.
Then she sighed and shrugged. “It was amazing. I just don’t know that we’re going
to repeat it. Why are you here anyway? Don’t you have a playboy fiancé to keep happy
and a business of your own to run?”
Annabelle gave her the don’t-even-try-it face. “It’s Monday so the shop’s closed,
which you would remember if your brains weren’t addled by Tyler. Jared had to go back
to Philly to meet with some big client at Haven, and I remembered Joe took the day
off to visit his mother in Delaware so you’re alone all day. Now, spit it out. What
happened?”
Since she didn’t want to screw up Mr. Morrissey’s pants beyond repair, she switched
off the iron and cocked her head for Annabelle to follow her to the break room.
After she’d poured herself her fourth—or fifth—cup of coffee for the morning, she
set her mug on the tiny table along the wall and flopped onto one of the chairs.
“You have to promise me you won’t judge.”
Annabelle’s eyebrows curved into serious arches. “How kinky are we talking?”
“That’s just the thing. How kinky is too kinky? I’m not even sure I know. And I don’t
know if I’m freaked out because I’m a prude or because I have a preexisting hang-up.
And if I do have a preexisting hang-up, can I get over it before I completely push
him away?”
Annabelle shook her head, an amused grin starting to form. “Maybe you should start
by telling me exactly what happened and we can go from there.”
Kate took the plunge and let it spill out. “I let him tie me to the bed.” Ignoring
Annabelle’s suddenly huge eyes, she pressed on. “I liked it in the moment but, of
course, Sunday morning, I started to question everything. And now I think Tyler thinks
I’m not into it and he won’t want to see me again. The problem is, I think I might
be into it, but should I be? I mean, I’m supposed to be a strong woman, right? I shouldn’t
want to be dominated by a man. I shouldn’t want to feel all helpless and ‘oh, save
me, big strong man.’ Right?”
Annabelle blinked, looking totally confused. “Um, I’m still at, I let him tie me to
the bed. I’m not shocked,” she rushed to add. “And I’m not judging. I’m just . . .
Yeah, wow. That must have been a huge leap of faith for you.”
And this was why Annabelle was her best friend. She got her.
“It was. But what do I do about Tyler?”
“Well, what do you
want
to do about Tyler?”
Kate threw her hands in the air. “That’s just it. I don’t have a clue.”
Annabelle scrunched her face into a grimace. “Have you considered maybe it’s too soon
after your breakup with Arnie to be with anyone else?”
“No, not really. I mean, breaking up with Arnie was the right thing to do. I just
don’t love him like I should to make the commitment to marry him. I should’ve realized
that months ago.”
“I think you did realize it months ago. When you first met Tyler. Do you think that
has anything to do with how you’re feeling now?”
She took a sip of coffee and pondered that. “Possibly. Probably.” Then she sighed.
“But what do I do about it? I want to see him again, but I’m not sure I’m ready to
jump into that lifestyle. Hell, I’m not even sure I really approve of the lifestyle.”
“I’m sorry.” Annabelle offered her a lopsided grin. “I just don’t know what to tell
you. You’re the only one who can know what you’re comfortable with. But maybe you’re
not giving Tyler enough credit. Talk to him. Tell him what you’re thinking.”
“I know, I know. You’re absolutely right. It’s just not that easy when you don’t really
know the guy.”
Annabelle shook her head. “Honey, you probably know him better than you realize. I
think you learn a lot about a guy when you allow him to tie you up.”
Okay, when Annabelle put it like that . . .
She sighed. “I really like him.”
“Then don’t scare yourself away from him.” Annabelle reached for her hand and squeezed.
“I say go for it.”
**
“Are you going to mope the entire time I’m in town? Seriously, I thought we were gonna
have some fun this week and you’re acting like a fucking robot. What the hell’s wrong?
And don’t give me any bullshit. I’ve known you for years, Tyler. What’s going on?”
Greg Hicks held out his hand for the glass of whiskey Tyler had just poured him then
sat back in the leather club chair in the Salon.
A dreary Monday afternoon cast shadows throughout the room, perfectly matching Tyler’s
mood.
He’d tried to throw off this serious funk because he was happy to see Greg, but not
even last night in the bar, listening to some great, live music, could he dredge up
a smile.
Dropping into the chair opposite Greg, he took a long pull from his own drink before
he spilled his problem onto his friend’s shoulders.
“I met a woman. We spent a few nights together. Not sure it’s going to work out.”
“But you like her.”
The shock in Greg’s tone didn’t make him feel any better. Hell, did everyone think
he was going to pine away for Mia for the next twenty years?
She was gone. He’d come to grips with her death, for Christ’s sake.
“Yeah. I do.”
Greg broke out in a smile that had been known to make women throw themselves on his
casting couch without any hope of landing a job.
The guy looked like a SoCal surfer, with his sun-streaked brown hair and killer green
eyes, and he towered over most men at six three.
People outside the film industry saw an easygoing dude with a ready smile and down-home
charm. Industry insiders knew that outward charm hid the tough-as-balls producer who
got films made on time and within budget and didn’t take shit from anyone.
“Well, now, I’m glad to hear that. So what’s the problem?”
Tyler wasn’t exactly sure, and that pissed him the hell off. “I think I scared her.”
And that really didn’t sit right with him.
“So what happened? Come on, now. Tell Father Greg all about it.”
That coaxed a smile out of him. Greg was barely six years older but he constantly
razzed Tyler about his youth and inexperience.
Of course, Tyler reciprocated by telling him he was old, so it all evened out.
Tyler gave him the finger as he took another swallow and let the whiskey’s warmth
sink into his blood. He’d been feeling pretty damn cold since he’d returned on Sunday.
“We’re gonna be ducking lightning bolts if you don’t watch your mouth.” Tyler set
his empty glass on the table, figuring it was too early to finish the bottle. He and
Greg had plans for tonight that required him to be coherent.
“Trust me, if I haven’t been struck by now, it ain’t happening. Start with the girl.
Who is she?”
“You don’t know her.”
Greg’s gaze narrowed, as if Tyler had just presented him with an interesting puzzle.
“Okay, so someone new. Someone who doesn’t know about your preferences?”
“She knows now.”
“Ah. And that’s the problem.”
He remembered word for word what Kate had said Sunday morning. “Yeah.”
“So what? You’ve been through this before. Mia had no idea what you liked when you
first met her. Hell, Mia was practically an innocent when you brought her in. She
adapted. What makes you think this girl won’t?”
Good question. “She’s stronger than Mia.”
Greg nodded. “No offense intended to Mia, you know I thought she was a sweet girl
but . . . Hell, a thin sheet of ice was stronger than Mia. You had the perfect little
submissive there.”
He knew that’s what everyone thought about Mia, at least those who knew his predilections.
He still wondered, though, if Mia had been submissive. Or just afraid to refuse him.
There was a difference.
“So this girl didn’t like it. Or she was truly frightened?”
“That’s the problem. I’m not sure.”
“Did you talk to her about it?”
“A little. Mostly we discussed business.”
He’d shocked Greg again. “I thought you didn’t discuss business with anyone but Jed
and me.”
“I don’t. Usually.” He grimaced. “We’re talking about opening a lingerie boutique
at the spa. She’s the designer Jed chose.”
“Well, damn. Another rule broken. Business and pleasure. Now that’s a slippery slope.”
Yeah, Tyler wasn’t happy about it either. But he wanted Kate and, for the first time
in his life, he was willing to bend some of his long-held rules.
“So what are you going to do?” Greg asked.
“I’m not sure.”
Greg lifted an eyebrow at him as he sipped his whiskey. “Another first. I think I
need to meet the lady who makes you more human.”
More human? “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Since Mia died, you’ve been going through the motions. I’ve been waiting for you
to snap out of it. Seems like you might be ready to do that.”
With a start, he realized Greg was right. He
had
been going through the motions. Waiting . . . He hadn’t known what for.
“So,” Greg prodded, “what are you going to do about her?”
He didn’t have to think very long on that one. “I’m going to call her and see if she
wants to have dinner with me later this week. Take it slow.”
“Slow’s never been your strong suit, Tyler.”
“I think you’re mixing me up with my brother. Jed’s the impulsive one.”
Greg just smiled. “I didn’t say you were impulsive. But when you make up your mind
to do something, you’re like a freight train gathering speed as it heads down the
hill. Now, since I haven’t met the girl, I don’t have any pertinent advice. But why
don’t we correct that. Invite her down for dinner Friday night. I don’t have plans.
We can make it a double with Jed. I’m anxious to meet his girl too.”
“That should make things easier. Kate is Annabelle’s best friend.”
“Interesting. I look forward to it.” Greg took a deep breath then set his glass on
the table, his expression settling into serious lines. “All right, enough small talk.
Let’s get down to business.”
**
“Dr. Malinowski, this is Kate Song. I was a student of—”
“Kate! Oh my God, it’s so nice to hear from you. How are you?”
Kate swallowed an audible sigh of relief as she caught up with her former professor
for several minutes on the phone.
Since she couldn’t make this call from work, she’d taken her lunch break at home Wednesday
afternoon. But she hadn’t eaten yet. She’d been too nervous.
She didn’t know why. Dr. Dinah Malinowski was as personable as she’d been at college.
They talked for several minutes before Kate worked up the nerve to get around to the
real reason she’d called.
“Dr. Mal—”
“Oh, please call me Dinah, Kate. You’re not in college any longer. And I can’t believe
you called me, today of all days. I was actually planning to call you. There may be
an opportunity for you to work in New York with me on a show. Would you be interested?
I wanted to talk to you before I throw your name into the pot.”
The question took her by complete surprise and left her speechless for several seconds
as her brain tried to process.
A show.
An actual New York show?
Before she could think of anything to say, Dinah continued on. “It would be off-Broadway
but for an established company. Their longtime costume designer is retiring and, since
I’ve been working with her for years, she suggested me for her position. And the first
person I thought about bringing with me was you.”
“Congratulations, Dinah. That’s a wonderful opportunity for you. And I’m flattered
that you thought of me.”
“I know it might be a huge leap of faith for you, considering I have no idea what
you’ve been doing since graduation, but that doesn’t change the fact that you were
one of my most gifted students and I want you to consider it. What
are
you doing now?”
She almost didn’t want to say. Not that there was anything wrong with her job. It
was a solid use of her skills. But working in a dry cleaners wasn’t exactly the life
she’d had planned.
But this . . .
This was her dream.
And totally not what she’d called about.
“I’m working as a tailor and designing on the side,” she said, then rushed on before
Dinah could ask more questions. “I’d love to hear more about this.”
“Great! That’s just what I hoped to hear. Are you free later this week to meet? I
guess I should ask if you’re still in the area. I know you always talked about heading
for New York but . . .”
Her mother had died. “I’m still in Adamstown, so I could be in Gettysburg any night.”
“Actually I’m living in New York City now but I’ll be in the area tomorrow night to
visit my folks. How about I give you a call? We can meet for drinks and talk. Now,
I guess I should ask why you called.”
Kate assured Dinah they could discuss it at dinner and they hung up after a short
round of good-byes.
When her phone rang again only seconds later, Kate almost expected it to be Dinah
calling back, telling her she’d made a horrible mistake, that she hadn’t realized
who she was talking to and that she didn’t really want to talk about a job in New
York City.
And when she picked up the phone and realized the call was from her father, she nearly
put it down without answering.