Chapter Ten
I was in the midst of a full-blown panic attack when Luc called me.
Let me set up the scene: it was Monday, the day before I was supposed to have the first set of dates lined up for Lydia.
Supposed to
being the key words here.
That was the problem. It was Monday afternoon and I had nothing set up. And it wasn’t for lack of trying. I started at the end of my list (with the least desirable of the bunch), methodically calling each candidate. At first, they sounded pleased to hear from me. It was when I told them what time they were supposed to meet Lydia that things would start to fall apart.
All the conversations went something like this:
ME: Hi. We met at _____ (fill in the blank) and you gave me your contact info.
HIM: Right. I didn’t think you’d actually call me back.
ME: (frowning) I’ve always found unaccountability very unattractive.
HIM: Uh ... yeah.
ME: I was wondering if you’re free tomorrow.
HIM: For you, definitely.
ME: Great! Can you be at the Mark Hopkins at _____ (fill in the blank again)?
HIM: The Mark Hopkins? You don’t waste time, do you?
ME: (murmuring) Time is a commodity I don’t have.
HIM: What?
ME: Nothing.
HIM: So ... Will you be wearing something sexy? I really liked that librarian look you had going.
ME: That’s a DKNY suit, I’ll have you know. Sure, I bought it at the outlet, but I doubt a librarian would be able to afford even that. Their wages are scandalous. Did you know septic-tank servicers earn higher salaries than librarians in California?
HIM: Uh ...
ME: And besides, I won’t be there.
HIM: Come again?
ME: I won’t be at the meeting. (Thinking that maybe he’s not as swift as originally thought.)
HIM: Then who will be?
ME: Lydia. My boss.
HIM: You’re pimping for your boss?
It went downhill from there.
One or two, sure, I could understand that. But all of them? The odds that the 49ers would win the next Superbowl were greater. And I didn’t understand why they thought they were meeting with me. No way was I ready to have a kid.
The only one who was amenable to the meeting was the college student from the laundromat. When he asked who he was meeting and I said Lydia, he paused for a second before asking, “Is
she
into kinky sex?”
Because I wouldn’t have been surprised to find a whip or two in her closet, I replied, “Sure.”
Then he asked, “Is she tall?”
“Yes.” That one I could answer without hesitation.
Pause. “Does she have boots? Boots really turn me on.”
I wracked my brain trying to remember if I’d ever seen Lydia wear boots. She had to have a pair, right? But I didn’t know for certain. “Um, I’m sure she does.”
Another pause. “You don’t know?”
“Truthfully, no.”
Apparently that was a deal breaker.
So there I was—Monday afternoon and no dates arranged. That’s when Luc called.
“Hey, Kat. I’m calling in my marker.”
“What?” I frowned at the receiver. What was he talking about?
“Remember when you asked me to help you with your little assignment?”
“Yes.” That day would forever be etched in my brain as the day my life began its downward spiral.
“You promised me a boon.”
“So?”
“I’m calling it in. I’ll pick you up at five.”
I sat up in my chair, completely focused on what he was saying this time. “Excuse me? At five?”
“You’re going out with me tonight.”
I shook my head. So vigorously I probably shook something loose. “No! No. I can’t. I have to set up these meetings for tomorrow—”
“You gave me a boon. Are you going back on your word?”
He had me, damn him. “No.” Sullen? Me?
“Good. Five o’clock.” He hung up.
I banged my head on my desk. I didn’t have time for this. I needed to focus. My promotion was at stake here and Luc wanted me to come out and play. What’s worse, part of me wanted to ditch my assignment and have fun with Luc.
I flipped to the spreadsheet with Joseph’s (the guy I met at Gary’s show) information and dialed his cell. He answered on the third ring.
“Speaking.”
I cringed at the cold tone. Oh well. Here goes nothing. “Joseph, it’s Katherine. We met at that gallery opening—”
“Of course.” His voice warmed. I could hear a note of laughter in it. “How are you?”
“Kind of in a bind, actually.”
“How can I help?”
“Are you free tomorrow?”
“Is this for your, uh, project?”
“Yes.” I held my breath. Say yes. Please say yes.
“Sure, I can do tomorrow. How about eight o’clock?”
“You know what? I love you.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think your boyfriend will like that.”
“My boyfriend?” I frowned. “Oh—you mean Luc?”
“Is he the guy who wanted to tear my head off that night?”
“He didn’t want to do that. Luc’s a pacifist.”
Joseph grunted. “That’s not the impression I got.”
I shrugged. Whatever. “Tomorrow. Eight o’clock sharp at the Mark Hopkins. You won’t be able to miss Lydia. She’s tall, blond, and beautiful.”
“Katherine, will you give me your phone number? I’d like to call you.”
Oh, how nice—he was going to call and let me know how things went. He was so thoughtful. I rattled it off and then decided to give him my home number too, in case he wanted to call me after meeting Lydia.
By the time I got off the phone with Joseph, the impending feeling of doom I’d had earlier had receded to a faint niggling sensation. Niggling I could deal with. I pushed it aside and concentrated on lining up more dates for the consecutive days.
Some time later a knock sounded at my door. I looked up to find Luc peering around the corner.
I pursed my lips. “It can’t be five yet.”
“I’m so happy to see you too. It’s always such a treat.”
I rolled my eyes, but I began shutting down my computer nevertheless. “You’re only being punctual to drive me crazy.”
“Driving you crazy is a distinct pleasure I look forward to.”
I glanced at him, my gaze narrowed. I had the sneaking suspicion he meant something by that statement. If anyone else had said it, I’d know exactly what he was after, but Luc couldn’t have meant it that way.
Could he?
Hmm.
Nah.
I shrugged and gathered up my papers to straighten my desk. I was probably being sensitive.
“Okay. I’m ready.” I moved toward the door, looking over my shoulder longingly at my desk. I had so much work ...
“Come on, squirt.” Luc swung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me out the door. “We have a couple stops to make before heading back to my place.”
“We’re going to your loft?”
“Yep.” He smiled at one of the research assistants who looked up from her desk. She gawked at Luc, blinked at me, and then gawked some more.
I shook my head. Luc was attractive, but could she be more obvious?
Turning my attention back to Luc, I asked, “You pulled in your marker to get me to go to your loft? That’s it?”
He shrugged. “Actually, I thought of taking you to the opera, but I didn’t think you were ready for that.”
I frowned. I liked music. When I heard it. Like in the elevator and stuff. “Why wouldn’t I be ready?”
“Because it would’ve involved shopping for clothes and I didn’t think you’d be able to take any more of that so soon.” He pressed the elevator button.
I didn’t get it. “Why would going to the opera involve clothes shopping?”
The elevator doors opened. I nodded at the two women (they were from sales, I think) who were already in there.
Luc pressed the button for the lobby. “Because, Kat, I would have wanted to buy you an evening gown to wear.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Why on earth would you want to do that?”
He leaned down until his nose was practically touching mine. “Because I want to see you in one.”
The women behind us sighed and then tittered (until that moment, I didn’t even know what a titter sounded like). I glared at them, which did nothing to stem their interest in us, before turning my glare on Luc. “I don’t get it.”
He smiled ruefully and tugged on one of the curls that had escaped from my bun. “I know.”
Frowning, I tucked the curl back into submission. Why was it I always felt like I wasn’t in on the joke?
Somehow Luc had managed to score a parking spot right in front of the building. Only Luc would be able to find the one parking space that wasn’t a designated loading zone during work hours.
“We have a couple stops to make before we go home,” he said again as he started the car and pulled away from the curb.
“Hmm.” I wondered if Lydia was going to be pissed when she found out I only had one candidate lined up for her tomorrow.
“I thought we could have dinner at home. Would you like to order something in? Like pizza. Or we could pick up Italian—I know how much you love the fettuccine from Fior’s.”
“Hmm.” Maybe I could spin Joseph off in a positive way. I was certain he was the best choice—maybe she’d buy it if I said I wanted to give her the most time with him first, to spare her having to spend time with less desirables. After all, her time
was
really valuable.
“Or I could make some pasta.”
I grunted. That idea had merit. She’d thank me for my initiative and see that I’d make the best VP of research.
“Katherine.”
I looked up to find Luc frowning at me instead of watching the road. “Watch where you’re going! Did you know that most car accidents occur because a car is on the wrong side of the road?”
He cursed under his breath but, much to my relief, looked forward again. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
“What?”
“This.” He waved in my general direction. “I should have known better than to think you could keep your mind here rather than in the office. I’ll just take you home.”
If I had a whip on me, I would have flogged myself right then. I was such a bitch. Here Luc was attempting to do something for me—I had no idea what, but all the same I should have made an effort to cooperate.
Then I remembered the time in high school when he wanted to take me to a special exhibit at the Steinhart Aquarium he thought I’d enjoy. I’d never forget the look on his face when I ditched on him at the last minute. Sure, I cancelled because my dad had been on a binge and I needed to do extra tutoring to make up the rent, but still.
I put my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Luc. I promised you a boon. I’ll try. Really.”
He glanced at me, long and unwavering (good thing we were at a light). Then he smiled. “Okay.”
Just that simply, he forgave me. I didn’t have time to feel like a jerk because we pulled into a red zone in front of a toy store.
“I’m going in to pick up supplies. If a cop comes by, drive around the block, okay?”
I barely nodded before he was out the door. I pushed my glasses up as I watched Luc dash through the doors of the store.
What kind of supplies did we need from a toy store? I doubted they had parmesan.
I was keeping a vigilant lookout for the authorities when Luc came back out. “That was fast.”
He grinned at me as he buckled himself in. “I knew what I wanted.”
“What’d you get?” I poked a finger at the plastic bag he’d set on the console between us.
“No looking.” Luc grabbed the bag and set it behind my seat. “You’ll see later.”
Mystery. I wrinkled my nose at him. I didn’t like being kept in the dark. Surprises meant you couldn’t be prepared.
But I doubted Luc would spring anything horrendous on me (if he did, he’d live to regret it), so I sat back and relaxed. “Are we going to your loft now?”
“Nope. One more stop.”
It turned out to be the grocery store.
This time he let me go in with him. “Where should we start?” Luc asked as he snagged a cart.
I surveyed the store to get the lay of the land. Though once you’d been in one grocery store, you pretty much had seen them all. “We should stick to the outside of the aisles and go around the store.”