Dating by Design Series Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  Kenadie cringed. “We better let the professional do it. I don’t want any bad publicity. Excuse me while I go put out this fire.”

  Now I felt guilty and embarrassed.

  I began to follow Kenadie, but Nick caught my arm on the way by. “Slow down.”

  “Do you see what you’ve done?” I wanted to cry.

  “Kate, I had no idea that was going to happen. But you have to admit there is something between us.”

  Did the world stop, or was that the aneurysm I was having? “I’m your relationship manager.” I pulled away from his gentle hold. “I don’t have to admit anything. I mean, there’s nothing to admit.”

  “Say it enough and maybe you’ll believe it.” He stalked off.

  I had to believe it.

  Annulment was an ugly word, I repeated, over and over and over.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  After hearing the whiny blonde who couldn’t keep her hands off Nick while they were shooting their scenes say, “We want to give you the first kiss of the last person you date,” a hundred times, and “Isn’t it time you started dating by design?” I found myself at Shasta’s, the famed ice cream place Meg, Zander, and Kenadie always talked about.

  I knew it was a Friday night tradition for the Marshall and Grainger clan, along with Nan’s two best friends, Adelaide and Cissy—aka the Nanettes. But Jack suggested we all go out somewhere to celebrate. He couldn’t take his eyes off Nan. Nan suggested we go for ice cream. I think her motivation was showing off Nick and being in her comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong, she seemed to like the attention from Jack, but I don’t know that she had dated all that much—or ever—after the passing of her husband. I watched them as they sat next to each other and it was cute to witness the little flirtations and touches between the two. Jack knew how to work it and he made Nan the center of his attention. He used those enigmatic Wells eyes to captivate her.

  The ice cream shop placed two tables together to accommodate the twelve of us. None of my other colleagues had been invited. Thankfully, I didn’t think anyone else knew this soirée was taking place.

  I sat between Meg and Skye with Lana across from us while the Nanettes went crazy over Nick. They were petting him like I’d seen them do with Zander.

  “Looks like you’ve been replaced,” Meg teased her husband.

  “Darlin’,” he kissed her, “I’m not worried.”

  That gave me some comfort. Nick didn’t live in Georgia. Someday he would leave. Hallelujah. Unless . . . What if he fell in love with a Georgia woman? I knew he said he wasn’t going to, but like I’d said, he wouldn’t be the first person in that “nothing serious” category to find true love. Plus, his dad lived here. I had to think positive thoughts. He was going back to California.

  “I hear you guys are looking to build a house,” I mentioned to Meg and Zander.

  Meg gave a coy smile. “We’re thinking about it.”

  “Maybe,” Zander cut in.

  Meg rolled her eyes. “I don’t think a baby and a bachelor pad go together.”

  As soon as she said baby, the Nanettes shifted gears and surrounded her. “That’s right, a baby.” Cissy and Adelaide attacked Meg and Zander.

  “It’s about time one of you had a baby.” Adelaide gave Kenadie a serious stare.

  “Your momma deserves a baby, Kenadie Anne,” Cissy wagged her finger.

  “Maybe Rick and Renee will have one,” Kenadie sassed back.

  Lana’s eyes went wide with that news. Kenadie, who sat next to her, gave her a squeeze. “Don’t worry, sugar, your daddy isn’t having another baby.”

  “Now who said that?” Nan was deeply offended by the notion.

  While everyone argued about babies, I watched Nick for a few seconds taking pictures with the staff working on a Tuesday night in the small town of Flowery Branch. And, of course, any patron who knew of him. It didn’t take long for me to get my fill.

  I focused on Skye sitting next to me. “I’m loving the book. How about you?”

  Her pretty emerald eyes lit up. “Love it. Kieran is so hot!”

  “Are you talking about the Dragons Unleashed series?” Lana asked.

  “Yes.” Skye fanned herself. “Kate and I are reading them together.”

  Lana sighed. “They’re so good. My stepmom and I read them. My daddy makes fun of us.”

  “My dad says he’s heard they are optioning the series for a movie,” Skye informed us.

  “Really? That would be amazing,” Lana responded.

  The two girls went on to talk about which of their favorite actors should play Kieran. I’m going to admit I didn’t know one. The more I was around Skye, the older I began to feel.

  Nick was released from the clutches of his admirers and wouldn’t you know it, he made his way over to me. I mean Skye. You don’t know how glad I was there wasn’t any room on either side of me. The only seat left was on the end.

  That was, until Skye took a breath and noticed her dad.

  “I bet you want to sit by Kate.” She moved over without missing a beat in her conversation with Lana.

  She was a traitor.

  Nick didn’t waste any time taking his daughter’s vacated seat. “Don’t think I forgot you promised to have dinner with me,” he said low enough so only I could hear.

  “Don’t you mean with your family? Besides, ice cream is perfectly acceptable for dinner. I have many college roommates who will back me up on that.” I plucked one of the menus from the middle of the table hoping to distract myself and him.

  It was no use.

  “This is not how I envisioned this night.” He brooded next to me.

  I scanned the menu and spoke into it. “How did you picture it?”

  “There were a lot fewer people involved.”

  I turned toward him. “I thought you loved a good crowd.”

  “This is why we need to get to know each other better.” He leaned closer. “You think you know me, but you have me all wrong.”

  “I read your profile.” Several times.

  “Like I said, you don’t know me.”

  I tried to ignore the electricity that surged between us. Instead, I looked around to see if we were the center of attention. I was surprised to see everyone talking and laughing like we weren’t there. And for half a ridiculous second, I wished we were alone. If we were, I could peer into his eyes that were drawing me in. I could dissect him piece by piece. I could work him out of my system.

  “Why do you want me to know you?” I whispered.

  He rested his warm hand on my bare knee under the table. That connection was back and coursing through my soul. Why? How did he do that? Why could only he make me react like that?

  “Because your lips say you despise me, but your eyes tell another story. I want to read the entire book and see how it ends.” He removed his hand and turned toward Skye like he hadn’t just upended my world or made me want to give him a library card with free access to my thoughts.

  What was I thinking? I shook my head. Did anyone else witness our exchange? If anyone did, they weren’t reacting to it. It was like the world had gone on without me. It had felt that way for a long time. I’d stood back after Douglas and watched the world. Being in the world meant real living and getting hurt.

  I kept to my status quo and observed. Meg and Zander lived and breathed each other. Between kissing Meg, Zander kept saying they should head home. I ached to have a relationship like that. One so affectionate with visible passion.

  Kenadie and Jason weren’t quite as gooey-eyed as they had been, but they were still each other’s main focus. Kenadie was thrilled about the commercial and spoke of all the doors it might open. Jason gave his wife his full attention and even suggested spending more money on advertising. Kenadie never smiled so widely at her supportive husband.

  Nan and Jack laughed and talked about the good old days when life was simpler, when music and movies were better. I had to agree with them there. Cissy and Adelaide couldn’t keep
their eyes off their best friend and part of their trio of meddlers. From their bright eyes, they seemed to be on board with this new development.

  Kenadie and Nick both snuck glances at their parents. Uncertainty, maybe even some melancholy, marked their countenances. I imagined it would be hard to see a parent, no matter your age, taking steps toward a romantic relationship again. Especially since both Jack and Nan had beautiful relationships with their spouses.

  When Nick wasn’t casting glances at his dad, he was being the ever devoted one to his own daughter. He was happy to give Skye and Lana some of the inside Hollywood scoop, like who he heard may play Kieran. Again, some actor I didn’t know, but both girls squealed. Nick let Lana ask any and every question she could think of about all her famous crushes. I think Nick may have disillusioned her some when he revealed how those nice boys on screen were anything but.

  And what did I do? I ordered a large hot fudge sundae.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Note to self. You are not twenty anymore. Do not eat hot fudge sundaes for dinner. On that same note, you are not twenty anymore and you should no longer have fantasies about Nicholas Wells. But what if he’s calling you? Like he was at this very moment.

  I stared at his name holding my stomach while I laid in bed not sleeping. Soothing ocean sounds played on James, my hands-free speaker. My twenty-year-old self told me it was okay to believe in magic. My thirty-four-year-old self wanted to believe her, but she argued that there were rules in place for a reason, a valid reason, and he was a client. My twenty-year-old self reasoned that answering his call wasn’t breaking any rules, personal or professional.

  I pushed the speaker button. “Hello.”

  “Kate . . . Hello,” he made sure to add in.

  I smiled to myself. “I had a feeling you would be calling.”

  “You are getting to know me better already.”

  “I don’t know about that, but you seemed frustrated tonight that we didn’t talk.”

  “I didn’t want to cause you any more discomfort. You obviously don’t like it when I pay attention to you in public settings.”

  “Thank you for recognizing that.”

  “I am sorry,” he had a hard time articulating that last word, “about Tabby today. Even if her assessment was spot on.”

  “It wasn’t your fault, though thanks to her and you, I will be the main source of office gossip for weeks to come.”

  “I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  I rolled over on my back, holding my stomach, but now for other reasons than the hot fudge. “Because I’m a private person?”

  “No. Whether you think so or not, I value privacy. What intrigues me about you is that you don’t recognize how noticeable you are.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Kate, the first time I met you, you . . .”

  My heart pounded wildly. We weren’t really going to talk about that day, were we? “I what?”

  “You left an impression.”

  “Even though you didn’t recognize me again when we met?”

  “I couldn’t place you. There’s a difference. And in my defense, you were wearing a hat. The question is why you didn’t tell me when I asked you if we’d met before?” He paused. “I know, you have your reasons.”

  I sat up straight in bed. “Nick.” I felt as if I couldn’t catch my breath. “That day . . .” I couldn’t do it. “Ask me any other question,” I blurted without thinking. What did I open myself up to? I swore I could hear his mind working to take advantage of the power I’d handed him.

  “Don’t think I won’t come back to the previous question again someday, but for now I’ll settle for a list of your dating rules, beginning with number one.”

  “Why do those matter to you?”

  “Ah-ah-ah, Kate, you said anything.”

  I landed back against my pillows. “You’re probably going to make fun of them.”

  “Probably.”

  I took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. I was just going to get this over with. “The biggest and overarching rule is no narcissists or those with narcissistic tendencies.” That would be you, buddy. Maybe. I still didn’t know.

  “Interesting.”

  “What?”

  “Narcissistic tendencies—it has a ring to it. Like a movie title.”

  “Narcissism is no laughing matter. A person with narcissistic personality disorder can lead to a trail of emotional, psychological, and even physical abuse, leaving partners and loved ones drained and traumatized.”

  “Hey, slow down. I’m not saying it sounds like a romantic comedy. I was thinking more along the lines of a psychological thriller.”

  “Oh. That would be fitting.”

  “Do you like psychological thrillers, doctor?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do. I’m reading one right now called, Fading Orchid.”

  “Sounds intriguing.”

  “You should check it out.”

  “I will when I’m done working on my current project. I don’t read while I’m writing.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want to muddy the waters.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “So no narcissists,” he went back to rule one. “How can you tell if someone is a narcissist?”

  Ooh. This was good. Maybe I could use this to my advantage. “It’s difficult to diagnose since most narcissists are highly intelligent and they can manipulate situations to their advantage, make you believe they are something they aren’t. Not only that, but they will probably be proud of that accomplishment, and can play the game for a long time in some cases.”

  “Hmm . . . Interesting. If you can’t diagnose it, how do you know someone has narcissistic personality disorder?”

  “You can diagnose it, but people who have NPD don’t usually walk into a psychologist worried they might have it. It’s usually a partner who recognizes the signs.”

  “And what are those?” He was so curious.

  “I could give you list of questions that you could . . . I mean, that I might ask someone.” I hoped that came out nonchalant.

  “That would be good.”

  I heard some rustling in the background. Maybe some typing. Was he working on his script while he talked to me?

  “I’m ready whenever you are.”

  “Okay. Do people gravitate toward you? Are their first impressions positive, but sour over time?” I paused waiting for him to answer.

  “Keep going.”

  Darn it. I sighed. “Do you take responsibility for your actions or do you play the victim?”

  “I know a lot of people like that,” he growled.

  Like yourself? I wanted to ask, but didn’t. I was sure I heard typing now, though. “Are you materialistic and like to show off large purchases? Do you always have to have the best?”

  “Have you been to Hollywood?” he snorted, not helping me out at all.

  “A narcissist would also be unable to handle criticism and always think they are truly special.”

  “You just described the better part of Hollywood’s population.”

  “Including you?”

  “I really am special.”

  I couldn’t tell if he was teasing or not. “I bet you think you are.”

  “So do you. I saw your worn-out copies of On the Edge.”

  “I’m rolling my eyes at you right now, but will admit I may have had a slight lapse in judgment in my late teens and early twenties.”

  “Now we’re getting to the truth. Tell me what your favorite episode was.”

  “Did I mention that narcissists always make the conversation about them?”

  “No. That’s a good one though.” He was completely unfazed by the question and didn’t answer it. And what did he mean that it was a good one? Did he see himself doing that?

  “Are we done now?” I asked.

  “Not even close. I thought you had twenty rules.”

  “I do.”

  “Looks lik
e we have a long night ahead of us, Kate.”

  He wasn’t lying. We talked until almost one in the morning. He got to hear almost every rule, from my no dating entertainers, celebrities, bartenders, dancers, choreographers, massage therapists and police officers because they had the highest divorce rates, all the way to age ranges. The closer in age you were, the better your relationship fared. That went for income and level of education as well.

  He listened and made remarks, like how normally staying away from celebrities was a good rule of thumb, but I shouldn’t make broad stroke judgments regarding them. But mostly he asked a lot of questions.

  “You weren’t lying when you told my dad you do your best to keep men away. I doubt if you’ll ever find anyone who matches your expectations.”

  I closed my eyes and pulled my knees to my chest. “I know.”

  “You would rather be alone?”

  “There are worse things than being alone.”

  “Agreed.”

  “You speak from experience.”

  “As do you, I would say. Have you been married too?”

  Wow. He tossed that right out there.

  I took a moment to answer. “Technically, no.” That was one good thing about annulment. In the eyes of the law it never happened. In my case, it couldn’t have happened since he was already married.

  “Technically?” He was obviously confused.

  I wasn’t going to elaborate. “I think we’ve talked enough about me for the night.”

  “Was opening up so awful for you?”

  I thought about it. “It was tolerable.”

  He laughed, but in a muted sort of way. “There’s always next time.”

  “Next time?”

  “How do you expect for us to get to know each other if we don’t talk?”

  “I suppose that would be difficult.”

  “I would say impossible. I say we pick it back up this weekend—”

  “Excuse me,” I yawned. I was getting too old to stay up this late on a work night. My brain was late-night foggy. I must have heard him wrong. “I’m sorry, did you say we should get together this weekend?”

  “Yes. Is that a problem for you? I would say a night this week, but my schedule is full.”