Chaos (Constellation Book 2)

by Jennifer Locklear

  She blinked and wrung her hands. “I’m sorry. You’re working. I can come back later.” She began to back out of the room, but I turned away from my computer and gave her my full attention. She halted her retreat, and I pushed my paperwork aside.

  I gestured to the chair on the other side of my desk. “Please. Come in.” I rose as she approached to take her seat. A heightened nervousness I’d not experienced since my college days overtook me. I adjusted my necktie as I moved from behind my desk to sit in the chair next to hers.

  She crossed her legs. My mouth went dry.

  “H-how are you?” I posed the question before I could stop to think about what I was asking her. I swallowed a lump as I chastised myself. I needed to watch my impulses.

  Kathleen took a moment. It didn’t matter if she took all day just so long as she continued to sit within a few inches of me.

  “I’m fine.” She wrung her hands again. She was nervous, too. My hand moved of its own accord, intent on soothing hers. I managed to navigate it to my knee instead, but I had to grip my own leg to keep it under control.

  “You?” she reciprocated. “How are you?”

  “Good,” I replied with a quiet sincerity, so happy she had sought me out on a day when I wanted to reconnect with her. My next instinct was to ask her about her weekend, but I refrained.

  “Things have been busy,” she began. “We haven’t talked in a while.”

  I offered her a restrained grin. “I was just thinking the same thing. What can I do for you?”

  “I wanted to chat with you about the Portland event. We haven’t gotten off to the best start.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  “Don’t misunderstand me. I’m responsible for that.”

  I opened my mouth to object, but Kathleen raised her hand.

  “I’m here because I want us to start working together. As a team.”

  She gave me the smallest smile, so full of charm that it dismantled my anxiety.

  “Whatever you need,” I said.

  “I want your full input,” she clarified. “Not just your help.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Kathleen straightened her posture. Her professional confidence on full and glorious display.

  “I’m taking a field trip this afternoon, and I’d like you to join me. I realize it’s short notice. That’s my fault. I’ll understand if I didn’t give you enough time. If you need to pick up Heide from school.”

  “She’s taken care of today but thank you for thinking of her. Where are we going?”

  “To see Christopher Moffitt, owner of The Orchard. I…” Kathleen paused and brought her hand up to cover her face. When her fingers settled back into her lap, I couldn’t help but follow their downward journey. Fortunately, I brought my eyes to her face before her gaze returned to me. “I’m sorry. I meant we.”

  I shook my head and grinned once again. “Think nothing of it.”

  “We are going to pitch a sponsorship. See if he’ll sign on to cater the luncheon. It’s a bit of a long shot.”

  “Why?”

  “Hosting an event, more than a hundred miles from home, to a clientele that isn’t from the local neighborhood can be a difficult sell. It could be a logistical nightmare.”

  “That is a big commitment,” I agreed.

  “Exactly, but I’ve always relied on Portland-based restaurants. I’d like to give Bend an opportunity to shine at this year’s event. I think…” Kathleen’s voice drifted away along with her gaze. She tilted her head away from me and glanced toward my door. I wanted to twist in my chair to see what she was looking out for, but I held my place until she turned back to me. “Robert would appreciate it.”

  “What do you need from me?” I asked.

  “You’re good at securing new deals. I want you to close this one.”

  I nodded.

  “I’ll make the introduction. We’ll pitch together, and you can lead the negotiation.”

  “What are we willing to give in exchange for their services?”

  “I’ll leave that up to you. You know this part of the business much better than I do. Whatever it is, I’ll have your back.”

  “I’ll need a little bit of time to study the restaurant.”

  “How much time?”

  “Give me an hour,” I told her. “I’ll take a crash course and then you can give me a local’s perspective on our way over there.”

  “Sounds good. The appointment is at one o’clock.”

  “I better get started.”

  We both rose, and when she didn’t step away from me, I was quite pleased. “Thank you.”

  Our eyes met, but we each held our professional composure. I stood as still as possible, inhaling the sweet scent of her rose petal perfume.

  “Stop by my office when you’re ready to go. Christopher’s home is a bit out of the way. I’ll drive.”

  Kathleen stepped away from me toward my office door.

  My forehead furrowed as the meaning of her words sank in. “Kathleen? Wait.”

  She placed her hand on the doorframe and turned back to me. “Yes?”

  “Why is the meeting at Christopher Moffitt’s house?”

  “He sometimes works from his home office.” Kathleen shrugged her shoulders. “Today just happens to be one of those days.”

  I’ll bet.

  “Is something wrong?” she pressed.

  One of the many skills honed during marriage was the ability to recognize a woman’s warning tone. Kathleen’s question was thick with it.

  “No,” I breathed out with care. “It’s just… I don’t know this man from Adam. How well do you know him?”

  I gave her a pleading look, one I hoped would convey a level of care. I hated that she had agreed to a work appointment at another man’s home. I really hated it.

  She held my stare as her shoulders relaxed. When she responded, her voice was softer. “I’ve known him for a long time. Since we were kids.”

  “I don’t mean to offend you,” I said. “But I’m glad you’re taking me along.” I flashed an apologetic smile that was returned.

  “I’m glad you’re going with me.” She waved and disappeared into the corridor.

  I sat in the passenger seat of Kathleen’s white, sporty Lexus sedan. I’d never been inside her car and hadn’t given the vehicle much thought whenever I’d spotted it in the parking lot at work. I studied the immaculate interior and soft leather seats and wondered how I’d never noticed what a high-end automobile she drove. The car was a perfect extension of the woman—classic, effortless and sexy.

  Kathleen drove along the high-desert winter roads with ease. I was safe with her, but the experience was also a bit odd for me. I wasn’t opposed to being driven around by a woman. I considered myself a modern, progressive man, but I was usually the one who drove in any given situation.

  It was a mild day with plenty of sunshine and clear skies. The arrival of spring was still weeks away, but we were enjoying a taste of what was to come. It was a perfect afternoon for breaking away from the confines of the office. Kathleen was wearing a tailored skirt that rested just above her knees. I learned to appreciate my time in the passenger seat as soon as I secured my seatbelt.

  I relished sitting next to her, watching her bare legs as she drove us back into town. I also paid close attention to her hand as it held the gear shift knob in the middle console. Her car was an automatic, but she preferred to rest her hand on the knob as she drove. She even traced her fingertips along it from time to time. My wandering and sex-deprived thoughts imagined how beautiful her hands would look surrounding my cock. I couldn’t help it. The mental image was so intense and alluring that I embarrassed myself with the salacious thought. Just not enough to peel my eyes away from her.

  Conversation between us was intermittent. Kathleen appeared comfortable enough to enjoy our small talk, but she was careful to avoid asking me any questions of a personal nature. She stayed clear of my divorce. Everyone at the o
ffice did, and I was grateful for that. I considered that she wasn’t interested in me, but I wasn’t fully convinced of the notion. It seemed more likely that she was being respectful and minding her own business. I tried my best to act the perfect gentleman even though my imagination was anything but.

  Our meeting with Christopher Moffitt had gone well. Kathleen’s friend and potential client had listened with unwavering interest to our pitch. Afterward, he’d expressed his appreciation to us for thinking of him first. He viewed the prospect of catering the luncheon in Portland as a challenging opportunity, not a burdensome request. He’d smiled at Kathleen, met her warm gaze with his own and offered her a strong maybe. He was eager to help, but he explained that he needed to consult with his head chef and double-check their business calendar. Kathleen was happy on the return trip to the office, so I was happy, too.

  I took advantage of one break in the conversation to refocus. I looked out the windshield and glimpsed the nearby mountains. They always reminded me of Heide. She’d become quite proud of the many local peaks during our brief time in Bend. She talked about them as much as she spoke about her new favorite game.

  “Do you mind if I play some music?” Kathleen asked.

  “Go ahead,” I replied, anxious to see where her musical tastes would fall.

  She wasn’t the type of woman who demanded attention. She was the type who could be comfortable with a lull in the conversation. She activated a playlist on her stereo and started playing a pop song. I was fascinated when she began to sing along. Within a few notes, I recognized the musician’s voice.

  “Is this George Michael?” I asked.

  “Yes.” She risked a quick glance away from the road to offer an exuberant grin.

  “I don’t know this song.”

  “It’s called ‘Amazing.’ I first heard it back in college.”

  “It’s catchy.”

  “It always makes me happy.”

  I stretched in my seat, turning my attention back to the song so that I could concentrate on the lyrics. The tune was upbeat, one that would fit right in at any celebration. It was a song about discovering new love in the wake of loss. It described how heartbreak had the ability to mislead you into believing that all happiness could disappear from life, but by some miracle you go on to find the best thing that’s ever happened to you.

  It was an inspiring song, made more enjoyable when Kathleen began to sing along. Her voice wasn’t a professionally trained one, but she had enough of an ear to match the right notes. I’d always found her speaking voice pleasant; however, her singing was even more attractive. The display showed me a side of her personality I’d never experienced at the office. By singing, Kathleen showed that she had a certain amount of comfort in my presence.

  I couldn’t help but feel flattered, but not because I believed she was singing to me. I understood that she wasn’t. But she was singing next to me, and she wasn’t self-conscious about it. I decided to listen to her without interruption and looked out the passenger window to hide my broad grin.

  My attraction to Kathleen was growing. Every moment I spent with her elevated my fascination. As we drove through town, I considered whether she might agree to a date with me. I didn’t know her age, just that she was younger than me, but not so much younger that dating her seemed ridiculous. My divorce was still in progress, and that fact alone was enough to keep me from asking her out. But the lightness emanating from her was irresistible.

  It was time to investigate her a bit. I’d never seen her with a boyfriend, serious or otherwise, but I also had a tough time believing she was available. I couldn’t press her for too much information. I was nowhere near ready to reveal my feelings to her or to anyone else at the office. Or anyone outside the office, for that matter.

  “Let me take a guess,” I ventured. “This song is dedicated to you. By someone special.”

  Even though I’d started the conversation, the moment she turned down the volume on the happy music was bittersweet.

  Kathleen kept her eyes on the road, but her voice was light. Playful. “No.”

  “Dedicated to someone special by you?” That consideration was even worse. I picked at the knee of my lint-free trousers as I braced for her answer.

  “Maybe someday,” she said. “I haven’t found him yet.”

  Had I heard right? Kathleen Brighton was indeed single?

  “Valentine’s Day is coming up.” Kathleen was skewing the conversation in another direction. Mine. “Do you have any plans?” she asked shyly.

  “I’ve been planning something fun for my daughter,” I said. “But I might be in over my head.”

  “How so?” she pressed.

  “I’m hosting a party for Heide and some of her new friends at our house. Giving the girls a chance to create some memories outside of school.”

  “And giving some other parents an opportunity to enjoy their own celebrations.” She smirked.

  “I hadn’t considered that, but I guess you’re right.”

  “What kind of things do you have planned for the party?”

  “I’m still figuring some of that out. I want to surprise her, so I’ve been trying to ask questions without telling her what I’m up to. But we’ll make some good treats and watch a movie. I’ve been trying to think of some crafts the girls could make. Maybe a few other things they enjoy doing.” I shrugged and looked over at Kathleen. “What do you think of the idea? Am I going overboard?”

  She shook her head. “She’s going to love it. You’re giving her something special. Something she’ll always remember what you did for her. It’s a lovely gesture.”

  “Good. That’s what I’m going for.”

  When we pulled back into the parking lot, I was disappointed our field trip was at an end. This was the most personal Kathleen had ever been with me. It was the most relaxed I’d ever seen her. Those minutes in her car taught me just how often her serious nature shrouded her. She’d finally let her guard down around me, and what I’d experienced was exquisite.

  I made up my mind that I was going to see this side of her more often.

  I WAS running late to pick up Heide from school. I prided myself on my promptness and hated being overdue for any appointment. My blood pressure spiked at the thought of her standing outside, wondering where I was. I’d fought like hell to keep everything on track for today. I’d fought, and I’d lost.

  Heide was waiting for me to drive her to spring soccer tryouts. Trying out for the new team was all she’d talked about for days. Things were going well for Heide at school. After an initial bout of shyness, she’d made new friends. Now she was happy and excited to join them on the playing field. She’d turned the corner and had put the stress behind her, and while disappointments in life were inevitable, I didn’t want to be the one to let her down on such an important day in her young life.

  It was early March, and even though a hint of winter still hovered in the air, the locals in Bend were ready for springtime activities. I was dashing to my car when my cell phone chimed with an incoming call. Irritated, I glanced at the screen long enough to register the Baltimore area code. I answered the call out of nothing more than sheer habit.

  It wasn’t Allison. I’d stored her photo in my contacts and it flashed on my display screen whenever she called. Not that it mattered because she never contacted me when she knew that Heide and I weren’t together. Still, the call could be about Allison, so I accepted it. Months after her return to Maryland, I was still worried about her health. I was also having trouble letting go of my marital duties.

  “Hello,” I answered as I fished a hand inside my suit jacket pocket for my key fob.

  “Hello, Jack,” the woman said in a haughty voice, distracting me. I tripped over the curb next to my parking space and almost fell into the side-view mirror.

  “Shit!” I uttered the expletive forgetting I had an audience. I wasn’t as concerned about the woman on the phone as I was about another golden-haired beauty who was somewhere
nearby. I looked around the parking lot. Thankfully, Kathleen was nowhere to be seen.

  When the woman on the phone laughed at my exclamation, the recognition hit home. My stomach lurched as I regained my posture.

  “Did I call at a bad time?” she asked me.

  My voice was cool. “Kind of.”

  She faltered a bit. “Maybe I should have texted you first.”

  I wasn’t in the mood for banter. “How did you get this number, Elyse?”

  “From the woman who answers the phones at your new office. Should she not be giving it out?” Elyse played innocent, but only to the extent that she thought it playful. “Perhaps that firm of yours needs to rethink their privacy policy.”

  I verbally ignored Elyse’s jab at Aurora Advertising. Elyse was quick to move on to another subject. “Allison has returned to Baltimore.”

  I narrowed my eyes in suspicion but opted not to deny the truth. “Yeah.”

  “Rumor has it, she’s staying here. I wondered if you’d be returning, too. You know, to make it easier on your daughter.”

  “No.”

  Ignoring my answer, Elyse surged ahead. “I can work some magic. All I would have to tell Cal is that you’re considering moving back here. You’ll have your old job back within a few days. You could even get a raise out of the deal.”

  “Not interested.”

  Elyse was undeterred by my frigid reception. She simply altered course. “I have unused vacation time I need to burn this year. Spring break is coming up. I also heard your daughter is coming out here to spend time with Allison. I could fly out to Oregon if you can’t break away. Or, better yet, we can meet up somewhere for the week. You can choose where. That part doesn’t matter much to me.”

  “I’m married, Elyse,” I responded through gritted teeth.

  “Not for much longer,” she reminded me. “And only by word. Certainly not by deed.”

  I peered around the parking lot, searching for the words to shut Elyse down for good. Just then, Kathleen and Tracie exited the office. They were headed to the coffee place a few doors down from the office. I was always happy to see her, but Kathleen was exactly what I needed in that tenuous moment. Elyse was still talking, but I’d tuned her out as soon as Kathleen came into view.