by Leah Atwood
From her seat, Kate turned her head and flashed him a grin. Oh yeah, that alone was worth the trip to the head of the class. His mind wandered again, and he planned his evening. The hotel served a continental breakfast and Sinclair Industries provided a catered lunch. That left him on his own for dinner, or supper as they called it in the South.
A few of the guys asked him to join them at the brewery after today’s sessions, but he didn’t feel entirely comfortable with that idea. Last time he’d gone out with them, he’d been the designated driver and had been teased mercilessly for not drinking. The ribbing he could tolerate—he was secure in his life choices, but the truth was—he simply hadn’t enjoyed himself.
“That is all for today.” Mrs. Houser’s concluding words snapped Luke back to the seminar. “Tomorrow, we’ll discuss what to do when the resolution steps still don’t work. Until then, you are dismissed.”
Hallelujah. Among the clamoring of chairs moving and people standing, Luke rushed to power off his tablet then slipped it into the padded pouch of his backpack. A shadow crossed in front of him, and he looked up to see Kate, her sweet smile directed at him.
“Nice job, earlier.” She laid a manicured hand on the table. “I think you made an impression on Nancy, I mean Mrs. Houser.”
“Thanks, I think?” He lifted a brow, twisted his mouth. “I didn’t realize the two of you were on a first-name basis.”
A soft, musical laugh danced off her lips. “When I started at Sinclair, she was the human resource manager for the Lafayette office. She hired me and played a pivotal role in me getting the resource training position last spring.”
“Yet she calls you Katherine?” Casting a wink, he couldn’t resist baiting her.
She scrunched her nose, gave an indifferent shrug. “She doesn’t believe in nicknames.”
“Katherine does have a nice ring to it.”
Her gaze narrowed, but her eyes still sparkled with humor as she shook a finger at him. “Don’t think about it. Kate, it is.”
“How about Katie?”
A wistful look with a small frown flickered on her face, but she quickly blinked it away and shook her head. “There’s only one person who can get away with calling me that and it’s no one here.”
The chink in her always upbeat attitude intrigued him, but he didn’t press. He examined the cleared-out room. “They didn’t waste any time leaving.”
Adjusting the bag on her shoulder, Kate gave the room her own once-over. “I know a large group made reservations for an Italian restaurant five blocks away that someone wanted to try.”
“Are you joining them?”
“No, not tonight.” Her lips quirked into the faintest of frowns again.
Its unexpectedness tugged at his heart. “Are you okay?”
A weak smile appeared. “I’ll be fine. Just a rough holiday.”
She shouldn’t be alone this evening. He didn’t know what she was facing, but he could tell she needed a friend.
A janitor with scraggly white hair popped his head into the room. “Would you two mind moving your conversation outside?” His keys jingled. “Time to lock up.”
They left the training room and ambled to the elevator. Kate didn’t seem in any hurry to go anywhere, thus reinforcing Luke’s belief that something was wrong. This wasn’t the Kate he’d known for four years.
He pushed the ‘down’ button outside the elevator and waited. “What are your plans for dinner since you’re not joining the others?”
“I hadn’t thought that far.” She gave a delicate shrug. “Probably order room service or walk to the deli next to the hotel for a sandwich.”
“Care to split a pizza with me?” So it wasn’t the date he’d envisioned asking her on many times, but he didn’t want to miss out on this opportunity. It wasn’t often anymore that she approached him outside of a group.
Blue eyes sparkled after a split second of indecisiveness. “You know what, that sounds much more enticing than spending the evening sulking in my room.”
“Sulking?”
She cleared her throat. “Don’t mind me. I’m in a weird mood.”
Ding. The elevator doors slid open.
Luke stepped in after Kate. “Is seven okay? I need to log in to the Sinclair Portal to review and approve two reports before I go.”
“Perfect. It will give me time to change.” A wry smile rolled across Kate’s face when she looked down at her navy skirt and matching jacket. A magenta scarf added her own style to the outfit. “Pizza should never be eaten in a suit. It takes away the fun.”
“I agree.” Next to her, he felt underdressed in his business casual attire even though it was the conference’s dress code. At least I won’t have to change for dinner.
“Which pizza place did you have in mind?”
“Any of them within walking distance of the hotel?” He chuckled, a reaction to his nervousness. His mouth had opened and made the invitation before he’d thought it through. “Or we can go to the deli next door.”
“Pizza’s fine.”
A circular button with an L glowed, indicating they’d reached the lobby. The doors opened, granting them access to the main floor of Sinclair Industries headquarters. An impressive, global logistics company, Sinclair Industries had their top North American office located in downtown Baltimore. Behind the front desk, the company’s name hung proudly in three-dimensional bronze letters. Two employees, one female, and one male, stood behind the reception desk, each speaking into an earpiece. The spacious open area had a constant stream of employees coming and going.
Kate’s eyes were large as she watched the constant activity around them. “Can you imagine if our location was this busy?”
“I prefer our laid-back atmosphere, but the staff here is a study in efficiency.” He shut his mouth before he launched into accountant speak sure to bore her.
A wall of arctic air hit him when he went through the revolving door, and a shiver shook his body. Brr. Why didn’t I wear a coat this morning?
Two seconds behind him, Kate stepped out, her teeth chattering. “I don’t think it ever gets this cold back home. Maybe a few days in January, but never in November.”
“I heard tonight’s overnight low here is in the teens.” A sign on the post in the pickup area drew his gaze. Last shuttle to hotel: 5:35. “Looks like we missed the shuttle by ten minutes. Mind sharing a cab?”
Her arms enveloped her midsection in a self-hug. “Anything to get out of this cold.”
A white car with a painted stripe drove toward them, slowing down. It was a car from the taxi service he’d used while in Baltimore for his orientation when he’d first joined the company. Leaning forward at the waist, he flagged down the cab.
When the car came to a stop, he opened the rear passenger door and Kate climbed in first. He slid in after her and gave the hotel’s address to the driver.
“I love Christmastime.” Kate tore her attention from their surroundings. “When I was fourteen, my parents took my brother and me to New York City for a weekend in December. It was magical.” The faraway look from earlier returned.
“I’ve never been.” A flashing Frosty in a storefront caught his eye and made him smile. His mom had one very similar. “My dad tended to be gone at Christmastime, so it was just my mom and my siblings. Me too, of course.”
Kate frowned, opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, as though not sure what to say. Once. Twice. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Once Dad came home, we had our own celebration, only a few months late sometimes.” He smirked. “If that were nowadays, we’d have all video chatted instead of waiting.”
Curiosity shone in her eyes. “Was your dad in the oilfield?”
A logical question coming from someone who’d lived in South Louisiana her entire life, but no. “Military. The Marine Corps had a bad habit of sending him on deployments and field exercises during the holidays.”
“Your dad was a Marine?” Her broad smile shrun
k.
“Is. He’s still in, stationed at Quantico now.” Luke stretched his cramped leg. “In fact, he’s going to try to meet me for dinner tomorrow since we’re so near.” Bright spot number two.
“That’s great.” Her frown lacked the enthusiasm of her words and her gaze drifted out the window, leaving him confused.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“I’m not good company tonight.” She turned back to him, wiped her eye. “I’ll understand if you’d rather have dinner without me bringing you down.”
The taxi chose that second to stop, even though the hotel was still a hundred feet away. Kate grabbed her bag and jumped from the car, not giving him a chance to say anything.
Whoa. He scratched his head before handing money to the driver. What had just happened?
Chapter 2
The door shut behind Kate, and she leaned against the wall, burying her face in her hands. In a single moment, she’d effectively ruined any chance she would ever have at dating Luke. What was wrong with her? This behavior wasn’t normal for her. Since she was a child, she’d been able to smile through anything.
Someone knocked at the door. “Kate, are you in there?”
Luke followed me to my room? Her face burned with humiliation.
Another knock. “Just let me know you’re okay, and I’ll leave if you want me to.” Undisguised concern filled his voice.
She owed him that. Drawing in a long breath, she lowered her hands from her face and shook out her embarrassment. This would be so much easier if he were someone she’d never see again, but no, they worked together and saw each other at least three out of five workdays. Not to mention she cared for him in ways she wished she didn’t.
Her hand clutched the pewter door handle and twisted it down. She opened the door and saw Luke, posed with his hand about to knock again. Their eyes met and his held all the warmth of a cup of hot cocoa.
“Hi.” He lowered his hand, moved it behind his back.
“Hi.” A sheepish smile kept her lips drawn tight. “I’m sorry about all that.”
Broad shoulders rose in a shrug. “We all have our moments.”
“Not me.” She gave a reticent laugh. “Not when there’s somebody to witness it.”
“If you need a friend, I’m a good listener.” He tilted his head to a slight angle. Chestnut brown eyes that matched his hair held no judgment of her scene minutes ago.
She didn’t reply right away. Dueling desires fought for the outcome. It would be so nice to allow herself the comfort of a true friend. By her own doing, she had few of those. Most were friendships of the generic sort, and few really knew the Kate hiding behind the smiling façade. Only Sophie and Evan knew. But to accept a friend was to allow someone else into her life, someone who had the potential to leave.
But there was something about Luke that drew her in and made her want to know him better. They’d become friends of sorts since he moved to Lafayette several years ago, closer than what she normally allowed, but over the last twelve months, she’d developed feelings for him that reached beyond friendship. He was kind and dedicated, and projected a steadiness she couldn’t help but admire. He was solid, dependable.
Unlike most of the men she’d dated, he was the type she could fall in love with, which is exactly why she’d kept him at an arm’s distance once her feelings began to shift. Friendship was hard enough. Love—well, that was too big a risk.
“Is the offer for dinner still on?” Her voice, or question rather, took her by surprise, but there was no way to take it back without causing more of a scene than she already had.
“Definitely.” His smile melted ninety percent of her reservations. “Meet in the lobby at seven?”
“I’ll be there.” If I don’t chicken out.
“See you in a bit.”
Gripping the door’s edge, she watched him walk away. Butterflies made a home in her stomach. She had forty-five minutes to prepare for a date with Luke. Her mouth twisted. Not a date, but a dinner alone with him. Close enough.
Her choice of outfits was limited as she’d brought mainly professional attire for the conference. The more casual choices included a pink cashmere sweater and a long sleeve black knit blouse. Either would go with her two options for bottoms—a pair of skinny jeans or gray pants that could be dressed up or down. She opted for the long sleeve black knit, matched with the skinny jeans. After changing outfits, she pulled on a pair of black leather boots that reached her upper calf. She’d grab her coat and scarf on the way out.
A half hour to go. If she didn’t keep her mind busy, she’d find an excuse to back out of dinner. She went to her purse and pulled her phone from its designated compartment. Tapping on the phone icon, she called Sophie, her best friend and last person on her call history.
Sophie answered on the second ring, laughing. “Hi, Kate,” she said when the giggles died down. “Sorry, Bryce was making funny faces at Ethan.”
“How’s my favorite little man doing?” Kate loved Sophie’s eight-month-old son and was proud to carry the title of Aunt Kate.
“Great. I wish we could have spent more time with you before you had to leave for the conference.”
“Me too. Sure you can’t stay an extra few days? I’ll be back Wednesday night and can drive up to Oden Bridge.” Unaware she’d done it, a long strand of hair was twisted around her finger.
“So tempting, but I have to be at the school Wednesday. We were only able to swing this trip so we could bring Gram home.” Sophie sighed. “Ethan’s new nanny starts this week.”
“Ethan will do fine.” Kate unwound her hair and gave her friend assurance. “The new girl is a friend of Elle’s right?”
“Yes. Ethan took right to her, and she loves him, so I know he’ll be in good hands, but it was easier to leave him knowing Gram had him.” Sophie paused a second. “Anyway, how’s the conference going?”
“Good, except there’s been a twist.”
“What is it?”
“Luke asked me to dinner.”
“No way.” Sophie’s voice rose an octave. “You said yes, right?”
“Yes, but then I freaked out over something dumb.” Kate’s shoulders slumped with the memory as she told Sophie what had happened.
“And still he found your room and made sure you were fine?” Sophie asked.
“To be fair, he knew my room number because we checked in at the same time, but yes, he wanted to know I was okay.” A small shiver passed over her. It had been sweet of him.
“I know you’re afraid to let yourself care, but Luke is a good man from everything you’ve told me.” There was a bit of static over the line then Sophie spoke again. “Maybe his invitation was God’s answer to your loneliness.”
“You could be right.” Kate fidgeted, twirled her thumbs. “But what happens when he finds out I’m really a basket case underneath it all?”
“No, you’re not. You’re a normal human being who is under the impression you must present a perfect Kate at all times, which is ridiculous.” Sophie laughed softly. “Besides, who wouldn’t love the real Kate? I know you better than anyone and I love you.”
“You’re my best friend—you don’t have a choice.” She made the comment with a lightness that reached the smile now on her face. Sophie always knew how to make her feel better.
“Go out tonight and have fun, Kate. Talk to Luke, let him know you.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“You better call when you’re home.”
“I will.”
Ending the call, Kate allowed herself to be excited. Sophie had made a good point. Maybe a deeper friendship with Luke was an answer to her prayers, but she wouldn’t find out if she avoided him. Besides, her minor freak-out hadn’t deterred him and how much worse could it get?
She went to the vanity and retouched her makeup. A swab of powder, a reapplication of burnt sienna lip color.
Fifteen minutes to go. She grabbed her phone again and checked her emails. Nothi
ng from Evan. There’d been no word from him in a week. Closing her eyes, she prayed for his safety and ignored the pinching of her heart. She couldn’t get upset again and have Luke think she’d gone loco.
Her mind wandered places it didn’t need to go. She removed her coat from the hanger, slipped her arms into the sleeves and buttoned the front. Then she wrapped the scarf around her neck twice. Take that, Baltimore. This southern girl knows how to beat your frigid temps. Laughing at herself, she reached for her purse and room key.
Downstairs in the lobby, she spotted Luke right away. His back was to her, his attention focused on a large bronze plaque hanging on the wall. Bundled up as well, he wore a black wool coat. She prodded toward him, taking her time.
As if sensing her presence, he turned around, their gaze immediately connecting. Something inside her lurched, and she became mesmerized by his face. His brows were thick and a little too high. His nose was angled, his eyes too close together. Luke wasn’t classically handsome, but his imperfect features came together in an attractive package. Especially when he crinkled his eyes and gave her a full smile.
Her mind blanked of anything intelligent to say, so she asked the first thing that came to mind. “Did you finish your reports?”
He nodded. “They’re good to go until next Monday.”
“Good.” Had she lost all her conversational skills? This was Luke, the guy she spoke with at work on a regular basis.
“I remembered there’s a pizza joint two blocks away.” He pointed to the west. “I ate there a few years ago when I was here for orientation. It was good. New York style if you like that.”
“Works for me.”
They left the hotel and walked on the sidewalk. The sun was a memory of the day, and the black sky cast an intense cold over the city. Despite the low temperatures to which they were unaccustomed, they strolled at a leisurely pace. Streetlights and Christmas lights strung in storefronts provided ample light and Christmas carols filtered into the street from outdoor speakers. On the other side of the road, a street performer played “O Little Town of Bethlehem” on saxophone.
Kate laid a soft touch on Luke’s arm after they’d stopped to listen. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
