“Okay, okay,” she said with a full-cheeked smile. “Do you moonlight as a stand up comic?”
“Nah.” He leaned back in the booth. “Being a complete dork growing up, I decided telling jokes would at least make people laugh. Didn’t always work, though.”
“It worked for me.”
“Really?”
“Sure.” Her phone rang and she dug it out of her purse. “You’re funny and charming when you want to be. Hey, why don’t you use that charm on Eden?” She answered her phone and put up her finger to indicate she needed to take the call.
As he watched her wander out of the restaurant for privacy, he realized he wasn’t acting with Katy just now. He never had to think about what he was going to say or do around her. The conversation and humor came naturally to him.
Their server dropped off the bill. Once he settled the check, his time with Katy would be over. She’d retreat to her Queen Anne apartment, and Alex would head back to his lonely condo. Lonely? Since when did he consider it lonely?
Since Katy came into his life.
“No, this cannot be happening,” he said as he watched her pace the sidewalk.
No matter how much he wanted this day to continue, he had to put an end to it before he said something stupid.
Like the truth—that he was falling in love with her.
Chapter Five
The week flew by, Katy smiling every time she remembered her mask moment at the Market with Alex. They fell back into their usual routine. She came over twice that week to cook, although it felt different after their conversation about love.
They were developing a deeper friendship, one she’d miss if Alex’s new girlfriend was threatened by Katy. Yet there was no reason to feel threatened since Alex obviously didn’t see Katy in a romantic way.
Alex and Eden went out a few times during the week and he reported she was pleasant company and things were going well.
When Friday came, Katy barely remembered it was Valentine’s Day until Alex called in a panic. Eden cancelled on him because she was fighting the flu. This was the big night, the night he’d bring the perfect female to a business dinner to make him seem more accessible and hopefully land an important client.
As Alex ranted about calling every female he could think of to take Eden’s place, Katy shoved back her hurt feelings. He obviously didn’t see her as a romantic partner who could charm a business client. So much for his middle school crush.
After a few minutes of freaking out, he finally got around to realizing he was, in fact, having a conversation with a female.
“Wait, you’re a woman,” he said.
“Wow, you are smart,” she sassed.
“Would you,” he hesitated. “Could you go with me tonight?”
“I have to wash my hair,” she said, teasing.
“Oh.” He sounded crushed.
Of course, he feared losing a potential client.
“Alex, I’m kidding. Of course I’ll play fill-in wife. What time should I be at your place?”
“I’ll swing by with the limo.”
“Nice. How dressed up should I get?”
“I’m wearing a suit.”
“Okay, a bikini it is.”
“Wait, what?”
“Alex, relax, buddy. It’s just dinner. Everything will be fine.”
“Okay, okay.” He sighed heavily into the phone. “I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“Sounds good.”
Katy smiled to herself as she got ready. She was glad she could help Alex, and being out on Valentine’s Day would distract her from feeling sorry for herself. Valentine’s Day honored love and romance, two things completely absent in her life.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She’d been plagued with love-like symptoms during the past few weeks as she found herself enjoying Alex’s company more than she should.
Perhaps she needed to drop him as a client in order to get her common sense back, because the more time she spent with him the more her heart would ache when he chose the perfect Eden. Yes, Katy would find him a replacement chef and move on.
She checked her reflection in the floor-length mirror: form-fitting black dress, simple silver necklace, cuff bracelet and a purple scarf thrown across her shoulders. That would have to do.
At least if this was their last night together she wanted it to be a memorable one.
****
Alex was speechless as he gazed out the window at the beautiful woman approaching the limo. Katy looked perfect: classy yet somehow still adorable with her styled, short blonde hair and long earrings. The dress hit just above the knee, showing off beautiful legs.
The driver opened the door for her and Alex’s heart sped up.
“Hey,” she said, shifting onto the seat next to him.
“Hey, yeah, hi.” He was staring and couldn’t stop himself.
“What?” she said. “Too plain? I tried dressing it up with jewelry and the scarf.”
“It’s great.” You’re great.
It suddenly felt like it was ninety degrees in the limo.
She checked her reflection in a compact mirror. “So, what do I need to know?”
“What?”
She glanced at him. “About Mr. Winslow?”
“Oh, right.” Her question diverted him from his lustful thoughts and he rattled off everything he knew about Mr. Winslow and his wife. Alex recited facts about Winslow’s company, mindlessly rambling for the ten-minute ride to the restaurant.
He was okay when he was talking about work, grounded and somewhat calm. But whenever he glanced at Katy his pulse revved up and he had to look away.
How could this be? Eden was the perfect choice, a girl who would be a friend and not demand the kind of passion that would doom a relationship.
Because passion led to love.
And love led to pain.
“What’s that look?” Katy asked.
He glanced at her. “What?”
“Your face. You look like you just sucked on a lemon.”
“Worried about the meeting, I guess,” he said. In truth he wished he could cast aside all the angst that surrounded love and take Katy in his arms.
“Hey,” she said, touching his arm. “Just be yourself. You’ll do fine.”
“Myself, yeah, Winslow will love signing a contract with an aloof, computer nerd.”
“Be the other guy.”
He glanced at her.
“The guy you are with me.” She smiled.
And he couldn’t take his eyes off her lips.
The driver opened her door and a blast of cold air whipped through the limo.
“Ooohhh.” Katy giggled against the sudden chill, and shifted her scarf across her shoulders. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
“Good, go get ‘em tiger.” With a wink she slid out of the limo.
As Katy told Henry Winslow and his wife Marianne a story about one of her eccentric clients, her green eyes sparkled and her sense of humor made everyone at the table smile. Alex couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
“I mean, kale gets such a bad rap, but if you know how to eat it—”
“Drenched in hot fudge?” Henry Winslow interrupted Katy.
“Now there’s an idea,” she said.
Henry burst out laughing. The older man and his wife seemed completely at ease with Alex and Katy. Alex’s anxious energy dissipated as the conversation continued, and he realized they hadn’t spoken much about his software program he was hoping Henry would buy for his chain of hospitals.
Alex was trying to figure out a natural way to bring up the subject without seeming pushy.
“How lucky that your personal chef happened to be such a lovely woman,” Marianne Winslow directed
at Alex.
“Yes, very lucky,” he said, gazing into Katy’s eyes.
“Stop.” She glanced at her baked apple dessert and blushed.
“She’s not just an amazing cook and a good friend, but she’s…” Alex’s voice trailed off.
She was the love of his life.
Since middle school.
Forever.
“She’s what, son?” Henry said.
Alex took Katy’s hand and she looked at him, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“She’s not only beautiful, but she knows how to make me laugh,” Alex said.
Katy smiled and studied their hands.
“Humor has kept our relationship strong for thirty-five years,” Henry offered.
“She’s also caring and generous,” Alex added.
“You’re embarrassing me,” she said.
“She’s smart, talented and patient. Who else could put up with a guy like me?”
“Ha, that’s why I double my hourly rate for you, Mr. Remington,” she teased.
But Alex wasn’t smiling. He knew in that moment that he was a better person because of Katy.
“Sounds like she’s the perfect girl for you,” Henry said.
“Yeah, she’s the total package.”
Katy snapped her gaze to meet Alex’s. Her bright emerald eyes dulled and her smile faded. She slid her hand from his and forced a smile on her face as she addressed Henry and Marianne.
“Will you excuse me for a second?” she said.
She grabbed her purse and scarf and pushed back from the table. Henry and Alex stood.
“Sweetheart?” Alex questioned, the endearment naturally rolling off his tongue.
“Just need to use the ladies’ room.” With a nod, she walked through the restaurant and disappeared from view.
Alex collapsed in his chair. Henry and his wife were grinning at him.
“What a girl,” Henry offered.
“Yeah.”
“You make such a good couple,” Henry said. “You seem so different and at ease when Katy’s around.”
“And so much in love,” Marianne smiled. “We hope you’ll enjoy many years of happiness just like us.”
Pain lanced through Alex’s chest. “We won’t.”
“Excuse me?” Henry said.
Alex looked at Henry and sighed. “She’s not really my wife.”
“You could have fooled me,” Marianne said.
Henry frowned.
“I’m sorry, we didn’t know what else to do,” Alex said. “I have a hard time connecting with people. I was picked on as a kid and…” he glanced at Henry, “it doesn’t matter. My business partner said you’d assumed I was married and he thought having a wife would make me seem more human.”
“So Katy…?” Marianne said.
“She’s my personal chef and we’re just friends.”
“I see,” Henry said, disappointment filling his voice.
“You’ll probably want to take your business elsewhere now that you know the truth.”
Silence blanketed the table. Alex reached out and fingered Katy’s napkin, missing her.
“Alex?” Henry said.
Alex glanced at the older man.
“You might be socially challenged, but you’re not stupid,” Henry said.
“Sir?”
“That girl is in love with you.”
Alex glanced from Henry to his wife, who nodded enthusiastically.
“No, she can’t be. We’re just friends,” Alex said.
“That’s how our relationship started,” Marianne said. “We were bowling partners.”
“It would never work for us.” Alex shook his head.
“Why not?” Henry challenged.
“She needs someone who can take care of her and put her first. I’ve got my business—”
“Meaningless unless you have someone to share it with.” He smiled at Marianne.
“Thanks, but Katy deserves more than what I’ve got to offer.”
“Why don’ you let her be the judge of that?” Henry asked.
****
Katy ran. She didn’t know what else to do.
It had all been going so well. Katy enjoyed her conversation with the Winslows, and Alex seemed at ease. It felt natural and real.
As she walked down First Avenue waving her arm for a cab, she berated herself for being seduced by Alex’s meaningless words. Yet when he’d described her as caring and generous she’d read such sincerity in his eyes and thought something magical sparked between them.
Then he’d called her the total package.
It felt like a knife had been plunged into her heart.
Those were the same words he’d planned to use on an unsuspecting female to lure her into a relationship without love, a business arrangement.
Which is exactly what she and Alex had—she cooked for him and he wrote her a check every week. It was always about business, nothing more.
“You knew that’s all it was from the beginning,” she scolded herself, pulling her scarf tight around her shoulders.
Sure, she knew. But somewhere between the egg strata and helping him find a girl, Katy had fallen in love with Alex. Deeply in love.
“Inconvenient as hell,” she said, waving her arm to flag a cab.
Instead, a black limo pulled up to the curb and Alex flung open the door.
“Katy—”
“Sorry, I forgot had to be somewhere.”
Anywhere but with you.
“Okay, I’ll give you a ride,” he offered.
“I’m fine.”
“Katy, I know I can be a jerk, but I will not abandon you on Valentine’s Day. Come on, get in.”
She waved her arm at a passing cab. It sailed on by. Just her luck.
“Katy, please?” Alex pleaded.
With a sigh, she climbed into the back of the limo.
As the car pulled away from the curb, Katy realized her own juvenile feelings had probably ruined this man’s business.
“Oh Alex, your business, I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what? You were great tonight.”
“Running off like that was rude. You lost the account, didn’t you?”
“No, actually, I didn’t. But if I had lost it, it would have been because of me.”
She looked at him. “Stop that. You’re a good man with a brilliant mind and a great sense of humor.”
“I almost lost the account because I told him the truth about us.”
“What? Why?”
He gazed into her eyes and reached out to brush his hand across her bare shoulder. “It didn’t feel right to lie anymore—to anyone.”
As his fingertips stroked her shoulder, an ache swelled in her chest.
“I’ve been lying to you, too,” he said.
“About what?”
“This.” He leaned forward and kissed her.
His lips tasted so incredibly sweet, and her body lit with an overpowering need for this man. A few seconds later, he broke the kiss and she leaned against his shoulder, struggling to catch her breath.
“I think I’ve been avoiding a real relationship because somewhere, deep down, I knew the perfect woman was standing in my kitchen.”
“Alex—”
“Let me finish, okay?”
She nodded.
“I couldn’t bring myself to admit the truth because you deserve the best, Katy, someone with a lot more to offer than a workaholic computer nerd who can’t even remember to eat.”
“You have a lot of fine qualities, Alex,” she said.
“That only seem to surface when you’re around.”
Alex pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Katy: a key to his condo.
“In case I need to get away from my roommate?” she asked.
He shook his head ‘no.’
“Sorry, but I’m not interested in a relationship without love.”
“Me neither.”
“You mean…?” She studied his blue eyes.
“Yeah, I kinda love you. A lot. And not just because you’re a great cook.”
“Wow, and here I was going to resign tomorrow.”
“What? Why?”
“I couldn’t bear to see the man I love falling for another woman.”
“You…you love me?”
“Sure. I don’t know many guys who can multi-task the way you do.”
He winked. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, sweetheart.”
He planted a sweet, yet passionate kiss on her lips and Katy melted in his arms, excited to see what surprises he had in store for her next.
About the Author
Award winning, multi-published author Pat White started her writing career as a journalist then realized it was way more fun to make stuff up. She writes romantic suspense, romantic comedy, young adult and paranormal romance. She’s also an award-winning screenwriter, former figure skater and jazz pianist.
Won Romantic Times award for Best Contemporary Romance, “Ring Around My Heart”
Won Page International Screenwriting award for “Escape”
Love Comes for
Valentine’s Day
Jennifer Conner
Chapter 1
Kara Hayward stifled a yawn. Things were tough all over, and she was happy she had a job. Actually, she had three. She had to do what paid the rent and right now that included working part-time at Make-Me-A-Bear in the Southbridge Mall.
She pinned on a bright smile and drew her attention back to the round green kiddie table. She sat with a boy and a girl she guessed to be around six. Bear making and babysitting. It was a service the store offered. For an extra fee, parents could leave their precious little ones for up to two hours of peaceful shopping at the mall. The area was cordoned off to resemble a medieval castle and was run on a check in-checkout system with matching ID wristbands for the parents and child.
Valentine Romance- The Best Short Valentine Romances of 2014 Page 4
