Kiss Me Crazy

by Ednah Walters

  “What is this?” Chloe asked suspiciously, peering through the darkened windows. “Not another one of your political party with stiff upper lipped blue bloods?”

  Renee chuckled. “I’ll never live that one down, will I? It’s a new club,” she explained when the limo stopped. “The grand opening is not for another month.”

  “So we’re guinea pigs?” Chloe asked.

  Kara tried to catch Chloe’s eyes and warn her to behave.

  Renee, used to Chloe’s acerbic tongue, just laughed. “If that’s how you want to look at it. Or you could say you are among the lucky few to dance and dine at the club before it becomes the trendiest night spot in West Hollywood.”

  “Stop being a party pooper, Chloe,” Kara added just as the limo driver opened the door for them.

  Chloe made a face as they stepped out. While Renee spoke briefly with the man, Kara and the others pretended not to see the paparazzi angling their cameras. When no flashes exploded on they faces, they knew the paparazzi had decided they were not important enough to be photographed.

  Renee led the way to the building then across the marbled foyer to a private elevator. She inserted a card to activate it.

  “Our VIP pass to the penthouse,” she said with a wink.

  Instead of the pounding music typical of most clubs, conversation mingled with muted music greeted them when the elevator door opened again. Ahead was a side door. To their right was a long line of clubbers waiting to get inside through the main entrance manned by two bouncers in tuxedos, huge palm trees, and pillars. A skinny guy with a Van Dyke beard stepped through the side entrance and hugged Renee before she introduced him as Warwick, the club’s owner. He whisked them inside.

  The club was spectacular, the gold, silver, and red lighting dramatic, the glass roof giving an illusion of more space and size. Sheer draperies interspaced with red draperies covered the floor to ceiling windows, and the view of the surrounding city was breathtaking.

  They followed Warwick past the lounge to a private booth, drawing attention from the patrons—women dressed to impress and men in expensive evening attire. No jeans or sneakers, Kara noticed. A long bar, manned by men and women in sexy black and white outfits, ran along one wall.

  The dance floor was somewhere to their left, with curved couches facing the floor, disco lights flashing red and pink on the dancers. The dining area was far to the right, diners visible through the glass wall. For a club that wasn’t officially open, it was packed.

  They barely sat and ordered their drinks before men descended on them. Chloe forgot about her earlier complaints, her sister’s shyness disappeared, and Kara prepared herself for some fun times. From the gleam in Renee’s eyes, she was ready too. A handsome, drool-worthy man with wavy blond hair gunned for Kara, a predatory look in his eyes.

  Bring it on.

  Kara tried to forget Baron in the arms of various eye candies, flirting outrageously with the waiter when they moved to the dining room, keeping her options open by never dancing twice with the same man. It wasn’t easy. None of them had a thing on Baron. Their shoulders weren’t broad enough, their wolfish smiles a bit forced, and the gleam in their eyes more calculating than beguiling.

  “Want to get out of here and go somewhere quiet,” one man whispered in her ear after he managed to ask her to dance twice.

  Kara was done playing games. “No, thanks.”

  CHAPTER 5

  By the time Kara left the gallery on Saturday, she’d convinced herself she could sit across from Baron, enjoy a meal, and discuss business like a calm, mature woman. She wouldn’t do or say anything to indicate her ambiguous feelings toward him.

  Yeah, right. There was nothing ambiguous about the raw attraction she felt toward the gorgeous man. Her hormones were out of control. She needed an intervention, a libido crusher or something.

  She settled for listing everything she disliked about Baron as she showered and changed into a pair of jeans and simple burgundy T-shirt. He was a womanizer, ruthless, distant, and cold. Okay, she could scratch that last one. If the past few days were an indicator, the man was thawing faster than ice in scalding water. Why? What was he up to?

  Kara gave up her hopeless attempt to figure Baron out and removed her hair from the bun, brushed the fine mass until it was tangle-free then left it loose. A quick look in the mirror and she left the bathroom.

  Her cat jumped off the bed and rubbed against her leg, meowing up a storm. “Tessie, what’s wrong now?”

  She picked up the tabby and scratched behind her ears as she headed toward the kitchen. Her living room was neat, everything where it should be. The kitchen was…

  She gave herself a mental shake. Baron was coming for a business meeting slash dinner, not to inspect her home for cleanliness. I need to keep busy or the next twenty minutes will seem like forever.

  She picked up the phone, speed-dialed her parents’ number, and settled on a couch in the family room, putting her feet on the armrest. Tessie curled on her lap and purred happily.

  The phone went unanswered. She sighed and was about to hang up when her mother picked up the phone.

  “Mom, finally. I’ve been calling the last hour. Where have you guys been?”

  Her mother laughed. “Since when do we have to check with you before go anywhere, missy?”

  “I call every Saturday evening.” It was her time to catch up with them because their crazy work schedule didn’t leave room for social calls during the week. Sundays they visited with her sister Briana. “Where did you guys go? Out to dinner?”

  “We were at Briana’s. She’s going to have a baby, Kara…my first grandchild.” Her mother’s voice became wobbly as she finished talking.

  “Mom, don’t cry. That’s wonderful news, a call for celebration not tears.” Her high-maintenance, boyfriend-stealing younger sister was pregnant? It was hard to imagine. Briana often said pregnancy would destroy her figure. Or could this be another one of her ruses to get attention? It wouldn’t be the first time her baby sister faked something to upstage Kara. She was sure their parents had shared the news about her plans to start a company.

  “How far along is she?” Kara asked.

  “Twelve weeks.”

  “Twelve?” Now she felt bad about doubting Briana’s news. “She’s just telling you now?”

  “She said she’d miscarried twice, Kara, and didn’t want anyone to know until she was sure the baby was okay. Did you know about the miscarriages?”

  I’m the last person Briana would share anything about her marriage to Jim Wilkins, San Padres’ wonder boy, whom she stole from me. Not that Jim was her first boyfriend to switch camps, with Briana’s full cooperation. It happened twice while Kara was in college. Since the wedding, her sister avoided her like the plague. Call her a fool, but she still hoped Briana would one day feel a tinge of remorse for her deplorable behavior and apologize.

  “No, Mom. I didn’t know about her loss.”

  “I wish you’d call her more often, dear. She gets lonely in that big house, you know. It’s not easy being married to a professional athlete.”

  Neither was it a hard life. Whenever Briana bothered to return her calls, all her sister talked about were the celebrity parties she’d attended, her wardrobe, or where she went on vacation. Sometimes it was hard to imagine the two of them were related. She loved her sister, but Briana’s shallowness often shocked her.

  “I know I get a little too busy sometimes, Mom, but I promise to call her more often. In fact, I will as soon as I hang up.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” There was a pause, and then, “Funny, I always thought I’d hold your child first.”

  Here we go again. Kara closed her eyes and blew out air. “How could you possibly think that, Mom? Briana’s been married for nearly four years while I’m still single.”

  “A mother can hope, can’t she? Tell me you’re at least dating.”

  Kara scowled. She could invent a fictitious man to placate her mother, but then s
he’d have to pile more lies when it came to details about her supposed boyfriend. No, she refused to be reduced to telling whoppers just because she didn’t have a man in her life.

  “This is not the right time for me to start a relationship. I have so much to do before I open my business.” She forced her voice to sound upbeat even though frustration bubbled inside her. Her mother’s obsession with finding a man for her was wounding. Whenever Kara went home to visit, she lined up young men from her church, sons, nephews, and grandsons of her friends. It was becoming embarrassing to visit them.

  “Your name on the company logo won’t keep you warm at night, Kara. There’re a lot of eligible men in Los Angeles, and you’re such a lovely girl. Why can’t you find somebody?”

  Baron’s face flashed in her head. “I will.”

  “Maybe you need to move back home, dear. Jonathan’s son recently came back from Iraq. He’s single and really interested in meeting you.”

  Kara rolled her eyes. Her mother just pawned her off on another man without an ounce of shame. Why not just hold an auction?

  Before she could think up a response, her father’s faint voice reached her from the background, “Leave the child alone, Penny. She’ll settle down when she’s ready.”

  Emotions blocked Kara’s throat. She was a daddy’s girl, always had been. Many a time her daddy had defended her when her mother started on her about something—getting married or dating, the way she wore her hair or her choice in clothes.

  “If I don’t push, she’ll die an old maid, Cliff,” her mother answered just as the headlights lit Kara’s windows.

  “Mom, I’ve got to go. I’m expecting a guest.”

  “Who is it?”

  She couldn’t dare tell her mother the truth. She thought the sun rose and set on Baron. The first time they visited her, Kara was closeted in the basement, working on a piece, and Baron had taken time to show them around the gallery and even took them to lunch. He was always accommodating when they were in town, giving her time off and talking to her father.

  “It’s just a friend from work.” Kara started toward the door.

  “At least you’re not spending Saturday evening alone watching reruns. Let me get your father. He wants to say hi. Oh, how are Renee and Chloe?”

  “Keeping busy. Chloe is getting married.”

  “To that nice Irish boy?”

  “Yes. He bought her a gorgeous ring. You should see it.”

  “That’s wonderful, but I’d rather see one on your finger, baby. Work is no substitute for a good man.”

  Kara would have rolled her eyes if she hadn’t just opened her door and her gaze fell on Baron. He looked totally yummy in all black, his chin shaved, and that hauntingly sexy smile on his lips. Her heart did its usual rickety dance.

  She waved him in and flattened her body against the wall to make room for his large frame, the hefty paper bag in his arm, and a laptop bag on his other shoulder.

  “Where?” he mouthed.

  She pointed toward the kitchen then followed him and paused to watch as he removed Styrofoam containers from the bag and placed them on the counter. The aroma of Chinese food made her stomach growl, reminding her she’d skimmed on lunch again. As for her hot boss, her senses stirred at the domesticated figure he cut arranging food on the counter with Tessie on a stool beside him, eying him suspiciously while her whiskers twitched.

  “How’s my pumpkin,” her dad’s gruff voice reached her ear, reminding her she still had the phone glued to her ear.

  “Fine, Daddy.” Kara gestured just-a-minute with her forefinger when Baron looked up, then she went back toward the living room. Since there was no privacy in her living room, with an open archway separating it from the kitchen and the family room area, she entered the hallway leading to her bedroom.

  “That’s wonderful news about Briana. Are you ready for your first grandchild?” she teased.

  “I could have waited a few more years.”

  She smiled, knowing he only said that for her benefit. “You know you’re more than ready, Daddy. I can’t wait to be an aunt. I’m going to spoil the little imp rotten. How are you doing?”

  “Couldn’t be better. Will you stop by to visit soon?”

  Kara smiled. His voice said he missed her. “I will on your anniversary. Thirty years, Dad. Not many couples stay married that long anymore.”

  “We Michaels are like permanent glue. We love once and forever.” He laughed. “Your mama is shaking her head. She knows I speak the truth. Now, pumpkin, I don’t want you to take what your mama says to heart. She worries a little too much sometimes.” Her mother piped something in the background that Kara missed, but her father answered, his voice sounding faint. “I know, Penny…when the time is right.” Then his voice grew clearer as he came back on the line. “Your mother tells me you have a visitor?”

  “I do. I’ll call tomorrow when I have time and we can discuss business.” She’d mentioned using him to design the frames for her store but he hadn’t been too sure. That was just her dad, cautious to the core.

  “You do that,” he said.

  “I’ll also try to reach Briana tonight just like I promised.”

  “I hope one day she realizes how lucky she is to have you for a sister. If it weren’t for you, she’d never have met Jim. I’ll let you go now, sweetheart, but make sure you call home tomorrow.”

  “Promise. Love you, Daddy. Bye.” Kara hung up and scowled. She never knew her dad had connected the young man she’d taken to his place of work and the man her sister started dating a few weeks later and eventually married. He never let on, not even once.

  What would her mother say if she knew how often Briana stole her boyfriends? It’s all in the past, move on. Kara had moved on, but that didn’t mean she’d forgotten. She didn’t begrudge her sister the celebrity life she now led as Jim’s wife. She understood they couldn’t help falling in love. What she hadn’t liked was the way they hid and lied about their relationship for weeks until the paparazzi caught up with them. Finding out about them that way had been very humiliating.

  Pushing aside thoughts of her sister, Kara hurried back to the kitchen to find Baron placing pieces of chicken in a bowl for her cat. On the counter were two plates and utensils, plus an opened bottle of Pinot Noir.

  “Don’t spoil her,” she warned.

  Baron patted the tabby’s head and looked up. “I’m bribing her to like me. Where did you find her?”

  “Outside my door one morning. When I placed her picture on missing-cat posters, no one came to claim her, so I kept her. Poor thing. A trip to the vet confirmed what I’d suspected—someone had starved and physically abused her.”

  “That’s terrible. She looks healthy now.” Tessie took a dainty bite of another piece of chicken from Baron.

  “Yeah, she demands a lot of food and attention, but she’s come a long way.” Kara sat on the stool across from Baron and surveyed all the food he’d bought. There was tiny spicy chicken, shrimp and broccoli, chicken lo mein, egg rolls, soups—egg-drop and hot and sour—and of course a choice of white or fried rice. “This looks delicious.”

  “Then I hope you’re hungry because I am. What do you want to start with?” He poured wine into two glasses.

  “Soup…hot and sour.” He placed her glass of wine within reach then passed her a small bowl of soup. Kara took a spoonful and savored the taste. “Mm.” She lifted another spoonful, then realized Baron wasn’t eating. Instead he was studying her while playing with the stem of his wine glass. “I thought you said you were starving?”

  “I am.”

  He sipped his wine, but his eyes, wolfish, made her stomach curl with a hunger that had nothing to do with food.

  “But I prefer watching you eat,” he added.

  She touched the paper towel to her lips and met his gaze. “Why?”

  “You have an honest appreciation for things, food included. I find that…fascinating.” His gaze shifted to her mouth again.

 
; Somehow she doubted he’d meant to use the word fascinating. “Well, I don’t want to be your entertainment for the evening, so you either eat or we can skip the meal and talk shop.”

  His eyes sparkled briefly at the challenge, but he put down his glass and picked up a spoon. The food was scrumptious, and they didn’t bother with conversation as they ate. But too often she’d look up and find Baron’s predatory eyes on her.

  Once she finished the last morsel of tiny spicy chicken, she pushed the plate aside and took a long swallow from her glass. He’d picked the perfect wine for the Chinese flavors.

  “That was wonderful. Thank you.” Kara patted her lips and threw the paper towel in the garbage.

  Baron replenished their glasses. “You’re welcome. How was Club Sixty-Nine?”

  “Good. A little crowded, but worth it.” She swept the empty containers into the garbage, put the utensils in the sink, and reached for the roll of towels. “How did you know that’s where we went?”

  “Renee told me.”

  Kara stopped in the act of cleaning the counter. “When?”

  “Last night. I asked her where you guys were headed.”

  Was that what they were talking about in the doorway last night? “Why?”

  “I’d planned to stop by.” He lifted the laptop from the floor and asked, “Can I put this up here? I thought you might want to see the collection.”

  Kara threw the wad of paper towels away, settled back on a stool, her elbows on the counter and her chin on the heel of her hands, and eyed him as he rebooted his notebook. The events of last night—the senseless flirting and the men vying for their attention—flashed through her head. She had compared the men to Baron and found them lacking. Even the blond hadn’t tempted her enough. Her gaze met Baron’s, and her cheeks warmed.

  “Did you stop by?” she asked.

  “No, I didn’t want to intrude.” His lips lifted in a slow, wicked smile that had her pressing her knees together. “Did you want me to?”