Kara boiled water while she made breakfast—toasted slices of whole wheat bread and coffee—and checked her messages. Nothing from Briana. Oh well, she was probably stressing over nothing. But she needed a caffeine fix so badly she didn’t bother with a creamer when the brew was finally ready. Next, she steeped two tea bags, left them to cool and headed to shower while munching on a toast.
She thought she heard her phone ring, but when she angled her head to listen, all she heard was silence. Not only am I tired; I’m imagining things now. When it happened again, she turned off the water, grabbed a robe and ran to the bedroom. The phone stopped ringing before she could grab it.
Why hadn’t she invested in caller I.D.? She picked up the phone and dialed Briana’s number, just in case her sister was the caller. When the phone went unanswered, Kara slammed the phone down and went to get the cold, soaked tea bags. Now I’m really in a shitty mood. She flopped on the bed and placed the bags on her eyelids.
Instead of the usual fifteen minutes, she yanked the bags off her face after seven, saw how late she was, and swore under her breath. Baron Fitzgerald, this is your fault. She usually took responsibility for her actions, but not this time. If Mr. Hunk-a-luscious hadn’t screwed with her head, she wouldn’t have overslept or woken up with bag-lady eyes. Her mood shifted from shitty to don’t-mess-with-me-today as she got dressed and hurried out the door, a coffee mug in one hand and keys in the other, a bag under her armpit and a piece of toast between her teeth.
Someone up there had it in for her because as she stepped out of her car outside the gallery, Baron’s SUV pulled up. Their eyes met. He flashed his pearly whites and waved. Why did he have to be in such a happy mood? She gave him a brief nod and hurried into the building.
He caught up with her before she entered the hallway leading to her workroom. “Morning, Kara.”
Why can’t you just let me be? She took a deep breath and turned to face him. He looked glorious in a thin striped charcoal power suit, a white shirt, and a maroon tie. From the twinkle in his eyes, he must not have lost sleep over her decision. He probably thought he had everything figured out, including her.
“Morning.” Her eyes narrowed when he continued to study her. “What?”
“Are you okay?”
“Just great. How about you? You look a picture of health.”
He ignored the bite in her voice, his eyes softening and inviting. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Kara blinked. The ache in his voice, the need in his eyes took her breath away. The anger that had made her floor the gas pedal on her way to work slowly ebbed. It was as though he’d hit an off-button somewhere in her emotion center or something. How was she supposed to respond?
The musical tune of her cell phone came to her rescue.
“Excuse me,” she said and fished inside her bag for her phone. She brought it to her ear, too aware Baron hadn’t moved an inch and totally baffled by this new effect he had on her. She gave him her back. “Yes,” she said on the phone.
“Kara, it’s me.”
Briana’s husband? Kara frowned. “Jim, I’ve been calling your place for days, but no one is returning my calls. What’s going on? Is Briana okay?”
“That’s why I’m calling. I don’t know what to do. Your sister’s acting crazy.” He sounded panicky and pissed at the same time. “She’s barricaded herself in the bathroom and won’t come out. I want to break down the damn door, but she’s leaning against it, crying. I have a game today and should be on my way to the airport with the team, but I’m scared of leaving—”
“Whoa, slow down. Did she lose…is the baby okay?”
“Ah, so you know.”
“Mom gave me the news Saturday. What’s wrong with her?”
“The baby is okay, for now,” he snarled.
Kara frowned. “What do you mean ‘for now’?”
“Because of all the crap she’s been mouthing. I’ve given her everything she’s ever wanted but is she ever satisfied? Now she’s talking about not keeping the baby. My baby, Kara,” he shouted. “What kind of crazy shit is that?”
Briana had finally lost it. If it were possible to slap someone over the phone, Kara would whop her sister, pregnancy or not. “Let me talk to her.”
“Haven’t you heard anything I said? She’s locked herself in the bathroom. I love your sister, Kara, but if she hurts our child, I’m through with her and this marriage.”
The man was abusing her eardrum. “Don’t say or do anything rash, Jim. Not to her, not now.” She strived for a calm voice, which was hard under the circumstances. “Pregnant women can be very emotional. Briana probably feels vulnerable, maybe even scared so anything she says or threatens to do shouldn’t be taken seriously. Instead of anger, reassure her that everything will be okay.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing?” His sigh came down the line. “That’s exactly what I’ve been doing the past two hours. She won’t listen to me.” He sounded defeated.
“Did you two have a fight?”
“Not really. She wants to come with me to Atlanta but her doctor said she shouldn’t. No unnecessary traveling. I don’t understand her. She still wants to do everything she did before she got pregnant…clubbing, partying, jetting here and there. Did she tell you she already lost two babies?”
Kara closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against the wall. “I didn’t know. Mom told me, and she only learned from Briana earlier on Saturday. Have you tried to contact Mom?”
“I couldn’t reach her. I left a message with the nurses’ station. Fiona, Briana’s best friend is already on her way to Atlanta, her husband plays with me. My mother is on her way though.”
Kara sighed. Why was it every time Briana’s drama got out of control she dropped everything and ran to the rescue? When was her knucklehead sister going to grow up?
“Doesn’t your mother live back east, Jim?”
“Virginia, she and Dad moved there a few years ago. I called her this morning and she promised to get on the first available flight. The problem is this. I need someone to stay with Briana until my mother gets here. I know you don’t owe me any favors after what I did, but—”
“Don’t, Jim. You’re family now. Of course I’ll come.”
“Thank you.”
“I need to think.” Kara removed the phone from her ear and pressed it on her forehead. “God, I could wring her selfish, scrawny neck right about now.” What am I saying? I’ve never been pregnant despite my advice to Jim. Briana may be going through some major pregnancy-induced ailment for all I know.
“Kara?” Baron asked from behind her, making her jump.
She turned to look at him. “I didn’t know you were still here.”
“Is everything okay?”
His gentle voice and concerned-filled eyes did something to Kara. She blinked back tears. Here she was trying to hold it together and he just had to stick his nose in her business and…
No, she was letting her inner bitch take out her frustration on Baron. He was being nice, sympathetic. “It’s my baby sister, she’s pregnant and acting weird, that’s all.”
“Do you need to go to her?”
She nodded, frowning. It would take her about three hours on Amtrak, a little over two if she drove, but only fifty-ish minutes on a non-stop flight. She brought the phone to her ear, again. “Jim?”
“I’m still here.”
“I’ll get on the earliest flight available. I’ll call you once I get a ticket.”
“I have to leave as soon as the housekeeper comes back. She’ll keep an eye on Briana until you get here. I appreciate this, Kara. She always listens to you.”
Kara just shook her head. “Briana dances to her own beat, but I’ll get to the bottom of what’s troubling her as soon as I get there. I’ll call you later. Bye.” She closed her cell phone and started toward her workroom. Next on the agenda was getting a ticket. She had used United Airlines before and knew they offered non-stop flights from LAX
to San Diego.
“Kara,” Baron called from behind her.
She caught herself before snapping at him. “I can’t deal with anything else right now, Baron,” she said without stopping.
“No, this is not about us. It sounds like you need help.” He reached her side, caught her arm, and nudged her to turn around when Kara dug in her heels. “I want to make a few calls and see what I can drum up.”
Kara shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“You need to fly to San Diego to be with your sister, right?”
“How did you know where she lives?”
“Your father mentioned it a few times. Come with me upstairs. If what I plan doesn’t pan out, we’ll figure out something else.”
“I can handle this on my own, Baron.”
“I know, but two heads are better than one. From what I heard, the sooner you get there the better.” He gave her a reassuring smile.
Why was he helping her? Was it to score points, make her indebted to him? This was no time to let her pride get the better of her. She needed to be in San Diego, if not to kick her sister’s butt then at least save her from doing something she’d regret for the rest of her life.
“How can you help?” she asked.
“My brother’s jet. He’s in town, which means it’s available.”
She’d forgotten just how wealthy Baron’s family was. The money started with an ancestor during the gold rush then a top-notch surgeon of his time. Baron’s father followed in his old man’s footsteps, married Estelle Valdes, a Cuban real estate agent with who-was-who in Hollywood as clients. But the company, Fitz-Valdes Real Estates, became a major player on the north and the west coast after Lex Fitzgerald took over. And that was just Baron’s side of the family. There was a health insurance company, a chain of motels, and oil fields somewhere in the Fitzgerald clan’s assets.
Kara allowed Baron to lead her back along the hallway and into the elevator. “If he’s using it, I’m calling the airport,” she said, trying to regain control of the situation.
“Deal.”
Upstairs, Gena’s smooth brow creased when she saw them together. “Good morning, Baron, Kara.”
Kara nodded without saying a word to the secretary.
“Morning, Gena,” Baron said. “Could you get Lex on the line for me, please?” He ushered Kara into his office, led her to the sofa where he usually entertained clients and indicated the couch.
Kara watched him with bemusement as he sat opposite her. “Why are you doing this?”
“Why not?” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “You need help and I’m in a position to offer it.”
It was sweet of him, and despite her suspicions, Kara was touched. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, not until we get you to San Diego. Your sister is going to be okay, you know.”
Now he was trying to comfort her. The man was mercilessly chipping at her defenses, and she had no idea how to stop him. To be honest, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. For once, she didn’t mind letting someone help her with Briana.
“I know she will, unless she does something stupid in the mean time. Briana is very unpredictable.”
“Is she very ill?”
Kara shook her head. “She’s pregnant and is scared. Or the hormones are messing with her head, I don’t know. She told her husband she didn’t want their baby. Briana might do the craziest of things, but she’d never kill her child.”
Her head snapped up when a growled expletive escaped Baron’s lips. He was glaring at the wall above her head, his fingers clenching, eyes blazing with anger. No, pain.
“Baron, what is it?” Kara reached out to touch him and froze when he moved away from her hand.
He closed his eyes briefly, but when he opened them, it was as though she’d mistaken the play of emotions on his face. Kara swallowed as she studied him, but he refused to meet her gaze.
Baron didn’t try to answer her. His demons were his own business, not to be shared with anyone, not even Kara. He got to his feet, went to his desk, and pushed the intercom button.
“Where’s my brother?” he snapped.
“He’s in a meeting,” Gena answered. “His assistant went to get him.”
He sat and continued to avoid eye contact with Kara. She had left her seat and was now standing by his desk. He couldn’t block the memories of Valerie and his unborn child, the searing pain that accompanied them. He despised a woman who used her unborn child to screw with a man’s head. If he had his way…
Baron shook his head at his ugly thoughts and reached for his cell phone. No matter what it took, he’d make sure Kara made it to her sister’s side. He speed-dialed his older brother’s private line. It was picked up after two rings.
“I’m in the middle of an important meeting, Baron. What is it that can’t wait until—?”
“I need your jet.”
There was a brief silence, and then Lex said, “Sure. It’s being refueled as we speak. I’m supposed to be heading to San Francisco, but I can reschedule. Is everything okay?”
“It will be.” I’ll make damn sure it is, he vowed silently.
“Where are you headed?”
“San Diego.”
Something in his tone must have warned Lex not to ask any more questions. “I’ll have the pilot file a new flight plan. Call me later.”
In other words, his older brother would need an explanation. Baron closed his cell phone and scrubbed his face. He had no problem telling Lex the truth; the woman seated across from him was another story. He could feel her watchful gaze on him. He didn’t want her pity.
Kara shifted and cleared her voice. “Baron, if there’s a problem…”
He locked his gaze on her and quenched the urge to snap. Instead he took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
“There’s no problem, Kara. I have it covered.” The smile that accompanied his words must not have convinced her because her mouth puckered into a pout and furrows appeared on her brow.
God help me from women and their insatiable curiosity.
Baron pressed the intercom, again. “Cancel the call to my brother, Gena. I already spoke with him. I’ll be gone most of the day, so direct all my calls to my cell. Rick should be able to handle any crisis until I get back.”
The next call he placed was to Lex’s pilot. Afterwards, he looked at Kara, who was still scowling as though undecided about something. “Everything’s set. How do you want to do this?”
“Do what?” Her mind was obviously elsewhere.
“How about I follow you to your place so you can drop off your car and pick up whatever you might need, and then we can drive together to Santa Monica airport.”
“Are you coming too?”
He might have offered to help to garner points with her, but now it was personal. “Once your sister is okay, I’ll leave.”
Her frown deepened, but instead of speaking her mind, she sighed and gave him a tight smile. “I don’t know how to thank you, Baron.”
Her tone was too subdued for his liking, but he couldn’t do anything about it. He knew she had questions about his reaction, but he had no intention of discussing his past life with her. Not yet.
“Don’t worry about it.” He pulled open a drawer and pulled out a file, and then the two of them left the office. Gena stared at them curiously, but he didn’t explain anything to her, just reminded her to let Rick take care of things while he was gone.
Downstairs, Kara gestured toward her office. “I need to pick up a few things.”
“I’ll be with Rick.” He waited until Kara disappeared into her workroom then entered Rick’s office. Rick was on the phone, so Baron indicated he’d wait. He settled on the armchair, opened the file he’d removed from his office, and flipped through it. It was Rick’s old resume.
He’d lured Rick about three-and-a-half years ago from a competitor who hadn’t appreciated his varied talents. Rick became his friend, mentor, and a valuable employee. His relaxed
and non-intrusive personality enabled him to build a quick rapport with both artists and collectors, male and female, young and old.
“So, boss, what can I do for you?”
Rick’s voice cut into his thoughts and Baron looked up. “Do you still have the resumes of the three people we short-listed for the position in San Francisco?”
“Yes.” Rick walked to a metal storage unit behind his desk and pulled out a drawer. “I agree with you, the woman has the most experience and the right temperament for the job, especially if you plan to have more community involvement.” He removed the files and came back to sit opposite Baron. “Steinberger is a pompous old goat. I learned that Kraken Fine Art fired him because of his drinking habits. No wonder he didn’t put them as a reference. As for Hanks, he’s too green. Maybe after a few years, he might handle such a position.”
Baron accepted the three files and threw them in the garbage can by the chair. He passed Rick his file. “This is the best and only candidate I’d consider for the position.”
Frowning, Rick opened the file then scowled. “But this is…do you mean…?”
Baron got to his feet and Rick followed. “I think you’re the man for the job, Rick. I hope you won’t mind relocating to San Francisco.”
“Mind?” Rick laughed, his gaze bouncing between his resume and Baron. “Hell no. This is awesome. I had no idea you were even considering me.”
“Right from the start,” Baron said as he offered Rick his hand. The older man thumped it vigorously. “You’re great with clients, have amazing organization and management skills, and more important, an eye for what sells. Besides, you know our future goals. You helped draft them.”
Rick finally let go of Baron’s hand, his expression serious. “Thank you for the opportunity, Baron. You won’t be disappointed.”
“I know.” Baron slapped him on the back and started for the door. He paused to add, “I’ll be gone for the day so you’re in charge. I should be in tomorrow and will leave again on Wednesday for a week or two. We’ll discuss the details later. Gena already knows you’ll run things while I’m gone. If you need to get in touch, just call me on my cell.”
Kiss Me Crazy Page 9
