Kiss Me Crazy

by Ednah Walters

  Baron glowered, scrubbed his face, and tried to straighten his skewed thoughts. Kara’s future was his problem and his mother had no right to butt in. So much for saying she wasn’t nosy, and her timing sucked big time.

  “I think she’ll make a wonderful business woman,” Estelle said, her voice intruding on his thoughts.

  “Don’t, Mom.”

  “Don’t what?”

  Baron searched for the right words. “Meddle,” he said in a curt tone.

  “Meddle? Me? She talked about her dreams and I listened. Surely you aren’t against her leaving. Not when she’s already signed a lease.” There was silence then Estelle added in a soft tone, “Or isn’t she supposed to follow her dream?”

  What the hell kind of a question was that? “Of course she can follow her dream. She just doesn’t have to leave the gallery to do it.” As soon as he finished speaking, Baron realized how revealing his statement was. Too bad, his mother needed to understand his future with Kara was at stake here. “I mean, we could double the traffic to both our stores by being in the same building. It’s simple logic.”

  Once again, another silence followed, this time longer than the last one. “I see where you’re going with this but you’re forgetting one thing, son. If Kara wishes to start her business in your building, the next city, state, or country, it’s her prerogative. All you can do…all anyone who cares about her must do is support her.”

  Baron pinched the bridge of his nose. Trust her to see things Kara’s way. She was his mother for chrissakes. Shouldn’t she be supporting him? He hoped she wasn’t because she didn’t approve of his relationship with Kara. Estelle never warmed up to Valerie although she never said why. Whatever reservations she might have, she’d better get over them quick because Kara was now part of his life.

  “Ma, I’ve got to go. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

  “Just think about what I said, baby. Goodnight.”

  Baron snapped his phone shut and glared into the darkness. He didn’t know how long he stood there on the balcony with the cold air seeping under his skin. When he realized he was shivering, he muttered a curse, stepped back inside his room, and shut the doors. He hated to admit he might be wrong and his mother could have a valid point.

  Feeling edgy, Baron settled on his bed and tried Kara’s number again.

  ***

  The house phone started to ring just as Kara stepped inside the frothy bathtub. She picked up the receiver from the bathroom stool where she’d placed it, saw Baron’s cell number, and smiled. Careful not to splash water or knock one of the candles she’d placed around the tub, she brought the phone to her ear as she sank into the warm bubbly water.

  “I was just about to call you,” she said, leaning back and propping her head on the spa pillow.

  “Really? You didn’t answer your cell phone.”

  What crawled up his pants to make him sound so irritated? Surely, not the fact that he’d left three messages in her voicemail? She’d meant to call him back as soon as she settled in the tub. After crouching for hours while painting, she needed a long bath to loosen up otherwise being civil became impossible.

  “It died on me before I left San Diego. Remember how much I was in a rush when I left on Monday? Picking up my recharger wasn’t a priority.”

  “I was worried.”

  “Why? Jules told me you called. You knew I was still in the office.”

  “That doesn’t mean I can’t worry. You know I’ve never liked you working late unless I’m in the office.”

  Kara rolled her eyes. Not that again. He’d made a big deal out of it years ago, only relented after she promised to tell the front desk and his office whenever she intended to work late. The guard had to escort her to her car.

  “I followed the security protocol per your instructions, boss,” she teased and waited for a chuckle. She didn’t hear one.

  “Do you intend to do this when you start your store?” Baron asked in a disgruntled tone, clearly not ready to be appeased.

  “Do what?”

  “Stay up late?”

  Kara sighed. This wasn’t the conversation she’d hoped to have with him. Still, she tried not to show her irritation. “I’m starting a new business. Of course, I’ll have to put in lots of hours. You of all people should understand that. What’s this really about?”

  “Your lack of concern when it comes to your safety. Where’s this building you’ve leased? What’s security like in and around it?”

  Okay, that’s it. “Listen, I’ve had a very long day and the last thing I need is you attacking me over the phone.”

  “I hardly call worrying about your safety an attack, Kara. I just need to know where you’re planning to open your store and whether or not you’ve considered security issues.”

  The building was close to an upscale business area but still she’d known she’d have to wire a new security system once she opened shop. She just hadn’t made it a priority. Also the tenants had a choice of either parking their car in the back where it was more private or the busier front of the building. Either case suited her fine. She’d be willing to discuss all this with the arrogant male breathing down her neck if he didn’t act so rude.

  “Kara?”

  “If you must know, I’ve considered a few measures here and there. I have it covered.”

  “Really? Like what?”

  Why was he picking a fight with her? Then realization hit her, bringing with it a load of anger. He doesn’t think I’m capable of making sensible decisions. What had she ever done to indicate she was a nitwit?

  Kara sat up, her eyes narrowing. “Like how much I hate your tone right now, Baron Fitzgerald. I’m not going to have this conversation with you when it’s obvious you’re treating me like a child.”

  “I don’t mean to. You’re hedging when all I want—”

  “I don’t want to discuss this. I’m hanging up.”

  “Damn it, Kara.”

  “Don’t you swear at me, Baron. I’m capable of making my own decisions.” She pushed the off button and resisted the urge to throw the phone. Kara ground her teeth, placed the phone on the stool, and leaned back against the bath pillow, closing her eyes.

  The damned instrument started to ring right away. She ignored it, though she cocked her head to listen. It stopped and the voice mail picked it. Once again it rang. Let him continue to leave his apologetic messages. She wouldn’t talk to him until she calmed down.

  Kara wasn’t sure how long she stayed in the tub, but she soon gave up trying to relax. The blend of rosemary and ginger, lavender and peppermint scented Dead Sea salts usually eased her aching muscles and infused her with energy. Not tonight. Even the scented candles and the soothing background jazz tune just irritated the heck out of her. And it was Baron’s fault.

  Muttering under her breath, she got out of the tub and entered the shower. The longer she stayed under the hot spray of water, the calmer she got. What had put Baron in such a crappy mood?

  Fifteen minutes later, Kara stepped out of the shower and draped her body with a warm robe. She blew out all the candles, picked up the phone and returned it to its base in the bedroom where the red light blinked at her, begging for her attention. She ignored it, straightening her home, laying out clothes for tomorrow but in the end she couldn’t resist. Sighing, she pressed the buttons to access her voicemail and waited for Baron’s apologetic voice to fill the room.

  Silence.

  Not even a tiny sorry to show just how contrite he was. When the “message was recorded at nine-ten….” filled the room, Kara pressed the button to delete.

  Another beep, and once again, nothing.

  Kara frowned. What’s wrong with that man? Didn’t he know he owed her an apology? She sat on her bed and sighed. She shouldn’t get angry with Baron because he didn’t react like most normal men. If he were ordinary, he wouldn’t be the man she fell in love with.

  Kara blinked, swallowed, then pressed her hands against her chest as if to slow d
own her racing heart, the pulse beating erratically at the base of her neck. The house was silent yet she could hear sounds filtering through her windows, cars driving past her house, sirens in the background, the blood roaring past her ears.

  She loved Baron. She never stopped loving him in the first place, which explained why she was willing to have an affair with him and why she’d hung around all these years. Where was the self-recrimination, the why-oh-why-could-I-have-been-so-foolish? She knew why she couldn’t get angry with herself: it felt right. Perfect. Like she was meant to love him regardless of whether he loved her back. He was crazy about her though, which was a starting point as far as she was concerned.

  Kara smiled and reached for the phone. She couldn’t explain the sudden urge to hear his voice. She needed to apologize for hanging up on him. It was a childish thing to do.

  Just as her hand closed around the instrument, it started to ring again.

  CHAPTER 13

  Kara brought the receiver to her ear. “Hey.”

  “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have taken out my frustrations on you.”

  His deep voice, tinged with regret, wrapped around her like a cocoon and soothed her senses. How could she ever have doubted she loved this man? His voice alone had the power to tug at her heartstrings, make her insides ache with need and tenderness.

  “No, I’m the one who should be sorry, Baron. I shouldn’t have hung up on you like that. Are you okay? You sounded like you’ve had a bad day.”

  She thought she heard him laugh but wasn’t sure. Tension was no longer evident in his tone when he spoke.

  “I’ve been pushing myself hard but everything is perfect now. Are we still on for tomorrow night?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Is ten o’clock too late?”

  That should give her time to make it back from Chloe’s. “No, it’s perfect.”

  “Good. I plan to make it up to you.”

  His voice had taken on a velvet quality, full of decadent secrets and illicit promises. Kara swallowed before asking, “For what?”

  “For being a total idiot today. We had our first fight and I started it.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  He laughed.

  “However, it takes two,” she added, smiling. “I shouldn’t be so prickly about my business. I guess I have some making up to do too.”

  “I guess you do.” There was laughter in his voice.

  Kara crawled inside her bed, terry robe and all, as she and Baron talked until late into the night. She lost track of time and his soothing voice was the last sound she heard before sleep claimed her.

  ***

  The next morning, Kara woke with the sun, showered, but took her time getting dressed for work. Her mind kept drifting to Baron and their ten o’clock makeup date. What did he have in mind? She hoped it involved a night of decadence and breakfast in bed. It was unlike her to want to rush things, but now that she’d accepted her feelings for him, she couldn’t wait to share some intimate moments.

  She studied her naked reflection in the mirror with critical eyes and shook her head. She’d lost some pounds but was still thicker around the hips and ass than what the fashion world considered normal. Not that she was complaining. She was happy with her looks. The way Baron’s heated gaze caressed her from head to toe every time they met told her he didn’t mind them either. Still, a girl had to take care of a few personal things before taking the next step with her man.

  Kara lifted her arms up and checked her armpits. She’d given herself a shave while showering and it showed. A scowl crept on her face as her gaze drifted below her waist. Thank goodness she had an appointment with her favorite spa lady.

  Her watch beeped and Kara groaned. Work was calling. She changed, grabbed her keys and bag, an apple and yogurt for lunch, and bolted for the door. She paused before she exited her home and frowned, feeling something amiss. Tessie. Her house seemed empty without the little tabby. The cat tended to follow her to the door with an indignant whine at being left behind.

  As she drove away from her home, she got Renee on the line. “Maybe I should take Tessie with me to Idaho.”

  Renee clicked her tongue. “You and I know you took in the little fur ball to keep you company and warm your toes at night.”

  “And your point is?”

  “Why would you want her with you when you have a real man to do all of the above and then some? Make use of these two weeks or I’ll deck you if you ever complain to me about lack of single men in L.A. The cat stays with me.”

  Kara laughed, seeing right through Renee. “She whined her way into your heart.”

  “Please.”

  “She did. Admit it.”

  “Okay, fine. She did. And I mean it about the two weeks, woman. Shape up or shut up. So? Are you going to Chloe’s tonight?”

  “Yes…alone.” It had taken a while to get comfortable enough to bare her all to Chloe and when she finally did, Kara insisted it had to be after hours. She had a low pain threshold despite the fact that Chloe used wonderful creams to lessen the sting after a wax.

  “You’re such a baby,” Renee said with a laugh. “Okay then, let’s go shopping tomorrow morning.”

  “What? Don’t tell me you forgot we’re attending a bar mitzvah tomorrow.”

  “Crap.”

  “Don’t even think of standing me up, Renee Gunter.”

  She sighed. “Okay. I’ll be at your place early…eight-ish. You drive and I’ll navigate. What about afternoon? ”

  “No can do. Got a date,” Kara blurted out before she could check her tongue.

  “You do? Who with?”

  Kara hesitated for a moment. “Baron.”

  “Start talking. You’ve been holding out on me.”

  “Can’t now, I’m stuck in traffic,” Kara lied smoothly. “Got to go.”

  “Chicken. Don’t worry about Puss in Boots. I’ll take very good care of her.”

  Kara could always count on Renee in any crisis but that didn’t mean she had to know every little detail of her relationship with Baron. Some things were better left private. On the other hand, if tonight went as planned, Baron might still be at her place when Renee arrived. All the way to the gallery, a smile played on Kara’s lips as she mulled over everything that had happened in the last two weeks.

  At the gallery, sounds from upstairs indicated Gena was already in the office. Maya wasn’t in yet, so Kara scribbled on a Post-it and pinned it on the receptionist’s desk. She was expecting Ralph Douglas, the owner of the Hallè painting, to stop by later in the day. She hung up the Do Not Disturb sign squarely outside her workroom and disappeared downstairs. The only thing that could keep Baron off her mind was work and she immersed herself in it.

  No one bothered her until closing time when Douglas came to inspect his painting. By then she was done and very satisfied with the results of her hard work. The restored piece was breathtaking and the man’s appreciation only added to her sense of accomplishment.

  “We’ll send it to your place first thing Monday morning.”

  “What about later in the week instead?” the elderly gentleman asked, glancing at covered canvases around her workroom. “I need to find a framer who can do it justice. The couple I usually use moved to Seattle.”

  Kara was temped to mention her upcoming business but she couldn’t do that to the man, not when her store wouldn’t be ready to take orders for at least three months. She recommended the framers the gallery subcontracted and explained she’d be gone for two weeks but would leave the Hallè ready for the delivery men.

  Once Douglas left, Kara cleaned up and headed upstairs to find another rose waiting for her. She ignored Maya’s curious questions about her secret admirer but hurried out of the gallery with a spring in her step. On her way home, she stopped briefly by the liquor store to replenish her cache and picked up a few groceries.

  There was something about wearing a slinky dress without pantyhose or tights after waxing that was so pl
easurable and a little…naughty, Kara told herself later after she showered and pulled out a simple, knee-level chiffon pullover frock in bold green and black stripes from her closet. It was wasted on her now, but later, after her visit to Chloe, she’d appreciate the outfit more. To make things even more interesting, she added a skimpy lace thong and crisscross sling, high-heeled sandals.

  Baron won’t know what hit him.

  She got to Chloe’s by six-thirty, early enough to have her hair washed, trimmed and styled. When Chloe insisted on having dinner first, Kara had no choice but to oblige. By the time they retired to a private room, it was after eight.

  Usually Chloe started with a facial and eyebrows, then her legs, and finished with a bikini wax. This time Kara reversed the order, her eye on the clock as the hour hand crept past nine. Chloe slowed down the whole process with nonstop chatter and occasional gestures to drive a point home while butterflies dipped and fluttered in Kara’s stomach. She didn’t want to miss Baron.

  “Will you stop fidgeting?” Chloe looked up from where, she was busy applying a beeswax concoction in Kara’s nether region and gave her a pointed look. “You’ve got somewhere to go tonight you forgot to mention?”

  Yes, darn it. “No. It’s been a long day and I’m tired,” she snapped.

  Chloe rolled her eyes, clearly not buying Kara’s explanation. Luckily, her friend didn’t push for an answer, just pursed her lips and went back to work. When they finally finished, it was quarter to ten. Kara gave Chloe a big tip and an even bigger hug and raced out of the spa.

  Her heart hurtled to her throat when she saw Baron’s SUV outside her place and his tall frame leaning against the patio pole by her door. The yellow security lights cast shadows on his handsome features. Khaki pants molded to his masculine thighs and a white polo shirt hung elegantly over his shoulders. Her heart picked up tempo and a flash flood of feelings rushed to her stomach when his predatory eyes locked on her as she pulled into her driveway.