by Trisha Grace
He headed over and took the piece of paper that his staff was holding. “This is the current address?”
His staff nodded.
“Thanks,” he said and returned to Kate. He’d barely left her for a minute and already she was surrounded by a group of women. But the moment he neared their table, the women dispersed.
“How do you work with them when they’re all so frightened of you?” Kate asked.
“I work better alone.”
She nodded and changed the topic as the man he’d spoken to walked by. “Is everything all right?”
He pulled his hand out from the pocket, leaving the piece of paper inside, while he considered his reply.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I shouldn’t be so nosy.”
He ran his finger along her jaw as he gazed into her eyes. “I don’t mind you asking. I’m just worried that my answer may upset you.”
Her brows furrowed. “What is it?”
“The favor you asked, do you still want your answer?”
Understanding flooded her face. “You found the retired detective?”
“Do you still want to find him?”
She thought about it for a moment before nodding. “Yes.”
Tyler sat, looking into her eyes. “Then I want a promise in return. Unless you make me this promise, I won’t give you the address.”
“I promise, whatever it is,” she replied without any hesitation.
“You haven’t even heard what I want.”
Pulling the coat closer around her, she smiled. “It’ll be something that will keep me safe.”
He grinned; pleased with the confidence she had in him. “When you go look for him, you have to take me along.”
“I probably would’ve asked you anyway.”
“Good.”
Reaching into his pocket, he took out the piece of paper with a name and address written on it. He slid it across the table to Kate. But instead of picking it up, she slipped it into her purse without even looking at it.
“I’ll look at it tomorrow. Tonight, there seemed to be some activities going on. Let’s check them out.” She stood and waited for Tyler to get to her side. “Do you know what they’ve organized?”
“Not a clue,” he answered, slightly guilty that he couldn’t play a better host for her.
“It’s all right. Let’s find out together.” She shrugged off the coat and returned it to him.
He slipped on his coat and the same flowery scent that Kate carried got on him. “What’s this scent?”
“What scent?” She took a whiff of the air. “I don’t smell anything.”
“This flower scent from you.”
“Oh, my moisturizer. Sorry, is it that strong?”
“No, it isn’t. I was just wondering.”
“It’s my rose moisturizer.”
“Rose,” he mumbled as they strolled around the various booths.
Kate stopped and looked at a poster on the wall. “You’re rather generous with your lucky draw gifts—even if you don’t know it.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Hayes.”
They turned.
A young lad with a clunky professional camera hung over his neck grinned nervously. “Sorry to disturb, but do you want to take a photo with your girlfriend?”
“Sure, she loves taking photo,” he said while looking at Kate.
“Great!” the young lad exclaimed with a little too much exuberance.
He took a step closer to Kate and wrapped his arm across her back. At his touch, she looked up at him and smiled as their gaze met.
A bright flash went off, turning both their heads toward the young lad. The young lad grinned proudly and nodded while he checked the photo.
“Send me the photo through e-mail,” he said before leading Kate away.
“Not a problem, sir.”
Moving along, Kate pointed to a crowd gathered at a particular section. “Look, they’re playing A Minute To Win It games.” When he didn’t reply, she explained, “It’s a game show where contestants have to complete tasks in a minute to win.”
He allowed her to drag him along.
The moment the woman in charge of the game saw them moving toward the booth, she announced their arrival and pleaded for them to play participate.
The woman pleaded, but her hand was already on Kate, pulling her toward the booth.
He held on to Kate, refusing to let her get dragged away.
Though she was interested to watch, he was certain that she wouldn’t want to participate.
But the woman was so determined, and their tug-of-war was getting somewhat ridiculous.
“There are six thimbles and six marbles. You need to bounce the marbles off the table and onto the thimble,” the woman rattled on, pulling Kate further away from him.
When the woman finally let go of Kate, they were standing at one end of the table while he was still at the other.
“I’m horrible at games,” Kate said, hoping to get out of the situation.
“Oh, it’s easy. Someone already won a hundred dollars from this game,” the same woman announced, her hand returning to hold on to Kate.
Kate glanced up at him; her eyes pleading with him to get her out of the situation.
He stepped forward, but the woman was faster.
“One game, please.”
Kate sighed in resignation. “All right. One game.”
“Fantastic! You have one minute, starting … now!”
A large digital clock projected on the wall behind Kate started counting down to loud ticks from the speakers.
Kate took in a deep breath before picking up the first marble.
She cast a quick glance at Tyler and smiled sheepishly, then started bouncing the marbles.
She laughed at her own luck while the crowd cheered when two of the marbles landed and stayed in the thimble, but that was all she managed.
He watched, laughing as she did.
Though they were surrounded by a crowd that was getting larger by the second, her eyes always found his whenever she looked up from the table.
Maybe it was because he was the only one she knew, but he loved how she looked to him amid the crowd and noise.
When the one-minute alarm rang, she shrugged. “I tried.”
He strode over to her with a big smile. “You really are horrible at games,” he said as she buried her face in his chest.
His arm instinctively wrapped over her shoulders, and he didn’t want to release her even as she looked up and tried to take a step back.
“Well, Mr. Hayes, if you’re so good, why don’t you give it a try?” she said from within his arms.
Everyone cheered while her smile broadened.
Again, he looked only at Kate and continued. “Since I’m ultimately paying for the hundred dollars, let’s bet on something else.”
“What do you want?” she asked with a half shrug.
“If I win, you keep the set of jewelry you’re wearing now.”
By then, more people had gathered around the booth, but everyone fell silent as he spoke his request.
Kate wiped off the smile and stared at him sternly. “Ty …”
“If I win, in one try, you’ll keep them.” He could see Kate considering the situation.
Her gaze remained fixated on him even as the silence around them grew deafening.
“I’ve never played it before,” he added.
“One try.”
He beamed. He took off his coat and handed it to Kate’s outstretched hands. Folding up his sleeves, he nodded at the same woman, and the same cycle repeated itself. He spent the first twenty seconds experimenting with the strength and the bounce of the marble, but once he got the first one in, the rest followed smoothly.
He even had time to give Kate a smirk while she stared in disbelief.
Another round of cheers and applause sounded when he completed his task. He looked at Kate and winked. “We had a deal.”
“How did
you do that?”
He steered Kate out of the cheering crowd and headed back to their table, thinking they’d enough excitement for the day.
“Ty.”
He immediately continued. “We had a deal. Are you backing out of your word?”
Kate waited until they were seated before saying, “I know we had a deal, but these belong to your mother. Are you sure you want to give them to me and not keep them for someone else? Someone more important.”
“I’m sure.” And he was.
In a matter of months, Kate had not only returned him the happy memories he’d lost, but created so many more for him.
She pursed her lips, but sighed and nodded after a moment. “All right. But if you ever change your mind, just tell me and I’ll give them back to you.”
He scoffed at her words. “They are yours, yours to keep forever. I don’t take back the things I give.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking at the bracelet on her hand. “They’re exquisite.”
That night was the first time since taking over the company that Tyler stayed throughout the dinner and the lucky draw winning announcements. It was the first time he sat through an entire dinner without once feeling bored or checking his watch.
When they got home, he got out of his car and jogged over to the passenger side of the door. She took his hand, and once he closed the door, she turned and made her way toward the mansion.
He tightened his hand and stood on the spot, stopping her from moving further. “Do your feet hurt?”
“No,” she answered. “Why?”
He slipped his free hand into his pocket and took out his phone.
Kate watched curiously as his finger tapped away on the screen. She stepped forward to peer at what he was doing, but he shifted his arm away before she could see the screen.
When he was done, he placed the phone on his car and turned back to her. “You look gorgeous tonight.” He pulled her close against his chest and placed his arm on her back. “Tonight was the only time in my life I had actually wished there would be dancing at the dinner,” he said as the music started playing.
She laughed softly in his arms. “This is rather nice, too,” she said, leaning her head against his chest. “What song is this?”
“Remember. Dan was playing it in his car some time ago.”
“So you kept it in your phone, waiting for a chance to whip it out for a dance?”
“No, I just thought it was a nice song.”
“It is,” Kate said as she swayed along with him.
“Did you have fun tonight?” he asked.
“I did. And you?”
“I did.”
Kate smiled. “That’s good.”
He held her and moved slowly along with the song, hoping it would never end. He took in a deep breath and her rose and vanilla scent wafted into his nose. “You smell like ice cream, rose flavored ice cream.”
“Is that good or bad?”
Everything about her was good to Tyler, but he didn’t reply her.
Chapter Fifteen
Tyler sat at the dining table, staring at the empty seat next to his. Kate would usually be in the kitchen by this time, but there was still no sign of her.
He glanced over his shoulder, expecting Kate to walk in any second.
“You can start eating. I’m sure she’ll come down soon,” Marianne said as she placed the plate of waffles down.
When Kate finally strolled into the kitchen, Tyler looked up at her and smiled, pulling out the chair for her.
“Did you kids have fun last night?” Marianne asked as Kate sat.
Instead of answering Marianne’s question, Tyler and Kate smiled at each other.
“You’re a bad influence, Ty. She’s learning to ignore questions already,” Ryan joked.
Kate looked up and smiled at everyone. “Good morning, everyone. I’d quite a lot of fun,” Kate replied Marianne. Then, glancing around the table, she noticed that the usual group wasn’t complete. “Where’s Dan?”
“I don’t know. He’s been rather secretive these few days. Always disappearing,” Ryan said with a shrug.
Joseph grinned. “Probably seeing someone. And he was asking if you’d gone for your Lasik review.”
Kate grimaced. “No, I forgot all about it. But I promise I’ll find time, soon.”
“You had time to go to dinner with Ty, but no time to get your eyes fixed?” Ryan questioned as he stared at Kate.
“Stop it,” Tyler stated, shooting Ryan a glare to challenge to his words.
Ryan’s eyes widened when Marianne neared him with her knuckles raised. “Okay, okay,” he said and stuffed a whole piece of sandwich into his mouth.
“The dinner was at night. If the clinic’s opened at night, then I’ll definitely have the time,” Kate replied anyway. “Speaking of work, I’ve got to go. Got to do some accounting and probably clear Evelyn’s paperwork as well.” She stood and turned to Tyler. “See you tonight.”
“Bye,” Ryan and Joseph echoed, then kept quiet until Kate was out of the door.
Once the door closed, Marianne shifted to where Kate had sat and smiled coyly. “How did last night go?” she asked.
He continued sipping his coffee as though he didn’t hear Marianne’s question.
Marianne waited patiently, staring right at him to let him know she wasn’t giving up. “I can wait. I’m an old lady; I have nothing else to do for the whole day. And if you ever intend for me to cook another meal for anyone here, you’d better start talking.”
“Just tell her already,” Ryan said.
Joseph laughed and shook his head. “I think your threat will work better if you say that you won’t cook for Kate and will be horrible to her for the rest of her stay here.”
Before Marianne could upgrade her threat, Tyler answered, “As she said, we had fun.”
“Photos? I thought she loves taking photos,” Marianne said.
“We didn’t take any. She was busy answering questions.”
He could feel Joseph watching him, so he looked up and waited for his question.
“Something’s different, though. Something happened last night?”
He gave up the fight to control his smile as he thought about the night before.
Everything felt perfect. Somehow, his arms always found their way to her. And when they danced, she fitted him so perfectly. It felt as if she were made for him.
But it seemed too good to be true.
How could someone so kind be meant for a detached person like him?
“So? Did something happen?” Marianne nudged him, bringing his attention back to them.
“One year is too short.”
“Then ask her to stay. I love her. She’s so right for you.”
She was with her ex-boyfriend for two years and couldn’t bring herself to move in with him.
He’d only known her for a couple of months.
And right for him? Their personality couldn’t be more different.
“Don’t let her slip away just because you’re afraid,” Marianne said softly and gave him a gentle pat on his shoulder before clearing the table of the empty plates.
Kate stared at the clock and smiled, glad that she’d cleared her paperwork in less than an hour. She leaned back against her chair and took a sip of her coffee, smiling as she thought about the night before.
She sighed softly, wishing that the night hadn’t ended and that she had more time to sit and indulge in the memories.
But she had to clear Evelyn’s paperwork as well.
All her receipts were always neatly kept. They were all properly categorized and arranged from the earliest to the latest date. Anyone could look at them and settle the accounts without trouble.
Evelyn, however, always dumped everything into a wooden box.
Evelyn never had a clue on which receipts were for which projects, so Kate would have to go through the various projects and countercheck against the amount before she could assign the rece
ipts to the proper projects. And only after all of that, could she begin to settle the accounts.
Keeping her files away, she headed over to Evelyn’s office. She knocked softly on Evelyn’s door.
Evelyn looked up at her. “Good morning,” she chirped. “Done with your paperwork?”
Kate nodded while she eyed Evelyn suspiciously. She was never this chirpy in the mornings.
“Sit. Chat. Tell me how did last night go.”
“Great, sort of.” She moved over to the couch and sat, then stacked up the magazines that were strewn across the coffee table.
“How was it sort of great?”
“I don’t know. Everything just seemed to fit between us. It feels so right around him,” she answered, smiling blissfully as she thought about their conversations and their dance.
“And the mansion?”
She sighed. “Thanks.”
“I’m only saying it because I know you’ll start rationalizing things when you’re on your own.”
She pushed the stack of magazines to the center of the table and obsessed with fanning them out evenly.
“Look, forget about the mansion. All your relationships last longer than a year. Besides, I don’t remember ever seeing you talk about Benjamin or anyone like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like a love-struck idiot?” Evelyn grinned as she glowered at her. “Everything just seemed to fit between us,” Evelyn mimicked what Kate had said in an annoyingly sweet voice.
“Stop it.”
“He’s good for you. You don’t know how to protect yourself. He can protect you.”
“I grew up taking care of myself. I do fine.”
“No, you grew up taking care of other people. You don’t do too well on yourself.”
Kate folded her arms and observed Evelyn for a while. “And the two of you are pretty alike.” She strode over to Evelyn’s desk and took the wooden box with all the receipts.
Just then, a commotion outside drew their attention.
“Ugh! Seriously? As if I don’t have enough things to do today,” she complained when she saw Joanne trying to barge into her office.
“Really, that girl never learns,” Evelyn said through clenched jaws.
“Eve, please.”
But Evelyn was already out of the door.
