by Stacy Hoff
The sound of classical music suddenly filled the air. She was reluctant to let her thoughts go astray, but the music was so crisp and clear it sounded as if it was live. Turning to her right, she saw two women playing instruments. One had a flute held to her mouth. The other, a clarinet. The ladies’ flowing tan and yellow dresses blended in with the dessert sand.
“It’s wonderful. Everything you did. The food. The music.” And you. Cat’s throat felt tight, as did her heart. How could the man be this perfect? How could anyone be this perfect? It wasn’t possible. And no one ever bothered to go through much effort for her. Unconsciously, she bit down on her lip, recalling how it had always been the other way around—her trying desperately to please everyone else.
“I’m glad the musicians finally arrived. Given how hard it was for me to get them here in time, I had my doubts. But I wanted you to have the best breakfast of your life.”
“Just being with you would have accomplished the goal.”
“Then I’m glad you feel the same way about me.”
Only if he’s fallen in love, too.
~ ~ ~
It was a shame to be back at the hotel, Ty mused. Thankfully, Cat was still with him. Even better, she was naked in his shower. Their time together had been amazing. She’d been blown away by the helicopter, breakfast in the yurt and the musicians. But he was thankful she was most blown away by him.
He was blown away by her, too. Shrapnel had destroyed his tough outer shell. Hardly a fortress to hide behind anymore.
Later on in the day, he planned to persuade her to go down to the pool. See if he could talk her into trusting him enough to try floating in his arms . . .
He glanced at his laptop. The electronic ball-and-chain was next to him on the bed. An Excel spreadsheet quickly displayed across the screen with yet another acquisition to take over.
In an instant, the screen changed as he swapped out Excel for a search engine and typed ‘couple’s retreats—hiking.’ Since Cat had so much fun in the Mojave, he’d take her to another place she’d enjoy. The Grand Canyon would be fun. They even had trails for beginners like her. The goal was to give her a good time, not stress out her feet.
Hmmm, maybe she could use some hiking shoes. And a bathing suit. He picked up the phone to have his secretary order some before deciding it would be more meaningful if it placed the order himself. Then he realized he didn’t know Cat’s sizes and put the phone back down. He’d gotten up to read the tag on her sneakers when the digital clock on the nightstand caught his eye.
Damn. A business call in less than five minutes. Ty furrowed his brows deeper. Was four minutes enough time to work out the online orders? Probably not. Sitting back down on the bed, he waited.
Cat’s loud, off-key singing from the shower burst through his thoughts. What the heck was she singing, anyway? She was right, her voice was terrible. But the rest of her was pretty damn appealing.
No other woman he’d dated would have even considered going hiking. Of course, he hadn’t been picking women with whom he’d wanted to do any activity outside the bedroom. Until now. He somehow knew he and Cat would continue to click together, two puzzle pieces that interlocked. He’d had a hunch from the moment he saw her at the bar and had been right more than he could have guessed. She was carefree and easy to talk to. Graciously accepting when he fell silent. Interested in his hobbies. Truly grateful for everything he had arranged.
If he had taken advantage of women in the past, they had used him too. For his looks. Business connections. Money. Which he’d been happy enough to spend on them. Because when he did, there were no emotional strings attached. When he was done with them, he could let them go.
Cat was a different kind of woman altogether. Warm. Caring. Funny. He had the sense wealth was the last thing she cared about. Her concern over business success was more a matter of pride. Proving a point to somebody, he didn’t know who. Perhaps to herself.
He could relate. His business drive was never about the money. It was also all about proving a point. To his aunt and uncle. To himself, the embodiment of the “poor relation.” Ironic he’d bonded with Rudy after all his family’s emotional baggage.
Cat was a breath of fresh air. No doubt about it. Whatever baggage she was harboring, it obviously didn’t overwhelm her. She was carefree in a way he never was. Maybe never would be. But he was willing to work on it, if she would lend a hand.
The sound of cascading water permeated the closed bathroom door. Her singing was even louder. He finally caught the tune. Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire.” He laughed. Yes, she certainly was.
He glanced at the clock on the nightstand again. Maybe he should blow off his call and do what he really wanted, walk into the steamy room mere feet away and reach for her. He closed his eyes as an even steamier scene played out in a very favorable way.
A sharp buzz, followed by a Willie Wonka tune sounded from his smartphone, waking him from his daydream. Ty cursed and then answered the phone. “Yes, Choco, I’m here. What’s up?”
“It’s about the land deal in Big Bear. How did it go with Catherine Warner?”
“Pretty damned good, I’d say. She is the woman I’ve been seeing the past few days.”
“The one you hung up on me during your date?”
“Yep.”
“Excellent. How much did you pay for the land?”
Ty paused, his throat tightening. He could only hope his cousin would understand. “I let the deal go. Turns out it was the woman I was really after.”
“You blew the deal—our deal—over a woman? Have you lost your mind?”
“I can work around the Big Bear problem,” Ty said defensively. Of all the people in the world, Ty wanted Rudy to understand. “I found it’s easier to get land than a wonderful woman. She really is wonderful, Choco.” Ty hesitated, hopeful to hear words of acceptance—if not of how he handled the business deal, of how he handled himself as a person. “Aren’t you even going to say you’re happy for me?”
“Sure. Sure. Okay. I’m happy. Tell me about her.”
“I’ll do better, I’ll introduce you to Cat.”
His cousin laughed, but it didn’t sound like humor. “Watch out. The only Cat I’ve been involved with is the woman I almost married. It’s a bad luck name, if you ask me.”
“Forget it happened, Rudy. I am. It’s been your failed love life that’s haunted me and kept me from getting involved with a woman in the first place.” Ty clenched his phone so hard he thought for a moment he cracked its case.
“My relationship with Cat? Are you kidding me? What’s it got to do with you?”
“Everything. Always thinking a woman, even a fiancée, can just up and leave you. No matter how much you have to offer as a man. I always felt I couldn’t offer as much as you in life, so what chance did I have? But I know now someone can want me for who I am, and not just for what I’ve got. So I won’t be jilted for some guy like your Cat did to you.”
“Are you done, Dr. Freud? Because you’re screwing up our development deal. Think with your head, not your d—”
“I’m not screwing up anything, Rudy. For once I’ve—”
Ty cut himself off when he saw Cat standing outside the bathroom, clutching a towel around her. Judging from her wide eyes and open mouth, she knew something important was going on. “I’m hanging up now, Rudy. We’ll talk later.”
Tight-lipped, Ty pressed the end button on his phone and chucked it on the bed with too much force. The phone flipped up on the mattress a few times like a floundering fish on land.
“Sorry for disturbing your shower,” he apologized. “Come here, kitty Cat.” He shot her a wicked grin.
But his smile faded quickly. It was weird how she stood statue-still. Frozen almost. “Cat, honey. You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Your sk
in is even pale.”
He walked over to touch her. Hug her. “Geez, Cat. Your skin is ice cold. What the heck is wrong? Are you sick?”
~ ~ ~
Cat was sick to her stomach, that was for sure. Her gut gave a great heave-ho, like a boat tossed about on terrible waves.
“You have a cousin named Rudy?”
“Yes.”
“Choco is Rudy?”
“Yes. Does it matter?”
“It might. Tell me, were you fighting over me?”
“Again, yes. I told him to stick it. He’s my cousin and business partner. Not God. At least not last time I checked.” His expression was a mixture of confusion and apprehension.
“It can’t be true. It can’t,” she muttered. The coincidence of Rudy being Ty’s cousin and business partner was hard to swallow. Life would be beyond unfair—it would be cruel. “Rudy’s last name isn’t Reizman, is it?” she choked out.
“Yes, Rudy Reizman is his full name.” She watched his eyebrows crease into a ‘V’ formation. “Do you know my cousin?”
She laughed hysterically, as if his question was the funniest thing ever. Giggles poured out of her mouth until a giant hiccup stopped her. She placed a hand on her chest to stop another hiccup bubbling up. It didn’t work. Her body was wracked with another one. Her chest was heaving now, her hand feeling her lungs shudder.
“Cat, if you don’t tell me what’s wrong I’m going to—” Ty stopped talking. Dead cold. Stood statue still like she had moments ago. She could practically see the wheels turning in his head. His eyes grew as wide as hers.
Her throat went dry, her hands damp with sweat as she waited for him to realize the truth she’d figured out seconds ago.
“You’re Catherine? His ex-fiancée Catherine? But how? Your last name isn’t Demmel. I remember he was going to marry a Catherine Demmel.”
“I wanted to strike out on my own. Be my own person. Develop my own reputation in the hotel industry. I took my mother’s last name to use professionally. I never dreamed it would matter who I was. That something like this could ever hap—”
“But it did happen. And I’m a fool for letting it happen. You’re the one who cheated on my cousin. The one who broke his heart on the eve of his engagement—”
“No! That’s not what happened. At all. Listen to me—”
“I think,” Ty said slowly, “I’m in this situation because I did listen to you. Listened to what a kind and wonderful person you pretended to be. But you’re not. You’re the kind who thinks a man is never good enough. The kind who needs to go for the bigger, better deal. Even when engaged.” He emphasized his last words, hissing them out like a snake.
Cat felt the breath leave her lungs, her blood pool up in her veins.
She had seen him as sensitive. Caring. Generous with both his heart and wallet. Funny and companionable. And attractive inside and out. The man who had her convinced he was not like the others. But he wasn’t any of those things. He judged her the way everybody else had. Not seeing her for who she was, but what he believed her to be.
As her heart sank, she walked over to her pile of clothes flung all over the bed. “Let me get dressed,” she said. “And I’ll go.”
Even as she dressed she felt naked before him. Naked in a way she hadn’t been with him yet. Now her nakedness was dirty. Exposed.
A lie was the truth if someone believed it.
Chapter 13
Cat went back to her room, walking as if on autopilot. It was the second time she had left Ty’s room a broken woman. Only this time was so much worse. This time she felt betrayed. How could he not believe her? The past forty-eight hours had been nothing short of magical. To her, anyway. Clearly their time had meant nothing to him.
Sure, Rudy was his cousin. Clearly, Ty would have known Rudy a lot longer than her. She didn’t blame him for that. What hurt was that Ty hadn’t even given her a chance to defend herself. Explain what had happened. Instead, she was simply guilty as charged. No trial. No judge. No jury. Just straight to the executioner.
The only thing she was guilty of was letting her guard down. How she could have been sweet-talked, by either man, was something she’d never know. The only thing for certain—she hadn’t gotten any smarter or wiser with age. She was the same young, naïve, pliable people pleaser she’d been at twenty-one. But with all her faults, she was still a better person than Ty or Rudy. They either lied, or leapt to crazy conclusions, without any care for who they condemned. Well, both of them could crash and burn for all she cared. Just like her own heart was doing now.
The sunlight from the bright day flooded into her room. Squinting, she went over to close the drapes. The room darkened. She headed off to the bathroom, stopping when the hotel room’s phone rang.
“Hello,” she answered, barely registering her own words.
“Ms. Warner?” said an unfamiliar voice.
“Yes, speaking.”
“My name is Henry Morsik and I’m calling you to apologize. I hope you’ll let me. After my conduct the other night, I wouldn’t blame you for hanging up on me.”
Cat hesitated for a minute.
“How did you know my room number?”
“I don’t, of course. I asked the front desk to put me through to you. They connected me and handed me the phone. I’m standing at the front desk now.” He paused. “I’d like to apologize in person, if I may. Can you come down to the coffee shop for a few minutes?”
Cat was silent for a moment. She didn’t want to be with this man. Not even in a public place. But she wanted to be a better person than Ty and give someone the chance she hadn’t been given—to explain. “Okay, yes, I’ll meet you in twenty minutes.”
“Great. Thank you,” Morsik said, hanging up.
Maybe having this meeting was fortunate. It’d take her mind off her personal problems and focus her thoughts on where they belonged—business.
~ ~ ~
Exactly twenty minutes later, Cat was downstairs at the coffee shop. Hopefully, the concealer she’d used eliminated the red puffiness under her eyes. Wanting to get to her meeting with Morsik on time, she had thrown on a black nylon skirt and matching top, the only items left in her luggage that didn’t need to be ironed. At least it coordinated with her black ballet flats. She’d thrown her long blonde hair in a tight bun and hoped for the best. In any case, it’d have to do.
Assuming Morsik showed up. Where was he anyway? If he called her down here, only to stand her up she’d—
“Ms. Warner,” a man said, interrupting her thoughts. She narrowed her eyes, trying to place him. “My God . . .”
“Yes, I’m Henry Morsik. I guess I look different when I’m sober. Yesterday I drank a lot of water and Alka-Seltzer. Slept a lot. Went to the barber to get a shave and a haircut. Bought new suits.”
“You look great,” Cat said kindly. Maybe she had judged the man too harshly. Maybe Morsik wasn’t a horrible person. Maybe he just had a horrible problem—alcoholism.
“Thanks. That’s kind of you to say. You look lovely yourself. Can we sit down? I’ll try to not take too much of your time.” He gestured to a table near the back.
“Sure,” she said, following him. The man left a clean scent trailing behind him. Like aftershave. Perhaps mixed with cologne. Much improved. “Don’t worry about taking too much of my time, but I already accept your apology,” Cat said politely. “And I think it’s great you want to be sober. I promise, no hard feelings, okay?”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he answered, sitting down and motioning for her to do the same. “Rumors in the hotel industry run like wildfire around convention time. I’ve heard you’re considering an offer from Orland for your Big Bear property. Is that right?”
“No, that’s not correct. My land is not for sale.” Cat felt her sh
oulders inch toward her ears and her back tense up.
“Really? You must have big plans for the property. I hear Orland’s offer is several times its true value.”
“‘Not for sale’ means ‘not for sale.’” Was Morsik going into attack mode again? This time, business-wise? Why did he care? What was he getting at?
“All right,” Morsik answered calmly. “I hear you. I only wanted to make you my own offer, should you change your mind. Whatever Orland wants to pay you, I’ll throw an extra quarter-million on top of it.”
Well, this puts a new spin on things. “Um. Okay. That’s an awful lot of money. I’m not sure why either of you are battling over my land to this extent. It’s a beautiful piece of property with a lot of potential, but it’s not even developed yet.” She let out a hard breath. “If I change my mind about selling, I’ll let you know.”
“I appreciate it. Thanks again for accepting my apology and hearing me out.” Morsik paused. “I actually tried to get in touch with you yesterday, but the front desk said nobody was answering the phone.”
“Yeah,” she said slowly. “I was out with somebody.” Cat felt the heat of a blush creep up to her cheeks. Darn.
“Not with Orland, I hope,” Henry said with a sneer. “I’d rather be up front with my business intentions than romance it out from a woman. I may be an alcoholic, but at least I’m honest.”
“I assure you, Mr. Morsik, I am not a fool.” Cat said nothing more as she grabbed her purse and left.
Maybe she would sell her land to Morsik to prove it. It was time she finally grew up. Instead of holding on to the land, desperately trying to prove her success to anyone who would listen, she was actually going to be a success.
