Taking the basket with one hand, he buttoned his coat with the other. “And if my version is better?”
His insinuation hurt but she kept her anger in check. “This discussion has come full circle. It would be a mask designed by you to please other people.”
“How did we go from fantasy to being hurtful?”
Was she being hurtful or truthful? “I don’t know.”
“Do you think I wear a mask?”
“No one is perfect, Jeffrey. What do you think?”
He nodded once, opened the front door, and left without another word.
Closing the door behind him, she took a deep breath. Maybe she should have lied or continued to circle around his words with generalities or said she had allergies to goat cheese and fish. But the lawyer in her tried to operate on a single truth: per veritatem, vis.
“Through truth, strength.”
Granted, she hadn’t been completely honest about some things and now she regretted it. Tonight’s epic failure was as much her fault as his. She should have insisted on giving him some menu suggestions yesterday. At least he would have had a general road map for success.
Kamber walked over to close the closet door he’d left open. Reaching in, she pulled out the long black judge’s robe that had hung there for a long time and ran one hand over it. Was it possible she’d been wrong about Jeffrey Hatcher?
“So much for fantasies.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Monday morning began with a hectic pace and graduated to a frantic hustle by noon. Her irritable mood amplified each time she reviewed the previous night’s events in her mind. Sometimes she became angry and slammed drawers shut. Other times she wanted to cry because of the simmering hurt.
But every time she felt like she’d missed something in the translation of the facts. What had she overlooked?
Robert Sullivan stopped by her office to prep for Lucas DeSal’s visit.
“DeSal is money in the bank, Prescott. He’s here to take over a few businesses, and we want him as a client. Understood?”
She gave him her most confident assurances that she’d take care of Mr. DeSal. The problem was she’d been so upset about Jeffrey, she hadn’t gone over the DeSal files. Fortunately, she’d had a few minutes to prep for the meeting, which went well despite her distracted thoughts.
Several of the partners dropped files on her desk, claiming they needed her experience in contract law. Naturally, she was expected to drop everything and make each one a priority.
“I need it yesterday, Kamber.”
Right.
Mindi and Kayla giggled their way around her desk, asking questions about “the hunky Cupid from the auction” and how he fulfilled her fantasy. Kamber explained about only wanting a nice picnic dinner at her home, but the women didn’t believe her.
“No way you could go an entire evening with that guy in your house and not do something!”
Right.
By lunchtime, she was more than ready to close her door and have a few minutes of peace and quiet. Actually, she wanted a chance to wallow in misery. Her secretary Mindi chose that moment to buzz her on the intercom.
“You have a visitor, Miss Prescott.”
Anticipation and excitement rose inside of her as she quickly checked her makeup in a mirror on the wall. It had to be Jeffrey coming to apologize for his cavalier attitude last night.
“Who is it?”
“He says he wants to surprise you. It sure surprised me.”
Smoothing out her lip-gloss, she took a deep breath. “Send him in, please.”
She stood behind her desk with a smile on her face, chastising herself silently. Play it cool, be gracious, don’t condescend as if expecting this apology. Everyone deserves a second chance.
What a letdown—and nice surprise—when she saw the cowboy hat and warm smile.
“Justin Rivers!” Walking from behind her desk, she accepted his hug.
“Hey, Kamber. Good to see you.” The tall cowboy took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.
She went back to her seat and motioned for him to sit on one of the chairs in front of her desk. “What brings you to this part of the world? Aren’t you supposed to be in Nashville?”
“Nashville is crazy fun and amazing. I still can’t believe I’m part of the country music scene.” Justin Rivers had catapulted to country music stardom last year and had remained at the top of the charts, winning Best New Artist of the Year.
“How’s married life?”
He smiled. “Silver and I are doing great. She’d love to see you again when you have the time.” His marriage to Silver Madison had been the social event of the year, despite their rocky beginning thanks to the tabloids. “I have some endorsement contracts that need to be reviewed and, since you took care of my recording contract, I’d like your input…if my manager ever gets here with the papers.”
Becky Sinclair rushed into the office carrying a file. “Sorry, boss, it took forever to find a parking place. Hey, Kamber!” The woman walked behind the desk and hugged her. “It’s been way too long since we talked.”
Kamber had known Becky for years, thanks to an article Becky wrote on young lawyers in Tulsa. They’d become friends, though they hadn’t seen each other since Becky took over as Justin’s manager.
Right now Kamber was having trouble processing Becky’s appearance. Something was different…better. Maybe the former journalist was in love? “I agree. If you’re free for lunch, I’d love to catch up on everything.” She reached for the file and turned to Justin. “Are these the contracts?”
He nodded. “Three of them, different companies. I need them ASAP, if that’s possible.”
Resisting the urge to tell him to take a number, she smiled. “I’ll get right on them.”
“Thanks, Kamber. By the way, I heard you emceed the fantasy auction last night. How’d it go?”
Keeping a smile on her face, she spread her hands wide. “According to the bids last night, we raised over thirty thousand dollars. I’d say it was a successful night.”
He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a folded check, handing it to her. “Here’s another donation. I know you’ll put it to good use.”
When she saw the amount, her mouth dropped open. “Justin, this is incredible. Thank you very much.”
“Glad I can help.” He turned to Becky. “Are you leaving with me or staying?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like something to eat before midnight.” Becky gave her a wry look. “He doesn’t believe in letting the hired help eat. I, on the other hand, am dedicated to sampling what life has to offer as often as possible.”
Justin stood and put on his hat. “Don’t believe a word of what this redhead says.” He extended his hand to her. “Kamber, thanks again.”
She shook his hand. “My pleasure. Tell Silver I’ll call her for lunch one afternoon.”
“I’ll do it. See you later, Becky.”
Becky waited until he was gone and turned to her with narrowed eyes. “ OK, spill.”
* * *
The two women decided on a small café in Utica Square. Kamber and Becky waded through small talk about their jobs until they’d given their lunch order. Kamber couldn’t wait any longer. “ OK, I want to know what’s different about you.”
“I cleaned up my act a little bit. Since I’m Justin’s manager, I have to talk with a lot of different people, so it’s important I represent him well.”
“It must be an exciting life, meeting all those celebrities.”
Becky shrugged. “I know this will sound weird, but I’m getting used to it. If you’d told me two years ago I’d be hobnobbing with Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, I’d have called you crazy. Just last week I talked to Luke Bryan on the phone and he was so nice.”
“That’s awesome, but it doesn’t explain why you look so much better. Are you dating anyone?”
The other woman hesitated and gave her a soft smile. “I wish. No, not right
now.” She leaned forward with her elbows on the table. “Kamber, what’s going on with you? And don’t tell me you just want to catch up.”
“No, it’s more than that.” Kamber told her about the Christmas party, what happened with Jeffrey, and why she’d left him. Then she outlined the events from the auction, how she’d baptized Jeffrey’s feet with her bilious cosmo, and the fantasy picnic disaster. “He kept saying everything had to be perfect.”
Becky grinned. “Seriously? You lost it on his feet?” Laughing, she shook her head. “Wow, I wish I could have seen his face. Talk about imperfect! And the picnic? It must have made him crazy that you didn’t like the food.”
“You know Jeffrey?”
“Who do you think helped me with my image? He made me better.”
Kamber bristled with anger at Becky’s words. “Why did you need to be better? And what if his idea of ‘perfect’ is wrong?”
Becky reached over to cover one of her hands. “Hey, it’s not a bad thing, and I’m not trying to be flawless. But let’s be honest. I was a little rough around the edges. Mom used to say, ‘Put some velvet on the brick’, and Jeffrey helped me do that. I didn’t lose who I am, just made it more professional.” She sat back and remained silent for a few moments until her eyes widened. “He said something was wrong with you, didn’t he?”
Nodding, Kamber reached for her water glass. “Something about my makeup.” She took a drink but frowned when she saw Becky look away. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s fine.”
Irritation bubbled through her words as she slammed her glass back onto the table. “Obviously it’s not. Just say it, Becky.”
Shifting in her seat, the other woman popped a few of her knuckles then gave her a sheepish look. “Honestly, it’s not a big deal. But…I think a different shade of blush would bring out your eyes more. And maybe another lip-gloss color, and less eyeliner.”
Kamber crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that all?”
Becky waved one hand, as if in surrender. “That’s it.”
Leaning back as a garden salad was set in front of her, Kamber processed what Becky said. If she was right, it meant Jeffrey was right. And if he was right, she’d misjudged him or, at the very least, over reacted. Lifting a fork, she stabbed the innocent lettuce and cucumbers.
“But isn’t perfection an elusive dream? I told him it’s a mask to fool everyone.”
“Is your conclusion based on evidence, or is it a defensive judgment call? You always say in order to win an argument, you have to know both sides.”
“I don’t think I’m wrong, Becky. So he has ideas of how to change people. What if they’re the same inside and it’s all only surface?”
“Exactly,” her friend replied with a grin.
Kamber frowned at her until cold realization made things clear. That’s what Jeffrey had been trying to say, that he helped people to be better…not different. And that’s what she’d been missing. Wow, talk about a misinterpretation of facts. “I think Jeffrey was wrongfully indicted.”
Becky’s words cut through the buzzing haze of regret. “Now what happens?”
Kamber laid down her fork. “Now I appeal my case.”
Becky laughed. “I love it when you get all lawyery.”
“Is that even a word?”
“It is now.”
Right.
CHAPTER SIX
Swallowing against the nerves that threatened her ability to walk, Kamber rang Jeffrey Hatcher’s doorbell. This was either the stupidest thing she’d ever done or the most brilliant. When she called earlier and said they had to talk, the response hadn’t been overwhelmingly positive. After her insistence, he’d agreed they should finish their conversation. She wanted to hope for the best but wouldn’t know until the final verdict.
Of course, she’d gone through multiple outfits again, trying to decide on the perfect one. As part of her plan, she focused on simplicity by wearing dark-grey, wool slacks, a mint-green, silk blouse, and low heels. With Erik’s help, she had softened her makeup. He’d been thrilled to “get rid of that ghastly shade of pink on those lovely cheeks.” She had to concede that, evidently, everyone hated her blush color, and this new shade did look better.
Hiking up her shoulder bag, she rang the bell again.
The door opened to reveal Jeffrey standing with a glass of wine in his hand. His distressed blue jeans and dark green T-shirt surprised her. For some reason, she never thought of him wearing casual clothes….wearing nothing, sure, but not something as casual as jeans.
“Kamber. Please, come in.”
“Thank you for seeing me.” He closed the door behind her and gestured to the impeccably decorated living room where a bottle of wine sat in a bucket full of ice and a wine glass waited on a coffee table.
“Can I pour you a glass of wine? It’s a chardonnay.”
“I’d love some.” She slid her coat off, laid it over a chair, and sat down on a black leather sofa, accepting the glass of wine he held out to her. Taking a quick sniff and a cautious sip, she smiled. “This is wonderful.”
“Glad you like this one. I opted for something a little sweeter.” He sat across from her. “I have to admit your call surprised me, considering how we left things.”
Right to it? OK. “I owe you an apology, and it wasn’t something I wanted to text or email. It’s important you know I’m sincere.”
He watched her and said nothing, a controlled expression on his face as he sipped his wine.
Maybe this was a bad idea? No, he deserved the truth. Per veritatem, vis.
“I’m sorry for the way I attacked your business and made it personal. A friend helped me see that what you do isn’t a mask at all. It’s helping people excel at what they desire most in life while staying true to who they are inside. I didn’t take time to ask the right questions and I jumped to conclusions.”
Still he said nothing.
“And…well, I lied to you.”
Finally a response. “Lied?”
“Yes, when I told you the only reason I outbid Abby Perrick was to win. That wasn’t the only reason.”
“I see.” He set his glass on a nearby end table. “Dare I ask the real reason?”
She took a big drink of the wine then set her glass aside. “Because of my BPPV, it’s like Erik said the night of the auction—very unromantic. When I met you at the Christmas party, I didn’t expect to be insanely attracted to a guy who made me tremble with his kisses or to tumble head over heels in only a few hours. You made me want to take a chance on things I’d avoided for a long time.”
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, but said nothing.
“Jeffrey, I avoided you because I didn’t want to put my heart out there and have it broken. Like before. Over and over. With you it seemed to be a bigger risk, which is why I never returned your phone calls. Next thing I know you show up at the auction.”
She stopped but he motioned for her to continue with one hand.
“I saw you in the mirror and my pulse accelerated with immediate excitement. Not just the attraction, but more. I felt genuinely glad to see you and realized I’d missed you, which sounds totally crazy because we’d only known each other for those few hours. Later when you came out as Cupid, all I could think about was having you to myself.”
Jeffrey stood and poured himself another glass of wine. Holding the bottle up, he arched an eyebrow in her direction but she shook her head. She’d rehearsed her final argument for hour, but things weren’t going as planned. He sat back down and waited. Why wasn’t he saying anything?
Flutters of angry embarrassment grabbed her heart. Fine, just get it done and go home.
“I bid on you because I like you, am passionately attracted you, think you’re amazing in every way, and…I changed my stupid makeup for you!”
“I know.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she lifted her hands in question. “You know what?”
“That you like me, are attracted to me, an
d think I’m amazing. And yes, you changed your makeup. Thank you.”
Thank you? She poured out her heart and all he had to say was thank you?
Kamber stood to make a graceful exit before her emotions spilled onto her cheeks. “You’re welcome. Thanks for the wine.”
He drained his glass of wine and stood. “Hold on a minute. I have something for you.”
What? Did he want her to stand there, humiliated and rejected? She picked up her coat and draped it over her arm. Then she dropped it again to pour the last of the wine into her glass. Time to stop running, and she wanted to know about this “something” he had for her. What was it? An etiquette book? Guidelines to acquire a diverse palette? Goat Cheese for Dummies?
Holding the glass, she wandered around the room, looking at pictures, art pieces, and reading the titles on books. Interesting that he read a lot of John Grisham and James Patterson.
She approached his desk where she noticed a yellow legal pad with KAMBER in big block letters at the top of the page. Frowning, she stepped closer and read the things he’d listed below her name.
Beautiful
Intelligent
Courageous
Determined
Honest
Funny
Under the last word, he’d drawn a thick line and written one word underneath.
PERFECT
Tears filled her eyes as she traced the words with her fingers. In spite of her judgmental attitude, he thought she was perfect? How was that possible?
“No one is perfect,” she whispered.
“You’re right.”
Kamber froze. She hadn’t heard him come back into the room. She took a moment to wipe her face before turning to face him.
And found herself speechless…struggling to breathe…stunned at the renewal of possibilities.
Jeffrey stood a few feet behind her, wearing nothing but a black judge’s robe. She looked up and down, from his bare feet to the top of the long zipper, her fantasy blossoming with images that had nothing to do with picnics or Cupid. He walked to her and held her face gently between his hands.
“No one is perfect. But you’re perfect for me. And I owe you an apology, too. You were right when you said I assumed too much for the fantasy dinner. I wanted to impress you so badly that I forgot to simply find out what you’d like. Forgive me.”
Valentines Heat II Page 7
