No Time for Apologies (The No Brides Club Book 5)

by Jean C. Gordon

Jon mumbled something that sounded like “I don’t know about that.” But that could have been her brain fog talking.

  “Third level,” she said once they were in the garage.

  Jon parked and went around to the back of the vehicle to open the hatch, while Kate got the cat carriers out of the back seat. By the time she joined him, he had his suit bags and was lifting out her overnight case.

  “I’ll take that if you can take one of the cats.” She placed Crimson’s crate just inside the cargo area and reached for the overnight bag, watching the play in his forearm muscle as he handed it to her. “I feel better if we’re one-on-one with the cats.”

  “Where to?” he asked.,

  “The elevators.” She pointed to the back wall of the garage. “With my swiper key, we can take one up to my floor.”

  “Lead the way,” he said.

  Rather than follow, Jon matched her step for step, his left arm with the suit bags slung over it brushing her arm almost every step. What had she been thinking, inviting him to stay in her place, her small, barely more than an efficiency apartment, place.

  As they approached the bay of elevators, her next-door neighbor called from an open, crowded one, “Want me to hold it?”

  She waved him off. “No, go ahead, we’ll take the next one.” An elevator that only had her and Jon would be too small a space for the both of them. Jon’s nearness on the crowded one might be the breaking point of her mishmash of feeling.

  Kate pulled her key card out of her pants pocket where she’d put it before she’d gotten out of the car. She inserted and withdrew it from the slot in the center of the bank of elevators.

  “After you,” Jon said.

  She stepped in and moved to the far left to press the button for the third floor. Jon went to the left, keeping his armful of suit bags between them, a well-measured distance away. Maybe Jon’s insides were as jumbled as hers. Somehow, she liked that thought.

  “My apartment is this way,” she said as they left the elevator on the third floor.

  “I know,” he said.

  There was no logical reason him remembering which direction her apartment was would be something that should affect her heart rate, but it had. She stopped at her door. “Here we are.” Kate’s voice sounded gravelly to her.

  Jon just smiled. Was he enjoying putting her off-kilter? She opened the door locks. Or was it all in her mind? Maybe Jon’s stay would just be for tonight. She eyed his two suit bags. That didn’t look like what he was planning.

  Kate pushed the door open. “You can put your suits in the closet next to the door and other things in the bathroom.”

  “Okay, and thanks again.” Jon’s phone pinged. “The Greenwich.” He read the text. “They have a room for tomorrow and Tuesday night.”

  “If you want. But you’re free to stay here.” The words came out as if her mouth wasn’t connected to her brain. A minute ago, she was hoping he’d only be here one night.

  Indecision clouded Jon’s handsome features. His eyes darkened. “I’d just as soon be … stay with you. If you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure.” She couldn’t take back her invitation now. Nor did she want to. What could be a better way to test their compatibility, prove or disprove Kate’s concern about having a relationship with someone she also worked with than a few days together 24/7?

  Jon’s smile went straight to her heart. “I’ll just put my stuff away. In my room.” She pointed at the doorway and made her escape.

  After centering herself as best she could, Kate rejoined Jon a couple of minutes later. He’d let Scarlet and Crimson out and the felines were making themselves at home on the back of her loveseat. “I hope you don’t mind pizza for Sunday dinner. I just ordered one, along with wings.”

  “Good with me, as long as I don’t have to chase the delivery person down again. I’m still getting the kinks out of my legs from the drive and the fact that I haven’t made swim practices for nearly a week.”

  “Nope, no delivery person chasing is on the agenda for today. If you want, though, you can go down to the Equinox and swim or workout. I can call the pizzeria back and have them hold off on the pizza delivery for an hour.”

  “That sounds great. I’ll get my workout stuff and head down.”

  “And I’ll get the cats’ stuff set up. Kate dropped to the couch as soon as the apartment door closed behind Jon.

  If she was this much of a mess after having Jon in her apartment for 15 minutes, what would she be like after a couple of days?

  The swim was just what Jon needed to get rid of the nervous energy that had been building in him since he’d pulled his car into the parking garage of Kate’s building. He might still be able to grab that reservation at the Greenwich Hotel. But he didn’t want to. Bunking at her place for a couple of nights would let him get to know Kate better, uncensored by work constraints. He zipped his bag. He couldn’t remember wanting to do that with any woman in a long time. Or maybe ever.

  A familiar-sounding voice interrupted his thoughts. Someone from DeBakker, though he couldn’t put a face to the voice. He ducked behind a nearby pillar in the gym locker room until the voice drifted away, out the door. He’d better take the stairs up instead of the elevator, and he and Kate needed to work out a plan for going to and leaving the office if they were going to keep his stay at her place off the radar at work.

  Jon knocked on the apartment door, even though Kate had given him her key card.

  The locks clicked and she opened the door. “Didn’t the card work?”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t want to disturb your privacy by just letting myself in. I smell the pizza,” he said to redirect the conversation and the uneasiness that had returned when he’d walked in.

  “It has. Piping hot,” she said, motioning to the kitchen bar and the delivery boxes next to the plates she’d gotten out

  Who said piping hot, besides TV commercials? He relaxed, realizing that Kate might feel as awkward with their situation as he did. He couldn’t help thinking that was a good sign.

  Jon loaded his plate with a slice of pizza and several wings. “On my way up, I was thinking that we need a plan for keeping my stay discreet.” He didn’t see any reason for mentioning the coworker he’d almost run into at the gym.

  “Me too,” Kate said between bites. “Here’s what I’ve come up with. I usually walk to work and arrive first, and you take the subway or a ride share. I’ll leave my usual time, and you can time your departure to either take the subway or walk and get to the office at your usual time. The same for returning.”

  “I like it simple, foolproof.” The later being something he might find valuable considering what his attraction to Kate was doing to his mental capabilities.

  “Want to watch a movie or do you usually read or something after supper?” he asked as he and Kate finished up washing and drying their few dishes.

  “Actually, I’ve been catching up with Midsomer Murders on Netflix. They last about as long as a movie.

  “I’m game.” He eyed the loveseat. One of the cats—he couldn’t tell them apart—had left her perch on the furniture back and was curled up at one end of the loveseat. Jon sat at the other end while Kate stopped to pick up the remote from a side table. He waited to see if Kate would move the cat after she switched on the TV. Juvenile, but what could he say?

  Kate left the cat where she was and sat next to him, his greater weight causing the cushion to dip under him and Kate to slide close. Or had she chosen to cozy up to him? Jon watched the program opening, aware of Kate’s closeness. But rather than send his nerves into high alert as her touch often did, her side against his felt comfortable, right. Even if he didn’t enjoy the show, he could enjoy being with her, watching it.

  Halfway through the program, Kate leaned her head against his shoulder and toward the end, she dozed off a couple of time. He took those opportunities to drink in her delicate features and soft dark hair that his fingers begged to run themselves through.

  A
t the end of the program Kate stood up and yawned. “Excuse me. I’m going to turn in. Let me get sheets and make up the pullout for you.”

  Jon rose. “Get the sheets. I can put them on.”

  Kate went to her room and returned with a stack of bedding that she placed on the arm of the loveseat. “Well, um, goodnight.”

  He pinned her gaze with his. “Not so fast.” Jon took her hand and tugged her to him, lowering his head to her upturned face. His lips brushed hers and Kate closed the small distance between them, wrapping her hands around his waist. Jon lifted his hand and cradled her head to deepen the kiss and better taste her sweetness, his fingers weaving into her hair. He didn’t know how long they stayed entwined in their own world before one of the cats rubbed against his legs and pulled him and Kate out of the embrace with her plaintive meow.

  What he did know was that kissing Kate goodnight felt as natural and necessary as breathing.

  Chapter 13

  “See you at work.” Kate stopped by the kitchen bar and kissed Jon on the cheek on her way out Wednesday morning. A more affectionate goodbye was likely to put them off their carefully choreographed schedule.

  Jon swallowed his mouthful of coffee and squeezed her hand. “Yep, see you there.”

  Buoyed by her great mood, Kate made the walk to work in what might have been record time. She sat at her desk, kicked off her walking shoes, and slipped on her heels. It had only been three days since the fire, but in that time, she and Jon had fallen into a rhythm that she could see turning into something long-term. She corrected herself. Something long-term once she’d gotten her fund manager position, which if she could believe the office grapevine, could be this week.

  She skimmed through her office emails. Yes! An email from HR notifying her, and she assumed the other people vying for the job, that a decision should be made by end of day today. She glanced over her shoulder across the walkway to Jon’s cubicle, her first thought was to share the email information with him. She was letting herself get in too deep too soon. Career first, she chanted in her head, then lo ... personal life. Neither of them had said the L-word yet. Her heart skipped a beat at the realization. She loved Jon and felt loved when she was with him.

  “Tough problem?” Jon stood at her cubicle door.

  “You might say that.”

  “Can I help?”

  Yes. “No, I have to figure this one out myself.”

  Jon tilted his head as if he was going to say something, but he didn’t.

  And that was what she wanted, wasn’t it? To be an independent career woman who relied on herself, didn’t need help from a man.

  “Okay, I’ll get to my work.”

  Kate checked her email again quickly before she dug into the analysis she’d started yesterday.

  A short while later, Jon was at her cubicle again. How was she supposed to get any work done?

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “I got an email to go over to HR, and Grandpa texted me. The house is cleared for us to move back in this afternoon. So, you’ll have your place back to yourself tonight.”

  But what if she didn’t want it back to herself, her bold heart asked, before an unsettling thought usurped her brain’s attention. Kate stood and glanced around the outside of cubicle for any coworkers in the walkway.

  “Sorry.”

  Jon must have realized his mistake.

  “It’s okay. No one could have heard you. Go see what HR wants.”

  “Right, boss.” Jon left.

  Normally, Kate would have laughed at that. But her nerves were too jumpy. Everything she’d been working so hard toward could come to fruition today. And she hadn’t told Jon about her email from HR. Maybe she’d have even more exciting news when he got back. She went back to her analysis and blanked everything else from her mind until she’d completed it and sent the information to the Growth and Income Fund Manager. The manager she hoped to hear that she would be replacing.

  She pushed away from the computer, rose, and rubbed the kinks out of her neck. The analysis had taken longer than she’d expected. And Jon still wasn’t back from HR. They must be talking to him about the remote back-office work he wanted. On Monday, she’d received the standard employee evaluation form for subordinate employees who were seeking another position with the firm and given Jon a truthfully glowing recommendation. If they both got the positions, she and Jon would have to celebrate. If not tonight, then Friday. And she could celebrate with the No Brides Club tomorrow evening. So far, it looked like most of the members would be there.

  Kate grabbed her coffee mug and walked out to the coffee maker, which half of the office seemed to have made a run for. The chatter quieted as she approached. Or so it seemed to her.

  “Coming to congratulate me?” Anthony asked when she got within earshot.

  Kate stopped mid-step.

  “On my promotion to replace Kim as manager of the Fixed Income Fund.

  Kate couldn’t find any words to reply.

  “You didn’t get the email from HR?”

  She released a pent-up breath. Anthony was jumping the gun a little, although he had a good chance of getting one of the fund manager positions. “Sure, the one sent late yesterday about decisions being made about the fund manager positions.”

  One of the assistant analysts slapped Anthony on the back. “No, the one a few minutes ago, about Anthony’s promotion to manager of the Fixed Income Fund.”

  Anthony smiled the most genuine smile she’d ever seen on his face. “You must be on your way to your meeting with HR and Bill.”

  Bile rose to her throat. No, she was here to get a cup of coffee. “Congratulations,” she said offering Anthony her hand and, given the way her insides were twisting, she hoped not some gruesome parody of a smile. She got her coffee and continued past the coffee area toward HR, planning to circle back to her cubicle another way that didn’t go past the crowd at the coffeemaker.

  “Kate.”

  She almost walked right into Jon.

  “I’m glad I caught you before your meeting,” he said.

  Everyone thought she had a meeting. Everyone but her.

  “Dottie just called me. She’s taken Grandpa to the emergency room and it looks like they are going to admit him. If they do, I’m going to leave and go to the hospital.”

  Just like that. No, if it’s okay. Kate shook her head at her callousness. What was wrong with her? She knew how much Jon’s grandfather meant to him. Neither one of them had anything to do with her agitation.

  “Sure, take whatever time you need. I hope he’s all right.”

  “Thanks. I’ll talk to you later. And your meeting. You’ve got this.”

  Kate waited until Jon was out of sight and checked her work email on her phone. Jon was a lot more confident than she was. There was nothing new from Bill or HR. What if Jon was still here when she got back to her cubicle? He’d know that she hadn’t had a meeting and hadn’t been straight with him. Her phone pinged. A text from Jon.

  They’re admitting Grandpa. Talk with you later.

  Kate’s heart was with Jon. She returned to her work space, not caring who might notice the briefness of her nonexistent meeting.

  By 4 pm and no meeting email, Kate was practically jumping out of her chair at every miscellaneous sound and getting no work done. Just as she’d decided to call it a day, a mail alert flashed on her computer screen. From HR. She held her breath and clicked it open, her gaze going to the subject line: New Growth and Income Fund Manager Named. But she hadn’t had her meeting. Her gaze dropped to the body of the email. That was because the new manager wasn’t her.

  Kate’s stomach hollowed out. She never should have waivered on her No Brides vow and lost her career focus. Never should have let Jon kidnap her heart. They’d hired someone from outside of DeBakker. Her vision blurred as she tried to read the rest of the email and gave up. Kate took a deep breath and shoved her chair away from the computer desk. She had a right to know why she hadn’t gotten the
position Bill had indicated was hers this time.

  Eyes focused straight ahead to avoid any looks from her coworkers, Kate walked as calmly as she could to Bill’s office and knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” Bill said, adding. “I expected you,” when she opened the door.

  “And I expect an explanation.”

  “Please sit.” Bill tapped the pen in his hand on the desk, releasing it when he realized what he was doing.

  “You’ve known, since his appearance at our group meeting that David DeBakker wanted Jon for the position.”

  “That’s what Jon’s meeting this morning was about? Not about off-site back-office work?”

  “Yes, he turned down the fund manager position.”

  Kate curled her fingers around the front of her chair’s armrests until the hard plastic dug into them. Jon hadn’t told her that.

  “You’d been next on the short list, until recently.”

  “And then what?” Considering the anger fighting to explode in her, the question came out surprisingly detached sounding.

  Bill rubbed the back of his neck. “Reports to HR about you having a relationship with Jon.”

  Kate’s backbone went ramrod straight. “From whom?” It couldn’t have been Kim. “Anthony?” He’d seemed sincere earlier in his assumption that she’d gotten the other fund manager position.

  “You know I can’t say. Except I’ll give you …” Bill looked past, rather than at, her. “Not Anthony.” He cleared his throat. “Company policy is clear. In these #Me, too times, the company can’t be too careful.”

  Kate pressed her lips together. Bill couldn’t be insinuating that Jon filed a claim. No, that was too crazy. But all of this was too crazy.

  “… wants you to take the rest of the week off.”

  “What, wait. I missed the beginning of that.” She masked her disgust with herself. Now wasn’t the time to appear ditzy.

  Bill frowned. “HR wants you to take the rest of the week off to think about your future at DeBakker,”

  “You, they want me to resign?”