That was all just damn great except for the niggling detail that she wouldn’t even talk to him.
He squinted against the afternoon sun as a car turned into his driveway. Claudia. And he’d thought the past twenty-four hours couldn’t get any worse. Even if he turned the water hose on himself he wouldn’t drown before she got to him. Too bad.
He ignored her as she climbed out of her car and swayed down the walk. “You look like hell.”
Aside from trading his dog-marked pants for a pair of shorts, he still had on the previous night’s clothes. He hadn’t shaved in two days. Nor had he combed his hair today and he knew his eyes were bloodshot. “I look better than I feel. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but go away, Claudia,” he growled in no uncertain terms.
Claudia’s practiced pout came into play. “There’s no need to be nasty, darling. A.W. told me he thought your, um, circumstances were about to change. Then Mamie Prewitt told me she’d seen her out at the beach house all this week. I just wanted to let you know I forgive you for marrying that dreadful woman. I’m ready to stand by you.”
Andrew fought to keep his expression neutral. Kat had more going for her in her little finger than Claudia did in her entire phony package. “Just satisfy my curiosity. How much is A.W. paying you?”
“Now darling, don’t be that way. He’s just concerned about you,” she purred. Stepping closer, she trapped his arm in the valley between her silicone mountains. Her eyes narrowed to slitted seduction as her tongue licked suggestively along her lower lip. The perfected moves of a courtesan. “I believe I could satisfy much, much more than your curiosity.” She trailed a red nail down his chest to the waistband of his shorts.
The thought of touching or being touched by any woman other than Kat repulsed him. He took a slight step back, eyeing Claudia cagily. She, in turn, took a larger step forward, wrapping her fingers around his arm, a seductive smile stretching her mouth into a red slash.
It cheered him immensely to realize that Kat was the only woman for him. He offered Claudia a genuine smile, deciding her jets needed cooling.
Turning his entire body to face her, the stream from the water hose caught her square between her jutting hipbones. Her shriek could have woken the dead.
He strove to appear contrite as he redirected the water hose. “Sorry. You just shook me up there, Claudia.” That much was true. She didn’t have to know she’d revolted him.
He watched with amusement as she strove to contain her anger. A.W. must have really sweetened the kitty. “I suppose I’m flattered I have that effect on you, darling.”
If you only knew.
“Perhaps I could come inside and dry off.”
Over my dead body. But it wouldn’t come to that. Andrew made a slight move with the water. She jumped back like a scalded cat. “Let’s not rush anything. I’ve got a meeting with A.W. in the morning. Why don’t you join us. Nine-thirty. His office,” he instructed. He planned to get his proverbial house in order before he began his courtship of his wife in earnest.
Premature satisfaction swept away Claudia’s annoyance. “I’ll be delighted.”
If you only knew.
KAT TUCKED THE HOME PREGNANCY stick into her purse and vowed not to look at it again until she reached Andrew’s office where they could check it together. The box specified first thing in the morning. Something about concentration of hormones. Exhaustion had claimed her the night before and she’d overslept this morning so concentration shouldn’t be a problem.
Odds were that she and Andrew weren’t on their merry way to parenthood. She’d always thought she’d magically, mystically feel different when she conceived.
Nothing.
Nada.
Zippolo.
Oddly enough, she felt fine at the prospect of not being pregnant. She still wanted a baby-her and Andrew’s child. But it was no longer a mission. Winning Andrew came first.
She tossed a suitcase into Charlemagne. As she opened her door, Toto settled into the passenger seat. Nine o’clock. Half an hour to the esteemed offices of Winthrop, Fullford, and Winthrop. Half an hour until she laid siege to her husband.
“Come on, Toto, we’re going home.”
ANDREW HUNG UP THE PHONE, satisfied with his conversation with Eddie. A new sense of purpose and determination had claimed him following his arrest. He pressed the intercom connecting him with his secretary.
“Gloria, I’ll be leaving for my nine-thirty with A.W. You and I need to meet afterward. See if you can set up a lunch meeting with Joey Chalmers. I’ll be out of the office this afternoon. Oh, yeah-and see if you can’t find some boxes.” He straightened his tie.
One last stab at the intercom.
“Also, have a dozen Waterford crystal tumblers delivered to my beach house before noon.” He briefly indulged in a smile before he regrouped. He wouldn’t allow himself to think of Kat now. He had to get this meeting over with.
Andrew left his office through the side entrance leading to the partners’ hallway. His heritage flanked him. Ornately framed generations of somber, sober Winthrops watched as he made the trek down the long hall. Nodding at his father’s secretary, he let himself into A.W.’s office.
His father sat planted behind his desk. Claudia draped herself on the leather sofa lining one wall, an inordinate amount of leg showing.
Andrew stepped forward.
Closed the door behind him.
And embraced his destiny.
“Father. Claudia. I’ve reached a decision. As you know, the law’s always been my first love…”
KAT EYED THE LOBBY of Winthrop, Fullford, and Winthrop with affection. Why, she’d used that very sculpture to stake out Andrew! Toto strained in that direction. Tugging on his leash, she redirected his attention. “Come on, Toto. Let’s go see Daddy.” She tried out the name for practice. It had a nice ring.
A uniformed guard stepped into her path. “Excuse me, ma’am. The dog’s not allowed.”
“Dog? What dog?”
The guard’s pointed look zeroed in on the leash clasped in her hand.
Kat scooped up Toto in the best interests of the man’s pant leg. Covering his canine ears with her hand, she bluffed. “Oh. This dog. We don’t use that word. He doesn’t think he’s a d-o-g, and it upsets him to no end.”
The man eyed her as if she were a nut case. “Oookay. He still can’t come in.”
Kat didn’t want to waste her time arguing with this man. She had a mission. In for a penny, in for a pound. “His grandfather’s going to be very disappointed. Perhaps you know him, A.W. Winthrop.”
Mr. Lingley-that was the name on the badge-snapped to attention. “Certainly. Mr. Winthrop. He…that is…” The poor man stumbled around the concept of A.W.’s attachment to a dog.
“He just adores him.” If he knew Toto, he would, Kat justified to herself. She offered Mr. Lingley her most engaging smile.
Moving aside, he pressed the Up button on the elevator. “Sorry to bother you, ma’am. Have a nice day.”
She ensconced herself and Toto in the elevator, whisking past the floors of shagging-to-get-their-butts-noticed associates fresh out of law school, to the senior floor. She could care less whether Andrew was a partner, but she knew it meant everything to him. She’d jump through hoops if that’s what it took to help him get what he wanted.
She stopped outside the door bearing his name. Not so very different from her father’s offices. Was there a code for lawyers specifying two inches of gray carpet and no less than three inches of mahogany millwork? Oops, you’re out of business-not enough crown molding? Sucking in a fortifying breath, she forged ahead.