that,” she says as I take the
seat across from her. “So, Gabriel Call showed up at your client
meeting.”
It wasn’t a question, but I felt like an
explanation was required. “I didn’t know he was going to be there.
I apologize.”
She tapped her nails on the top of the desk.
They were long, elegant, and painted a deep red. I was sure my face
was a perfect match. How humiliating to explain why my… boyfriend?
Fuck buddy? Whatever the hell he is or was, I had to tell my boss
why he showed up at a business meeting.
“Why are you sorry?” Madelyn asks.
“Because it’s unprofessional. It was my
meeting to handle and he just... took charge.” I shook my head.
Despite having the contract signed, I thought there was a better
than great chance I’d get fired.
“Kate, I spoke to Charles. He said the deal
was pretty much ironed out before Gabriel arrived. He really liked
you. In fact, he said you were highly professional. Even when Noah
wasn’t – especially when Noah wasn’t.”
I let out a deep sigh of relief. “That’s
good to hear, but it’s important to me that you know it won’t
happen again. I don’t know why it happened this time. It’s not like
we’re… serious or anything.”
Madelyn laughs and within moments she’s
wiping away tears from the crow’s feet around her eyes.
“Kate, can I give you some completely
unsolicited advice?”
“Sure,” I say, shifting in my seat. I wasn’t
sure about this at all.
“I don’t know what Gabriel Call has said or
done to make you think your relationship isn’t serious, but a man
doesn’t go out of his way to do anything for a woman he’s not
serious about. And if I had to guess, he didn’t like the idea of
Noah Drake having an opportunity to steal your attention or
affection. Now, you don’t want him interfering with your
professional life? Tell him that. With a man like Gabriel, you
might have to tell him more than once. Make sure he understands and
respects it. But don’t think for one second that man is not serious
about you.”
I sit quietly, taking in what she said.
Gabriel could be jealous and possessive. I think back to our first
night together and how he iced me out when I refused to talk about
Matt. I thought this is just how he is with any woman he’s passing
time with. Could it be that he was reacting that way because of me,
specifically? Was he feeling something for me that went beyond
sex?
His words from the other night play in my
head. And I’ll keep caring. Right up until I leave this city and
we don’t see each other again.
No. He seemed very sure that there’d come a
time when we’d part ways and never see each other again. And he
didn’t look bothered by the thought.
“In fact,” Madelyn says, snapping me out of
my thoughts, “you might be able to convince him to be your next
client.”
“Oh. No. I think you might be completely
overestimating my influence over him.”
Madelyn winks. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I
haven’t been wrong about you yet, Kate.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“I hate you so hard.”
Nat looks at me enviously and I know she’s
only joking. I’m stretched out on the sofa while she sits on the
floor near my feet. She slaps my right calf and says again, “I hate
you so, so hard.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re not taking this
seriously, and I’m being super serious.”
“You’re also super drunk.” Nat stares
suspiciously at my empty wine glass on the coffee table. “When did
you finish that?”
I shrug with both shoulders. “Forever ago.
Pour me another.”
She does as she’s told, then fills her own
glass as well. Nat hands me the rose-colored glass filled with
pale-gold liquid. I sit up just enough to take a sip. She’s back in
her spot for all of three seconds before she’s at it again.
“So, let me get this straight. You got a
promotion and a raise, you landed a more-than-decent client, the
owner of the freakin’ company told you how great a job
seat across from her. “So, Gabriel Call showed up at your client
meeting.”
It wasn’t a question, but I felt like an
explanation was required. “I didn’t know he was going to be there.
I apologize.”
She tapped her nails on the top of the desk.
They were long, elegant, and painted a deep red. I was sure my face
was a perfect match. How humiliating to explain why my… boyfriend?
Fuck buddy? Whatever the hell he is or was, I had to tell my boss
why he showed up at a business meeting.
“Why are you sorry?” Madelyn asks.
“Because it’s unprofessional. It was my
meeting to handle and he just... took charge.” I shook my head.
Despite having the contract signed, I thought there was a better
than great chance I’d get fired.
“Kate, I spoke to Charles. He said the deal
was pretty much ironed out before Gabriel arrived. He really liked
you. In fact, he said you were highly professional. Even when Noah
wasn’t – especially when Noah wasn’t.”
I let out a deep sigh of relief. “That’s
good to hear, but it’s important to me that you know it won’t
happen again. I don’t know why it happened this time. It’s not like
we’re… serious or anything.”
Madelyn laughs and within moments she’s
wiping away tears from the crow’s feet around her eyes.
“Kate, can I give you some completely
unsolicited advice?”
“Sure,” I say, shifting in my seat. I wasn’t
sure about this at all.
“I don’t know what Gabriel Call has said or
done to make you think your relationship isn’t serious, but a man
doesn’t go out of his way to do anything for a woman he’s not
serious about. And if I had to guess, he didn’t like the idea of
Noah Drake having an opportunity to steal your attention or
affection. Now, you don’t want him interfering with your
professional life? Tell him that. With a man like Gabriel, you
might have to tell him more than once. Make sure he understands and
respects it. But don’t think for one second that man is not serious
about you.”
I sit quietly, taking in what she said.
Gabriel could be jealous and possessive. I think back to our first
night together and how he iced me out when I refused to talk about
Matt. I thought this is just how he is with any woman he’s passing
time with. Could it be that he was reacting that way because of me,
specifically? Was he feeling something for me that went beyond
sex?
His words from the other night play in my
head. And I’ll keep caring. Right up until I leave this city and
we don’t see each other again.
No. He seemed very sure that there’d come a
time when we’d part ways and never see each other again. And he
didn’t look bothered by the thought.
“In fact,” Madelyn says, snapping me out of
my thoughts, “you might be able to convince him to be your next
client.”
“Oh. No. I think you might be completely
overestimating my influence over him.”
Madelyn winks. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I
haven’t been wrong about you yet, Kate.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“I hate you so hard.”
Nat looks at me enviously and I know she’s
only joking. I’m stretched out on the sofa while she sits on the
floor near my feet. She slaps my right calf and says again, “I hate
you so, so hard.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re not taking this
seriously, and I’m being super serious.”
“You’re also super drunk.” Nat stares
suspiciously at my empty wine glass on the coffee table. “When did
you finish that?”
I shrug with both shoulders. “Forever ago.
Pour me another.”
She does as she’s told, then fills her own
glass as well. Nat hands me the rose-colored glass filled with
pale-gold liquid. I sit up just enough to take a sip. She’s back in
her spot for all of three seconds before she’s at it again.
“So, let me get this straight. You got a
promotion and a raise, you landed a more-than-decent client, the
owner of the freakin’ company told you how great a job
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