New and…Improved? & Andrew in Excess

“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.

Gloria greeted her from a desk positioned next to a single office door. “What a nice surprise, Mrs. Winthrop! Are you fully recovered from the party?”

Had that only been a little over a week ago? “Yes, thank you. You did a beautiful job organizing everything. Sorry about the spectacle.”

Gloria dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “Happens to the best of us.” She reached down to scratch behind one of Toto’s ears. “You’re a cutie.”

Kat beamed with something akin to maternal pride. “Is Andrew in?”

“Sorry, dear. He just went into a meeting with Mr. Winthrop. Want to wait here?” She indicated a plump armchair. “I believe he’ll be through in half an hour.”

It had to be The Meeting concerning his partnership. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach. Or was that the breakfast sandwich she’d scarfed on the way over?

“I’ll just wait outside A.W’s office.”

As if on cue, Bitsy and Eddie waltzed in.

“Hi, Kat. We weren’t expecting to find you here.”

“I came by to see Andrew.”

The couple exchanged smug looks.

“It must be wives’ day at the office.” Bitsy said, fishing for information.

Kat babbled to cover up her lack of an explanation for being there. “He’s in a meeting with your father, so I thought I’d wait in A.W.’s office.”

“Come on. We’ll take you down there.”

As they escorted her down the hall, Eddie questioned, “Was Andrew, um, expecting you this morning?”

What had seemed like a good plan last night and early this morning suddenly lost its appeal. “No. I haven’t talked to him since he was…since Saturday night.”

Kat couldn’t interpret the look passing between Eddie and Bitsy.

“Is something going on that I should know about?” Kat demanded, her suspicions on red alert from all the covert looks.

Bitsy practically shoved her into an elegant waiting room. “Well, here we are.”

The secretary seated outside the door peered over half glasses at her in unspoken inquiry.

From behind the closed double doors, a shriek of fury rent the air, followed by a shrill cry. “Andrew, you can’t do this to me.”

The hair rose on the nape of Kat’s neck. She recognized that shriek and that shrill. What the hell was Claudine