Hush

wife, Hilary. In between were Sherman; Dr. Catherine Hoss, the clinic’s senior embryologist; Hoss’s date; Matt Perkins, a doctor who’d recently joined the practice; Perkins’s preppy-looking wife; and Levin’s blond, Botoxed trophy bride, her arms lined with jeweled bangles. Keaton politely nodded his head in greeting, and that was it. In the cavernous French bistro with its whirring overhead fans, she couldn’t even hear the conversation at his end of the table.

Lake pulled in a breath, trying to squelch her irritation. She’d imagined sitting next to Keaton, talking to him, maybe even accidentally feeling his leg against hers under the table. But it wasn’t going to happen. Suddenly she had little interest in conversation with a bunch of people she barely knew. Why had she bothered to come?

But Levin soon made it easy for her. In the office he’d seemed arrogant and at times brusque, but tonight he let her see his suave, charming side. He was about the same age as Sherman and yet handsome, dashing almost-with thick gray hair, a hawklike nose, and unruly eyebrows that added a bohemian touch to the polished image. He wanted to know what had brought her to New York, where she had learned the best lessons about marketing, and what she thought really gave people an edge in business today. All the while he listened intently. Eventually Steve and Dr. Hoss’s boorish date joined in. As they swapped stories, Lake let herself relax against the red banquette, luxuriating in the taste of the great Bordeaux and the breeze from the overhead fan on her bare shoulders. At one point all three men seemed to be hanging on her every word. It had been ages since she’d enjoyed that kind of experience.

As the appetizers were being served, she glanced slyly down to Keaton’s end of the table, thinking she’d catch his eye. But she didn’t. A few minutes later she tried again-with no luck this time either. She hated how disappointed she felt. Had he just been toying with her earlier? But then why suggest to Steve she join the group tonight? As she ate, she saw that Hilary had turned all her attention Keaton’s way, cocking her head back and forth like a titmouse at a bird feeder.

After the main course, a few people asked for coffee. Lake let her eyes stray to Keaton’s end of the table again. This time, to her shock, he looked directly at her. He pulled his body back in his seat and held her eyes. Desire flooded through every inch of her.

Now what? she wondered. She pretended to fumble in her purse for something but she was just trying to think. Finally she turned to Levin.

“Excuse me,” she said to him. “I need to sneak to the ladies’ room.” It was insane, she knew, but she longed for Keaton to follow.

To her complete annoyance, Catherine Hoss got up, too. Just perfect, Lake thought. But rather than head for the restroom, Hoss stepped outside the restaurant. Through the paneled windows Lake saw her pull a cell phone from her purse. Lake was struck by how attractive Hoss was out of her lab coat and with her black hair loose around her shoulders rather than pinned tightly in her usual French twist.

After edging past the restaurant’s zinc bar, Lake descended the stairs to a dimly lit lounge. She entered the ladies’ room and patted fresh foundation over the faint trace of her birthmark. In the mirror she saw that her cheeks were deep pink, as if she’d spent the night huddled over a bonfire. She felt almost woozy with excitement from Keaton’s last look.

As she tugged open the door, her mind pleaded-please let him be there. And he was. He stood in the lounge, glancing at the screen of his phone. As she emerged he looked up and smiled-as if this were just a chance meeting. God, she thought, the guy had all the moves down.

“So, how were things at your end?” he asked. “You had the pleasure of sitting next to Dr. Thomas Levin, fertility rock star.”

There was an odd edge to his words.

“He’s an interesting guy,” Lake said. “Was he the main reason you chose this practice-because of his reputation?”

“Good question. But one that may be moot at this point.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s been a little snag in the plan. This may not be the best place for me after all.”

“Wait-you’re not joining the clinic?” Lake asked, completely taken aback.

“You sound sorry,” Keaton said, his voice teasing.

“Well, I’m sorry if you’re in any kind of a difficult situation.”

“You know what would take the sting out?” he said with a smile. She knew what was coming.

“What?” she asked quietly.

“Having a drink later with you. Without all the other revelers.”

“I’d like that,” she said. Her boldness surprised her.

“Why don’t you come to my place,” he said. “It’s just around the corner-at 78 Crosby. I’ll leave first and you can head over after.”

A drink at his place. She could no longer have any doubts about where this was going. Her heart pounded as she thought about being with him and what it would be like to completely let go. If she didn’t take advantage of this moment, who knew when she’d be able to risk something like this again. Once the kids were back home, she would have to play the nun as Hotchkiss had advised.

“All right,” she replied, “sounds good.”

He smiled again and slipped into the men’s room without a word.

“So, Jack, how’s that for spontaneity?” Lake thought as she started up the stairs.

3

THE COFFEE WAS being served when she returned to the table. As she took a sip of her cappuccino, Keaton slipped back into his seat. At the same moment she saw Steve give his wife a let’s-get-out-of- here look, but Hilary pretended not to notice. The group suddenly grew quiet.

“This has been a terrific night,” Keaton announced to the table. “I really appreciate your doing this in my honor.”

“Well, we’re thrilled to have you with us,” Dr. Hoss said, her chin raised. For Hoss the comment was positively effusive. She had the manner of someone who’d grown up affluent and never felt the need to simply make nice.

“Would anyone care for an after-dinner drink?” Levin asked. He made it sound less like an invitation than a signal that the evening needed to come to an end.

“I’m afraid I should get home,” Keaton said. “Would you excuse me for bolting now? I have a call to make to a patient on the West Coast.”

As he stood and said goodbye, he grabbed Lake’s eyes briefly, and to her dismay, she saw Hilary catch the look and weigh it. The last thing Lake wanted was any gossip. She took her time leaving, waiting until Levin paid the check and hanging back until all but Dr. Perkins and his wife remained.

“Which way are you going?” Perkins asked Lake as they walked toward the front of the restaurant with her.

“Upper West Side,” she said, praying they were bound for some Jersey suburb, which would require them to head for the Holland Tunnel.

“We’re on Central Park West. You’re welcome to share our taxi.”

“Oh, thank you, no. I need to stop at a deli.”

“Well, at least let us drop you part of the way,” Perkins said.

“Thank you, but you go ahead,” Lake urged, ready to bite their heads off. “I have to make a call first anyway.”

Lake rustled in her purse, faking a search for her cell phone. After giving them two minutes, she headed outside, her trench coat flung over her arm. Glancing at her watch, she saw that close to fifteen minutes had passed since Keaton’s departure, and she suddenly felt frantic to get going.

She swung left outside the restaurant and hurried along Spring Street. It was only when she reached Broadway that she realized she’d gone the wrong way. Cursing, she dashed back to the restaurant and then up to Crosby. On