New and…Improved? & Andrew in Excess

tone. “Kat, I’d like you to meet my parents, A.W. and Margaret Winthrop.”

No hint of softness cushioned the steel of A.W.’s gray gaze. “You seem to have a penchant for scandal, girl. That’s not something we Winthrops embrace.”

“Consider yourself lucky, darling.” Andrew retorted, earning himself a scowl from his father and a star from Kat.

A waiter paused at the group, proffering a tray of canapes. Kat sighed and loaded up a small napkin. Good Lord, what she wouldn’t do for a pint of Chunky Monkey right now. Instead she popped an anchovy into her mouth.

Margaret Winthrop stared down the length of her surgically perfected nose, a chilly smile revealing even, white teeth. She fairly dripped West Palm, understated elegance, from her perfectly coifed blond hair to her designer gown. “Wherever did you find that dress, darling? It’s so…well, quaint.”

And welcome to the family. Kat had spent the better portion of a paycheck on her dress, determined to uphold her end of the bargain with panache. She’d help Andrew secure his partnership, but she wouldn’t be a doormat for these people with more money than manners.

Andrew began to say something, but she silenced him with a slight nudge.

“There’s a great thrift store near my old house. Maybe we can go shopping together sometime.” Andrew’s arm, slung across her shoulder, relaxed considerably, and in that instant she knew everything was okay. Whatever this evening brought, they’d face it together.

Margaret’s nose wrinkled as if she’d caught a whiff of something stuck to the bottom of her shoe. “I don’t think so. My schedule’s terribly busy.”

Far too busy to make time for a little boy with a string of nannies.

Andrew dropped Kat a lazy wink of approval before turning to face his parents. “Kat’s got a great nose for a bargain. It’s one of the things I love about her.” He squeezed her close, planting a kiss on the end of her nose. “Isn’t it, Bunny?”

She recognized Andrew’s act for what it was, nonetheless, his declaration of love set her heart rate to double time. “Oh, Muffin…” She didn’t have to try to sound breathless. She was.

“For God’s sake…” A.W. grumbled.

Margaret sniffed an admonishment. “Really, Andrew! You seem to have forgotten yourself.”

“Kat tends to affect me that way.” On the Richter scale, his cavalier grin registered a ten. The husky note in his bourbon voice stroked her like an arousing caress.

She liked him on a good day. When he switched on the devoted husband routine, he turned lethal. She munched another cracker under her in-laws’ disapproving stares.

A.W. and Margaret prepared to excuse themselves and Kat prepared a sigh of relief at their impending departure. All the preparation proved for naught. Claudia wafted over on a cloud of perfume and the arm of a bespectacled man.

Kat swallowed her sigh, bracing herself for round two. Claudia exchanged perfunctory kisses with A.W. and Margaret, cooing, “A.W., you’re looking as handsome as ever. And, Margaret, you’re stunning tonight.”

In the momentary lull, Kat heard the opening strains of “The Party’s Over.” She couldn’t check a grin. Even if tonight turned out to be a total wash, the band leader had impeccable timing.

Ignoring Kat, Claudia eyed Andrew as if he were her next meal, her lips puckering into a practiced pout. “And you’re certainly looking well.”

Kat noted with satisfaction that Andrew didn’t show even a hint of interest in his former girlfriend. His eyes reflected only a cool remoteness.

“Marriage agrees with me, Claudia.” Reaching past her proffered pout, Andrew shook hands with her date. “Glad you could make it, Trent. I’d like to introduce my wife, Kat.”

Andrew turned, his smile tugging at her. “Kat, Trent Braxton and Claudia van Dierling.”

Murmuring a greeting, Trent retreated, looking for all the world as if he’d rather be anywhere than in the middle of the unfolding power play. Kat empathized, but she’d be damned if she’d let these people intimidate her.

Claudia struck a model pose, bony hipbones evident beneath her dress, her store-bought breasts jutting at Kat’s eye level. “So, you’re the little woman.”

“That’s me. And I’ve heard so much about you, Claudette.”

“Claudia.” Claudia and Margaret corrected in unison, matching frowns marring the perfection of their respective brows.

“Oh, of course. Claudia.”

“Exactly how did you and Andrew meet? It seems as if one day he and I were an item and the next the two of you were married.”

“We’d all be terribly interested to hear,” Margaret chimed in, glancing significantly toward Claudia. “We expected, well, it was certainly a surprise to learn Andrew had married a stranger.”

A.W. stood silent, a spectator enjoying the sharks circling.

“Love at first sight,” Andrew smiled.

Kat had no idea Andrew could sound so…sappy. “I suppose I just knocked him off his feet.”

Kat and Andrew exchanged a smile borne of a shared experience. He obviously remembered his landing in the sand as clearly as she did.

“How cliched,” Claudia drawled.

“It’s a good thing you and I were just pals, Claudia, because this woman has left me breathless from the moment I met her.” Andrew spoke to Claudia, but he gazed adoringly at Kat.

Despite the audience and the playacting, the heat in his eyes left her shaken.

Claudia’s eyes narrowed to catlike slits. “Well, since Andrew and I are pals, perhaps you and I can do lunch one day.” Claudia tilted her head, pretending to study Kat before she lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “I’d be delighted to introduce you to an excellent plastic surgeon.”

A retort trembled on the tip of Kat’s tongue, but Andrew jumped into the verbal fray ahead of her. “I can assure you, Claudia, every inch of Kat is perfect.” Steel threaded his smooth tone.

Kat laid her hand on the rigid muscles of Andrew’s arm, thanking him with a slight squeeze. She’d made her own way for a long time, depending only on herself. It felt good to have Andrew standing beside her. Somehow it felt right.

Claudia shared an arch look with Margaret, clearly implying that Kat’s lack of inches could use some help.

Trent Braxton shuffled uncomfortably while A.W. nursed a drink and a smirk.

Mustering a confiding smile, Kat leaned toward Claudia. “It’s such a relief you’re taking this so well, Claudine, with you and Andrew being pals and everything. I wasn’t sure what to expect.” She lowered her voice to the same stage whisper Claudia had affected earlier. “Mean-spiritedness can be such an unattractive trait, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely, my dear.” Claudia’s tight smile promised retribution while conceding Kat had backed her in a corner.

One second Kat was watching Claudia’s feline snarl and the next she felt a thud against her back as an overenthusiastic dancing couple bounced off her. The two canapes sailed out of her hand as if flung on a planned trajectory. Everything slowed down to slow motion, just like in a bad dream. She watched in horrified fascination as the caviar-covered crackers soared straight toward Claudia.

Plop.

With unerring accuracy one landed between her eyes. The other smacked her chest. Fish roe slid south, disappearing between her two mounds of surgically perfected breasts.

Trent broke the silence. “Good shot!”

Claudia, wearing fish eggs and dripping venom, silenced him with a murderous look before rounding on Kat. “You…you…moron! How dare you attack me like that.”

“I’m sorry. It was an accident.” Kat tried not to laugh as she apologized.

Someone pounded a choking A.W. on the back.

“A couple bumped into her, Claudia. We’ll take care of the cleaning bill,” Andrew offered.

Trent pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the murky mess on her chest. Claudia slapped his hand away and turned to wreak further verbal havoc on Kat.