“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.”
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 doing in A.W.’s office with her husband?
She lit out for the door, intent on gaining entry.
The secretary jumped to her feet. “Mr. Winthrop’s in a meeting, madam. And he’s not to be disturbed.”
Kat paused with her hand on the door handle. “Watch me.”
She wrenched open the door just as Andrew’s words rang loud and clear.
“I have no intention of divorcing my wife to gain a partnership.”
ANDREW TURNED, annoyed at the interruption. He watched in amazement as Kat and Toto barged forward, shrugging off his father’s secretary, with Bitsy and Eddie in tow.
All hell broke loose as everyone spoke at once.
“Kat, you’re here. And Toto, too. I’ve missed you.” God, but she was beautiful.
“What the hell are all of you doing here? Why is there a dog in my office?” A.W. appeared apoplectic.
“I tried to stop her, sir.” The secretary wailed.
“Hi, Dad.” Bitsy smiled cheekily.
“We found her in your office,” Eddie offered to Andrew.
“I wish I could say it was nice to see you again, Claudette.”
“Claudia.” The entire room chorused the correction.
Mayhem threatened to escalate. Andrew executed an ear-splitting whistle, effectively silencing the roar.
“Kat, I wanted to clear this up before I talked to you, but I’m glad you’re here now.”
“What do you mean you’re not divorcing me for the partnership? You were supposed to marry me for the partnership!”
“This is a damn fool decision, Andrew. The door won’t be open when you come crawling back,” A.W. threatened with a heavy scowl.
“And I won’t wait forever,” Claudia chimed in.
“Count your blessings,” Kat muttered in A.W. and Claudia’s general direction.
“You go, girl,” Bitsy cheered Kat from the doorway.
Kat turned her piercing azure eyes to him. The hurt he’d read in her gaze the last time he’d faced her had been replaced with tenderness and something he dared not name. The rest of the room faded to nothingness.
“What’s going on, Andrew?”
She befuddled his senses. He couldn’t think clearly. He ran the fingers of one hand over her shoulder. “You wore my favorite shirt.”
Kat plucked at the lime green T-shirt. “Just for you.”
“My God, that thing is hideous,” Claudia opined.
Kat and Andrew turned to her with amused smiles. “We know,” they acknowledged in sync.
“A.W. gave me a choice-you or the partnership.”
“But…”
“You’re a mistake, girl. I wanted to help him figure it out sooner than later.” A.W. sneered.
“Let me remind you, you’re speaking to my wife.” Andrew’s jaw ached with the effort to remain civil.
“You conniving old poop,” Kat sputtered at A.W.
Lucky for “the old poop” there was no glassware handy. Kat looked mad enough to exercise her pitching arm. Andrew shifted slightly, putting himself between his outraged wife and the brandy decanter.
Ignoring Kat, A.W. looked at his son and scoffed, “Might I remind you, you’re unemployed?”
“Correction. Self-employed. As of my resignation, I’m in partnership with Eddie. We’re having lunch with a realtor to finalize an office location.”
In the periphery of his mind he registered Bitsy, Eddie and A.W., all talking at once. Although he answered A.W.’s assertion, his gaze never shifted from Kat. He watched the delight chase incredulity across her face.
“You gave up your partnership for me?”
He hadn’t exactly planned on an audience, but what the heck. He felt like shouting it from the rooftop. Cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs caressed the freckles gracing her cheekbones. “I love you, Kat. Nothing else in my life compares to what I feel for you.”
His heart thundered in slow motion as he awaited her response.
A smile lit her face like a bright sun peering through a dark cloud. “You know I’m a woman of excess,” she warned. “I either eat the entire pan of brownies or I don’t touch them.” Her gaze devoured him.
“I’m counting on it.”
