Katia's Promise. Catherine Lanigan

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      “I want them to remember me,” Katia murmured as the doorbell rang.

      Putting her hand on the doorknob, Katia scanned the room one more time. She couldn’t remember if she’d dusted the glass shelf in the bathroom or if she’d lit the scented candle in the kitchen.

      There was a knock.

      It was too late now for a last-minute check. Katia felt her heart pound ever so slightly, as it always did before an important meeting or a special event, then she whisked open the door.

      “Hi, guys!” She beamed at Tina Goodman, her assistant at Carter and Associates, and Allen Hampton, the football coach for St. Michael’s High School. “If it isn’t the bride and groom!” The second the words were out of her mouth, Katia realized she still wasn’t wearing any shoes. She’d been so immersed in the food and decor, she’d forgotten to finish dressing. It wasn’t like her to be so scatterbrained, but she’d been noticing herself slipping up more often lately.

      Allen—lean, blond and California handsome—kissed Katia’s cheek. “You look gorgeous, as always,” he said, winking at Tina and pulling her close with a possessive arm.

      Katia smiled demurely. “But not as beautiful as the bride.” She squeezed Tina’s hand.

      “Very diplomatic, both of you,” Tina teased. She gave Katia a quizzical look. “You’re shorter.”

      “Uh! Didn’t have a chance to grab my shoes. Come in before the others get up here. I have to finish dressing.”

      “We’re not early, are we?” Allen asked as Katia ushered them inside.

      “No, no. It’s just me. I got behind somehow.”

      Tina shook her head. “That’s hard for me to imagine.” She turned to Allen. “We call her Miss Excel at work. Because she’s so organized, we figure even her leg waxings are plugged into a spreadsheet.”

      “I’m not that bad,” Katia replied defensively, showing them into the living room. “Now, if you’ll excuse me for a minute, I have to get my shoes.”

      Allen grinned playfully and winked again at Tina. “Maybe some earrings, too, while you’re in there?”

      Tina elbowed him and giggled.

      Katia rushed to the bedroom, stuck her feet into a new pair of black Stuart Weitzman pumps and put on a pair of dangling emerald earrings and a bracelet to match. The ringing doorbell kept her from double-checking her reflection in the mirror.

      On her way through the living room, she saw that Tina and Allen had found the wine bar and Allen was opening a bottle of Crenshaw Cabernet. “Thanks, guys. Oh, and open some pinot grigio while you’re at it, please?”

      Katia answered the door. Filling the entrance were four couples and a single man, who stood inches taller than everyone else. His charisma dwarfed the group even more. Jack Carter.

      “Welcome!” Katia beamed amid hugs and well wishes as her friends moved into the apartment. Jack was last. He bent and placed his hand on her shoulder and started to kiss her cheek, then abruptly pulled back. He smiled awkwardly, as if suddenly remembering she was his employee. He was the boss. “Thanks for inviting me, Katia.”

      Jack had ironclad rules when it came to office romances. He forbade his employees from dating each other, and under no circumstances could anyone at Carter and Associates date a current or prospective client. Katia thought the rule was wise and necessary, considering the nature of their business. After all these years, however, Katia realized that the long hours and weekends she put in kept her single with a capital S.

      Katia had very little time for dating, and even when she was at parties or functions, she was always scanning the crowds for new clients.

      Katia was perpetually working the room. The company benefited from her dedication, but as she watched her friends gather in her living room, it struck her that all of her friends had paired up in the past few years. Tina was the only one who hadn’t gotten married yet, and this was her engagement party.

      Only Katia and Jack were left.

      She smiled at Jack and lifted her arm to usher him inside. “It wouldn’t be an office party without you,” she told him.

      She glanced down the hall and looked back at Jack curiously. “Barry and Ava aren’t with you?”

      Barry was Jack’s partner and brother-in-law. Jack’s sister, Ava, loved parties and never missed one of Katia’s gatherings. Ava had once told Katia that she secretly hoped Jack and Katia would pair up someday. As if that would ever happen.

      Jack slapped his forehead. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you. The baby got sick at the last minute. Fever, and Ava didn’t dare ask our mother to babysit.” He rolled his eyes. “She has tickets to the ballet tonight.” He wagged his finger. “Never mess with my mother’s ballet plans. Anyway, Barry didn’t feel quite right coming without Ava. He said he’d see you at the office on Monday.”

      “Sure,” Katia replied dully, truly disappointed that she would miss seeing Ava. Ava was always so much fun, and before the baby had arrived six months ago, she was always up for resale shopping with Katia. Since little Kaylee had arrived, Ava had nearly dropped out of Katia’s life. She still called and texted, but it just wasn’t the same.

      It wasn’t only Ava’s baby that had shaken up Katia’s life. Katia had felt subtle changes at work, too: a lost client she’d believed was a slam dunk, a corporate takeover that had caused them to lose a large account, Barry spending countless hours building a new website, new furrows across Jack’s brow.

      “Katia!” Allen shouted. “Did you make these?” He held up one of her little turnovers. “With the wine—superb!”

      “Thanks,” she replied, feeling uplifted by the compliment. She crossed to the bar and stood next to Jack, who had just poured a glass of red wine.

      Katia took a glass for herself, a burgundy balloon she’d found at a closeout at Macy’s, and filled it slowly.

      Jack took a sip and his eyes grew wide. “This is incredible. What is it?” He read the label on the bottle. “Crenshaw. Never heard of it.”

      “You wouldn’t have. It’s a secret discovery of mine.”

      “I want some,” he said in that firm, authoritative voice he used when issuing commands at work. “Can you get me a case?”

      “Sure. I’ve made friends with the owner. Actually, Liz and I have started emailing back and forth. I’ll get on it right away.”

      Jack flashed his mind-blowing, bone-melting smile at Katia, and she wondered if she’d ever learn how not to respond to it.

      “Katia, you’re the best.”

      “Thanks,” she replied feeling just the teensiest bit light-headed. She put down her glass. “I should see to dinner. Would you excuse me?”

      “Can I help?” he offered with yet another earth-shattering smile. “I admit I’m not much good around food, other than the consumption of it, but I can lift СКАЧАТЬ