Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
S aturday night looked more dismal by the minute.
Kat put her face to the glass and peered out the window again.
Snowflakes still swirled in the air outside her apartment, and according to the weather service, all around the city.
It was official—she was going to freeze her butt off.
Snow or not, for a gallery event only a little black dress would do. At least she had dressy boots.
She pulled from her closet a silk scarf she’d painted several years ago.
Loosely a painting of bright orange poppies, it’d add some color and keep her shoulders warm.
She’d like to opt out and go to the March opening instead, but Pete wanted to start generating interest a couple of months out.
Kat would bet most of the people attending tonight would be friends and family of the showing artist.
“Thanks for not ditching me,” Kat told Mia as they hunkered into their coats and walked the last block to Loft Images. Due to the cold, they’d skipped dinner out.
“Believe me, I thought about it. You owe me, pal.”
“Duly noted.”
Inside, they shed coats and surveyed the crowd of maybe forty people. “Looks like a decent turnout so far,” Kat said.
“Especially considering the weather. Let’s find the bar.”
“You read my mind.”
Kat turned from the bar, glass of wine in hand, and came face to face with Pete Collison.
“Hello, sweetheart.” He moved in and pressed a kiss to Kat’s cheek. “One of my up-and-comings. We must show you off tonight, darling.”
Ugh. Her stomach roiled. Sweetheart? Darling?
He took her arm, but Kat stalled, turning toward Mia. “Pete, I’m sure you remember my friend Mia Hendricks, jewelry designer extraordinaire.”
It worked. Pete turned Kat loose to shake hands with Mia, who sported deep auburn hair that flipped up at her shoulders tonight. The highlights in her hair shone along with her deep red lipstick. As always, Mia made a statement.
“Yes, I remember,” Pete said.
Kat gave an internal eye-roll at Pete’s low, seductive-sounding voice. Did he come on to every woman in his path?
“Jewelry.” Pete repeated as he leaned toward Mia.
Brazenly, he lifted the silver necklace that rested on her chest. “Is this your creation?”
Mia took it from him and slid her hand underneath the necklace, separating it from her skin. “It is, indeed.”
“Very nice,” Pete drawled. “Come see me sometime.”
“Pete! Pete!” Waving wildly, a woman sidled up and grabbed his arm. “There you are,” she gushed.
Kat took the opportunity to slip past him. “We’ll look around and catch up with you in a bit,” she said. Gritting her teeth, she pasted on a bright smile—and wished for more than one reason that Nick was accompanying her tonight.
They stopped for a couple of appetizers then browsed the gallery, which practically glowed from the spotlights. Tonight’s artist was a photographer, and his work featured stunning black and white photos of architectural details with small spots of hand-tinted color.
“These are cool.” Mia pointed to one image that featured the hard lines of steps and a banister with a soft blue door as focal point.
“They are,” Kat agreed. “Sounded like Pete issued you an invitation to propose a show or maybe get some of your pieces in the gallery. Think you’ll do it?”
Mia shrugged. “Couldn’t hurt, right?”
Kat glanced around but saw only wall space, no shelves or glass cases. “I suppose he has locked display cases he uses when he shows Three-D art. Your stuff could easily be stolen otherwise.”
“Yeah. I don’t know. Gallery showings are nice, but I’m focusing more on retail shops right now. Seems like it makes more sense to get into shops where people are specifically looking for jewelry. We’ll see. It’s all about the audience, right?”
When Pete suddenly appeared at her side, Kat nearly spilled her drink.
“Come with me, sweetheart. Time to make your grand appearance.”
He slid a hand under her elbow and guided her toward the front of the room where tonight’s artist stood greeting guests. She tried not to flinch at the feel of his fingers pressing into her bare skin.
“Dalton,” he interrupted. “Let me introduce you to one of our future feature artists, Katlyn Andrews.”
They shook hands, and Pete began tapping a spoon against his glass. “Attention. Attention, everyone.”
As soon as the crowd quieted, Pete thanked everyone for attending then introduced Dalton, giving a short bio and his own recommendation and artistic evaluation of Dalton’s work.
Goosebumps erupted on Kat’s arms while she listened and jumped ahead to April in her mind—to being under this same spotlight with friends and family cheering her on. How would Pete describe her work?
When the applause died down, Dalton raised a hand and began speaking.
“I’d like to thank Pete and everyone at Loft Images…”
Kat snapped to and listened to the artist. She hadn’t yet decided what to say at her own opening. Something sincere, but short. She wanted the spotlight to be on her work, not her.
A moment later, Pete pulled her forward.
“And one last thing.” He addressed the crowd again.
“Please welcome Miss Katlyn Andrews. Be sure to come back in April when we’ll feature this lovely lady and her fabulous watercolor and pastel works.
You won’t want to miss it.” He lifted his glass in the air.
“A salute to artists. And many thanks to all of you who support them. Cheers.”
Kat needn’t have worried about keeping warm. She wasn’t sure whether it was the alcohol, bright lights or being put on stage that had her perspiring. Maybe all of the above. She pushed back her hair from her face and continued to smile as people clapped and conversation began again.
“Nice shout-out,” Mia told her. “You look great, by the way. I swear, I don’t know how you always manage to look so perfectly put together and sociable. Especially when you aren’t exactly Miss Congeniality.”
Kat laughed and clinked her glass to Mia’s. It was true. She found big events and lots of people overwhelming. “Must be part of that prim and proper upbringing of mine.”
Mia sniffed. “Mmm. Must be. How annoying. So, is that a wrap or are you required to stay until the bitter end?”
Glancing around, Kat spied Pete in deep conversation with a small group.
Maybe he wouldn’t notice if they ducked out.
“Not sure. I should probably hang around a few more minutes. Don’t feel like you have to stay.
” Though it was tempting, Kat didn’t see how she could leave without at least saying goodbye to Pete.
She and Mia mingled through the crowd, and several people stopped and politely asked Kat about her work. She knew Mia had to be bored when she wandered away. But a few minutes later, Kat found her talking with a couple of women they both knew.
Kat made her way over. “Hi, ladies. Nice of you to get out on a nasty night.”
“Oh, my gosh, Kat. Are you crazy excited?” Olivia asked. “It’s almost your turn.”
“I know. I can’t believe it.” She cocked her head. “Want to meet the owner?” Olivia created large contemporary pieces that reminded Kat of futuristic space scenes. She needed exposure as much as the rest of them.
They made their way toward Pete, and Kat made introductions. Pete nodded and greeted them appropriately but didn’t show any particular interest.
“Thanks, again, Pete,” Kat called out as he turned to move on. Seemed like a good time to wrap things up.
Turning back, Pete grabbed her arm. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Startled, Kat glanced at the others before meeting Pete’s eyes. Was he kidding? It sounded almost like…like an order .
He pulled her away from the group, and his hand moved to her back. “Stick around.”
Dread churned in Kat’s stomach. She forced a tight smile as she pulled the scarf tighter over her shoulders. “For what?”
Pete let out an audible sigh, his jaw hardening. “Kat, what are you playing at?”
The question caught her off guard. She wasn’t playing at anything. She didn’t want to play at anything. “I don’t know what you mean.” But she saw the way his lecherous gaze looked her up and down. Damn it.
“You. All of this. You’re dressed to turn someone on tonight.” His arm dropped to her waist, and his voice lowered to a husky timbre. “And it worked.”
What happened to the concept of a business relationship? And why was a single woman always a target? If Nick had been with her, Pete would not be pulling this nonsense. Kat willed her voice not to waver.
“Pete, I’m sorry. I really don’t know what to say.
I dressed for a party tonight, that’s all.
I do need to get going. I have a class to teach tomorrow morning.
You know, kindling creative energy in the next generation.
” She gave a light laugh. “I’ll see you later.
” She slipped out of his grasp and didn’t look back.
Though it was freezing outside, Kat burned inside.
As soon as she and Mia were seated on the train, she turned to her friend.
“You might want to skip talking to Pete about showing your jewelry. He’s turning out to be a slimeball.
” Had she known, she never would’ve chosen to pursue his gallery.
Why wasn’t it common knowledge among the art community?
After her show, she’d be spreading the word.
Or did everyone stay quiet because of Pete’s position?
Did he have enough power and clout to ruin her if it ever got back to him?
Mia’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“He keeps latching onto me and calling me sweetheart and saying creepy, suggestive things.”
“Like what?”
She rolled her eyes. “He thought I was dressed up tonight to turn him on.”
“Yuck. You think it’s going to be a problem?”