Chapter 27 #2
He immediately recognized the shop’s artist query form—and her signature at the bottom. The air around him was suddenly heavy, suffocating. She’d filled out the application for placing her work in his shop.
“How did you–”
“I visited your shop this afternoon.”
Her soft voice was like velvet on his skin.
“You did?” He shook his head. “And I left early. I missed you.” He toyed with his glass a moment before looking at her again and swallowing past the lump in his throat. “Truth is, I miss you every day.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
The blood pounded in his ears. “And you really want to–”
A smile widened across her face. “It’s a great shop. I’d be proud to show my work there.”
Slowly, he folded the paper again and slipped it into his coat pocket. Swallowing hard, he looked into her deep, ocean-blue eyes. “The answer is yes.”
Kat’s skin tingled at the warmth in Nick’s voice. She wasn’t sure she could speak coherently. She dabbed her eyes with her napkin. “I saw your work yesterday. At my parents’ house. It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks. I’ve had several calls from the homes tour.”
“And I hear HomeBuilders offered you more episodes.”
“They did, and I accepted.”
“So, I guess everything went well with the original ones.” The ones she was supposed to see.
“Yeah.”
As usual, they slipped easily into conversation. “Will the new episodes be filmed in the same place?”
“Not sure yet.” Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “Would you like to see some? I have a couple of clips.”
She gave a light laugh. “Yes, I want to see.” She reached out for the phone.
“Okay, hang on.”
He fiddled with the phone a minute then handed it to her. When his hand brushed hers, sparks shot through her. For a split second, she considered reaching for it.
But Nick pulled his hand back. “I turned off the volume. Just hit play.”
She swallowed hard and pushed the button.
His face filled the screen. As the camera moved back, his friendly smile turned her insides to mush.
She caught her breath. He looked perfectly at ease.
He looked good. His career was taking a gigantic step forward into a completely different direction.
Her throat clogged. He was living proof that it could happen.
“Nick, this is amazing. You look so natural.” In fact, he looked smoking hot. People who didn’t give a hoot about wood furniture or fireplace mantels were going to watch his shows. Women were going to tune in to feast their eyes and ears on him. “You’re going to be HBTV’s newest star.”
“We’ll see. It’s unexpected, that’s for sure.”
His eyes held her hostage, and Kat’s face warmed.
A current of electricity suddenly charged the air around them.
With nervous energy buzzing through her veins, she forced herself to say what she’d planned this afternoon.
“Nick, I’m sorry I didn’t meet you for coffee after your filming.
I…” She spread her hands. “Too much going on. Too many questions to sort through. And I wasn’t ready to see your point. ”
She startled when their server appeared.
“All done with that salad, Miss?”
She’d barely touched it. “Yes, thanks.”
He replaced it with her entree. For the first time since arriving at the restaurant, she felt hungry. “This looks delicious.”
“Thank your grandmother. She picked the place.”
Kat smiled. “This is one of her favorites.” Kat glanced at her grandmother’s table. Dear Nana. Always looking out for her. Always on her side.
“She has good taste.”
Kat couldn’t help a laugh. “Oh, my gosh. This is why she wanted to go shopping today.” She put a hand to her chest. “She had this all planned. New dress, compliments of Nana.”
“It’s very nice.” Nick’s voice dropped as a light sparked in his eyes.
“Thank you.” Kat reached for her water.
“I’m sure she told you how popular your painting was at the auction?”
With a nod, Kat cut into her steak. She took one bite then set down her fork. “Nana told me all about the auction, ” she said pointedly.
“I figured.”
“Pete? And my Mom ?”
“Had to do something.”
“Why?”
Nick straightened, his jaw muscle clenching. “I admit, confronting your mom was just for fun. I wanted to see her reaction. But Pete, he needed to know what it felt like to be embarrassed, taken for a ride. He needed to feel some consequences.”
“You won’t believe this, but my mom–”
“Told you she was proud of you?”
“No. But she asked for a painting to hang above the new mantel.”
A hint of a smile turned Nick’s lips. “I’m glad. How’d you find out about Pete?”
“Matt took your advice. Went to a different gallery. I ran into him there.”
“Good. Another repercussion for that sleazebag Pete.”
“I love that you did it, but I just want him out of my life. What if he wants revenge?”
Nick shook his head. “No way. You hold all the cards in this. You have nothing to worry about.”
They fell silent, and Kat returned her attention to her meal. Questions jumbled her mind. Where did they go from here? Should she mention her new project? She might not get a better opening, and she wanted all the cards on the table. “Nick, I want to tell you something.”
He stopped eating and gave her his full attention.
“Pete’s old news. I’m looking into launching my own business—a new approach to getting my work out there.” She couldn’t help the hint of defiance—make that determination —that laced her words.
“Really?” Nick’s eyes widened. “What’s that look like?”
She sucked in a deep breath. “To you, it might look like privilege. Nana is providing the seed money. She has an inheritance set aside for me that I can use. The people at the Denver Art Museum are helping, too. So, I’ll have an enormous head start, an advantage over a lot of people.”
He held up a hand. “Kat, I never said you don’t deserve to succeed.”
Her lips trembled. “I hope to work with a university entrepreneur team to build a business plan that involves putting my designs on commercial items like scarves and handbags. The people at the DAM think–”
“Like the seasonal banners. And merchandise.”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“That’d be a major change.”
She thought a spark of interest flashed in his eyes, but his tone was matter-of-fact and didn’t indicate what he thought of the idea. He resumed cutting his steak.
“It would,” she said softly.
“And a lot of work.”
“I expect so.” She let a hint of challenge slip into her voice. She wasn’t afraid of hard work. Surely, he knew that.
His glance flicked to hers for a moment. “Sounds cool. What about the MoMA?”
“I haven’t decided if I still want to be there.” She watched his face for his reaction.
He set down his utensils. “Kat. That’s a huge decision.”
“I know. But I’ve done a lot of thinking.
I feel stuck, and this new prospect is exciting.
I think I saw the museum job as a path toward validation and legitimacy, a way to prove value to my family.
Years ago, since I was a little girl, I dreamed of designing products.
I wanted to be an artist, not a museum curator. ”
Nick squeezed her hand. “Babe, I think you should follow your dreams.”
Her heart fluttered. She also dreamed of falling in love with an amazing guy—someone handsome and talented, honest, and trustworthy. Someone who made her heart race. Someone who made her proud. She was in love with Nick Summers. And she wasn’t giving him up.
She leaned in. “Nick, I sure could use someone who knows the ropes of the retail art industry. And who has an interest in art.” Her voice wavered, but she went on. “And who always has my back.”
A slow grin spread across his face. “I’m all yours.”
Almost giddy with relief, Kat let out something between a laugh and a choke. “Do you mean that?”
“Very much.”
That was all she needed to hear. Swiping at sudden tears, Kat glanced around the room. “I… Are you finished?”
The light dancing in Nick’s eyes sent heat rushing over her.
“I am. Let’s get out of here.”
Before she could react, Nick had moved around the table.
As he pulled back her chair, Kat stood on wobbly legs. Not caring that they might cause a scene in the ritzy restaurant, she matched his smile and turned into his arms.
He scooped her up and lifted her off the floor, twirling her. As he set her down again, applause broke out, and Kat caught the look of delight on Nana’s face.
A second later, Nick pressed his lips to hers, and the rest of the world disappeared.