Imperfections (5 page)

"What the hell were you thinking last night, telling everyone we're getting married?"

There's a look of utter shock on Kate's face.

"I'm sorry, it just came out."

"What do you mean it just came out? Something like that just doesn't come out of your mouth."

"I'm sorry."

"You said that already. I don't want to hear it again. I never promised you that I would marry you, let alone in three months. Did you lose your fucking mind, are you crazy!"

She's looking at me like I'm crazy; she's never seen me this angry. She walks around the desk in her father's study, wearing a cream-colored blouse, slightly fitted gray trousers and wedge heels. She takes a deep breath then speaks.

"No, I'm not crazy. I know you didn't, didn't exactly propose—"

"I didn't propose."

"But we did discuss it."

"Let me explain it to you again so there will be no misunderstanding from this point forward, do you understand me?"

"Yes and—"

"Shut up. Don't say anything until I'm finished! You showed up at my office and told me you had something important to tell me that couldn't wait, the next thing I know you're telling me you're pregnant. I told you I needed a paternity test, we had sex once and when I pulled out my dick I pulled out a condom to go along with it. I know they're not a hundred percent effective and once is all it takes, but I need proof that baby is mine."

I look at her, pointing to her stomach. "If this baby you're carrying is mine, I will do the right thing for my child. I said marriage was one option that I was not committed to especially not knowing for sure if this child is mine. You suggested marriage, not me. I'm not going to marry you—or anyone—because you're pregnant, that would be crazy and ill-advised for both of us. I said I would draw up papers to make sure you and my child—if in fact this is my child—are taken care of financially. Visitations would be worked out and scheduled; we would be co-parents in raising this child if I'm found to be the father. Beyond that there will be nothing between us but mutual respect as parents."

I am so close to her when she tries to interrupt me I place my finger against her lips and slowly shake my head. "Don't interrupt me. Until you can get the paternity test, if you need anything you can call me. If you need me to escort you to an appointment or family function, I'll go with you; so if the baby turns out to be mine it won't look like what it is. An unexpected mistake." I drop my hand away from her and she walks back around the desk lowering herself into the chair while avoiding my eyes.

"Do you remember that conversation, Kate?"

"You've changed it a bit, but yes, I do."

"Good. No one is going to find out about this pregnancy until I know if I'm the daddy. One more thing, I don't care what you do or how you do it, but make sure that everyone who was in that room last night, who heard your little announcement keep their mouths shut."

She looks at me perched on the edge of the chair, hands folded on the table like a shrewd businesswoman ready to cut a deal she's not entirely satisfied with but has no choice but to accept. Why take the brass ring if you have a chance to get the gold. This is a woman I found out through her family last night, desperately wanted to get married white picket fence and all, that presumably comes with it.

"So this is the other side of Nicholas Alexander. Like father like son."

"If that's the way you want to think of it, then yes."

I walk to the door closing it behind me and immediately hear a loud thud against it. She's probably wishing that was my head.

"Hey, Cat, I was about to come up and see you, are you going out?"

"In a few minutes," I tell Kate coming off the stairs.

"Where's Ava, Mom said she was here?"

"She forgot something in my room, look, here she comes."

Coming down the steps with her jet black hair bouncing around her, Ava stands next to me facing Kate at the bottom of the stairs. Ava and Kate aren't the best of friends, I hope Ava doesn't say anything that will set off an argument. I'm not in the mood to play referee.

"Kaitlin Reed, my, I haven't seen you in a long time. I hear you're engaged to my favorite cousin, I guess I should say congratulations?"

Ava was never shy about speaking her mind and saying exactly whatever she wanted. She leans in and gives Kate a I'm touching you but I don't really want to type of hug and a kiss on the cheek. She stands back and looks at her up and down. Kate clears her throat, puts her hands together in front of her and is barely able to put a smile on her face. It looks more like it's contorted into some kind of pain she's trying to hide.

"Thank you."

"Nicholas and I are very close so imagine my surprise when my dear friend here told me you were engaged. Well, honey, I almost choked on my orange juice when she said Nicholas was your fiancé."

She moves over to me and puts her hand on my shoulder, smile not leaving her face.

"We had breakfast together this morning and drove all the way over here and he didn't once mention you or the fact you were getting married. You know, he is so busy these days it probably just slipped his mind. I'm sure he was probably going to tell me later." Ava has a smug, satisfied look on her pretty face. She knows how to push Kate's buttons, every chance she gets she's going to take it.

I can see Kate is working hard to keep the smile on her face. She looks like her head is about to explode. She looks more and more uncomfortable with every word that comes out of Ava's mouth.

"I'm sure he was going to tell you. Nick has been very busy lately with work and everything. We decided we only want to share the news of our engagement with our immediate family, for now. We're asking the people who know not to say anything. We're not ready to deal with all the attention with him being partner and one of the most sought after lawyers and bachelor in New York. We want to enjoy our engagement before everything starts getting crazy."

"Sure, Kate, if that's what Nick and you want. Of course we understand the need for privacy; sometimes the media can be such vultures." Ava being Ava can't say okay and leave it alone. "Where's your engagement ring? Let me see that rock, if I know my cousin, which I do, he bought you the biggest ring he could find."

I feel like I'm in a movie scene in the old west and its high noon and guns are going to be drawn. If looks could kill, Ava would be dead already.

"Nick and I decided it would be best if we picked my ring out together."

"I see, how modern of you."

"Yes, it is. Cat, I will see you later. Ava." Kate looks at Ava, places her hands at her sides and leaves.

"Ava! What was that?"

"Me trying to figure out what's really going on? I know Nick, if he was in love with your sister he would tell me. He wouldn't care who knew about him getting married. I saw the way he looked at you this morning and how you reacted to him."

"Please don't start stirring things up."

"Why not? If you don't stir the pot, how are you going to know what's in the sauce?"

"Do I really want to know?"

"Yes, you do! Now, go upstairs, pick out one of the sexiest outfits you can find for dinner tonight and don't tell Kate I'll be joining you for dinner. I really want to see the look on her face when I make my grand entrance."

I give her a stern look, and shake my finger at her. "I want to have a pleasant dinner with the people I care about. Behave yourself and don't make any more trouble with Kate." I know she can't help herself; she gives me a smile and a wink.

"I'll try but I think you know me better than that. See you later, I'll let myself out."

I hear the bell ring from upstairs in my bedroom. I spin around and look in the mirror one more time at my outfit before I run downstairs to answer the door. I decided to wear my yellow silk strapless blouse, skinny tight black pants that fit like a dream, strappy three-inch heels that make my legs look long and slender. My hair is straight and shiny tonight. I decided to put it over one of my shoulders to lay on the swell of my breast next to my Cat pendant. My makeup's good so I grab my clutch purse and head downstairs. Why's Chris ringing the doorbell? Maybe he forgot his keys.

"Who is it?"

"Nick."

"Nick?"

What's he doing here? I thought we were going to meet him and Kate at the restaurant. I open the door and feel a tingling sensation in the pit of my stomach. He looks good, like he stepped off the page of a men's magazine, GQ ruggedly handsome; I could look at him all night. As much as I don't like to admit it I do like a powerful man. What woman doesn't like a strong man with arms and abs of steel with a body that's made to protect? Lips so soft and firm they can make parts of your body you didn't know you had cry with pleasure and the sweetest pain of all? Pull it together, Cat! Pull it together and don't embarrass yourself.

"It's nice to see you too, Cat. You look lovely as usual."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Obviously."

"I thought it was Chris, he's supposed to pick me up."

"Wouldn't he use his key to let himself in?"

"I thought he forgot them, smart ass." I smile at him and he gives me a perfectly sexy smile in return, relieving some of the tension between us.

"Chris called me and asked if I could give you a ride, he's showing a client a new property and it's taking him longer than he planned. He said he'll meet us there."

"Where's Kate, is she in the car?" I do not want to be in the car with them and I don't want to be alone with him. I could kill Chris for putting me in this awkward situation.

"No. She's going to meet us there."

"Okay, I'm ready, let me grab my coat."

We walk to the car, and he walks in front of me and opens the door. "Well, wow, are you opening the car door for me? Things have changed."

"I am nothing less than a gentleman. I will always open the door for a pretty lady."

"Ha. I've seen you open the car door for women before, but you've never actually opened one for me or anyone that you're dating, that I can remember."

"That was the old me; the college years. I've learned a few things since then."

"That's a good thing; it's nice to see that chivalry isn't completely dead. At least something has changed for the better." He closes my door, gets in the driver's seat and puts on his seat belt. He puts his left hand on the steering wheel and I can't help but stare at his hands. In my mind I can see them touching me. I can still feel his hand against my cheek, gentle, yet rough at the same time. I have to stop thinking like this, I've only been with him for ten minutes and I'm thinking about how his hands feel on me. How am I going to spend at least two hours with him and my sister, watching him eat, smile, touching my sister, the happy couple.

"Cat, are you okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It looks like something's on your mind. I think I know what it is, you want to talk about it now?"

"No."

"I think we should. A lot of things happened last night and since you've been gone."

I turn my head and look at him. "I know. Let's not talk about it tonight, not tonight. Let's just try to make it through dinner."

He puts the car in drive. I turn and stare out the window and try to clear my mind, putting my head against the headrest. The radio comes on, the song is ending and the DJ starts talking about the big first milestones in a person's life that takes them to adulthood, like your first kiss, first crush, first relationship, and the big first, the first time you had sex. I can't believe he's taking calls about this shit, talking about this right at this moment. Why! Why! Why! Why ME! I can't catch a freaking break.

"So what was your first time like?"

My head whips around so fast I feel a pinch in my neck. "Excuse me?" I can't believe he's asking me about the first time I had sex.

"What was your first kiss like?"

Oh. I seriously need to relax. As if he doesn't know what it was like. He looks at me smiling with perfectly straight white teeth I know he needed to wear braces for a year to get and he was still the cutest boy I ever laid eyes on.