Kiss Me Crazy (17 page)

***

Baron didn’t get back to his hotel room in Santa Barbara until seven at night. The talk with Bridget had taken longer than he’d anticipated, but they’d reached a consensus on what to do with the colection in Idaho. Of course, he could have driven home after he left her place but his body needed a break after the mileage he’d accrued in the last few days. He’d leave first thing tomorrow for L.A.

Baron kicked off his shoes, stretched on the bed, and reached for the phone. After ordering room service, he plucked his cel phone from its holder and dialed Kara’s number.

The voicemail started. Where was she that she couldn’t answer her cel phone? She always carried it with her. Frowning, he left a brief message, hung up, and tried her house number. When that went unanswered too, he tried the security in his building.

“Yes?” a familiar brusque voice answered.

“Jules, Fitzgerald here. Do you know if Ms. Michaels has left the galery yet?”

“No, she hasn’t, sir. She informed the security desk she’d be working late. Ms. Ray also told us the same thing before she left for the day. Is there a problem, sir?”

“No, just checking. Goodnight.”

Baron watched ESPN until his food was delivered before he stripped and headed to the bathroom. The hot shower was invigorating. As he lathered his body, last night’s dinner with his mother played in his head. She’d been so happy to hear he was bringing a guest to the family picnic. Not once did she inquire about the identity of the person or the nature of their relationship. That was his mother, dependable without being nosy.

Baron finished showering, changed into boxer shorts and a clean T-shirt, and settled on a chair with the remote in one hand and food in the other. He ate the now cold chicken pasta dinner while catching up on sports. He was finishing when his phone rang. Kara, he thought and dived for his phone.

His mother’s number flashed. Frowning, Baron brought the phone to his ear. “Evening, Mom. Is everything okay?”

“This side? Yes. I just spoke with Bridget. Why didn’t you tel me about the problem Jake’s been causing in Idaho?” Baron smiled. His mother was such a worrywart. “I didn’t think it was important. It’s been resolved.”

“Stil, Bridget is going to split the proceeds from the sale with that impossible man. Are you going to buy some of them?”

“Most of them. From what I’ve seen, she has some interesting pieces, especialy vases.” Estate sales, like flea markets and garage sales, were wholesale sources for antiques but if the owner was an avid colector like Bridget, one could acquire rare items at a steal. Most brokers or liquidators tended to give their loyal customers the first shot at fine colectibles before they open to the public, but in this case, he would be the broker and the buyer.

“That’s good. Speaking of vases, I saw a beautiful antique Chinese ginger jar at your galery today,” Estele said. “I mentioned it to a friend who’s interested in it.”

Baron was surprised she’d stopped by when she knew he wouldn’t be around. His mother tended to cal ahead before she dropped in. “Thanks for the free ad, Mom. But what were you doing at the galery today?”

“I met Kara for lunch.”

His gut tightened at her answer.

“You had lunch with Kara today?” he asked slowly, stressing the words.

“Yes. We had a fabulous time.”

His mother was up to something, and whatever it was, he knew he wouldn’t like it. “What’s going on, Mom?” Estele clicked her tongue. “Nothing. Can’t I stop by your store when you aren’t there or have lunch with a young lady whom I happen to be very fond of?”

“Since when?”

“Since she started working for you. Kara’s smart, talented, and a beautiful woman. I never got around to thanking her for being there for you after Valerie left so I did today.” Valerie? She was his past, and after seeing her at the airport, someone he didn’t want intruding in his present life. “That’s al you talked about?”

“Hardly. I merely mentioned Valerie in passing. We talked about other things.”

Baron squinted, realization dawning. His mother was enjoying making him squirm. He’d bet she knew Kara was the guest he’d mentioned last night. Someone talked, probably Chase.

His twin could never keep his mouth shut.

Despite knowing he was getting snared in a web of his mother’s making, Baron stil asked, “Like what?”

“She told me a lot about her future plans, you know, starting her company. She has such wonderful ideas and is realy excited about them. I was sold from the time she said custom-framing and….”

Baron didn’t hear the rest of her explanation. He jumped to his feet and started pacing the cramped floor of his hotel room. His mother and Kara in cahoots, God help him. Both were stubborn and independent, and impossible to reason with. He needed to think. Finding his room too confining, he opened the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony. The usualy soothing sounds of waves crashing against the beach did nothing to him. Neither was he in the mood to enjoy the spectacular view of the harbor.

Baron glowered, scrubbed his face, and tried to straighten his skewed thoughts. Kara’s future was his problem and his mother had no right to butt in. So much for saying she wasn’t nosy, and her timing sucked big time.

“I think she’l make a wonderful business woman,” Estele said, her voice intruding on his thoughts.

“Don’t, Mom.”

“Don’t what?”

Baron searched for the right words. “Meddle,” he said in a curt tone.

“Meddle? Me? She talked about her dreams and I listened.

Surely you aren’t against her leaving. Not when she’s already signed a lease.” There was silence then Estele added in a soft tone,

“Or isn’t she supposed to folow her dream?”

What the hel kind of a question was that? “Of course she can folow her dream. She just doesn’t have to leave the galery to do it.” As soon as he finished speaking, Baron realized how revealing his statement was. Too bad, his mother needed to understand his future with Kara was at stake here. “I mean, we could double the traffic to both our stores by being in the same building. It’s simple logic.”

Once again, another silence folowed, this time longer than the last one. “I see where you’re going with this but you’re forgetting one thing, son. If Kara wishes to start her business in your building, the next city, state, or country, it’s her prerogative. Al you can do…al anyone who
cares
about her must do is support her.” Baron pinched the bridge of his nose. Trust her to see things Kara’s way. She was his mother for chrissakes. Shouldn’t she be supporting him? He hoped she wasn’t because she didn’t approve of his relationship with Kara. Estele never warmed up to Valerie although she never said why. Whatever reservations she might have, she’d better get over them quick because Kara was now part of his life.

“Ma, I’ve got to go. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

“Just think about what I said, baby. Goodnight.” Baron snapped his phone shut and glared into the darkness.

He didn’t know how long he stood there on the balcony with the cold air seeping under his skin. When he realized he was shivering, he muttered a curse, stepped back inside his room, and shut the doors. He hated to admit he might be wrong and his mother could have a valid point.

Feeling edgy, Baron settled on his bed and tried Kara’s number again.

***

The house phone started to ring just as Kara stepped inside the frothy bathtub. She picked up the receiver from the bathroom stool where she’d placed it, saw Baron’s cel number, and smiled.

Careful not to splash water or knock one of the candles she’d placed around the tub, she brought the phone to her ear as she sank into the warm bubbly water.

“I was just about to cal you,” she said, leaning back and propping her head on the spa pilow.

“Realy? You didn’t answer your cel phone.”

What crawled up his pants to make him sound so irritated?

Surely, not the fact that he’d left three messages in her voicemail?

She’d meant to cal him back as soon as she settled in the tub. After crouching for hours while painting, she needed a long bath to loosen up otherwise being civil became impossible.

“It died on me before I left San Diego. Remember how much I was in a rush when I left on Monday? Picking up my recharger wasn’t a priority.”

“I was worried.”

“Why? Jules told me you caled. You knew I was stil in the office.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t worry. You know I’ve never liked you working late unless I’m in the office.” Kara roled her eyes. Not that again. He’d made a big deal out of it years ago, only relented after she promised to tel the front desk
and
his office whenever she intended to work late. The guard had to escort her to her car.

“I folowed the security protocol per your instructions, boss,” she teased and waited for a chuckle. She didn’t hear one.

“Do you intend to do this when you start your store?” Baron asked in a disgruntled tone, clearly not ready to be appeased.

“Do what?”

“Stay up late?”

Kara sighed. This wasn’t the conversation she’d hoped to have with him. Stil, she tried not to show her irritation. “I’m starting a new business. Of course, I’l have to put in lots of hours. You of al people should understand that. What’s this realy about?”

“Your lack of concern when it comes to your safety.

Where’s this building you’ve leased? What’s security like in and around it?”

Okay, that’s it.
“Listen, I’ve had a very long day and the last thing I need is you attacking me over the phone.”

“I hardly cal worrying about your safety an attack, Kara. I just need to know where you’re planning to open your store and whether or not you’ve considered security issues.” The building was close to an upscale business area but stil she’d known she’d have to wire a new security system once she opened shop. She just hadn’t made it a priority. Also the tenants had a choice of either parking their car in the back where it was more private or the busier front of the building. Either case suited her fine. She’d be wiling to discuss al this with the arrogant male breathing down her neck if he didn’t act so rude.

“Kara?”

“If you must know, I’ve considered a few measures here and there. I have it covered.”

“Realy? Like what?”

Why was he picking a fight with her? Then realization hit her, bringing with it a load of anger.
He doesn’t think I’m capable
of making sensible decisions.
What had she ever done to indicate she was a nitwit?

Kara sat up, her eyes narrowing. “Like how much I hate your tone right now, Baron Fitzgerald. I’m not going to have this conversation with you when it’s obvious you’re treating me like a child.”

“I don’t mean to. You’re hedging when al I want—”

“I don’t want to discuss this. I’m hanging up.”

“Damn it, Kara.”

“Don’t you swear at me, Baron. I’m capable of making my own decisions.” She pushed the off button and resisted the urge to throw the phone. Kara ground her teeth, placed the phone on the stool, and leaned back against the bath pilow, closing her eyes.

The damned instrument started to ring right away. She ignored it, though she cocked her head to listen. It stopped and the voice mail picked it. Once again it rang. Let him continue to leave his apologetic messages. She wouldn’t talk to him until she calmed down.

Kara wasn’t sure how long she stayed in the tub, but she soon gave up trying to relax. The blend of rosemary and ginger, lavender and peppermint scented Dead Sea salts usualy eased her aching muscles and infused her with energy. Not tonight. Even the scented candles and the soothing background jazz tune just irritated the heck out of her. And it was Baron’s fault.

Muttering under her breath, she got out of the tub and entered the shower. The longer she stayed under the hot spray of water, the calmer she got. What had put Baron in such a crappy mood?

Fifteen minutes later, Kara stepped out of the shower and draped her body with a warm robe. She blew out al the candles, picked up the phone and returned it to its base in the bedroom where the red light blinked at her, begging for her attention. She ignored it, straightening her home, laying out clothes for tomorrow but in the end she couldn’t resist. Sighing, she pressed the buttons to access her voicemail and waited for Baron’s apologetic voice to fil the room.

Silence.

Not even a tiny sorry to show just how contrite he was.

When the “message was recorded at nine-ten….” filed the room, Kara pressed the button to delete.

Another beep, and once again, nothing.

Kara frowned. What’s wrong with that man? Didn’t he know he owed her an apology? She sat on her bed and sighed. She shouldn’t get angry with Baron because he didn’t react like most normal men. If he were ordinary, he wouldn’t be the man she fel in love with.

Kara blinked, swalowed, then pressed her hands against her chest as if to slow down her racing heart, the pulse beating erraticaly at the base of her neck. The house was silent yet she could hear sounds filtering through her windows, cars driving past her house, sirens in the background, the blood roaring past her ears.

She loved Baron. She never stopped loving him in the first place, which explained why she was wiling to have an affair with him and why she’d hung around al these years. Where was the self-recrimination, the why-oh-why-could-I-have-been-so-foolish? She knew why she couldn’t get angry with herself: it felt right. Perfect.

Like she was meant to love him regardless of whether he loved her back. He was crazy about her though, which was a starting point as far as she was concerned.

Kara smiled and reached for the phone. She couldn’t explain the sudden urge to hear his voice. She needed to apologize for hanging up on him. It was a childish thing to do.

Just as her hand closed around the instrument, it started to ring again.