Salvation (39 page)

I was keeping busy at work and succeeding in occupying my thoughts with things other than Nate, when I found myself the subject of yet another salacious story online. I stared at the blog page Mai had so kindly loaded onto my computer.

“
Look on the bright side, K,
”
Mai urged, draping her arm around my shoulders.
“
They got your age wrong. Says you
’
re only twenty-one. Take it as a compliment.
”
Only Mai could find something positive in a trashy, misreported piece of journalism
—
and I used the phrase lightly.

The only accurate wording accompanying the photo of us embracing outside my apartment was the suggestion it happened before we spent the night together. And my name, clear as day in bold print underneath. The rest was a lame attempt to create problems, with references to how unstable our
‘
long-distance
’
relationship was, and suggestions neither of us was taking it seriously. That pissed me off the most and triggered yet another round of self-doubt.

“
Someone who knows me has gone behind my back and divulged this information,
”
I seethed. They evidently knew where I lived, too.

“
It wasn’t me,
”
she shot back.

“
I know.
”
I patted her hand reassuringly as she squeezed my shoulder.

“
The world is full of jealous bitches,
”
Mai said.
“
Get used to it, though. If you two are serious, there
’
s gonna be a lot more where this came from. Nate
’
s gonna take you out, show you off.
”

I fell back into my seat, exhausted and mentally drained. I
’
d never dated someone in the public eye, and Nate was, no matter how reluctant he was to be in it. I had to toughen up and embrace the new direction my life was taking.

ROBYN joined us for lunch at a new sushi bar two blocks away. Enjoying some girlie time was a great distraction from the revelation that my anonymity had gone. I was returning to the girls after a bathroom visit when my phone rang from the depths of my bag.

I answered with a soft,
“
Hello.
”
The surge of ineffable emotion I got upon hearing the achingly tender,
“
Kara,
”
from Nate
’
s lips almost knocked me off my feet.

“
How
’
s New York?
”
I asked, my grip tightening on the counter for support as I slid back onto the stool beside Mai. They both rolled their eyes and resumed their conversation.

“
Too damn far from you,
”
he breathed.
“
This distance is killing me.
”

The pressure in my chest grew. I turned my back to the girls for privacy.
“
And me.
”
The extent of how deep my ever-growing feelings were both terrified and calmed me. Before I became a sentimental mess, I changed topics.
“
What have you done today?
”

Someone tapped me on my shoulder. I twisted and found Mai and Robyn ready to leave. I followed them out whilst Nate talked. I hated thinking of him working all night, having no respite from the demands of his job, so I was pleased to hear he
’
d had a reasonably quiet day and achieved a lot. I balked when he asked about my plans, coming to a standstill on the pavement.

“
You don’t want to know what Mai has planned for me tonight,
”
I told him, cringing.

“
Well, now I
’
m intrigued,
”
he murmured, his voice raspy and so incredibly sexy.

Even though he couldn’t see me, I covered my face to hide my shame.
“
She
’
s taking me to a pole-dancing exercise class,
”
I rushed out.

“
Damn.
”
Nate exhaled.
“
Can
—”

“
No,
”
I cut him short,
“
you won
’
t be getting a private performance.
”
It might
’
ve only been a few weeks, but I
’
d learnt a lot about Nate, too. When he cursed under his breath, I knew it was with humour.
“
Need another cold shower?
”
I asked coyly.

“
I
’
ve got five minutes to get myself together before I have to face the ten executives waiting in the boardroom.
”
I heard the creak of leather, followed by sounds of him moving.
“
Christ, you know how to push my buttons.
”

The two friends who
’
d been marching ahead of me stopped and turned, finally noticing I wasn’t with them. My smile was filled with gratitude for the tiny brunette hurrying me up with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. Even though I
’
d kicked myself when she told me this morning, with great satisfaction, that I
’
d agreed to this crazy class last night, I appreciated her thoughtfulness in keeping me occupied.

After agreeing to talk again later, we said a long goodbye like a pair of young lovers, neither of whom wanted to hang up first. I jogged to catch them up after finally ending the call.

“
Nate?
”
Mai asked.

“
How is the sex god these days?
”
Robyn added, running her eyes over me with a gleeful smile.
“
Giving you a good time by the looks of it.
”

“
He
’
s missing K like crazy.
”
Mai relinked arms to cross the busy junction.
“
I
’
ve lost count of the number of phone calls. Blake
’
s fallen for our girl
big
time.
”

“
Tell me about it,
”
Robyn said with a rueful sigh.
“
Those kisses last Friday sizzled with sexual attraction. Talk about warning everyone else to back the fuck off.
”

“
See, K?
”
Mai nudged me.
“
Everyone sees it.
”

“
Gah, wish some would rub off on me. It
’
s been forever since I
’
ve had a guy so hot for me.
”
Robyn was gorgeous and got a lot of attention, but she was picky about who shared her bed.

“
I know, right?
”
Mai continued, the two of them gossiping as though I wasn’t there.
“
Mitch is great in bed
—
when I get him there
—
but romance is on vacation at our place. A permanent one.
”
She tried making light of it, but the reality of how big the void was growing between them had started to sink in.

“
It won
’
t last,
”
I pointed out. My eyes travelled up to the top floor of the building we all worked in, and my stomach dropped, knowing Nate wasn’t up there.

“
Whatever.
”
Their unified statement made us all laugh.

“
I wouldn’t give a shit for romance if I had that hot-ass in my bed every night.
”
Mai stepped into the revolving door, followed by Robyn.

I still hadn’t decided whether to be offended or proud that my girlfriends lusted so openly after my boyfriend. What I did note? I didn’t feel the immediate flicker of jealousy and doubt I once might have.

“
I
’
d happily pick his dirty designer suits off the floor,
”
Mai went on, barely pausing for breath as she swiped through the security turnstiles.
“
Hell, I wouldn’t even complain about the toilet seat being left up, so long as he had me screaming his name out every night.
”

“
Mai, you have a remarkable knack of turning every conversation into something smutty,
”
I scolded quietly, hoping the few colleagues waiting for the lifts didn’t overhear.

“
One of my many talents.
”
She blew on her knuckles then buffed them on her chest, smiling proudly.

I shook my head as we crowded into the car, answering the gentleman next to the panel when he asked what floor.

“
What?
”
Mai
’
s innocent tone was entirely at odds with her lewd topic of conversation.
“
I expect to be old, like in my thirties, before my sex life dies. At my age, I should be coming like an express train.
”

The greying man beside her who
’
d been listening with much interest received the full-on flirt, when Mai winked and rubbed his arm suggestively.

That girl was going to be slapped with a sexual harassment case one of these days. I could see it coming.

THURSDAY morning, I was still laughing. I
’
d died of shame at having to swing around a pole in front of ten strangers, but the degradation had been worth it, just to see Mai showing off. She
’
d convinced herself a backup career in the clubs was hers for the taking, should the need ever arise.

“
You gonna show Blake some of these moves?
”
Mai had asked in the middle of a particularly acrobatic move.

“
God, no,
”
was my hasty reply. But maybe one day, in the distant future, it might be fun
…

I could barely contain my excitement, knowing that tomorrow Nate would be back. My eyes sparkled back at me as I grinned stupidly at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I finished up and headed back to my office, but got sidelined by the enormous bouquet of vibrant sunflowers taking pride of place on Mai
’
s workstation.
“
Wow, these are gorgeous.
”

“
Gorgeous flowers from a gorgeous man,
”
Mai cooed.

“
Mitch finally got his act together and realised how lucky he is?
”

“
Nah-ah.
”
She beamed from ear to ear.
“
These are from Nate.
”

“
What?
”
My attention snapped to her expectant face. She held up the card so I could read the typed note:

THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF KARA. NATE.

The unfounded jealousy trying to rear its ugly head gradually abated.

“
Can
’
t wait to get them home.
”
Mai tucked the card in her desk drawer.
“
Like you said, Mitch needs his ass kicking into gear. Another guy digging on me might make him rethink his attitude.
”

I tilted my head, my lips pursed ruefully. Mai was as straight up as they came, not one to play petty games. Watching her head down that path reminded me how lucky I was being with Nate.
“
I
’
m sorry, Mai.
”

“
No biggie.
”
She shrugged.

“
How about a blowout at Tram? Maybe a sneaky cocktail whilst we
’
re there?
”
I suggested for lunch, hoping to lift her spirits.

Mai straightened and grinned.
“
Now you
’
re talking.
”

MY HOPES OF a relaxing evening were thwarted the second I stepped out of my car and got accosted by two men. One bombarded me with questions about my relationship with Nate
—
how long had we been dating, where did we meet, and so on. The most bizarre question he asked was the one troubling me the most
—
did I know who he was with on the East Coast? As if it was any of
his
business.