A Cowboy in Manhattan(66)

“Your other questions?” he prompted.

“I can’t think of any.” She laughed unsteadily, covering her lips with her fingers. “Is this real?”

“It’s real.” Reed reached for his cell phone, dialing Danielle.

Elizabeth sat in astonished silence while Danielle’s office put his call straight through.

“Reed?” came Danielle.

“It’s me.”

“Not another bakery?”

“Can you come to New York City?”

“When?”

“Now.”

There was a long silence on Danielle’s end, followed by a worried, “Why?”

“Probably better if I tell you when you get here.”

“No way. I’ll have a coronary en route worrying.”

Reed chuckled. “I’m about to set up a ten-million-dollar endowment fund to the benefit of the Liberty Ballet Company of New York City. I want you to manage it.”

To her credit, Danielle kept her cool, her tone professional. “I generally advise people to target twenty-five percent of their net worth to charitable endeavors.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

“Have I ever taken your advice before?”

“No.”

“Let’s assume I won’t be starting now.”

“I’ll be there in two hours.”

“Perfect.” If this was the only thing left he could do to protect Katrina, he was going to do it right.





Two days later, and Katrina still couldn’t stop thinking about Reed. Riding the bike at her gym reminded her of him. Sitting in the whirlpool reminded her of him. Eating, drinking, even sleeping all brought back memories of his simmering gray eyes, his rugged face and his killer body that she could swear she felt around her every time she closed her eyes.

In her gym’s locker room, she shut off the shower taps and reached for her towel. Her workout was finished, but she didn’t have it in her to head home and stare at her four walls and feel lonely. So instead, she dried off and dressed, heading for the juice bar that fronted on the sidewalk on the facility’s main floor.

She found a table on the deck near the rail and ordered a raspberry smoothie. At least smoothies didn’t remind her of Reed. And neither did pedestrians or taxicabs. Well, as long as she stayed away from the park.

A long white Hummer limo cruised past, and her chest contracted. She blinked back tears and took a sip of the sweet, icy beverage.

“Katrina Jacobs?” a woman’s voice inquired.

The last thing Katrina wanted to do was to sign an autograph or pose for a picture. But she put on a smile. “Yes?”

The tall, dark-haired woman held out her hand. “Danielle Marin. I’m a lawyer from Chicago. I work for Caleb Terrell, and I’ve met your sister on a number of occasions.”

“Mandy?” Katrina asked in surprise, taking the hand the woman offered.

“Yes. Mandy. She’s fantastic. I think we’re on the way to becoming good friends.”

Katrina looked Danielle up and down. She was neatly dressed, with a chic, short haircut, perfect makeup and a highly polished veneer. It was kind of hard to imagine her as good friends with Mandy.

Danielle glanced meaningfully at the empty chair on the opposite side of the small round table.

“Would you like to sit down?” Katrina felt obligated to offer.

Danielle smiled broadly and took a seat. “Thank you.” She placed her small purse at the edge of the table and ordered an iced tea.

“Are you in New York on business?” Katrina opened, telling herself that at least the conversation might distract her from her depressing thoughts.

“I am,” Danielle answered. “I’m also doing some work here for Reed Terrell.”

Katrina couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but Danielle seemed to be watching her closely as she spoke his name.

“The bakery?” Katrina guessed, trying desperately to keep her features neutral. Then it hit her. “You’re Danielle?”

“Yes.”

“The restaurant reservation. Flavian’s.”

“That was me.” Danielle smiled. “I didn’t know it was you. Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Yes,” Katrina managed. Then she swallowed hard. She didn’t want to think about that night.

“Reed’s a very nice man.”