A Cowboy in Manhattan(67)

Katrina wasn’t ready to speak, so she nodded instead.

“Does that mean you and he are…involved?”

“No,” Katrina quickly replied. “I mean, we went out a couple of times, sure. But he was only here for a few days, and then—” She forced out a laugh. “You know what Coloradans are like. Couldn’t wait to get back to the dust and sweat.”

“Didn’t you grow up there?”

“I haven’t lived there since I was ten.”

“Ah.”

The waitress arrived with Danielle’s iced tea.

She squeezed in a slice of lemon and concentrated on stirring. “You could always go visit him.”

“I don’t get to Colorado very often. It’s really never been my favorite place.”

“But, with Reed—”

“It’s nothing like that,” Katrina assured her, scrambling for a way out of the conversation. She and Reed were past tense, done, over.

“He’s a very handsome man.”

A thought hit Katrina. “Are you interested in Reed? I wondered when he called you for the restaurant recommendation—”

Danielle laughed lightly. “It’s nothing like that for me, either. But it seems like you and he—”

“No.”

“You’re blushing, Katrina.”

“I am? Well…”

There was a combination of pity and curiosity in Danielle’s eyes. Reed had obviously shared something with her.

“You know more than you’re letting on, don’t you?” Katrina asked.

“I know he took you to dinner. And I can see that you’re blushing. And he seems to have left town in a bit of a…hurry. That only adds up to so many things.”

Katrina felt her face grow even hotter.

“And now it occurs to me that Caleb and Mandy’s relationship has the ability to make things complicated for you.”

“It’s no problem.” Though Katrina was struggling to keep her composure.

“I don’t mean to pry.” But Danielle’s mixture of concern and curiosity somehow invited confidences.

“It never should have happened.” Katrina gave up pretending.

“I hear you,” Danielle agreed with what seemed like genuine sympathy.

“We’re completely unsuited. Our lives are a million miles apart. And yet there was this chemical thing.” Katrina stopped herself.

“I’ve experienced that chemical thing myself,” said Danielle with a self-deprecating laugh.

“You have?” Katrina hated to admit it, but her misery felt a little better with company.

“A guy named Tr—Trevor.” Danielle stabbed at her iced tea for a moment, and it looked as if she might be blushing. “He was from Texas.”

“Did you sleep with him?” Katrina instantly checked herself. “I’m sorry. That was completely inappropriate.”

“Not at all. I don’t mind. We didn’t. Oh, he tried hard enough. And he was quite a charmer. But I managed to say no.”

“Reed was the opposite,” Katrina confessed. “He tried to talk me out of it. But I wouldn’t listen, and I— Good grief, I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

Danielle reached across the table and covered Katrina’s hand. “When was the last time you saw him?”

“Saturday night.”

“So, the wound is fresh.”

Katrina nodded miserably.

“Then you need someone to talk to.” Danielle glanced around. “Do they serve martinis here?”

“You know, that actually sounds tempting.”

Danielle waved to the waitress.

“I bet you’re glad you said no,” Katrina ventured in a low voice. If she hadn’t slept with Reed, maybe she wouldn’t have such a burning pain in her chest. Maybe the world wouldn’t feel as if it was crushing her with its weight. Maybe she’d be able to sleep. And maybe tears wouldn’t feel as if they were mere seconds away every moment of the day and night.

“Not necessarily,” said Danielle, her expression going soft. “I lay awake at night wondering what it would have been like.”

“Was he really great?”

“He was conceited and pig-headed and irrepressible and rash. He was also the sexiest guy I’ve ever met, and I know deep down in my soul that he’d have been an extraordinary lover.”