Heart-Shaped Hack(16)

In an effort not to make Kate feel left out, her friends overcompensated, asking a multitude of questions about the food pantry. Thanks to Ian, she was able to report that things were going very well.

“And how are you getting along without Stuart?” Paige asked gently.

Paige had gotten married last year, and Audrey was engaged. Kate was genuinely happy for both of them. She’d long since worked her way through the various stages of her and Stuart’s breakup. At first she’d gone through the crying, self-doubt stage, wondering if she’d made a huge mistake. That was followed by quiet resignation and contemplation, accompanied by a considerable amount of wine. Then she’d completed the healing stage, which allowed her to arrive where she was now, which was the cautiously optimistic about the future stage.

“I’m doing fine, really. I’ve actually met someone new.”

Audrey leaned in. “Do tell.”

“He works with computers. Really, really handsome. It’s fairly new, but it’s going well.”

“What’s his name?” Paige asked.

“Ian.”

“Ian what?”

“Ian…”

Shit.

She was making it seem like Ian was make-believe. Stalling, she put her spoon in her mouth, and after she swallowed, she said, “Smith.”

Smith?

Jesus.

“I don’t know anyone by that name,” Paige said.

“He’s new in town.” Kate hadn’t heard from Ian since they’d gone to lunch on Monday. On Thursday she’d admitted to herself that she was looking forward to seeing him again. By Saturday morning, she’d started listening—and hoping—for a knock on her apartment door.

The rest of the time passed in a blur of catching up on everything that had transpired since they’d last met for brunch. They lingered a while after paying the bill. Kate had the rest of the day to fill and was in no particular hurry to leave the restaurant. But all too soon her friends looked at their phones and groaned when they noticed the time.

“I have to go to work if I hope to get out of there before midnight,” Audrey said.

“Me too,” Paige said.

They told Kate good-bye, accompanied by a flurry of hugs and promises to get together soon. A few minutes later Kate put on her coat and walked out the door into the brilliant sunshine. She turned the corner onto her street, then stopped short when she saw a flash of blue. Ian’s car was parked at the curb, and he was leaning up against it, smiling.

Her Sunday had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.

She walked up to him. “Are you ever not smiling?”

“Why wouldn’t I be smiling? It’s awesome being me.”

“Been waiting long?”

“About an hour. I’d almost given up on you.”

“I was at brunch with the girls.”

He checked her out, not bothering to hide the way his gaze traveled slowly from her head to her feet. “You look amazing. I am fascinated by those boots.”

Kate unbelted her trench coat. “What about my sweater? A friend bought several of them for me.”

“It’s very nice, and that is an excellent color on you. What else did this friend buy you?”

“He bought me some pajamas. I love them.”

“He thought you might. Was there anything else?”

“There was a black babydoll nightie.”

“Did it fit?”

“It fit perfectly. I’m going to save it for a special evening should there be one in my future.”

“Oh there will be, Katie. He’ll make sure of it.” He opened the passenger door. “I was wondering if you have plans for the rest of the day.”

Kate got in, and after Ian closed the door, he walked around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel.

“That depends,” she said. “What did you have in mind?”

He started the car. “You’ll see.”



What Ian had in mind was drinking champagne in the park under a canopy of trees before they lost the last of their fall leaves. It was a perfect day to be outside. The fifty-degree temperature was slightly above normal for that time of year, and their coats would keep them warm enough to enjoy one last hurrah before the sleet and snow arrived. Winter was coming, but on that day they could almost convince themselves otherwise.

Before he’d locked the car, Ian had reached into the small trunk and retrieved a shopping bag. Now he led Kate off the park’s walking path to a grassy area and took a blanket out of the bag. After he shook it out, he and Kate sat down. Then Ian pulled out a bottle of champagne and expertly popped the cork.

“You do realize that if you keep plying me with alcohol, I may develop an actual drinking problem?”

Ian sighed. “The health of your liver is definitely a concern of mine.”

“I’m sure it is.”

He reached in for two flutes, filled one, and handed it to Kate.

She leaned toward him. “What else do you have in that bag of tricks?”

“Chocolate-dipped strawberries.” He took out the container of strawberries and fed one to her, tossing the stem over his shoulder after she bit down.

“While I appreciate your being the polar opposite of Kent, I’m afraid I’m not very hungry.”