The Safe Bet (Hidden Truths #1)(14)

She’d been off her game since the moment she boarded the flight to Charlotte, in fact. It had to be because this was the city where her mother had died.

Last night, she’d crossed a line by bringing him into her hotel room. She hadn’t been thinking straight. And when she opened up to him about her mom, he’d morphed into someone cold and broody. The man must’ve had his own issues.

Kate startled at the sound of her phone.

“Hi, Dad,” she finally answered.

“I’ve been calling you for days. You didn’t even answer on your birthday.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with a client.” She chewed on her bottom lip. It was a nervous habit she had developed when she was a kid.

“I want you to come back home. I don’t want you in that Godforsaken city.” His voice sounded a little raw, or raspy. Had he been yelling recently?

“Dad, I’m fine.” Am I? “I like it here.”

Except for the fact that I have a stalker.

Kate cleared her throat. “I, um, visited Mom’s grave yesterday.”

Silence.

“There were fresh flowers on the grave. Who do you think put them there? Do Grandma and Grandpa visit?” It seemed unlikely, however. Her grandparents had abandoned their home on Lake Norman days after her mother died. They never bothered to pack their belongings or sell the house—they just left. They had been living in Savannah, Georgia, ever since.

It was all very . . . odd, to say the least. But anytime she would press the subject in the past her dad would brush the topic under the rug.

“Dad.” Her eyebrows quirked with worry. “Dad?”

“I want you to come home. Now.” His voice was edgy—rough.

“The event is Saturday. I’ll be home shortly after that.” She exhaled a frustrated breath. “I understand why you hate this place. I know it’s hard for you, but I think—I think I might like to open a third location here. It would be good for business.”

“And I really just want you to come home. Please, Kate, for me. Please, get the idea of Charlotte out of your head.”

The line was dead.

She stared at her phone, feeling guilt twist in her gut for upsetting her father. She set the phone on the table just as it began ringing again. It was an unknown number.

She let it ring a few times before answering. “Hello?”

“Kate, darling. How are you?”

Relief flooded her when she recognized the voice. “Joseph, I’m so happy to hear from you.” She stood and walked toward the railing, looking down onto the street twelve stories below.

“You’ll be even happier when I tell you that my plans have been canceled for next weekend. So, I’m free to cater your event. What were you thinking? Duck? Filet? Lamb?”

Kate reveled in the good news. It was just what she needed. “I think duck and filet would both be great. I will email you the details. Thank you so much—I owe you big time.”

“Anything for the beautiful Kate,” he said, his heavy Italian accent adding extra charm to the sentiment.

Kate had known Joseph since her first solo event upon taking over her stepmother’s company. He had saved her then, and he was rescuing her from potential disaster now. She just hoped he wouldn’t hit on her again. “I’ll have one of my secretaries in New York arrange you and your team’s flight.”

“I look forward to seeing you soon. I hope to steal a dance with you, as well. I assume there will be dancing?”

“If I can get a band or orchestra in time.” She only wished she was joking. “See you soon. Thank you again. Ciao.”

Thank God for something. She immediately texted Julia the good news. A few minutes later, her phone rang with the number from the Maddox office. Kate was impressed—Julia at work, even on a Sunday.

“Hey, Julia. I’m so relieved we were able to get such a fantastic chef on such short notice.”

“Looks like you’re pulling this party off. I guess I’ll have to wear a monkey suit after all,” Michael responded, his voice light and friendly. The opposite of how he’d left her last night.

“Oh. Hi, Michael. Sorry, I assumed it was Julia.”

“I was just checking in on you. Wondered how you were doing.”

Kate flushed with embarrassment. Why had she told Michael about her mom? “I’m sorry for diving into my issues with you. I don’t normally share my personal life with people.” She ran a hand through her long hair and shook her head, wishing she could erase last night’s conversation.

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“Yes, I do. I don’t mix business with . . .” Pleasure?

“Let me take you to lunch. We can talk about the fundraiser.”

Was he serious? For someone who professed to hate such events, he was certainly showing a lot of interest. “I have a lot of work to do, unfortunately. Maybe I can email you an update tonight?” She didn’t want to come face to face with Michael again, not until she had to.

“Kate.”

The way he said her name made her groin ache.

“Dinner.” His voice was resolute.

He didn’t sound like he was giving her an option, and Kate was beginning to think Michael wasn’t used to hearing the word no. “Where do you want to meet?”