Miss Impractical Pants (27 page)

“She’s been sick like this all night,” Lucas explained to Jared and Natalie apologetically. “Why don’t the two of you go see some sights? I’ll have Katie call you when she’s feeling better.”

“That’s a good idea. Damn, that was nasty,” Jared replied with an exaggerated whole-body shudder. “Actually, I kind of want to shower now. Maybe we’ll just check into a hotel. I don’t want to risk catching whatever she’s got.”

“I don’t blame you. In fact, why don’t you throw your bags in the boot of my car? I’ll change my clothes and drive you to a decent hotel.” Lucas was willing to do whatever it took to not have them back again. He found his key fob and pointed it toward the street until he heard the
bleep bleep
that unlocked the car door. “There you go, the car’s just there—outside the gate,” he called, already halfway to his bedroom.

***

When Lucas came downstairs, Natalie was already sitting in the backseat next to a pile of luggage, but Jared was waiting at the front gate to catch a word in private.

“Lucas, I need to ask you a favor. Will you give this to Katie for me?” Not giving him a chance to respond, Jared shoved a little black ring box into Lucas
’s
hands.

The note he found in Katie’s suitcase flashed through Lucas’s mind. He recalled all the adjectives used to describe Jared and thought they were too kind. “This isn’t something I feel comfortable with. You should give it to her yourself.”

“Nah, the timing’s not right; she needs a few days to feel better and have some time to think. Listen, if you won’t give it to her, will you at least pass it off to someone who will, or hide it someplace where she’ll be able to find it later?”

“I guess I can do that,” Lucas agreed reluctantly.

Lucas pulled his car to the curb just outside Soho and sent Jared and Natalie off in pursuit of their hotel. Once they were out of sight, he pulled out the delicate box that had been burning a hole in his pocket and his brain ever since Jared had burdened him with it. “Stupid git,”
he mumbled to himself, and opened the lid. A hurriedly scribbled note was tucked inside that read:

Katie,

We belong together. Please don’t say no.

I love you.

Jared

Pinching the ring between his thumb and forefinger, Lucas held it out for inspection. Engraved inside the band was the word “promised.” He eyed the ring with disgust. He hadn’t known Katie long, but it only took him one look through her wardrobe to know that
she would hate that ring. The too-shiny, yellow gold band was twisted ornately into a pair of sideways hearts that were joined together by a small, round diamond set in a gaudy bed of braided golden loops.

An uncomfortable emotion edged through his veins, which he convinced himself was concern. Concern that she deserved better than this man who didn’t appreciate her enough not to comfort her when sick, to not take another woman on her holiday, didn’t understand her well enough to know she didn’t like tacky gold jewelry, or care that she’d be burdened with guilt if she refused it. Lucas barely knew her, and already he understood that much about her.

Lucas didn’t get to keep his promise to be right back. Before he returned, his mother had come and snatched what she felt was rightfully hers—Katie—claiming in the snarky message she left him that he was unable to give Katie the proper care she needed. To some degree, Katie had to agree that was true. Though he was attentive and kind, she was embarrassed by his attention to her, and his skills couldn’t compete with the quality of pampering and coddling she received from Lottie and Mrs. Albright. Under their maternal watch, her stomach was eventually set at ease, and she was cosseted into a deep, all-consuming sleep.

***

“Holy shit!”
Anna exclaimed after hearing Katie describe her last several days in full detail.

“I know, right?” Heather agreed.

“What should I do?” Katie asked her conference call attendees. Locating the remote control on the bedside table, she turned down the volume on the television Mrs. Albright had considerately unearthed from behind the doors of the sturdy armoire.

Dylan spoke up. “Which one takes priority: trying to one-up Jared—because, let me tell you, you are NOT going to mope around while he’s treating some G-woman to your vacation—or getting out of there before the psycho fiancée succeeds the next time she tries to kill you?”

“G-woman!
Is that…something
sexual
?” Katie asked, alarmed by the very real possibility. She remembered Natalie’s low-cut shirt the
first time they’d met, and the glimpse she’d caught of her seductive black bra.

“No, doofus, ‘G-man’ is gangster slang for an FBI agent,” Dylan informed her. “Obviously Jared’s head over heels for you—”

“I’m not one for petty games,” Anna chimed in, ignoring the simultaneous “Yeah, right” from Dylan and Katie. “But Dylan’s got a point—you’ve got to do something that will really get under Jared’s skin.”

“And do something about that Olivia monster,” Heather contributed. “Now that you’re not dead, she’s going to keep ambushing you.”

“Maybe you could sleep with your hot boss,” Dylan suggested.

“Get real. Lucas is like a cousin,” Katie argued.

This time the “Yeah, rights” chorused from Anna, Dylan, and Heather.

Drawn in by the television program humming in the background, Katie was spared from having to further contemplate her options. She heard the soft voice of the narrator: “…looking at the pristine beaches and the throngs of Western European tourists, it’s no wonder why so many refugees of the former Yugoslavia have found Croatia to be their safe haven….”
The camera panned across an enticing coastline before cutting to a majestic waterfall, then followed a sparkling river as it highlighted all of the country’s bounties.

Safe haven.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea,” Katie announced.

“What do you mean?” Alarm bells rang through Anna’s voice. “Are you thinking of doing something stupid?”

When Katie didn’t respond, Dylan reported, “She’s lost in thought.
Which means she’s going to do something stupid.
”

He was right on one point. Katie’s thoughts had evolved too far to issue a response.

“Okay, whatever, just
keep
us posted,” Anna said, and all four friends sounded their goodbyes.

A hot shower was just what Katie needed to glean perspective. With intense focus, she scrutinized the soapy bubbles, believing they were carrying with them down the drain all the blemished events since her last shower, all the way back in her parents’ basement. She felt a sort of renaissance imagining vomit, airport, Jared, Natalie, and Olivia germs swirling into oblivion. Cleansing the residue of those memories from her body left her feeling as though she could do exactly as she pleased. And right now, she pleased not to let Jared and Natalie hijacking her dream vacation
make
her miserable. She also pleased to never have to see Olivia again.

By the time she was ready to leave her room, she felt as though she’d had a second round through the birthing canal. She was a brand-new person, tired and weak but smelling fresh and ready to make her mark on the world.

Lottie and Sidney were in the library chatting and having tea, with the television on low volume, when Katie made her appearance.

“Well, bugger me, if it isn’t Sleeping Beauty!” Lottie exclaimed.

“Lottie, if you don’t watch your language the lass will think she’s woken up in the gutter,” Sidney lightly reprimanded.

“Oh sod off, Sidney, I’ll speak as I bloody well please,” Lottie returned lightheartedly. Then, speaking to Katie what she clearly meant
for Sidney, she added, “The old fossil still thinks he can treat me like his baby sister.”

“That, my dear woman, will never change so long as you continue to act like an adolescent.” He betrayed just a hint of a smile.

“Oh piss off,” Lottie uttered under her breath.

Delighting in their playful banter, Katie slid onto the sofa next to Sidney and waited for the right moment to tell them her decision.

“Well?” Lottie prodded, “I can see that you’ve got something to say…go on with it then.”

Katie giggled at Lottie’s no-nonsense approach, since everything about the woman was so nonsensical.

“Sidney, thank you so much,” Katie enthused. “I feel so honored that you allowed me to borrow these.” She pressed and held the priceless diamonds she wore to the ball into his palm. “I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble by wearing them.”

“Nonsense, love.
I sincerely hope we’ll have the opportunity to see you wear them again.” He gave her hand a light squeeze.

“I hope so, too,” she agreed,
then
fell silent.

Feeling Lottie staring down the bridge of her thin nose at her, Kate wrung her hands together as she struggled for the right words. So much had taken place; it was hard to remember she had only met these people a few days ago.

“I’ve decided to go to Croatia.” Katie made the announcement with the speed of a cattle auctioneer,
then
squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation of their reaction.

The tiny woman clapped her hands, her eyes bulging from their sockets.
“Oooh fabby!
Can I go with you?”

“Croatia?” Sidney’s response was closer to what she’d anticipated. “Apart from Olivia, have we done something to drive you away? Dear girl, have we upset you?” Beyond the puzzlement, he looked hurt.

“No, Sidney, not at all,” she gushed, distressed to have caused him pain. “You’ve been wonderful—you all have. But after two encounters with Olivia, I’m starting to get
an inkling
she doesn’t like me much.” She tried to lighten the mood with a playful wink. “It doesn’t feel right working for Lucas, seeing how his fiancée tried to poison me last night. I think it was last night…crap, I don’t even know what day it is.”

“I can certainly understand that. But why would you leave
us
?”

She was surprised Sidney even asked; she would have thought the answer was obvious.

“Because you’re Lucas’s family, soon to be Olivia’s.
This is their home more than mine. I shouldn’t be here.”

“Oh bollocks,” Sidney retorted. “Now you listen very carefully.” His voice was stern. “I’m forgiving you this once because you’ve just arrived. But let me set you straight, young miss. You have been part of this oddball family from the moment we clapped eyes on you.”

Katie tried to make a point, but Sidney shot her a look that warned her to hold her tongue.

“Not because our Avery sent you here, but because you’re a beautiful, kindhearted, outlandish wit
of a lass
. You’re as ridiculous as our Lottie here.” His jaw softened as Lottie punched her tongue out at him. “Once you’re a part of this family, you don’t turn your back on it.”

“He makes us sound like the bloody Godfather,” Lottie mumbled under her breath so Sidney couldn’t hear.