She gave a delicate laugh. “Well, Katherine Rose Andrews to be exact.”
“Nana?” Kat turned to her grandmother. “What’s going on?”
“I bought a date with Nick at the museum fundraiser, and I’m gifting it to you.”
Color stained Kat’s cheeks. “Youwhat?”
“I’m having dinner with Charles, and you two are having dinner with each other.”
Charles looked at Nick and appeared equally confused.
Kitty gestured toward the hostess who still hovered beside them, waiting. “Shall we?” Before anyone could answer, she smiled at the hostess and followed behind her.
Still trying to wrap his head around the situation, Nick waved a hand to indicate Kat should go ahead. He brought up the rear.
The woman seated Charles and Kitty then motioned Nick and Kat to a cozy two-top nearby. Nick pulled out a chair for Kat then sat across from her.
“This is unexpected,” he said.
“I’ll say.” She twisted her hands on the table.
A waiter appeared with glasses of water.
“Good evening, folks. May I start you with a cocktail or glass of wine?”
Nick raised his eyes to Kat. “Bottle of wine?”
“A bottle?” she echoed.
Nick shrugged. He had a feeling they’d want more than one glass.
“Sure. That would be fine.”
He ordered a label they’d enjoyed before. Then he sat back in his chair and regarded his surprise date. “You didn’t know about this?”
“Not at all.”
Nick glanced to the other table where Kitty sat decked out in a cream-colored pantsuit and heavy jewelry, perfectly composed, every hair in place, smiling at her date. He almost laughed. How in the world did she pull this off?
He shook his head. “Your grandmother is pretty sly. I had no idea.”
“Are you mad?” Kat asked.
“I…” He blew out a breath. He would’ve liked the chance to prepare, but Kitty had handed him something he hadn’t been able to achieve on his own. “No. Are you?”
“No,” she said softly.
Okay, at least they were on the same page. Still, she didn’t seem comfortable, either.
The server arrived with a bottle of wine and ice bucket. He poured a sampling and offered it to Nick. He shook his head and gestured toward Kat.
She took a quick sip and smiled. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”
Nick swallowed hard. One thing he had to give her high marks for, Kat never failed to be gracious and polite. Charming, even. He reached for the ice water as the memory of their first meeting crashed over him. At the time, she only knew him as a worker-bee in her parents’ home, but she’d invited him inside to save him from waiting for roadside assistance in his frigid car.
After the server poured two glasses of wine and left the table, Kat lifted her glass and raised her brows. “Cheers?”
Nick tapped his to hers.
