“Can’t wait to hear what the new exhibit is all about,” he told her. “Sweet dreams.”
“Thanks. And good luck on Wednesday. Let me know how it goes, okay?”
“Will do. Goodnight.” He lingered on the call, letting her be the one to end it. Drumming his fingers on the table, Nick replayed the whole conversation in his head. Didn’t sound as if she expected to talk again before Wednesday. She seemed happy to see him and talk, but he felt a little unsettled. Was she hedging on sending him paintings to keep from having long-term ties? They’d had such a great weekend. She’d been on his mind since the minute they’d said goodbye—kissed goodbye.
But tonight’s conversation had him wondering…given their circumstances, did she just friend-zone him?
ChapterNine
Kat shoved cash at the cabbie and nearly leapt out of the car. Thanks to her boss’s over-zealous list of tasks to get started on, Kat was running late for the unexpected dinner invitation with Pete, owner of Loft Gallery. Of all days.
She glanced up at the restaurant entrance. Lights twinkled around the over-sized green door. She’d heard of Turner’s but had never been here. She’d expected to meet Pete at the gallery but took the dinner suggestion as a good sign. A casual conversation with a glass of wine in hand was preferable to a stiff office meeting any day.
Plus, it put them in neutral territory. They were nowhere close to peers, but maybe she’d feel less of a wannabe outside the gallery. Inside, Kat found Pete had already secured a table. She hurried forward, hoping he wasn’t annoyed.
Pete stood. “There she is, my newest up-and-coming star.”
She gave a breathless laugh. “Sorry I’m late. Big new project starting at the museum.”
“You’re good. I ordered prosecco. That work?”
“Oh, sure. That’s great.”Celebratory.She nearly pinched herself to keep from squealing. This was really happening. After three years of networking, pounding the pavement, and volunteering in the arts community, she had a show. Her work on display in a SoHo gallery. Her dream. A game-changer—one that could give her career a substantial boost.
A moment later, a server appeared with an ice bucket and poured two glasses of the bubbly. Pete lifted his glass toward her. “Cheers to our joint venture.”
Heart hammering, Kat picked up her glass and tapped his. She took a sip then the words rushed out. “Oh, my gosh, Pete. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. And how much I appreciate the opportunity. I know you have so many talented–”
Pete put up a hand to stop her. “It’s not a favor, Kat. It’s something you earn.”
His words sent another tremor of excitement shooting through her. Ha! Kat had earned the show and recognition in the New York City arts scene. She wished her mother could hear this. Would she finally believe?
Pete reached out and grazed a thumb across Kat’s hand. “It’s a team effort, you know. It’s business. You schmooze everyone you can think of, get people to the show, and it’s a win for both of us. I’ll do my share of advertising and promotion, and I get credit for finding the newest talent in N-Y-C. Right?”
Kat offered another shaky smile. Keep it together, she told herself. No gushing. No fan-girl shrieking. She drew in a deep breath and lifted her glass again. “To a successful business venture.”
“Marketing is a huge part of this.” Pete leaned forward. “You’ll get postcards and links to the website, and you need to circulate those anywhere and everywhere.”
“Of course.” She’d plaster them all over the museum. She’d leave a postcard on the subways and at every coffee shop in the metro. If she had her way, they’d be raining down like confetti all over the city.
Their server returned and they ordered dinner, then Pete launched into the details of running a show. Kat tried to listen, willed herself to concentrate, but how could she? This was the most exciting thing to happen to her since she won the juried art show at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as an undergrad. She wanted to jump up and down, twirl around the restaurant.
When dinner arrived, she forced herself to settle down and chew properly. Choking wouldn’t make the best impression.
But then Pete took a piece of paper from his pocket and pushed it across the table. “These are the ones I selected. Come by the gallery and talk to Matt about framing. And you can pick up the others.”
She took a quick glance at the paper. Twelve. Her heart soared. He’d chosen most of her favorites. That left five or six. Plus, she had a few she didn’t submit, which meant shecouldsend a few to Nick. But a co-op in the Springs? That was a far cry from a gallery in New York City. Would it de-value her work? She’d have to give it more thought.
“I’ll get right on the framing,” she told Pete. “How late is Matt usually there?” Not the greatest time to be working late at MoMA every night.
“Depends. You might want to call ahead. And get him your bio and headshot.”
“Sure, I–”
“Dessert tonight, folks?” Their server interrupted.
Pete’s brows rose in question.
“None for me, thanks.”
