“We need to set up a task force and get on this quick,” Wayne added. “These bozos are already talking about hiring consultants and drawing up plans.”
“We’ll help,” Marcy said.
The expectation in her eyes flashed like a roadside warning sign. Help? Were they thinking… No. No way. “Um, great. I can help, too,” Nick told them, sensing the jaws of a trap close on his heels.
Wayne cleared his throat. “We hoped you might be willing to head this up since you–”
“You already know a lot of those people,” Marcy cut in.
Yeah, because he’d done this before. He shook his head. “Sorry, I’m not in a position to take this on. I’ve got a lot of jobs in the works, and one might require a fair amount of time out of town.”
“The thing is, you’re practically the face of the business district already, and people like you, respond to you.”
Lucky him. “Thanks for that, but I gotta say no this time. Have you talked to others?”
Marcy sighed. “You were our first choice.”
A wave of guilt splashed at his ankles. If he didn’t step back, he knew how quickly it could pull him in and drown him. “I put the hearing date on my calendar,” he told them. “I might be able to attend some other meetings and make a few calls, but I can’t lead a committee.”
“We’ll put out some feelers and see who else can step up,” Wayne said.
“That’d be great. Keep me posted. I’ll put the word out to my artists and see if anyone can pitch in, too.”
When the door closed behind them, Nick blew out a long breath. He couldn’t ignore the issue. He’d have to attend that meeting. And that meant he’d have to wait a few more weeks to see Kat.
* * *
Kat couldn’t remember a more unproductive day. Good thing she’d done the proofing on the info plaques before she got the message from HR. She’d planned to spend the evening nailing down the itinerary and making reservations for opening weekend with her family and Nick, but the museum’s brush-off still stung. Instead of going home alone, she was meeting Mia for dinner. That would take the edge off.
Breaking the news to Nick would have to wait. Kat felt too raw, too vulnerable. And she knew how awful she looked in an ugly cry. No need to subject him to that. Still, she wondered what his reaction would be. Would he tell her to buck up, she’d get it next time? Would he be outraged on her behalf, agree she’d been unfairly pushed aside? Would he get on an airplane and come to comfort and console her?
She liked to think she didn’t need any of those things. She didn’t need a man’s shoulder to cry on. But a tiny voice inside whispered how nice it might be to lean into those broad shoulders, to sink into the warmth of his chest, to be pampered a little.
Inside the quaint Italian bistro that served traditional Italian comfort food, Kat slid into a booth and waited for Mia.
A moment later, Mia stood beside her. Instead of scooting in across from her, she motioned Kat up then wrapped her in a tight hug. “Well, damn,” she whispered. “One good cry, then we order wine.”
Kat clung to her friend, laughing and sniffling. Finally, she pulled back and dropped onto the padded booth. Almost immediately, a server arrived with warm bread and took their drink order.
“So they hired that guy you met?”
“Amy wouldn’t say for sure. Waiting for an official announcement. But I’m betting that’s who it is. I’m actually more annoyed by that than anything. This was a personal favor, a behind-the-scenes deal. It wouldn’t have mattered what kind of hoops I jumped through.”
“That’s right, my friend. You got hijacked, so you can’t take it personally.” She cocked her head. “Does it ever occur to you that you are seriously rocking the under thirty and amazing category?”
Kat sputtered a laugh. “Is that a nice way of saying I’m being impatient and need to lower my expectations?”
The server brought their drinks, and they ordered a pasta sampler to share.
“Nah, it just means you can’t obsess over this. You’re good.” Mia lifted her glass. “To strong women. May we know them. May we be them. To you.”
“Cheers,” Kat said softly. “I’m glad I didn’t tell very many people I’d applied. Now the only other person I have to tell is Nick.”
Mia’s brows shot up. “You didn’t tell Nana?”
“Nope. The Loft show was enough. Guess I kind of had a feeling.” Her eyes watered again. “I wish the new guy had started today so we could get it over with. Now I have two weeks of anticipating his arrival.” She shook her head. “Terrible timing. If the exhibit wasn’t opening next week, I’d take a few days off and get out of here.”
“To where?”
