“Yeah. I can’t stop looking at it. Maybe you should go ahead and get some printed yourself.”
“I’d rather not spend my own money when he–”
“I’m serious, Kat. This will stop people in their tracks. Even if a postcard doesn’t get people to the gallery, they sure will stop and look, maybe keep it for future reference.”
“But it’s more like a flyer in size now rather than a postcard. I’d have to resize everything to fit a different format. Not sure I have time for that. The MoMA exhibit opens to the public tomorrow, and I need to show up for a few hours.”
“Right. Well, it’s stunning. And I love what you did with the photo.” He lowered his voice. “That photo is gonna keep me up tonight.” And have him needing a cold shower.
A wide smile lit her face. “I’m glad you like it. You think it’s ready to send?”
“I do.”
“I’m trying to decide timing. Maybe tomorrow morning?”
“I don’t see any harm in getting it out there. Check it off the list, babe.”
“Exactly.”
“That mean we can fit in movie night?”
“Sure.”
“Great. But first, do you have your calendar handy?”
“Hang on a sec.” She disappeared for a moment. “What’s up? Do you have travels to add to my calendar?”
The hopeful anticipation in her voice sent blood rushing to his head. “I have a proposition. Listen to this—I agreed to do this charity auction thing at the Denver Art Museum June seventh. By then the HBTV filming will be done, and your show will be over. I’m thinking we could work in a vacay. Maybe you come here for a few days, be my date at the charity gig, then we head up to Estes Park or Vail for some away time. How’s that sound?”
A soft light sparkled in her eyes as she nodded. “It sounds wonderful.”
“Think you could get away?”
“I can put in for the time off. I sometimes have to work a few hours on the floor during the summer since it’s our busiest season, but if I schedule early, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Nick cleared his throat. “I…I’d like to introduce you to my parents, go out for dinner or cook out…something like that.” He’d only ever introduced one girlfriend to his parents, and that was back in college. He wanted to show off Kat. Wanted to make her an official part of his life.
But she’s out of your league, a voice whispered in his ear. In his head, he compared his parents’ modest home to Kat’s parents’ house. Would she also make those comparisons? While he held his breath, he held her gaze and waited for her response.
“I’d love to meet them, too,” she said.
The air whooshed from his lungs, and guilt washed over him. She’d never given him any reason to doubt her sincerity. He had to stop this knee-jerk reaction to her family’s wealth.
* * *
Kat walked into the museum feeling lighthearted on Monday morning. She was basking in a post-email glow. Already, she’d had at least a dozen responses to her show opening document and a bump in her website hits over the weekend. Nana and Mia predictably were the first to gush over the promo piece, but others had chimed in with high praise as well. She could hardly keep a silly grin off her face.
At Nick’s suggestion, she’d printed twenty copies of the flyer. They weren’t the same as a high-quality printed postcard, and too big for most bulletin boards, but she’d thought of a few places she could pin them. Two went to the studio yesterday. Next up, the MoMA breakroom.
She put away her things then took two flyers to the breakroom. A couple of people were there getting coffee, no one she knew well. “Hey,” Kat greeted them.
Both nodded. Adam, who she only knew in passing, picked up the flyer she left on the table. “What’s this?”
Kat gave a nervous laugh. “Just a little self-promo.”
He looked from the paper to her. “Very nice. Congrats.”
She gave a breathless, “Thanks,” and tacked the second one to the bulletin board. “It’s open all month. Hope you can stop by.”