He glances around the table. “What happened to the coffee?”
“There was an incident with it,” an older woman sitting next to Uncle Jacob’s chair says. “Jeanette went out to get some more. She should be here shortly.”
“Fair enough.” He then addresses the group. “First, I’ve got two announcements to make. As many of you know, Evie is leaving us. For the rest of you who actually work hard and avoid the water-cooler gossip…” His pause is met with an amused chuckle from the group. “That was my first announcement. Second, I’d like to introduce you to my niece, Kate Snow. She will be Evie’s replacement.”
He nods at me.
“Hi,” I say, “I’m really looking forward to working with all of you.”
Uncle Jacob leans back in his chair, folded hands on his flat stomach. “How about you introduce yourselves and tell Kate your role here, and then we’ll discuss some other changes we’re doing to the show just to spice things up this season.”
One by one the team members introduce themselves. They’re all smiles and jokes and everyone makes me feel welcome.
“I’m Rebecca, the show’s home designer,” the woman with short red hair says.
“I didn’t realize there’s more than one designer on the show.” I assumed that Evie was it.
“There is only one,” she clarifies. “Me. I hate the idea of being on camera, so that’s where Evie came in…and now you. I work on the designs, and then Evie was the TV personality.”
“It worked out better than I ever expected,” my uncle says, beaming like he has found the pot of gold under the rainbow. “Rebecca is an amazing designer. I couldn’t imagine ever having to replace her. And I know you’ll do a great job too, Kate, showcasing her work like Evie did for the past six seasons.”
Disappointment eddies in my stomach in an endless spiral, and I feel my mouth stretch into a smile that is as plastic as the lids on the Starbucks coffees. “Sounds great.”
And now I see why my uncle hired me for Evie’s job. I’m a better actress than I realized.
I release a mental sigh.
32
Kate
“Hey, beautiful,”Cameron says, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.
I startle. Until he had done that, I’d been staring at my parents’ fountain in the middle of the extensive patio, not paying much attention to the guests milling around, chatting, laughing, gossiping.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to freak you out.”
I laugh softly. “Don’t worry. I’m sure my heart will recover.”
Maybe from him startling me—I’m not so sure about from everything else.
A distinctive clicking sound warns me that we’re not so alone—if you exclude the hundred or so guests not currently paying attention to us.
A camera lens is pointing in our direction. When the owner, a woman I don’t recognize, realizes the moment she thought she was capturing is over, she lowers her camera, smiles at me, and walks off.
She doesn’t get too far before she is approached by Cameron’s mom, who is all smiles.
Cameron’s arms drop away from my waist. “Uh, oh. Why do I have a feeling my mother is up to no good again?”
I turn to him. He’s also dressed up for the occasion, in a gray Armani suit and a red-striped tie, the knot slightly relaxed. “Do you know who that woman is?”
“She’s some up-and-coming celebrity photographer. Lucinda must have invited her. She’s definitely not paparazzi.”
“That makes sense. Lucinda said a magazine will be featuring the party in an upcoming issue. But that wouldn’t explain why the photographer was shooting photos ofus.”
“She probably thought she was capturing a romantic moment between us to include with whatever article she’s writing. If you want, I’ll make sure our photos aren’t part of it.”
“Yes, please.” Even though there’s a zero percent chance of Noah seeing the pictures, I don’t want to risk someone else showing them to him. It’s bad enough I didn’t return the sentiment when he told me that he loves me—even though a large part of me wanted to tell him the truth. I don’t want him thinking I hooked up with another man as soon as I left Copper Creek.
