Ori considered. “Only if I get to interview him or her …her. I want a woman.” She saw the friends exchange a glance and she grinned, shaking her head in mocksadness. “Sexist Neanderthals.” She sighed as they laughed. “Seriously, though, guys, we women can squeeze another human being out of us; we can handle being a bodyguard.”
Kate had dischargedherself from the hospital without having the further surgery. “There’s no rush, is there?”
The doctor wasn’t happy, but extracted a promise from her to see her gynecologist. She hadn’t told Nikos yet about her condition; she knew if she did, he would insist on inseminating and freezing her eggs and Kate just wasn’t sure. She wondered when she had decided that Nikos wasn’t the one for her.When you met Lisander Duarte, you little fool …
Now it was a month later, and Kate was relieved when Nikos told her he was working out of the city for a week, and Kate could bury herself in her work. There had been an odd atmosphere between her and Nikos, one which neither of them wanted to address, so they limped on, never really talking.
Maceo was officially a free man; there was simply no evidence he had killed Tyson Janek, and the DA’s office had to walk back a very embarrassing statement they had made about catching his killer the day of the murder.' Kate had never known the DA’s office to behave so recklessly, and she was determined to find out if the DA himself had any ties to Tyson Janek. She would bet her life he did. Tyson must have poured poison into his ear about his stepdaughter's new love. She made her displeasure with the DA known—Gerry had talked her out of launching a formal complaint until they were sure he was corrupt.
“A junior partner accusing the DA without proof—that would be the end of your career, Kate. Not just in the States, either. News travels.”
Kate had been digging around without much success and was in her office, being frustrated by the lack of response to her questions, when Lisander Duarte knocked on her door.
“Hey,” she said in delighted surprise and stood to greet him. She suddenly felt awkward. Did she shake his hand or hug him? They had kissed, but …
Lisander saved her by placing his hands on her shoulders. “Let me look at you. You seem healthy. I trust you’re doing well?”
She grinned. “I am, thank you. Appendicitis is painful, but thankfully, the recovery is quick. Thank you, Mr. Duarte, for the beautiful flowers and the sketch. It meant a great deal to me.”
“I think we can go with Lisander and Kate now, can’t we?” Lisander grinned, taking the seat she offered. “And it was my pleasure. I meant what I said. When you’re ready, that gown is yours.”
“You are too kind.” Kate could feel her face burning. “What brings you into the city?”
“Forward planning for New York Fashion Week. And I wanted to see you and make sure you were okay.”
Her face couldn’t get much hotter, Kate mused, but she was delighted he wanted to see her. She threw caution to the wind. “Hey, look, I’m finishing up here … want to grab a drink somewhere?”
Lisander pushedthrough the crowded bar and to the table he and Kate had commandeered. He handed her one of the sodas in his hand, and they clinked glasses. Kate Garcia was easy to spend time with, he thought now, and she’d done what nothing else had done for months now—made him smile. She grinned her thanks to him for the drinks as he sat back down beside her.
“Thanks for taking care of Maceo,” he said, clinking his glass to hers.
“If only all cases were that easy.” She checked her watch and leaned back happily, “but not for another hour. I could live here...” She looked around the bar, its subtle lighting and dark wood complementing the big leather couches.
“You seem like a woman who would want to go out every night, soaking up everything New York has to offer. Good or bad,” he added, grinning wickedly.
She laughed. “Yeah … been there, done that. Not here, but yeah, I’ve done my share of partying.” Her expression was suddenly changed, bleak and sad. Lisander frowned.
“Sorry.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I was a mess with drugs, booze, anything that was available. My dad had just died; Ma was remarried and with her new family.” She laughed quietly then. Lisander waited, and she smiled at him. “Little Miss New Boobs.”
Lisander’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
Kate grinned. “It’s fromFriends.When Janice’s husband leaves her for another woman and his new family, she calls herLittle Miss New Boobs.”
Lisander shook his head. “Your knowledge ofFriendsis somewhat encyclopedic.”
She bowed her head. “I thank you. I could probably recite the whole ten seasons to you verbatim. It’s a gift.”
“It’s something, all right,” Lisander muttered, and laughed when she punched his shoulder. “Hey, tell me to mind my own business …”
“Mind your own business.”
“Funny girl. So, what was the catalyst? To stop the partying?”
Kate smiled. “I can’t even tell you. It’s like one day I just woke up and thought ‘What the hell is this life? Such a waste.’ I remember being out at Coney Island, and it was cold but sunny and just a perfect day. I had a hangover, but the fresh air blew through me, and I just decided at that moment to change. So, I got clean. It’s not like I was on the heavy drugs— it was just the odd ecstasy pill and some weed—and enrolled in college. And that was that.”
Lisander nodded. “Impressive. For what it’s worth, I’m very grateful to Coney Island.”
