The Mommy Makeover

That much Daniel was willing to admit. “You’re right. I’m worried about her.”

“Me, too.” Stefanie pulled her perfectly arched brows together. “Frankly, I think she needs to meet someone new, someone she can’t dismiss. Someone who could turn into a significant other.”

Daniel looked at her in surprise. “You’re advocating marriage?”

“Okay, so I’m no Betty Crocker, but Katelyn’s not like me. I grew up with all the traditional trappings and I know it’s there if I choose that road—” She grinned wickedly in self-derision “—or not. But Katelyn thinks she’s not cut out for the serious stuff, and I disagree. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be reexamining her decision to remain married only to her career.”

Daniel hadn’t counted on an ally in Stefanie. “So you think she might need a push in the right direction?”

Her eyes lit up. “Precisely.” She adopted her best mock alluring expression. “I knew I liked you, Daniel.”

“It’s mutual. And who better to nudge her in the right direction than us?”

Stefanie grinned. “Exactly. We can be discreet, thoughtful…” she paused with a wicked grin. “And pushy.”

Katelyn’s office door swung open. “Hey, Stef. What’re you doing here?”

“I thought I’d kidnap you for lunch.”

Katelyn automatically glanced at her watch. “I wish I could, but I don’t have time for lunch today.”

“Maybe dinner then?”

Katelyn shook her head. “I’m booked tonight, too.”

“Hot date?”

Katelyn laughed cryptically. “Date? What’s that? Nope, this is strictly business.” As she spoke, Katelyn reached for the stack of messages on Daniel’s desk.

As she did, Stefanie exchanged a look with Daniel.

“Okay, I sense a brush-off when I hear it,” Stefanie replied.

“It’s not that, Stef, really. You know you’re my dearest friend and I’d love to spend an evening with you. Let me grab my planner and we’ll set up something. Maybe next week?”

“Sure.”

“Actually, I have about five minutes before the next meeting. Come into my office. There’s just enough time for a cup of coffee.”

Stefanie trailed behind Katelyn, turning slightly before entering the office. She caught Daniel’s gaze, cementing their alliance.

KATELYN RELAXED in the dark interior of the car, relieved that the last meeting of the day was finally over. The nagging heartburn that had been erupting since her five-o’clock meeting was now a full-fledged fire in her stomach. Digging in her purse for an antacid, she fervently wished for a cigarette. At that moment, her fingers came across the Walkman Daniel had given her.

Maybe the tape could really work. Lord knew she needed to drop this irksome habit. It was getting to be easier to sneak a marching band into most places than a cigarette. Even the car her firm paid for was off-limits. It was beyond annoying. Not to mention the fact that she had so far failed to control this one aspect of her life.

With that thought she put the headphones on. As with any subliminal tape, she really didn’t understand it, but she was so tired. And the beginning just seemed to drone on about the benefits of listening to subliminal tapes. Still, she found herself relaxing, her head nodding as she leaned back in the seat. Maybe if she just closed her eyes for a minute…

“The freeway’s closed, we’re going to have to take Memorial Drive,” Finn told her.

When she didn’t reply, he sat in silence for a few moments. But silence had never been his strong suit. “That okay with you, Ms. Amhurst?”

Still no reply.

“Hey. You alive back there?”

Stopping at a red light, he craned his head back and saw that she was fast asleep. Even in sleep, she was an enigma. Although signs of weariness creased her face, she was also incredibly alluring. Asleep, she possessed a quality not visible while awake—a touch of vulnerability. Finn wondered if it was a trick of lighting or his own imagination.

But then her lips formed a quiet sigh. Inexplicably, the sound moved him. It shouldn’t. Katelyn Amhurst was a rigid power freak. Still, the fleeting glimpse made him pause. How much of that was genuine? Was there another Katelyn beneath the corporate killer?

The car behind him honked. Pulling back from the thought, Finn accelerated. The movement caused the papers resting on the front seat to fall to the floor. He had picked them up from the back seat, intending to sort them. Katelyn had emptied her briefcase between meetings. He guessed some of the papers might be ones Katelyn needed, but they were mixed with bits of trash.

Stopping at the next light, he reached for the papers, his hand closing over a small piece of cardboard. He started to drop it on the seat when he noticed that it was the inner paper from a cassette tape. He scanned it quickly: “Embrace Your Femininity.” Startled, he glanced back at Katelyn. No wonder she looked a tad vulnerable. But that was no doubt temporary. As the light changed, he slipped the label into the glove compartment.

A few minutes later, as they arrived at her condo, Finn made enough noise to ensure that Katelyn woke up. When he opened her door, she looked groggy but together, even remembering to remove the headphones.

As she dropped the Walkman into her purse, Finn cleared his throat, wondering about the tape label he had just seen. “So, what are you listening to?”

“It’s supposed to help me stop smoking.”

Right. Finn cleared his throat, stemming his reaction. “And is it working?”

“This is the first time I’ve listened to it.”

That explains a lot. “Guess you have to listen to it over and over for it to really work.”

“I suppose so.”

“No better time than when you’re in the car.”

She struggled to contain a yawn. “Uh-huh. Seven-thirty tomorrow morning.” She eyed him balefully. “Not seven thirty-five.”

He saluted, not completely squelching his grin. “Yes, ma’am.”

Katelyn hefted her briefcase as she slung her purse strap over her shoulder, then turned toward her lobby door.

Finn watched her for a moment. “Good night.”

“’Night,” she muttered around a yawn.

He grinned despite her lukewarm reply. Whistling, he started up the car and turned onto the still busy street. He had thought this job was going to be a real pain. Suddenly, it looked very interesting.

Chapter Three

“Dammit, Malloy. You’re late again.”

“Six minutes, Ms. Amhurst. And I was caught in traffic.”

“I thought you knew your way around the traffic.”