My Secret Life

“Why would you think that?” Katie forced a laugh, but it came out sounding strangled and strange.

“I was thinking that maybe you’re looking to seduce Richard as a way of drowning your sorrow. You know, choking out the pain with pleasure.”

“No, no. Of course not. That’s ludicrous. I can’t believe you thought that.”

“This coming weekend is the two-month anniversary of your mother’s death.”

“So?”

“So maybe instead of facing what’s upsetting you, you’re seducing Richard Hancock.”

“Well, I’m not,” Katie snapped.

Tanisha held up her palms. “Oookay, I was merely checking. No need to get testy.”

“I don’t understand. What do you have against me hooking up with Richard?”

“He’s just not what you need right now.”

“Why not?” she asked. “He’s fun and flirts and likes to have a good time.”

“Exactly.”

“Meaning?”

“You’re two of a kind.”

“Again, why is that a problem?”

“Come on, be straight with me, do you even like Richard?”

Katie shrugged. “Sure.”

“What do you like about him?” Tanisha lifted a finger. “And you can’t say anything physical.”

“He’s…he’s…”

Why couldn’t she think of what she liked about Richard beside his thick blond hair and his radiant white-toothed smile and his big, broad tanned hands? He wasn’t terribly bright, nor was he horribly reliable. But come on, she wasn’t talking about marrying the guy. She just needed to get laid.

“Can’t do it, can you?”

“He’s funny.”

“No, you’re the funny one. He laughs at your jokes.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Oops! Tanisha was right, but Katie didn’t want to admit it. “Okay, then that’s what I like about him. He makes me feel funny.”

“Funny ha-ha or funny weird?”

“Now you’re just giving me a hard time. What’s the deal?”

Tanisha took a deep breath. “Let’s drop the conversation. We’ve both got work to wrap up before the holi day weekend.”

“No, seriously, I want to know.”

“You sure?” Tanisha arched an eyebrow. “You promise not to get mad at me?”

“What do you mean? I’m not an angry person.”

“You didn’t used to be,” Tanisha said.

“But I am now?”

“Well, sometimes, kind of, ever since your mother passed away.”

That stunned her. To hear it from Brooke was one thing. As the oldest, Brooke had often seen it as her job to monitor Katie and correct her behavior, but to hear it from her friend was another story.

“It’s okay,” Tanisha offered. “Everyone understands. You’ve been through a lot. But instead of hooking up with good-time guys like Richard, you might be at a point in your life where it’s time you checked out the other side of the fence. Maybe you should try being with someone more substantial.”

“I don’t get it. Where is this coming from? You party and flirt as much as I do.”

“Yeah, but since I’ve started dating Dwayne I’m looking at things a bit differently.”

“Don’t tell me that you and Dwayne are getting serious! You’ve only known him what? A month? And he lives in Denver. It’s easy to have a great relationship when you rarely see each other.”

“We’re not talking about me and Dwayne. We’re talking about you, and I think you’re doing this as some kind of rebellion you never outgrew. Deep down inside, you’re a lot more traditional than you want peo ple to believe.”

“Huh?”

“If you want to party and flirt and have lots of casual sex then great, do it. Don’t apologize for it. But if you’re doing it simply to prove to yourself that you’re not like the rest of your family, maybe you should take a second look at what kind of lifestyle will really make you happy.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“Is it?”

“Winfield,” boomed a gruff voice from the across the room.

Katie swiveled in her chair to see her boss, Max Kruger, standing in the doorway. A persistent frown rode his bushy eyebrows. Max was fiftyish, sported an out-of-style crew cut and had a penchant for wearing chinos with crisply starched white shirts. He looked like a basketball coach and managed his employees with the same sort of affable crustiness.

“Yes, Mr. Kruger?”

File in hand, Max strode into their office.

“You’re going to have to stay late tonight.”