Then he remembered Kaitlin owned half his fortune. And he remembered they weren’t on a date.
“So…” She adjusted her position, crossing one leg over the opposite knee, and adjusted her cap, apparently remembering the same things as him. “Why did you invite me here?”
He feigned innocence. “What do you mean?”
She gestured to the opulence behind them. “The suite. The baseball game. Imported beer. What’s up?”
“We’re working together.”
“And…” She waited.
“And I thought we should get to know each other.” Sure, he had another objective. But it was perfectly rational for the two of them to get to know each other. The renovations would take months. They’d be in each other’s lives for quite some time to come.
“I’m not signing the divorce papers,” she warned him.
“Did I ask?” There was no need for her to get paranoid.
“And I’m not changing the renovation designs, either.”
“You could at least let me look at them.”
“No way,” she determinedly stated.
He tried feigning nonchalance. “Okay. Then let’s talk about you.”
She came alert. “What about me?”
“What are your plans? I mean long-term. Not just this single project.”
The crack of a bat against the ball resonated through the stadium, and she turned to face forward while a runner sprinted to first. “That’s no secret,” she answered, gaze focused on the game. “A successful career in architecture. In New York City.”
He took a sip of the cold beer, concentrating on getting this conversation just right. “I’d like to help you.”
Her mouth quirked into a rueful smile. “You are helping. Reluctantly, we both know. But you are helping.”
“I mean in addition to the Harper renovation project. I know people. I have contacts.”
“I’m sure you do.” She kept her attention fixed on the game while the opposing pitcher threw a strike, retiring the batter, and the Mets headed out to the field.
“Let me use them,” Zach offered.
She turned then to paste him with a skeptical stare. “Use your contacts? To help me?”
“Yes,” he assured her with a nod.
She thought about it for a few minutes while the pitcher warmed up. Zach was tempted to prompt her, but he’d messed up so many conversations with her already, he decided silence was the safer route.
“I read where you’re going to the chamber of commerce dinner next Friday,” she finally ventured, turning to watch him.
“The resurgence of global trade in northern Europe,” he confirmed. They’d asked him to speak. He’d prefer to sit in the back and enjoy the single malt, but having a profile at these things was always good for business.
“Are you taking anyone?” she asked, gaze darting back to the action on the field.
“You mean a date?”
She nodded. “It’s a dinner. I assume it would be partly social. It seems to me it would be acceptable to bring a date.”
“Yes, it’s acceptable. And no, I don’t have one.”
Another batter cracked a high fly ball. They watched the trajectory until it was caught out in center field.
“Will you take me?”
Zach rocked back and turned. A reflexive rush of excitement hit his body as he studied her profile. “You’re asking me for a date?”
But she rolled her eyes and adjusted her cap. “I’m asking you to get me in the door, Zach, not dance with me. You said you wanted to help. And there will be people there who are good for my career.”
“Right.” He shifted in his seat, assuring himself he wasn’t disappointed. It was a lie, of course. But he definitely wasn’t stupid.
Dating Kaitlin would be a huge mistake. Dancing with her was out of the question. What if it was as great as he’d remembered? What then?
She drew a satisfied sigh, her shoulders relaxing. “And, before Friday, if you wouldn’t mind telling at least five people that you’ve hired me back. Influential people. It would be great for me if word got around.”
He had no right to be disappointed. This was business for her. It was business for him, too. Introducing her around at the chamber dinner played right into Plan C. She was right. There would be influential people there, a myriad of corporate executives, many of whom would have contacts in the architectural world. If he was lucky, really lucky, she’d find a job right there at the dinner.
Still, he struggled to keep his voice neutral as he told her, “Sure. No problem.”
“You did offer to help,” she pointed out.
“I said sure.”