Carol Steward - Courting Katarina

“So, is there anything I may do to help, or would you prefer I go sit down?”

“I’ll have everything together in just a minute.”

Alex moved to the dining-room side of the island dividing the two rooms. He didn’t much like the image Katarina seemed to have of him. Though he heard her reasons, he still didn’t understand what he’d done wrong. Was it so terrible to be helpful? To be a considerate guest? He knew the logical answers to the questions, but couldn’t for the life of him figure out why the obvious wasn’t clear to Katarina. “May I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” Katarina said, cheerful again. She brought in the plates and glasses, then returned to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

He hemmed and hawed for a minute, still uncertain if it was wise to push her. “Could you help me understand exactly how to correct my mistakes…um, so I don’t make the same ones with anyone else?”

“Anyone else?” Katarina pulled out a cutting board and placed it on the counter between them. “I thought you weren’t interested in being ‘caught.”’ She raised her eyebrows and shot him a devastatingly beautiful grin as she chopped up a head of lettuce.

“Who said anything about anyone catching me?”

She scooped up a handful of lettuce and placed it into a bowl. “Ah, you’re just in it for the chase, huh?”

He shook his head and leaned across the counter. “Never said that, either. I just don’t like walking on burning embers. I have enough of that in my line of work.”

Katarina stifled a laugh, picking up each stray piece of lettuce. “I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

“I wasn’t asking for an apology.” He covered her hands with his own and waited for her reply. There was none. “Why did that offend you so, offering to help?”

“Are you always so pushy?”

He smiled. “Yeah, I guess I am. Is that what’s bothering you? You don’t like people to ask too many questions? Or don’t you want to let anyone get too close?”

She paused, staring him in the eye with a cool smile on her lips. “I simply don’t ‘need’ people the way a lot of other women do.”

“Fiercely independent,” he said, assessing her. “You don’t want to be depended upon, or to depend on anyone else?”

Silence.

“Guess I hit a nerve.”

“Are you a psychologist in the off-season?” Katarina pulled her hands loose and opened a brown paper sack in front of her. “Hmm, a smoke jumping shrink. Has a nice ring to it.”

Alex chuckled.

She took out two Italian tomatoes, washed them, quartered them and tossed them into the salad.

“So, you think accepting help is a sign of weakness?”

“Listen, Doc…”

“That’s your sister. My crew calls me Mac, but I really prefer it if you’d stick to Alex. Bury the hatchet, Katarina. You don’t need anyone, and I’m not in the market to be needed. You’re as good as engaged—” he cocked his head “—though I don’t quite understand why you’re here, and he’s not.”

She smiled. “Ron happens to believe in individual independence. He encourages it, in fact. He doesn’t want me to depend upon him any more than I want to.”

“Probably believes in prenuptial contracts, too,” Alex muttered.

“And what’s wrong with that?”

He’d better stop before they were at each other’s throats again, he thought. What in the world had given her such a distorted view? All he’d done was offer a little help.

“Alex? Why don’t you approve of prenuptial agreements?”

His name rolled off her tongue like a breeze through the forest—soft, gentle and refreshing. “Never mind. Just a different view of commitment, I guess. But what do I know? I’m thirty-five and haven’t even been close to the altar. You on the other hand…are as good as engaged. Friends?”

Her mouth twisted into a crooked grin. “On the other hand, I’m no expert, either. This will be my second engagement, and I’m not so convinced it’s a great idea, either.” She extended her hand. “Friends.”

Alex took her graceful hand into his and met her coy smile with one of his own. “Which aren’t you sure of, Katarina? The prenuptial agreement or the engagement?”

Katarina thought for a moment.

“Neither.”

Katarina looked out the window. “What is Alex doing here again?” Emily and Kevin had returned from their honeymoon less than an hour ago.

Kevin moved their suitcases out of the way. “I called him on the way into town. He needs some invoices signed. What do you mean, ‘again’?” Before Kat could answer, the doorbell rang, and Kevin rushed through the house to answer it, Ricky right on his heels.

Not ready to face another hundred and one questions from the smoke jumping shrink, Katarina suggested she and Emily take their tea to the deck in the backyard.

“Bearly Toys just called, and want to see my designs and a prototype,” she said when they were settled.

“Katarina!” Emily gasped. “That’s wonderful. When is the presentation?”

Katarina took a deep breath and mentally slowed her racing mind. “Wednesday. At eleven. They’re trying to beat a deadline. That’s why I have to get on the road as soon as possible. It’s around a thousand miles. I figure it should take—”

“What? That’s the day after tomorrow.” Emily furrowed her eyebrows. “You’re going to drive a thousand miles? Why don’t you fly?”

Katarina stood up and walked over to the deck railing. “Right, I’m going to get my entire portfolio into two suitcases. And even if I could, do you know how much airfare is to Spokane?”

“Spokane? Kat…” Emily started to protest.

“I can’t afford to fly. End of discussion. According to the map site on the Internet, I’ll make it in plenty of time.” Katarina had been suppressing a scream of excitement since the call had come early that morning, and now finally let out a high-pitched squeal. She’d called Ron to share her news, but he’d had to rush off to a meeting.

“Congratulations, Katarina.” Alex’s voice resounded through the house and out the screen door. He slid the screen open and the two men joined them. Ricky rushed past them to climb on his new swing set. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I could hardly miss the news. Would you mind giving me a lift?”

He casually wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a friendly hug. Katarina tried to ignore the piney scent of Alex’s aftershave. “Thanks, but where are you needing to go? I’m going to Washington.” Katarina stepped away.

“I’m aware of where Spokane is. Missoula is right on the way. If Kevin’s going to need me to help him for a while longer, I need my own truck.” Alex leaned back against the deck railing and crossed his arms over his chest. “I can’t keep borrowing everything, especially now that we aren’t in the same house. I’d be glad to share the driving and the expenses. As you say, airfare isn’t cheap. You’d save me a lot of money, and having a second driver would make the trip easier.”

Kevin had a puzzled smile on his face.

“That’s a perfect solution!” Emily got out of her chair and nuzzled up to her husband. “Isn’t it, Kevin?”

“That’s great news, Katarina. Sounds like Alex has everything at work running smoothly and we’re back on schedule. It would be a big help to have his own supplies. I don’t see any problem with you going, Alex.”

Katarina was speechless. She looked from Emily to Kevin to Alex.

“I’m so relieved you won’t be driving alone,” Emily exclaimed.

Kevin agreed.

Alex waited for her response.

There was no way Katarina could explain why this was a terrible idea without her sister claiming Katarina still had that teenage crush on the man. There couldn’t be anything further from the truth. Having had three days to get to know him better, she knew her first impression of Alex was obviously wrong. Mr. Nice Guy—what a joke. The man was annoying. He was domineering, pushy and presumptuous. That might work on a mountainside, but not on her!