Trove (The Katie Walsh Mysteries) (41 page)

She leaned her head in. “Alec?”

“Nice to have you back,” he answered from behind her.

She jumped and teetered forward. He grabbed her around her waist and pulled her upright, releasing her when she regained her balance. “Thanks. I don’t quite have the weight distribution thing under control,” she murmured.

“Are you still taking something for the pain?”

“They gave me Vicodin, but I’m not taking it. The extra strength Tylenol works so much better for me and I can still drive.”

He stepped around her and headed for the conference table. He held out a chair. “Have a seat.”

She leaned her weight against the table and eased into the chair, hooking her cane over the chair’s arm.

“I’ve made some personnel changes while you were away.” She arched an eyebrow. “Mostly I did it in preparation for our extended time in the field. Initially it may be awhile before we’re back at the Institute. ”

“I remember when my parents would start a new excavation site. They were gone for months, spending most of the time just dealing with the logistics.”

“Yeah, the initial set-up is more grunt work than glamour,” he said as he sat down beside her. “Thankfully, you and I will be together.” He smiled. “I’m sure we’ll think of something to break up the boredom.”

She lightly smacked his forearm. “About the personnel changes…”

His smile vanished. “Well… see… I managed to find someone with a background in ancient languages, particularly from the British Isles. She’s a PhD with over fifteen years of experience at a prestigious research facility.” He glanced at Katie.

She relaxed into the chair. “Well, that sounds like a perfect addition. She can help with the documents and interpretations.”

“Exactly.”

“So, where’s her office? Are you having another one built?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. For the time being she’s been using your office. I’ve requisitioned another desk and expect delivery and set up tomorrow.”

“So she and I will be sharing my office, at least until we head to Skye?”

“Yes. Do you think that’ll be a problem?”

Katie propped her right elbow on the table. “Not really. I don’t need much room and it would be a shame to lose any equipment space, so it makes perfect sense not to build out another office just yet.”

He frowned. “Have you heard anything from the blackmailer?”

She shook her head. “No, he seems to have crawled back under his rock, but that reminds me, I need to get a new cell phone.”

He strode over to his desk, opened the drawer and retrieved a package. He returned and placed a cell phone on the table. “I was able to have your number ported to this one. It’s the latest model.”

She picked it up. “Thanks.”

The outer door opened then closed. She looked towards his office door as she listened to footsteps approaching, waiting to greet Laura.

“Good morning. It’s good to see you back at work, Katie.”

Katie knitted her eyebrows. “Lucy? What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t tell her?” Lucy asked, directing the question at Alec as she smoothed her fitted pale pink dress over her hips.

“I told her about the new addition and the office sharing…”

Lucy gently shook her head. “But you didn’t tell her it was me.”

Katie gasped, looking from Alec to Lucy and back to Alec. “Are you… my God, she’s my officemate?”

Alec nodded.

Katie bit her lower lip, hoping she wouldn’t draw blood. She inhaled slowly, counted to ten and then exhaled. Of all the people she could envision as the new team member, Lucy was not ever on her radar screen. Hell, she never knew what her background was in. How convenient that it encompassed ancient languages from the British Isles. She didn’t like it but strategically it made sense. They would definitely need someone to translate and interpret ancient documents. But she wasn’t comfortable with Lucy. Not only did she have a connection to Alec, but she had to be Josh’s contact here at the Institute.
Stop it! If I’m going to change, I have to try to change my relationships with people, Lucy included.
Katie pasted a small smile on her face. “Welcome on board, Lucy. I’m sure you’ll be a positive addition.”

Alec looked at her quizzically.

“See, Alec, I told you Katie would welcome me regardless of our… past interactions. I just know we’re going to be the envy of the rest of the Institute, especially since we’ll have an active dig.”

Katie rose, balancing her weight between the cane and her right leg. “If we’re through here,” she glanced at Alec for confirmation. He nodded. “Then you’ll excuse
me while I get my coffee.”

Lucy scooted out the door before Katie could leave. “I’ll get it, Katie. You like it with just cream, right?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“I’ll bring it to your… our office.”

As Katie headed for the door, she turned her head back to Alec. “Are you sure that’s Lucy Millar and not some Stepford version?”

****

Katie peered over the rim of her coffee cup. She studied Lucy as Lucy rapidly typed into her laptop. Lucy’s style of dress had changed in the last few weeks, since Alec’s hiring. Lucy had stopped wearing her man-tailored suits and was opting for more feminine attire, all since Alec started working at the Institute. Where Katie was short and somewhat curvy, Lucy was tall with a slender, almost athletic build. The only thing they had in common was chestnut-colored hair.

Katie sipped her coffee. Alec, Lucy and Josh were all about the same age. Clearly Lucy knew both men. What was her connection to them? She set the cup on the desk. “Lucy, how long have you known Alec and Josh?”

“Mm-hmm?” Lucy asked as she stopped typing.

“I asked how long you’ve known Alec and Josh.”

Lucy looked up and caught Katie’s eyes. She pursed her lips. “We did our post-graduate work together.”

“And?” Katie asked.

“Why don’t you just ask me what you want to know, Katie? Or better yet, I’ll ask. You want to know if Alec and I were ‘involved’?”

Katie nodded.

Lucy sighed. “Yes, we lived together for a year and a half.”

Katie gasped. “Lived together?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“I think you should talk to Alec, Katie.”

“I will, but in the meantime, I’m asking you. What happened?”

“Josh happened.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that Josh’s career was taking off, like a rocket. It was an exciting time. He was attending celebrity-packed parties. His photograph regularly showed up in the tabloids. He was a celebrity in his own right.” Lucy shrugged, “I was young, in a career where my head was wrapped around ancient translations, and I wanted some excitement.”

“You left Alec for Josh?”

“Yeah, one of the stupidest things I ever did in my life.”

“You still love Alec, don’t you?”

Lucy nodded. “Yes, but he’s not in love with me. How could he be? I betrayed him and with his best friend too. I wasn’t under a spell, Katie. I chose Josh and… well, we all know how that turned out.”

“But you still care about Josh too, otherwise why would you tell him about me?”

“I wanted to help him. He deserves a second chance, Katie. We all do. None of us is perfect.”

“Including me,” Katie offered.

“Katie, I don’t know if we’ll ever truly be friends, but I really think we can be a great team. All I’m asking is that you give me a chance. I’m not out to sabotage you or this group.”

Katie contemplated what Lucy had just revealed. She was right. Each of them, including herself, deserved a chance to start over. She exhaled. “I’m willing to give it a try, Lucy, but I can’t promise anything beyond professional courtesy.”

Lucy smiled. “That would be infinitely better than what we’ve had until now.”

Katie nodded.
At least Alec will be separated from Lucy by thousands of miles and one large ocean.

Katie grabbed her purse, ready to head out to the café for lunch with Laura. She walked towards Laura’s work space but hesitated outside Alec’s office.
Should I just ask him about Lucy or wait for him to tell me?
She gently bit her lip.
What do I always say? Be direct. About time I follow my own advice.
She turned and entered, pausing briefly at the door to catch his attention.

He looked up and smiled. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she replied as she walked toward his desk.

She leaned her weight on the desk. He rose and pulled a chair over for her and waited for her to sit. He stayed next to her, sliding his hip onto the desk, his long leg planted firmly on the floor beside her. She inhaled softly, as his scent settled in the air. He crossed his arms.

“Is there something you want to say, Katie? Because you look like you’re about to up and run out of here.”

She straightened at the challenge in his voice. “I know about Lucy.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I knew you and she lived together for almost two years—”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t quite a year and a half.”

Katie waved her hand. “Well, whatever. Why didn’t you tell me about her… and you?”

He grinned. “In all honesty, Katie, when did I have a chance? Plus it was a lifetime ago.” He stood and pulled a chair over and sat next to her. “How much did she tell you? Did she tell you about Josh?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry she did that to you. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

He shrugged. “Josh, at least back then, was a real ladies’ man. He never seemed to go out with the same woman twice, not that he had too. He was surrounded by celebrity whores.”

“Celebrity whores?” Katie repeated.

“Yes, women who want notoriety, their name in print, their faces in the paper.”

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that term.” She laughed. “But I get it.”

“I wasn’t destined for the limelight and celebrity, but looking back now I can see that Lucy was bored. Not sure if it was just me or her career, but she was rather isolated. I was working on planning an excavation so I didn’t have a lot of spare time to spend with her. It got to the point where we saw each other only at night when I fell into bed exhausted. Our sex life went to hell—”

“Whoa! TMI, I don’t need the details,” she said.

He shrugged. “You did ask.”

“Did you love her?”

“I thought I did at the time but looking back on it… no.” He leaned over, turning her head gently to face him. He slanted his mouth against hers, capturing her breath in his mouth, literally sharing the air that they breathed. She braced her hand on his thigh and slowly traced his lips with her tongue.

“Seriously, you two need to get a room,” Laura chided.

Katie pulled back, as the heat flooded into her cheeks. “Sorry.”

“I’m heading down to the café. Are you coming or do you want to continue playing tongue twist?”

Katie stood. Alec moved her chair out of the way and handed her cane to her. “Enjoy your lunch.” He leaned over and whispered into her ear, “Don’t forget, I’m taking you out for dinner tonight.”

Katie smiled. “How could I forget that?” She shook her head. “I actually have a date, an honest-to-goodness date.”

“Just be ready at seven, KitKat.”

Shortly after five, Katie headed through the lobby, on her way home. Alec had said be ready, and for some reason, she didn’t want to keep him waiting. This date was important to her, to them. It would give them both a chance to start fresh.

As she passed by the reception desk, she glanced toward the corridor that led to the north wing. Standing in the entry way was a tall well-dressed man. He had a head of beautiful white hair, not the yellow-white color commonly seen. This man’s hair was brilliant white. He had broad shoulders that tapered down to narrow hips. His arms hung straight by his side. The way his suit molded to him, she could only assume it was custom-made. Something like that didn’t come off the rack.

Her eyes returned to his face. She gasped at the intensity and the ice-blue color of his eyes as he focused only on her. She swallowed hard. She had no idea who the man was, but he emanated power… and danger. Katie stepped quickly toward the exit door, conscious of his eyes following her. She felt like prey.

She hobbled as fast as she could to her car, quickly turning the ignition and throwing it into reverse. Whoever that man was, he’d had an unsettling effect on her. She hoped distance would lessen the feeling.
Just who the hell was that guy?
Part of her wanted to know, but deep inside, something frightened her about him. For some unknown reason, she feared that she’d see that man again.

****

Katie glanced at the clock. One minute and he’ll be here. She drummed her fingers against the cane handle.
I’m going to make this work.
I just have to stop and think before I react. We both deserve a second chance and I’m not going to blow it.