Leaning back in her chair, Kat pressed her fingers to her temples and rubbed at them. After spending so much time out in the fresh air of Montana, being behind a desk like this and cooped up in a tower like a glorified princess needing to be rescued was wearing on her. “We’re getting married, Chaz, not falling in love. The event itself is only a formality for my father and his friends. This is a partnership, not a relationship.”
She dropped her hands to her lap and stared at him hard, not surprised to see he was wearing the mask he always did when going through negotiations with other businesses.
“The meetings I have today are mere inconveniences and if you’d like to be the one to meet with the wedding planner, be my guest. But if you take me up on the offer, understand that I’ll simply stay later at work.”
After a few moments, Chaz frowned.
He actually frowned.
The guy glanced over his shoulder before entering her office and shutting the door behind him. Then he moved farther across the room until he stood directly in front of her desk. “Kat. I get that this wasn’t exactly your plan. I know you weren’t interested in an arrangement like this one?—”
“Then why did you do it? How could you allow yourself to settle with a marriage that is nothing more than a business arrangement?”
Chaz sighed. Then he unbuttoned his suit coat and settled into the chair across from her. “I’d be lying if I said that this will be nothing more than a business arrangement.”
Her mouth fell open. He couldn’t be suggesting what it sounded like.
Shifting in his seat, he lifted one ankle over his knee and settled back as if he were completely at ease. The only indication that he was stressing about this conversation at all was the small tick under his right eye. “I care for you, Kat. There. I said it. From the moment we met, I knew you were something special. I couldn’t help but respect you. Then the more I got to know you?—”
“Got to know me?” she let out a bark of surprised laughter. “We don’t know each other. You don’t know me at all.”
He lifted a brow. “Don’t I? We’ve worked together for years. I’ve come to your father’s Christmas parties and fourth of July barbeques.”
“Those are for all employees,” she stammered.
Once again, he shifted, this time dropping his foot to the floor and leaning forward with his forearms on his knees. “I’ve paid attention to more than you might have realized.”
What was she supposed to say to that? Was Chaz actually suggesting that he’d adored her from afar? That was beyond ridiculous.
Right?
He chuckled.
Clearly, he thought her shock was amusing.
“Look, Kat. I’m under no illusion that the two of us will fall deeply, madly in love. I know that you have zero interest in a relationship.”
Her face burned at his statement. Chaz was wrong and she wasn’t entirely sure that he didn’t know it. For all she knew, he’d planned this to happen the second Leo came to see her father. She’d never ask him about it, though. There was no use changing how things had ended. The fact that Leo hadn’t reached out to her said it all.
He’d lied.
Leo had given up on her even though he’d told her he wouldn’t. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, though. That he’d race to the airport and fly here just to convince her to come home?
Home.
Geez, where had that thought come from? Montana wasn’t her home. New York was her home. She’d been born and raised in this city. She belonged here no matter how much her heart wanted her to believe otherwise.
“Kat?”
Her head snapped to attention, and she met Chaz’s imploring gaze. “Maybe you’d reconsider your stance on something more?”
She felt sick to her stomach. Just thinking about the possibility of being with Chaz in that way made her wish she could just pack a bag and leave this place.
Another strange thought.
Kat swallowed down the burning in the back of her throat and shook her head. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Chaz, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. In fact, this marriage will be on paper only. What my father is trying to do—show a united front with two of his most valuable assets is admirable in its own strange way, but it in no way means we’ll have a traditional relationship.”
He opened his mouth in protest, but she held up a hand. “In fact, I suggest we continue to live our separate lives. You are welcome to be with anyone?—”
