“I need to stop by my place to change and pick up some gear before we head out,” he said. “We’ll hit the drive-thru on the way, grab a breakfast sandwich or something. Then we’ll head for the airport.”
“We’re flying?”
“Helluva lot faster.”
They had almost reached the front door when the intercom buzzed. Kate recognized the lobby guard’s voice, reached over and answered. “I was just leaving, Gordy. What is it?”
“Mr. Bradley’s here to see you. Shall I send him up?”
She flicked a glance at Jase. His jaw was set, his features tight. He didn’t like Andrew Bradley. Not for the first time, Kate wondered what she had ever seen in the man.
“I’m on my way out the door, Gordy. Tell him he’ll have to call me later.”
“Will do, Ms. Gallagher.”
Jase pulled open the door and they made their way down to the parking garage.
Unfortunately, Andrew was waiting. He probably still had a parking pass. He smiled when she stepped out of the elevator, spotted Jason, and his smile melted away. “Still keeping bad company, I see.”
Jase took a step toward him, but Kate set a hand on his chest. “Let it go, Jase. Give me a minute, will you? I’ll be right there.”
His jaw clenched. “If that’s the way you want it.” Grabbing her overnight bag, he strode off toward the Yukon.
Dammit.Men. Especially the macho variety. She turned to Andrew, who was staring daggers at Jason’s broad back. In his usual expensively tailored three-piece suit, his hair freshly trimmed, Andrew looked good. Maybe it was his always-perfect looks that had fooled her.
Kate glanced up at him. “I’m sorry, Andrew, I don’t have time to talk. I’m heading out of town for a couple of days.”
“I came by to tell you how sorry I am for missing your sister’s funeral. I didn’t find out until it was over. You should have called me, Kate. I would have been there for you.”
She hadn’t wanted him there or anywhere near her. “We’re over, Andrew. You don’t seem to get that even though it was your idea.”
He ignored the remark and glanced over to where Jason leaned against the Yukon, his arms crossed over his chest.
Andrew cocked a dark eyebrow. “So that’s the way it is. You’re sleeping with him. I can’t believe you’re involved with a guy like that.”
Irritation trickled through her. “A guy like what, Andrew? Jason’s smart, he’s interesting and he’s always there when I need him. Unlike you, he’s not a control freak.”Well, not exactly. “And I don’t have to pretend to be someone else when I’m with him—he likes me the way I am.”
“I liked you the way you were. We enjoyed the same things. Had the same goals. We were perfect together.”
“Then why did you end things?”
“Because I wanted to be sure it was right. Now that I’ve had time to figure it out, I realize what I gave up. Get rid of him, Kate. Give me a chance to make things right.”
“Sorry, not interested. Find someone else.” She started to walk away, but Andrew caught her arm.
“I’ve got a job for you. You’ve heard of Solerno Engineering? Stan Weiner, the CEO, happened to mention they’re having some internal problems and need to hire a management consulting firm to help them figure things out. I told him you were the best in Dallas. Stan checked into it and he wants to hire you.”
It was a major deal. It would make her company a lot of money, which Andrew surely knew. “At the moment, I’m involved in something, but I’ll give him a call, see if we can work something out.”
“He needs you now, Kate. He won’t be willing to wait.”
She studied his face, didn’t miss the cunning she had overlooked before. How had she been so blind? “I think I’m beginning to understand why you’re so determined we should get back together. You think, with your help, Gallagher and Company can make some very serious bucks. Which, if we were married, would also make you some very serious bucks.”
“There’s nothing wrong with ambition, Kate. Not when it’s good for both of us.”
She looked up just then to see Jason striding toward her. Clearly he was tired of waiting.
“You coming with me or staying with him?”
