Page 24 of Be My Valentine

“I need to talk to you,” the lawyer told her, “Can you disengage from Mrs. Penn or will you have to join us?”

They immediately disengaged and Meg instantly vanished. Kate remained motionless.

“Are you planning to stay here until tomorrow?”

“You wanted to speak to me, sir.”

“Not here. I’m hungry. Do you think you’ll be able to sit at the table with me? There’s a restaurant right next to your friend’s shoe store.”

“Yes, I know it.”

“Perfect, let’s go.”

Am I going out to dinner with Mark Arrow?

They walked past Allie’s store. Kate cast a glance at the shoes in the window and raised a hand in greeting toward her friend. Allie saw the man accompanying her, did not move from her seat, and merely reciprocated.

Finally seated at a table, Kate looked at the menu without being able to read it. She still hadn’t spoken a word. She opened her mouth, but Arrow stopped her by raising his hand, without taking his eyes off the menu.

But how does he do it?

“Don’t do that again, don’t apologize. What will you have?”

“Whatever you’re having.”

Arrow looked at her curiously.

“Do you eat steak? Or are you a vegetarian?”

“Steak is fine.”

The lawyer ordered and began drumming his fingers on the tablecloth, watching her.

“I have a problem, Kate. Can I call you that?”

She nodded.

“I suppose I’m the problem, Mr. Arrow.”

“Mark…” he said distractedly, “I actually think you might be the solution.”

“Really?” Kate’s tone was between serious and incredulous, and he smiled.

“It’s about Emma, actually.”

“How is she?” Kate’s face lit up.

“She’s always talking too much, but she’s fine. And she needs help.”

Kate swallowed nervously. She didn’t know what to expect. Emma was pregnant and struggling to get around, if she asked for help as a maid she would have caved, but of course she would have accepted. No, surely, she already had legions of cleaners, Kate hadn’t forgotten how easily she had bought a pair of Louboutins that she couldn’t even wear at that moment. Maybe a dog walker? She liked dogs-why not?

“My family started a charity. Now it’s Emma’s turn to organize and attend an event, but in her condition it’s pretty exhausting.”

“Yes, that’s normal.”

“She could use some help in choosing the venue, organizing what is organized in these cases, I can’t tell you exactly… what I do know is that she is not able to take care of it herself.”

“I’ll help her very gladly.”