Page 51 of Imperfections Seduced

“I need to talk to you anyway; can we go someplace to talk in private?”

“Follow me.”

She takes me upstairs to her father’s office. She sits in his chair behind the desk, and I sit across from her.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight.”

“Well, I’ll be here a lot now; there was a leak in my apartment. They’re doing renovations, so I’ll be staying here until they’re finished. The dust is not safe for me and the baby.”

She rests her hand on her stomach, sitting back in thechair. She smiles at me like she’s expecting me to say something. I sit back in my chair, smile back, and lay my arms on the armrest folding my hand in front of me. “Is everything all right with the baby?”

“Yes, thank you for asking. Your child is fine.”

“Alleged child.”

“Huh, this again.”

“Yes, this again. I already told you I’m not claiming that child until I know without a doubt it’s mine.”

“Oh, it’s yours all right. You might want it not to be yours, but it is.”

“When’s your next appointment? I’m going to be there.”

“Why?”

“I want to find out as soon as possible whose kid that is. I can’t take your word for it.”

“Fuck you.”

“Been there already, won’t be going there again. When the hell is the appointment, Kate?”

“You can be a real asshole. I can’t believe I slept with you.”

“That makes two of us. When is it?”

“Next week.”

“Text me tomorrow with the time and place. Don’t make me have to call you for it.”

“Whatever.”

I look at her staring daggers at me, well made up and flawless as usual. She’s pretty to look at, but there’s something iffy underneath it all. When she smiles, it doesn’t quite reach her eyes, unlike Cat, who is right out there for you to see, nothing hidden. The only time I ever saw Kate let her guard down and show real emotions is the night we saw each other at the dinner party and when we had sex.The next morning she almost seemed vulnerable; it was a different side of her.

“There’s one other matter I need to discuss. Why is your mother calling my mother to talk about our nonexistent engagement? I thought I told you to take care of that. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough?”

“I tried to stop her, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. What was I supposed to say?”

“I don’t give a damn what you tell her, make sure she doesn’t make any more calls to anyone else, orI’mgoing to talk to her. I don’t think you want that.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t. Are you happy now?”

“No. I won’t be happy until this whole mess is settled.” We sit in an uncomfortable silence. She puts her hands on the table and stands.

“Are you finished interrogating me? I’m going downstairs.”

“I thought we were having a friendly conversation.”

“Please, you haven’t been friendly to me since the night Cat came home.”