friend who could help with the rentals.” She shrugged. “That’s it.”
Shane and Mandy exchanged a glance before Shane asked, “And how long is this ‘strictly business relationship’ going to last? My guess . . . you’re already on the ropes.”
At first, Laura planned to pretend that she had no idea what they were talking about, but the looks on their faces convinced her that she didn’t have a shot. “Forever is the right answer. But . . .” She covered her face with both hands. “God, he’s so tempting. So . . . dangerous. I know the right thing to do to protect myself, but just this once, I want something more than safety. Even if my heart breaks when he leaves, what a memory that would be. And it would be just for me. Maybe it would hurt but I know it would also make me so damn happy. For some reason, I feel like only an idiot would let KT Masters come and go without taking that chance.”
Laura squeezed her eyes shut, sure they were about to give her the harsh truth in black and white.
Mandy said, “Yep, idiot’s about right.”
Laura laughed. “Really? Even though there’s almost no chance of making it through without some tears?”
Mandy patted her on the shoulder. “Here’s what I think. If you have a chance to spend time with a man like this, one who can’t tear his eyes off you when you walk in the room, you don’t worry so much about the future. You seize your chance. I would.”
Laura felt the flutter of anxious hope in her stomach as Mandy winked. She said, “I feel like, when it’s all said and done, when you weigh the pluses and minuses, you’ll still be glad you took your chance.”
Shane nodded reluctantly. “Just as long as you know that he’s moving on. This is just the latest exciting episode of KT’s life and he’s happy to share it with you, but . . .” Shane trailed off.
“But I’m not looking at happily ever after.” Laura knew how the rest of the sentence went. “I don’t think I really believe in that anyway.”
Shane patted her on the shoulder. “Happy right now is pretty damn good and with KT you’ve got a guarantee of that.” She smiled and went out into the hallway. “Show me where to set up my machine.”
And just like that, Laura felt lighter. Other women did this. They took chances on relationships. Sometimes they paid off. Sometimes they didn’t. But she wasn’t being irresponsible or stupid. She’d taken a look at the pros and cons and could make a sound decision about what she thought would make her happy. This had nothing to do with Holly or her safety. It had nothing to do with paying the bills. This was about what she wanted.
Now she only had to figure out how to go for it.
After she let Shane into the next room and she pronounced it adequate, Laura crossed the hall to the conference room. One of the huge tables was gone and the other was shoved in the center of the long wall. She walked slowly around the room to configure in her head the sea of chairs that had sprung up. And she also did her best to imagine what approaching KT Masters would look like. She could logically lay out a rational plan, a no-strings adventure, and make it very clear what she was looking for. The idea of examining it that closely in the stark light of day made her stomach flutter with nerves. Or she could just get swept up in KT’s hot glances and dumb come-ons. The idea of Laura Charles approaching KT Masters was hard to grasp but being pursued by the man boggled the mind.
“Need some help?” KT leaned against the doorway, looking casual and rugged and delectable and possibly even a bit wicked in a ratty T-shirt and jeans with a small hole in the knee.
She yanked her T-shirt down as far as it would go and then pointed at the table. “Help me swing this along the back wall.” He saluted and went to pick up one end while she pulled the other. “I’ll talk to Tony in the morning about water and cookies. I don’t know what the cost will be
Shane and Mandy exchanged a glance before Shane asked, “And how long is this ‘strictly business relationship’ going to last? My guess . . . you’re already on the ropes.”
At first, Laura planned to pretend that she had no idea what they were talking about, but the looks on their faces convinced her that she didn’t have a shot. “Forever is the right answer. But . . .” She covered her face with both hands. “God, he’s so tempting. So . . . dangerous. I know the right thing to do to protect myself, but just this once, I want something more than safety. Even if my heart breaks when he leaves, what a memory that would be. And it would be just for me. Maybe it would hurt but I know it would also make me so damn happy. For some reason, I feel like only an idiot would let KT Masters come and go without taking that chance.”
Laura squeezed her eyes shut, sure they were about to give her the harsh truth in black and white.
Mandy said, “Yep, idiot’s about right.”
Laura laughed. “Really? Even though there’s almost no chance of making it through without some tears?”
Mandy patted her on the shoulder. “Here’s what I think. If you have a chance to spend time with a man like this, one who can’t tear his eyes off you when you walk in the room, you don’t worry so much about the future. You seize your chance. I would.”
Laura felt the flutter of anxious hope in her stomach as Mandy winked. She said, “I feel like, when it’s all said and done, when you weigh the pluses and minuses, you’ll still be glad you took your chance.”
Shane nodded reluctantly. “Just as long as you know that he’s moving on. This is just the latest exciting episode of KT’s life and he’s happy to share it with you, but . . .” Shane trailed off.
“But I’m not looking at happily ever after.” Laura knew how the rest of the sentence went. “I don’t think I really believe in that anyway.”
Shane patted her on the shoulder. “Happy right now is pretty damn good and with KT you’ve got a guarantee of that.” She smiled and went out into the hallway. “Show me where to set up my machine.”
And just like that, Laura felt lighter. Other women did this. They took chances on relationships. Sometimes they paid off. Sometimes they didn’t. But she wasn’t being irresponsible or stupid. She’d taken a look at the pros and cons and could make a sound decision about what she thought would make her happy. This had nothing to do with Holly or her safety. It had nothing to do with paying the bills. This was about what she wanted.
Now she only had to figure out how to go for it.
After she let Shane into the next room and she pronounced it adequate, Laura crossed the hall to the conference room. One of the huge tables was gone and the other was shoved in the center of the long wall. She walked slowly around the room to configure in her head the sea of chairs that had sprung up. And she also did her best to imagine what approaching KT Masters would look like. She could logically lay out a rational plan, a no-strings adventure, and make it very clear what she was looking for. The idea of examining it that closely in the stark light of day made her stomach flutter with nerves. Or she could just get swept up in KT’s hot glances and dumb come-ons. The idea of Laura Charles approaching KT Masters was hard to grasp but being pursued by the man boggled the mind.
“Need some help?” KT leaned against the doorway, looking casual and rugged and delectable and possibly even a bit wicked in a ratty T-shirt and jeans with a small hole in the knee.
She yanked her T-shirt down as far as it would go and then pointed at the table. “Help me swing this along the back wall.” He saluted and went to pick up one end while she pulled the other. “I’ll talk to Tony in the morning about water and cookies. I don’t know what the cost will be
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