her head. “Baseball season doesn’t even start for two months. I think she should strike while the skirt is hot. She’s been a bridesmaid in two weddings since Christmas, thanks to this skirt. Now it’s our Katie’s turn to be the bride.”
“Don’t worry, Dad,” Kate assured him. “I don’t plan to go trolling for men. I’ve got one picked already.”
Rose’s eyes widened. “Who is it? Do I know him? What does he do for a living? Does he come from a nice family?”
Kate held up both hands. She’d already said more than enough. Certainly more than she wanted Brock Gannon to hear. “I know you’ll like him, Mom, but that’s all I’m going to say for now. He may not be interested in me.”
“If that’s the case,” Sid replied, “then he’s too stupid to be my son-in-law.”
“I need to change now,” Kate said, glancing at her watch.
Sid and Rose moved toward the door. Her mother turned on her way out. “Let me wash that spot out of the skirt. I was making cannoli while I was mending it and must have spilled a little dab on the hem.”
“That’s okay. I’ll take it with me and wash it out later. I’ve got to get back to work.”
Rose looked disappointed. “I was hoping you could eat lunch with us.”
“Sorry, Mom. There’s a big meeting of investment bankers scheduled later this afternoon and I need to check in and make sure everything is ready.”
Sid rubbed his hands together. “So that means more cannoli for me.”
Rose tutted under her breath as she followed her husband out of the room. “You get one cannoli, Sid Talavera. I mean it. And don’t try to sneak one past me like you did last time…” Her voice trailed off as they moved down the hallway.
Kate walked over to the door and closed it. “Okay. You can come out now.”
Brock slowly slid out from under the bed, his dark hair slightly tussled. “It’s been quite awhile since I’ve hidden under a girl’s bed.” He smiled. “Makes me feel seventeen again.”
His smile made her stomach feel funny. “Glad to know I’m not your first.” She held out her hand to help him to his feet, her heart skittering at the way his big hand closed around her fingers.
“Thanks,” he said, straightening to his full height.
“You’re welcome,” she replied, automatically reaching up to brush the dust bunnies out of his hair.
He took a step closer to Kate as her fingers rippled through the short, silky strands of his hair. She suddenly realized how intimate it was and drew her hand back as if she’d been burned. “Sorry.”
“Me, too.” He said huskily. “I’m sorry you stopped.”
She swallowed, then turned around. “I need to change clothes, then I’ll find a way to sneak you out of the house. Do you have hotel reservations somewhere?”
“Every place I checked was full. I was hoping I might stay here.”
She turned to face him again. “That won’t work. Not if I want to keep this party a surprise. And you’re right about the hotels. February is a busy convention month is Seattle. I work as a meeting planner at the Hartington.”
“So I heard.”
She nodded, aware that he’d heard every word of the conversation with her parents. She wondered why he hadn’t asked about the skirt yet. After all, even she would admit it was a little bizarre to believe a skirt could find you the man of your dreams. She’d still be a doubter if she hadn’t seen the effects for herself. On the other hand, maybe Brock was used to desperate women and wanted to steer clear of the subject.
“Most of my time at the hotel is spent coordinating business meetings and conferences, but I also organize parties and receptions. That’s where my parents anniversary party will be held.” She planted her hands on her hips. “Which is still two weeks away. What do you plan to do in the meantime?”
He shrugged. “See the sights. Take a trip out to Whidbey Island. Reacquaint myself with the city…” His gaze lingered on her. “And old friends.”
It was the tone of his voice more than his words that made her skin tingle. It’s the skirt, she sternly reminded herself. Brock didn’t really want her, he was just reacting to the skirt’s magnetic qualities.
“I might be able to squeeze you into a room at the Hartington,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “We usually have one or two last-minute cancellations.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Good. Then I’ll just change clothes and we can be on our way.”
“Need any help?”
Kate blushed, a little surprised at the obvious strength of the skirt’s seductive powers. “I’m old enough to change clothes all by myself now, Brock.” She gathered up the linen pantsuit on the bed and headed toward the door. “But thanks for offering.”
She opened the door, then closed it again. “Can you believe it? My parents are still out there arguing about the cannoli.”
He moved up behind her. “I can see Sid’s point. Your mother’s cannoli is incredible.”
His warm breath caressed her neck, sending a delicious tingle throughout her body. She swallowed hard, then peeked again through the crack in the door. “They just disappeared into their bedroom. Their door is closed. Now is your chance to make your escape. I’ll run interference if they come out before you make it to the front door.”
“Okay,” he said, moving into the hallway. But his gaze was still fixed on her.
“Go,” she cried, giving him a shove. “Before they see you. I’ll meet you this evening at the Hartington Hotel on Yesler Way.”
He smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”
3
BROCK FOLLOWED Kate into the lobby of the Hartington Hotel, his eyes glued to the sexy sway of her hips. She wore a pantsuit now instead of that skirt, but he could still envision the long, slender line of her legs. The way the silky fabric of the skirt had molded to her sweetly curved rear end. He imagined himself fitting his hands there, her body moving against him…
He mentally shook himself. Brock had been attracted to women before, but he’d never let it affect his mission. And his mission was simple. He had to get his hands on the skirt. Unfortunately, it looked as if he’d have to get close to Kate to do it.
That wasn’t part of his plan.
Whenever possible, he tried to avoid contact with people during a mission. It tended to make things too unpredictable. And potentially dangerous. His normal routine was to research the object he’d been hired to recover, map out a strategy for obtaining it, then leave the vicinity before anyone was the wiser.
Only nothing had gone
