Free His to Command #4: The Arrangement by Opal Carew Page A

again.
    If only it were true. Kate was disappointed that Matt had cut off that possibility so definitely. Yet, he had some kind of proposal for her and she was dying to know what it was.
    The elevator door whooshed open and the three of them stepped inside.
    “So you’re visiting from New York?” Ellen said. “Will you be in town long?”
    “No, I’ll be heading back this afternoon.”
    “Oh, that’s too bad. It’s a shame you and Kate couldn’t spend more time together.”
    “We’ll definitely be spending more time together since I’m hoping Kate will take me up on my offer to invest in her company.”
    “Really?” Ellen gazed at Kate with wide eyes. “That’s wonderful.”
    “We’re going to discuss it over coffee,” Kate said, not wanting Ellen to get the wrong idea.
    The elevator dinged as it stopped at Ellen’s floor.
    “Well, I hope it all works out.” The door opened and Ellen stepped out, sending them a little wave as the doors closed.
    “She seems nice,” Matt said as the elevator continued moving.
    “She is. She struck up a conversation with me when we were in the laundry room shortly after I moved here, and I guess she could tell I really needed a friend. She stepped into that role, and I’m glad she did. I appreciate her friendship and support. I know I can call on her anytime I need it.”
    “I’m glad you found someone in your time of need.” His expression grew serious. “I wish I could have filled that role for you.”
    Kate shrugged. “If I’d still had you in my life, I never would have been starting out all alone in a new town.” She smiled. “I’m sure you would have let me stay with you for a while until I’d gotten back on my feet.”
    When the jobs had dried up, and the payments on her Manhattan apartment continued, she’d quickly realized that she had to make a change. She’d thought about renting another, more affordable apartment after she sold her place and staying in the city until she found something, but that would have left her in a precarious situation. When the opportunity in Connecticut had come up, she’d jumped at it. If she and Matt had still been dating, however, she knew hewouldn’t have minded her staying with him while she worked things out. That would have given her the luxury of time before she’d have to make a move.
    “Of course I would.” Matt’s expression tightened with regret.
    “It’s okay. You couldn’t help what happened.”

    Matt nodded, but it wasn’t true. He hadn’t known about the lies Ileana had told, or what had happened to Kate, but he did know why Kate had such trouble finding a job afterward, and he could have done something about it.
    The elevator came to a stop.
    “This is my floor,” Kate said.
    Matt followed her from the elevator and down the hall to her apartment door. As soon as he stepped inside, he knew this was Kate’s place. Bookshelves lined the walls, full of colorful books of all types. She loved books: romance, mystery, DIY, decorating, art. She had very eclectic tastes in her decor, too. She had the same beige couches with bright floral cushions he remembered, along with what looked like a new a glider rocker, and the large TV armoire her mother had given her. She used to read about feng shui and she’d told him once that a television should be hidden from view when not in use. For some reason, it was supposed to improve the energy of the room.
    “Nice place,” he said as he took off his shoes.
    “Thanks. Not as ritzy as your penthouse, but it’s home.” She put her purse in the closet.
    “Come in. Would you like coffee?”
    “Please.” He walked into the living room and sat down on the couch.
    He could hear Kate moving around in the kitchen and the clatter of cups and cutlery. He pulled out his cell and checked his e-mail while he waited. Nothing urgent, just an acknowledgment from his company lawyer that they’d get right on the contracts first thing Monday morning.
    Kate returned a few