Free The Publicist by Christina George Page B

latte, “Why do you always have to distrust Mac? He did a nice thing and then he took me out for a drink…” Kate regretted that last sentence as soon as it was out of her mouth. She was tired and confused and didn’t need to be descended upon by her best friend. Kate put her hand up, “Wait, before you start in on me about Mac, let me say that it was a perfectly chaste evening.”
    “Nothing about Mac is ‘chaste’ Katie and you know it.”
    “We had fun, it was nice to get to know him in that setting, especially since we’re going to be working closer together on that new book.”
    Grace was silent, staring into her cup, “Kate, listen, I’m not trying to stir up trouble, I just want you to be aware of men like Mac. They are smooth and clever and will have you out of your panties before you even know what hit you and once he’s got you out of them, he’ll dump you like third period French.”
    Kate had already become accustomed to the lecture and she knew the rumors, but the Mac she spent the evening with had been nothing but a gentleman.
    Finally, Kate said, “Gracie, I know you’re just looking out for me. I promise I’m not interested in Mac that way. He’s just a colleague, nothing more, he saved an event for an author, we had a drink to celebrate, which, by the way, I really needed, and that was that.”
    “So you mean he never brought up his wife or his marriage?”
    Jesus, when would this inquisition be over? Her head started pounding, “No, he didn’t.” Kate lied to try and end the conversation. She didn’t want to lie to Grace but her need to end the direction this was taking outweighed her desire to tell the truth.
    Grace put a gentle hand over her friend’s. “Just be careful, Katie. Mac’s a pro at this. I just don’t want you hurt and I think you like him, more than you’re willing to admit.”
    “I’ll be careful, I promise and I’m not interested in him at all,” Kate said.
    But they both knew that was a lie.

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    Chapter Fifteen
    Mac woke up and reached for the pillow beside him. His first thought was of Kate and he wondered if she was still home asleep or off enjoying her Sunday. He thought back with a hint of regret that he’d opened himself up to Kate about his marriage. Maybe it was the night or the drink or the fact that he craved the feel of a woman. Kate confused him, possibly more than any woman had before. She wasn’t his typical woman either, she was his equal in many ways and the idea of her aroused him. “Fuck,” he said aloud. The last thing he wanted was another entanglement, especially with someone he worked with. But in his heart he knew it didn’t matter. Mac knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted. The wheels were in motion and no one could stop it, least of all him.

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    Chapter Sixteen
    “What the hell were you thinking?” Kate walked into Bernie’s office, her eyes fixed on him.
    “What do you mean, Kate?” Bernie blinked, looking almost lost.
    “Did you not get my nine hundred voice mail messages?”
    “I did, Kate. But I didn’t get them till later. I hear Mac saved the day though, so all is well.”
    Kate couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “No, Bernie, all is not well. I need to know what happened. Why did you short me books at this event?”
    Bernie shrugged as if the question had been something far more benign than a nearly flubbed book event, “A mistake, Kate, nothing more. I’m very sorry, but what else can I do?”
    Kate was dumbfounded. She expected more, even though she knew she shouldn’t but she had hoped some shred of responsibility would find its way into Bernie’s mind and he’d realize the grief he had caused her. But he either didn’t know or didn’t care.
    “Good Monday morning, you two! How is everyone today?” Edward’s voice came from behind her. The words Kate was about to spew at Bernie froze on her lips.
    “Fine,” Kate mumbled and pushed past Edward to her own office. There was no sense in