Behind the desk, a cheerful looking younger woman smiled a warm welcome as he approached.
“Good morning, Mr Packard" she said. "And welcome. I assume you are here to see Mrs Packard.”
He returned her smile. “Is she in?” he asked.
“Yes. But she is not here right now. If you will wait in her office, I’ll get her at once. Would you care for some coffee?” she asked.
“No, thank you.” he said, he wasn't sure he could keep anything down right now.
She turned to stride down the hallway, leaving Jensen standing there. He walked into Katherine's office and went to the window to look down on the street instead of sitting.
A few moments later, he heard the tap tap of heels and turned to see Katherine walk into the office, a confused, wary look in her eyes.
“Jensen,” she greeted. “I wasn’t expecting to see you. I thought you were going to San Francisco. Tim told me so. Is anything wrong?”
She’d put her impersonal business face on the moment he looked up. It annoyed him that she was pushing him away, already distancing herself from him. He was tired of staying away, which was why he was here, trying to get her back.
“Nothing’s wrong. My plans changed. I thought we could have lunch. If you’re free, that is.” he said. He handed her the flowers which she took.
"Thanks. It's beautiful" she put it on her desk. Then she checked her watch, a quick, nervous motion that told him she was merely stalling—and trying to think of an excuse why she couldn’t. He didn't want her to come up with an excuse.
“I would very much like to have lunch with you, Kat.” he said, hoping she would say yes.
Her forehead wrinkled in indecision. She nibbled at her bottom lip. He took advantage of that moment to move closer until he crowded her. Before she could take a step back, he grasped her arm. Alarm flared in her eyes, and she broke the contact, stepping hastily away as she stared wildly in all directions.
“For God’s sake, Jensen, not here,” she hissed.
Her hand trembled as she raised one to smooth her hair. Instead of repairing the knot, she only managed to work more strands free. They fell down her neck, calling attention to the slim column. He was reminded of all the time he’d spent nibbling at that sweet flesh. He wanted to do it again. He missed that so much.
He raised an eyebrow at her vehemence but kept his distance.
“Lunch?” he repeated.
“All right. Let me get my purse. I’ll meet you downstairs.” Katherine said finally.
Her dismissal rankled him. But he didn't care. As long as she gave him a chance to show her how sorry he was. He hadn't stopped thinking about her. He couldn't.
She lived in his mind. In his anger, he hadn't liked it, but he was powerless to rid himself of her assault on his senses.
He stared at her for a long moment, and only because he was convinced she was ready to bolt, did he acquiesce.
“All right. I’ll call my driver around. Oh, and Kat. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.” he said.
Katherine spun around before she exploded. She wished she could blame it all on her anger and his arrogance, but she’d been flabbergasted when Shelby had rushed into her office to tell her that her husband was here and he wanted to see her.
The giddy thrill that sizzled down her spine annoyed her. And then his arrogant presumption that she’d drop everything to have lunch with him. He didn’t like to be kept waiting. The man sure knew how to get on her nerves, but that didn't change the fact that she had missed him like crazy too.
She sighed as she collected her purse. Where to even begin? He was her husband. The father of her kids and she loved him. She missed everything about him. She missed making love to him.
A hot blush shot up her neck and nearly burned her cheeks off as she remembered just how often made love. They’d been insatiable. It was always been that way with them.
She wanted her husband back, and if he was ready to fix things between them, so was she.
After a quick wave to Shelby, she rode the elevator down to the first floor. She passed the busy cuisine restaurant with the lunch crowd lined up at the door and exited the building.
Jensen was standing at the curb, one hand resting on the open door to the backseat of his car, the other shoved into his pocket. He looked positively arrogant. Like he not only belonged in the world but owned it.
He nodded as she approached and motioned her inside the car. Then he slid in beside her and shut the door.
“I thought we could eat at this restaurant across town. We have been there before. They prepare something new almost every day” he said. "It’s small, but as you know, the food is excellent and it affords privacy."