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"I wanted to, Kat. I wanted you to have something just
from me."
They made love that night as the fireworks went off
overhead. The bright, spinning, noisy lights invaded the
summer sky, lighting up Summerville. They showered down
all around them, a sparkling, glittering array of colors.
Kat saw her own shimmering stars that evening as Jared
brought her to passion's wide abyss, loving her until her body
went limp, until her mind knew nothing but him.
But in the back of her mind, a little voice kept saying,
'Everything changes, Kat. It always does.'
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316
KISS
by Catherine Chernow
Chapter Eighteen
That Saturday morning, Kat stood at the front door of
KISS. Balancing her bags and keys, she managed to open the
front door and frowned. She gazed upwards just as a passing
cloud blocked out the early morning sun. Strange, she
mused, when a breeze kicked up. Kat could have sworn it
would rain. It never rained in Summerville. She kicked the
front door closed with the heel of her shoe and strode to the
back of KISS. Depositing her bags on the desk in her office,
she heard the bell jangle.
Kat glanced at her watch. Ten fifteen. Whew! She had just
made it in ... barely. Jared's vigorous loving had her sleeping
later than usual. She walked to the front of KISS then heard
Lilith.
"Good morning!" her friend called out.
"Hi Lilith." Kat walked over to the cash register and turned
it on.
"Have a good time last night at the concert?" Lilith asked,
her violet eyes dancing.
"I did. How about you?"
Lilith shrugged. "Sure, but I'm more interested in how you
and Jared made out."
Kat stuck her tongue out at her. "Very funny. Nice play on
words."
Lilith erupted into peals of laughter. "You know what I
mean."
Kat sighed. "I never kiss and tell. You should know that."
317
KISS
by Catherine Chernow
"Oh you!" Lilith giggled. "Stop already."
Kat grinned at her as she opened the door to the register
then closed it. "I had a marvelous time Lilith. Jared's..."
"Wonderful?"
Kat became serious. "Yes. Wonderful."
The bell above the front door jangled in warning. Kat
looked over to see a tall, thin, elegantly dressed woman walk
in. Her sleek, blonde hair had a zillion different shades in it.
Kat imagined it must cost her a small fortune to get it
highlighted that way. She had on a pair of stylish, dark
glasses, the white frames a fashionable contrast to the black-
tinted lenses. Kat sized her up immediately. One of Long
Island's Gold Coast Blue Bloods.
"I'll chat with you later, okay? I see you've got a
customer."
"Okay, Lilith."
Lilith walked by the woman standing at the entrance. As
she did, Kat noticed how the woman looked Lilith up and
down.
Oh boy, this was going to be some morning ... but a
customer was a customer.
Kat walked over to her. "Can I help you?"
The woman removed her dark glasses revealing a pair of
pale blue eyes. Vague recognition stirred within Kat. She felt
like she knew her...
"You're Kaitlyn Sullivan, aren't you?"
Kat smiled. "I am. But please, call me 'Kat.' Did someone
recommend KISS to you?"
318
KISS
by Catherine Chernow
The woman gave a shrill laugh. "Oh ... oh no. Not in the
least."
Kat bristled. "Well then, how can I help you? Are you
looking for anything in particular?"
"Just you," the woman laughed snidely.
"All right," Kat said, impatient. "You found me, now, what
do you want?"
"Well now, no need to get testy."
Kat balled her right hand into a fist at her side. She had
the most unholy urge to take a swing at the woman.
"I'd like to introduce myself," the woman stuck out her
hand. Long, red nails adorned each finger. "My name is
Georgia O'Reilly." She smiled thinly, and finished by saying,
"But everyone calls me George."
* * * *
That vague feeling of recollection continued to haunt Kat
as she stood there, looking at the blonde woman. "Ms.
O'Reilly." Kat stated, her tone flat. "Do I ... know you? Should
I?"
George snorted. "I'm only Jared Martin's assistant. I think
you would know me."
"Jared never mentioned you," Kat murmured in response.
Her stomach did a little flip.
"Oh, he didn't? I'm surprised. I'm usually the one he sends
to close all his ... deals."
Kat blinked once, registering what George said. "I see..."
"So, the reason I'm here is to show you something."
Kat angled her head. "What?"
319
KISS
by Catherine Chernow
George dug through her bag and withdrew a Manila
envelope. She handed it to Kat. "Go on, open it."
Kat reached for the envelope. She opened the metal clasp
on the back and looked inside.
George sighed with impatience. "Here," she said snidely.
"Give me that!" She wrenched the envelope from Kat's hands
and dumped its contents on the counter in front of them.
Kat gazed down at the five by seven photographs.
"Aren't these nice?" George queried.
Kat's hand shook as she picked up the first photograph it
was a picture of April and Bill outside in the back of KISS.
The others were equally shocking. Pictures of all her
friends, of the women she helped. Each one dressed in the
outfits she had designed for them the outfits designed to
bring the spark of life back in their souls. Souls that had been
devastated by illness and disease. Kat held each photo up to
her scrutiny ... the last ones being the lingerie party. All her
friends, and the three young women who had come to her for
help, were photographed in Kat's stunning lingerie creations.
She felt sick inside.
"How did you get these pictures?" her voice vibrated with
anger.
George shrugged. She folded her arms under her breasts
and leaned against the counter. "I have my ways."
"These mean ... nothing." Kat said, and flipped the picture
she had been viewing right back at George.
"Oh no?" George lifted a brow. "I'd say they mean quite a
bit."
320
KISS
by Catherine Chernow
"Get out of here," Kat told her, her voice low. "Get out
now."
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