What good would it do either of them if he did? She could never leave Seth, and Erik knew that. There was every reason in the world for him to be… seeing someone. But why did she have to be so young and beautiful? So sexy? And why did he bring her to Kathleen’s house?
That question was answered for her.
“Kathleen, Erik has come up with a great idea for the spring commercials. He wants to go to the tropics to do some location shooting. What do you think? Doesn’t that sound great?” Seth’s face had lit up with expectation.
“Yes,” Kathleen agreed, forcing a smile.
“I think it’s a marvelous idea,” Hazel said with a sly smile directed at Kathleen.
“He found Tamara through one of the talent agencies in the city,” Seth rushed on. “She’ll be featured in all the commercials. There will be other models, of course, but most of the scenes will revolve around her.” Seth beamed at the model, and she blessed him with a quick wink. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Can’t you see her wearing some gauzy summer thing, standing beside the ocean?” He laughed. “Listen to me trying to tell Erik his job!”
Erik laughed, too, and looked at Tamara in appreciation. “Sounds good to me.”
Kathleen jumped up abruptly, surprising Theron into dropping the wet beads against her blouse. “I… I’m sure that the commercials will all be lovely. It was nice to meet you, Miss… uh… Tamara. Please excuse me. I’m…” She was gasping for breath and there was a stabbing pain in her head. “I’m awfully tired. Goodnight, Hazel, Erik. Goodnight, Seth.” She went to him and kissed him hurriedly on the cheek.
“Kathleen—”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she cut him off. Before any of them could reply, she retreated with Theron to the sanctuary upstairs, out of sight of Erik and the woman who would go with him on the tropical getaway.
* * *
The day after her arrival home Kathleen spent in her room. The trip had tired her more than she had wanted to admit, and the rude awakening she had been subjected to the night before hadn’t helped any.
The day passed slowly. She tried to nap off and on, but each time she drifted to sleep, dreams of Erik, usually with a leggy blonde hanging on his arm, would awaken her, and she would pace the carpet, weep, and then feel guilt and remorse for being unfaithful to Seth, if not in deed, then certainly in mind.
The day after that, she returned to work. Eliot hadn’t seemed to be wilted at all by the trip. Indeed, he seemed invigorated, and the enthusiasm he exhibited over the coming season began to grate on Kathleen’s nerves—as did everything else.
From the beginning of November until Christmas was every merchant’s busiest season and Kirchoff’s was no exception. Still, Seth didn’t let that stand in the way of the preparations for the commercials. The Caribbean trip was planned for the first week in December.
Kathleen wanted nothing to do with it, but she found that she would be very much involved.
“Do you realize that you’re asking the impossible?” she stormed. They were all in Seth’s office, having met to discuss the scheduled trip. She flew out of her chair and crossed to the bookshelves, folding her arms over her chest and keeping her back to them. How much more of this could she take? This was the third such meeting in a week. They kept her in close contact with Erik when she’d just as soon not have to see him.
“Kathleen,” Seth said patiently, “we know what a bind we’re putting you in. But in order for the commercials to start playing on time, Erik must have them produced shortly after the first of the year. That’s why it’s necessary to do them so soon.”
She turned around and glared at them. Erik was slumped insouciantly in a chair with his feet stretched out in front of him. He was staring at her from under lowered brows. She wished he wouldn’t do that. It made her uncomfortable.
“I understand all of that, Seth. I’m not an imbecile,” she snapped. “Do you understand how difficult it’s going to be to have clothes, even samples, delivered by that time? I don’t know if I can get even one fashion house to cooperate. They’ll laugh in my face.”
“We understand the pressure you’re working under and know that you’ll do the best you can. The commercials will be useless if we have to use last season’s fashions. I want only new stuff.”
“I know, I know,” she repeated tiredly, in her own mean way reminding Seth that he had told her that at least a hundred times. “They’re not even cutting next spring’s lines yet,” she grumbled. “I should know. I just got back from New York, remember?”
“Yes,” Seth replied, unperturbed by her sarcastic tone. “And if what Eliot tells me is right, you charmed every manufacturer on Seventh Avenue. Surely you can ask them for one small—no, I’ll correct that—one large favor.”
She sighed, hitching her shoulders up and then letting them drop theatrically. “What size does the girl wear?”
“Tamara,” Erik said. “Her name is Tamara.”
“I’m sorry,” Kathleen gushed. “What size does Tamara wear?”
“An eight. We’re using all size-eight models to make it easier on you.”
“Thank you ever so much,” she said sweetly, and batted her eyelashes. “I can’t tell you how much your consideration is going to help me do the impossible.”
There was a heavy silence in the room while the three tried to keep their eyes away from each other. Kathleen was immediately ashamed of her childish sarcasm. What was the matter with her?
“Erik, will you excuse us, please,” Seth asked quietly after several long, tense moments.