Betrayal - Fern Michaels [102]
He saw her.
“I’ve never remarried. What about you?”
“You read my mind. I was wondering the same about you. No, I haven’t even dated since Alex’s death. I . . . I was very focused on my work. There was so much learning required, I didn’t really have time to think about dating.” It was true, but she couldn’t tell Coleman what she’d spent all that time learning.
“Let’s do this. I’ll make something for dinner at my place tonight. You can come, enjoy a quiet evening with an old friend, and I can give you Alex’s envelope.”
“Yes, I should do that, I suppose.”
Coleman raised his brow. “If it’s going to cause you any hardship, I can bring it to wherever you’re living.”
“No, I’ll have dinner with you.” She took a deep breath. She didn’t want Coleman in her apartment. If he saw the command center she’d set up in the spare room, he would know she was up to something, and she felt like he already suspected she was doing more than coming to Naples to banish old memories. “Just give me your address, and I’ll find you.”
Coleman gave her the address and told her what time to arrive. Kate felt a tad excited as she drove back to her apartment. She had a date. Sort of. Well, not really. An evening with an old friend. She would enjoy her time with Coleman. He hadn’t said where he was retiring to, but Kate knew it wouldn’t be in the state of Florida.
Before leaving for dinner, Kate booted up her computers. She checked all of her work to see if anything had changed. Nothing. She checked the credit reporting agencies, even though she knew it would take a few weeks for them to list all the discrepancies in Debbie’s credit history. She hit a few keys and discovered the mortgage company had already issued a certified letter of foreclosure. That was quick, but Kate figured with all the technology available in today’s world, there really wasn’t any reason to delay the process.
She took her time getting ready. Now she wished she had something other than the jeans, khakis, and black capris to wear. Deciding on the khakis for coolness and comfort, she wore her usual white T-shirt. She spent little time with her hair and makeup since she wasn’t trying to hide from Coleman. She didn’t even bother blow-drying the curls from her hair. She looked in the mirror. Her face was recognizable without the contacts and all the war paint.
Following the directions Coleman had given her, she was surprised to discover he only lived fifteen minutes away. A gated community, but older. There were no guards waiting at the entrance, just an electronic gate with a button to allow the gates to open and close. Not very secure, but as Kate traveled through the winding roads, she saw that most of the homes were very grand. They probably had killer security systems.
At the end of Willow Lake Drive, Kate saw Coleman’s SUV parked in the drive. She’d wanted to bring something to contribute to the meal, but he had insisted on cooking for her himself. Said he enjoyed puttering in the kitchen now and then. She’d stopped at Publix and purchased a bouquet of flowers. She couldn’t arrive empty-handed. The envelope was uppermost on her mind as she rang the doorbell. Should she insist Coleman allow her a few minutes alone with the contents before dinner, or should she wait until she could be alone? She didn’t know and would play it by ear.
The door opened. Coleman wore khaki shorts with a yellow polo shirt. Wisps of dark, wet hair curled around his face. “I just got out of the shower. I hope you haven’t been here long.”
That explained his hair. “No, I just got here.” Kate walked into the foyer. Marble floors, Tiffany chandeliers. Nice, but not too stuffy. “This is a beautiful home. I had no idea you lived in such splendor.”
“Yes, it is nice. Too big for me, though.”
Coleman was looking at the flowers she had hanging at her side.
“Oh, these are for you. Us. Dinner.”
“Thanks, I think there’s a vase in the kitchen. Now,