Kate drummed her fingers on her lips, quickly at first, then slowing. Her lips loosened, turned down. Her stubborn chin softened. “It’s hopeless.”

The phone rang again, chittering across the desktop. Kate glared at it, looking as though she might throw it across the room.

“I’ll answer.” He reached for it.

Kate stopped him with a hand on his arm. Her grip was surprisingly strong. “What’ll you say?”

He met her gaze: wide, olive eyes too vulnerable for words. “I’ll just take a message.”

After a moment, she released his arm, and he picked up the phone, snapping it open.

“Hello?”

A pause. “Is Kate there?” A woman’s voice, out of breath.

“She can’t come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?”

“Is this Bryan? Don’t tell me she’s letting you see her before the wedding.”

“No. This is a—a friend.” That was stretching it. He turned and leaned against the desk.

“Okay, well, tell her to call Pam. No, wait, she won’t be able to reach me for a while. Tell her I have good news. This is really important, so be sure and tell her right away. The Dr. Phil show called, and they want her to make a guest appearance next month.”

Great. Lucas met Kate’s eyes, glanced away. Just what she needed.

“Did you get that?” Pam asked.

“Got it. I’ll let her know.” He closed the phone and set it on the desk. He could feel Kate watching him. Maybe he didn’t have to tell her just now.

“Who was it?” Was that hope lilting her voice? Did she think Bryan had changed his mind?

“Pam.”

She stared at her manicured fingers, clenched in her lap. “Oh.”

She’d actually gotten on the Dr. Phil show. He’d known her popularity had grown nationwide with the column and book and all. But Dr. Phil. That was a whole new ball game.

“What did she want?”

Her knee brushed his leg as she shifted. He crossed his feet at the ankles and gripped the ledge of the desk. “Nothing that can’t wait. She wants you to call her back.”

Her upturned face and searching eyes melted him. Have mercy, she was beautiful. He looked away.

“She said something, didn’t she? Something you don’t want me to know.”

Restless energy pushed him away from the desk. He should’ve known she wouldn’t let it go. He shouldn’t have answered the phone. Her type A personality required her to know, even when she already had more than she could handle.

“Excuse me, but my life is hanging in the balance right now. Could you please just spit it out?”