Page 34 of Be My Valentine

Emma gasped.

“Mr. Arrow?” she squeaked, “Do you still call him that?”

Kate felt the heat come to her cheeks.

“He’s, my boss.”

“He’s, my brother!” retorted Emma “Did you tell her she can call you Mark?”

“I did, but she keeps going with ‘lawyer’ or ‘sir’.”

I am here, you know?

“Unbelievable stuff. Let’s sit down now, these shoes are tight.”

“But you bought them two weeks ago!”

“When you’re pregnant, we’ll talk about it.” Said Emma frowning and marching into the cafeteria and took the floor as soon as they were seated.

“So… this is it! Saturday is the big day. I have the list here; can we go through it?”

Kate cast a doubtful glance at Mark Arrow.

“We could do it tomorrow morning, it doesn’t seem right to take time away from the work I have to do for your brother.”

More importantly, what is he doing here?

“Mark? Tell her she can talk, otherwise we’ll never get out of this.”

The brother laughed and Kate relaxed and noticed that he seemed interested. She took the list of everything they had managed to auction off.

“A tour of the History Museum and a tour of the Planetarium with no less than two Columbia professors? How on earth did you manage that?”

Kate chilled. It had been Professor Ross himself who had suggested a colleague from the History department.

“Why are you amazed? Did you think we couldn’t handle it?” Emma rebutted glibly.

Arrow raised his hands.

“I didn’t mean to offend anyone, it’s just, it’s unusual, that’s all.”

“Isn’t the idea good?” Kate asked in a huff.

“The idea is great, I’m just surprised.”

“Perfect. I’m actually here to ask you something Kate, I’d like you to meet our parents. A casual dinner, at my parents’ house. You’ve worked so hard, and they both want to thank you and then it’s best to get to know them before the big event.”

No, no, no.

“Wait a second. I’m not going to the Plaza!” Refused Kate.

“You have to come! You’ve set up almost everything!”

“I wouldn’t be comfortable, please, Emma.”

“You can’t miss it! Mark!”

Kate shook her head. Whenever there was a difficulty, Emma called her brother into question, and she wasn’t so sure she could resist him.