Page 10 of At the Heart of It
“So that’s why she wants to meet with us alone before we sit down with the network team?”
“Yep.” At least Kate hoped so. She had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Amy continued chattering as Kate took a sharp right onto a tree-lined street. “I’ve been reading old reviews of On the Other Hand,” Amy said. “Female readers really connected with the whole Average-Joe thing. I think it’ll add a lot to the show.”
“But her new book doesn’t have that at all,” Kate pointed out as she continued down the narrow street lined with gated properties and towering stucco houses. And trees. So many trees. Must be a Seattle thing.
“I’m only halfway through that one,” Amy said.
“Making It Work is just Dr. Vivienne’s perspectives on a whole bunch of different relationships in jeopardy, and it’s been on the New York Times bestseller list for weeks.”
“Her career is definitely hot right now,” Amy said. “Putting her on television is a fabulous idea.”
“It is great timing,” Kate agreed as she pulled up to the gate and punched in the code Dr. Vivienne had given her. Her stomach did a triple backflip of anticipation. She’d met Dr. Vivienne before, but never at her home. Never like this. Here she was, Kate Geary, driving alongside the hydrangea bushes of the woman who’d written the books that got Kate through the toughest times in her life.
She took a deep breath and eased into the circular driveway.
“Nice place,” Amy said as she eyed the massive house. “The self-help gig must pay pretty well.”
“She’s done other things,” Kate said. “Speaking engagements and workshops.”
Amy looked at the house again. “We’re not all going to hold hands and talk about our feelings, are we?”
“I highly doubt it,” Kate assured her as she parked the car, then checked her lipstick in the rearview mirror. “She’s really down-to-earth. I’m sure you’ll love her.”
Kate stepped out of the car and smoothed down the front of her gray pencil skirt. She wore a conservative navy blouse and low heels, her all-business look. She grabbed her leather briefcase from the back seat and started toward the front door with Amy right behind her. “How’s my hair?” Amy asked.
Kate pivoted on the doorstep and paused to adjust the bobby pin holding Amy’s wild blond curls back from her face. “Perfect.”
“Here, you’ve got a smudge of eyeliner right here.” Amy dabbed the corner of Kate’s cheekbone with a damp thumb.
“Did you just spit on me?”
“Yes, but I did it with the utmost respect.” Amy grinned. “You’re all good.”
Kate reached up and rang the doorbell, braced to be greeted by a stiffly attired butler or maybe Dr. Viv’s personal assistant.
But when the door flew open, it was the woman herself who greeted them. Vivienne Brandt wore her trademark long, dark hair swept back in a low ponytail, and her flawless, porcelain skin held only the faintest hint of makeup. The thin gold bangles on her right wrist chimed when she lifted her hand. She looked elegant in loose linen slacks and a simple black T-shirt, and as she shifted to acknowledge Amy with a smile, Kate couldn’t help envying the delicate arches of her bare feet.
“Kate! It’s so good to see you again!”
Vivienne clasped Kate’s hand in hers, replacing Kate’s intended handshake with a friendlier grasp that left Kate wondering how long she should stand here holding hands with a relative stranger.
“Hello, Vivienne,” Kate said, turning just enough to free her hand. “I’d like you to meet our assistant producer, Amy Bartholomew.”
“Ma’am,” Amy said. “I absolutely love your books.”
“Such a pleasure to meet you,” Dr. Vivienne said as she gave Amy the same hand-holding treatment. “Please, call me Viv. And come on in! I’ve got water and herbal tea and some light refreshments in the parlor.”
“Light refreshments in the parlor,” Kate recited in her mind as she followed Dr. Viv down a well-lit corridor lined with cool Italian marble and Asian artifacts. There was something lovely and lilting about the phrase, and it gave Kate a fresh boost of confidence about how well Dr. Viv would do on camera.
“This is a beautiful space,” Kate remarked, taking in the tall, floor-to-ceiling windows, the clean lines, the modern sparseness of the décor.
“Thanks.” Viv halted in the center of the room—the parlor, Kate presumed—and swept her arms in a wide arc. “You can see now why I wanted the team to consider filming here in my home. It’s sleek, but intimate. Cozy, but professional. I think it sets the perfect tone.”
“Very modern,” Amy murmured, nodding as she paused to scribble something on her ever-present notepad.
Kate glanced at her watch. “We have two hours until the network guys show. You said you wanted to go over their proposal?”
