“Mom, you look like you’re suffering from gas. What’s up?”

Eva’s eyes shot daggers across her Upper East Side apartment to where Katherine was fixing her hair, looking beautiful in her new birthday dress. “There’s no need to be crude. I was just thinking.” Eva cradled her wineglass. “How’s Ben?”

Katherine shrugged. “He’s good. Busy. He’s coming tonight with Abby.”

Eva sighed wistfully. “It’s wonderful that he’s settled down, married, and in a respectable job.”

Katherine took a deep breath, her arms falling to her sides. “I know you’re desperate for grandkids, Mom, but can we hold off just a little longer before I settle down?” She picked up her glass and gulped her wine. “And my job is respectable. I’m a teacher. A good one.”

Ignoring the retort about the job, Eva laughed. “Oh, darling, as much as I would love grandchildren, I just want you to be happy, and with someone who’ll look after you and love you. There’s no rush, you’re young.” She paused. “But there’s no one you’re interested in?”

Katherine avoided her mother’s gaze as she picked up her purse. “No. I’m happy as I am. In all aspects of my life.”

Eva stared at her daughter, wishing she could explain her fears better. She sighed. “I hope so.”

* * *

The Spanish restaurant in TriBeCa in which Kat had chosen to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday was bustling. She, along with her friends and family, sat around a large circular table drinking wine and nibbling at the delicious breads laid out in its center. Her mother sat to her left, quiet but attentive, while Ben, Abby, Harrison, Beth, and Adam, God love them, with jokes and liberal pours of wine, tried to clear the tense atmosphere between mother and daughter.

“Carter got parole?” Ben exclaimed. “That’s great, Kat!” He lifted his champagne glass.

Kat laughed and did the same, ignoring the look of disdain that flashed across her mother’s face.

“So, when do your sessions start?” Beth asked.

“Sessions?” her mother interjected, her dark eyes flashing. “What sessions?”

“Kat meets with this … Carter three times a week,” Beth answered, her stare on her entree. “No security or anything.”

Eva blanched. “What?”

Great, Beth.

Kat breathed deeply, counting silently in an effort to keep her temper. “It’s part of Carter’s parole, Mom,” she answered, frowning over at Beth. “Very few tutors get the opportunity to do it. It’s important. You should be proud.”

Her mother gawked, her eyes damned near falling out of her head. “I would be prouder if you taught children in a middle-class elementary school. I mean, really, Katherine.” She put her glass down. “What makes these people, these prison officials, think that putting my daughter in danger will change these monsters one iota?”

“I’m not in any danger,” Kat assured her again.

Her mother blinked. “Your father thought the same. He was all for campaigning and helping the less fortunate, and look at the thanks he got.”

Kat’s heart thudded in her chest. “Carter’s not like them. He’s trying to better himself.

“Don’t dismiss my concerns, Katherine.”

“She’s allowed to worry, Kat. We all are,” Beth added. Adam placed a hand on her shoulder. Kat opened her mouth to ask what the hell her friend was playing at.

“Of course I am,” Eva said instead. “You’re my daughter.”

Her mother’s words strengthened Kat’s fire of determination. “Yeah,” she snapped. “And it’s your daughter’s birthday dinner, so can you just let it go tonight?” Kat closed her eyes, beating down her anger. “I’ve contacted the library on Fifth and Forty-second to reserve the reading room. He’s released on Tuesday. Our first session is a week from then.”

“Well, that’s great news,” Harrison said before Eva could say any more. He smiled sympathetically across the table at Kat. She returned his gaze before looking at Beth, who was murmuring quietly to Adam.

What the hell was going on? Sure, Beth had always spoken up about Kat’s mother, all but excusing her overbearing protectiveness, but this was something else.

Adam cleared his throat. “Austin’s here,” he said as his brother came toward the table with—much to Kat’s embarrassment—a gorgeously wrapped present.

“Hi, guys.” Austin shook Adam’s hand and lowered his voice. “I just got off the phone with Casari. We got ’em.”

Adam’s features sharpened. “Austin, man, I told you; be careful that—”

“Later,” Austin bit out. He hugged Beth and turned to Kat. “Happy birthday,” he said, laying the gift in front of her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Austin, you really didn’t have to—”

“Nonsense. It was just something that made me think of you when I saw it in San Francisco. Open it, please.”

“I will. Austin, this is my mom, Eva Lane, and her partner, Harrison Day. Mom, this is Austin Ford.”

Her mom’s eyes widened when Austin kissed her hand. “A pleasure,” he uttered before he shook Harrison’s hand and took a seat at Kat’s side.

“Quite. A young man with manners,” her mom murmured with a pointed look at Kat. “How very rare these days.”

Ben snorted from across the table, making Kat smile. With all eyes on her, she started ripping at the deep purple paper to find a large transparent box, which contained a beautiful snow globe. Instead of snowflakes falling around the miniature Golden Gate Bridge, millions of small stars and bits of crystal spun and glittered as they caught the light.

“Austin, that’s gorgeous.” Beth gasped.

“It is,” Kat agreed. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He kissed her cheek again, allowing his lips to linger a little longer than before.

Austin was once again a pleasure to be around, and Kat decided that she liked it when his finger would graze her arm or his hand would lightly catch the skin of her back when he rested it on the back of her chair. She liked when their eyes met and she liked the sound of his laugh and the way he said her name.

But there was still … something off. She was attracted to the guy. But a few times she’d shifted uneasily in her seat because that undefinable discomfort settled deep within her. Kat tried to ignore it, but it never disappeared.

* * *

Standing on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant after dinner, Ben hugged Kat warmly. “Happy birthday. Jesus, your mom was in rare form tonight. She needs to lower the dose.”

Kat chuckled into his shoulder. “She’s a nightmare. She and Beth both.”

“Yeah,” Ben agreed. “What was that about?”

Kat shrugged. “Who knows? I can’t even …”

“I think your mom’s a little taken with your friend.” Ben glanced at Austin, who chatted amiably with Eva. Ben’s face turned serious. “You need any info on this guy, give me a call, okay? Dirty little secrets are my speciality. Plus it gives me an excuse to play on Google.” He smirked when she pushed him away lightheartedly.

Kat turned to Abby. “Please take your husband home and smother him with a pillow.”

Abby laughed, taking Ben’s hand.

“Come over for dinner soon,” Kat told them. “I’ll make my special meatballs.”

The hug Kat shared with her mother was awkward. “Happy birthday, Katherine. Call me. Tomorrow. As soon as you’re home from working with those—Just call me.”

Kat held her eye roll. “I will. I’ll see you soon.”

Kat hugged and kissed Adam and Beth. “Everything okay?” she asked them both.

“Yeah,” Beth replied with a small smile. Adam nodded. “Just tired.” Beth looked over at Austin. “Maybe Austin can take you home, huh?” She winked conspiratorially, gestured unsubtly toward Austin mere feet away, and muttered indelicately about “getting in there.”

Austin laughed as Kat blushed and shook his head. The two of them stood on the sidewalk, neither knowing what to do next.

“Can I give you a lift?” he asked, pointing toward his car.

“Sure,” she replied.