Between Land and Sea (13 page)

Chapter 24

Barbara enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. Although she was acutely aware of the handsome man at her side, she was still able to focus on the sights of Chicago. The Art Institute was a city unto itself of fine art and artifacts. Guarded by two bronze lions, the Institute contained rooms filled with paintings, sculptures, textiles, and photographs. Barbara could have spent entire days wandering through the endless marble and glass corridors.

Stewart suggested the Highlights tour. The guide provided an entertaining and educational introduction to the museum’s various collections. Barbara could easily see why it was one of the best fine art collections in the world. At the end of the tour, Barbara went back and spent more time looking at the works of the Impressionists. Stewart was more interested in the newly opened Modern Wing. Some of his clients were up-and-coming artists from the Southwest.

Afterward, they walked through Millennium Park. With unusually warm December temperatures in the low fifties, it was a perfect day for a lazy stroll. Stewart talked about the history of the park and the various sculptures and gardens. Barbara was impressed by his knowledge and enthusiasm.

While walking through the tree-lined promenade, Stewart stopped unexpectedly and turned toward Barbara. He kissed her lightly and stroked her right cheek. Barbara was taken aback by the gestures. She blushed and turned away from his gaze.

“You can’t ignore the chemistry, Barbara.” He cupped her chin and forced her to look at him. “So what are we going to do about it?”

“Nothing. You’re my agent. I don’t want to complicate matters by getting involved with you. And besides, I’m already dating someone in Carden.”

“Why isn’t he here with you? I wouldn’t let you go traipsing around in Chicago if you were my woman.”

“Graham and I aren’t attached at the hip. He has his own life and I have mine.”

“Doesn’t sound like much of a relationship there. And from what Gillian has told me, you’ve been in that small town only a few months. How serious can this relationship possibly be?”

Barbara wondered what else Gillian had said about her. “That’s my business and Graham’s. You and I have a professional relationship, that’s all.” She quickly amended, “Though I am grateful for all you’ve done.”

“I guess that means we won’t be spending the rest of the afternoon at Omni.” He looked at his watch. “I’ll have to call and cancel the suite.” He stood to the side and took out his cell phone.

The nerve of the man! He actually expected her to fall into bed with him after only a few hours together. She caught a few fragments of the conversation and realized that Stewart must know the person on the other end of the line. He must do this often. And she wouldn’t be surprised if the female staff at the hotel kept track of his comings and goings.

After a few minutes, he rejoined her and started talking about the outdoor events at the park during the warmer months. She couldn’t believe the man could just continue like nothing had happened. She was a bundle of nerves and questions and she wondered how she would ever get through another day in such close proximity to Stewart Tobin.

“It’s getting late. Gillian is making dinner, and I think she has some plans for later.” Or more precisely,
she
had plans for later, which did not involve Stewart Tobin.

Stewart frowned. “I didn’t realize that Gillian was expecting you so soon. But if you two have made plans, I won’t stand in your way.” He smiled mischievously. “Remember, I’ve got you all day tomorrow.”

They were quiet on the drive to Gillian’s condo. Barbara could sense him glancing at her, but she kept her eyes glued straight ahead. As soon as he stopped the car, Barbara made a quick exit. She didn’t want him kissing or touching her again. As her feet touched the pavement, she heard him laughing. “See you tomorrow, Barbara.”

Barbara nodded to the concierge and took the elevator to Gillian’s floor. She knocked on the door and waited for Gillian to let her in.

The younger woman raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I guess you didn’t get to see the inside of the Omni Hotel.”

“Why doesn’t he just invite women to his home? Wouldn’t that be less trouble and less expensive?”

“He loves to court women and give them a taste of a more opulent lifestyle. As for money, he’s loaded.” Gillian was thoughtful for a minute. “He puts up many of his clients at the Omni. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wrote off all those expenses.

“What is that heavenly smell?” Barbara asked. “I had a big brunch, but I’m salivating just taking in that aroma.”

“Before I went out, I threw some meat and veggies into the slow cooker. We’re having my famous stew tonight. I didn’t make any plans for later. I thought you’d spend the evening with Stewart.”

“Why don’t we take a nice long walk along the waterfront?” Barbara looked ruefully at her tightening waistband. “I could use the exercise.”

Gillian suddenly became animated. “I’ve got an even better idea! Let’s go see the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights. It’s an amazing sight with millions of colored lights illuminating the park. And they have these beautiful ice carvings and snow globes filled with holiday characters. We’ll also get to see Santa surrounded by exotic animals, not real of course.” Her eyes were sparkling. “It’s been a while since I’ve gone there. I’d love to go again.”

“Sounds good to me. We’ll be outside and get lots of exercise.”

With the evening plans in place, the women set the table and enjoyed their meal. Barbara was impressed by the tenderness and the flavor of the meat. She made a mental note to use the slow cooker that was collecting dust in one of the back cupboards of her kitchen.

After tidying up, the women freshened up their makeup and set out for the zoo. Thanks to Gillian’s skillful driving, they arrived in record time and joined the large groups of people moving at a leisurely pace. Barbara was impressed by the ice carvings and persuaded Gillian to watch as one of the artisans demonstrated his skill. Gillian talked her into getting a temporary tattoo on her arm. Both women knew exactly what they wanted. Gillian selected a tiger design while Barbara went with a Monarch butterfly.

“Gillian. Gillian Sanderson. You’re the last person I’d expect to see here.”

Gillian rolled her eyes and forced a smile on her face. She nodded toward the man and his family.

While the man looked vaguely familiar to Barbara, she immediately recognized the young woman from last night’s party. Patrica, no Patrice. And then she remembered the man’s name. Jim. He had sat across from her at last night’s dinner party. They made small talk for a few minutes and Jim took out his camera. “I’ve got a great idea. Why don’t we all pose with Santa? It’ll make a fantastic shot, and I know Edgar will love it. He’s always talking about building more staff community. He’ll probably post it on the bulletin board.” He looked excitedly at his family and the two women.

The children clapped their hands and agreed. Patrice and Gillian smiled tightly at each other. He persisted. “Come on, ladies. Let’s have some fun.”

The children led the group eagerly to Santa’s station. Thankfully, there were only a couple of families in line. Jim talked one of the bystanders into taking the picture. As soon as their turn came up, he sprung into action organizing everyone around Santa and the animals. Each child sat on one of Santa’s knees. Barbara and Gillian stood directly behind Santa, with Patrice and Jim acting as bookends. Santa whispered into each child’s ear, and the children responded with their respective gift lists.

Santa turned unexpectedly and met Barbara’s gaze. His dark blue eyes twinkled. “And what does the lady with the lovely green eyes want for Christmas?” Barbara was thankful that the rest of the group had not heard the question. They were busy chatting and making their way off the stage.

She answered quickly, “Money and success.”

Santa shook his head and smiled sadly. “That won’t be a problem. But you should have asked for true love instead.”

Barbara shivered involuntarily. Another New Ager—this time in a Santa suit. She waved goodbye and ran to catch up with Gillian.

Chapter 25

On Monday there was a noticeable change in Gillian’s morning routine. She was up at six-thirty and spent an hour working out in her exercise room. Afterward, she took a shower and drank a smoothie as she checked her stocks and read
USA Today
. She took her usual time selecting her clothes and applying makeup. Today she was dressed for success in a stylish black suit with a ruffled, cream blouse. A black, lined Burberry trench coat and black pumps completed the look.

She smiled at Barbara. “Stewart will probably be early again. If you don’t trust yourself alone with him, wait in the lobby. No one will bother you there.” She looked at her watch. “Go down in twenty minutes or so.”

“Thanks, that’s a good idea. I hope he behaves today.”

“Don’t count on it. Stewart loves and lives for the chase. You’re a new challenge for him.” Gillian frowned. “But you should be used to that by now. You’ve dealt with Graham and the other one, the jerk who abandoned you.”

Barbara spoke slowly. “Andrew. Andrew Bradley III. I haven’t thought about him in a while.”

“You gave up your tail for him!”

“I guess I’ve moved on.”

“What about Graham? Didn’t he pursue you?”

“Not really,” Barbara said. “He let me know that he was interested, but I don’t think anything would have happened if I hadn’t visited him at the shop.”

“So you pursued him?”

“It wasn’t like that at all. We started off as friends and then the sex happened. It was a gradual progression, not instant fireworks like—”

“Like Stewart Tobin.” She shook her head. “Get him out of your system before you go back to Carden. If you don’t, you’ll obsess about him and that could mess up your relationship with Graham.”

“That would be so dishonest, so wrong. I couldn’t face Graham if I had sex with Stewart.”

“Get him out of your system.” Gillian picked up her briefcase, waved goodbye, and went out the door.

Barbara finished her breakfast and dressed carefully for her meeting with Melanie. She took out her black pantsuit. She wore a cream shell underneath with her pearl necklace and earrings as accessories. Her long camel coat, black pumps, and purse completed the look. She took Gillian’s advice and waited for Stewart in the lobby.

Within a few minutes, he arrived. He seemed surprised to see Barbara waiting for him. He walked quickly toward her. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

Barbara tried to ignore the fluttering feeling in her stomach. “Not at all. I was ready a few minutes early and decided to wait down here.” She stood up and followed him out the door.

Stewart chuckled as they approached the car. “I caught sight of Gillian on my way here.” He shook his head. “That woman is a menace on the road. She doesn’t bother with any of the speed limits and cuts in on every car in her path.”

Barbara joined in the laughter. “Driving with her is an adventure in itself.” She added, “She’s offered to give me a few driving pointers, but I hesitate to take her up on it. I don’t want to learn any bad habits.”

“But you do drive?” he asked.

“It’s been a while. When I was married, my husband did all the driving. I decided to do without a car when I moved to Carden. It’s small enough and I live a short walk away from the office. And Graham drives me everywhere else.”

Stewart opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. He waited until Barbara got in and buckled up. He looked at her thoughtfully. “You should have your own car.”

“I’m fine for now.”

“But if you could have any car, which one would you pick?”

“I don’t know that much about cars. Gillian suggested a black BMW.”

“I agree. A black BMW would definitely suit you.”

In less than ten minutes, they arrived at the featureless high-rise in midtown. The office for New Spirit Publishing was on the twentieth floor. As they entered the office, Barbara was taken aback by the bland, generic décor. She had expected a more esoteric look. Instead, she found herself in a waiting room that could have belonged to any dentist or doctor. The color scheme was a muted one, with a pale brown couch, matching chairs, and beige carpet. A series of Norman Rockwell prints lined the walls. Magazines were strewn on a glass and iron coffee table and a water cooler gurgled in the corner. An intense young woman with straight blue-black hair and heavily made-up eyes looked up at Stewart. Her face was expressionless. Barbara couldn’t make out what she was saying, but she saw the receptionist point toward the couch.

Stewart smiled politely and returned to sit next to Barbara. “Melanie has just taken a call from one of her writers in Australia. She’ll be a few minutes.” He shook his head and whispered, “That young woman needs therapy. She could barely speak and her eyes have a glazed look. I’ll mention it to Melanie later.”

“She might be having a bad day,” Barbara said. “Maybe her weekend plans fell apart. Or she might have had a fight with her roommate. You don’t know her well enough to make any kind of judgment.”

“You’re too kind, Barbara. Melanie has worked hard to make this publishing house a success. She can’t afford to have that young woman create such a negative first impression.”

Barbara was surprised by the stern look on his features and the icy tones to his voice. He had definite standards and did not hesitate to speak his mind. She watched him glance through the magazines on the table. He picked up a copy of
Time
and started reading. He smiled as she gravitated toward the latest issue of
Psychology Today
.

They sat and read quietly for a few minutes. The door opened and a tall, statuesque woman approached Stewart. She was dressed very plainly in a two-piece, royal blue jersey ensemble. Her unruly blonde curly hair was pulled back with a barrette and a large, black-rimmed pair of glasses sat on her nose. She wore little makeup and looked like she had been up all night. She was young, in her mid-thirties at most.

Stewart stood up and greeted her. He introduced Barbara and the three of them made their way into her office. Melanie waved her arm. “Sorry about the mess. I had planned to come in on the weekend and tidy up, but the twins kept me hopping.”

Ah, so that explains it, thought Barbara. She smiled encouragingly at Melanie. “How old are the twins?”

“Three going on four.” She moved a few files on her desk and smiled triumphantly as she located the silver-framed photo.

The two girls were identical with short, curly bobs and beautiful blue eyes. They had their mother’s coloring and, as Barbara took a closer look at Melanie, she caught a glimpse of beautiful features hidden behind a tired and haggard face. A day at the spa would do wonders for her. “They’re precious. It must be hard leaving them in the morning.” Barbara held onto the picture for a few extra minutes.

Stewart had an inscrutable look on his face. “After we launch this book, you can start thinking about having one of your own.”

“I don’t think so,” Barbara said. “That ship has sailed.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Stewart mumbled.

“I’m fifty-three years old. End of story.”

“What!” Stewart and Melanie spoke in unison.

Melanie gave her an admiring look. “You look great for your age. And I really mean that. You could easily pass for forty. And on a day like this, you probably look younger than I do.”

Barbara thanked her for the compliment and delighted in seeing the confused look on Stewart’s face. Barbara wondered how he was dealing with the dilemma of pursuing an older woman. Could he handle a cougar?

Melanie got down to business and started talking about the book. She complimented Barbara on her writing and assured her that she would be very hands-on throughout the entire publication process. The rest of the conversation focused on contract issues, the cover, font styles, and the date of release. While Melanie glanced occasionally at Barbara, most of her comments were directed at Stewart. In the end, they decided on a tentative release date of August eighth.

Barbara liked the artist’s cover design: pale green background with three beautiful Monarch butterflies. And she loved the new title—
It’s Your Time
.

While everything was subject to her approval, Barbara found herself agreeing with all the decisions that had been made. She informed Melanie that she would be showing the contract to a lawyer before signing.

Melanie focused her attention on Barbara. “A couple of my editors are concerned about your lack of credentials and platform. Most of our self-help authors are psychologists or other professionals with well-established practices. When we launch their books, they already have a following.” She looked questioningly at Barbara.

“I’ve been working as a career counselor for a few weeks now, and I have spoken before a number of groups in the Carden area. I’m booked solid for January and February.”

Melanie’s smile lit up her face. “I’m glad to hear that. Do you have any speaking engagements in Toronto?”

Barbara thought of Sharon Clarke. She had hoped to avoid that bullet. “I have a contact in Toronto who has offered to launch me.”

“Good. Pursue that.” Melanie looked at her watch. “We’re finished early, with half an hour to spare.” She shook her head at Stewart in a friendly manner. “That seems to happen a lot with you. We see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues.”

Stewart winked at Barbara. He got up and shook Melanie’s hand. “Always a pleasure, my dear Melanie. I’ll let you get back to your busy day.”

Barbara shook Melanie’s hand and followed Stewart out of the office. They took the elevator down to the street. Stewart turned to her and said, “That went well. I think you’ll like the final product. Melanie and her people always deliver.” He waited until they were seated in the car. “I’ll take you to lunch and then we’ll see.” He flashed a wicked grin at her. He drove expertly through the downtown streets and entered a parking garage adjacent to the Omni Hotel.

Barbara stiffened. “I made my feelings clear yesterday, Stewart.”

“We’re just having lunch, Barbara,” Stewart said. “I think you’ll like the 676 Restaurant. It serves a more modern cuisine than the other restaurants you’ve visited here in Chicago.”

She followed him inside. He was greeted by a number of staff as they made their way to the restaurant. Everyone seemed to know him.

It was early, barely eleven-thirty and there were very few other patrons. The young woman who led them to their table kept glancing back at Stewart. He was probably as old as her father, if not older, but that didn’t stop her from flirting.

After she left, Stewart turned and gave her his full attention. Those intense green eyes remained locked on hers. When his gaze was suddenly too much, she picked up the menu and started looking at it with a nonchalance she was far from feeling.

“I guess we have to eat first,” he said, his voice low and easy. It was the kind of voice that was capable of talking a woman into, well, anything.

Another nubile young woman returned and spoke directly to Stewart. “Good morning, Mr. Tobin. I’m Tessa. What can I bring you and your friend to drink?”

“Hello, Tessa. Bring us a bottle of your house red.

After the waitress left, Stewart wrapped his fingers around hers and smiled as he watched a slow blush move up her neck. “I love watching you blush.”

The waitress returned and poured the wine. She smiled perfunctorily at Barbara and then turned to give Stewart her full attention. “Are you ready to order?”

“I am, how about you, Barbara?” After she nodded, he continued, “I’ll have the Skirt Steak Flatbread with fries.”

Barbara gave her order. She had decided on the Lake Superior Whitefish Melt with a side order of Market Fruit.

Stewart raised his wine glass. “To us,” he said.

Barbara set down her glass without sipping. Part of her was excited, wanting to respond, wanting to see where this would take her. Another part urged her to get up and leave the restaurant. But she couldn’t move.

They sat there in silence looking at each other. “There are too many reasons for not getting involved with you,” Barbara said.

He continued to gaze at her. “I want to hear all of them.”

“First of all, there’s Graham. It would be a betrayal. I know how I felt when Carl cheated on me. I would never want anyone else to feel that way.”

He nodded. “Next reason?”

“I don’t like to mix business with pleasure. I’m very happy with our business relationship, and I don’t want to mess with it.”

He shrugged and motioned for her to continue.

“I just met you yesterday. It’s too soon.”

His eyes lit up. “So stay in Chicago for a while. I’m sure that Gillian won’t mind putting you up for a few weeks, months, or however long it takes. And if she does mind, I’ll set you up in one of my downtown rentals.”

“I can’t just pick up and leave my life in Carden. I have a job, responsibilities.” She raised her voice.

“Is everything all right?” The waitress looked concerned as she placed their food on the table.

Stewart gave her a reassuring nod and waved her away. “Time out. Let’s just enjoy this lovely meal.”

Barbara nodded, welcoming the reprieve and concentrated on her food and her wine.

Barbara watched as Stewart paid the bill. He had been quiet for most of the meal, making a few random comments about the food and the unusually warm December weather. As they neared the entrance, Stewart suddenly pulled her to a side hallway. Before she could respond, he pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her until she could no longer think.

“Spend the afternoon with me,” he whispered. “There’s nothing I’d like more.”

Barbara was in turmoil. She liked the feel of his arms and wondered what it would be like to be held by them all afternoon. Part of her wanted to stay forever in this elegant and extravagant bubble he had created and never go back to small town life. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t think. Instead, she followed him to the elevator.

They joined two other couples going up. Smiles were exchanged but no words were spoken. Barbara was grateful for the silence and kept her eyes peeled straight ahead. They were the first ones off the elevator. Stewart led her to the suite. He stepped back and let her enter first.