Chasing Glory (7 page)

Chapter Nine

Glory grinned as Catherine and
Pryce returned from lunch almost two hours later. Infatuation showed on both their faces. Fortunately, the McWhirters were keeping Alyssia out even longer. As soon as Pryce got on the elevator, Catherine came over to Glory’s desk.

“Forget the dress, forget any favor you owe me, real or imagined. This covers it all.” She did a little dance. “We went to the new bistro Alyssia talked about, but I don’t think I tasted anything. We’re going out for dinner tonight and since tomorrow’s Saturday, were spending the day together. He’s perfect.”

“It was the fact that you wouldn’t have to change any of your monograms that did it for me,” Glory said wryly.

Catherine gave her a blank look.

“Catherine W or Catherine W?” Glory teased, then handed her friend a piece of paper. “Thanks for helping with that memo.”

“She just came back?”

“Right.”

“She has an hour-long meeting that starts in five minutes. Call me.”

As soon as Alyssia went into the conference room, Glory rang her friend.

Catherine talked on her headset as she typed. “What the heck happened last night?” she asked. “CTB has been shooting lasers out of those cold blue eyes ever since Pryce showed up.”

Glory sighed. “All that time and energy schmoozing over Philip Welker and today she found out the account will be handled by Pryce. He let his parents get the royal treatment, knowing they enjoy being fussed over. Alyssia didn’t like being the last to know.”

Catherine giggled. “I like the man’s style. Are Mom and Dad nice?”

“Mom and Dad?” Glory asked. “Yes, they’re nice. Did Pryce tell you why he’s taking this on?”

“You mean the whole ‘Dad’s retiring so I’m moving back and taking over?’ He told me.”

“Play your cards right.”

“I intend to. Something else happened, though. What?”

Glory sighed. She couldn’t hide anything from Catherine. “Tal asked me to get Alyssia into a personal conversation. You know, girl talk. The minute I got her alone, she accused me of disrupting the function and changing the focus to myself. It could have gotten uglier, but Tal walked over.”

Catherine’s head snapped up. “She what? How did she come to that conclusion? What did Tal say?”

“When we came in and Tal introduced me to Pryce, he guessed my blog name and was sweet about being a fan. Alyssia was stressed because Philip Welker hadn’t begged to sign the contract yet, so it was easier to blame me.

Tal didn’t hear anything between Alyssia and me, but he danced with her before we left, and she did not look happy.”

“Wow. Do you think he yelled at her?”

Glory considered the question. “I only saw the last little bit, but I don’t think yelling was involved. He knew I was upset and might have tried to set her straight, but since he still thinks she’s the woman for him, I don’t know if he tried very hard.”

“From what I’ve seen,” Catherine said, “Tal’s not stupid, but he expects her to be something else, and for him, she is.”

“Yeah. He looked bummed when she ignored him before lunch.”

Catherine snorted. “She always puts herself in the most advantageous position, so she probably wasn’t ignoring him, just paying more attention to Pryce.”

“Nevertheless, I’m going to practice invisibility until her mood improves.”

“Might be hard to do since you’re trying to throw Tal in her path. Hey, maybe he could take some tips from our favorite CFO,” said Catherine.

That didn’t make sense. Kingston’s Chief Financial Officer was a boring, straight-laced yuppie. “What does Jeff Lassiter have to do with Alyssia? Other than they work together.”

“And have lunch together, and appear on each other’s calendars for weird meetings.”

“Holy cats.You think CTB and CFO are merging letters outside the office?”

Catherine laughed. “No chance. She’d be in a much better mood most of the time. I’m saying they spend a lot of what seems like unnecessary time together. Why do you think I’m always putting those winking emoticons on the emails when I ask you to put her on his schedule?”

“Thought you were bored,” Glory said. “Now I have to poke out my eyes at the image that crept in.”

“Yuck. Thanks for that. But don’t let Alyssia get you down. Tal stuck by you at lunch. I’m telling you, when the scales fall from his eyes, he could be yours.”

Glory felt a pleasant wobble in her stomach at Catherine’s words, but ignored it. Even if it didn’t work out between Tal and Alyssia, which was likely, he had made it clear what he was looking for. And that little fantasy in no way matched her dream of traveling, writing her blog and her book, and finishing the work she’d started on her house. Not to mention that she wanted to be in love when she got married. That definitely wasn’t on Tal’s agenda.

“Earth to Glory.”

She sighed. “Don’t hold your breath. Tal wants the fairy tale to have a short, crisp, ending. I don’t even want to be in the story; the end.”

“Plans change.”

• •

Tal glanced at his watch, then scanned the people strolling toward him on the wide sidewalk in front of Nordstrom’s. He was ten minutes early. Probably because he looked forward to her company. He could spend weeks researching ingredients and testing a new recipe, but the thought of shopping for shoes and clothes held no appeal. Heck, if he were honest, he was a little terrified. At least with Glory helping him, the end results would be quicker and less painful. If his new clothes impressed Alyssia too, as they hoped, so much the better.

Glory was few minutes early, too. He recognized her shining hair and confident stride. She wore khakis that looked great on her slim legs, soft tan ankle boots, and a sweater the color of blackberry juice. His breath hitched.

“Hi,” she said, grinning. “I hope you don’t have any other plans for this afternoon, because this is
not
going to take a half hour.”

Tal squared his shoulders. “’Lay on, McDuff.’”

Glory’s eyes widened. “Nothing like quoting Shakespeare correctly to win a writer’s heart.”

“Accident,” he said, happy that he’d impressed her. “Stuck in a small hotel in French Guiana for a solid week during a deluge. His work was the only book in the library in English.”

“Oh. Then I’ll try and keep my misquotes to a minimum.” She tipped her head toward Nordstrom’s storefront. “Ready?”

Tall took a deep breath and nodded.

They found their way to the men’s department, past the array of ties, dress shirts and suits. He let out another breath until Glory stopped and fingered some rough silk shirts and picked one, holding it up to him. The dark gold color and loose construction were not anything he would consider on his own, but he lifted his chin and stood still.

“Andrea Valmarana is the hottest Italian designer of the season. We carry only a small selection of his shirts. That one would look very nice on you.”

He and Glory turned at the sultry voice. The sales associate was beautiful, and he supposed she did very well in selling expensive clothes to men.

Glory didn’t even blink. She handed the shirt to the woman. “Yes. Maybe some coffee, or dark olive-colored slacks, too.”

The woman gave a slight nod. “My name is Caprielle.” She turned to lead the way.

Tal held Glory’s arm as she started to follow. “Are you sure about this? I mean that shirt’s
silk
.”

“Right,” she said. “This is going to cost you a fortune.”

“It’s not the money,” he whispered, aware that the sales person had stopped and was waiting. “It’s the girly factor.”

He watched as she arranged her features to suppress a laugh. “No one would ever think of you as girly. Now, are we going to have this conversation over every item?”

Tal pulled in his lips, shook his head and surrendered. It also gave him a ridiculous lift that Glory considered him masculine.

His senses went on overload for the next hour as Glory and Caprielle brought several
outfits
for him to try on. He felt foolish walking out of the changing room area each time to have the two women pluck at sleeves, hems, collars and cuffs. The sales woman shook her head over his comfortable loafers and best argyle socks.

At last they made it to the register. He held the original shirt Glory had chosen, a pair of tailored khakis, a belt, cashmere socks, and a summer weight English wool jacket in a muted herringbone.

Next stop was shoes. He cringed at the light, European slip-ons that shoe guy and Glory picked out. “Perfect,” she said.

Tal balked. “These would last about five minutes in the testing kitchens. That band of linen inset would be ruined if a fruit glaze splattered on it.”

She crossed her arms and lifted the right side of her mouth. “You can keep these things in your office and only wear them upstairs for meetings. Besides, in a pinch, you have protective shoe covers and coveralls, right?”

He was surprised at how much he wanted to gain her approval.
Suck it up Kingston. This was your idea, so take it like a man
. Tal handed the shoe to shoe guy. “Eleven B.”

Her elusive dimple flashed. “There. That wasn’t so bad.”

Tal smiled back, mentally capitulating. She was right, of course.

They shopped three more stores. None of which he would have entered because the clothes in their windows didn’t appeal to him. When they closed the last store at six, he’d purchased two more shirts, another pair of slacks and another belt.

“We’ve been very successful,” Glory said. “The slacks will be hemmed by Wednesday, so you can catch Alyssia by surprise in Thursday’s officer and department head meeting.” She held out her hand. “My next bus is in ten minutes. See you on Monday.”

Now that it was over, Tal realized he didn’t want it to end. He made a spur-of-the-moment decision. “May I cook a victory dinner for you at my place? It’s the least I can do to thank you for the extra help. I’ll take you home from there.”

As if on cue, Glory’s stomach rumbled. He went in for the
coup de grace
. “I’ve been testing a new dessert sauce, chocolate praline. There’s some in my fridge.”

She tugged on a curve of hair in front of her ear. He could tell she was weakening. “I didn’t have a chance to grocery shop today, what with my friend installing drywall.”

“We can pick up some steaks and fresh salad fixings,” he countered. “And ice cream for the sauce, of course.”

She sighed and grinned, lifting her hands in surrender. “I can’t believe some woman hasn’t snapped you up before this. Okay. Dinner, I help with the dishes, then home.”

Her acceptance lifted his spirits immeasurably.

Chapter Ten

She had been kidding about
some woman landing Tal Kingston, until Glory saw his apartment. It took up half the top floor of an old, remodeled brick building on the city side of Queen Anne Hill and would have definitely been the clincher in any marital negotiation. Catherine would update him to the “A” list immediately, if she knew.

Once inside, Tal dropped the groceries in the kitchen, then said “Make yourself comfortable,” as he gathered his packages and walked down a hallway. Glory saw tasteful furniture, and a few antiques in clean lines, but her gaze was drawn to the large windows. The night was partially clear, so the view of the downtown Seattle skyline and Puget Sound was spectacular.

Tal returned a minute later. “Can I get you some wine?”

“Yes, please. This is really nice. Are the units owned or rented?”

He smiled. “The building is owned by a holding company. I bought a few years ago and upgraded the kitchen so I wouldn’t have to go downtown every time inspiration struck.”

“Smart,” she said, following him into the kitchen as he started unbagging the groceries.

“Cab okay?”

Glory nodded. Had she been a woman who loved to cook, she would have been green with jealousy. She liked gadgets and stood admiring tools hanging from an overhead rack, although she didn’t know what most of them were for.

She sipped the wine slowly, knowing it would go right to her head on an empty stomach. It probably wasn’t the best idea she’d ever had, agreeing to dinner, but it was nice here. And Tal was nice. The wine warmed her as she watched him pound the steak strips, then roll them in a layer of fresh rosemary, chopped almonds, and garlic bread crumbs.

“Can I help?”

“Plates and glasses up there, silverware in this drawer,” he pointed with his free hand as he slipped the steaks in the oven. “Anything you don’t want on your salad?”

“Onions.”

That must have struck him as funny. Tal turned to laugh as his glasses fogged up from bending over the oven door. “I prefer more subtle flavors. No onions it is.”

When he served dinner, Glory felt like she was eating a gourmet meal, even though she’d seen the simple preparation with her own eyes. If Tal preferred subtle and simple, why on earth was he pursuing Alyssia Hartford?

“What do we do next?” Tal asked, down to his last couple bites of steak.

For one incredibly image-filled, but confusing moment, Glory thought he was talking about him and her. Then she saw the same train of thought cross his face.

“About Alyssia,” he said.

“Um, I think we’re making headway. It’s only been four days, including today. Maybe we could brainstorm Monday at lunch in your office. Alyssia rarely comes to the kitchens, right?”

Tal frowned. “True, but what difference does that make?”

“I think I landed on her bad list.”

The frown turned into puzzlement. “I don’t think she has a bad list. I think a series of events; the stress of making sure the evening went well, our showing up unexpected and the Welkers changing the signer on their contract contributed to her disappointment. She had a flash of temper.” His mouth turned down. “I’m sorry you were hurt. It was my fault.”

Glory stared. Tal had convinced himself that Alyssia’s behavior was a string of situations she had no control over. Even though she’d intentionally left him off the guest list. Glory wasn’t buying it, and for a tiny moment, the unkind thought that maybe he deserved Alyssia, surfaced.

“None of those things was your fault,” she said.

Tal smiled. “If I had made it clearer I was going to show up …” He lifted his hands. “Water under the bridge.”

Glory didn’t argue. Dwelling on their treatment at the hands of Alyssia Hartford spoiled this pleasant evening. “Didn’t you say something about ice cream with chocolate praline sauce?”

It was incredible. Especially with the taste of the cabernet still fresh on her tongue.

True to her word, she was more than happy to help with the dishes, then carried the rest of her wine back to the window view. The city sparkled.

Tal came up behind her. “Relaxing, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Sort of mesmerizing, too.”

“Do you really think I have a chance with Alyssia?”

Glory turned in surprise and nearly bumped into him. “I thought you believed in your plan? Eyes wide open and all that.”

Tal shrugged. “I lost some momentum when I was trying on those Euro clothes today. Maybe I should rethink the idea. As a woman, would you be happy with someone who changed his appearance to draw your attention? It seems dishonest; as if I’m tricking her.”

He didn’t look exactly anxious, but Glory was sure he wanted an honest answer. What she wasn’t willing to give was her own opinion of him. No, if it was her, she wouldn’t change him.

“Tough question,” she said. “Every relationship usually starts with mutual attraction. For it to last, though, some compromise is required. I think if your intention is to get her to notice you, then get to know you and like you for who you are, it’s okay. But if you have to continue with the superficial to keep her interest, I’d say you have a right to worry.”

Tal studied her face, a shift in his opinion of her transforming his expression. “Thanks for that.”

Glory saw the question in his eyes. As clear as if he’d spoken. The “whatever you’re planning, I’m in,” look. She really hadn’t intended to kiss him, but she did.

In the half-realized moment before she thought it was a huge mistake, Tal responded with an intensity that shook her to the ground. She stepped back and felt the heat rise in her face. “I really need to work on a more appropriate ‘you’re welcome,’” she said.

Tal backed up a half-step then took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Um, I’ve wanted that kiss since Thursday night.”

“Me, too,” Glory admitted, trying to keep her tone even; a hard task given the physical longing coursing through her.

“What do we do, now?” he asked.

It was her turn to take a step back. “Mystery over. We don’t do anything,” she said, her voice sounding brittle to her own ears.

“Nothing?”

“I haven’t been in a relationship for six months,” Glory said. “I’m assuming it’s been a while for you, too.”

Tal nodded.

“Then why not chalk it up to a healthy curiosity?”

There was a slight shift in Tal’s expression. He looked ready to deny her version of the situation, then shrugged. “All right.”

The seriousness in his hazel eyes had Glory feeling sad. They’d lost part of the comfortable rapport they’d established and it was her fault. She took a deep breath and filled the awkward silence with a small white lie. “My friend the drywaller will be at my place bright and early tomorrow, again. I should get going.”

• •

The handball whistled past Nate’s ear and hit the wall behind him with a resounding
whack
. He held both arms over his head in surrender, breathing hard. “You’ve obviously chosen the handball court to work off some steam, but I happen to be okay with the way my nose is shaped, so I’ll call it a day.”

Tal focused on his friend’s look of concern. “Oh, sorry.”

“What’s eating you?”

Glory’s face came into Tal’s mind’s eye, the way she looked after they’d kissed. That vision had appeared with some regularity and his inability to control its coming and going was beginning to grate.

He had waited in front of her house until she was safe inside last night. The interior of his car held a faint trace of her fragrance. This is not what you want to happen, the voice inside his head reminded. He’d tried to conjure the face of a thoroughly kissed Alyssia, but failed. It’ll come, he promised himself. It’s part of the plan.

He wiped his forehead with a small towel. “It’s the woman I hired to help me with that personal project I told you about. I fixed us dinner at my place Saturday evening after she helped me shop for new clothes. Anyway, we kissed, and I think it might have ruined a nice friendship.”

Nate pursed his lips. “What makes you think that? Did she slap you, recoil in revulsion, wipe her mouth, run away screaming?”

Tal didn’t know why, but he didn’t want Nate to know Glory was the woman and that she’d initiated the kiss. “No, wiseass. She figured it was natural curiosity and something we needed to get past to get on with business. No big deal.”

“Where’s the problem? Sounds like she’s level-headed.”

Tal hesitated and Nate caught on immediately. He laughed. “You like her, don’t you?”

“Of course I like her. She’s been very helpful and kind.”

“Girl Scout badges aside,” Nate said. “I mean you really like this woman. Otherwise that kiss wouldn’t be bugging you so much.”

Tal shook his head. “No. Maybe I’m transferring my feelings for Alyssia, or something.”

“Yeah, or something.” Nate hiked an eyebrow. “You have it bad, but keep telling yourself differently. It’ll prolong the agony and I’m all in favor of a little agony up front. It makes the end that much more fun.”

“It must be nice to have my internal thoughts nailed,” Tal said, adjusting his goggles. “And since you’re so fond of agony, we have just enough time for another game.”

• •

Glory liked her job. The work was slow sometimes, but interesting. She didn’t even mind Mondays. And she was well aware her mood on this particular Monday was due to Tal Kingston. Their kiss had rattled her to the core and become an integral part of a number of fantasies she’d fabricated Saturday night and Sunday.

There was an email in her inbox from Tal first thing, asking if they could move the brainstorming session for his project to Tuesday or Wednesday. She had answered “Sure,” and breathed a sigh of relief.

And then there was Catherine. If she got any happier, Glory would gladly throttle her. Her friend had already received an enormous bouquet of flowers and Glory saw her blush from all the way across the room when she read the card.

Glory’s personal line rang. It was Catherine. “I’ve seen smaller arrangements hanging off the winning horse at the Kentucky Derby,” Glory snapped.

“And I didn’t even run fast,” Catherine giggled. “You haven’t come over to ooh and aah. Why are you being such a grouch? Aren’t you happy for me?” Catherine paused. “Have you changed your mind about setting me up with Pryce?”

“Nothing like that,” Glory sighed. “I’m glad it’s working out. It’s just that I had an experience Saturday I’d rather not repeat.”

“Ooh. Not repeat as in not have it happen again, or as in not tell me? I’d be willing to share some of my cheerfulness.”

Glory blew a polite raspberry. “You could replace the fake sugar next to the coffee maker. I’d rather grump.”

“Come on,” Catherine said. “Pryce is flying to Europe this afternoon to wrap up some business. Have dinner with me tonight, then we’ll do facials. I’ll spill all if you will.”

What could be simpler, Glory thought? A new love in her life and Catherine wants a party. Maybe her friend really could help steer her relationship with Tal back to a more impersonal level. If anyone could, it would be Catherine. “Okay, but it’ll have to end early. I haven’t gotten much sleep the last two nights.”

Catherine giggled again. “Neither have I.”

“Ground rules,” Glory said. “When I start to overdose on saccharine, I get to call enough.”

“Done.”

• •

They bought huge deli salads and a Cosmic Brownie to share and changed immediately into sweats at Catherine’s. The tiny coffee table was cleared of back issues of “W” magazine and they sat cross-legged.

Glory decided to let Catherine ramble for the evening. That way she wouldn’t really have to get very deep into her own thoughts about Saturday night. “You first,” she said.

Catherine’s eyes shone. “This is the big it. Pryce is perfect. I want you to be my Maid of Honor. After all, you set everything up.”

A frisson of panic skittered over Glory’s skin.
What?
She’d set them up because Pryce met all of the criteria on Catherine’s “most eligible date” list. But marriage? Pryce had definitely not seemed the type. Glory patted her friend’s arm. “Slow down. Three meals and, I’m guessing here, some great sex, does not a lifetime partner make.”

Catherine smiled and shook her head. “I can’t explain it. Neither can he, but he knows it, too. Glory, he wants me to meet his parents.”

Glory stared. This was
big
. “Are you sure? I mean could he have casually mentioned dinner with his parents now that he was going to live here and they were moving? Something like that?”

The beautiful brunette closed her eyes and shook her head again. “No. I know it sounds too crazy and way too soon, but it’s so real.”

“I guess it can happen like that,” Glory said. “I met a woman in yoga class who celebrated her tenth anniversary by hiring one of those champagne breakfast hot air balloon rides. She told me she and her husband were engaged within two weeks of meeting. My mouth hung open for the rest of the session.”

She grinned and chomped on a forkful of salad. “People usually have to work a little harder than having the moon and stars align, though.”

“Okay, here’s the kicker,” Catherine said, straight-faced. I wouldn’t care if he had no money.”

Glory choked on a crouton. When she finished coughing, she wiped her eyes. “Now I’m convinced.” She reached to hug her friend. “Congratulations.”

Catherine returned the grin. “Tell me what happened Saturday to make you so cranky.”

The brownie captured Glory’s focus as she hesitated. “Remember that list of designers for men’s clothing we gave Tal? The ones we thought Alyssia would like?”

Her friend nodded.

“At lunch on Friday he asked me to help him clothes shop Saturday. I wasn’t crazy about the idea, but Tal was a really good sport, and afterward offered to cook us dinner.”

Catherine leaned forward. “Oooh. Dinner at his place.”

Glory gave her what she hoped was a withering look. “He has this place on the counterbalance side of Queen Anne with a spectacular view. We were standing at the window finishing our wine and discussing his goals.” She ducked her head. “I thought I read something we both wanted, so I kissed him.”