Chasing Glory (19 page)

Glory ran her fingers under her eyes. “Of course not. But we have very different goals. Goals based on a reality we’re flying back to this morning. Remember Alyssia? Or your convenient, non-transferrable spreadsheet with none of the attributes I possess?”

Tal grabbed the arms of her chair and interrupted. “Alyssia? Are you kidding? After these last few days and an incredible night, you’re dumping me based on her and my stupid spreadsheet?” Stark pain darkened his pupils. “Nice.”

“Stop it,” she said, her voice beginning to shake. “You made the rules, the timeframe and the offer. I haven’t lied to you about my plans to travel and eventually make my living through sponsorships of my blog. Neither of which would be possible if we …”

He stood, letting go of her chair. “You’re right. Sorry I thought differently.”

Glory felt tears slide over her cheeks. “Please, don’t.” Her world flattened to grayish blurs and she would always associate the smell of bougainvillea with Tal’s retreat from her.

No, that wasn’t right. He didn’t retreat. She’d pushed him away. She had rejected Tal even as she feared it happening to her again. What did that make her?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Glory didn’t say more than
a dozen words to him on the flight to Miami. His anger had burned like a flashpoint, leaving frustration in its wake. Tal risked a glance at her when he leaned forward to replace the airline magazine. Her fingers were clasped in her lap as she lay back, eyes closed with headphones on. Her eyelids were swollen and tiny blue veins marred the beautiful, delicate skin. She’d been crying hard. A condition that depressed him and made him feel helpless.

Everything she’d said was true. He’d never mentioned changing his original plans. He’d also been so focused on wanting Glory, he’d skimmed over what she wanted for herself. Which made him a real jerk.

His attention strayed to her hands. How those slender fingers had slid over him in a continual quest to deliver pleasure. How they’d tightened when she came, after moaning his name in his mouth. A wave of need pressed against the breath in his chest. There was more between them than the incredible sex, and he intended to find a way to fix it. Where to start looking?

By the time they landed in Seattle, he’d come up with an inkling of a plan. A smile crossed his lips as he deplaned behind Glory. This time he wouldn’t depend on a spreadsheet.

When they reached Glory’s house, it was getting dark. He wouldn’t have the opportunity to speak to her privately again for a while. Tal followed her to the door.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said turning the key.

He leveled his gaze. “You’ve been gone four days. I’d like to make sure everything’s okay before I leave.”

Glory didn’t respond to the hint. She finished opening the door and walked through. In a few seconds, she spoke from within. “Just as I left it. Thanks.”

Tal sighed. “You’re hiding, you know.”

“I know,” she said, then quietly closed the door.

• •

Tal tried the company workout room the next morning in hopes Glory would show. She didn’t. He busied himself plowing through paperwork and reports online while his thoughts circled his next steps on the counterfeiter issue.

The subject line in an email caught his attention:
Knox Contract
. That was
it
. He needed to find out if anyone at Kingston was involved and documentation was the way to do it. Most everyone used their computers at work as if they owned the contents. But if he was right, they didn’t, Kingston did. He shuffled around in his bottom desk drawer and came up with the company manual. After a few minutes, he grinned and called IT.

A few minutes after William was due, Tal took the elevator to the executive floor. Acting like his presence was an everyday occurrence, he strode to Catherine’s desk. “I need five minutes. Hold his calls.”

Catherine jerked a surprised nod.

Tal tapped twice, then opened his brother’s door.

William was checking his stock portfolio on the internet. He looked up and grinned. “I see you got some color. We had a rare sunny spring weekend here. Lots of people came in with sunburns yesterday so you won’t stand out. How’d the sleuthing go?”

“Fine,” Tal said, taking one of the chairs opposite his brother. “I got a lead and the locals have started an investigation. The trip was nearly a disaster, though. The counterfeiters had almost succeeded in vacating the premises by the time I got there.” He flexed his fingers, then relaxed. “Did you mention our talk to anyone?”

William shook his head. “No one we couldn’t trust, per your instructions.”

Tal’s breath backed up in his lungs. “I said to keep it quiet.”

William’s eyes widened. “I assumed that didn’t include our company officers. I told them at our weekly meeting on Friday. They had a need to know.”

Tal rubbed his temple and felt immediate blame. His selfishness in hiding in the basement because that’s the work he loved might cost him dearly. He’d told himself William’s easy-going ways would be backed up by a strong executive team. That team may have taken easy advantage of his brother and him, and it was his fault. “This may prove one or more of them is involved.”

His brother straightened and waved a hand to indicate the executive offices area. “There has to be some other explanation. These people run this business like it was their own.”

Tal sighed. “Exactly what I’m afraid of. If anybody,
including
one of the officers, asks you for information on how the trip went, I want to know about it. Don’t answer any questions and refer them to me.”

“Done,” William said. “I’m sorry for the slip up. Hope it didn’t cause irreparable damage.”

“Who knows?” Tal shot back. “It may work in our favor by flushing them out.” He leaned forward. “You’re going to get an email from IT requesting a sign-off for overtime. I’ve asked for a detailed audit of files on all company computers, including files deleted since the Friday I left. According to the company handbook, anything they find is Kingston’s property. Our IT and Security personnel will sort it according to my criteria with the goal of turning it over to the local police investigating the counterfeiting.”

William looked concerned. “That’s pretty invasive.” He glanced at his monitor. “I’ve got golf scores, your niece’s soccer team roster, and other stuff that’s no one’s business.”

Tal shook his head. “Unless they find porn or somebody using all their company time selling stuff on eBay, I don’t care. Besides, the audit will be held overnight from the IT administrator’s offices. We can’t afford to wait until possible panic sets in and we lose the advantage.

“One more thing. I’m turning this all over to Henry Clendenin to handle the legal aspect.”

The president of Kingston Limited blinked. “You’re using outside counsel? You have some strong feelings about this.”

“Yeah,” Tal said. “Until I learn different, I do.”

William shrugged. “Whatever you say, but I still doubt anyone on the executive team is involved.” He squinted. “What else is bothering you?”

Tal might have known. William could always read him. “A personal matter I’m working through.”

“Not your health, I hope.”

“No,” Tal said. “A relationship thing I’ve screwed up royally.”

That cheered William considerably. “Anyone I know?”

Tal’s gaze dropped to his brother’s desktop. “Don’t want to talk about it, yet.” He also didn’t want to make Glory uncomfortable in her job. A month ago when he promised her position would be secure no matter what, he hadn’t a clue he’d be falling in love with her. “I’ll tell you later.”

He stood. “Neither of these subjects is to go outside the two of us, period. I’ll keep you informed on anything I hear regarding the investigation.”

William nodded. “Good luck on that personal thing.”

His brother had broken a dozen hearts before marrying and was crazy about his wife, Meredith, and their daughter. Tal knew he was sincere. “Thanks.”

Tal left William’s office and couldn’t help flicking a glance at Glory. She had on that pale green suit she’d worn on the day he’d first met her. God, how he wanted to pull her out of that chair and kiss her senseless. He huffed out a breath, his skin warming, his core heavy.

He went back to R&D.

The State Attorney General’s office had assigned him to a minor bureaucrat and the federal state department aide returned his call spewing red tape and boredom. Tal was asked for a sequence of events, with times and dates, a contact or contacts in Antigua and copies of any pertinent documents. To get the ball rolling. He complied to the best of his ability, then passed it all to Henry Clendenin.

Frustration and anger took turns riding his emotions for the rest of the morning, neither gaining the upper hand or helping. Shortly before noon, he picked up the phone.

“Catherine Winters.”

“Catherine, this is Tal Kingston. Can you come to my office for ten minutes? And don’t tell Glory where you’re going.”

“I’m not sure I can do that.”

“Come down or not tell her?”

“Not tell her.”

“I think I’m in love with her.”

“I’ll be right there.”

She sailed through his door in less than three minutes, waving a small box. “I told Glory I was coming down to the garage for a spare set of contacts because I lost one, again. I
ran
to my car. I never run, so this better be good.”

Tal jumped up and paced the three steps between his desk and whiteboard, using his hands to accent his words. “I took Glory to Antigua last Friday to help me solve a business problem. We had fun, got to know each other, solved the problem, and at one point she put herself in danger for me.”

He paused. “Yesterday morning she shut me out. I know why but I don’t know where else to turn to change her mind. Can you help me?”

“Questions,” she stated. “What about Alyssia?”

“History.”

“Does Glory know that?”

He put his hands flat on his desk and leaned forward. “She does, now.”

“Does she also know how you feel about her?”

Tal’s gaze fell. “When she shut me out, I was so hurt, I never came right out and told her, but she has to know on some level.”

Catherine nodded. “We’ll get to that, then. Does she feel the same?”

“I’m almost certain of it.”

An inarticulate sound issued from the beautiful brunette and a flicker of knowledge lit her eyes. She fisted her hands on her hips and narrowed those eyes. “Did she sleep with you?”

Tal nodded.

“And?”

He shoved out a sigh. “And it was pretty great.”

Glory’s friend spread her arms and grinned. “I knew it! I knew you two were meant for each other.”

He was flabbergasted. “You did? Then why encourage her efforts on my behalf with Alyssia?”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “So you and Glory could spend time with each other, of course.”

Tal’s amazement morphed into relief. “Can I fix this?”

She checked her watch and tapped the crystal. “I’ll come in a half hour early tomorrow. Meet me here at 8:30.” She turned toward the door and looked around the room. “A place to sit would be nice.”

He was still standing there, staring at the vacant doorway, when Rudy walked in. “Man, you got no end of the babelicious variety coming in here. Ms. Winters is prime chick material.”

Tal crossed his arms, but couldn’t muster a scowl, he was so happy at getting Catherine’s help to win Glory. “She’s a nice woman, Rudy. Not a babe or a chick. She’s also Glory’s best friend.” He pressed his lips together, gratified to see the color drain from Rudy’s face.

• •

Glory sat at her desk, exhausted. She’d slept poorly after Tal dropped her off and her level of nervous tension rose each time the elevator doors opened. At least Catherine had seen her condition and refrained from chattering nonstop about Pryce.

She’d had a bad few moments when Tal came up to see his brother. For an insane minute, she’d wished Tal was there for her, not taking no for an answer. He’d left barely glancing at her. Apparently, she’d done a thorough job of discouraging him.

Two more documents for Jeff Lassiter to sign and she’d check out for the day. Her boss had been acting weird anyway. She wanted nothing more than a quiet evening at home and some time to think about her personal goals versus trying to work around them so she could spend the rest of her life with a man she was crazy about. Time she might never get back because she could’ve already blown it. Maybe a good night’s sleep would improve her outlook.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Fatigue was winning. Glory started
to nod off in front of her television when her phone rang.

“Hi. It’s Catherine. Pryce is in Tokyo and won’t be back until Friday morning. You and I haven’t had a girls’ night in ages. How about Chinese tomorrow night at your place and I’ll catch you up on the love of my life?”

Glory absorbed the rapid-fire information dump, then hesitated. Hearing about someone else’s wildly successful relationship when hers was non-existent, or at least on life support, was not very appealing.

“Glory?”

“Um, that sounds great. I could use your opinion on something, too.” She hung up wondering if that meant she intended to tell Catherine about Tal.

Dreams riddled her sleep. In one, the cloudburst in the jungle rained tiny hibiscus. In another, the school of fish that had startled her were also tiny hibiscus. Well, how long was that little bit of symbolism going to haunt her?

• •

Nate beat the socks off him in all three handball games. Tal waited for the gloating, but his friend stayed quiet until they sat in the men’s changing area.

“How’s the hunt for the wife going?”

Tal shook his head. “The next time I tell you I have a grand plan and spreadsheet strategy for something personal, just kick my butt across the room.”

Nate winced. “Sorry it didn’t work out.” He rested his forearms on his thighs. “You’ll find the right one. Sometimes it’s slow going, like with Dorey and me. Sometimes it’s like a bolt of lightning. Or so I’m told.”

“The problem isn’t finding her,” Tal said, hoping for some insight from his happily-married friend. “I need to figure out how to convince Glory we belong together.”

His friend’s gaze snapped to his. “Glory? Are you talking about Glory Danvers? She’s the one you want to marry?”

“Yes. Well, I do, now. She was helping me get that other woman’s attention, but it turns out I fell in love with her.”

Nate cut him a bemused look. “Going down the same messy, emotional road with the rest of us, hunh? I have to say you have great taste. I also understand why she’s a little gun shy. She’s had a tough year.”

Tal leaned forward on the bench. “She told me about her mother.”

“That’s part of it,” Nate said. “There’s more, but it’s not mine to tell.”

“Don’t care about any other stuff,” Tal said.

“Same game plan?”

“Not exactly. I’ve asked a good friend of hers to help me.”

“I see history repeating itself,” Nate said, fingers to his temples. “Is this where I kick your butt across the room?”

Tal cheered. “I’m hoping it’s not the same thing at all. This time the who and why are a lot different.”

• •

He checked his watch again. Eight thirty-five. Had Catherine had a change of heart? The sound of heels in the corridor brought Tal to his feet. Catherine clicked through his door on strappy shoes tall enough to bring her face to face with him. She was stunning, even up close. But she wasn’t Glory. “Thanks for coming,” he said, waving her to a chair he’d emptied.

With a nod of acknowledgement, she sat. “Glory is a terrific woman. She deserves this.”

Before he could agree, she continued. “By that, I mean it’s about time somebody loved her without reserve and without having his own interests come first. If this is not about that kind of commitment, I leave now.”

Stunning
and
loyal. Quite a combination. He pinned her with his gaze. “I would walk away from everything I have.”

Catherine hit him with a dazzling smile. “Now we’re talking. Tell me what you think Glory wants.”

The request didn’t surprise him. And he’d given it a lot of thought. “I can tell you what she said she wants, and I believe her. The future she sees for herself includes the freedom for extensive travel with her blogging about her experiences. She’d eventually like to have a number of sponsors pay for that. She’d also like to turn those experiences into a book.”

“And being married would seriously cut into that dream,” Catherine responded.

Tal nodded. “That’s what she thinks. A husband and travel are mutually exclusive. She’s also had a bad year, so security is high on her list.”

“True,” Catherine said. “Her father wasn’t strong enough to help her grieve over the death of her mother. He could barely manage it himself. Her useless ex-fiancé decided her mother’s cancer would spoil his family’s bloodline and dumped her without even asking if she’d had a gene test to determine if the cancer was genetically passable. They both went out with the tide and left her alone. In my view that doesn’t make her damaged goods, that makes her the kind of woman who’ll give everything she has once she’s sure of the right man.”

Catherine straightened in the chair and looked past Tal. “That was probably going too far. I just want you to know she’s a strong person who’s been through a lot.”

Tal swiped his hands down his face. “None of that makes a difference in how I feel about her. In fact,” he smiled, “she deserves to be happy and making all that up to her and then some, is my new priority.”

The beautiful brunette grinned. “Good plan.” She raised an eyebrow. “I just have to know. Why on earth were you interested in Alyssia?”

He sighed. “Passion.”

Her eyes bugged out. “Are we talking about the same woman?”

Tal laughed. “I wasn’t madly in love with her. I thought I could avoid the misery my parents went through. The passion they brought to their marriage almost made them crazy. Way too intense.”

Catherine gave him the squinty fish eye. “Is that how you feel about Glory? Crazy?”

He held his hands up in surrender. “No. But I
have
descended to the place I thought was too messy, took up too much time and wasn’t worth what it cost.” He grinned. “And I’m happy to be here. So, how can I persuade her I want everything for her that she wants for herself?”

She crossed her arms. “You work on a brilliant solution. In the meantime, can I tell her about this conversation?”

“You don’t think it might scare her off?”

“I don’t mean the whole thing. I mean the part where you convinced me you’re the right man for her. And I won’t come out with it unless she asks.”

Tal got a creepy feeling as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. “Do you think she might see this as an attempt to control her decision? You know. Rather than letting her come to the conclusion she wants to be with me? I feel like I’m plotting against her.”

Catherine stood to leave. “Don’t freak out on me. We’re plotting
for
her. Glory and I are having dinner and a gabfest tonight. I’ll tread softly and you put on your thinking cap.”

• •

Glory vacillated as to whether to tell Catherine about the extent of her involvement with Tal. She needed her friend’s advice since her own thoughts were going nowhere.

Yes, she loved Tal and the sex was incredible.

No, she could not envision herself as the kind of wife the owner of Kingston Limited had told her he needed.

Tonight would be a golden opportunity to confide in her friend, but she knew what Catherine would say.
Go for it
. Is that what she wanted? Someone to bless a decision she had already made in her heart?

At mid-morning a large intra-company envelope was delivered with Glory’s name on it. Inside was another envelope with
Hotel Deux
as the sender. She blinked slowly and the skin on her arms prickled. It was addressed to Mr. Tal Kingston and Ms. Glory Danvers. There was a line through Tal’s name and the envelope had been opened. She glanced around and slipped the enclosures out. A single-line cover sheet indicated the contents were pictures taken last weekend and shipped overnight at Mr. Kingston’s request.

Glory read the sentence over and over, afraid to look at the pictures. She finally slid the sheet to one side and gasped. The picture on top was the first one taken outside their suite on the day they arrived. It showed, in embarrassing detail, two people sharing a very intimate kiss.

She slipped the cover letter back in place with trembling fingers, unwilling to face the pain the rest of the pictures would bring. Of course Tal had forwarded them, but why? A reminder of what she had lost? No, that wasn’t his way. Or did he hope they would rekindle her feelings?

Her phone rang and she nearly tipped over her chair answering it. “Glory Danvers.”

“You okay? Did you get some bad news?”

Glory saw concern on her friend’s face across the expanse of open space. “No,” she said, making a decision. “I’ll tell you about it tonight.”