Between Land and Sea Page 13

  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.”

&nbs
p; 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.

  The suite was every bit as luxurious as she thought it would be. The room was furnished exquisitely in muted shades of cream, pale pink, and the softest shade of blue. There was an alcove with a table set for two and an enormous bed beneath a sparkling crystal chandelier. Large vases of white roses graced every surface.

  Stewart took her hand and led her inside. She knew she wasn’t here to admire the décor. She was in a beautiful room with champagne and strawberries, deceit in her heart, and a man who literally took her breath away.

  Chapter 26

  The rest of the afternoon was a blur. Barbara could only vaguely remember putting on her clothes, riding down the elevator, and getting into Stewart’s car. It was late, past dinnertime and she was hungry. But she didn’t dare mention that to Stewart. She could not handle another meal with him and the possible aftermath. When they arrived at Gillian’s building, they sat silently, not looking at each other.

  Barbara finally broke the silence. “You know this can’t continue.”

  He sighed deeply. “We’ll work something out. I
won’t be able to see you tomorrow. One of my other clients is coming in from Houston for the day. I can’t get out of it. We’ve had to rebook a number of times.” He looked at her imploringly. “Cancel your flight and stay a few more days. I’m sure your boss won’t mind.”

  There would be no problem with Janice. Barbara was certain of that. But she knew that if she spent any more time alone with Stewart, she would lose either her self-control or her mind. Every functioning brain cell told her she was crazy to get involved with him, especially at this time. A few months down the road, well, that was a different story. When she left Carden, she would have to go somewhere else. Maybe that somewhere could be here. She closed her eyes and recalled the events of the last few hours. She had been transported to a magical world and had caught glimpses of what a future with Stewart would look like. Her life would be one of ease, luxury, and freedom from worry. But what kind of relationship could she realistically expect to have with Stewart Tobin?

  She forced herself to meet his gaze. “I need to go back. I have commitments and people waiting for me in Carden. I’m not prepared to toss them aside for . . .”

  He averted his gaze. “You’re wondering about the long term. I’m sure Gillian has filled you in on my past and inability to commit for long periods of time. I don’t know how this relationship will proceed, but I can tell you this. It is very different from all my past entanglements and my disastrous marriage. I want to spend more time with you.”

  Barbara was surprised by the hesitancy in his voice and the pleading look in his eyes. His feelings were genuine, but he was uncertain of how to proceed. This was new, unchartered territory for him. “I’ve enjoyed these last two days with you, but I am still recovering from my own disastrous marriage. Let’s take it slowly and see what develops.”