All That Glitters

by Laura Westbrook

  She doubted it was a fling, but she couldn’t help but wonder. At times, her imagination ran wild, and she had to run to keep up with them.

  “Am I involved in your idea?” she asked. “Can’t you give me a hint?”

  “How involved do you want to be?” he asked. She could almost hear his smile over the phone.

  “Uh, some? A lot? It depends on the idea.” If it had to do with him, she was probably going to sign up.

  She could either try to keep playing it cool or she could be honest with him. She wasn’t sure it made a difference, because she doubted there was any way to hide her feelings from him, anyway. It didn’t matter if they were on the phone and he couldn’t see her expression. He could sense it. She was sure of it. He had a knack for reading her mind and knowing what she was feeling. It was one of the reasons they gelled so well.

  It was because he made Stacey feel fulfilled, even if she was still full of anticipation and worries about what might be.

  “I don’t mean to tease you. I just want to be able to tell you in person. Is that okay? I promise it’ll all make sense then.”

  “Sure, Blake. No problem. But when do I get to find out?” she asked. “I have to say, you’re leaving me hanging.”

  “Right now.”

  She paused, puzzled again. “I’m lost. You said you wanted to tell me in person.”

  “Look outside. On the sidewalk.”

  She closed her mouth and stood, her legs a bit wobbly as she made her way to the door leading out of the building. The last thing she’d expected was Blake to arrive at her apartment, but now she understood the cars and background noise on the phone call. She placed her hand on the door handle and turned it.

  God, now what do I do? I never planned to have him over until…I thought we’d sort everything out first.

  Then her mind seemed to answer her own question. Opening the door would be a good start.

  He grinned once she did. “Hi. Do you mind if I come in?”

  “Sure, come on up.”

  They walked up the stairs together and she opened her apartment door to let him in. She was glad she’d cleaned up a bit recently, especially since now she had company.

  “Well, this is a surprise. I thought you were at home.”

  He entered the apartment and glanced around at the décor. He turned to her while she closed the door and popped the chain back into its slot. Then she led him into the living room. She picked up a few of Harrison’s toys and blankets before offering him a seat. If he thought the pile of cat toys was strange, he didn’t say anything about it.

  “Well, at least now you can tell me your plans,” she said.

  “That’s what I was thinking. I’m sorry for coming over unannounced, but I just had to tell you about it. Is that okay?”

  “Sure.”

  He sat on the couch and put his cell phone on the table with the screen down, facing the glass, as though he didn’t want it to bother either of them. She joined him but kept a little distance between them. She imagined the distance closing at some point, although that could depend on what he was about to say.

  The one thing she sorely wished she’d done was change into different clothes. When she got home, she’d hopped into sweat pants and a casual top with spaghetti straps, hardly something she planned on him seeing her in…or at least not for a while and in a much different situation.

  “So what’s your idea?” she asked.

  “Okay, here’s what I’m thinking. She owns just under half of the company, so it’s not like I can easily push her out. But what I want to do is to distance either her or I from the company and that’ll give me the leverage I need to make some changes. Does that make sense?”

  “I suppose so. Do you really think you can get her out?”

  “I’m having my lawyer take a look at it, but it’s possible. A lot of times, these things have to do with state law, and obviously that varies from state to state. In some states, if one of the owners can prove wrongdoing for the other, he or she can force the other partner out. But the original partner would have to prove that wrongdoing, often in court. I’m just not sure if her purchases right after the robbery is enough to constitute wrongdoing.”

  Wow, he’s talking to a lawyer about this. It must be pretty serious. I just wanted Lori to not be in the way, and I suppose I’m getting my wish. If it all works out.

  “When are you going to tell her that you’re doing all this?”

  “I’m not sure. There’s a lot to unpack. I wish there was a way to simply buy her out, but I don’t think she’ll ever go for that. The shop is in her blood, whether it was her idea originally or not.”

  “I’m really sorry, Blake. I wish I could be more helpful.”

  He smiled. “You’re helping a lot more than you think. Just being someone understanding who listens is plenty.”

  His smile felt warming. “I’m a great listener. You can test me out all night long.” She cringed, realizing how that might have come across.

  He didn’t seem to have taken it any other way than how she meant it. “You’ve already proven how you’re a great listener. I don’t know how I can repay you for that. In a weird way, it’s peaceful to talk this over with someone.”

  She patted his knee. “Anytime.”

  “Of course, you’re not just someone. You’re not just anyone. You’re you.”

  And with that, he leaned in for a kiss. His lips were so soft and yet firm at the same time, and she couldn’t help but draw in further. His arm found a home comfortably around her waist, and she raised the palm of her hand to cup his cheek. She needed this. She was sure they both needed it.

  “I’ve never felt anything quite like this before,” she said. “You’re someone special.”

  “Speak for yourself,” he said with a smile. “I’ve never found myself in this situation before, certainly not with an employee.”

  She picked at a snag in the couch cushion fibers. “I hope you see me as more than just an employee.”

  He draped his arm over the back of the couch and ran his fingers over her shoulder. “Of course I do. The fact that you’re an employee of Tomlinson Jewelry isn’t what we are to each other. It’s just how we met. What we are to each other is what we make of it. And I like what we’re making of it.”

  “I do too.”

  They ended up talking for the next hour, eventually meandering into odds and ends in the conversation, blessedly having nothing to do with the store or Lori. She needed to know that they could hold a conversation about something other than those two things. It was nice. The nicest thing she could think of doing that evening.

  “I should get going.” He looked at his watch. “You probably have things to do tonight, and I’ve already interrupted them.”

  “You know I like spending time with you,” she said. “I enjoy every minute.”

  “I appreciate that. I’ll see you at the shop.”

  Without wholly intending to, she drifted to the window and watched him leave. There was something about his departure that made her very much wish he’d stayed. Toward the end, they kissed again, and his arms found their way around her. She eventually let go of him, as much as she didn’t want to.

  They’d talked about his solution to the problem, but she wasn’t sure if he’d said his big idea yet. Nothing he’d said about it seemed revolutionary, but perhaps sometimes the small things deserve big attention.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Stacey arrived at the store early. The rear door was open, so she stepped inside and hung up her coat in the closet. She didn’t even think to check the coats to see who else was there. She passed by the coffee machine and made two cups.

  The curtain separating the front from the back brushed against her shoulders as she said, “Here you go, just how you…” Her face dropped when she saw Lori standing behind the counter. Lori stared at her as if Stacey had sprouted a third eyeball.

  “I didn’t know you cared so much, Stacey. And no, this isn’t how I
take it. This looks closer to how Blake drinks his coffee. Ugh. He’ll drink any swill. Here, give me that before it gets cold.”

  “I thought…”

  “I know I said it’s not how I take it, but my head is pounding so hard, I’d rather not move to make my own coffee if I didn’t have to. Close your mouth. You’ll catch flies.”

  A whole morning with Lori. Hooray. Stacey tried not to glare at Lori while she drank the coffee that was intended for Blake. Where is he? Is he not working until tonight? I hope I’ll see him.

  Stacey put her cup under the counter and walked to the front door. She lifted the closed sign and swiveled it to read open while her gaze looked up and down the street for any sign of potential customers. There was no hint of him out front, but then she heard the door in the back close.

  “Good morning, Stacey,” Blake said as he entered the room.

  Stacey mouthed the words “Lori’s here.” By that point, Lori was in the office, and Blake might not have seen her there when he passed.

  “Great.” His tone made it clear what he thought of that.

  “This might be an interesting day, eh?” she said.

  “That could be. She and I talked on the phone yesterday, trying to hash some things out. It wasn’t terribly productive.”

  “She didn’t admit her purchases were wrong, I take it?”

  “You could say that. She also hinted at more purchases she wants to make. Hopefully I stamped that out, but you never know with her. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s trying to bankrupt this place.”

  “You think so?”

  He sighed. “I have no idea what her motivations are these days.”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” she said. “Also, you know her better than I do.”

  “Unfortunately, that’s true. I need some coffee.”

  She pointed toward the back. “I made you some, but Lori took it. It’s a shame because it was the best cup I’ve ever made. You would’ve liked it.”

  He chuckled. “I suppose I’ll have to try a cup of that another time. It sounds like I missed out.”

  “So are we repricing for the sale today or—”

  The curtain flew back, and Lori sauntered through. “Morning Blake. Stacey makes some great coffee. Don’t you think?”

  “How would I know?” he asked.

  Stacey’s blood went cold, although she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.

  Lori put a hand on her hip. “You think I’m blind to what’s going on?”

  “I’ll do some unboxing in the back,” Stacey said.

  “No, you can stay right there,” Lori said. “You can stay while we all have a nice talk.”

  “Lori, don’t talk to her that way. You don’t have to punish her for your bad mood.”

  Lori stared at Blake as if her eyes could punch holes through him. “She’s just an employee, Blake. You don’t have to defend her. Or is she?”

  “Or is she what?”

  “Just an employee. I don’t think she is anymore.”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “Ahh, so it is true. I had a feeling.” Lori turned to Stacey. “Just promise me you two haven’t been intimate here in the store. This isn’t the place for that kind of thing.”

  Stacey couldn’t believe her ears. She couldn’t say she was entirely surprised that Lori had a hunch, but to air out everyone’s laundry like that was another matter entirely. And the woman didn’t bat an eye doing it. The atmosphere of the room turned sharply chilly, and likely everyone could feel it.

  “No, we haven’t…” Stacey started.

  Lori held up a finger. “Not now, dear. We’re talking.”

  “As far as you need to know, Stacey is just an employee here. There’s nothing to get upset about.”

  “Please,” Lori said. “I see the flirting going on between the two of you. I’m not blind. Or stupid, for that matter. So you can save your breath on that, Blake.”

  “Here isn’t the place to have this conversation,” he said. “The store’s open, and a customer could walk in at any moment. Let’s stay professional.”

  Lori snorted. “That’s rich coming from a man who’s sleeping with his employee.”

  “We haven’t slept together.”

  “Not yet anyway,” Lori said. “If you’re telling the truth. Just because we’re not married anymore doesn’t mean I want to see the store go down. This store is ours, and I can see she’s got her hooks into you. Look at the way she drools when you walk in. Before you know it, she’ll be after my half. Well, she’s not getting it.”

  Blake took a well-timed sip of his coffee. “Less than half, you mean.”

  Stacey watched, not knowing if she should go to work or stay rooted where she stood. She found that she couldn’t move even if she wanted to. Besides, Lori stood in front of the display case that had the sale that day. It was the one spot she needed to work on. It looks like I’m staying here.

  Stacey sipped from her cup and began using it as a shield against Lori’s stare, as if the fragile coffee cup could defend her somehow. She ran through what had happened the night before. Blake still needed to lay his big idea on Lori. This may not be the best situation, but his hand may be forced.

  “Lori, I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I’ve made a decision.”

  Lori raised her eyebrows. “Is that so? And what is that?”

  He gestured to the back. “Let’s go into the office and we’ll discuss it. I’ve seen a few customers walk by.”

  Lori shrugged. “Fine. Suit yourself. Let’s go.”

  As he walked past Stacey, he whispered, “I’ll be back in a bit. Hold down the fort until I get back. Everything will be alright.”

  A half hour in and Stacey was already pacing the floor. Eventually, they’d have to run out of things to say, she was sure. What could they still be talking about in there, she wondered. She was intensely curious if she came up in the conversation again, perhaps with Lori accusing them of doing what they haven’t.

  All this wasn’t fair to Blake. He didn’t deserve this drama. She wondered if he sometimes wished he could just ride off into the sunset and not have to worry about all this anymore. She wouldn’t blame him if that thought had crossed his mind.

  If she was being honest, she’d admit to walking by the office a few times, just to see if she could catch any glimpses of the conversation. She heard voices, sure, but nothing she could make out. The voices sounded hushed, anyway, probably on purpose.

  Above all, she wondered if Blake was talking to Lori candidly about how he wanted her gone. Stacey had no idea how that could actually happen, but she had confidence that he could figure it out. Maybe the lawyers could solve things. Lawyers usually complicated things, but maybe the situation was different.

  Stacey took another sip of coffee. Perhaps she could arrange to see Blake after work. She had a feeling he could use a big hug. Perhaps more. Perhaps some stolen kisses out back. He could use a boost today. She’d never experienced a closed-door meeting with Lori, but if she had, she’d wish she was anywhere else after just five minutes, much less a half hour.

  Just as Stacey started pacing again, the office door opened. She wasn’t in the line of sight, but there was no mistaking that sound. They both walked through the curtain, marked by a stony silence. Stacey resisted the urge to run up to Blake and ask what happened. Even while resisting, she came very close to doing so.

  “Do you have a minute?” he asked Stacey.

  “Of course.” Did he really have to ask?

  He led her outside to the back alley and closed the door. He rested his back against the building and ran his fingers through his hair.

  “So what happened?” Even as she asked, she was afraid of the answer. He didn’t look upset, but he didn’t look ecstatic either. Not everyone could get their way all the time.

  “So, we talked.”

  Yes, and? “Okay. How did it go?”

  “I did it.”

 
; “Did what?”

  “My big plan. I ended up not mentioning all of it at your place last night. Or at least, not all the versions of it. I was thinking of a way to separate myself from Lori, both personally and in business, and in that meeting, I found out a way.”

  “What way is that?” Stacey wasn’t sitting down, but if she were, she’d be on the edge of her seat.

  “Well, I knew that she wouldn’t sell her ownership of the business. It would make the most sense, since she doesn’t quite own half, but I knew she wouldn’t do it, and that meeting in there proved that. So I had to think of another way to go about it.”

  He loosened his tie. “So I decided to pitch to her to sell my half of the company.”

  “You did what? Why would you sell your half? It was your idea in the first place.”

  “I know, but something has to give. If I’m to start fresh without Lori and get rid of the baggage from my life, one of us needs to go, and she won’t budge.”

  “But what about the lawyers and her mishandling of the business and all that?”

  He shrugged. “Apparently the lawyers need more than extravagant purchases to prove mishandling. That angle wouldn’t go far. I’m working with the options I have left.”

  “I see.”

  “But, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Here’s my idea. We’re going to start an online jewelry store, and we can run it together. I’ve been considering it for a while, actually. With your eye for design, you can be the designer of your own collection. I’ve got heaps of contacts around the globe, so we can effectively work from home or get a small office somewhere. It wouldn’t take much space at all without inventory and walk-in traffic. Between your creativity and my experience, we’d make a winning team.”