The manager patted his pocket. “I thought I’d start with that, as soon as everybody’s here.” He grinned. “Nothing like some unexpected money to loosen up a party. Do you want to do the honors?”
Kurt shook his head. “That’s your job. I’m only here by accident.” He signed off the network and left the computer to idle.
“Fine with me—I’m happy to be the bearer of good news. I saw your grandmother come in, by the way. She and a gorgeous girl are waiting for you down by the buffet. The girl asked where you were.”
Gorgeous girl. Lissa, of course. There was no reason for the manager’s comment to send his blood pressure up; any man with eyes could see that though Lissa might not be conventionally beautiful, she was stunning in all the ways that mattered.
He saw them from the top of the escalator. Hannah with her coat slung carelessly around her shoulders, Lissa wearing a dark green suit that hugged her figure and made her look even more like an undernourished waif.
He joined them near the buffet table. Lissa was holding a plate, he saw. It was decorated with a chunk of broccoli, a bit of cauliflower, a radish, and a celery stick. He took it away from her. “No dieting allowed on the premises tonight. Have a pile of shrimp instead.”
“Maybe later.” Her gaze followed his grandmother a few steps toward the table, and she lowered her voice. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”
Kurt didn’t miss a beat. “Your climbing gear came in. Want to come take a look?”
Lissa rolled her eyes, but she grabbed the cue. “Of course. We’ll be back in a minute, Hannah.”
His grandmother waved a casual hand, seemingly too intent on inspecting the ice sculpture centerpiece to notice whether they were present or not.
As they walked away, Lissa muttered, “You couldn’t think of a better cover than suggesting I’m going to be climbing that stupid wall?”
“Hey, it worked. That’s a nice suit, by the way. When did you and Gran fit in time to shop?”
“We didn’t. This came straight out of Hannah’s closet and it’s older than I am. But we are making significant dents.”
“Dents? And that would explain why I’ve been climbing over piles to get in and out of the house?”
“At least it’s not the same pile,” Lissa defended. “In the last two days I’ve been back to the homeless shelter, to the library with books to donate, to a support group for single moms to drop off yarn and knitting needles to make baby booties, and to a senior citizens’ center where they sew stuffed animals from old fabric for the Red Cross to hand out at fires. Hannah’s dressing room is still a wreck, but that’s because the drama department at the university is closed down along with everything else this week, so we can’t get rid of the vintage clothes.” She flicked a hand across her skirt.
“So you’re wearing the stuff instead? Have you decided to accept Gran’s gift?”
“The house? Do I look like I’m nuts? I don’t need an ulcer on top of everything else.”
“Then you understand how I feel about it.”
“But what are we going to do, Kurt?” She paused for a deep breath and said thoughtfully, “You know, sometimes I get the impression that she’d really like to stay. I’ve been talking to her about remodeling, to make the house easier to live in, and if it wasn’t for the work and mess and confusion that’s involved I think she’d love your ideas.”
“Wait a minute. My ideas?”
“Yes—that’s why I needed to talk to you. To fill you in so you don’t blow it if she happens to mention remodeling.”
“Thoughtful of you. What great ideas have I had?”
“The main one involves turning the linen closet into a master bath and laundry room combination.”
“Why on earth would I want to do that?”
“Because most laundry originates in the bedrooms. It’s handier not to have to carry it all the way downstairs and then back up again. And the extra bath will be very useful when there are children.”
“Hold everything right there. Kids? What are you telling her?”
“Just that you’re still a young man, and eventually you’ll settle down and—”
“You told Hannah I want the house? After all the fuss and frustration I’ve had to convince her otherwise?”
Lissa looked so innocent that he was tempted to wring her skinny little neck before she could zing him with any other surprises. Though he supposed it would be more sensible to wait till she’d spilled all the current ones first—just in case.
“Not exactly,” she said carefully. “I may—possibly—have hinted that you’re actually more fond of the place than you’re letting on.”
Which meant, of course, that she’d actually come straight out and said it. “Why?”
“Why am I sure that down deep you want it? Because it offended you so much when she tried to give it to me. And don’t pretend it didn’t, because I won’t believe you. You were seething when you told me. Maybe you’re planning for it to be your summer retreat? It’s not like that would be anything new. And then eventually—”
“You’ve been telling her I want her to remodel the place and live in it till I’m ready to take it over? And that would be when? When I retire in forty years, maybe?”
“Well, yes. Sort of. Only I don’t think she’s going for it,” Lissa admitted. “All the dust and noise of remodeling puts her right off the idea. So I was thinking, Kurt—if you were to send her and Janet on a round-the-world cruise…”
“And rebuild her house while she’s gone? What if she comes home and announces that she still wants to move into the retirement home?”
She sighed. “Then I guess you’d have a very updated Dutch colonial.”
“Or you would. She sounds pretty determined that you’re going to end up with it.”
“Maybe if I tell her I plan to turn the porte cochere into a party room, with a hot tub to seat eight, she’ll change her mind about me being the right person to take care of her house.” She looked over his shoulder. “Oops.”
“What? Gran’s on her way to find us?”
“Not quite.”
Kurt turned around to see Mindy, simpering her way down the aisle toward them, a wide fake smile plastered on her face.
“Hello,” she said. “This is odd, finding you two here. Hannah told me you’d be in the climbing department.”
“We’re just on our way back,” Kurt said smoothly. “What brings you to the party?”
“Oh, Ray invited me. He said all the employees were told they could bring a guest.”
Lissa’s eyebrows had climbed. “Ray? You didn’t tell me you’d hired him, Kurt.”
And when, he wondered irritably, would he have had the opportunity? Every time he’d seen her in the last few days she’d had her head in a cabinet or her hands full of boxes and bags. “Not all the new salespeople we hired when the store opened have worked out. That happens with any new store when there’s an entirely new crew of workers.”
“Nobody here is experienced?” She sounded disbelieving.
She’s doing her accountant impression again. “The manager has been with me for years, and a few of the assistants.”
“So that’s what you’ve been doing all week—working as an ordinary sales clerk?”
“Among other things. It keeps me in touch with the customers.”
“I’d imagine it does.”
Mindy, obviously annoyed at being left out of the exchange, said, “So you’ve decided to start climbing after all, Lissa. I wonder what could possibly have made you change your mind about that.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Lissa said sweetly. “It’s my utter fascination with everything about Kurt. I’m sure you understand the feeling….”
Kurt could have cheerfully knocked their heads together. “I’m going after some food,” he announced. “The boxing ring’s over that way, if you two want to suit up and go at it.”
Boxing ring, Lissa thought. As if she’d fight over him—though she had no doubt
s that Mindy would. Much as she’d enjoyed jabbing Kurt about his ego, she had to admit that Mindy’s intentions were pretty obvious.
Mindy laughed, a mincing little tinkle that—to Lissa, at least—didn’t sound at all amused. “How very tacky it would be of us to squabble in public—as if you’re a toy we both want.” She slid a hand through the curve of Kurt’s elbow, and the two of them moved off toward the rising noise from the party.
Lissa followed along in their wake, quite happy to be ignored for the moment. What on earth had inspired her to descend to Mindy’s level, anyway?
The party was in full swing. The tables of food already looked ravaged, the store’s music system had been turned up, and a few employees were dancing in the atrium. Kurt and Mindy were immediately swallowed up in the crowd, but Lissa dawdled behind.
She wasn’t unnoticed, however, for as she paused on the edge of the party Ray came up beside her, his plate loaded with snacks. “Hi, Lissa.”
“This is a surprise, Ray. Kurt tells me you’re working here now.” She took a closer look. She’d gotten the distinct impression from Kurt just a few minutes ago that Ray was just one more salesclerk. Yet, in a sea of Maximum Sports’ standard blue employees’ pullovers, here was Ray, dressed as neatly as any vice-president in a white shirt and a necktie any CEO would be proud of. “What are you doing?” The question was idle; Lissa was watching Mindy, who hadn’t loosened her hold on Kurt’s arm, playing hostess.
“Not the job I wanted, of course.” Ray sounded defensive. “And not anywhere near what I’m qualified for. But he was short-handed, so I’m happy to help out.”
Sales, Lissa thought. Well, if Kurt was working the floor himself, it wasn’t too much to ask Ray to do the same. “Lots of us don’t get the jobs we want, Ray.”
“You’ve got a pretty sweet deal right now,” he said. “Hey, with all your connections, have you heard anything about Kurt moving the company headquarters here?”
That’s a big oops, Lissa thought. I just hope Kurt doesn’t hear that one.
It wasn’t hard to figure out where the story had come from, of course. Lissa had hinted to Hannah that Kurt would like to keep the house in the family, and from there it would have been only a small step for Hannah to convince herself that he actually wanted to live in it. Which, of course, meant that he would want to work nearby. And if she’d breathed a word of that line of thought to her friend Marian….
“Where’d you hear that?” she asked casually.
“Around.” Obviously he wasn’t going to confide in her.
“From Marian?”
He looked genuinely surprised. “Does she know?”
Lissa could have sworn at herself for the slip-up. “I doubt there’s anything to know. If there was something to it Hannah would probably have told Marian—that’s all I meant.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” Ray didn’t sound satisfied. “I hear he’s been talking to real-estate people.”
She was relieved to be able to quash part of the story. “Oh, that’s because of Hannah’s house. Nothing to do with the business. Put it out of your mind.”
“Well, you see, I was hoping that if he did move the headquarters there would be a spot in the personnel office for me.”
Lissa smiled at him. “Good luck. But I don’t have any influence, I’m afraid.”
The music died and the store manager stepped forward. “Is everybody having a good time? Don’t worry, I’m not announcing work schedules for next week, and I’ll let you get back to partying in a minute. In the meantime, though, Santa made an early stop—assisted by our boss—” he paused to let the applause die down “—and he asked me to distribute a few small gifts.” He pulled a pile of envelopes from the inside pocket of his jacket. “I’m going to call names.”
Ray was intent on listening, but because there was no reason for Lissa to pay attention she tuned out and wandered toward a display of windchimes. They were so perfectly balanced that even the movement of people in the atrium caused them to murmur. She closed her eyes and listened to the soft music of the chimes, to the voice droning names, and the happy chatter of those who had already opened their envelopes.
“Let’s all thank Kurt,” the manager suggested, and this time the applause seemed to take forever to die down. “Now, just one more thing. I’d like to introduce someone else who has a few words to say—someone who just this week received a donation from our boss: a full gym setup for the men of the Mission Shelter downtown.”
That got Lissa’s attention. The Mission Shelter was where he’d gone with her just last Sunday, to deliver a load of sheets, towels and soap.
It was very interesting, she thought, that when she’d told him just a few minutes ago about going back to the shelter with another donation he hadn’t mentioned his own gift. Interesting—and also very much like Kurt, she thought, to try to avoid getting the credit. He hadn’t bragged about hiring Ray, either. And Hannah had told her he’d even tried to duck out of that banquet in his honor at the university.
Well, she was glad he hadn’t managed to avoid that evening’s festivities, or she would never have met him again. She would never have come to love him….
The realization was so smooth, so natural, that for a moment Lissa didn’t even realize what she was thinking. Then the fact hit her as hard as if the climbing wall had suddenly crumbled on top of her.
For the last six years he’d always been at the back of her mind. He’d been her first lover, and there was no forgetting that. But all this time, while she’d thought she’d been nursing her irritation at him, and the hurt and humiliation of the past, she’d been fooling herself. She’d been getting more deeply involved with each conversation, each smile—each kiss. And as she had gotten to know the real man, she had fallen in love with him.
There’s nothing going on between us, she’d said. Which was true enough.
The problem was, she didn’t want it to be true—because she wanted Kurt to care as much about her as she cared about him.
CHAPTER NINE
LISSA WAS HORRIFIED by the sudden realization. How was it possible that she’d fallen in love with a guy who had actually made a bet on whether he could turn a tutoring session into making love? A guy who had not only made the bet but carried it through, won it, and bragged about it?
I didn’t tell them, he’d said a few days ago, and he’d sounded perfectly sincere. Was it possible she’d been mistaken? Had he really been the arrogant and self-centered jerk she’d convinced herself he was back then?
Or was he the young man whose bitter, angry parents had fought over him and left him scarred?
In any case, he wasn’t like that now. He’d proved it, because she had given him plenty of opportunities to take advantage of her again in the last few days and he hadn’t done it.
Lissa didn’t think that his failure to act was entirely due to respect for his grandmother, or even the fact that for the moment he was living under Hannah’s roof—some of those occasions hadn’t involved Hannah at all. In Lissa’s room at the boarding house, where he’d kissed her and she’d melted into him, it hadn’t been respect for his grandmother’s feelings which had stopped him—any more than it had stopped Lissa herself. In his car, after that ill-conceived dinner date, the idea that Hannah might be waiting up for them had barely entered the equation. Then there was the apartment he’d offered to rent for Lissa—and the fact that he hadn’t suggested it be a love nest for the two of them…
No, he hadn’t take advantage of her—despite the many opportunities he’d had.
The many opportunities you created, Lissa admitted. Though just an hour ago she’d have let her toenails be pulled out rather than confess it even to herself, now she couldn’t dodge the knowledge any longer. She hadn’t exactly tried to avoid his kiss at the boarding house that day. And, no matter how she explained it, the fact was that Lissa herself had managed to arrange that dinner date and opened up the opportunity for a good night kiss.
But in every cas
e Kurt had acted like an almost-perfect gentleman. Which, she had to admit, was a very lowering thought—for if it wasn’t simple respect for his grandmother which had kept him from acting on the invitations Lissa had offered him, then what had stopped him?
Was he afraid that Lissa would misinterpret his intentions? Or was she fooling herself to think that the craving he’d felt on those occasions was as overwhelming as what she had experienced?
She didn’t believe she could be mistaken altogether—there was no question in her mind that he had felt desire, for if he hadn’t why would he have kissed her a second time, and a third? But maybe for him it hadn’t been the same mind-blowing sort of hunger that had threatened to knock all common sense out of her head. Perhaps for Kurt it had just been ordinary lust—and not important enough to throw him off balance or make him forget simple caution.
Lissa had fallen in love—but it seemed that to Kurt she’d been nothing more than an interesting novelty, something to entertain himself with for a few days, but certainly nothing important enough to make him risk offending his grandmother.
She’d fallen straight into the same trap she had as an inexperienced coed—letting herself believe that the popular guy, the most handsome in the class, could be seriously interested in her. Only this time there hadn’t been a bunch of his friends in the wings to make it clear how she’d been duped, so instead of quickly realizing her mistake—and running while there was still time—she’d fallen farther and faster than before. Because he was so different now she’d fallen even harder. And now there was no turning back.
She remembered how sure she’d been, after the foursome’s dinner date, that Kurt had paused beside her bedroom door before he went on upstairs to his own. She remembered feeling left out and lonely that night, wanting him and hoping he wanted her—though at the time she hadn’t begun to recognize what she was experiencing.
Had his feelings been entirely created in her imagination? Had she taken a few sparse, careless kisses and dreamed them into a passionate affair?
Or perhaps the entire situation was even worse than that. It would be bad enough if she had imagined that Kurt felt the same desire, the same longing that she did. But if he’d caught a hint of what she was thinking…that would certainly account for why he’d kept himself so busy all week.
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