6 #3
Now this smile was real, because Glory noticed that Callie was really dressed down, wearing only cotton shorts, an oversized
T-shirt, and flip-flops. Her hair was up in her now-patented messy bun, which looked amazing on her.
“Aren’t you two supposed to be off enjoying matrimonial ecstasy?”
“Yes,” Callie said, leaving Tanner behind to hook her arm through Glory’s and lead her toward the door. “But a girl has to
eat, and Addie’s cooking is too scrumptious to pass up.”
God bless her. Glory tilted her head in, Callie did the same, and it felt like old times. Aware of the men behind them, Glory
asked in a barely there whisper, “You knew they were here, didn’t you?”
“Yup,” Callie whispered back. “And since you’re all in on living your own life, I decided to come along and encourage you.”
Independence from her aunt and uncle; it was something Glory really wanted, and yet, old habits were hard to break. “I’ve
made strides,” she promised. Independent living in her own house, and a new position in the company that kept her from constantly
interacting with them. Those were huge deals, at least for Glory.
“I know and I’m so proud of you.” At the front door, Callie turned to face her. “Now you just need to keep it up.”
Since that was the plan, Glory nodded. “I should feel guilty for interrupting your pseudo honeymoon.” But she didn’t. She
was too relieved to have Callie with her. Confrontations were never easy for her, at least not with family.
Callie hugged her close. “You never ever have to feel guilty with me. We’re here for each other, right? Always.”
“Always,” Glory swore.
Tanner held Kam back. “Let them talk a moment. I want to ask you how things went.”
If Kam could get his gaze off Glory, it might be easier to answer. Faced with seeing the people who’d raised her, she’d morphed into a different woman. The perfect, icily polite mannequin he’d first met. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“Kam?”
“Yeah,” he said absently. “I’ll be staying with her. We ironed that out.” He wouldn’t tell Tanner about Glory’s rules; they
were private and intimate, not something to spread around. In broad terms, though, he didn’t keep secrets from his brother,
so he admitted low, “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“That you’re staying with her?”
In answer, Kam lifted a shoulder. “She’s worried Addie won’t respect her or something.” He glanced at Tanner’s bemused expression.
“She doesn’t want to be a distraction.”
“You boys done gossiping?” Callie asked. “We gals are hungry.”
Standing there, side by side with his brother, Kam grinned. Glory and Callie were like mismatched bookends, one a little rumpled
and cute, the other polished to a high shine and rigid, but they were both lookers.
Tanner nudged him forward. “Let’s go. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can put my in-laws out of my mind once
again.”
Death by a thousand pricks. That’s what dinner had encompassed. If Glory moved, Liz made a critical comment. Then Addie would
counter it with a compliment while Callie sniped at her mother. Liam, who often joined them at dinner, had brought along Nell.
They had silently taken in the strife, but Glory could tell that it bothered Nell.
She was such a sweet girl, still so young, but a tough life had matured her well beyond her years. She and Liam had that in
common. Nell had spent time with the family while grooming Tanner’s dog and Kam’s cat, and now she often visited, but the
dinners were usually much calmer.
Both animals currently rested under Nell’s seat.
When they pulled into her driveway later that evening, Glory was finally able to let out a tense breath and relax her spine.
“There you go,” Kam said. “’Bout time, too.”
The satisfaction in his tone confounded her. “What do you mean?”
“It tortured me seeing you being so stiff and prim.” Before she could take umbrage at that, with a little heat, he added,
“Why don’t you tell Liz to mind her own damn business?”
“Should I have interrupted Callie?” Her cousin had done a fine job of nipping at her mother’s every comment. “Or spoken over
Addie’s praise?” She’d supplied an endless stream of admiration on everything from Glory’s hair to her posture and how she
lifted a fork. It was ridiculous—and sweet. Liz would make note of something, and Addie would immediately counter it.
If it hadn’t made her feel so awkward, she might have laughed over it.
“And poor Nell, stuck in the middle of that. Didn’t anyone else notice how uneasy it made her? I think she’s probably been
stuck in similar uncomfortable situations.” More than anything, Glory had wanted to take Nell’s hand, lead her outside, and
sit and chat. About everything. Life, dealing with family, being a woman . . . All the things she and Callie had grown up discussing.
Pinning her with a stern frown, Kam discounted everything she’d just said. “None of that should have kept you from standing
up for yourself.”
There it was. The worst of the insults. Glory fought back the hurt and glared at him.
“Liz took me in when I had nowhere to go. She gave me everything she could. And now she employs me.” Shoving her door open, she stepped out into the muggy night.
At nearly 8:00 p.m., the sun was a fiery yellow ball resting on the horizon, turning the sky a dusky orange.
Pretty—but not enough to lift her sudden ire.
She spun to face Kam when he strode toward her with a purpose. “Why haven’t you brought your cat home?”
That drew him up short. “What?”
“Percy is your cat, right? Yet, you’ve . . .” She couldn’t say abandoned. “You left him behind.”
“Case you haven’t noticed, I’m not settled into my apartment yet. Addie insisted he should stay with her until I am. Besides,
he’s bonded with Blu. He and that dog love each other.”
That made sense, but she wasn’t ready to be reasonable, not after the nasty things he’d said to her. “So you’re happy to dump
one more responsibility on Addie?”
For a long tense moment, he studied her, then the heat left his eyes. “I would never do that.” He approached cautiously, like
he thought she might flee.
And damn it, she felt like it. She hated being weak, hated letting Liz walk all over her. And she especially hated knowing
she’d never been loved. Not by her parents, not by Liz and Frank.
Only Callie had ever truly loved her, and now Callie had a husband. A wonderful husband. The perfect man for her.
It was only right that he’d take precedence. Glory wouldn’t have it any other way. Sooner or later, she’d get used to the
new dynamic of being . . . less important. Again.
God, could she be a more selfish bitch? Almost hating herself, Glory deflated. Especially because she’d taken out her pity
party on Kam, and he didn’t deserve it.
Faking an intense interest in the sunset, she kept her gaze averted. “I’m sorry.”
“Ah, babe.” His strong arms came around her, crossing over her breasts as he snuggled close behind her. “You stole the words right out of my mouth. I deserved to be blasted.”
“No, you didn’t.” Resting her hands over his forearms, she dropped her head back to his shoulder and simply relished his nearness,
the delicious scent of him, how his touch energized her and comforted her at the same time. “I think Liz just has that effect
on everyone.”
“She’s fine when she isn’t nettling you.”
Meaning they all got along well when Glory wasn’t around? Great. One more way to make her feel—no. Damn it, she would stop being pathetic right now.
“She sure had Addie riled,” Kam noted.
The corner of her mouth quirked. “I’d like to know how Addie came up with all those silly compliments so quickly. I think
she praised everything about me, including my eyelashes.”
“They’re pretty eyelashes,” he said, his voice huskier. “So you know, Percy is my cat, but I guess he’s Addie’s, too. He’s
always lived in that house, and when I was away at school or work, Addie was there with him. Blu, too.”
“It’s a big wonderful house. I’m glad Callie decided to move in with them so they could all stay together.”
That observation was met with silence. Glory turned to face him, spotted Nosy Old Lady Simmons peeking at her through her
curtains, and decided it was time to head in. “Come on. We’re entertaining the neighbors.”
“Simmons?” he asked, keeping her in place.
“She thinks she’s being sneaky, but I can see her.”
Cupping her face, Kam whispered, “Then we might as well give her something to gawk at,” right before he put his mouth over
hers in a kiss guaranteed to send her foul mood packing for good.