9
Kam had barely finished a single cup of coffee when the call came in. As was their new pattern, he’d quickly showered and
then started the coffee. Glory was still in the shower. While he waited for her to finish, he rushed through dressing.
She was just stepping out of the room when he’d lifted his hand to knock.
Seeing him there, his fist raised, she backpedaled on a laugh. “You startled me.”
Drawing her out, Kam put a quick kiss to her mouth, using care since he hadn’t taken the time to shave. “Sorry, but I have
to head out. There was a fire at the shop.” He headed for the front door where he’d left his shoes.
“What shop?” she asked, hustling to keep up with him.
“The machine shop where I work.”
“What happened? How bad is it?”
“A big trash receptacle caught fire; I don’t know how yet. There was damage to the front of the building, but . . .” That’s when it hit him. He turned to stare at Glory. “Are you ready to go, too?”
“I will be in five minutes. Why? Did you need something from me?”
He was starting to think he needed everything from her. That silent admission put him on guard, but he wouldn’t take chances with her safety.
“Kam? What is it? You look . . . well, enraged.”
Probably because his instincts were kicking hard. “It didn’t occur to me at first, but what if Mike is behind this?” Running
a hand over his messy hair, he considered all the possibilities. “He could be distracting me so he can . . . I don’t know.
Try something.” With you.
Bottom lip caught in her teeth, Glory stared at him. Finally, she said, “That seems unlikely, right? We haven’t heard from
him in over a week, and how could he even know where you work?”
“Small town, babe, remember? He could ask the cashier at the local grocery and find out all he needs to know.” He didn’t want
to scare Glory, but damn it, now he was divided.
“I’m going to the office today. I’ll be surrounded by people.”
“The office your folks opened here in town?” If so, he could follow her there and be around before she headed back home.
Apologetically, she shook her head. “In Bowling Green. It’s only a little over an hour away.” Touching his arm, she placated
him. “I’ll be on I-165 most of the time. It’s always congested. No reason for you to worry.”
“I don’t worry,” he grumbled, even as he looked at the time. “Shit. I’ve got to go. It’s all hands on deck so we can clean
up the damage and still stay on track.” He was due to finish up a custom job on an especially old tractor, so it’d be ready
for a sale. “I’d rather we head out at the same time.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “I was going to grab a bagel, but I’ll get something at the office. Just let me get my purse.” She darted off and was back in less than a minute.
As they stepped out together, Kam looked up and down the quiet street. “Am I rushing you off too early?”
“No, it’s fine. If I get to the office before the client, I’ll just visit with the other employees. I haven’t seen them in
a while, so it’ll be nice to catch up.”
Spotting Old Lady Simmons coming out her front door, Kam grinned. He cupped Glory’s face. “Will you please call me once you’re
there, and then again when you’re heading back?”
“See, that’s called worrying.” Unaware of her neighbor’s scrutiny, she went on tiptoe to kiss him. “But no, I don’t mind calling—as
long as you do the same. After all, it was the shop where you work that had a fire.”
“I assume you can call hands-free?”
“I can. I’ll keep my cell phone in the cup holder instead of storing it in my purse.”
“Thank you.” He initiated the next kiss, then whispered against her lips, “Want to give Simmons something to see?”
“What—Kam!” Pressing him away, she glanced over and saw the woman scowling at her. Fashioning a false smile, Glory waved.
“Good morning, Mrs. Simmons.”
“I’m sure it is, with that young man all over you.”
Blank-faced, Glory asked from the side of her mouth, “Erm, Kam, was that a joke, do you think?”
“The way she keeps her eyebrows together, I can’t tell.” Just for the heck of it, he waved too as they headed for their separate
cars. “Remember: Call me. Often. Definitely before you go anywhere.”
He’d still worry, but he felt better knowing she’d stay in touch. And if it turned out that Mike was targeting him instead, that’d work fine. Given half an excuse, Kam would take the other man apart and enjoy doing it.
On the road, he thought about Glory, about the things he felt—things he’d never counted on. Overwhelming things, or they should
be, but when he was with her, he mostly felt at peace.
He considered his apartment now that it was slowly coming together, except that it was still unoccupied. One of these days—soon—he’d
need to make a decision on that. After he made a decision on Glory.
Driving by habit, he allowed his thoughts to wander, and as they often did, they took him back to a painful time. You’re no good. You’ll never be good. Every day you look more like him.
Then his father would drag him out for an evening of bar hopping, all the while telling him that he had to toughen up, that
all women were hateful and mean.
He encouraged him to fight back. When he’d been ten years old, he was supposed to punch it out with his mother.
How was a kid to understand any of that? Hatred from a mother? And if she detested his father so much, why the hell had she
married the man and stayed with him?
For a father to encourage physical retaliation? Yes, his father had slapped her around, even punched her a few times. Kam
had always hated it.
He’d hated her . . . but he hadn’t liked to see her bruised and bleeding.
Memory of the emotional sickness twisted Kam’s stomach. A semitruck full of past baggage parked on his chest, making it tough
to breathe.
The questions, so many of them, would always go unanswered because now they were both dead. The only choice Kam had was to
prove them wrong.
He’d be a good man, and never in his life would he raise an angry hand against a woman. He’d know the truth, even if his miserable parents never would.
Glory’s trip to the office turned into a nice break in her routine. She visited with familiar employees and a few new hires.
The client, who’d brought along his fiancée, was friendly, knew what he wanted, and already had an established plan. She felt
certain they could do business together.
For lunch, she joined office friends at a nearby restaurant, carpooling to get there, so Kam wouldn’t worry. Back at the office,
she caught up on paperwork, lent her expertise to the new hires, and fielded more phone calls than she could recount.
It was a full day, and by the time she was nearing home, she was ready to kick off her shoes, take a nice long shower, and
then share time with Kam. It was later than she realized when Callie called.
“What’s that noise?” Callie asked.
“Sorry, I’m just getting into town. You probably hear the traffic.”
“You’re not at home?”
“I went to the office today but I’m on way back now. I’ll be there in another thirty minutes. Did you need anything?”
“Yes. The full scoop on Kam.”
“What do you mean?” While Glory wouldn’t lie to her, she didn’t want to outright confirm much, either.
“Fine,” Callie said. “Keep all the juicy details to yourself. Just remember, I’m married to his brother, so I have high expectations.
Very high. Skyscraper high.”
Unable to resist, Glory said, “To the moon and back.”
“Aha! I knew it. You’ve had that good-sex glow.” Before Glory could say a word, Callie continued, “Good for you. I’m thrilled. You deserve the best—in sex and men, and even though Tanner is the best, Kam is probably a close second. Or wait, he could be the best for you, right?”
“Callie—”
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if we married brothers?”
Her hands clenched on the steering wheel. “No one is talking about marriage!” As she said it, a car got close to her bumper,
making her nervously glance in the rearview mirror.
“Just think, you’d be an actual sister. Well, a sister-in-law, but also a cousin who’s like a sister.”
Deadpan, Glory said, “You like me more now that you’re married to Tanner.”
“More so than if I had married Sutter, that’s for sure.”
“Very true.” For the fiftieth time, with full sincerity, Glory added, “I’m really sorry about my part in pressuring you—”
“Look at how it all worked out. Because I’m so happy now, I’m not sorry about any of it—and I don’t want you to be, either.
Promise me you’ll let that go.”
Impossible, but she said, “I’ll try.” Now that she was off the highway, the car trailing her got closer. Glory couldn’t see
through the darkened windows, but her pulse was starting to leap in that pre-panic way.
The car eased back, allowing her to release a breath.
“While you’re doing that,” Callie said, regaining her undivided attention, “try giving Kam a chance, too. It would be amazing
if we turned into one big awesome family.”
Mouth open, Glory prepared to let her down, but Callie didn’t give her a chance.
“Love ya! Bye.”
Just like Callie, spewing all that and then disconnecting before Glory could get a word out. Surely, she wouldn’t share any
of those thoughts with Tanner. If she did, Tanner would tell Kam, and Kam would go running in the opposite direction.
The man had an apartment. He was preparing to live on his own.
He was not interested in marriage.
Glory was happy to have him for now, and for however long it lasted. But she refused to look too far into the future. Like
Kam, she was starting a new phase in her life. She had her own plans.
Sure, Mike had put a kink in the works, but she was still determined.
When the car reappeared again, this time hanging back, Glory wasn’t sure what to think.
She was dividing her time between watching the road and glancing in her mirrors, so when the phone rang, it startled her.
Liz wanted an update on the meeting she’d just attended, and how the work from home was going. Her strident voice put Glory
even more on edge. The second she thought it, she felt guilty.
She owed Liz a lot and she would never forget it, so she made sure her tone was light and friendly as she answered Liz’s questions