7. Awakenings
Anne slept in until eleven twenty a.m., awakened by romantic piano music emanating from her cell phone. “Good morning, Emily.”
“You sound like a frog. Were you still asleep? How late did you stay out last night?”
“I came home before midnight, but Henri didn’t leave until almost two a.m.”
“You’d be fussing at me if I ever let a guy stay at my place that late.”
“You’re right.” Anne yawned. “Even though he behaved well, it was a bad idea. I’m exhausted.”
“I got the picture you sent. You didn’t tell me how gorgeous he was. If you decide you’re not interested in Henri, you could introduce him to me.”
“I’m not letting Henri within five miles of you. He’s a bit too hard to resist, and he’s downright charming.” Anne laughed. “And I mean that in the worst possible way.”
“I don’t know, Mom. Maybe I shouldn’t let you date a guy like that. Were you able to resist him? And I mean that in the worst possible way.”
“The answer is mostly yes, but I did find out he is a great kisser.”
“Woo-hoo, Mom! I never thought we’d have this conversation, but I love it! Do we need to have ‘The Talk’?”
“Very funny, Em. Your very existence indicates I don’t need to have ‘The Talk.’”
“Or maybe my existence means we do need to have ‘The Talk.’ But I’d like to meet this Henri. You know, check him out in person, and see if I approve.”
“Ha, ha. I bet you would, but it’s too late. By now he’s in the air over the Atlantic on his way back to Paris.”
“What? He’s gone back already? That was a short romance.”
“It’s not exactly over.”
“He’s coming back to New York again?”
“No. But I’m going to Paris to see him.” Saying it out loud made her stomach flip over.
“What! You’re going to Paris? I can’t believe it! When are you going? This is sooooo romantic.”
“I know. I can’t believe it either. I’m finally going to use my passport. Woo-hoo!” Anne laughed. “I’m going during Thanksgiving holidays, so you girls need to make sure Grandpa has someplace to go for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“No problem, Mom. We’ll take care of Grandpa, if we can pin him down. Hey, maybe Henri has a son who looks like him and you could introduce us.”
“Ha! We can talk about it in a week, right? You’re coming next Friday?”
“We’re flying in on Friday, and we’ll be there by the time you get off work. And we don’t have to go back until Monday, so we have two whole days in New York with you.”
“I can’t wait—I miss y’all so bad.”
“I don’t know, Mom. It doesn’t sound like you’ve been moping around without us.”
“It’s been pretty exciting, but I don’t like that you’re both so far away. And I miss Gandalf too.”
“I would tell you Gandalf misses you, but he seemed perfectly happy last week when I visited him and Grandpa at the house. I think Grandpa shares his cooked food with him. He’s so spoiled now.”
“He’s gonna get fat. I need to talk to Dad about that.”
“Yeah, good luck with that. You know Grandpa won’t listen to anybody.”
“You’re right. I might as well give up before I even try.”
“But six days and we’ll see you in person. Seems like you’ve been gone for months instead of a couple of weeks.”
“I agree. A lot has happened in two weeks. Who knows, by next week I may meet a film director who’ll turn me into a movie star. I could be famous by the time you see me.”
“Will you be willing to associate with us poor Texas folk?”
“Yes, don’t worry… I’ll always remember the little people in my life.”
* * *
Anne climbedout of bed and made the decision to head to the gym upstairs and go for a run. She usually went early in the morning or right after work, but she’d been so busy she’d only run twice that week. She was tired, but she knew she’d feel better after a quick workout. She loved running on the treadmills that faced the picture windows overlooking the busy street.
She pulled her still-curly hair into a ponytail and headed up the elevator, surprised to find the gym was busy on a Saturday afternoon. Every treadmill was occupied when she walked in, so she walked by, trying to peek at the distances to guess if someone might be finishing soon. She found a good prospect, a treadmill on the left end that already had ten miles clocked. The occupant was shirtless and glistening with sweat but still keeping a nice pace. Surely he wouldn’t run much further. She watched him run, admiring the easy stride. He was tanned and well-built, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. There was no extra fat on his body, so she could see his muscles flexing as he ran.
She glanced down at the other runners, but no one seemed to show signs of cooling down. Finally, the treadmill to her right stopped, and the woman relinquished her spot to Anne. She quickly climbed on and pressed start for a manual program, wondering if she could match paces with the long-distance runner on her left. She casually looked at the man’s pace and saw it was set at a six-minute pace. Wow—she could run an eight-minute pace on a good day. Who could run that far at that pace?
Only then did she glance at his face. Of course, it was Steven Gherring. Why was she not surprised? The one person she was most embarrassed to see, the one who thought she’d spent the night with Henri, who surely hadn’t already called him to correct his misconception.
It seemed he hadn’t noticed her. Maybe she could slip away and run later in the day. She turned the machine off and stepped down.
“Is your treadmill not working?”
Of course, he saw me. Why do I have the worst luck in the world?
Gherring slowed his machine to a walk and continued the conversation without looking her direction.
“I suppose this means Henri is gone,” he said in a flat emotionless voice.
“If you mean ‘gone’ as in, gone to Paris, he left at ten a.m. If you mean ‘gone’ as in, left my apartment, that happened last night.” She drummed up an indignant glare. “I know what you think, but you’re wrong about what happened. I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t sleep around.”
“I don’t think you’re that kind of girl. I think Henri’s that kind of man.”
“But it takes two to tango. You still thought I was easy.”
“I thought what he wanted me to think. And with good reason. And he was there. With you. And you had that dress on. Women can’t resist him.”
“I resisted him. Even though I had on that dress,” she spit out sarcastically. She started her treadmill again, going faster than her normal pace, fueled by anger and frustration.
Gherring stood watching her silently. He looked like he had more to say, but instead he moved on to the free weights. Anne finished her run and gathered her things to leave. When she stopped for a drink of water, Gherring came beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
One look at his sincere face, and her anger melted. “It’s okay, I was just embarrassed. I even made Henri promise to tell you the truth.”
Gherring nodded. “If it makes you feel any better, I just found a text from him. He said he wants me to know he slept in his own room last night, because he would never take advantage of his angel.”
“Okay. Let’s promise not to talk about it anymore. So embarrassing. But I have a question… You ran like twelve miles at a six-minute pace? Are you a marathon runner?”
“I do the Iron Man Competition.”
No wonder he had that amazing body. “Where do you ride? Where do you swim?”
“I have a nice bike trainer up in the apartment, and I swim at a YMCA not far from here. When I have time, I prefer training outside.”
“Have you ever won?”
Gherring chuckled. “No, I’ve never won. Well, I’ve won my age division, but that doesn’t count.”
Anne shook her head. “I don’t see how you find the time to train.”
“It’s pretty easy when you don’t have any obligations outside of work and a few required social events. And honestly, I don’t sleep all that much.”
Anne felt a pang of sympathy. She’d forgotten how alone Steven Gherring was. She had to find a match for this man. He really was sweet, even if he was a little controlling of her personal life. If he had a wife, he wouldn’t worry so much about his PA. “I think it’s pretty amazing you do Iron Man competitions,” she declared with a smile.
“It’s just a hobby,” Gherring said, but he looked pleased. And he hadn’t bothered to put his shirt back on either, not that Anne was complaining.
* * *
Saturday afternoon foundAnne down at Binding Books, the small bookstore where she knew Ellen worked. She’d run into the girl two more times since the first day they’d met on the subway, and she’d seemed starved for the older-sister companionship she found in Anne. They’d agreed to meet for a late lunch on Saturday. Anne found Ellen in the back of the small store, sorting through some used books.
“Anne.” Ellen’s eyes lit up. “Let me tell my boss I’m taking lunch. I’ve got so much to tell you.”
“I love your store, and Emily will really love this place. I’ll have to bring the girls here when they come next weekend. You’ve even got rare books. Awesome.”
“Yep, it’s pretty cool. But I’m hoping I won’t have to work here forever.”
As they walked out of the store and down the street toward a small pizza place, Ellen bubbled with excitement. “I got a part in a play! I have the lead role—I’m Jane and the play is called Rainbow Junction. It’s way, way, way off Broadway. Really low budget. But it’s a start. And if we get noticed and get some publicity, then we could maybe move closer to Broadway. It’s a musical, so I get to sing. And the music is great.”
“I’m so happy for you. Congratulations! When does it start?”
“We rehearse a lot for the next five weeks, and then we’re on. Actually, the rest of the group has been rehearsing already, but their lead got diagnosed with vocal nodes and had to quit suddenly. They didn’t have an understudy, so they had new tryouts for the role, and I got it.”
“Wow, that’s great. I knew you could do it.”
“Ha! You’ve never even seen me act or heard me sing.”
“Yes, but I’ve been told I can see deep into your soul.” Anne laughed.
“And who told you that?”
“Henri told me. He’s such a flirt.”
“Is that the cute French guy you met on Monday?”
“Yes, but a lot has happened since then. Last night he took me to this big gala Gherring Inc. throws every year. In fact, there were reporters at the party last night. I bet the society page has his picture. You won’t believe what a hunk this guy is. I can’t even believe he asked me to go.”
Ellen took out her iPad and pulled up the society report. “Let’s see… Friday night. Okay, it mentions the gala… Let’s look at the pictures. What does he look like?”
“Dark hair, green eyes, and hot,” said Anne.
“Wow!” cried Ellen. “Here’s your picture.”
“My picture? Me and Henri?”
“The first one is you with Steven Gherring. The second one is you with some other hottie—must be Henri. He is gorgeous.” Ellen licked her lips.
“That picture with Gherring must be from Tuesday night. Why is it in today’s report? Let me see…”
Ellen read aloud. “The caption says, ‘Desolated by Steven Gherring, Anne—the Angel from Texas—lands in the arms of Henri DuBois.’” She turned to look at Anne. “Honey, you’ve got some explaining to do.”
“Jeepers! Is there anything written about us in the article?”
“Hmmm, let’s see…” Ellen searched the article. “Yep, here it is. Henri DuBois, one of France’s most sought-after bachelors, announced his date for the evening was ‘Anne, my angel from Texas.’ The mystery angel may have fallen from the arms of Steven Gherring, with whom she was seen earlier in the week at the Gershwin Theater.”
“Oh no! I can’t believe they put that in the report. I hope Mr. Gherring doesn’t read the society section. He’ll be sooooo ticked.”
“So now you’re a player? Tuesday night with Steven Gherring and Friday night with this Henri guy? I mean, not that I blame you.”
“No, no, no! It’s not like that at all. I was never with Gherring. We were at the same play, but we didn’t go together. We went together, but we weren’t together- together. We didn’t even sit together in the first half. They just took that picture that made it look like we were together.”
“Yeah, right.” Disbelief was written all over her face.
“I mean, really. You know Steven Gherring wouldn’t actually go out with his hick PA from Texas.”
“This Henri guy from France didn’t seem to mind you were a hick PA from Texas.”
“Henri has less discriminating taste, I think. He’s probably dated half of the women in New York.”
“So you didn’t actually go out with Steven Gherring?”
“No, I didn’t. He really doesn’t date much at all. And I think he spends too much time alone. I’ve decided to find someone for him.”
“You’re going to find a girl for Steven Gherring?” Ellen stuck her hand up. “I volunteer.”
“Actually, that’s not such a bad idea.”
Ellen giggled. “I’ll agree to date Steven Gherring as soon as he asks me out or as soon as hell freezes over, whichever one comes first.”
* * *
Anne arrivedat the office early on Monday, determined to be impressive in her work ethic, just in case Steven Gherring had seen the social column. She’d hate to lose her job over a bit of gossip. Perhaps if she worked really hard, he’d forgive her the embarrassment she’d caused him. He arrived shortly afterward, when she was already engrossed in her work.
“Good morning, Ms. Best,” Gherring swept past her desk. Anne returned the greeting, anxious to assess his mood, but Gherring disappeared into his office without another word. Anne fretted all morning, but he never reappeared. He hadn’t mentioned the first picture from Wednesday’s post, so perhaps he wasn’t the type who followed social media. Maybe she was worrying about nothing.
“And who are you?”
Anne looked up in surprise at the diminutive, white-haired woman with the piercing blue eyes who stood on the other side of the desk, examining her with a stern expression. Anne recognized Gherring’s grandmother from the picture on his desk, but she was intimidating in person. Anne found her mouth too dry to get any words out.
“Speak up, girl! I’m a bit deaf.”
“I’m just Anne.” Her voice came out raspy. She swallowed and raised her voice. “I’m Mr. Gherring’s PA.”
“No need to yell, honey. Do you want to wake the dead?”
“What? No. I mean, no ma’am.” Anne felt like she was back in elementary school, being scolded by her teacher.
“PA?”
“Personal Assistant. I take care of anything he needs done.”
“And do you always do what he says to do?”
“Most of the time. Except when he doesn’t know what’s good for him.”
Did I say that out loud?
A furrow appeared between her thick white eyebrows.
“Mrs. Gherring, please don’t tell him I said that.” Anne stood up, pleading words gushing out. “He’ll fire me for sure. I’m just here on a three-month trial. I really do respect him. I promise I do. I don’t know why I said that.”
The office doors opened and Steven Gherring appeared. A stone dropped into the pit of Anne’s belly. It was too late.
“Gram!” Steven exclaimed with more enthusiasm than Anne had ever observed from the prim and proper businessman. “I didn’t know you were coming. Why didn’t you tell me when we talked last night?”
“It was a last-minute decision.” Gram returned the vigorous hug to her grandson who stooped to greet her. “I decided I needed to check up on you.”
Gherring’s eyes crinkled in a smile. “Really? You’re here on a spy mission?”
“Yes, I am, and I’ve found my inside source.”
Standing at her desk in terrified silence, Anne winced as Mrs. Gherring’s sharp gaze came to rest on her and Gherring’s smile disappeared.
“Anne and I are going to lunch.” Gram marched to Anne’s side, her surprisingly strong fingers grasping her elbow.
“But Gram, we always do lunch together when you come to the city.” Gherring’s hands were on his hips.
“I’ll be yours for the entire afternoon and evening, Steven dear. But Anne and I have a lot to discuss.”
With that pronouncement, Gram tugged Anne toward the elevator. “Come along, dear. I promise I won’t bite.”
Anne didn’t turn to look back at Gherring, but she felt his glare burning into her back. Inside the elevator, Anne ventured a sidelong glance at the small woman with the commanding presence. “Mr. Gherring seemed upset. Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Gram ignored the question. “Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? I know that’s a southern accent I heard.”
Anne took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had to control herself when talking to Mrs. Gherring. Everything would be reported to her grandson. Her job was on the line. “Mrs. Gherring…”
“Call me Gram. Mrs. Gherring is the name of my grandson’s wife.” Her tone discouraged Anne from disagreeing.
“But I thought Mr. Gherring wasn’t married. He has a wife?”
“Not yet, but I certainly intend for him to have one. He’s been dragging his heels way too long. He needs a wife.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Gram’s eyebrows flew up. “Really?”
“I don’t mean me.” Anne felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. “I’ve been trying to find someone for him. He seems so lonely, and I know he’d be so much happier if he shared his life with the right woman. I know, because I had a wonderful, happy marriage myself until my husband died.”
“And you’re not the right woman?”
“No way!” If her face got any hotter it would catch on fire. “I know his preferences. Young, smart, sophisticated. Not me, for sure. But he also needs someone who’s sensitive and caring and not self-centered.”
“And you’ve found the right woman for Steven?”
“I’m trying, but he’s not very cooperative. He seems determined to keep everyone at arm’s length. I introduced him to one woman with the right traits, but he didn’t seem the least bit interested.”
“Hmmm…” Gram was silent for several thoughtful moments. The elevator opened and she strode so quickly toward the street doors, Anne had trouble keeping up in high heels. Gram led the way to the diner next door where, to Anne’s surprise, she exchanged hugs with Papa and May. The two of them were quickly led to a private booth in the back of the restaurant.
As soon as they were seated, Gram fixed Anne with an intense gaze. “I must say we seem to be mostly in agreement about what my grandson needs. Perhaps we can work together to help Steven find his true love.”
“Maybe, but I can’t let him find out or I might lose my job.”
“It’ll be our little secret.”
Anne tried vainly to stop her hands from trembling as she took a drink of water.
“You were telling me about your daughters?”
“Did I say I had daughters?”
“Humph! I thought you said that. So you don’t have daughters?”
“No, I do. I just—”
“So why don’t you want to talk about them? Are you ashamed of them?”
“No, I just—”
“Fine, we can start with why you moved to New York City…”
Gram proceeded to question Anne about every aspect of her life. It was like being interviewed for the FBI. She quizzed her about her home and her family in Texas, her marriage, her children, her education, her hobbies, and even her dog.
“You’ve barely touched your food, dear,” Gram noted.
Anne wondered how she could possibly have eaten while answering the barrage of questions, but she simply nodded assent and forked a mouthful of meatloaf into her mouth.
“Do you miss your girls?” Gram asked.
Anne forgot her nerves when she thought about her daughters. “I do. But they’re coming on Friday for the whole weekend.”
“That’s wonderful, dear. The three of you should come to dinner while they’re here.”
“Will you be in New York City this weekend? I thought you lived a few hours away from here.”
“Yes, but I still keep the home here in the city. I was planning on a short visit, but now I think I may stay for a while. That way you and I can work on getting my grandson together with the perfect woman. You see, I intend to see him happily married before I die, but I don’t have much time left.”
“Oh no! Do you have a health problem?”
“No dear, I’m perfectly healthy. But I’m ninety-five years old. I’ve got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. I’ve got to work fast.”
Anne chuckled. “You haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
“This is serious business. I’ve been at this for a while. Steven doesn’t have the best judgment when it comes to women. I’ve tried to encourage him to date more, but he refuses to get close to anyone. And since he broke off his engagement with Michelle, he’s been even more withdrawn. It’s been more than five years, and he just can’t seem to get over it. I’m sure it’s because of his past.”
“What happened to him?” Anne couldn’t hide her curiosity. It was fun to get a better understanding of Gherring’s past.
“His parents put him in a boarding school when he was a young boy. I told my son it was a bad idea, but they traveled a lot and didn’t want to be bothered with a child. He was ten when they died in an airplane crash in France. I’ve always loved him, but that’s not the same as having your mom and dad. He inherited his father’s flare for business, and Gherring Inc. has grown into a billion-dollar company under his guidance.” Gram’s mouth drooped. “But I’d rather he’d thrown the company away and had a wife who loved him and a family. Believe me, at the end of your life when you look back at what you’ve done, you won’t care about how much money you have. Family is what really matters.”
“You’re so right. Didn’t you tell him that?”
“I’ve talked to him ‘til I was blue in the face, but he doesn’t listen. He just says I’m all the family he needs.” Gram leaned in close and put her hand over Anne’s. “But someday I’ll be gone, and he’ll have no one.”
Anne fought back tears for the little boy without a mom and dad, and for the man who was married to his work.
“Don’t worry, Gram. We’ll find someone for him. We just have to.”
* * *
When Anne returnedto her desk, Gherring was waiting for her. “How was your lunch?”
“It was great. I had meatloaf. Papa’s makes the best meatloaf. That is if you like meatloaf. If you don’t like meatloaf, their other special was—”
“That’s not what I meant. How was lunch with my grandmother?”
“She’s a very interesting lady.”
“You had a rather long lunch. What did you talk about?”
“A little of this. A little of that. You know. All kinds of stuff. I really can’t remember anything specific.” Anne forced a smile on her face. “She asked me all about Emily, and Charlie, and Gandalf.”
“Who are Charlie and Gandalf?” His brows knotted.
“Charlie is Charlotte, and Gandalf is my Irish wolfhound.”
His face relaxed. “Ah… Charlie’s your daughter. And I didn’t know you had a dog.”
“Gandalf isn’t just a dog. He’s a member of the family. I think he may be almost as tall as you.”
“Listen, my Gram can be a bit scheming and meddling at times. If she’s up to something, I’d appreciate a little warning, to be prepared.”
“Hmmm.”
“Hmmm? What does that mean?”
“She did mention she’s been shopping for a Christmas present for you.” Anne was glad Gram had provided an excuse for their lunch meeting. When she asked Anne’s opinion about a men’s cologne sample she pulled from her purse, she claimed her nose couldn’t judge scents as well as it used to. “But I’m sworn to secrecy—you’ll never worm it out of me.”
“Why do I think you’re leaving something out?”
“I have no idea.”
“Perhaps you’d rather discuss the pictures I saw in the social column.”
“Pictures? What pictures?” Anne rifled through her desk drawer to avoid Gherring’s piercing gaze.
“I think you know what I’m talking about.”
She was caught. What could she say? She’d throw herself on his mercy.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Gherring. I never meant to cause all this trouble. The media wouldn’t have cared that I was with Henri if they hadn’t seen you and I together at the musical. I shouldn’t have gone to the musical. Or the gala, for that matter. I don’t belong with those people, anyway.
Gherring’s harsh expression softened. “I was the one who should’ve stayed home, not you.”
Her chest hurt. Of course, he was embarrassed to be seen with her. He didn’t want anyone to think they were together. She knew that already, didn’t she? This just confirmed what she knew.
His face darkened. “The only thing that really upsets me is your continued association with Henri.”
“I thought you and Henri had made up.”
“I listened and agreed to give him a second chance. But there’s something about his personality that drives me up the wall.”
At least Gherring wasn’t truly angry with her. She tried to lighten his mood with a teasing tone. “Maybe he bugs you because he doesn’t bow down to you like the rest of the world?”
“Exactly. Always my goal in life.” Gherring’s words dripped sarcasm. “And obviously, his bad habits are rubbing off on my PA. That sassy tongue is going to get you in trouble.”
“The problem is I’m not as afraid of you as I used to be. I think you’re all bark and no bite.”
“I do have a bite. My business associates will attest to that.”
“I think you act aggressive to hide how sweet you really are.”
“I’m not sweet.” His hands tightened into fists.
“Don’t get me wrong… I still believe you’re extremely dangerous. But I’ve seen how sweet you are with your Gram. You can’t fool me anymore.” At his stormy look, she broke out in laughter. “Gram told me you didn’t take teasing well. I guess she was right.”
“Just don’t go around saying I’m sweet. That’s bad for my reputation. Bad for business.”
“I’ll take that secret to my grave.” She mimed zipping her lips.
His mouth curled up at the corners and he looked to the ceiling. “When did I lose control of this conversation?”
“More like when did you ever have control of it?”
“And that’s the problem. I should be able to control my own PA, right?”
“Sorry if I mislead you. Was that in the job description?”
“I’ll make sure it’s in there next time.” His tone was menacing, but the sparkle of humor in his eyes gave him away.
“Don’t worry about your Gram,” Anne said. “She obviously adores you. She would never do anything to hurt you. Trust me.”
“I trust her like I trust you… about as far as I could throw both of you with one hand tied behind my back.”
“Ha! That’s a pretty fair distance. I’ve seen your muscles.”
With a growl he turned his back to her, but not before she saw a telltale grin. He retreated to his office and Anne returned to the work that was stacking up on her desk.
At two o’clock, Henri called Anne. She pulled out her personal laptop and opened up FaceTime to see his smiling face. Henri had shaved his beard. “I like your new look, sans hair,” said Anne. She looked toward Gherring’s office. His door was shut. She should have a few moments alone.
Henri gave her a devilish smile. “How much do you like it? Am I totally irresistible now? Maybe I should fly back tonight—”
“You’ve always been irresistible. But now I can see that cute dimple on your chin.”
“If only I had known, I would have shaved off the beard so you would not be able to say ‘no’ to me.”
“It may be too dangerous for me to come to Paris now. Now I’ll have to work even harder to resist you.”
“But I have promised to be good and not to tempt you. Do you not trust me?”
“Frankly, I couldn’t possibly trust a man with a cleft chin.”
“Je suis désolé! I will grow back the beard at once.”
“Ah, but now I know the cleft is there. I still won’t be able to trust you.”
Henri sighed. “I cannot wait until you come. I feel like I have been dead for years, and I have come back to life. I want you to meet my family. I have told them about you.”
“I’d love to meet your family. Do they live in Paris?”
“Oui. They live here, in my house. I told you, the house is very big. My sister is here, and my niece and nephew. They will love you.”
“I can’t wait to meet them. How old are they?”
“My niece, Anna-Laure, is six and my nephew, Jean-Pierre, is eight. You do not mind that my family lives with me?”
“Why would I? They’re family. I’d love for you to meet my girls too.”
“This is good. I cannot wait to see you, mon bel ange. And I have one more question.”
“What’s that?”
“Do you think you could ever trust me? Even a little?”
She hesitated but smiled. “Maybe. At least a little.”
“Then perhaps, if you think you can trust me a little… one more kiss? Maybe two?”
“I think that’s a strong possibility.” She signed off and closed her laptop, still smiling.
“Personally, I don’t think you should trust him as far as you can throw him,” said a scowling Gherring from his office doorway. Anne gaped at him as he disappeared back into his office. How did he always manage to sneak out of his office at the worst possible time?
When Anne got home,she checked her email and found a note from Johanna.
Dear Anne,
I am anxiously awaiting a report on your night with Henri. I saw the two of you leaving together. I must know what happened! I need details. Were there sparks?
Johanna
Anne struggled to decide what she should tell Johanna. Were there sparks? There was definitely some kind of passion burning that night. But she couldn’t tell if that blaze had been for Henri, or if it was just because of fifteen years in the cold. He was beautiful to look at, and his attention had done wonders for her sagging ego. Kissing him was certainly exciting, and she was looking forward to a repeat performance. She knew she was playing with fire—she’d teetered on the edge of control. Finally, she decided to skirt around the question but give enough details to satisfy her friend’s curiosity.
Dear Johanna,
I can only tell you Henri is a great kisser! I’m sure my long dry spell made me even more appreciative of his skill. I’m determined to limit our physical relationship to kissing, for the time being. I know that may seem antiquated, but I won’t be satisfied with less than total commitment. Anyway, it would be difficult to do more since an ocean separates us. But the exciting news is Henri has invited me to come to Paris over the Thanksgiving holiday! I’ll get to use my passport and see Paris! Mr. Gherring doesn’t like Henri, so we’ve had some strain in our work relationship. He doesn’t know I’m going to see Henri in Paris. But his grandmother and I are joining forces to find a potential wife for him. (This is strictly confidential, so don’t breathe a word about our plan!) I think Mr. Gherring won’t be so interested in controlling my personal life when he has a wife to love him. Everyone deserves sparks, right?
Anne
She read over her reply one last time and pressed send. She hoped her new friend would be satisfied with her response. Anne thought about going upstairs for a run, but she finally opted for curling up on the couch with a good book. She would put off her workout until tomorrow. She had leftovers from her lunch she popped in the microwave for a tasty dinner. She chuckled to herself as she remembered her lunch with Gram. Perhaps a better description would be interrogation. Just then her cell phone rang, and she answered the unidentified call.
“So have you made any progress?” Gram’s voice demanded.
Anne laughed. “Not since lunch today. I didn’t know it was that much of a crisis.”
“My heart is feeling a little weak today. I think we should hurry.”
“Did you try talking to him again? Suggesting he should consider dating—really dating?”
“Hon, talking to that boy is like banging your head against a brick wall.”
“Okay, well I did have a thought.”
“What’s that?”
“It just so happens I’m in charge of arranging for Mr. Gherring’s escort to a fundraising dinner on Friday. I’m supposed to let the publicist choose someone, but this time I thought I’d pick his escort personally. I’ll look at all the available women, and choose the one I think he’d like. I’ll make sure she has the qualities we think would be good for a wife.”
Gram sounded dubious. “Couldn’t hurt. But he’s so stubborn. We need something to really shake him up.”
“Did you have something in mind?”
“No, not yet. But I’ll think of something. This time I’m taking the gloves off.”
“Gram, I think you’re a formidable opponent. Mr. Gherring won’t know what hit him. But you should know he tried to find out from me what we talked about at lunch today. Don’t worry though, I didn’t give anything away.”
“Good job keeping it under the table,” said Gram. “Why do you call him Mr. Gherring? Don’t you know him well enough to call him Steven?”
“I’m just trying to show him some respect. I already have trouble smarting off to him. The least I can do is call him Mr. Gherring.”
“Hmphh! I’ll call you tomorrow and check on your progress.”
Anne tried to go back to her book, but she was distracted with thoughts of Steven Gherring. This had to be her most challenging match ever—to find a wife for New York’s most eligible bachelor. She decided to work on a list of qualities.
Beautiful
Young Kind of young (30-40 years old)
Smart
Educated (must have a college degree)
Sophisticated
Talented
She pondered a bit. These were rather superficial things. Steven was special. He deserved a wife who would understand him and care about him. He needed someone who loved him for himself and not for his money or power or popularity. How could she put that on a list? It was her list. It didn’t have to look great. One-word descriptions wouldn’t work for this part.
Loves him for himself, not his money
Will take care of him
Will commit for life
She thought further. What else did he need? This girl had to be strong enough to stand up to him a little, or he wouldn’t respect her. She couldn’t be wimpy. But he wouldn’t want someone who irritated him all the time, like she did. She finally decided on the final qualities.
Not a pushover
Not too bossy
Anne folded up the paper and put it in her purse. She could use this as a reference and also show it to Gram. His grandmother might want to add something, and Anne was a little nervous at what that might be.
* * *
The next morning,Anne got up early to run. She loved running before work, when no one was in the gym. She was a bit of a morning-person, unlike her two daughters—she had learned early on it was best not to speak to them at all for the first few hours of the morning. After three quick miles on the treadmill, Anne hurried for the elevator. She had plenty of time. It was only six a.m.
When the elevator doors opened, Steven Gherring was there, already dressed for work, with briefcase in hand. Anne stepped in and pressed the button for her floor, self-conscious of her sweaty body and mussed hair.
“Why are you going to work so early?” she asked.
“This is when I usually leave for work.” He raised his eyebrows as he observed her condition. “Are you planning to wear that to work?”
“What do you mean? It’s only six o’clock in the morning.”
“I think I can read the time, but perhaps I’m in error. Why don’t you check for me?” He stretched out his arm to show her his wristwatch. Anne read the dial. She grabbed his arm to look more closely.
“It’s five after seven!” she shouted, as the elevator stopped and two more people joined them. “How did this happen? I’m an hour off!”
The elevator stopped on her floor and Anne rushed off. She scrambled into her apartment, showered and dressed in record time. She couldn’t go out with wet hair because of the cold, so she took the extra ten minutes required to dry her heavy tresses. It was seven thirty-five. She knew she was going to be late. And she couldn’t even make up a great excuse because Gherring had caught her red-handed. She hoped this wasn’t a sign of how bad her day was going to be. She hurried down, intending to run all the way to the subway station in her bright blue running shoes. Hopefully her deodorant would hold up to the challenge. When the elevator reached the lobby, she sprinted toward the door.
“Wait! Stop!” Gherring’s voice came from behind her. “I thought we might ride together today.” He pointed to the limo waiting outside.
“You waited for me? I can’t believe it—thank you.” They climbed into the car and she collapsed into the seat. “I can’t believe you waited for me—that was so nice.”
His brows drew down over his clear blue eyes. “Why is it so surprising I waited for you? You don’t think I can be nice?”
“I’m simply thanking you. Don’t get your panties in a wad.”
“Get my… What? What did you say?”
“Nothing. Sorry I thanked you.”
“It’s not that you thanked me. It’s that you seemed so incredulous about my display of geniality.”
“I’m glad you gave me a ride, but I don’t want you displaying your geniality. Isn’t there a law against that?” Anne kept a straight face for a few seconds, and then burst out laughing. When she accidentally snorted, she clapped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide.
He joined the hilarity, and she laughed until she had tears in her eyes. When she gained control of her breathing, they had what could only be called a pleasant conversation. She didn’t dare mention it, or he might be offended.
“Should I get out after you’ve gone so no one sees us together?”
“I think it’ll be fine, as long as I don’t display my geniality.”
She dissolved into helpless laughter while he exited the limo. He bent down and offered his hand to help her out, and she took it. Big mistake! Something like a bolt of lightning sizzled up her arm. Obviously, she was letting her emotions run wild.
She scrambled out of the car and pulled her hand free. “Thanks for the ride.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Those eyes… crystal blue pools! She could get lost in them. And she had! She was standing there, staring at him, like some kind of star-struck girl. Her heart pounded so loud she couldn’t even hear what he was saying. Probably something about how she shouldn’t presume anything just because he’d given her a ride in his limousine.
She nodded. “Right. Okay. Gotta hit the ladies’ room before work!” Turning, she trotted toward the entrance ahead of him. She couldn’t even imagine what he must think of her. Maybe if she worked really hard, she’d look more professional the rest of the day.
* * *
Unfortunately,her whole day was hectic. She had to arrange for Mr. Gherring’s trip to Switzerland the next week. He was taking two executives with him for a big presentation that Friday. One was a thirty-year-old named Jared, who had a new baby. The other, a forty-two-year-old named Jeff, was recently divorced. Jeff made a point of flirting with Anne and, as she’d observed, every other single woman in the office. She tried to do most of her communications with Jeff via phone or email to avoid his constant advances. He was nice enough and a good-looking guy, but she didn’t trust him. This time she was grateful when Gherring came out of his office and made some snide comments that encouraged Jeff to retreat rather sheepishly.
At least she didn’t have to make flight reservations, since Gherring was taking his private jet, but she still had to coordinate for three pilots since it was an overseas flight. She also had to put together the PowerPoint presentation before they flew out next Wednesday—a task complicated by the fact the information to be included was trickling in each day. Anne hated having to make so many changes, but she couldn’t possibly get it all done if she waited until next week to start organizing. She wanted to just set an arbitrary deadline for the men to give her their contributions, but she didn’t have the authority. Her frustration was making her a little edgy, and she caught herself snapping at Katie when she asked how things were going.
“I’m sorry Katie, this has been a stressful day. I’m really just glad you’re still here handling the day-to-day stuff. How did you ever do this job all by yourself?”
“I know just how you feel; it can be a stressful job. We have all the pressure and none of the power. I don’t want to discourage you, because I sure don’t want you to quit.”
“I’m not a quitter. Gherring will have to fire me if he wants me gone. But he might do that if I get any more irritable.”
Katie chuckled. “You’re not bad at all. One time I actually told Gherring to stick his computer where the sun doesn’t shine.”
“You’re kidding me. What did he do?”
“He gave me a gift certificate for a day at the spa.” Katie leaned in and spoke in a low voice. “He can be so demanding and so infuriating, but then he does something like that… I think he just uses that hard exterior to cover up a soft heart.”
“That’s what I think. He’s really just a softy.”
“Who’s a softy,” Gherring’s voice came from his doorway.
Katie stood up, her eyes wide. “Mr. Gherring…”
“We were talking about Gary,” declared Anne.
“Is that so?” Gherring cocked his head sideways. “I didn’t know you’d met Gary.”
“She met him at his work one time,” Katie lied smoothly.
Anne kept her eyes glued to her desk. Lying was not her forte—at least not getting away with it.
“What did you think of him?” Gherring inquired of Anne, moving toward her desk.
“I thought he was very nice and very handsome.” She struggled to remember some detail about Gary from his photograph on Katie’s desk. “I just love his… his… blue eyes. I think blue eyes are so beautiful.”
Anne suddenly realized Gherring’s eyes were also blue, and felt heated all the way to the roots of her hair.
Gherring’s dimples appeared, evidently enjoying her awkwardness. “And did you let Gary give you a lesson?”
Anne panicked, unable to remember what Gary actually did. “No, but I plan to let him give me a lesson some other time.”
“You wouldn’t be afraid to try it?” Gherring asked.
Anne glanced at Katie who looked like she was in great pain. Katie nodded her head slightly. Was she telling Anne to agree she wouldn’t be afraid, or to say she would be afraid? Anne decided to try a safe answer. “I won’t know whether I’d be afraid or not until I try.”
Gherring smiled, apparently satisfied with her answer. “We should go tonight. Katie, why don’t you call Gary and make a reservation for us.” He walked back into his office.
Anne glanced at Katie who was rather white. “What does Gary do?”
“He owns a climbing gym.”
“Oh… I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She hoped her words were true. “I’ve never seen a climbing gym. How high do they climb? Fifteen feet? Twenty?”
“No, it’s forty feet to the top. But you don’t have to go to the top. That is, if you even try it.”
Her competitive spirit bubbled to the surface. “I’m going to do and make it all the way to the top. But you’d better call Gary and tell him he’s supposed to know me already.”
“Yeah… Gary’s going to be so mad when I ask him to lie to Steven.”
“Just blame it on me. I’m the one who took the ball and carried it out of bounds.” Anne reminded herself to keep a closer watch on Gherring’s office door in the future.
* * *
Katie and Annewent to lunch at Papa’s Place, and Anne invited Gherring to come along. He declined but agreed to allow Anne to bring him something to eat when she returned.
“I can’t believe you’re getting him to eat lunch. I’ve tried telling him skipping lunch isn’t healthy, but he wouldn’t listen to me.”
“That’s because I’m a mom,” Anne declared. “I know how to speak with authority and how to guilt someone into doing what you want. It’s a useful skill.”
As they returned, Gherring’s lunch in hand, Gram called Anne’s cell phone.
“I won’t keep you, but I’m picking you up after work. I’ll give you a ride home because there’s someone I want you to meet.”
“That sounds great. See you at five.”
She delivered Papa’s food to Gherring at his desk. He looked at her curiously when she entered his office. “You know you don’t really have to go to the climbing gym tonight.”
“Aha. You’re afraid I’ll beat you, right?”
“No way.”
“You should be… I’m gonna beat you like a drum.”
“We’ll see,” Gherring replied with a wry grin.
“Yep, we’ll see.” Anne was thinking she couldn’t wait to see. She couldn’t wait to see his muscles rippling as he climbed on that wall. After all, she worked hard. She deserved a little entertainment.
Anne secluded herself at her desk to look through the escort candidates from the publicist, Charles Cooper. There were ten portfolios, complete with pictures. Anne scanned through the files, quickly eliminating three that were in their twenties. Gherring needed someone with more maturity and life experience. Four of the remaining candidates were excluded because the contenders didn’t have a college degree. She was disappointed only three met her basic requirements, but all three were strikingly beautiful. One was a model, one was an actress, and one was a news reporter aspiring for a television anchor position.
Anne read all three resumes but quickly settled on the third—Sharon Landry. She reasoned Sharon would be the most capable of captivating Gherring with interesting dialogue. Anne had no way of knowing whether she would be caring and committed, but at least she had potential. She called Charles and asked a few more questions about Sharon. He described her as sophisticated and smart, a real go-getter. Anne thought that might be just the ticket.
Once she’d finalized Gherring’s escort arrangements for the Friday night fundraiser, she could concentrate on preparing her PowerPoint presentation. She decided to call Jared and Jeff and use her mommy-powers to guilt them into getting their portions of the presentation information to her desk as soon as possible. Both men easily succumbed to her skillful pressure, promising to have the majority finished by Thursday and the final portion by Monday morning. She smiled in self-satisfaction.
When she left the office at five o’clock, Gherring was still secluded in his office. Katie had arranged for a seven o’clock climbing session, so Anne would have just enough time to get home and grab a bite to eat. She found Gram waiting in the back seat of the car as promised. As Anne was climbing in, Gram was already quizzing her about the progress in their matchmaking plan. Anne explained her escort choice, proud of her find, but Gram still seemed skeptical of success.
It still took almost twenty-five minutes to make it back in the heavy traffic, but Gram had the car stop a few blocks short of the apartment.
“Come with me.” Gram nimbly stepped out of the car.
Anne followed her to the door of a shop. The sign read, “Carved Wood Creations.” There was a closed sign hanging in the window, but Gram opened the door and marched inside, causing a small bell to ring out their presence. A tall, thin, white-haired man appeared from the back room.
“Mrs. Gherring,” he said as his face crinkled into a broad smile. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
“Mr. Hamilton, I’ve brought someone by to meet you. This is Anne Best, my Steven’s new secretary. Anne, this is Gus Hamilton.”
Mr. Hamilton grasped both of Anne’s cold hands in his warm ones. His fingers were rough and calloused. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Anne.”
Before Anne could respond, Gram continued her introduction. “Anne lives in Steven’s apartment building and walks right past your shop almost every day.”
“Do you like coffee?” he asked Anne.
“Yes, she does,” Gram answered. “And we could both use a cup to warm us up now, if you have a fresh pot.”
“I have a fresh pot. Just give me a moment.” Gram walked with him behind his work counter and disappeared into the back room.
Anne looked around the shop. It was filled with woodcarvings in a plethora of sizes and designs. The display was dominated by a large number of carved persons, six to eight inches high, that fit together in pairs or groups. The figures were intricate and detailed. So exacting Anne could detect wrinkles in the clothes. The faces were expressive and poignant. Anne had never seen anything like these creations. Each set fit together exactly, like a puzzle. There was a man standing while holding a woman in a tender embrace, her head resting against his shoulder. Turning and twisting the female figure slightly while lowering her from the male’s arms could separate the two. Another set included a young child walking between two parents, swinging from their hands. There was a pair lying on their sides, the man supporting his head with his left elbow while his right was draped over the female who nestled against him.
Anne explored the fascinating creations, marveling over the complex fitting of the beautiful sets and touched by the emotions displayed on the tiny faces carved from wood. She picked up a particularly intriguing set, slightly larger than the others, perched behind a small sign that read “Inseparable Love.” A male figure was standing with his back slightly arched for balance, his arms around the waist of a female figure who had her legs intertwined around his hips and her fingers locked behind his neck. Their eyes were closed and their lips touched lightly in a lover’s kiss. So intricate was the carving, she could detect the stitching in their jeans. But no matter how she rotated the pair, she couldn’t find a way to detach them.
“That pair won’t come apart,” Mr. Hamilton said, emerging from the back with mugs of coffee. “The others were carved from separate pieces of wood, but I carved that set from one single piece of wood.”
“It’s amazing. They’re all amazing, but this one is incredible.”
“I’m glad you like it. It’s my favorite as well. It took me the better part of four months to carve it, but it was a labor of love. That’s why I priced it so high—I don’t really want to let it go.” He smiled.
Anne glanced at the price tag—$7,500. No one was likely to buy it at that price. She set it gently back in place, carefully balancing the figures lest they somehow fall and break. She took the proffered cup of coffee, gratefully sipping the piping hot brew. “I love your carvings. Maybe I could come and watch you work sometime.”
Mr. Hamilton exchanged a knowing look with Gram. “You’re welcome any time. Just stop by and try the door if the light’s on downstairs. Come on in, if it isn’t locked, even if the sign says ‘Closed.’ I live upstairs, so I’m almost always here.”
“You live upstairs? That’s awesome. How long have you been here?”
“Hmmm, let’s see…” He looked questioningly at Gram.
“Well,” Gram answered for him, “Mr. Hamilton retired twenty years ago. You were seventy when you retired, right?”
“That’s right, and I just turned ninety.”
Gram explained, “Mr. Hamilton was our family’s chauffer for forty years. We gave him this place in lieu of retirement pay. It was his choice.”
“And I’m still happy with my choice. It’s allowed me to do what I love for the past twenty years. I’m lucky my hands haven’t gotten shaky. I have to wear these magnifying glasses to carve now, but I still look forward to my work each day. I’m sure I’d be dead by now if I’d simply retired without a purpose.”
“Do you sell a lot of these?” Anne asked.
“Enough to pay for my food and buy supplies. That’s all I need, anyway. There isn’t a huge demand for wood carvings, but I make a few sales every week.”
Anne’s phone vibrated as a text came in. “I hate to leave now, but I need to get back home and change clothes. Tonight I’m going to have a lesson at the climbing gym Katie’s fiancé owns.”
“Have fun dear,” said Gram. “You know the way from here, right?”
“Yes, and thanks for the ride Gram. Nice to meet you, Mr. Hamilton.” She hurried out the door.
Anne looked back in the shop window to see the two in close conference, looking very serious. She hoped everything was all right. But she knew she needed to hurry if she was going to have any time to eat before going climbing, especially since she needed to shave her legs.
* * *
Back in her apartment,Anne downed a bowl of yogurt with fruit, hoping that would hold her hunger at bay. She jumped into the shower to shave but realized too late the shower diverter was on. She squealed as cold water doused her hair.
Oh well. Better wet hair than hairy legs.
She shaved her legs quickly, regretfully inspecting her white skin. She hadn’t had time to get a fresh dose of spray tan. Why was she worried about her legs? No one would see them but Katie, Gary, and Mr. Gherring. She tried to convince herself she didn’t care what Mr. Gherring thought about her legs. Tried and failed. Okay, she wanted her legs to look good for him. It was because he looked so good, and she had always been competitive. It certainly wasn’t that she was trying to catch his attention. She just didn’t want to embarrass herself.
Satisfied with her explanation, she pulled on tight liner shorts under her regular shorts to ensure complete coverage when climbing. Her cell phone was buzzing again as she put on an exercise tank top and covered up with jeans and a sweatshirt for protection against the cold. She pulled her wet hair into a ponytail and headed downstairs.
Gherring was waiting in the lobby to give her a ride to the gym. Anne’s heart gave a little lurch. Despite the cold, Gherring had chosen to wear shorts, and his well-muscled legs looked incredible. Anne decided kissing Henri had awoken some urges that had been suppressed for a while. She had to gain control of herself. If the sight of his legs did this to her, what would happen when he took off his coat?
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yep,” she said, trying to keep her focus on his face and not look down at his legs. Still, she couldn’t help a quick downward glance. She forced her gaze upward and reddened at his amused and knowing expression.
“Still planning to beat me like a drum?”
“Like a big bass drum.” She lifted her chin and marched outside to the waiting car.
The gym was a short ride away, and Anne fidgeted while Gherring sat on the opposite side, calmly appraising her.
“Your hair is wet,” he remarked.
“Yes, it is.” She didn’t explain, since it would involve admitting she’d made another clumsy mistake.
“Don’t mothers say you’ll get sick if you go out in the cold with wet hair?”
“I have a strong constitution.”
“Perhaps you need some amendments.”
“I do have the right to remain silent.”
He grinned. “Okay, you win… for now.”
Anne fidgeted a little more until she finally broke the silence. “I’m really kind of excited. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“You like trying new things?”
“I’ll try almost anything. And Charlotte is just like me, or even worse. She’s a real daredevil. But Emily is the serious, mature one—always playing it safe. She likes to read about adventure instead of experiencing it.”
“They’re not married?”
“No, but they’re still young, twenty-three and twenty-one.”
“But you were married by then?”
Anne answered defensively, “Yes, I got married when I was twenty, while I was still in college. I did finish my degree. We were just so in love, we couldn’t wait two extra years.”
“How did your husband die?”
For a brief moment, the memory flashed fresh in her mind, and her stomach tightened. She must’ve made a face, because Gherring apologized.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s been fifteen years… fifteen years this November. It was the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday, and he’d driven to pick up his folks in the country. They were driving back on the highway, just after dark, when a drunken teenager in a big truck crossed the centerline and ran head-on into the car. The girls lost their dad and their grandparents that night, and those poor parents lost their son.”
“Weren’t you angry?”
“Sure. Shocked, angry, depressed, worried, sad… You name it, I felt it. But I had two girls to take care of and no time to wallow in self-pity. My faith, family, and friends carried me through it.” She blinked at her watery eyes. “And I’ve had a great life. Losing Tom made me realize how precious each day is—every moment with someone you love.”
“But fifteen years? And you’ve never remarried? That’s a long time to be alone.”
“That’s the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. How old are you? Forty-five? Fifty? Fifty-five? You’ve never married at all.”
Gherring frowned. “I just turned fifty! Do you think I look fifty-five?”
Anne smirked—she’d known exactly how old he was. Trust an assault to a man’s ego to make him forget about his uncomfortable line of questioning.
“The car stopped, so I guess we’ll have to postpone this conversation.” Her voice was cheery as she climbed out of the limousine. Gherring followed with a grumpy expression.
Anne walked into the climbing gym, staring in amazement at the immense climbing wall peppered with climbers in various extremely uncomfortable-looking positions; some scaling areas with overhangs. One young man hung precariously by one hand some thirty feet above the floor. The single-handed climber suddenly lost his grip and dropped. Anne gasped as he fell, but he only swung harmlessly in his harness before he managed to regain his handhold.
Gherring cocked his head. “You didn’t watch the climbers when you came here before?”
“Yes, of course, but no one fell when I was watching.” She hoped her lie was reasonable. He seemed to accept her statement, so she relaxed a bit.
Katie approached with Gary in tow.
Gary clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, bro. What’re you planning to climb tonight? Alan laid out a new route that’s probably at least a five thirteen.”
“Sounds great. But first we want to get the girls on the wall.”
“Not me,” said Katie. “I’m just here to admire my man.” She playfully squeezed Gary’s bicep.
“But Anne wants to climb. You remember Anne, right Gary?” asked Gherring.
“Sure.” Gary frowned at Katie before holding out his hand toward Anne. “Good to see you again.”
Anne smiled awkwardly and shook his hand. “You, too.”
“Let’s get you in a harness,” Gary said. Anne took off her coat and jeans, giving her legs the once over to see if she had missed anything while shaving. She squeezed her feet into the tight climbing shoes she’d been given. Gary handed her a harness and then excused himself to take a phone call. Anne stared bewildered at the tangle of straps and metal, but Gherring took it from her hands and helped her step in. As he tightened the straps, his hands brushed against her. She felt a familiar warming inside and held her breath in an attempt to slow her racing heart.
“Is it too tight?” asked Gherring.
“No, I’m just a little nervous.”
He led her over to the wall.
“I’m climbing here?” she asked. “Don’t you have a beginner wall? You know, like a green slope?”
“This is the beginner wall. See how it’s not quite vertical? And if you use the blue handholds, the route will be pretty easy.” As he spoke, Gherring began threading a rope through her harness. “This is the belay rope. It’ll keep you safe.”
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing? Should we get somebody who works here to do this?”
Gherring pinned her with his eyes, the blue glinting. “I assure you I’m more than capable of belaying you on this climb.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I guess I’m gonna trust you with my life.”
“I’ll try to be worthy.” His dimples returned.
He began tugging on all the various straps, his hands brushing against her, assaulting her senses. She was all too aware of his hard muscles, strong and sinewy. Her head swam, and she tried to catch her breath. Why was her heart beating so rapidly? She must really be nervous about trying the climb. She breathed in and out, slow and steady. He was standing so close she drew his clean scent deep inside. She had to get away from him. The only way was up.
She started her climb. The first few moves were easy, and she felt the comforting tug of the belay supporting her. She started moving up steadily, looking for the next blue hold as she ascended. She made it three fourths of the way up when she noticed her muscles were fatiguing. She felt tremors in her arms. “My arms are shaking!” she yelled down.
“Put all your weight on your feet and rest your arms for a minute. You can relax—I’ve got you.”
Anne followed Gherring’s instructions, planting her feet firmly and standing tall. She felt the belay rope lifting, easing the strain on her arms. She realized she really could trust him. And somehow, she wanted to rely on him for more than just climbing a wall. Her heart squeezed as she reminded herself his feelings for her were more like that of a protective father. But there was no reason why she couldn’t fantasize a little, right? He’d never know.
She started climbing again, the exhausted muscles in her body trembling once again. She paused for a moment.
“You’re almost there,” called Katie.
“You don’t have to go any further if you don’t want to,” teased Gherring. “You can just give up now.”
Gherring’s words worked like magic on her competitive spirit, sending adrenaline into her system. With a final burst of effort, she surged upward and touched the top of the wall.
“I did it!” she yelled. Whoops and hollers came from below. “Now what?”
“Just let go,” said Gherring. “I’ve got you.”
“Let go?”
“Let go of the wall. You can hold on to the rope and lean back.” He pulled hard on the belay rope and she felt it again—that secure feeling that someone else was protecting her. The knowledge that someone was making sure nothing bad would happen. She was safe in his hands.
She let go of her handholds, and the rope held her steady. Her body swung out and then back toward the wall.
“Now I’m going to let you down slowly, and you can just walk down the wall,” Gherring’s soothing voice rose up from below. The descent was smooth and quick. Anne was shaking from head to toe as she stood on the ground with Gherring loosening her harness.
“Okay—that was a rush!” Her heart was beating rapidly, speeding up with the heady feeling of Gherring’s touch. At least her trembling muscles would hide the effect he had on her.
When Gherring had freed her from the straps, he paused a moment and looked closely at her flushed face. “You really did like it, didn’t you?”
She stared back at his piercing blue eyes, so close she could see little glints of gold around the edges. “I… I did. I liked it.”
“You know,” he said softly, “I—”
“Steven, are you ready to climb? I’ll belay you.” Gary called from across the room.
Gherring sighed, and turned toward Gary. “I’m coming, buddy.”
What had he been about to say? That he was proud of her?
Anne stood next to Katie while Gherring tackled the challenging climb. His muscles flexed and bulged as he pulled himself under an overhang using only handholds. Katie leaned over and whispered in Anne’s ear, “He looks pretty good for a fifty-year-old, don’t you think?”
Anne, who’d been thinking he looked pretty good for any age, nodded her head in agreement. She decided climbing was a really great spectator sport, at least when the scenery was this good. “Does he come here a lot?”
“Yeah, he and Gary were friends and climbing buddies before this, and Steven encouraged him to start this gym and was one of his initial investors. In fact, that’s how I met Gary. Steven was pretty mad when he realized he was going to lose his executive assistant, but I think he’s finally accepted it. At first, he was so pouty he turned down every candidate.”
“Why do you think he hired me? After turning down all those others?”
“Don’t get your feelings hurt, but you made him laugh.”
“He laughed at me?”
“No, you’re taking it wrong. He laughed because you surprised him. It takes a lot to surprise Steven after so many years in this business. He’s become pretty cynical, I think. It’s more like he laughed at himself, for being caught by surprise.”
“Hmmm, that’s not really too flattering. But I guess it makes sense. Oh!” she exclaimed as Gherring slipped and caught himself with his fingertips on the hold, while his feet searched for a purchase on the wall. He regained his footing and continued upward, every muscle straining. Anne felt the tension in her neck finally ease when he reached the top and fell back to descend. “So do you ever climb?”
“Me? No way. I’ve got no desire to climb. But I’m happy to watch Gary and cheer him on. He’s opening another gym, and I’m going to help him run the business after we’re married.”
“Do you think we got away with our little fib about Gary?”
“I don’t know, but I guess we just need to quit talking about Steven.” She smiled. “Or else we need to watch his office door a little more closely.”
* * *
On the ride home,Anne chatted about the climbing experience and asked questions about technique and the climbing wall construction, attempting to keep the conversation from turning serious as it had on the way there.
“You were a lot more confident on your second climb. The big rookie mistake is relying too much on your arm strength. Your leg muscles are much stronger.”
“But you were sometimes climbing with just your arms. You know, when you were under those ledges.”
“To be honest, most women don’t have the arm strength to do that. Plus, I have years of experience and strength from climbing, lifting weights, and swimming.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I forgot you have years and years of experience…”
“I said ‘years’ not ‘years and years.’”
“Maybe by the time I’m your age, with all those years of experience—”
Suddenly Gherring was tickling her side, and she dissolved into helpless laughter. He didn’t relent until she shouted. “I give up! I take it back! You’re not old!”
Her cheeks were aching from laughter and burning from her body’s response to his touch. Even his tickling started a little fire inside her. She was glad the back of the limo was dark so he couldn’t see her flushed face.
“Will you try it again?” he asked. “The climbing?”
She sucked in a heavy breath. “I think so—it was fun. You know what? I should bring the girls to the gym this weekend. I think they’d like it. At least Charlie would.”
“They’re coming to New York?”
“Didn’t I tell you? They’re coming on Friday and going back Monday. I’m so excited. In fact, I think we’re going to go eat with your Gram one night.”
“Gram is staying here through the weekend?”
Too late she realized Gram had been keeping this a secret from her grandson. “Yeah. She said something about having things to do. I’m not sure. I could be wrong.”
“Is that so?” Gherring mused. “I think Gram and I may need to have a talk.”
“Please don’t get me in trouble with your Gram.”
“It’s not like I wouldn’t have found out she was staying. I just think she may be up to something.”
“Leave me out of it.”
“Sure. If it’s possible, I’ll leave you out of it.” His face grew more earnest. “You know—”
“We’re here. I’m so tired I think I may fall asleep with my clothes on.”
“Do you need someone to carry you inside?” His dimples deepened.
“No, I’m good.” Anne scrambled out of the limo as if she might catch on fire. “Thank you for holding me. I mean for holding me up… with the rope. Not… never mind. See you tomorrow.”
She trotted into the building and ran to press the elevator button. To her distress, he sauntered to the elevator just as the door opened and stepped inside with her. She fumbled inside her bag for her keys, effectively eliminating the need for conversation.
“So you don’t need any help?”
She glanced up to see his eyebrows waggling. “You have to stop teasing me.”
“It’s hard to resist when you’re so easy to tease. But really Anne, I wanted to say—”
The elevator doors opened on the tenth floor, and Anne made her escape.
“Good night, Mr. Gherring.”
As the doors were closing, she looked back to see him beating his forehead with the palm of his hand.
Back when I was a teenager, my dad used to do that every time we talked.
Gherring must be frustrated with her. Probably because she was too sensitive. If only she didn’t take everything so seriously. But it was so hard not to be sensitive around Steven Gherring when his very presence made her nerves tingle. Perhaps she could get some acting lessons from Ellen.