Part 51 (2/2)
With that, she picked up a third salad, spun and walked out of the kitchen.
”I haven't even taken my coat off and I've lost a battle with her,” he said.
Penny sighed. ”With Naomi, it's a real gift. She can make any man think he's incapable of winning. I tried to get you to stop, but no. You had to keep talking.”
He eyed her. ”You seem plenty cheerful. Obviously Gloria didn't do any serious damage.”
”I held my own.”
”Did Gloria stop by to see you or me?”
”Me,” Penny said.
”What did she want to talk about?”
”The usual. How she was important and I wasn't. Then Naomi popped in to tell her she was sleeping with Reid and Walker. I would say it was a draw.”
”Remind me to thank her later.”
He dumped his coat in his office, then toured the dining room. They were booked through nine, which wasn't bad for a Wednesday night. The tables were already full and there were several couples waiting in the bar.
He returned to the kitchen. ”Looks good out there,” he told Penny. ”Want to tell me the real reason Gloria stopped by?”
”Not especially.”
”Because?”
”Because it doesn't matter. She's a bitter old woman and she wants everyone else in her sphere to be equally unhappy. I refuse.”
”Good for you,” he told her. He sidestepped a cook lugging a huge pot of clam chowder. ”I should get out of your way.”
”Yes, you should,” she said, but she was smiling.
There was something about her eyes, he thought. They were so pretty. And her smile. Before he realized what was going on, the wanting had returned. Funny how the past week had sort of sucked it out of him. Her anger, the baby, everything else. But now he could imagine taking her to bed.
Talk about twisted, he told himself and started toward his office.
Naomi stepped into the kitchen. ”Cal, there's someone here to see you. Tracy somebody. Are you dating her? Do I need to let the air out of your tires?”
”Tracy?” He only knew one woman by that name. ”Lindsey's mom?”
Penny moved to his side. ”Does she come to see you often?”
”Almost never. The last time was when Lindsey was sick. She wanted to tell me in person.” His insides clutched. Had the cancer returned?
No. He shook off the fear. He'd seen her less than two weeks ago at the school play and she'd looked great. Without thinking, he took Penny's hand.
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