should I wait until you talk to Pryce?”
Catherine made a dismissive noise then laughed. “Have you been listening to me? Pryce and I are together. We’re a team, partners, lovers, Io and Jupiter. He’ll be there.”
Glory closed her mouth. “Okay. When you put it that way. Here’s hoping Tal and Alyssia hit it off.”
The instant she said it, an unwelcome image of Tal and Alyssia enjoying each other’s company intruded. Glory forcefully replaced it with an image of herself backpacking through her favorite trails in the Black Forest.
“You could prep him on some topics of conversation,” Catherine continued. “Do you think he can handle the dessert menu?”
“I’m sure of it. He’s a genius when it comes to food.”
Catherine snorted. “Maybe he could have some raw fish available in case he actually expects her to eat.”
Glory sighed. “That’s probably close to the truth.”
“So sad,” Catherine agreed. “Hey, what are you going to wear?”
“Why would I go? With you and Pryce and the other couples, it would be a little awkward for me to be there, too. The whole point is for Tal and Alyssia to get together.”
“You’re right,” Catherine said. “I’ll keep an eye on things and report back.”
“Great. I’ll call Tal and get things rolling before you invite anyone.”
“Got it. ‘Bye.”
Glory dialed Tal’s extension. Her smile sprang into place when he answered.
Chapter Twelve
Tal hung up. A get together for Junior? He sighed. It made sense. Alyssia had been too busy hosting the Welker function, and again while running this morning’s meeting. And her exchanges of texts at lunch had bothered him. She might have waited until their lunch was over.
If he did as Glory suggested and invited Alyssia to his apartment for a casual event, she should start to grow more comfortable around him. That was the goal, right?
Tal dialed Alyssia’s extension, his palms sweaty. He wanted the invitation to sound offhand and casual. “Alyssia? This is Tal. I forgot to mention during lunch today, but I’m hosting a small gathering for Pryce Welker this Sunday evening at 7:00. Sort of a ‘Welcome to Seattle’ for our newest client. I’d like you to come as my guest.”
Alyssia hesitated. “I didn’t realize you and he were that chummy.”
Tal had an answer to that. “We’re not, but he seems nice enough and I thought I’d do my bit to keep the clients happy. Besides, it’ll be a good way to test our new chocolate praline sauce. It should be a big seller on the cruise lines Welker International distributes to.”
“Not a bad idea,” she said. “I’ll try to make it.”
“Look forward to seeing you,” Tal responded. “Got the address?”
“I can get it.”
Tal disconnected and let out a pent-up breath. “Works for me,” he said out loud.
• •
Catherine came in later than usual the next morning, floating on a pink cloud, or at least if auras were visible, hers would have been cotton candy hued. She settled in, then walked to Glory’s desk. “Pryce is in for Sunday.”
“By the look of you it probably took long tortuous hours to convince him.”
Her friend yawned. “Actually it was easy. That’s the day we’re having an early dinner with his parents. He says they’re easier to take in small doses, so the fact that we have to leave for a party in his honor is a great coincidence. By the way, I didn’t tell him it was to set Tal up with Alyssia. I let him think it was all about him.”
“Any interest on the part of the other couples?”
“Of course. The shallow people I associate with are dying to meet a handsome, well-traveled, nouveau riche man with a home in Europe. They’ll be there. I asked them to come early so they can meet Tal.”
“Glory held up her hand for a high five. “We are good.”
Catherine yawned as she smacked Glory’s hand. “And we are tired. It’s going to be a long day.”
• •
Glory poked her head out of the elevator and
Catherine made a dismissive noise then laughed. “Have you been listening to me? Pryce and I are together. We’re a team, partners, lovers, Io and Jupiter. He’ll be there.”
Glory closed her mouth. “Okay. When you put it that way. Here’s hoping Tal and Alyssia hit it off.”
The instant she said it, an unwelcome image of Tal and Alyssia enjoying each other’s company intruded. Glory forcefully replaced it with an image of herself backpacking through her favorite trails in the Black Forest.
“You could prep him on some topics of conversation,” Catherine continued. “Do you think he can handle the dessert menu?”
“I’m sure of it. He’s a genius when it comes to food.”
Catherine snorted. “Maybe he could have some raw fish available in case he actually expects her to eat.”
Glory sighed. “That’s probably close to the truth.”
“So sad,” Catherine agreed. “Hey, what are you going to wear?”
“Why would I go? With you and Pryce and the other couples, it would be a little awkward for me to be there, too. The whole point is for Tal and Alyssia to get together.”
“You’re right,” Catherine said. “I’ll keep an eye on things and report back.”
“Great. I’ll call Tal and get things rolling before you invite anyone.”
“Got it. ‘Bye.”
Glory dialed Tal’s extension. Her smile sprang into place when he answered.
Chapter Twelve
Tal hung up. A get together for Junior? He sighed. It made sense. Alyssia had been too busy hosting the Welker function, and again while running this morning’s meeting. And her exchanges of texts at lunch had bothered him. She might have waited until their lunch was over.
If he did as Glory suggested and invited Alyssia to his apartment for a casual event, she should start to grow more comfortable around him. That was the goal, right?
Tal dialed Alyssia’s extension, his palms sweaty. He wanted the invitation to sound offhand and casual. “Alyssia? This is Tal. I forgot to mention during lunch today, but I’m hosting a small gathering for Pryce Welker this Sunday evening at 7:00. Sort of a ‘Welcome to Seattle’ for our newest client. I’d like you to come as my guest.”
Alyssia hesitated. “I didn’t realize you and he were that chummy.”
Tal had an answer to that. “We’re not, but he seems nice enough and I thought I’d do my bit to keep the clients happy. Besides, it’ll be a good way to test our new chocolate praline sauce. It should be a big seller on the cruise lines Welker International distributes to.”
“Not a bad idea,” she said. “I’ll try to make it.”
“Look forward to seeing you,” Tal responded. “Got the address?”
“I can get it.”
Tal disconnected and let out a pent-up breath. “Works for me,” he said out loud.
• •
Catherine came in later than usual the next morning, floating on a pink cloud, or at least if auras were visible, hers would have been cotton candy hued. She settled in, then walked to Glory’s desk. “Pryce is in for Sunday.”
“By the look of you it probably took long tortuous hours to convince him.”
Her friend yawned. “Actually it was easy. That’s the day we’re having an early dinner with his parents. He says they’re easier to take in small doses, so the fact that we have to leave for a party in his honor is a great coincidence. By the way, I didn’t tell him it was to set Tal up with Alyssia. I let him think it was all about him.”
“Any interest on the part of the other couples?”
“Of course. The shallow people I associate with are dying to meet a handsome, well-traveled, nouveau riche man with a home in Europe. They’ll be there. I asked them to come early so they can meet Tal.”
“Glory held up her hand for a high five. “We are good.”
Catherine yawned as she smacked Glory’s hand. “And we are tired. It’s going to be a long day.”
• •
Glory poked her head out of the elevator and
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