"It's hot in the office. That's all. I'm going to wash my face and get some ice water."But Dara could not stop laughing. She was still chuckling when the door to the office suite opened and a man walked in. He was holding The Cup, a substantial pieced of metalwork, in front of him so his face was not visible. He took three steps into the suit and stopped."Can we help you?" Dara asked."I'm here to see Liz St. John." Liz looked at Dara and shrugged. "I'm Liz. What can we do for you? And would it be possible for us to see your face?""Yes," Dara added. "We like to know who our prospective clients are.""Wait." Liz suddenly realized what he was holding. "Isn't that - Is that The Cup?""Oh, I'm not a client, prospective or otherwise." There was a hint of laughter in his voice. "And yes, it is."Liz frowned, trying to place the voice that had a familiar ring to it. And what was he doing with The Cup? She didn't think Matt would give up one precious minute of his twenty-four hours with t
They had met up with Chad Hallowell at The Daily Roast where of The Plan kicked off. Matt was so grateful to the guy he almost embarrassed both of them by hugging him. Now as they waited for Chad's return and a report, Matt fiddled with his empty coffee cup until his sister smacked his hand."Stop that. You're not twelve years old."He looked across the table at her, his lips curved in a half-grin."Maybe not but I sure feel like it right now.""Like when you were in high school and asking Lizzie St. John out for the first time?" Brenna teased.Matt nodded. "Exactly like that. Except I wish I was that kid again. I'd know better than to make the same mistakes I did all these years.""Maybe. Maybe not." She leaned forward. "You couldn't see anything but hockey from the time you were ten years old. You were lucky to find a girl who put up with you." She sighed. "Of course, in your own inimitable manner, you managed to tell her that she should welcome being out on the back burner while yo
I should just close up my computer and bag it for the rest of the day.The thought had been running through Liz's mind for the past half hour, especially when she realized she'd had the same page up on her screen all. She figured she'd read the really awful but touching poem at least a hundred times. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Matt had been a lot of things that she really loved, but a romantic had never been one of them. Yet he'd gone to all this trouble to send her a message.Could she trust it? Had he really changed or was he just trying to resurrect the past because his future had been torpedoed. Of course he had gotten Chad Hallowell to sign that photo and deliver everything here to her.God! She was such an idiot. All these years and he could still push all her buttons. She should be strong, hold her ground, tell him it was too late. The damage had already been done. But her treacherous heart was sending her messages that she didn't seem to be able to ignore. Not
"Mattie." Brenna sighed. "Please stop shredding the napkins.""I can't. I'm too nervous." He crumpled up the debris and wadded it into a ball. There hadn't been enough time for them to get to either her place or his or even his parents' house in time to watch the noon news so she'd dragged him into y were sitting in a bar down the block from the jewelry shop. The little bag with the box containing the diamond ring he'd just bought was burning a hole in his pockets. He'd take it out and look at it except he didn't want to flash it so the whole bar could see it."You're driving me crazy," she told him. "I think I'm driving myself crazy," he muttered. "What if Dara can't get her to watch the broadcast? What if she thinks it's a dorky idea? Or what if - ""Will you stop with the what ifs? She didn't throw Chad out of her office. And Dara would have called if she'd gotten really angry about it.""I know, I know." He shook his head. "God. I' can't believe I fucked this thing up betwee
Liz liked the fact that instead of one large room for all the clients, Queen For a Day had created individual rooms that held one or two people giving the ultimate in privacy. Now lay in the chair in what one of the spa's "relaxing rooms" and told her body to do what the room was named for. She'd been wound up tight as a drum when they got there, so many conflicting thoughts whirling around in her brain and emotions clashing in her body that she felt like a rubber band pulled too tight. The very last person she had expected to appear in her life out of the blue was Matt Vorchak. In eight years she thought she'd managed to get past all the hurt and bury the emotions he'd left swirling around inside her when he went off to chase his dream. She thought she'd come to terms with it all, made a life for herself without him. Now here he came, with the shiny trophy he'd left her to chase, and doing things like writing bad poems and send Chad Hallowell with his autograph. How was she supposed
"Mattie, stop fidgeting." Brenna reached over and fiddled with his tie.They were seated on a couch in what the young man who'd come to fetch them in the reception are told them was the guest lounge. Matt pushed her hand away. "I can dress myself. I'm not a jerky kid any more."She laughed. "I'm not so sure about that." Then she sobered. "I just want you to look good for the television people. The nice woman who brought us in here said the sports guy would be along in a few.""You might not believe this," he told her with a wry grin, "but I've actually been interviewed for television before.""I know, I know." She shifted in her chair. "Maybe I'm the one who's nervous." She ran the tip of one finger around the edge of The Cup. "I want you to know how proud we all are of your part in this, Mattie.""Thanks. But could I ask a favor? Could you not call me Mattie in front of other people? It makes me sound eight years old.""Sure." She grinned. "Would you prefer Matthew?""I'd pre
"We're going to get those shots printed while you're on the air," Forteza told him. "We'll paper clip everyone's name to their photo. If you could take a few minutes before you leave to sign them that would be great.""Oh, of course. No problem at all. Happy to do it."And then he'd get the hell out of there so he was on time for the next phase of his plan.As soon as everyone was ushered out of the lounge, Rod gestured for Matt and Brenna to sit down again. Matt lowered himself to the couch again as Rod sat down in one of the armchairs across from them. He did his best not to appear nervous, but a lot was riding on this television appearance. More, in fact, than any one but Brenna really knew."Let's take some time to chat a little before we go into the studio, okay?" Rod asked.Matt nodded. "Sure thing. Whatever you need.""I've got all the usual stuff from our library and your agent. I want to know about the real Matt Vorchak. Especially about this big surprise thing you've go
Liz settled herself on the bar stool, carefully arranging her skirt. The dress Dara had insisted she buy was swirl of rose and cream, with a full skirt, tight bodice and spaghetti straps. It was so different than the severely tailored clothes she'd built her wardrobe around for the past few years. But once she tried it on she was sold. It was sexy and outrageous and demure all at the same time. Malone's was just beginning to fill up as people in the area left work. Many of them hit the bar for a quick one, giving the crowded Interstate time for the traffic to thin out. It was a welcoming place, with its dark paneling, it's old-fashioned bar with the high stools, and the etched mirror behind the bar. Dara insisted they sit in the middle of the bar so they had a good view of the television."I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Liz griped for the fifth time. "It's a waste of time. I haven't even heard from Matt since this morning. He's probably off with his buddies by now."