Agent Sumner could do my PR firm a great service, Cabot said solemnly. But of course I wanted to get your approval first. Then you can talk to her, see how she feels about it.
I assure you, Mr. Drennan, that if Im convinced its a good idea, Miss Sumner will do as I ask.
I thought that might be the case, Cabot said, and settled back, satisfied.
FAITH SAT at her desk staring at the Focus, Faith screen saver and contemplating the loss of yet another job. It was the only reason Cabot could possibly have for bending Mr. Wycoffs ear.
Once again shed failed. Where had she gone wrong? Because however well suited she seemed to be for a job, something always went wrong.
Succeeding as a travel agent at Wycoff Worldwide was important to her. The time Hope and Charity had put into coaching her and designing screen savers and mouse pads, that alone was enough to make this job important, to say nothing of the fact that theyd paid for her training.
And she was the oldest. According to the current literature on birth order, she was supposed to be the leader, the competitive one, the
Faith!
one to carry on the family work ethic, the one most likely to
Faith Sumner!
walk into Mr. Wycoffs office and get fired. As she staggered forward on leaden feet, she discovered that the feet were wearing unmatched shoes. They were the same color, pearl gray to match her suit. It was the heel height that was different. This meant shed also taken a mismatched pair to the shoe shop for resoling, which meant that now shed have to take these two shoes in as well, which would cost twice as much, and the higher-heeled pair hadnt even needed resoling.
Leveling herself by walking on one toe and one heel, she stuck her head through the doorway of Mr. Wycoffs office. You called? Her knees buckled under her and her throat closed up. Sir? she squeaked.
Cabot Drennan lounged gracefully in one of Mr. Wycoffs visitor chairs, his right ankle crossed over his left knee, looking more serene than shed ever seen him look. Getting someone sacked must be a real mood-lifter for him. Shed been too agitated earlier to notice how he was dressed, but it had to be Casual Friday at his office because he wasnt in his three-piece suit. He was in khaki shorts, snowy-white running shoes and an even snowier polo shirt. The white gleamed against his all-over tan, and his dark eyes gleamed as he slowly raised his gaze to her face.
But it wasnt Friday. It was Tuesdayno, Wednesday. And his eyes werent melting over her. She was melting under their steady assault.
Sit down, Faith, he said. I have a project to discuss with you.
I CANT DO THAT, Faith protested. Go on your honeymoon? Stay in the honeymoon suite and have all those manicures and go to all those restaurants as ifWell, I cant. Its just too weird. She could hardly breathe. Just sitting there beside Cabot was making her heart pound and generating other unusual symptoms, both pleasurable and distressing. These were not feelings one should have in a gray suit while sitting in ones bosss office. But on a honeymoon
Going on Cabots honeymoon was what she wanted to do more than anything, but not like this. Not as a proxy to be coiffed and made up and positioned and photographed, but as a bride, to be loved and cherished. Loved, at least. Frequently and with passion. She was fairly sure that was one task she could focus on without difficulty.
She drew in a sharp breath as he uncrossed his muscled legs and leaned toward her. Travel agents check out hotels and resorts all the time, dont they? he said. His look and his tone were persuasive.
Well, yes.
I believe you spent a weekend at the Sunny Sands resort on the Gulf Coast during the summer.
Mr. Wycoffs voice startled Faith. It was the first time hed spoken since he summoned her in, and shed almost forgotten he was in the room. Yes, she said, I did do that. It was an experience Ill never forget. It had been a nightmare, free or not. She had no difficulty comprehending why shed been chosen to receive a complimentary weekend on the Louisiana coast in the searing heat of late August with a hurricane approaching. Her boss had chosen her, hoping shed blow away in the storm, or be eaten to death by mosquitoes, which dived even faster with a tailwind.
Same thing, Cabot said. His voice pressured her like a firm caress, seeking acquiescence. Except Im comping you, not the hotel. I just want you to go there, go through all the motions. That way Ill know the honeymoon willwill
For the first time he seemed to flounder. Faith found him even more charming floundering than being so perfectly self-assured.
Everything will go just the way a very special persons honeymoon should go, he finally concluded.
This brought Faiths mind firmly back to the real bride, the beautiful Tippy Temple. It also stilled her heart a little, cut down on the tingling sensations that made her want to wriggle in her chair. In short, shed just gotten a shot of reality. If he wanted Tippy to have a perfect honeymoon, maybe he did have a romantic streak.
And it was her job, wasnt it, to make her clients happy?
Advance work of this sort could come to be an important part of your job. Mr. Wycoffs voice carried a cold note of warning. Especially as Wycoff Worldwide ceases to be merely a neighborhood standby and becomes a mover and shaker in the film industry travel business. I see this coming, Miss Sumner. He cast a significant glance toward Cabot. In the very near future.
One occurrence doesnt equal a trend. That was the thought that went through Faiths mind. It was so alien to the thoughts that usually went through her mind that she couldnt imagine where it had come from. She could hardly say it aloud to Mr. Wycoff in front of the occurrence in question. What her boss was saying was that if Faith wanted to keep her job she would be his stepping stone to the film industry by taking Cabot Drennans honeymoon, like it or not, and making him so happy that hed rush right back to his office to spread the Wycoff name around.
She was suddenly aware that they were both staring at her. Mr. Wycoffs stare was impatient bordering on exasperated, but Cabots was something else altogether. His dark, winging eyebrows were slightly lifted, his eyes were warm and a smile played around the corners of that suggestive mouth.
He knew hed get his own way eventually, and it just tickled him to death.
Well, Faith? Mr. Wycoff spoke again, undoubtedly wishing he could get back to his daydream of being travel agent to the stars.
She was cornered. Shed held this job longer than any other, feeling each day that she was poised on the brink of dismissal. Mr. Wycoff did not like her, and she was confident he was just looking for a reason to fire her. She could not lose this job. She could not, one more time, call her sisters and then her parents to announce that she was unemployed.
I dont know why youre making such a big deal out of it, her boss said in a complaining tone.
She didnt intend to tell him, either. Shed better pull herself together and act normal about the whole thing or Cabot would know why she was making such a big deal about pretending she was Tippy Temple for a long weekend. So she straightened her shoulders and firmed up her chin.
Come to think of it, neither do I, she said cheerfully. Okay, Ill go to Reno onwell, on whatever day we reserved the suite.
In the limousine with the fake flowers all over it.
She stared at Cabot. You really want to rehearse the whole thing?
Everything but the marriage ceremony. He smiled at her. Well start with the going-away-suit part.
We?
Dont forget the second limo for the crew.
We?
Rooms for everybody. And make all those restaurant reservations. Well start with dinner on
You mean youre going too?
His eyebrows lowered until they almost met at the bridge of his nose, and he looked at her as though she were truly a dim bulb. Well, of course. How else can I plan the shots, check the lighting, oil the gears for the real thing?
Silly me, she said faintly.
So now that thats settled Mr. Wycoff said.
I must be going, Cabot said. He rose from his chair and herded Faith out of the office and back to her workstation. She was sorry because now he was behind her and shed been looking forward to watching him walk again, checking out his height againsix-two, six-threeShe wanted to get a closer look at his shoulders and his buns, of course, and while she was at it, the muscle tone of his calves. She hadnt been able to take it all in when hed had himself covered up in a three-piece suit.
Back at her desk, she called Charitys cell phone and reached her at her new job, then let Charity patch in Hope, who was shopping for office space in New York. She and her new love were going into business together, and Hope was the Real Estate Task Force.
Whats up? Hope said briskly, while Charity said, You okay, Faith?
Oh, Im fine, Faith said. I was just wondering what you wear in Reno in February on your honeymoon.
It really made her crazy when they squealed like that at the same time. She held the phone away from her ear until the squealing faded a little and then said, Not my honeymoon. Ha. Gotcha.
You twit, Hope said.
Whose honeymoon? Charity said.
Tippy Temples.
Tippy Temples getting married? Charitys tone was hushed and reverent.
You know her? Faith asked.
Whos Tippy Temple? Hope asked.
Someday you should take time to catch up on pop culture, Charity scolded her. Tippy Temples in that movie
A Kiss to Build a Dream on, Faith supplied.
and shes fantastic. So sweet
and Im going to Reno to fill in for her.
Wait a minute, Hope said.
Oh, Hope, Faith said, not on their real honeymoon. This is just a rehearsal.
A rehearsal for what? Hope was clearly in a militant feminist mode. Faith had imagined that falling in love would change Hope a little, but apparently shed been mistaken.
For the video. I mean she halted, realizing she was getting in deeper with every word that came blabbing out of her mouth. Hope, she said firmly, its business. Youll just have to trust my judgment.
Whos the groom? Charity said.
Faith couldnt stop herself. Oh-h-h, she said, sighing, you mustnt tell a soul, of course, but hes a publicist named Cabot Drennan, and hes everything Tippy deserves, the stuff dreams are made oftall and tanned, strong and forceful, successful and
In the silence, she realized what her sisters already knew, that her judgment was not to be trusted, especially not by her.
4
IVE GOT AN ANSWER FOR YOU. Charity sounded abrupt. That meant she was not at her new job, but at one of her remaining modeling sessions and wearing shoes that were too tight.
Oh, thanks, Faith said. What was the question?
What to wear on a honeymoon in Reno. I was talking to the stylist, and he
Its a moot point now, Faith said, cutting her off. My trousseau just arrived, courtesy of Cabot Drennan, Publicist to the Stars.
Wowie. Hes doing it up right, Charity said. Well, come on, tell me, whatd you get?
Feeling like Cinderella, Faith unzipped one bag after another. Theres a pale-blue silk suit. With a matching straw hat. And clutch bag.
Your going-away suit, Charity said, sounding dreamy for once.
Tippys going-away suit, Faith corrected her. And here, she said, unzipping another bag, is aoh, I see, its a layer of crumply silk over a layer of satin. The color of vanilla ice cream. And a cashmere shawl that matches. She pulled the shawl around her shoulders and snuggled into it, relishing the softness of the wool.
A dinner dress for your wedding night.
Faith took a breath. A dinner dress for Tippys wedding night.
Oh. Right. I keep forgetting.
Tippy wont wear this same dress, of course, Faith said. Shell wear something similar. She paused. Probably a size smaller, she concluded grimly.
Oh, Faith, stop it. If you were any thinner youd disappear. Hurry up and unpack some more. Theyre going to call me soon. At least I hope so. My feet are killing me.
Faith unzipped and reported, unzipped and reported. Another fantastic dress, a white silk pantsuit. Bikinis and cover-ups. You ought to see this, she said finally. Its a pale-blue satin dressing gown just like the one Lauren Bacall wore in that forties movie, the one about
No underwear?
Neither Charity nor Hope shared her passion for the romantic old movies and were quick to cut her off when she launched into the plot of one of them. Too used to the maneuver to be offended, Faith riffled through the stack that was piling up on her bed. No.
No tempting teddies, black lace bikinis?
No. Of course not, she said a moment later. They wont be photographing Tippy in her underwear.
Bummer. Ill send you some money, Charity said at once. Go out and buy yourself some luscious
Absolutely not, Faith said. I have plenty of underwear. Just not the kind She caught herself. Shed almost said, Just not the kind Id like Cabot to see me in. It was fortunate Charity couldnt see her blushing. Not the kind Tippy will take on her honeymoon.
But youd feel more romantic if you were wearing sexy underwear under those slinky clothes.
This time when Faith took her deep, stress-reducing breath, she also counted to three. I dont need to feel romantic. I dont want to feel romantic, because its not my honeymoon.
Her impatience faded at once when she was distracted by the note that was attached to one of the handbags in the pile. Make an appointment at Ricardos on Rodeo Drive to be fitted for shoes.
Isnt that thoughtful? she said to Charity after explaining that her silence was not, in fact, an indication of rage. My shoes are going to fit.
Lucky you, Charity groaned. Oops, my turn. Gotta run.
AT THE SAME TIME he imagined Faith would be trying on her travel wardrobe, Cabot was having an argument with the stylist who would accompany his camera crew to Reno.
No, he said. Absolutely not. Thats going too far.
Its no different from putting a wig on a double.
The stylist, a young man with a roosterlike haircut and a diamond stud in one ear, sounded waspish. His shrunken black T-shirt rode up to show his navel, which brandished a ring set with a matching diamond. But he was good. He had to be good to afford diamonds that big. He had to be good for Cabot to hire him. Look what hed done for Tippy already, the way hed groomed her for those television interviews. Made her look like an angel. But Cabot wasnt backing down on this one.