A bit of sleep did them all wonders, although, Grace wasn't convinced Oliver was as fine as he led on to be. Then again she was feigning quite a bit herself. Emotions couldn't be a bother today. It was time to get to work. Oliver set up a press conference and several interviews for the day. Grace's job, for the most part, was to keep Annie occupied or settled down if she had to be present. They ended the day with a visit to the radio station for an appearance on The Hour of Smiles. Annie and Grace enjoyed this more than Oliver. By the time it came for him to speak on the air he was spent. He read whatever was handed to him on the papers in hopes of getting through and going home. Of course, this led to an accidental product endorsement. Annie and Grace heard a sermon about the evils of this on the ride home.
Tuckered out and excited to see if morning would bring her parents, Annie went straight to bed. This left Oliver and Grace an early evening to themselves. Assuming they would use this time to catch up on work, Grace met Oliver in the office, surprised he didn't have a stack of work in front of him.
"Ah, I was hoping you'd come by," he said upon her entrance.
"I thought you'd want to get some work done."
Oliver shrugged. "Already wasted the day. May as well benefit from the day off."
Sitting down in one of the chairs away from the desk, Grace said, "I'd hardly call this a day off. I suppose if nothing else you got some publicity and people on your side."
"Suppose so. Funny how all that was more important a few weeks ago."
"Are you feeling any better?"
Standing up and moving to sit closer to her, Oliver answered, "Yes, under the circumstances. I admit I feel a bit embarrassed causing you to worry."
"It was an awful blow… which I hate saying because I know it's selfish. I know we both should be happy for her. Obviously, you were put in her life to reunite them."
"I just wish I'd known that before getting attached."
"Me, too."
"But there's no point in wasting any more time moping around." He stood up again. "We should be celebrating. What would you say to a glass of wine?"
"I think a glass of wine would be lovely."
. . .
Before long, one glass of wine turned into one and a half bottles. They sat in the upstairs drawing room, tipsy to put it mildly. Grace lazed on the sofa with a half-drunken glass fumbling between her hands. Oliver sat in the armchair across from her, often standing to pace the room for one reason or another.
"I cannot remember the last time I had this much wine," Grace said with amusement in her voice.
Loosening his tie, Oliver replied, "I can't remember the last time I had wine period."
"You do like your brandy."
"I would have offered that instead but I know you can't stand the stuff."
She shook her head. "It's too harsh."
"That's what makes it so good."
"Wine is it for me. I'll remember why I limit myself to two glasses in the morning."
"It's a nice break, though."
"In the morning?"
"Now."
"I guess you're right. But I'm still thinking about Annie."
"It's hard not to."
"Oliver… do you think we're doing the right thing?" She sat up, then sunk back down a bit with the silent realization she'd used his first name without meaning to.
He either didn't notice or wasn't bothered. "Doing what?"
"Looking for her parents. They did abandon her."
"Is it really abandonment if they left her at an orphanage?"
"Maybe not… but I don't understand where they might have gone for eleven years. I have to assume the worst."
"So do I, but we can't say that to Annie."
"I know we can't."
Oliver sighed before he stood, not pacing this time but instead moving to sit on the other end of the sofa. "I'm going to help her if I can. Part of me shares your thinking. Another says we can track them down."
"I guess my biggest worry with this is the reward. If we do find them they might not have come back if it weren't for the money. My only consolation is that the money would be what they need to take her on."
"Probably. All I know is that we have to screen anyone who shows up at the door carefully."
"That reminds me, earlier today I wrote up a questionnaire. I had some of the typists come in to make copies."
"You didn't mention the locket, did you?"
"No, that will be our only confirmatory clue."
"You're always on top of things," he smiled.
"I learned from the best."
Their eyes locked for a moment before forcing themselves to look away. They were beginning to realize they were in a more vulnerable state than they were that first night on the town. Now was not the time to get involved… But a little flirting to take their mind off of their troubles never hurt, did it?
Turning more to face her, Oliver finished the final sip in his glass before setting it down on the coffee table. "There are a lot of other things I like about you."
Grace grinned. "Likewise."
"Like what?" He questioned slyly.
"You want me to name them?"
"Absolutely."
Setting her glass down next to his, knowing enough not to add any more alcohol to this situation, she said, "You're smart."
When she failed to go on, he asked, "That's it?"
"You're charming… when you want to be."
"You're too kind."
"I don't see you making any lists about me," she said with a slight roll of her eyes.
"You really want me to?"
"Of course."
"I think you're beautiful," he said.
"See, you are much better at this than I."
"Because I'm not shy."
"What makes you think I'm shy?"
"Your face is red for starters."
Bringing a hand to her cheek, Grace said, "It's the wine."
"You also keep looking away from me."
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are. It's quick but frequent."
Surrendering, she said, "All right, so I'm new at this."
"You'd never know it," Oliver said.
"There's an absence of sarcasm in your voice."
"I wasn't being sarcastic."
"You weren't?"
"You kiss wonderfully."
Taken aback by the comment, she reached for the wine again to keep her occupied with something else. "Oh?"
Oliver chuckled. "I see, it's too soon for such things."
"No… I'm just… surprised, I guess the word is."
"Why is that?"
"Because I haven't, well, dated much. Not in years."
"That doesn't matter."
"If you were a stranger it might have been different."
"How do you figure?"
She gave a small shrug. "I know you. And nothing was planned. I didn't have time to think or question myself."
"There's nothing to think about."
"Not then. Perhaps we should have but it's pointless to discuss that now."
"Yeah… guess it wasn't the wisest decision. But I meant it when I said I don't have any regrets."
"Neither do I."
"To be honest," he started, "I'm kind of surprised it's taken this long for us to speak of it again."
"So am I."
"I'm glad nothing has changed because of it. Not in a bad way, I mean."
"Yes. I must admit I was worried it would."
"Says a lot, doesn't it?"
With a slight nod, she agreed, "It certainly seems to."
The air changed rapidly. Both felt the inclination to lean into each other but fought it. They were sober enough to know letting a repeat happen now would be more inappropriate than the first.
Putting her glass aside again, Grace took her feet off the couch and sat up to make some space between them. Still, she couldn't help but continue to look over at him.
Knowing he'd gone too far with his words, Oliver let out a long breath. "We have to say goodnight now, don't we?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I apologize."
Turning to him, she said, "You don't need to. It needed to come up sooner or later."
"Please don't think I offered the wine to put you at any kind of disadvantage. I didn't suspect we'd finish a bottle and then some."
"I don't think that for a minute," she said, reaching out to touch his arm. "I'd rather know you think such nice things about me than question whether or not you do or don't."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Moving his hand to catch hers, he then brought it to his lips. "Another reason you're wonderful."
Grace smiled, taking his words from that night. "It's the company."
Letting her go, he said, "Go on."
Grace stood. "Thank you for a lovely evening."
"Thank you as well."
She made it to the door which they'd kept closed and put her hand on the knob. She froze there, not wanting to admit this night with him outside of work was coming to an end. Moreover, she knew the sooner she fell asleep the sooner she would be faced with whatever awaited her tomorrow. She knew he was watching her, waiting to find out why she was still here. A few more seconds passed before she turned around again.
"Is something the matter?" Oliver questioned.
"No…"
"What is it then?"
Cautiously walking back over to the sofa, she sat on the arm and looked down at him. Lightly bringing her fingers to his cheek, she traced a line from here to his jaw and back again. Knowing she couldn't let her apprehensions keep her back now, she leaned down and kissed him, pulling back before he had a chance to respond.
She stood again. Oliver caught her hips, hoping she would decide to stay a moment longer. She only gave his hands a pat before stepping away and out of reach. Bidding him goodnight and opening the door, she started to leave but stopped when he spoke.
"Add that to your list."
"Add what?"
With a grin, he answered, "You're a tease."
