A Lasting Love (11 page)

Reid wanted her here—and he didn't. He knew he
would be jealous as hell to see her with another man. And yet, he,
himself, had no claims on her. Deep inside, Reid admitted that
these last two days and nights with her had been sweet heaven,
after a long and wicked hell. It was like blessed ecstasy after a
prolonged abstinence.
A six-year abstinence from
Loren.
And he found that he cared for her much more
than he had ever dared to admit.

A small commotion snapped Reid's attention to
the doorway. An attractive, well-dressed couple was visible through
the columns, and his heart pounded with the recognition. There she
was.
Loren.
Smiling, shaking hands,
leaning on her escort's arm.
Not so close, damn
it!

Loren stepped down the few steps into the room. Tiny
pearls of light graced her ears, matching the long, creamy strand
that draped between her breasts. Her dress was black and very chic.
It was apparent that she belonged in this elite setting. Reid
stared dumbly at her, as if he hadn't seen her in years, hadn't
held her close only a few hours ago, hadn't loved her throughout
the last two passion filled nights.

She smiled graciously and extended her hand. "Reid.
How delightful. I want you to meet Mark Manning."

What an actress. Thank God she didn't introduce Mark
as "my fiancé." Her voice trailed into his range. ". . . my old
friend, Reid Mecina. Reid's from Arizona and is here lobbying for
the new water bill before Congress." She stepped closer to
Mark.

Reluctantly Reid's hand moved from hers to a
mannerly handshake with the rather tall man beside her. God! It was
hard to do! He wanted the hand to be a fist—jammed right into
Mark's solar plexis. How dare he touch
her
"Nice to meet you, Mark." Reid forced a smile. This evening
he would have to be a pretty good actor himself. He didn't dare let
his loving gaze rest on Loren. Instead, he eyed the man by her
side.

Mark Manning was tall, brown-haired, and dynamic. He
had a strong handshake and kept his left arm possessively around
Loren's waist. Reid hated him instantly.

"My pleasure, Reid. Are you related to the Senator
Mecina from Arizona who was in Washington a few years ago?"

Reid nodded. "My father."

Loren smiled encouragingly. "The senator is in
poor
health now, Mark. He lives on the ranch back in
Arizo
na."

"Sorry to hear about your father, Reid. What
part of
Arizona?" Mark exhibited mild attention as he
accepted
a martini from the buxom maid's
tray.

"Southern Arizona. Near Tucson," Reid answered,
tak
ing another gin and tonic. Briefly his eyes grazed
over
Loren. She was absolutely gorgeous in her slinky
black
dress, with that low-cut neckline.

Mark responded with growing interest. "I know
that
area well. IBM, Learjet, Raytheon, and the
University of Arizona
. Tucson is a growing city. Lots
of potential there,
I understand."

Reid raised his eyebrows. Maybe the man was
actually
familiar with the area. "I'm surprised you're
so informed,
Mark. Most people think that all Arizona
has to offer is
the Grand Canyon."

"I make it my business to know, especially the
sun belt
cities. I'm impressed with Arizona's
utilization of re
sources. There’s solar and wind power
in your future."

Reid smiled grimly. "The potential and future
of south
ern Arizona is in direct relation to our need
for an ade
quate water supply."

"Couldn't agree with you more, Reid. I'll be
glad to
help you with this water bill all I can. I
know a couple of
people who will be invaluable to
you."

Reid gestured with his glass and muttered,
"I've met
Pac
here."

Mark chuckled. "No, not this group. These are
the
figureheads. I know the behind-the-scenes guys.
They're
the ones you need."

Reid nodded knowingly. "I would appreciate any
assis
tance I could get. I represent over three hundred
businesses and ranchers in Arizona. Our economy is dependent on
this bill."

"It's your economy I'm most interested in, Reid. In
fact, I have a small investment in a mining company south of
Tucson. It's been suffering drastically the last few years, and I'd
like to see some profits someday," Mark admitted.

Loren looked curiously at him. "I didn't realize you
had stock in a mine there, Mark."

He turned to her impatiently. "Of course, darling.
Don't you remember last year when I went out there for a week?"

She studied for a moment, trying to recall. "I
don't—"

"You were probably in the middle of a stubborn case,
darling, and don't remember," Mark offered in a slightly
condescending tone. Then, turning to Reid, he explained, "Sometimes
Loren gets so wrapped up in those damned women's cases, she doesn't
know what the rest of the world is doing."

"Oh, really?" Reid cast Loren a curious glance.
Actually he was heartened to know that Mark could be gone from
Loren for an entire week, and she hadn't even missed him.

"Back to Arizona's water problems, Reid ..."

Reid listened politely, but inside he was
smiling. And the singular dimple revealed itself daringly to Loren
for the first time that evening. Taking a deep drink, he seemed to
relax somewhat. "I can't guarantee that the passage of
this water bill will increase the profits in your copper
mine,
Mark. But without it I can assure you that the
mines—as well as all of us—will eventually fold."

"It's that important?" Mark's eyes narrowed as he
assessed Reid's words.

"Absolutely," Reid asserted.

"I'd like you to meet my business partner, Reid. How
about lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure," Reid agreed. Much to his chagrin, Reid was
finding that Mark had the personal interest and connections with
the right people to be of more help on the proposed water bill than
anyone in the room. Worse yet, he was willing to help.

Mark spotted an acquaintance across the room. "Would
you excuse me for a few minutes, please, Reid, Loren? I've got to
see Sam about a case."

"Certainly, darling," Loren murmured with obvious
relief in her eyes.

"Tell me about your law practice, Loren," Reid
requested loudly as Mark left them alone. Then, steering her aside,
his eyes traveled curiously down her bare back. "Nice dress. How is
that thing attached?" he murmured closely.

"Rude." Loren fussed teasingly.

He shrugged with a grin. "You
are
beautiful in that dress. But I'm somewhat
jealous when someone else eyes your spine. Where the hell have you
been? I waited here over thirty minutes for you." Intense jealousy
gnawed at him whenever he thought of her alone with
Mark.

"Sorry, Reid. I hope you didn't feel too awkward. The
car stalled on the way, and we had to leave it and call a cab."

"A likely story," Reid said in a muffled voice.

"Reid, you're awfully paranoid lately. What's
wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. I just love to see the lady I spend my
nights with on the arm of another man."

"Now, Reid, you knew—"

"I know, I know. I'm the intruder here."

Loren sighed. "Reid, please. Don't make things more
difficult than they already are."

"The only way I can avoid that is to leave town. And,
now that I'm here, and have you in my arms again, I won't give up
so easily."

"Reid—" Her blue eyes implored a warning.

He turned casually. "Oh, hello there, Mark. Loren was
just telling me about her interesting practice."

Mark barely acknowledged the statement. Instead, a
worried frown creased his brow. "I'm concerned about leaving the
car for too long, Loren. That's not the best part of town, you
know."

Smoothly Reid said, "Loren mentioned car trouble.
It's not a good idea to leave a car unattended at night in D.C. Not
if you value it."

Mark agreed. "The more I think about it, the more
worried I am."

"Tell you what, Mark. You call a tow truck and I'll
drop you off so you can accompany your car to the station. And you
won't have to worry about Loren. I'll be happy to see her home,"
Reid offered with genuine enthusiasm.

"Oh, I couldn't ask you—" Mark started to object.

Reid held his hand up. "Think nothing of it. It's the
least I can do. Give me your card, and I'll call your office in the
morning. We'll set up lunch."

Loren's large blue-violet eyes moved from Mark
to Reid's dark, assured countenance. Well, he'd seen to it that she
wouldn't be bringing Mark home tonight. Of course, she wouldn't
anyway. But now she and Reid would have another night.
Another love filled night.

Chapter Six

"Loren, I have to see you. My God, but you're
elusive. Do you realize it's been almost a week?"

Did she realize?
Loren's heartbeat
increased at the sound of Reid's strong voice and she gripped the
phone tightly. She had purposely kept herself occupied and
unavailable during the week, thinking that throwing herself into
her work would force him off her mind.
Wrong.
"Hi, Reid, how have you been?"

"Damned busy. And you?"

"The same. How's your job going?"

"Great, thanks to Mark. We've met with his law
partner and several other key people this week. It's all
preliminary, of course. But we'll be working on a proposal and a
little ad campaign. Some of these people have very clever
ideas."

"Good. I'm glad you're heading in the right
direction."

"Mark has seen to that. And, Loren . . ." He
hesitated.

"Yes?"

"He's, uh, Mark's a nice guy."

She smiled. "I'm glad you approve. Feeling
guilty?"

Reid's answer boomed confidently. "I'm not saying I
approve of your relationship with him. And, hell, no, I don't feel
guilty. I want to see you. Now. This weekend at the very
latest."

Loren
laughed, loving the sound of his jealous voice.
Loving him.
"I have a late
appointment Friday night and plans for dinner with Mark on
Saturday."

He paused and she could hear his labored breathing.
"Okay, I'll see you Sunday. There is a reception I must attend, and
I'd like you to go with me."

She sighed. "Oh, Reid, you know how I feel about
receptions."

"This one's special, Loren. Congress has approved
Navajo Code Talkers Day to honor the Indians' contributions during
World War II."

"Navajo Code Talkers Day? You've got to be kidding."
She started to laugh.

The tone of his voice halted her. "No, Loren.
I'm very serious. The
Navajos
devised a complex communications
system that was never broken. They served in every combat arena in
the Pacific, yet received very little recognition."

"Why is the government just now getting around to
honoring them?"

"Beats the hell out of me. In all fairness, there
have been award ceremonies for the Code Talkers in the past. But
ceremonies that revere the dead or recall the horrors of war are
not the Navajo way. This time it's in Washington. It will be
special and the survivors will be invited and flown in. Please come
with me, Loren. I think you'll find it interesting. I'd like you to
meet some of my friends from Arizona.”

"This is important to you, isn't it?" she asked
quietly.

"Very."

"Well, Reid ..." She hesitated, and his enthusiasm
swept her along.

"I knew you'd come, Loren. And you won't regret it.
I'll pick you up about noon, Sunday."

"Noon? What time is the reception?"

"It's at three. But I want to see you, talk to you,
spend some time with you."

"Okay." She laughed, anticipation already building
inside her. Could she wait the two days until she saw him, touched
him again?

Loren hung the phone up and sighed heavily. Her
violet eyes stared pensively down the brown cobblestone street,
remembering the times they had walked to the wharf and along the
Potomac. Those had been carefree days when neither had worried
about the future.

Now she was older and wiser and very aware of the
pain this unfulfilled love could bring. Her predicament had weighed
very heavily in her mind this week, and Loren had kept to herself.
She had been too busy to see Mark, and felt the need to pull back
from her intensity with Reid. She knew she was plunging down a
never-ending tunnel of involvement with Reid again. Try as she
might, she couldn't help herself. And yet she couldn't help being
wary of this renewed relationship with him. It had meant heartache
before. It would again.

There had been so many years since they had shared
their love, both of them had changed. It was inevitable. And now,
they—she—needed time and space to explore those changes. They
needed to get to know each other again, to decide which direction
they wanted to go. Right now Loren wasn't even sure. She was
positive of only one thing. She still loved him, after all these
years. And it scared her.

In her mind the solutions to their love weren't easy.
First, if she gave in to her love, would she just be setting
herself up for pain and grief again? Would Reid leave again? Deep
inside, even now, she knew the answer. He was in Washington for a
limited time, lobbying for a bill that would be voted on in a month
or so. Then he would be gone. Reid's major responsibilities lay a
world away from the nation's capital.