Dream Trilogy (74 page)
Authors: Nora Roberts
Was she frustrated? Was she becoming difficult to be around? She didn’t like to think so. What she was was busy, focused, committed to her family and work.
What was so wrong with that? Then she sighed, propped her elbows on the counter, her head in the vee of her hands. No, it was she who had blown a simple evening out of proportion, she admitted. Because she hadn’t had a simple evening in too long.
And because, she could admit privately, she didn’t know how to behave with a man, especially one like Michael Fury.
She’d been seventeen when she fell in love with Peter. Eighteen when she married him. Her dating record beforehand had been brief and uncomplicated.
She’d been married for ten years and had indulged in no flirtations, much less affairs. The men she knew were relatives or old family friends. They were casual acquaintances, the husbands of women she knew, or business contacts.
She was thirty years old, she thought miserably, and she didn’t know how to date. Even when it wasn’t a bona fide date.
When the door to the lounge opened, she straightened quickly and took out her comb.
“Hi, Laura.”
“Judy.” Her smile warmed. Judy Prentice was a friend and a regular customer at Pretenses. “It’s good to see you. You look wonderful.”
“Holding my own.” Always ready for a chat or a quick gossip, Judy sat down beside her. “Did you see Maddie Greene? She had a boob job last month.”
She simply couldn’t be overly dignified with Judy. “It was a little hard to miss her with those twin soldiers.”
“Well, watch yourself. I made the polite comment when she brought it up. I think I said something about them looking very perky.” She grinned when Laura snorted. “Next thing I knew, she’d dragged me in here and stripped to the waist to show them off. Up close, my dear, and much too personal.”
“Oh, God, thanks for the warning.”
“I have to admit, they’re beauties. Speaking of which.” Judy set down her jeweled compact. “I didn’t recognize that incredibly gorgeous specimen you’re with tonight. Is he from around here?”
“He’s an old friend.”
Judy rolled her eyes. “We should all have such old friends.”
“He’s just moved back to the area.” A little thought leaked through. “Your daughter takes riding lessons, doesn’t she, Judy?”
“She’s horse crazy. I went through the same stage, but it seems to be sticking with Mandy.”
“Michael raises horses, trains them. He’s working out of Templeton House for the moment until he can rebuild. His property was destroyed in those mud slides.”
“Oh, God, weren’t they horrible? Another friend of mine watched her house slide down a cliff. Just going, going, gone. Heartbreaking.” Judy dabbed perfume at her wrists. “Why do we live in California?”
“I hear it’s the weather,” Laura said dryly. “In any case, you might want to contact Michael if you decide to get Mandy a mount of her own.”
“Actually, we are considering it. Her birthday’s coming up, and there’s nothing she’d like better than her own horse.” Lips pursed in thought, Judy replaced her perfume. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll talk to my husband about it. Meanwhile, good luck with your old friend.”
Laura left the lounge in better spirits. The evening was wearing on, she was getting through it. The least she could do was make an effort to enjoy what was left of it.
“Cooled off?”
She jumped a little, muffled an oath. Must the man sneak up behind her? “I’m sorry.”
“You looked ready to chew steel when you marched off to the ladies’ room.” Michael handed her a fresh glass of champagne.
“Maybe it was indigestion. I ran into a friend in there.”
“You women have little summit meetings in the john, don’t you? Isn’t that why you usually go inside in packs?”
“Actually, we play poker and smoke cigars, but my point is, this friend of mine has a daughter and she’s very keen on riding. They’re considering buying her a horse. I gave Judy your name. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Hey, anytime you want to toss business my way, feel free. I like your brother-in-law.”
“It showed. I expected the two of you to have a secret handshake by now.”
“Is that a subtle way of telling me I was ignoring you?”
“No.” She said it too quickly, and then tried to back-track. “Not at all. I’m glad you and Byron hit it off.” She spotted him on the dance floor with Kate. And her eyes warmed. “They’re so happy together. They’ve only been married a couple of months, but with some people you can just tell that the way they look at each other isn’t going to change.”
“Your romantic side’s showing.”
She didn’t take offense. “I’m allowed to have one.”
“Then I guess I should ask you to dance.”
She looked up at him. What the hell, she decided. “Then I guess I should accept.”
Before he could take her hand, he saw her smile fade and freeze, her color drain to white. The hand that had lifted to take his fell to her side.
“What’s the problem?”
She only took a quiet, shaky breath. “Hello, Peter. Candy.”
“Laura.”
Michael shifted, his hand instinctively moving to the small of Laura’s back to support her. This must be the ex, he realized, with the perky, cat-eyed redhead clinging to his arm.
He supposed this would be Laura’s type. Tall and golden, distinguished, perfectly presented in a tailored tux, diamonds winking discreetly at his cuffs.
“I didn’t realize you were in town,” Laura managed. She knew, though conversations continued, that attention was focusing on the little tableau. “When I spoke to you about Allison’s school supper, you indicated you’d be away.”
“My plans changed a bit, but I’m still not able to attend.” He said it formally, as if declining an invitation to a polo match.
“It’s very important to her, Peter. Just a few hours—”
“And my plans are important to me.” His gaze flicked to Michael, lingered in speculation. “I don’t believe I know your escort.”
“Michael Fury.” And Michael didn’t offer a hand.
“Of course. I thought I recognized you.” Candy Litchfield’s voice bubbled up. “Michael is an old friend of Josh Templeton’s, darling. You ran away to sea or something, didn’t you?”
“Or something,” Michael said, sparing her a glance. Her type had always grated on him. Overly bright, overly vicious. “I don’t remember you.”
The statement had been calculated to deflate and annoy. He usually hit his mark. She bristled a little, then purred. “Well, after all, we didn’t run in the same circles, did we? Your mother was a waitress, wasn’t she?”
“That’s right. At Templeton Resort. And my father ran off with a redhead. I don’t think she was related to you.”
“I shouldn’t think so.” After sneering down her nose, she looked back at Laura. “Now don’t nag Peter, Laura. We’ve been so incredibly pressed. We’ve hardly had time to catch our breath since we got in this morning. We’ve been in St. Thomas.”
“How lovely for you, but the fact is that these pesky domestic details do require some communication. If you’d . . .”
She trailed off as her gaze lighted on the ring Candy was displaying on the hand she deliberately fluttered against Peter’s chest. The stone was as big as a hen’s egg, sitting atop a platinum Tiffany setting.
Satisfied that she’d finally shifted Laura’s attention where she wanted it, Candy giggled. “Oh, dear, you’ve found us out. Peter and I want to make the announcement quietly, but I’m sure I can trust you to be discreet.” And miserable, she hoped. She’d detested Laura for more years than she cared to count, and now she savored her moment of triumph.
Every muscle in her stomach twisted as Laura looked into Peter’s eyes. Oh, they were amused. Coolly amused. “Congratulations. I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”
“I have no doubt of it.” Candace was perfect for him, he thought. Perfect for this new stage of his life, just as Laura had been perfect for another stage. “We’re planning a small ceremony in May in Palm Springs.”
“Not too small.” Candy pouted prettily, but her eyes were gleaming as they stayed locked on Laura’s face. “May’s such a lovely month for a wedding, don’t you think? Something charming and alfresco would be nice. But not too small or informal. After all, a bride needs to show off a bit.”
“And you’d know all about that.” Laura’s hands were threatening to tremble. It couldn’t be permitted. “Are you planning on telling the girls about your marriage, Peter, or is that up to me?”
“I’ll leave that to you.”
“I’m sure they’ll be delighted,” Candy purred, as she slid a glass off the tray of a nearby waiter. “Mine are. Little Charles is very fond of Peter, and Adrianna is thrilled with the prospect of a wedding.”
“How nice for you,” Laura said stiffly. “But then, Charles and Adrianna must be used to your weddings by now.”
“Don’t be snide, Laura.” Peter’s voice was cool and mild. “It never suited you. You’ll have to excuse us now. We need to mingle.”
“Steady,” Michael murmured as they slipped away.
“That bitch! How am I going to tolerate that bitch being stepmother to my babies? How am I going to stand it?”
It surprised him that that would be her first thought. Then he realized it shouldn’t have. “They’re bright girls, Laura, and she doesn’t strike me as the maternal type.”
“I can’t stay here.”
Before she could dash, he took a firm hold on her arm. The way he drew her to him made it seem as if they were sharing secrets. “You run out now, it’s going to look like retreat. That’s not what you want.”
“I can’t stay here.” There was panic swirling inside her, along with a bubbling brew of fury. “How could he do this? How could he do this to them?”
Odd, he thought, that she couldn’t see that both Peter and Candy had done it to her. Very deliberately, and very well. “If I’m any judge, everybody in this room is wondering just how Laura Templeton is going to handle this little meeting with her ex and his Kewpie doll. I think we should have that dance.”
He was right, of course. He was exactly, pathetically right. However hurt, however shocked, there was still pride. She wouldn’t allow Candy to snicker over her retreat.
“Okay.”
She walked with him to the dance floor as if she wanted nothing more than a quiet turn. The music was soft, some moody number from the forties. It was designed to be romantic, she thought. Instead it rang in her ears like a battle cry.
“She’s not going to get her pinching little fingers on my babies,” Laura said between her teeth.
“I don’t imagine she’d get past you to pinch anyone, if that was her goal. It wouldn’t hurt if you looked at me.” He slipped his arms around her, found they fit well. Discovered her steps matched his smoothly. “Maybe even smiled.”
“They only came here to slap at me. Neither one of them gave a single thought to the children. She’s a mother herself, Michael. How can she not care about the children?”
“Too much in love with herself. Stop worrying about it. She isn’t going to make time in her social calendar to play stepmama. Smile,” he murmured, touching a hand lightly to her cheek. “You can make everybody believe you’re only thinking about me and what we’re going to do when we leave here. That’ll burn their ass.”
He was right again, and she made her lips curve. “I’m sorry you got caught in the cross fire.”
“Hell, it’s just a flesh wound.” He was rewarded by a quick, honest laugh.
“You’re nicer than I remembered, Michael. And I’m a mess.”
“You look pretty neat and tidy to me. You always did. We’ve got them wondering now.” He bent his head so that his cheek brushed hers, his mouth close to her ear. “Just who is that guy Laura Templeton’s wrapped around? How long has this been going on?”
She was beginning to wonder the same thing herself. “Not everyone’s that interested in my business.”
His breath blew warm against her ear. “Come on, sugar. You fascinate them. Cool, composed Laura.”
“It’s been poor Laura for a little too long now.” Her voice was tight again. “Poor Laura, whose husband cheated on her with his secretary. Poor Laura, who’ll have to hold her head up now that her ex is marrying her former co-chair of the Garden Club.”
“Jesus, you played with that irritating little redhead?” He shook his head. “I’m disappointed in you. Tell you what, now that they’re wondering, why don’t we give them something to talk about over brunch tomorrow?”
His mouth slid around, grazed her cheek. Before she could jolt from the shock of that, it was fixed warmly on hers. The kiss was long and slow. Her head reeled once, and the hand on his shoulder flexed open and dug in.
He eased back, barely an inch so that the only thing she could see was his eyes. “Let’s try that again,” he said softly. “I think you’ll get the hang of it.”
She would have protested. She wasn’t the kind of woman who indulged in smoldering kisses in public. Or in smoldering kisses in private, for that matter. But his mouth was on hers again, clever, persuasive. Hot. And she was swept along.
The rich male taste, the firm, knowing lips, the confident exploration of tongue and rough scrape of teeth. No one had kissed her like that before, as if her mouth was the source of all pleasure. Something hummed in her throat that might have been shock but was more likely wonder.
As he had wondered. What would she taste like, feel like, be like? What he found was a banquet of contrasts. Heat filtered through cool armor. Shyness fluttering under composure. She was trembling, erotic little shivers that shot need straight to his loins.
And that reminded him that no matter how much he might enjoy the experiment, they weren’t alone in a place where they could analyze the results.
“That ought to do it,” he murmured. “It sure as hell convinced me.”
She could do nothing but stare up at him. Somehow they were still dancing. She knew her feet, however disassociated they seemed from the rest of her, were moving.
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