Texas fury (28 page)

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur for Riley. The ride home with Lacey cuddled next to him only annoyed him. He

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walked her to the door. When she stood on her toes to kiss him, he sidestepped and the kiss fell on his cheek.

On the drive back to Sunbridge he cursed himself over and over. He was still as committed as before. Perhaps more so. Son of a bitch!

Lacey's hopes of making it up the steps without seeing her mother were dashed when Tess practically ran from the living room to follow her up the stairs.

'This is an early evening, Lacey, I thought you'd be gone all night," she said slyly. "What with Riley leaving tomorrow and all."

"You thought wrong, Mama," Lacey said coldly.

"Something's wrong. I can tell by the look on your face. Don't tell me that Jap dumped you. He did, didn't' he?"

"No, Mother, he did not dump me. We have a mutual agreement. We're postponing the engagement till Riley gets all his problems settled. His grandfather is sick. Coleman Oil isn't doing well. There are a lot of things. Riley wants me to be happy, and we agreed that he shouldn't have me to worry about on top of everything else. Relax, Mother; I may become a Coleman yet, but it will take a little longer."

"No need to sound so defensive, honey. I'm just concerned about you."

"Of course you are, Mother. If I don't marry into the Cole-mans, you'll never get to put on that social-ladder-climbing suit you're dying to wear."

"You are a nasty child, Lacey," Tess sniffed. "No other mother would put up with the way you talk to me. You have no respect." Lacey didn't bother to reply. She slammed the door in her mother's face and locked it.

Lacey stayed in her room for four days, coming out only to make herself tea and toast. She spent the rest of the time reading old letters from Cole, looking at pictures of the two of them, and reading old articles about the Colemans. She tried to call him twenty-six times and all twenty-six was told he was either busy or in a meeting. He didn't bother to pick up the phone in his room early in the morning or late at night. She didn't bathe or brush her teeth. Her hair, stiff with hair spray and mousse, stuck up in bleached spikes all over her head. She looked awful and felt worse. The caricature that stared back at her from the bathroom mirror made her wince. She leaned closer. Her mascara was in clumps on her artificial lashes. She wasn't sure if the dark circles under her eyes were

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real or from the mascara running when she cried. She looked like a ghoul. She ripped at the sticky eyelashes and dropped them into the wastebasket. Her lips were dry and cracked. Maybe she was dehydrating. Even her skin, usually moist and supple, was dry and flaky. She stepped on the scale and looked at the numbers clinically. Ninety-two pounds. She'd lost nine pounds in four days.

At two in the morning of the fifth day, Lacey staggered from her bed to the bathroom. She showered and washed her hair, brushed her teeth four times, and gargled lustily with mouthwash. Not liking the taste, she brushed her teeth all over again. She pulled on panties and jeans, barely noticing how loose they were over her slight frame. She didn't bother with a bra but slipped an oversize sweatshirt over her damp, curly hair. Her feet rummaged over the closet floor for her Top-Siders. She was ready.

She crept down the stairs quietly, helped by the thick, sculptured carpeting. She made her way through the dark house and let herself out the side door into the garage. Tess's gleaming candy-apple-red 560 SL stood waiting for her. She knew the key would be in the ignition. She pressed the button on ihe electronic door opener. She shifted into reverse and let the car glide out of the garage and down the driveway. Only when she was a safe distance from the house did she turn on the lights. She drove purposefully, intent only on the road. She refused to think about her destination or what would happen when she arrived.

Lacey cut the lights when she reached the long driveway that led to Sunbridge. She slowed the powerful engine and parked at the far end of the house. She closed the door silently and walked on her rubber-soled shoes to the kitchen door. Doors were never locked at Sunbridge. Quietly, she tiptoed her way to the front hallway and crept up the stairs. The ninth step creaked, so she skipped it. Her heart was pounding now.

At Cole's door she shook her head to ward off the light dizziness she was feeling. Her hand trembled so badly she could hardly grasp the doorknob. She waited a moment and then turned it silently. She closed the door just as silently. She stood a moment to get her bearings. Nothing had been moved; that was good. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Cole sprawled across the bed, the covers at his feet. The first dawn light ribboning through the slatted blinds lay like silver streaks across Cole's muscular legs. She stepped out of her

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shoes and shed her clothing. She padded naked to the window to close the blinds. She padded back to the bed and stood for several moments staring down at Cole while she waited for her breathing to ease.

Gently she climbed into the bed and drew up the top sheet. She waited, hardly daring to breathe. When Cole continued to sleep, she moved closer till she lay spoon-fashion next to him. Her hand reached out and at the same time she slid down till her head was between his legs. Her tongue flicked out, snakelike, over the tip of his shaft, once, twice, and then a third time. Cole's immediate erection and his groan of pleasure made her smile in the dark. She knew the moment Cole's surge began to build, and stopped, pulling herself to the length of him. She kissed him hotly, hungrily, her small, round breasts pressing into him. She played with him, delighting in his groans of desire, and always she would stop when the pressure in him started to build. She leaned over him, rubbing her breasts across his lips, tormenting him and loving every minute of it. She was astride him now, that secret place between her legs slick and wet against his stomach. With her hands she cupped her breasts, offering them to him. She almost stopped when she realized Cole was still asleep, probably thinking he was dreaming. Gently, she parted his lips and thrust one taut nipple into his mouth. She could feel the tenseness in his belly and knew he was growing hard. She rubbed her breasts and her face into the satiny wetness as she slid lower till she was poised over his stiff shaft. Gently, she lowered herself until he filled her. "Take me, Cole, now," she cried huskily. "Take me. Love me." She rolled over, her arms about him like a vise locking her to him.

Cole closed his eyes and pushed her back into the pillows as he thrust up into her, his movements desperate and frenzied. Lacey arched her back, crying out as the thrusts became deep, then shallow, then deep again. A low animal sound escaped Cole's tight lips as he spilled himself into her, bringing both of them to a climax.

When his breathing returned to normal, Cole leaned over and switched on the lamp. His face was hateful as he looked down at her. "I can never forgive you for this," he said through clenched teeth.

"Cole, listen to me, please," Lacey begged. "I needed to know if you and I—"

"Well, now you know. We didn't make love. You crept in

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here like a thief in the night and I fucked you. That's the beginning and the end of it. Get dressed and go home."

"You liked it; admit it," Lacey sobbed. "You haven't forgotten me."

"And what about Riley? Jesus, I can't believe you came here. I can't believe you'd put me in this position. What kind of bitch are you?"

"I love you. Doesn't that make a difference?" Lacey continued to sob.

"Come off it, Lacey; the only person you love is yourself. What if Riley finds out? How can you face him?"

"The only way Riley will find out is if you tell him. I haven't slept with Riley, so what difference does it make?"

"Lady, you are one cool number. I can't believe you just said what you did. Go on, get dressed and get out of here. Don't make me do something both of us will regret."

Cole leaped out of bed and stood staring down at Lacey, a maniacal look in his eyes. "Are you going to go on your own or do I have to carry you down the stairs and throw your butt out of here, your naked butt?" His voice was hoarse and gruff, his stance as menacing as his eyes.

"I never knew you were so mean and cruel," Lacey whined as she slid her legs over the side of the bed.

"Well, now you know," Cole said. "I don't ever want you to come back here again. Do you understand me, Lacey?"

Lacey didn't bother to answer. She pulled the sweatshirt over her head. She wondered if she told him about Riley's decision whether it would make any difference. But no, it wouldn't matter to Cole one way or the other. He was a cold bastard. Where had she ever gotten the idea that he was a warm, caring person?

At the door she turned to face him. "I guess I needed you to say all those things to me to make me come to my senses. I've loved you for a long time, Cole. When we. . . when we broke up I couldn't let go. Riley did his best to help me, and I started to cling too hard. Don't worry about Riley, I'll never say a word."

"That's fine, that's just great," Cole growled. "What about me? How in the name of God can I face him? Every time I'm in his company I'll think about this."

A wry grin stretched across Lacey's face. "I always wanted to be unforgettable. Good-bye, Cole."

Hot, scorching anger surged through him. He lashed out,

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kicking the foot of the bed, the chair, the night table, and the door. Pain .shot up his leg into his groin. He lashed out with the other foot. He dropped to his knees and beat his head into the mattress. His shoulders shook with the impact of his betrayal.

Cole knew his life would never be the same again.

When Tess came downstairs, she passed what she called their solarium but which was, in reality, a closed-in porch. She backed up a step when she saw Lacey settled in a white wicker chair, writing something.

"Early this morning, aren't you? We don't see you for days and then you're up with the roosters. Are you sick?"

Lacey decided the question held no real concern. She kept on writing.

"Writing to Riley already? He'll be back before the letter gets there. You didn't answer me, Lacey. Are you sick? Why are you up so early?"

"I'm not sick, Mother. I'm writing to Ivy." There was no need to mention she'd already written to Riley, finishing the letter just as the first rooster crowed.

"Ivy!" Tess said in dismay. "Why in the world are you writing to Ivy?"

"Because I want to. Isn't that enough of a reason? It wouldn't hurt you to write her once in a while yourself. She is your daughter. You know, Mother, I don't ever remember hearing you say a kind word to her? Why is that?"

"Aren't we the nosy one this morning," Tess said, hedging for time. She hated it when she got brought up short. "Ah don't have to write to mah daughter, Lacey, ah call her," she drawled.

"Really! When was the last time you called her?"

"I won't tolerate a smart-mouthed daughter in my house, Lacey. It's no never mind to you when and if I call your sister."

Lacey's laughter was mocking. "You won't have to worry about this smart-mouthed daughter living in this house any longer. I've made up my mind to go to New York. I'll be leaving tomorrow. I'll send for my things when I get settled."

"You're what?" Tess screeched. "I knew it, I knew it! Riley sent you packing, and don't think for one minute I don't know where you went in the middle of the night. You have no shame, Lacey Buckalew."

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"You're right, Mother. Last night I hi do, and that's why I'm leaving. If once you had come to me or been there for m as a mother, I might not be leaving. But j or for Ivy. I'm writing to tell her she at whatever it's worth to her. I'm probably I'm trying."

"You could have come to me any tin have listened to you," Tess whined. Lac continued on to the kitchen. She didn't ki relieved, or angry. When she couldn't m settled down to breakfast. As she munc cided Lacey had been a tramp from the ti old. The realization made her reach fc toast, which she spread liberally with cral

Only a fool would have asked abou was over if Lacey was going to New 1 that she wasn't going to be a part of the ( bitter taste in her mouth. She swallowed preserves, but it didn't help. Tears of eyes. She had no one to blame but h( warned her, given off enough clues, bi merger would take place. Doomed, she tl didn't give another thought to Lacey's le< was writing to her sister.

Tess's brain shifted into overdrive as s way to approach Riley on his return. She heart. If she did a good enough job, he n York and bring Lacey back. She felt bett the only decision facing her was whetl blueberry muffin. Maybe the blueberries celain caps, but since she was never one

in the restaurant. I do love you, but I'm not in lo you, just as you aren't in love with me.

I've taken a good long, hard look at myself life these past years, and I don't like what I si hoping that my move to New York will make right for all of us. I'm going to try to get my order. By the time you get home I'll be gone know you'll wish me well.

You're off the hook, Riley. It would nev( worked. I'm too selfish a person for you. I hope be friends, and I do thank you for being there when I desperately needed someone.

I hope things go well for you.

Affectiona Lacey

The second letter was to Ivy.

Dear Ivy,

I know this letter is going to come as a shock Please, don't throw it away. I want you to read it you to read it.

I'm sorry I haven't been a better sister to you I think back, I see now how tough it was for you I could have been the kind of person you needec hope it isn't too late for us. I need to know I sister to love, and who loves me.

I've been such a fool, Ivy. I was so in love wi I couldn't think straight. When he dumped mi yes, he did, I lied when I said we mutually c off—I did some awful things that I'm ashamed o while I didn't think I could make them right, 1

ftmnri tr\ nn/o it o tr\r T'm lo'ii;mit fr\r Mo\i; ^f/~srlr

mance department he's a little slow. If anyone can get