Chapter 5

“I have a party to attend tonight.”

“Should I be jealous?”

“I don’t know Earl, should you be?” She countered, plucking at the sheets. He had texted her that he was in a meeting and would be finishing up at six thirty.

“I would appreciate it if you would wait up for my call.”

So, she had. She had used the time to work on her designs and waited with bated breath and an excitement that she found disturbing.

“Assure me it will be girlfriends accompanying you to this party and I can sleep well.” His deep voice was doing alarming things to her insides and playing havoc with her senses.

“I am not involved with anyone, remember?”

“What if you go to this party and meet someone?”

“What if you are wherever you are and meet someone. I know they have very beautiful women in Europe. Where are you exactly?”

“Tuscany.”

“Ah, wine country.”

“Cathy, there is something…”

“No.” She shook her head, forgetting he could not see her. “I would like the mystery to remain, even for the week. No telling me anything I should not know yet. Let’s remain as we were, talking about life, about anything else, that will reveal who we really are.”

“Aren’t you just a little curious?”

Leaning back against the mounds of pillows, she closed her eyes.

“Of course, I am. I want to know what you do and what you look like. But I want to savor the intrigue a little bit longer. Please allow me that.”

“Okay.” He sighed. “How about flirting? Is that allowed?”

She laughed softly. “Haven’t we been doing that already?”

“Not quite. You see, I am afraid to say something which may turn you off.”

“You haven’t done that yet.

“I love the sound of your voice.”

“I love the sound of yours.” She murmured, heartrate picking up.

“Am I allowed to ask what you are wearing?”

“I love silk.”

He sighed raggedly. “What color?”

“Ruby red.” She glanced down at the pjs, she had designed herself. It was not just functional, but she had designed them to settle on lush curves. The bosom plunged almost to the navel, the lapels barely supporting her generous breasts.

The bottom was skimpy with red and blue piping around the legs. It was designed to seduce and arouse. “That’s all you are going to get.”

“It’s already too much.” He told her hoarsely. “Is it strange that we are feeling this way?”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

“Aren’t you already doing that?”

“Earl…”

“Dammit Cathy! I am tired of dancing around the subject. I am attracted to you.”

Her heart hammered, and she felt her palms sweating. “We don’t know each other, and I am afraid that when we do meet, when we get to know the real us – we are going to be disappointed.”

“Why are you so determined to think that?” He demanded.

“Because we have both been disappointed. I want to be practical about this. I have been hurt too many times to count and I have to be cautious.”

“I have been hurt too, but I am willing to throw caution to the winds.”

“Earl…”

“Okay fine. I don’t want to run the risk of you not talking to me. This party.”

“Yes?”

“What time will you be back?”

“I have no idea. But I will call, no matter how late I am. The time difference is very confusing.”

“I will be waiting to hear from you.”

“Tell me about the food. What did you eat?” She asked brightly, determined to dispel the heavy tension the conversation was causing.

“Food?”

“Yes. What did you have for supper?”

“You want to know about the menu.”

“Are you going to answer the question?”

She laughed when he sighed deeply. “I know what you are doing.”

“What is that?”

“Trying to change the subject.”

“I always knew you were a smart guy. Now talk.”

*****

“Have I told you how incredibly sexy you look tonight?” Justin whispered in her ear.

“Twice. If I didn’t know better, I would think you are buttering me up for something.”

“I just love that – what is it you are almost wearing anyway?” His eyes wandered over her voluptuous curves shown to advantage in a risqué black velvet that was a cross between a shirt and a dress and barely covered her generous thighs. Knee-high boots completed the ensemble. Her hair was loose and had been brushed to a high sheen.

Large gold hoops were at her lobes, with colored stones dotting the other piercings. She looked exotic and smoking hot, putting the svelte and colorless models to shame. Even Teresa with her slender curves draped in emerald, green could not hold a candle to her.

Justin had seen the appreciative looks from the men as soon as they stepped into the large and opulently decorated ballroom of the Palladium hotel where the fashion show was being held.

“It’s a shirtwaister above the ordinary.”

“It is very sexy and suggestive. I also see someone coming over.” He nodded towards the very distinguished looking gentleman approaching them. “I believe you know Byron Davidson.”

“Owner of several very tasteful magazines.” She accepted the champagne he handed her. Teresa was circulating the room with her lawyer boyfriend in tow.

“Recently divorced and completely available.”

“I am seeing someone.”

“’Seeing’ is stretching it a bit. You just talk to the guy on the phone. This is someone you are seeing face to face.”

“You were the one who paid for the app.”

“I did and now I am regretting it.” He gave Byron a charming smile before melting away.

“I hope I was not interrupting,” Byron held out a hand for hers.

“No.” She shook her head. “Justin was just leaving.”

He spoke his name and told her he already knew hers. “Your designs have been featured very prominently in several of my magazines.” He nodded to the waiter who came forward with champagne. “I am an admirer.”

“Good to hear.”

His light blue eyes wandered over her face and settled on her lips.

“Is it too much to ask if you would tell me what’s next for you?” He cleverly led her over to an isolated corner, where the noise level was not so high. “I have seen the designs highlighted on several large screens around the room. The fall designs and hints of winter wear. Why just a hint?”

She laughed softly, eyes twinkling. “I like to keep the mystery going. It hypes the anticipation to a fever pitch and have people eagerly looking forward to what is coming.”

“If the winter designs are anything like the fall, and of course the summer designs, I would say we are in for a treat.” He sipped his champagne and stared at her lips coated in strawberry. “I have been away for more than five years and now I am back. I must say that seeing you makes coming home a treat.”

Her tapered brows lifted. “Are you flirting with me?”

He chuckled. “Absolutely. You are a very beautiful woman, Cathy.”

“Thank you.” Suddenly she felt uncomfortable. She had spoken to Earl just as she was leaving, and he had reminded her of her promise to call him later. But to her confusion, she discovered that she liked Byron and felt as if she was cheating on Earl, which was really ridiculous.

“Cathy? Have I said something offend you?”

“No.” She shook her head firmly. “I am sorry, but I need to speak to Monique for a minute.”

“Wait. Is it possible for me to get your number? I was thinking we could go for coffee or have lunch?”

“Why?” She asked bluntly.

He did not take offence to her question as she expected. “Because I want to get to know you better.”

Giving him her number, she walked away, confusion heavy in her chest.

*****

“You know you are being ridiculous, right?” Justin glanced over at her as he negotiated traffic. “Going for coffee is not a crime and it’s not a proposal of marriage. The guy likes you. I have seen the way he looks at you.”

“I spent years having a dry spell and suddenly I have two men vying for my attention,” she muttered as she plucked at her cashmere jacket.

“That’s not a bad thing.”

“Isn’t it? I have confusing feelings about a man I have never met before and now this Byron is complicating things.”

“So, you do like him?”

“He is okay, I guess.” She shrugged. “I feel as if I am cheating on Earl.”

Justin hissed out an impatient breath as he stopped at the light. “Sometimes I wonder about you. You have never met the guy and here is this flesh and blood man who, I have to tell you, could not take his eyes of you the entire evening.

He cornered me and on the pretext of asking me about my career, ended up talking about you the entire time. What did you like, how does he break the ice, if you were with someone, things like that.”

She turned to look at him. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him you were free, single and disengaged.”

“You shouldn’t have.”

Easing off the brake, he merged into traffic after giving her a fulminating look.

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I happen to like Earl. We are going to meet when he gets back.”

“Where is he, by the way?”

“Tuscany.”

“Why?”

She cast him an exasperated look.

“I am assuming for business. We decided to keep it simple.”

“And you don’t think this sudden trip is suspicious?”

“Really?” She snorted. “Why would he lie to me?”

“Precisely.”

“I do not believe this! You were the one who forced this thing on me and now you are having second thoughts?”

Turning off the main road, he headed towards her neighborhood. It was a pretty clear night with the velvety sky dotted with thousands of stars. Christmas was just around the corner, and she was already making plans for the holiday which had become her favorite.

Justin drove into the cobbled driveway and killed the engine. “I want you to be happy,” he murmured.

“I want the same thing too. And I really like Earl. I can talk to him,” She turned sideways in the seat. “I promised to call as soon as I return from the party.”

Justin stared at her for a few seconds. “You are falling for an idea.”

“I just told you I liked talking to the guy, who said about anything about falling for anything?”

His steady gaze had her looking away.

“I know you more than anyone else and the fact that you are being so defensive answers my question.”

Turning her head away, she gazed out at the encroaching darkness. Even though the glass was up, in her mind, she could smell the daffodils at the base of the porch steps that she had cultivated and were still withstanding the cold.

“I grew up without love,” she murmured. “For years I struggled with the fact that the man who planted the seed inside my mother didn’t want me.

And the woman who carried me for nine months thought nothing of leaving me at that place. I made excuses for her. Maybe she was so poverty stricken that she was doing me a favor and hoping to do what is best for me. I carried that desperate hope inside me until I discovered that I really was an inconvenience.

She never wanted me in the first place. Even when she told me so, I refused to believe it.” She blinked back the tears, refusing to cry over someone who did not deserve her tears.

The woman was dead and gone and still she was reaching out from the grave and trying to ruin her life. “So, yes. I hold onto this vision of finding someone who loves me without condition.” She turned her head then to look at him.

“You have.” He had gone completely still when she started talking. When he first met her, she had behaved tough and invincible. But over time he had realized it was just a defense mechanism.

Oh, she could be tough when the occasion calls for it, but for the people she loved, she went all the way, and her loyalty was astounding. That is why he loved her, that’s why he would kill anyone who dares to hurt her.

Reaching up, she touched the smooth skin of his sculpted cheek, her expression tender.

“I know. I really like him, Justin.”

“Who?” His hand captured hers. “Byron or Earl?”

“Earl.” She shrugged. “I don’t know where it will go and I have no intention of putting a label on what we are doing, not now.”

“And Byron?”

“I will go out for coffee, but that’s it.”

He caressed her cheek, the love evident in his beautiful face. “You are the standard that I measure my relationships with and more often than not, they come up sadly lacking.”

Leaning forward, he brushed his lips on hers and pressed her forehead with his. “I want happiness for you darling, because you deserve nothing less.”

“I won’t settle for anything less.”

“No, go on inside. I know you are dying to speak to that guy of yours. Call me tomorrow.”

*****

Where the hell was she? And why hasn’t she called? He had dozed off fitfully after coming back from a very stressful meeting with some investors.

He had declined a follow up dinner because after the day he had, he just wanted to come back to his suite and wait to hear from her and now after setting his laptop on a pillow next to him and eating a lonely meal inside his room, he was up and wondering why the hell she had not called.

Was it that she was having so much fun? Had she met someone and gone home with them? The suspicious nature that had been nurtured after too many failed relationships where the women were unfaithful was settling inside him and taking root.

He did not know her, did he? And it was ridiculous to be so enamored by a complete stranger. He was going to be leaving his room and had a full day ahead of him and he wanted to hear from her- his head jerked towards the device when he heard the familiar ding of his phone.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to walk towards the bed. Sinking down on the edge of it, he reached for his phone and answered the call.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” She sounded breathless as if she had been hurrying.

Where was she hurrying from? He wondered.

“I had no idea the time has gone by so quickly. I am just coming home. How are you? Did I wake you? What time is it?”

“How was the party?”

“It was alright.”

“Just alright?” He could not believe the jealousy raging inside him. “Meet anyone interesting?”

He closed his eyes as she remained silent and realized that she had picked up on his foul attitude.

“I have met several interesting people. What the hell is wrong with you?”

Rubbing his hand over his face, he swallowed the lump in his throat. “Nothing,” he growled. “I had a hell of a day, and I came here wanting to hear your voice- hell, I am sorry.”

“The party was interesting, but I have been to several of that kind before.” Her voice had softened. “I was anxious to come home so that I could have a conversation with you.”

“And I am blowing it.”

“It’s fine. You said you had a lousy day.”

“I am fine now.” He spoke softly, leaning his head back against the pillows. “I am hearing your voice and somehow, it’s making me feel better. Are you free to tell me what you wore to the party?”

“Just a simple dress.”

He chuckled at her demure tone. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“Maybe because it’s not just a dress. It’s a cross between a shirt and a dress and I happen to love boots, so I paired it with a knee-high black leather. boots”

“I am allowing my imagination to run away with me.”

“Imagine away.” She told him with a laugh. “What about those European beauties? Seen any you like?”

“I am here alone in my suite, what do you think?”

“That’s it’s still early days yet.”

“I rushed back here from a stressful day of meetings and only wanted to stay in bed and listen to your lovely voice.”

“Some might say you are crazy.”

“Some might.” He laughed, feeling the tight band easing from around his chest. He was exactly where he wanted to be and talking to the woman, he was very interested in.

“What do you say, Earl?”

“I say I have a very good thing going on here and cannot wait to meet you.”

“I think I am saying the very same thing.”

He settled back and prepared to spend the next thirty minutes talking to her.

*****

His footsteps faltered and at first the woman coming out Russo’s was a trick of the brilliant afternoon sunshine. But she turned just then, and he realized that it was her. His heart took a slow dive, and the memories came crashing back, turning his gaze hard and brittle.

He was about to turn away, when she saw him and came hurrying over, her hands loaded with shopping bags.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Still the same charming man, I see.” Diana said softly, large blue eyes staring at him hungrily. “I am here for a movie shoot. I assume you are here for business?”

“I am.” His eyes flickered over her lovely form draped in emerald, green cashmere, scathingly. “No entourage?”

“No.” She shook her honey blonde head. Turning towards the woman who had been trailing behind, she handed her the packages. “Eileen, would you go on ahead? Thanks.” She turned back to Earl and gave him a tentative smile.

“I was about to have lunch at the local café. I would love it if you would join me.” Her blue eyes were pleading.

“Not interested. Where is your teenage lover?”

She grimaced at his disparaging tone. “We broke up a long time ago.” She reached out a hand to touch his sleeve, removing it when he jerked away. “I would like to try and make up for the pain I caused you.”

“It’s over and done with and we don’t need to go over anything more.”

“Please.”

He was about to walk away when something In her face had him nodding reluctantly.

They did not speak as they made their way to the café tucked between the famous store and a jewelry store.

They were shown to a corner table. Earl loved Europe, where he was free to stroll the cobbled streets and pop into tiny restaurants without being hassled or stared at.

He ordered the Pastrami and Diana settled for the risotto dish.

“You look well,” he murmured reluctantly.

She appeared to be pleased at his compliment. “And you are as hot as ever.” She tilted her head and squinted at him. “You are still single.”

“For the moment, yes.” He did not think he had to tell her that he was dating someone online. “Who are you seeing now? A producer? Director?”

Diana picked up her glass and took a sip of the water. “I know you don’t think a lot of me…”

“I think you are a faithless bitch.”

She flinched at that, and he could swear that there were tears in her eyes.

“I was. I made a big mistake, for which I am still paying.” She waited until their meals had been placed on the table. “I was an idiot, and I have spent months berating myself.” She took a breath as she stared at him.

“You are a force, Earl. Your success, wealth, the social status are not easy for anyone to deal with. No matter how much we try, the fact is that you are a very wealthy man, a very powerful man, and that changes things.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that no matter who you end up with, the money will always be an issue.”

He felt the familiar insecurities coming to the fore. “Basically, what you are Implying Is that no woman will ever look past that and see me simply as a man.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Oh God, I tried.” she said tearfully. “I am an actress, but I came from a humble background. I make a lot of money, but nothing compared to what you make. You were born into luxury, so it is natural for you to be accustomed to all that wealth and everything that goes with it. For the rest of us, it is not that easy.”