Authors: Elaine Raco Chase
Wade cleared his throat. "You
wanted me?"
"Uh, yes." She flicked open
her vanilla clutch. "You left your beeper at the office. I kept phoning
here but got no answer." Kitty slanted an inquisitive eye toward Amanda.
"So I took the chance and drove out." She handed him a pink telephone
message. "Mr. Rafferty called. He wants to meet you in an hour at the NorthPark
Mall to see those three vacant storefronts. He says he has to make a decision
by Wednesday."
"Amanda," Wade folded the
note, slipping it inside the pocket of his blue striped dress shirt, "if
you don't mind, while you're shopping I'll show my client those properties and
we'll have dinner later."
"Fine." She smiled her
approval, ignoring Lucas' irritated expression.
"Lucas," Kitty's voice was
an enticing purr, "why don't I stay and cook us dinner?" She tossed
her purse onto the coffee table, blue eyes fixed on the flowers. "These
are lovely, such perfect blossoms." She smiled at her boss. "Wade,
where did you ever find them?"
He gave a dismissing shrug. "I
didn't. Lucas must have brought them."
"A client," Lucas lied
evenly, "a grateful client."
"Hmm." Kitty picked a smidgen
of lint from her turquoise linen dress. "Carnations are much more an
appropriate flower for a man, wouldn't you agree, Amanda?"
Gray eyes shifted to the lovely pink
rosebuds. "It's the thought that counts." Amanda's tone was slightly
sad. Suddenly going out with Wade felt more a duty than a pleasure.
She looked from Kitty to Lucas. Maybe
it would be better if they had some time alone. Amanda retrieved her purse from
the hall closet and smiled at Wade. "I guess we're all set."
The architectural award-winning
NorthPark Mall was filled with fresh flowers; its wide corridors were lined
with paintings by local artists. Though none of the fashionable boutiques sold
window shutters, Amanda was able to find material for valances. She chose a
ginger on natural stripe for Lucas' room and goldenrod on natural stripe for
the two guest rooms.
Neiman's drapery department was
having a sale. Amanda placed an order for a walnut wood rod, matching brackets
and rings and purchased patio panels in parchment with toast-colored geometric
vertical print pattern for the kitchen's sliding doors. While writing a check
for the draperies, Amanda experienced a slight twinge of perverse amusement in
shopping for Lucas while out with Wade.
Two hours later, she returned to the
mall's west wing. Wade and his portly, cigar-chomping client were still
discussing the rentals for the vacant stores. After shaking an effusive Mr.
Rafferty's greasy hand, Amanda settled into a metal folding chair in an
out-of-the-way corner.
"Amanda," Wade said with a
rueful sigh, "he wants to have another look-see at the store in the east
wing."
She gestured toward the two large
shopping bags and bare feet that wiggled against the cool flooring. "Why
don't I just sit here and wait."
"You don't mind?" came his urgent
question, and after receiving a second affirmation, he pressed a quick, hard
kiss to her soft mouth. "I'll make this as fast as I can. There's an
excellent steakhouse on this level."
Amanda stood up, stretched and filled
her lungs, trying to revive her shopping-weary body. She gave a cursory
examination to the empty store, then slowed for a more exact surveillance. She
liked the fact that there were no ground-level display windows or gaping open
frontage. The only entry to the store was through double shuttered doors. Very
exclusive. Very unusual.
There was about four thousand square
feet of actual selling space and a small staging warehouse in the rear for
deliveries. Amanda took note of the additional fifteen hundred square feet of
private office and showing gallery in the rear. The storefront bore a striking
resemblance to that of her shop on Royal Street.
The businesswoman in her quickly
surfaced. Her designer's eye added color, texture and furnishings: pale salmon
walls, burgundy plush carpet and good-quality antique reproductions. Cheval
glass mirrors, silver tea service and china cups, personalized service,
European fashions, hand-crafted jewelry and one-of-a-kind accessories.
A heady mixture of fear and
excitement throbbed in Amanda's veins. Her mind was racing through numbers,
calculating dollar figures, balancing
could's
and
should's
,
weighing alternatives and contemplating sacrifices. There were a lot of
unknowns. But Wade had the answers to some of her questions. Amanda buckled her
shoes back on, found a pen and note pad in her purse and started a list.
***
"This wasn't the way I
visualized the evening, Luke," Kitty's slightly nasal voice whined in his
ear. "Didn't you like the dinner I made?" Her breast pressed against
his elbow.
"The spaghetti was good,"
he said without looking up. He shifted in the recliner, juggling a legal-size
pad and two law books.
"Good? It was excellent."
She bounced in front of him, and her tiny hands attempted to cover his work.
"I hounded the chef at the
Allegro
for his sauce recipe."
"I guess I just wasn't in the
mood to rush out and shop for all those ingredients." Lucas gave her a
game smile. "Kitty, I...I really have to do this."
"Luke," her soft lips
formed a pitiful moue, "please." She managed to wriggle onto his lap,
ignoring the sounds of paper being crushed and books thudding to the carpet.
Her turquoise linen dress had long
been discarded, replaced by one of his dress shirts. Buttons were undone,
giving an excellent display of bronzed skin. The only variances in color were
the light pink nipples that poked an urgent invitation through the white
cotton. "I feel very ignored." Kitty's hands slid under his gray knit
shirt, fingers and nails making little electric barbs as they tried to ignite
the cool flesh.
"I'm. . .I'm sorry," Lucas
stammered his apology. He had tried. Tried damn hard to let this blond nymph
arouse him the way she always had.
But it was no good.
Nothing.
He wondered if he had become
impotent. "Look, Kitty, I didn't plan on having to entertain company
tonight."
She stopped nibbling his earlobe.
"Company?" Kitty stared at him, blue eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"You consider me company?"
He cleared his throat. "Just a
figure of speech." Lucas tried to pacify her indignation.
"I don't think so, Luke."
She pushed herself off his lap. Her apricot lace thong offered little in the
way of cover to her rounded derriere. "You've become very distant and
disinterested. I'm the type of woman who likes attention," Kitty shook
back her thick mane of hair, "and lately I haven't been getting
enough."
Her fingers stroked along his jaw,
turning his face to ward hers. "You are very attractive and one of the
best lovers I've ever had. I'm going to miss you." Kitty looked at her
watch. "I might as well get dressed. Can I make you some coffee? I think
my jar of instant is still in the fridge."
"No. No thanks, I'm fine."
Lucas concentrated on the highly visible, undulating movements of her ass.
Still nothing.
Instant!
That had been the backbone of their
relationship. Kitty always wanted things done immediately. She seized every
moment. Her life was as freeze-dried as the coffee she preferred.
"I'm sorry that took so
long." Wade ushered Amanda into the red leather booth in a private corner
of the steakhouse. "Hungry?"
"Yes!" She laughed and
pointed to the queen-cut prime rib that was listed on the menu. "With a
baked potato, sour cream and chives and with Thousand Island on my salad."
Wade nodded approvingly and gave the
waitress the order, making his a king-sized portion. "Did you get all your
shopping done?"
"Not quite." Amanda
hesitated for a moment, then tempered her inquiry with a smile. "Did Mr.
Rafferty decide on a storefront?"
"No." He exhaled an
exhausted breath. "He's trying to set up another shoe store. He has a
chain of thirty in the Southwest."
Amanda took a sip of ice water.
"I would imagine he'd prefer a store with display windows."
Broad shoulders gave a noncommittal
shrug. "I think he's steering toward the east wing. He'd have the only
shoe commodity on that side."
Their salads arrived and,
conversation halted under the mutual enjoyment of crisp garden vegetables and
tangy dressing. Amanda patted her lips with an oversized linen napkin.
"Wade, just out of curiosity, what is the rent on the west wing
vacancy?"
He stated a price than added,
"plus a percentage of sales over a certain amount."
"I assume there are a few other
hidden charges?" She passed him a basket filled with hot slices of French
bread.
He swallowed a cherry tomato, blue
eyes searching her face. "Why do I get the feeling this has suddenly
become a business dinner?"
"As long as you introduced the
word
business,
" Amanda pulled out her note pad, flipping through
heavily inked pages, "I do have some questions that need answering."
Wade was glad his prime rib was
tender because Amanda was tough. She wanted to know about decorating
allowances, mall association dues, advertising and promotional requirements,
maintenance and security fees.
Over coffee, he ended up jotting
notes about her notes, and on the trip back to Lucas', Amanda added more
questions to his already burgeoning list. "Are you really serious about
opening a branch of
Rags 'n' Riches
here?" Wade queried, hand
cupping her elbow as he guided her to the front door. Blessedly there was an
absence of a porch light.
Amanda frowned, forehead puckering in
silent contemplation.
Am I serious? Or has the idea been a momentary
fantasy? I've never considered opening an annex shop, especially in another
state. Would my present monetary worth support such an action? Would there be
enough customers here interested in European fashions?
Her left eye began to twitch against
a stabbing pain, and churning sounds emitted from her stomach. Though Amanda
was exhausted from the previous night's loss of sleep and bone weary from
horseback riding, swimming and shopping, she instinctively knew insomnia would
reign supreme. Seemed like old times!
Wade's hands settled into the curve
of her waist. "Amanda, have I lost you?"
She gave a start, his voice seemed a
long way off. "I'm sorry." She shook her head, hands that held
shopping bags lifted in a futile gesture. "I guess I was lost in a world
of my own. You've given me something to think about." Preoccupied, Amanda
automatically opened the front door and after a polite good night stepped
inside.
Hands jammed into his gray trouser
pockets, Wade made his way back to the car. This was not the way his evening
was supposed to end!
The shaft of light that slanted along
the hallway formed a guiding beacon that Amanda followed into Lucas' bedroom.
"Hi! Did you have a nice evening with Kitty?" She placed the newly
acquired draperies and material under the arched window.
"No. And you damn well knew that
I wasn't going to." His chestnut gaze scrutinized every inch of her, much
as an inspector checks for damages. "How was your evening with…Wade?"
Lucas placed his law book on the nightstand and elevated the mattress, giving
Amanda his full attention.
"That client monopolized most of
the evening. I found a few things and we had a nice dinner at the mall."
She shuffled over to the empty side of the bed, sat down and unbuckled her
shoes. "Lucas?" Amanda relaxed into the mattress, smiling as she felt
the massaging action against her skin.
"What?" He came up on one
elbow, sheet falling back to display a broad expanse of naked chest. Lucas
studied her face, the closed eyes and the three vertical
worry
lines
that radiated from the bridge of her nose. Gentle fingers tried to eradicate
the strain. "Is Wade giving you a hard time? Is he pressuring you? If he
is, I'll . . ." His tone changed from tender concern to barely repressed
rage.
A low chuckle escaped Amanda. Without
opening her eyes, she turned her head. "No, but I find it interesting he
wondered the same about you." She smiled at his muffled expletive. "I
was about to consult you in your professional capacity." Amanda's eyelids
fluttered open, gray eyes alert with a brilliant burning.
Lucas consulted his digital watch.
"This is after normal working hours, Miss Wyatt. I'm afraid my fee will be
more substantial than a mere necktie."
"I'm serious, Lucas!"
"So am I."
She gave him an exasperated scowl.
"I'm so desperate to pick that intelligent legal brain of yours that I'll
agree to anything."
He rubbed his palms together and gave
her his best leer. "You'll be doing your fellow man a great service. Kitty
did her best to get a rise out of me tonight, but it was no go. We're no go. I
want to make sure I'm not doomed to a life of celibacy because I have all these
lascivious dreams about you and - " His erotic babblings became smothered
beneath a bed pillow.