Texas rich (31 page)

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lowing peek-a-boo glimpses of an elegant length of leg.

"You look lovely, Billie," Thad said sincerely. The other three pilots echoed Thad's aj^roval. Moss kissed her Ughtly on the cheek and put his arm around her shoulder. Billie wanted to lean into him, to snuggle against him, but she held her emotions in check. She smiled warmly and settled herself on one of the wicker chairs. The silk crept up around her ankles, exposing a scandalously sexy high-heeled shoe that was nothing more than straps. Thad Kingsley swallowed hard. He had never seen anything so provocative as that gently swinging foot.

"I think I'll take a walk to the beach and check out your longhoms," he said. "If I were you, Coleman, I'd get the lead out and get dressed. You are the host and the brass sffould be arriving any minute now."

"Good thinking. I won't be long. Billie, refill the guys' drinks."

"We can do it, Moss. Let your wife rest. We enjoy sitting here looking at her."

"Suit yourself. I told you guys to bring dates."

"Surely you jest. When I party I party. All the way. You can't let go with the top brass milling about. Don't worry about us. We're here to eat all that beef you've been jawing about."

Moss shrugged. The guys were right. Jesus, BilUe was going to knock the socks right off the brass. And their wives were going to do some double takes. He'd never seen her look so beautiful. The guys were impressed. Thad had looked like a fish out of water for a minute. The party was going to be a success. He could feel it.

By nine-thirty the last guest had arrived. Moss drew Billie aside as they surveyed the scene on the terraces and lanai. "Did you ever notice that all generals' and admirals' wives are old and wrinkled? Look at that one over there." Billie looked in the direction Moss was discreetly pointing. The woman's face was leathery and wrinkled, and the skin on her neck hung in unattractive folds. "So help me, if you ever get to looking like that, I'll divorce you."

"Are you going to be an admiral someday, Moss?" Billie teased, enjoying the few moments of intimacy.

"Not me, but Thad is. I'd bet Sunbridge on it."

Billie giggled. "Do you think he'll have a wife like one of these women?"

"God, I hope not. Thad's pretty selective. What kind of shoes is the general's wife wearing?" Moss asked curiously.

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Billie peered straight ahead in the yellow lantern light. She giggled again. "Serviceable. Maybe she has a foot problem. But we're being unkind."

"The hell you say, Mrs. Coleman. That lady is a living, breathing bitch. She controls the officers' wives with an iron hand. The general doesn't make a move until he checks with her. It's common knowledge on the base. I'm glad you aren't staying there, Billie." Moss's arms tightened protectively around his wife's shoulders. This time, Billie leaned against him and whispered. He bent down to hear and grinned. "I'll take you up on that later. We better start to circulate, honey. Phillip is going to start carving soon and we have to head the line. I'll meet you on the lanai in, say, twenty minutes."

Billie maneuvered through the milling crowds, stopping to speak to one person and then another. The party was a success.

The moment Phillip's relatives struck the first chord of "Deep in the Heart of Texas" on their ukuleles, Billie made her way to the lanai to meet Moss.

Moss held up both hands as a signal for quiet. "Hele mai ai!" he shouted. "Come and eat!"

The small orchestra split up, half going to the area beneath the monkeypod tree and the other half to the beach. They strummed softly while native girls in their grass skirts swayed to the music. More than one man's eyes was on the girls instead of his beef. Billie felt smug. Moss had eyes for no one save herself.

"We'll have to do this again sometime, old buddy," Thad said with a slight slur to his words.

"The next time you can do it." Moss grinned. "What do you New Englanders do for a bash?"

"We have fish fries. And chowders. Stick-to-your-ribs chowder. Did I tell you you are the most beautiful woman here?" Thad said gallantly to Billie as he tried for a low, sweeping bow.

'Three times," Moss said, grinning. "You're getting crocked, Thad."

"Yeaaahhh. Billie, would you play the piano for me? That tinny music is getting to me. I have a yen for some good old U.S. of A. music. Old man, can your wife play me a couple of tunes?" Thad asked Moss.

"I don't see why not. It's up to Billie. Billie?"

"Of course. What would you like to hear?"

"Something with some beat. Something with heart. A little

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honky-tonk, maybe some boogie-woogie. Is that a tall order?"

"Not too tall. I think I can manage. Come along, Lieutenant."

Billie settled herself at the keyboard. She flexed her fmgers and tested out the keys. The baby grand was a magnificent instrument.

Billie was lost in the music, unaware of Thad's intent gaze as he leaned over the piano. She finished the last chord of "When the Lights Come On Again All Over the World" and swung into "The White Cliffs of Dover." "Harbor Lights" followed and then "Always."

"Slide over, Billie," Thad ordered. Billie obeyed and was stunned when Thad ran his long fingers the length of the keyboard. "Let's have a duet. Name your choice."

"I didn't know you played, Thad."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me. Come on, let's tickle these ivories."

Billie laughed. "Name it, Lieutenant, and I'll keep up with you."

When the last guest had left. Moss took stock. "It was a roaring success, honey. We really did ourselves up proud. Mac took some great pictures. I'm not even going to try to get them developed over here. I'll send them straight on to Pap. Listen, honey, Thad, Mac, and Jack have to get back. If they take the Jeep, I won't have any way to get to the base in the morning, so I'm going along with them. I'll be back Monday night."

"Moss, it's only three a.m. You cold get a few hours' sleep and drive the Ford in the morning." If he left now, she wouldn't see him for another three days. "Moss, please."

"It's best this way, honey. By the time I get back, I can shower and change and write to Pap. He's going to want to know how things went. I'll see you Monday night. By the way, Mrs. Coleman, did I tell you how beautiful you looked Ms evening? Hey, are those tears? Billie, Coleman women don't cry over something as silly as this. Come on now, give me a smile." Billie's effort was hardly more than a grimace, but it seemed to satisfy Moss.

"Come on, you flight jockeys, move it! Who's ahnost sober?"

"I am," Thad said quietly. "Haven't had a drink in hours. I'll drive. Moss, if you don't want to drive the Ford down in the morning, I'll take it now and you can take the Jeep. You bok done in. Why don't vou catch a few hours' sleep?"

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Moss shook his head. "We'll do it my way." Billie's eyes thanked Thad for what he was trying to do for her. "Good night, gentlemen," she said quietly. "Thad, drive carefully. Moss, I'll see you on Monday." Without another word, she turned and headed for the bedroom, tears spilling down her cheeks. She'd been so sure Moss would stay.

Thad wanted to push his fist through Moss's smiling face. The ride back to the base was silent, heavy with emotions and confused loyalties. Moss was his friend, his best friend, Thad reminded himself. He would try never to forget it.

iiUmu CHAPTER FOURTEEN })}})»)}

Billie's Hawaiian honeymoon seemed to have ended. After the barbecue it was only rarely that she and Moss spent an evening alone together. They'd broken the ice; now it was their turn to accept social invitations, and Moss frequently entertained at the Officers' Club, just outside the base.

"It's important to me, Billie," he'd say when she complained. "It's not like I'm asking you to do anything but be there. All the arrangements are handled by the club."

"But I want to be here, alone with you, not with twenty other people. And I'm so much younger than the other wives, we've got very little in common."

"I don't like it when you whine, Billie. I don't like it at all. Promotions aren't handed out on merit alone. Not even in wartime. You're my wife and a Coleman. You've lived at Sunbridge long enough to see how things are done and I expect you to do them. Now get dressed."

"I could almost understand it if you were planning a career in the service. Moss, but you're not. Why is it so important to you?"

"Because I want to go as far as I can. I want to be up there where the decisions are made. There's no telling how long this war will last and I want to have some say in it. I've got some ideas of my own but no one will listen to them if I'm still just a flight jockey. Now do you understand?"

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"Not quite. I really don't see why it should involve me. Thad doesn't have a wife to entertain for him and he's certainly

not wanting for promotions."

It stuck in Moss's craw that Thad had been promoted to full lieutenant. His friend seemed to be fulfilling Pap's prophecy: "Watch out, boy, or that Yankee'11 get ahead of you."

Billie was immediately sorry for what she'd said and meekly went to the bedroom to change. At least her expensive wardrobe was being put to good use. There was the Coleman image to preserve. Later, Moss would smooth her ruffled feathers with a gentle kiss and an approving whistle. And if there was one thing Billie desperately needed, it was her husband's approval.

Moss wasn't certain he liked the new asseniveness in his wife. In many ways he wanted her to be more independent, because it would mean greater freedom and fewer responsibilities for him. Yet he never really wanted her to change from that pleasant, acquiescent girl he'd met in Philadelphia. He rather liked being the one in control, and he considered Billie's occasional balkiness unattractive. Things were so much nicer when he could tell her not to bother her pretty little head about something and she would listen. This new Billie seemed to demand answers, and often he wasn't prepared to give them.

What Billie had said concerning Thad's promotion was niggling at him—perhaps she was closer to the truth of the matter than he was. It was possible that Billie's arrival in Hawaii had created jealousy among the other officers, reminding ever>one he was a Coleman and had received special treatment. Then, too, perhaps the barbecue hadn't been that great an idea. Billie's instincts had been correct again. Settling back with his drink. Moss made a decision. Evervone had met the little wife... now it was time for her to go back stateside.

Billie stood under the shower spray wishing she had time for a bath instead. A nice long bath, fragrant with perfumed salts and a delicate powdering afterward. Then it would be so nice to crawl into bed beside Moss and make love to him. She wrinkled her nose in disappointment. Their social engagements usually ended late and Moss had to leave for the base so early; they had little time alone together. At least not for slow, luxurious arousals and falling asleep in each other's arms. Their lovemaking had become as hurried and demanding as everything else in their lives.

She lathered her arms, her neck, and her breasts, which were feeling heavier and more sensitive than usual, a sensation

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she remembered from her pregnancy with Maggie.

A Uttle stab of remorse sent her thoughts to the baby she'd left back in Texas. It had been almost two months since she'd seen her daughter. Counting on her fmgers, Billie realized that she'd left for Hawaii seven weeks ago. Seven weeks and no menstrual period. The thought was so devastating she felt lightheaded, and suddenly Dr. Ward's warnings flashed through her brain. No, it wasn't possible. It was all the activity, all the swimming. Gingerly, she pressed her fmgers into her breasts, feeling their tenderness. Missing a period didn't necessarily mean pregnancy and this was the way her breasts usually felt at the onset of her monthlies.

Hurriedly, she finished washing and rinsed off. Moss was waiting for her and she could practically feel his impatience. She wondered, not for the first time since arriving in Hawaii, if she should tell him what Dr. Ward had said about becoming pregnant again. Yet, as always before, it was something she couldn't bring herself to share with him. It would cause him worry and he had enough on his mind. Deep inside, she knew the real reason she wouldn't confide in Moss was that she didn't want him to think she was lacking in any way. She was ashamed of her inadequacies, even though this one was something over which she had no control. Besides, Agnes was well aware of the doctor's warnings and if there was anything to really be concerned about, her own mother would have said something. Wouldn't she?

By the time Billie stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in a white linen evening suit and high-heeled strapped slippers. Moss had come to the decision that his wife's return to the States was imperative, even if he had to fabricate the reasons for her leaving. "Billie," he said with a grin, eyeing the way the whit^ linen skirt hugged her hips and thighs, "you're a knockout! Maybe you're right and we should stay home tonight."

Billie stepped into his arms, raking her fingers through the dark hair at the back of his neck. His thighs pressed enticingly against her own and his hps found the hollows of her throat. As her desires heightened, her questions subsided. This was her husband and he loved her and didn't want to share her with anyone tonight. When his mouth captured hers and she heard him emit a low groan of passion, tears of love and gratitude made crystalline paths down her cheeks. * * *

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Less than a week later, Moss arrived home early. Billie immediately knew something was terribly wrong. "What are you doing home?" she asked, dreading the answer.

"Billie, love, I can't stay. I've just come to pick up my things. I've got to get right back, but I wanted to see you before I left."

"Left? Where are you going?" There'd been so little time, so little time. Akeady she ached with missing him.

"I can't tell you that, Billie. You understand. I've already gotten through to Pap and he's making arrangements for you to go back stateside."

"Why can't I stay here and wait for you?"