Words of Seduction (3 page)

Claudia made a face; Noreen ignored her as she studied Suzanne more closely. “It’s not like you to miss something this big,” she added.

“But I didn’t miss it,” Suzanne said, wishing Noreen would drop the subject.

Noreen wasn’t ready to. “You would have if I hadn’t called.”

“Yes,” Suzanne reluctantly admitted. “I’m glad you did. I had a long night. A lot to think about.”

“Like what?”

Suzanne glanced at her watch. “We don’t have time to talk about it now.”

“Then we’ll talk about it later.”

Behind her Claudia rolled her eyes. Although Noreen was the youngest amongst them, she deemed herself the leader.

Suzanne forced a smile, she didn’t want to talk at all, but she knew Noreen wouldn’t let it rest. “Okay.”

“Good. And don’t even try to sneak away.”

“Do you have spies?”

Noreen smoothed out a wrinkle on her sleeve. “I don’t think you want to find out,” she said, then walked over to her table.

Claudia shook her head. “She’s a strange little thing. There’s so much I still don’t know about her.”

“But we love her anyway.”

Suddenly, a voice came over the loud speaker. “Authors please get to your tables so we can begin.”

“That’s my cue,” Claudia said. She blew her friend a kiss then left. Suzanne watched her go, again struck by the contrasts of her friends. They were complete opposites in looks and their work. She’d met them four years ago at a national writers’ conference in Raleigh. Noreen had relocated to the area because of her husband’s job. She was already an established author. Claudia had left her successful psychology practice after her first novel became a bestseller, and was
working on her second novel while Suzanne was the unpublished newbie.

It was only after she’d checked into the hotel that she’d learned that her assigned roommate wasn’t coming and Suzanne couldn’t afford the full price of the room. Noreen overheard her talking to the registrar and offered to stay with her even though she lived close by and could have easily gone home. They met Claudia in the hallway as she tried to get into their room with the wrong key. They laughed at the mix-up and had clicked over food and drinks and had been friends ever since.

Noreen was now a top romance novelist whose passionate tales constantly hit the bestseller lists. Claudia’s deep family dramas had twice been turned into TV movies and she also used her degree in psychology to pen several bestselling nonfiction relationship books for women. Both women were a lot more prolific than Suzanne, who felt like a one hit wonder in their presence. Her book,
Beneath the Ashes,
had been an unexpected blockbuster and had put her name on the map overnight. But could she write another hit?

Suzanne didn’t have much time to wallow in her fears once the signing officially began. For the next two hours she smiled and posed for photos with adoring fans, autographed books and graciously accepted compliments. The day would have been perfect if one of her fans hadn’t asked the one question she dreaded.

“W
hen will we see your next book?” the woman asked with an eagerness that was palpable. She blinked as though she were about to cry and trembled with such excitement it seemed possible that the butterfly prints on her shirt were about to fly away.

Suzanne focused her gaze on her inscription. “Soon. Hopefully.” She snapped the book closed then handed it back.

The woman leaned closer. “Will it be another book set in Waverly?”

“No. This one will be different.”

“How different? I’d love another Waverly story.” The five women behind her agreed and then spent the next five minutes telling her about plot points they’d like to see and who should be with whom. “They’re all great ideas,”
Suzanne interrupted. “Who knows what the future holds.” She continued to smile, wishing them to disappear.

The woman would have continued to press her, but thankfully Mr. Whimple came to her rescue and quickly and effectively shuttled them through the line.

By the second hour everyone’s faces became a blur, but Suzanne was careful to make sure that each fan felt as though she thought they were special. And they were, but she felt like a fraud. Her readers thought she was a glamorous rich author. Would they still want her autograph if they knew the truth? That she wrote fiction, lived fiction and had a fictional persona to maintain.

“Hello, Suzanne.”

At the sound of her ex-husband’s voice, Suzanne nearly snapped her pen in two. She took a deep breath before looking up at him. She wished he’d changed. Gotten fat or thin, or grayed or bald. But he was still tall and good-looking with a smooth charismatic smile that swayed most people into believing he was trustworthy. He was the same handsome bastard she’d divorced five years ago. “Did you get lost?”

“I came to see you. It seemed the only way, since you won’t return my calls and pretend not to be home when I stop by.”

“You sound paranoid.” Suzanne averted her gaze and looked at the anxious ladies standing in line.

“Speaking of paranoid, I haven’t seen you in town. Are you hiding?”

“No.”

“I know you, honey. You can’t lie to me.”

“What do you want?” she said through clenched teeth.

“I want to talk to you.”

“This is not the place.”

“I’m not moving until you promise to see me.”

Suzanne snatched the book in his hand and quickly signed it, resisting the urge to write something obscene. She closed the book then held it out to him. “Thank you, sir, now have a nice day.”

He shook his head. “I’m not leaving.”

Suzanne glanced at the interested faces behind him and groaned. She didn’t want to cause a scene. “I saw a diner close by here.”

“Nelly’s?”

“Yes,” she said although she didn’t know the name. She’d find it anyway. “I’ll meet you there at three.”

“Good.” He turned to the women behind him. “Sorry for taking up your time, ladies,” he said, then walked away, and the women watched him go as though they’d just developed a new crush. Suzanne had to resist snarling.

When the event ended, Claudia raced up to her. “Let’s go for drinks.”

“I have to see Wallace,” Suzanne said, flexing her hand.

“Why?” Noreen asked, joining them.

“I don’t know, but I might as well get it over with. We’re meeting at Nelly’s.”

“We’ve got your back,” Claudia said.

Noreen furrowed her brow. “What does that mean?”

“It means that we’ll be spying on them from another booth.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Noreen said.

Suzanne agreed, but Claudia was already headed in the restaurant’s direction. “I want to get good seats,” she called back to them.

“I’d better make sure she also gets a good location,” Noreen said, then followed her.

Suzanne sighed and walked at a more leisurely pace.

She didn’t want to see Wallace again. What did they have to say to each other? She entered the restaurant and saw him flirting with a waitress and groaned. She caught a glimpse of Claudia who was miming a gagging reflex and stifled a grin before heading to Wallace’s table. He stood when he saw her.

“Stop being a gentleman,” she said, annoyed. “Nobody’s watching.”

He sat down. “You look good.”

“Did you get her number?”

“Who?”

“The waitress.”

He frowned, wounded. “I was just being friendly. You’re the only one I care about.”

Suzanne sat back amazed. Even his lies were the same. “What do you want?”

He sighed. “So much for small talk.”

“We’re not going to talk at all if you don’t get to the point.”

“You still hate me,” he said with a grin. “That means you care.”

Suzanne rested her chin in her hand, bored.

He reached across the table and rested his hand on hers. “Suzanne, it’s been so long and—”

She pulled her hand free. “What do you want?”

“How come you haven’t remarried?”

“Too busy enjoying those alimony payments.”

“I doubt they amount to much compared to what
you’re making now. I think there’s another reason. You don’t want to forget me.”

“Wallace,” Suzanne said with thinning patience. “What do you want?”

“Besides a second chance?”

She squeezed a slice of lemon into her water. “Yes, besides the impossible.”

He rested his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “I’ve got an idea for a book.”

She sipped her drink. “So?”

“I’m willing to give it to you and we could split the proceeds.”

“I don’t need your idea. Why don’t you write it yourself?”

“You know I’m no good with words.”

“You’re an attorney, you’re very good with words.”

“I mean putting stories on paper. Don’t shoot me down. This could be another bestseller for you. As a lawyer I have seen and heard things that would amaze you.”

“Find a ghostwriter. I am not interested in working with you.”

“If you’re so full of ideas how come you haven’t published anything new in years?” he said, his proper Southern drawl taking on a nasty tone.

“Because I’ve been busy. Not all writers have a book out every year.” She scooted to the end of the chair ready to leave. “Is that it? Are we through?”

“I’ve been thinking about you.”

Suzanne shook her head in disgust. “Stop it.”

“I’m sorry about your father.”

She stood.

He let out a fierce sigh. “Look, I really could use your help.”

She sat down intrigued. “Why should I help you?”

“Okay, so I may not have been the best husband, but I did take care of you.”

“Your women weren’t the only reason I left.”

“I know and you wouldn’t have been able to write your book without me.”

“What?” Suzanne said, shocked.

“I gave you insight that you wouldn’t have known otherwise. You’re lucky I didn’t sue for part of your royalties.”

“It’s fiction!”

He glanced around nervous. “Keep your voice down.”

“You want to sue me?”

“No, honey, but you have to admit that I helped you. There’s enough fact in your book to make people nervous.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The Lowell case. You based your book on that case, almost every detail was the same except you changed the outcome.”

A sense of anxiety gripped her. He was right. She had.
Beneath the Ashes
was a story about how a small, tight-knit community and its key residents dealt with the outcome of a murder trial. She’d had so many mixed emotions about the real murder that had happened in Anadale, but through fiction she’d been able to come up with some answers. She let her anxiety ease. It was still just a story and nothing more. “It’s fiction. And that’s all.”

She stood, but when she moved to leave, Wallace leaped up and grabbed her arm, his hand like a vise. “Don’t rush off, Suzanne. I know things that might interest you. If you want more dirt on this town I can give it to you.”

“Let go of me.”

His grip tightened making her wince. “Not until you agree that you owe me something.”

She ignored the pain and glared up at him. “I don’t owe you anything.”

“Life doesn’t work that way. You can’t come back into town and think nothing has changed. I heard that Gordon’s interested in Trellis Court, but do you know why he’s interested?”

“Suzanne, there you are!” Claudia’s bright voice broke in. “Come and join us.”

Noreen smiled from behind her.

Wallace loosened his grip and Suzanne yanked herself free, rubbing her arm.

Claudia sent him a cool look. “Who is your friend?”

Suzanne made introductions, glad for the reprieve. “Claudia, Noreen, this is Wallace, my ex-husband. Wallace Lyon, better known as ‘Who’s Wallace lying with now’?”

Wallace’s welcoming grin froze on his face.

“Wallace, this is Claudia and Noreen.”

Noreen held out her hand. “Better known as her best friends who will hunt you down like a rottweiler if you hurt her.”

Wallace shook her hand and put on his Southern charm. “A pleasure, ladies. And you have nothing to worry about. I never hurt the things I treasure.”

“For a lawyer you lie very badly.”

Claudia shoved Noreen aside. “Ignore her. She’s going through a bad divorce.” She gently brushed invisible fuzz from his shoulder and Wallace’s frozen smile slowly became real. “I can tell you’re the type of man women can trust.” Before Noreen could protest, Claudia looped her arm through Suzanne’s. “But we really have to go and it’s been such a long time since we last saw Suzanne so I hope you don’t mind if we steal her away?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “No, of course you don’t. Thank you.” She hurried Suzanne over to her table and sat down. “Aren’t you glad that we’re here?”

“I didn’t need rescuing,” she lied, with a plastic smile, “but thanks anyway.”

“Why did you have to tell him about my divorce?” Noreen said.

“Because you don’t insult a man when you want something.” She rested her chin in her hand. “Now let’s get some food and talk.”

Moments later the three women sat with glasses of pink lemonade and an assortment of appetizers. Although Suzanne had found Wallace’s request somewhat threatening, she soon dismissed the whole incident from her thoughts.

“So, how are things?” Noreen finally said.

Claudia lifted her drink, a devious smile on her lips. “Better yet, who is
he?”
She looked directly at Suzanne.

Noreen turned to her. “Why do you think it’s a man?”

“Only a man would make Suzanne nearly miss a major book signing.”

“I’m sure there’s another explanation. She’s stressed because she has to sell her father’s house.”

They both turned to Suzanne and waited with expectation.

Suzanne bit her lip, wondering if she should lie, then decided against it. “A man I used to know came by the house yesterday.”

“Why?” Noreen asked.

Claudia shook her head as though her friend was crazy. “Because he wanted to see her.”

“No,” Suzanne said. “He wanted to buy the house.” When Claudia looked unconvinced she continued. “You know the guy I told you about? The one I used to know?”

They stared at her blankly.

“My summer incident.”

“Rick Gordon?!” the two women said in unison.

“Stay away from him,” Noreen said, knowing the reputation Suzanne had shared about him.

“Why?” Claudia countered. “He might be a nice diversion.”

Noreen looked at her, appalled. “I can’t believe you write books about relationships when you don’t know anything.”

“I know plenty.”

“Which is why you’ve never married or had a relationship last longer than a year.”

“At least I’ve never been divorced.”

“Only because you’re too afraid to commit so you choose men who won’t commit to you.”

Suzanne held up her hands. “Let’s not fight about this. Let’s just agree that we haven’t had the best of success when it comes to men.”

“I admit it,” Noreen said. “At least I don’t advise others about it.”

Claudia raised a brow. “You just write love stories you don’t believe in.”

Suzanne grabbed her handbag. “I don’t need this.”

“Okay,” Noreen said quickly. “We’re sorry.”

Claudia lowered her voice. “Tell us more about Rick.”

Suzanne set her handbag aside. “There’s not much to say.”

“You had plenty to say when you told us about him last time.”

“Only because I was describing the past. It’s different now. I know this man and he’s not interested in me. He wants property and that’s all he came for.”
And to let me know that he’s still sexy, still dangerous, rich and completely out of reach
. “There’s nothing going on. It was just a shock to see him again.”

Noreen adjusted her glasses. “A good shock or a bad one?”

“A little of both.”

Claudia grinned. “The best kind.”