Beauty Queen (42 page)

It was true Rebecca felt like a completely new woman. After years of numbness, and just going through the motions, it seemed like she had woken up one day in never-never land, where things actually were falling into place and she was, at last, her own person, warts and all.

She agreed (albeit reluctantly) to finish out the fundraiser for Tom. She had balked at first it seemed a little disingenuous to plan a fund-raiser for a candidate she really knew nothing about, but then again, it seemed much worse to promise to do it and then renege at this late date. And Tom was so frantic on the phone that she almost believed it was a life or death situation for him. Pleeeeeeeease, Rebecca! Im ruined if you dont finish it!

Talk about being overly dramatic ... but she had promised to mull it over, and in the end, had determined it would be worse for any chance at future employment to dump the project, and agreed to do it on three conditions: I want to do it from my house.

I dont care where you do it, just as long as you do it! Tom insisted.

And I need help.

Tom had hemmed and hawed at that one, but in the end, Matt had come through with Harold, who had practically begged Matt to recommend him when Matt had casually mentioned it. He was, Rebecca quickly discovered, a godsend.

The third condition she kept to herself but she had promised herself to learn about the campaign and the issues before she finished the gala, and toward that end, had penciled in a series of candidate forums over the next month. By the time her killer fund-raiser came around, she was determined to be the most informed person on staff.

From that point forward, Rebecca put all her energies into her new sense of purpose and experiencing, no holds barred, the absolute, heart-stopping, all-consuming positively joyous process of falling in love.

Falling! As in, off a cliff, a nosedive right into the thick of it. Now it seemed so amusing that she could go from despising Matt half the time to adoring him all the time. She loved how he cared for Grayson and paid attention to him. She loved how he loved her dogs. How dedicated he was to his principles and his practice. And she adored,

really adored, how the man could turn her into a quivering heap of raw flesh with a single touch.

What in the hell is the matter with you? Robin had demanded on the phone one afternoon when Rebecca called to invite her and Jake to her fund-raiser.

What do you mean?

I mean youre all giggly and flighty. Thats so unlike you. Its almost... Ohmigod. OHMIGOD! she shrieked into the phone. I know what it is! I know, I know! Its that guy, isnt it? That lawyer you couldnt stand?

Rebecca laughed. Maybe.

MAYBE?? Thats all youre going to say? Spill it, sister, or I will drive down there and pound it out of you!

Robin had never been very subtle. So Rebecca confessed all.

Except, of course, how Matt had liberated her, had dragged her willingly across new boundaries and had coaxed her to climb up to new horizons. Each time they were together (which was frequent, because frankly, she wanted it all the time, and wow, that was definitely a new Rebecca), it seemed she was lifted higher and higher, freed at last from insecurity and secret despair.

And oh, what a willing and cheerful partner Matt made in her journey to find herself. The night she pulled out a Kama Sutra book, one of the myriad self-help and philosophical books Rachel had passed along. Matt laughed, put his hands over her eyes, made her flip through the pages, then choose one, sight unseen. That had been a magical experience. Afterward, lying there half on, half off the bed, Matt had whispered the words that had made her heart shine as bright as the blasted sun, words she had never even realized she wanted to hear so badly: Baby, you re gonna kill me!

Yeah, well, she was certainly going to die trying. Take that, Doormat Rebecca!

And there were times, like when she and Matt would sit on the back porch and watch Grayson and his new pal Taylor play with the dogs, that she wondered if she was kidding

herself or if it was really possible to feel this way about another person, to be so totally in tune with another human being that she could almost feel him when he wasnt there. Who knew? She didnt have the need to analyze it anymore. Just the strong desire to feel it. This was, she recognized, the best time of her life.

Matt, too, was having those tender and shiny feelings of love, and just like Rebecca, he found them rather remarkable. He could honestly admit that he was glad he hadnt missed this, being part of another persons life, and shuddered at the thought of how close he probably had come to doing just that. He never would have guessed it could be so pure and so ... fulfilling. Jesus, when he thought about the meaningless flings he had had over the years, he even felt a little sorry for himself. What a dumb bastard hed been.

But now Matt was so happy with the new twist of his life that he didnt even mind when Ben made fun of him and Harold was beside himself every time Rebecca stopped by his office.

He didnt mind that copies of Bride magazine were popping up at his moms house, and that on more than one occasion, when he walked into the room, she and Bella would suddenly stop talking and pretend that they werent planning a wedding. He supposed the thought had even crossed his bachelors mind. How could he not think about it? Rebecca, well... she was impossible not to love. Her presence was gold bright and warm and richly soothing, particularly on those days he bombed in court she knew instinctively what to do, how to bring peace to him again. He could see why her sisters relied so heavily on her.

What didnt surprise him was how artistically talented she was. Lord God, the woman could paint. One day, she had dragged him out to the old barn to ask his opinion of whether or not it could be converted into a studio/office.

That was when he had seen some of her paintings that she had stored there and was absolutely blown away.

Oh, those, she said, laughing nervously and turning an appealing shade of pink, I did those a long time ago, before Grayson.

You should definitely paint, Rebecca, he had declared emphatically.

Rebecca had laughed that gentle-rain laugh, kissed him on the cheek, and walked out of the barn. And he knew because that was the way it was between them now, that sixth sense of knowing another person wellthat she would paint again ... in her own good time.

Yep, ol Matt Parrish, former player and ladies man about town, was having a wonderfully new and exciting time in the company of Rebecca. Was even discovering all sorts of new things about himself. Too bad this little epiphany he was having about love and life was not extending to work or Toms campaign.

Or perhaps he was experiencing the same sort of epiphany there, too ... but without the positive light shining on it. For instance, for the first time since Matt and Ben had partnered up, he was seeing their firm differently. It was a slow dawning, happening over time, beginning with a talk he had with Rebecca, when he had said out loud for the first time what hed known deep inside for a long timethat he and Ben were at opposite ends of the universe when it came to their business. But Ben was his best friend, and this dawning reality was a hard one to own up to. Together, they had been through a lot of good and bad times, both personally and professionally. And all of a sudden, it was as if the heavens had opened up and shined a light right on the crux of the uneasiness buried in him Matt knew he could not spend the rest of his life in a firm that was all about chasing the buck.

Where exactly that left him, he wasnt entirely sure. He supposed he could begin a practice on his own, which wasnt so appealing at this stage of his career. Or pursue the DA thing. But even that was beginning to look a little shaky, thanks to his exposure to Toms campaign.

Tom had calmed down quite a bit once Rebecca agreed to continue the fund-raiser, and now that the legislative session was over, they were heading into the critical late summer months of the race, and Tom was coming on like gangbusters. In fact, he had called Matt at the office one day and asked him to dig up some dirt on the Independent guy, Russ Erwin.

Why? Matt had asked. Hes no threat to you.

Were going negative, I told you, Tom had snapped. Theres got to be something in that fruitcakes background to exploit.

Biting back a more stinging retort, Matt had managed to calmly ask, Did I hear you correctly? Did you just ask me to find something to exploit?

Yeah, why?

Why? Because you know how I feel about that, Tom. I spend my days representing people who have been exploited. I just dont understand why this campaign cant be about the issues, not what you can exploit. Jesus, just the word leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

For Gods sake, Parrish, when are you going to climb down off that ivory soapbox and back off and let me run my own goddamn campaign? Tom had shot back. That had worked, had definitely struck a nerve Matt had not known existed before Rebecca accused him of doing the same thing. Mowing everyone down, she had said.

Im not asking you to fucking invent something, Tom continued testily. Im just asking you to take a fucking look.

And Matt wondered why he was still supporting Tom Masters, and if he hadnt perhaps exploited himself with the words district attorney dangling in front of him.

The moment he hung up the phone, Harold was at his door, smiling like a Cheshire cat. What is it? Matt had asked absently.

Miss Lear to see you, Mr. Parrish, he had intoned in his best professional voice, and then, stealing a glimpse over his shoulder, shook his head while simultaneously biting his lower lip.

What are you doing? Matt asked as he got up from his desk to come and greet his most excellent little surprise.

She just looks so fabulous! Harold whispered loudly. I would kill for that handbag!

Please dont, Matt said, ushering his secretary out, and smiled broadly when he saw Rebecca standing in the waiting room, talking to Ben. By the look of things, he was going to have to roll Bens tongue up and stick it back in his mouth. But he could certainly understand his partners reaction Rebecca was wearing a form-fitting pale yellow silk skirt that showed her fabulous legs to their fullest advantage, which, he couldnt help noticing, were accentuated with the help of a pair of three-inch heels that made her almost as tall as Ben. Her black hair was pulled back in a sleek pony tail, and she had black, Jackie Onassis-type sunglasses on top of her head.

When Matt cleared his throat, she turned toward him, flashed a gorgeous, all white smile that made both Ben and Harold swoon. Matt! she exclaimed prettily, oblivious to her admirers. Im sorry to bother you. but Harold and I were just wrapping up a little meeting, and its the lunch hour, so I was hoping you might have a moment.

For you? Ive got all the time in the world, he said. Why dont you come into my office before they drool all over you? he suggested, motioning for her to come inside. Rebecca laughed, tapped Harold lightly on the arm with what looked like a rolled-up brochure as she walked by.

Just like you, Parrish, taking all the fun out of everything, Ben complained as Matt gave him a jaunty wave and shut the door.

Behind the closed door, Rebecca slipped into his arms and kissed him passionately.

Hey, he said, grinning like a lovesick pup, what a great surprise. I didnt know you and Harold were meeting.

Yep. I went to a candidate forum this morning and had some ideas, so I dropped by. I hope Im not intruding on any lunch plans.

If you were, Id dump them, he said truthfully, thinking

how much fun it would be to go the usual watering hole with her on his arm.

Well, she said, slipping from his arms and walking to the window that overlooked the capitol, I am famished. I hope you dont mind, she said, closing the blinds, if I have a little lunch on you?

Absolutely not. Where would you like to go?

Right here, she said, pointing to his desk. Matt looked at his desk, then at her, confused. She lifted a brow, pointed to the desk again with the rolled-up brochure, and dropped her handbag on a chair. Do you remember when you said we could explore all my fantasies?

Little Matt sprang to instant and rapt attention. Big Matt could only nod as he quietly turned the lock behind his back.

Okay ... She paused, blushing prettily, and shyly dropping her gaze. If you wouldnt mind having a seat at your desk, I have this fantasy where I come in, and... you know.

Youre kidding, he said flatly, but he was already moving to his chair. W-what if we get caught? he whispered as he sat down.

Rebecca came around to his side of the desk, very gracefully went down on her knees, and slipped in between his legs. Actually, she murmured as she slowly unzipped his pants, thats part of the fantasy. And with a sly wink, she stunned Matt into silence; he gripped the arms of his chair as she closed her lips around the head of his penis, thought wildly that this could not be happening, that he was a professional, that he did not do this in his office. But then she moved her lips down the shaft, and Matt turned to jelly and thought what the hell ... it was lunch hour. His head fell back against the chair, and he was sinking into a vat of pure, unadulterated bliss, sinking and sinking as she began to move on him, licking and sucking and nibbling her way to his climax.

Which came very quickly, illicit sex having that effect on him. Wait, he said hoarsely, not quite able to move yet, as she very carefully cleaned him up. What about you?

Rebecca smiled as she came to her feet, leaned over him and kissed him on the lips. Ill see you later, she said, and walked around to the other side of his desk, picked up her bag. pausing only to straighten her skin and sweater before prissing nght out of his office like she owned the joint. Damn, if she wanted it, hed give her the keys, the deed, and the brand-new coffeepot.

There was no denying itthis was definitely love. Still grinning like an idiot, Matt zipped his pants, turned, and planted his elbows on his desk and dragged his hands through his hair in an effort to regain his composure. That was when he noticed the rolled-up flyer Rebecca had been carrying and left on his desk.