Campaign for Love (28 page)

 

"Champagne punch, or the usual hard stuff with mixers."

 

 

"The champagne punch will be fine, thanks. I’ve never been much of a
drinker, Mr. Pierce."

 

 

"I'll see what I can find for snacks to go with it."

 

 

"Thank you."

 

 

As Quentin headed for the bar, Nathan Elder sidled up to her, and
with
an ingratiating smile asked, "May I please have this dance? Perhaps
I
can make up for my neglect in the past."

 

 

"Thank you, Mr. Elder. That’s most kind of you, but Mr. Pierce has
just
gone to get me a glass of punch and some food. If you don’t mind
waiting, I’ll probably be a lot more animated once I'm fed and
watered," she said with a little laugh.

 

 

"No, I don’t mind. In fact, it sounds like an excellent idea. I
believe
I’ll have a drink myself." With that, he too headed for the bar.

 

 

Susanna was glad of her reprieve. She had a feeling he was going to
try
for one of the dances from ‘the good old days’ where they danced
close
enough to be chest to chest.

 

 

But perhaps she was being foolish. She would just be polite and
pleasant, and try not to be alone with him. There was no need to
panic.
The past was just that, the past. She was an empowered woman now, no
man's victim.

 

 

Quentin had come back with her punch and some nibbles, as he called
them. They were making small talk and chatting occasionally with
Sharon, Brad and their other colleagues.

 

 

Just as Suzy emptied her glass, another dance ended, and Elder
appeared
at her side to claim the next one.

 

 

As she had feared, it was a slow, ‘golden oldie.’ Elder took her in
his
arms, one hand firmly in the middle of her back, the other grasping
her
right hand in a moist grip.

 

 

He was, however, a good dancer. He was smooth and polished and had a
strong lead. Although his breathing seemed heavier than it should,
it
could have been his age. He didn’t get out of line, nor did he
speak,
but hummed along with the music.

 

 

Nevertheless, her skin crawled, and she was relieved when Craig
Rubin
cut in. Once more, she was surprised, this time pleasantly.

 

 

Not only was he a better dancer than Elder, but she felt none of the
aversion toward him that she felt toward the other man. He neither
talked nor hummed, but seemed to put his heart and soul into his
dancing, leading her through some intricate steps, which she was
actually able to follow thanks to her grandmother having loved
ballroom
dancing. She had taught her how to hold her own on the dance floor
at
weddings and other occasions when couple dancing was required.

 

 

Quentin claimed her for the next dance, praising her skill, yet
another
hidden talent, as he put it, then Brad Sherman took her hand for the
one after.

 

 

They took time out to partake of the hot buffet which had been laid
out, sitting with Sharon and some of her usual lunchtime crowd.

 

 

After they had eaten, Suzy danced every dance, rarely finishing one
with the same partner. Everyone wanted to dance with Femme Fatale,
and
just about everyone did, even the clumsiest of the young dancers.

 

 

She was graceful and warm, and the loveliest woman in the room. For
once she enjoyed her looks, for no one got out of line. And when she
got to share a few private moments with Quentin, she felt she had
never
been happier.

 

 

It showed. She sparkled, flirted, bubbled, glowed. Wherever she
danced,
she felt Quentin’s eyes following her proudly and possessively. She
hoped no one else noticed. But she could barely wait to be alone
with
him.

 

 

Finally the party was over. Goodbyes were said, with many a "Merry
Christmas."

 

 

A few of the office jokers stood at the door holding mistletoe over
the
heads of the prettiest girls to collect a kiss.

 

 

Suzanna managed to escape unscathed, and hurried back to her office
to
get her things. Quentin accompanied her to the deserted upper floors
for safety's sake.

 

 

Once back in the office, after one fast embrace, they lost no time
in
gathering up their things, putting on their coats, and leaving for a
place they could have both comfort and privacy, Suzy’s apartment.
They
had planned to have Christmas there, and couldn't wait to get away
from
the pressures of work for at least a little while.

 

 

On the way up town in the taxi, they got organized. "Let’s go
marketing
in the morning. We’ll buy a little Christmas tree, a small turkey
and
all the fixings and set up the tree. In the afternoon we’ll buy
ornaments and—"

 

 

Quentin chimed in, "And we’ll shop for one another’s presents, then
go
back to the apartment and decorate the tree-"

 

 

"Wrap the presents and start preparing Christmas dinner."

 

 

"That sounds wonderful. I haven’t had an old-fashioned Christmas in
so
many years I’ve forgotten what it’s like."

 

 

"How do you usually spend Christmas?" Suzy asked.

 

 

"Usually, I go to Phoenix and spend it with my folks. It’s too hot
there for the full works, but perfect for a nice cold winter’s day.
I’m
really looking forward to it."

 

 

"I go to Dallas and do the same thing," said Suzanna.

 

 

"Have you told them you won’t be there this year?"

 

 

"I called them a few weeks ago. How about you?"

 

 

"I did the same thing. I told them I’d met someone special."

 

 

"I did too. They were delirious. Instead of visions or sugarplums
dancing in her head, my mother has visions of grandchildren. "

 

 

Quentin laughed. "Mine, too. Oh, well, it won’t hurt to give them a
little hope."

 

 

"Just not too much hope," she said with a smile. "Not quite yet, if
you
know what I mean."

 

 

"I do. You're just beginning to really blossom and find your feet as
a
woman, and in advertising. Not to mention how far you might be able
to
go with the Femme Fatale thing."

 

 

"Oh, I'll be a nine days' wonder. There will be another Femme Fatale
model soon enough."

 

 

"But no one with your style and class."

 

 

"Thank you, darling. It means the world to me to have your support
and
know how proud you are no matter what I do."

 

 

They both kissed then, a sweet kiss which rapidly turned into
something
more. They broke part shakily with a breathy laugh.

 

 

"It must be the champagne punch."

 

 

He shook his head. "It's you, my love. You're intoxicating."

 

 

When they arrived at Suzy’s they went to the bedroom to change out
of
their formal wear and into something much more comfortable, bare
flesh
if Suzanna had her way.

 

 

Quentin pulled Suzy’s long zipper, and the dress fell in a black
pool
of silk at her feet, leaving her clad in her black lace strapless
bra
with matching panties, and garter belt holding up her sheer silk
stockings.

 

 

"That’s some dress. Every man in the room today would have liked to
do
what I just did."

 

 

"Flattery will get you nowhere. But I noticed plenty of sweet young
things looking at you as if they would like to do this," she said
mischievously as she reached out and pulled down his zipper.

 

 

There followed some lusty lovemaking in bed and again in the shower,
before they donned their robes. They headed into the kitchen to
prepare
a light snack, chicken breast with microwaved baked potatoes,
broccoli,
and a tossed salad with bleu cheese dressing. Dessert was Quik-Bix
sticky buns.

 

 

After cleaning up the kitchen, they felt well-fortified for the rest
of
the evening. They went to the living room and turned on television
to
watch for their commercials, and saw Suzy’s favorite, the one with
Quentin in it, and his, of the underwater snorkeling shots. The
shows
they never quite watched were made enjoyable by the agile hands and
nimble fingers that slipped inside their loose robes.

 

 

They took their time and experimented, and Suzanna was sure all her
Christmas presents had come at once as he lifted her in his arms,
brought her to the bedroom, and made love to her ever so slowly and
attentively for the rest of the night.

 

 

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

 

 

They awoke early the next morning with the slightly blurry aftermath
of
a night of love clearly reflected in their faces. They were still
drowsy with the languor of lovers completely fulfilled, but knew
there
was plenty to do now that Christmas was really here.

 

 

They snuggled for a brief time under the warm duvet, then rose,
showered playfully, and whipped up some breakfast, an egg white
omelette stuffed with mushrooms, red and green chopped peppers, and
cheese, with turkey bacon on the side, all washed down with steaming
hot cappuccino and the rest of the sticky buns for the finale.

 

 

Thus fortified, they made their lists, checked them twice, and then
headed out for the day's shopping.

 

 

They separated at the market, where Suzy picked out a turkey,
stuffing
bread, cranberry sauce, onions, peas, sweet potatoes, marshmallows,
and
a couple of frozen pies, mince and pumpkin.

 

 

Quentin picked out the wines and luxury items, like caviar, pickled
artichoke hearts, truffles and marrons glace. They found a small
live
Christmas tree in the produce department, and some adorable edible
popcorn and cranberry tree trimmings.

 

 

They rushed home with their treasures, put them all away, had a
quick
snack of cream cheese and bagels with smoked salmon, and started out
to
do their Christmas shopping.

 

 

"Let’s go to Saks’," suggested Suzy. "We can get everything we want
under one roof."

 

 

"We can even squeeze in Bloomie’s if we can’t get everything we need
there."

 

 

Since it was Christmas Eve, cabs were at a premium. Rather than
fight
for one, they went by subway, and got off at the Fifth Avenue
Station.
They passed long enough to look at the toys in the window of FAO
Schwarz.

 

 

"How lovely. A little carousel."

 

 

"Not quite like the ferris wheel over at Toys R Us at Times Square,
but
yes, it's pretty special."

 

 

She took his hand and they began to stroll down Fifth Avenue. "So
are
the windows at Saks, I'll bet."

 

 

He nodded. "People come to New York just to see the displays there
and
at Macy's."

 

 

A few people gave her an odd stare or two as they walked, then shook
their heads and moved on.

 

 

"I like Macy's, but that area of the city is even more crowded than
this one."

 

 

Quentin nodded. "I know. I used to work on 36th Street and it was
always mobbed. People say it's like Grand Central Station, only with
obstacles as well as too many people."

 

 

"I try not to go too overboard on presents because I think we should
be
generous and kind to people all year round, not just on one day of
the
year."

 

 

"Too true. I'm glad we agree on that as on so many other things.
Just
be warned that I would like to pamper you a little bit this year, if
that's all right?" he stroked one strand of hair out of her eyes
tenderly.

 

 

"Pamper away, my love, but it had better not be something that comes
out of a box. After all, darling," she purred, reaching up to stroke
the back of his neck, "the best things in life really are free."

 

 

He grinned from ear to ear. "Bold woman."

 

 

"You wouldn't have me any other way."

 

 

He stopped to kiss her soundly, then they moved on to the Saks
windows.

 

 

The theme this year was "Little Women," from the classic novel, and
they watched the mechanical puppets bringing scenes from the book to
life.

 

 

"Let me guess, you identified with Jo in the book, with that
chestnut
hair of yours."

 

 

She nodded. "That and being creative, scribbling as she called it. I
adore having a comfy home, but I love my career too."

 

 

"It must be nice to be able to have the best of both worlds, to be a
great homemaker and hostess and so talented in your chosen field at
the
same time."

 

 

"And nice to have a man who appreciates that."

 

 

He put his arm around her. "I want you to have it all, my dear, no
matter what role I play in your life."

 

 

"Thank you. So right now, I think I had better play the role of
ruthless shopper." With one last look at the charming Victorian
display, they headed inside.

 

 

They shopped together for some tiny bulbs and ornaments for the
tree,
red candles for the table, mistletoe and holly for decoration, and
some
gift wrap.

 

 

"This is our first Christmas together," said Suzy. "I want it to be
festive and special."

 

 

"I hope it’s the first of at least fifty," said Quentin as he gave
her
arm a squeeze. "Now, let’s separate to buy our gifts for one
another."