Dream's End (2 page)

“When I get through stealing you,” Jim told her gaily, “Bessie Mills is next on my list. Of all the cooks in the county, Curry has the best one.”

“Curry always has the best, didn't you know that?” Eleanor laughed.

“You're the best, too, Norie.” Jim grinned. “Why won't you come work for
me? I pay better than Curry, and I'd even give you two days a week off. That's two more than you get from Curry.”

“Don't tempt me,” she said with a smile. “Are we going out, or do you want me to cook you something here?”

“Out, woman, of course,” he exclaimed. “You work hard enough as it is.”

“I don't really,” she protested.

“Will you go and get dressed?” he sighed.

She held out her arms, gesturing toward the pale yellow dress. “Why can't I go like this?”

“Because I'm taking you to the Limelight Club,” he replied patiently. “And I'd love, just once, to see you dressed to the hilt.”

She stared at him. “Me?”

His dark eyes narrowed. “You. Why not try a night out without your camouflage? Curry won't see you, I guarantee it.”

“You're asking a lot,” she murmured. “Why?”

“Just curiosity. Aren't we friends enough for me to be a little curious, Norie?” he asked gently.

“Well…”

“Be daring! Think of yourself as Mata Hari, feverishly pursuing state secrets!”

She laughed in spite of herself. “Well, maybe…I do have a gown I've never worn.”

“You could let your hair down, too, and take off those horrible glasses you don't need.”

She gaped at him. “What are you up to?” she asked suspiciously.

He looked vaguely uncomfortable. As long as she'd known Jim, he'd never been able to keep a secret from her. They were only friends, but it was a close kind of friendship, and she genuinely cared about him.

“Jim, what is it?” she probed softly, her green eyes holding his intently.

He smirked. “All right, I need a little help. Just a little, just this once,” he said quickly.

Her eyes widened and she smiled. “Why you old rooster,” she laughed. “You want to make someone jealous!”

He turned beet red. “Well…”

She laughed. “Jim, my friend, for you I'll do the very best I can. But don't expect miracles,” she called over her shoulder. “For that you need good raw material to start with!”

She had gowns and she kept makeup, but tonight was the first time in her life she'd ever tried deliberately to look attractive. It was new, and a little frightening, and she had a sudden premonition that things would change beyond recognition if she went through with it. But after all, Jim had never turned his back on her when she needed help. He was every bit as rich as Curry, but so much more approachable. And she owed it to him. She began to take down her hair.

S
he took out the long, white chiffon gown she'd been saving for a rainy day. It was low cut in a V-neck, sleeveless and fell seductively around her slender figure. Her feet were encased in white high-heeled sandals with a beading of rhinestones on the straps.

She sat down in front of her mirror, looking curiously at the stranger she saw there—her long, waving hair tumbling
down around her shoulders, her eyes bigger and more feminine without the protective glasses. She applied just a touch of eye shadow and lipstick. And when she was through, she stared at herself with astonishment. Remembering her mother's valiant efforts to keep her from using “paint” or emphasizing her assets, she felt a pang of pure guilt at the way she looked. There was a sensuous air about her that had never been apparent before, and the white chiffon left a lot of soft, honey-colored skin bare. Before she could change her mind about it, she grabbed her lacy shawl and pearl clutch bag and hurried downstairs.

Jim turned when he heard her footsteps and froze where he stood at the bottom of the staircase, looking up at her as if he'd never seen a woman before.

“Well,” he said finally, on a hard sigh. “Well, well! I don't think I've ever seen anything that could top that transformation,” he said, shaking his head. “Norie,
have you always looked like that, or do you have some magical device upstairs?”

“A fairy godmother,” she whispered conspiratorially. “But don't tell anyone.”

“Cinderella, is it?” He laughed. “Come hop into my horseless carriage, you gorgeous thing, and I'll take you to the ball!”

She did feel like Cinderella, even if Jim's sleek blue convertible wasn't exactly a golden coach. He took her to the Limelight Club, one of the better restaurants. They sat in a private alcove surrounded by live plants.

Looking at her, Jim shook his head and sighed, his dark eyes still disbelieving. “I knew you were pretty,” he said with his usual candor, “but I didn't know you were a potential Miss World. Why the rags and cinders all this time, Cinderella?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I've never wanted to impress anyone,” she admitted with a
tiny smile. “My mother was devoutly religious. She felt that vanity was the greatest sin, and she taught me to under-emphasize my assets.”

“Does it embarrass you to look pretty?” he asked.

She blushed. “I didn't know I did.”

He laughed. “I'm glad I had this idea,” he remarked, letting his eyes trace her lovely features, her smooth shoulders.

“Who are we working on?” she asked as the waiter left their menus and went away.

“Her,” he said quickly, nodding toward a woman who'd just come in on the arm of a much older man.

Without being obvious, Eleanor half turned in her seat and got a glimpse of a lovely young blonde, as delicate looking as a rosebud, with a knockout figure.

“Who is she?” she whispered.

“The daughter of the man who owns the club—that's her father with her.” He grinned suddenly and turned his attention
back to the menu. “I think we've been spotted. Don't look, but she's really giving you a green-eyed look.”

“Aha, that's why you brought me here, to be stabbed in the back.” She smiled.

“In a sense. You're a real pal, Norie. I'll do you a good turn one of these days,” he promised faithfully.

“No need. I love playing cupid. Is she still glaring?”

“Sure is…oh, my gosh!” His face drew up.

“What's wrong?”

“Hide behind your menu for a minute, quick!” Jim said.

“Why?” she whispered.

“Because Curry and Amanda just walked through the door!”

She felt herself sinking down in the leather booth. Frightened suddenly, for no good reason, she quickly pulled the menu up to conceal her face, leaving her shoulders and a glimpse of her long hair visible.

“Hello, Jim!” came Curry's deep voice. “Haven't seen you in a long time.”

“You're never home when I call at the ranch.” Jim laughed. “I get over a good bit to see Norie.”

“Norie,” Curry scoffed. “My God, what a name. She looks like an Eleanor; pet names don't suit her.”

“You call her Jadebud,” Jim countered.

“In my good moods, when I want something,” Curry said darkly. “Eleanor's not much to look at, even though she's a damned good secretary. I flatter her a little now and then. It doesn't hurt and,” he added with a heartless smile, “it helps keep her efficiency up.”

“Curry, how can you talk like that about her?” Amanda scolded gently and Eleanor, listening helplessly, hurting, blessed her for it. “After all, she's been with you for three years!”

“She'll be with me forever,” Curry
said nonchalantly. “Where else does she have to go? No man will ever want her, that's for damned sure, and I pay good wages. What else does the little spinster need?”

“Someone better than you to work for,” Jim said with sudden, hot anger, and Eleanor knew without looking that those dark eyes would be narrow with it. “She's never had a vacation, did you notice? She never takes time off at all, she just bows down to you as you pass by her. Someday she won't be there for you to walk all over, Curry, and what will you do then?”

Curry's voice deepened as it always did in anger. “Are you still trying to steal her, Black?”

“Any way I can, Curry,” he replied gruffly. “I may not be as colorful to work for as you are, but I'll treat her decently and that's something you've never done!”

There was a short, tense pause. “How
would you like to step around back with me?” Curry asked huskily.

“Any time,” Jim replied tightly.

“Now, boys,” Amanda said gently, “this isn't the time or the place. Let's just enjoy the meal, okay?”

Eleanor felt the tension slowly relax, and she knew her fingers were trembling where they held the menu.

“Let it pass,” Curry said roughly. “But, Black, you stay the hell away from my spread.”

“With pleasure,” Jim ground out. “Watch your nose, while you're about it, Curry. If it rains, you'll drown.”

Jim waited until Curry and Amanda were a few steps away before he took down the menu Eleanor was using as a shield. His face grew tighter when he saw the tears misting her soft green eyes.

“Let's get the hell out of here,” he told her. “I've lost my appetite.”

She only nodded, throwing her wrap around her shoulders as she stood up. She
felt a strange tingling at the back of her neck as she and Jim started out of the Club. It wasn't until they were outside that she dared dart a glance backwards to see Curry staring after them. She kept her face carefully averted and followed Jim to the parking lot.

“The damned high-handed son of a…” Jim was muttering as they pulled up in front of the ranch house after a light supper at a restaurant smaller than the club.

“Don't strain yourself,” Eleanor said with forced lightness. “Curry isn't worth it, he really isn't.”

“Now will you come work for me?” Jim asked flatly.

She nodded. “Just give me a day or two to work out the details and give Curry his two weeks' notice.”

“All right. Norie, I'm so sorry you had to hear that,” he said gently, brushing the hair away from her flushed cheeks.

“I'm not. I only wish I'd known three
years ago,” she said miserably. “Good night, Jim.”

“Good night, Cinderella. I hope the ball wasn't too bad.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “The handsome prince wasn't bad at all,” she teased as she got out of the car. “I hope your young lady gets jealous enough to call you up and propose.”

“She might at that, you lovely creature. Good night!”

She watched him drive away with a feeling of loss, of sweeping aloneness. With a sigh, her dreams shattered, her hopes in ruins, she turned and went into the house and up to her room. And she cried herself to sleep.

 

In the morning, she put the camouflage back on and went down to breakfast. Curry had already had his coffee and toast and headed out to wait for Smith to deliver the new filly, Bessie told her.

The buxom housekeeper sat down at
the table with Eleanor and sipped her own coffee.

“Came in late last night, he did, must have been four in the morning,” Bessie remarked. “I barely heard him and looked at the clock. Out with that redhead again, I'll bet.”

“With Amanda? Yes, I think so,” Eleanor said vaguely.

“She's no country girl,” Bessie sighed, cupping her reddened hands around the mug of coffee. “If he marries her, he'll be sorry. Won't want kids, either, if I don't miss my guess. Too proud of that slim figure.”

“You have to admit, she's the nicest one so far,” Eleanor said tightly, wishing Bessie could talk about something else.

“That isn't saying much.”

“She loves him.”

“Like fun,” Bessie scoffed. “She loves his money, and maybe she likes the way he is in…” She stopped, flushing.

“Bed?” Eleanor finished for her.

Bessie shrugged her heavy shoulders. “None of my business.”

“None of mine, either,” the younger girl said with a smile.

She went into the living room and sat down behind the desk. She was sorting the correspondence that needed answering when Curry came into the room.

“Good morning, Jadebud,” he said brightly, looking younger than he had in weeks.

She spared him a glance, feeling the wound open up at the sight of him, and wondered how she was going to break the news to him. Her heart began to race nervously.

“Good morning,” she replied nonchalantly.

His eyes narrowed. “Is something wrong, Eleanor?”

He rarely called her by name. It made her tingle when he said her name like that, but she stiffened and held onto her resolution. “I…I wanted to ask you…”

“I've got something to tell you, too.” He drew out a cigarette and lit it. “Now's as good a time as any. I asked Amanda to marry me last night. She said yes.”