Talk of the Town (12 page)

Sam was hers. He always had been; he just needed to remember it. Now she had everything she needed to get him to come to her. She’d pick just the right moment. She’d show Sam what a mistake he was making. Again. He’d finally figure out that a nice local girl from his hometown was waiting for him. She’d keep him safe from these slick city tramps.

She laid the paper on the seat and started the car. A cloud of dust swirled up as she peeled out of the parking lot.

Tom looked through a crack in the metal blinds and saw the rear end of the Trans Am disappear down the street. That woman was up to something. An uneasy feeling crept up on him like a cold coming on. He sat down at his desk and looked at the stack of paperwork waiting for him. He’d better get over to her house for dinner tonight and keep an eye on her.

Better stop at Cora’s and eat something on the way, too. Lynnette practically burned her kitchen down last time she tried to cook when one of these moods came over her. She was usually an amazing cook.

Hell, if she was inclined to make him dinner, he was glad for it, no matter what her mood. Maybe now that Sam had a good woman, Lynnette would come around. He’d like that. He could hope anyhow. He’d hoped a long time now. Tom shook his head and started in on his reports.

Sam gave Kelly one final, lingering kiss outside Myrtle’s screen door. She walked in on air, floating past Fluffy the stuffed cat, giving it a pat. Myrtle just stared as she passed by, then went on humming “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” The shop
was closed, and Myrtle was puttering with her potions, as Kelly called them: hair conditioners that smelled like tropical fruit and all sorts of other mysterious things.

Suddenly Kelly had a wild idea and stepped up her pace. She wanted to go see Sam teach his swimmers. She wanted to see him in a different setting.

After a quick shower, she changed into jeans and her favorite white T-shirt. She borrowed Myrtle’s big red Chrysler Le-Huge-O and found the high school easily enough. She slipped in the door and crossed through the girls’ locker area to a glassed-in overlook. She had a great view of Sam, and he was too absorbed in his young charges to notice her.

Sam’s swimmers were all around him in the water and hanging off the side of the pool: a group of kids who looked to be about five. He took one at a time around in the water, then returned each of them to the side.

Kelly could see their little legs kicking up behind them. Sam was focused on giving directions to his pupil and each time he did, the child would either dip under the water or kick harder.

Then they all grouped up and did head bobs in a row. He had to retrieve one who dipped a little too deep. He pulled her up so calmly the child hardly noticed.

Kelly heard his laughter like a deep musical instrument. Sam was fun. He’d brought fun and passion into her life, possibly for the first time ever.

After a while they all popped out of the pool and were swept up by mothers with towels to dry them off.

Sam stood on the side of the pool chatting with one mother. He had on one of those Speedo suits that showed off a physique she hadn’t seen since she’d watched the 1988 summer Olympics when Greg Louganis dived to the gold medal. She’d been thirteen, and television and books had been her best friends.

It took her breath away seeing him. Kelly pressed her nose up against the glass and it fogged up where she was standing.

Sam retrieved some long noodle-like toys and handed them out to a new group of kids, slightly older. They all jumped in the pool with a colorful array of waving foam tubes.

She could watch him forever.

Myrtle was right, he was her reward for everything that had happened to her as a child, and beyond. She had finally gotten lucky. Kelly made up her mind right there, in the steamy, chlorinated air of the pool waiting area. She was going to make Sam Grayson her own.

In the parking lot she unlocked Myrtle’s red
“dozer” and thought about how funny that was—locking the car in a town like Paradise.

Parked beside her was a classic black Trans Am. Kelly bent down to get a clear view of the person in the car. In it was classic blonde pain-in-the-ass Lynnette Stivers. Lynnette waved at her like a prom queen on a float and smiled a real weird smile.

Back at the Hen House, Myrtle was just finishing up making supper. “Want some stir-fry?” She whipped a dish towel over her shoulder and tossed the contents of a metal wok with a wooden spoon.

Kelly got two bowls out of the cupboard and started setting the table. “Myrtle, I have big news.”

“Spill it, girlfriend. You looked like the Cheshire cat earlier. Where’d you run off to?”

“I went to watch Sam teach swimming.”

“Awesome, isn’t he? When he was a teenager he took Paradise High to state finals two years in a row. He won everything hands down. Diving, mostly, and butterfly.” Myrtle supplied one-sided demos while holding her spoon and dishing up stir-fry. “The whole town used to go and watch him.”

“Okay, what’s the catch with this guy? He can’t be for real. This is a Stepford thing, right?”

“Sam has his flaws, I’m sure. I just can’t think of any.” Myrtle handed her a pair of chopsticks, and they both dug into their bowls of veggies and chicken. Pausing, she held her chopsticks in mid-air for a moment. “Oh, I remember now. He took Lynnette Stivers to homecoming and the prom his senior year.”

“I don’t suppose they ended up homecoming king and queen.”

“You betcha. And Lynnette still seems to have herself stuck right at that moment in time when the rhinestone crown went on her head. Sam’s done something good for Paradise with his high school glory. She’s just stayed in a state of arrested development. That’s a good one.” Myrtle snorted up a storm laughing. “And if she’d get arrested again, then maybe Tom Blackwell could just keep her locked up and make her see some sense. Get it?”

“You’re a card, Myrtle. Guess what? I got invited to the ball by Prince Charming Grayson. Some shindig in Seattle, yet. We have a week to come up with a killer dress and a mask. It’s a masked ball.”

“Honey, having you around is just too swell to tell. We’re gonna gussie you up so good you’ll be the belle of the ball.”

“Love that word.
Gussie
.” Kelly finished the last of her stir-fry and did the dishes for Myrtle
while Myrtle dug out her box of feathered masks. Halloween was apparently Sister Myrtle the Witch’s biggest deal. Of course, Kelly hadn’t seen her do any other holiday so far.

One thing was for sure: Judging from the store windows and the Halloween decor selection at Nettie’s Bazaar, the local dime store that outdid any Kmart on honeycomb foldout pumpkins, Paradise was a holiday-driven town. That suited her just fine.

It was red velvet, strapless, and gathered across the front into a sweetheart-shaped bodice. She’d spent some of her traveler’s check money having it drop-kick shipped from the Macy’s holiday catalogue. She put on the new, but fake, big jewelry, and sprayed a little Obsession cologne in her hair, her favorite trick. Yikes, she was hot. The mirror told her so. She went for the Wine & Roses Red lipstick, which had magenta undertones just like the velvet.

Myrtle solemnly handed her the red feather mask with gold trim. It was one Myrtle had bought in New Orleans during a Mardi Gras adventure.

The doorbell rang. Damn, that man was never late. She had a moment of doubt as to her choice of dress—they were supposed to be going slow, and she was dressed to press; just a shade north of streetwalker. Well, it was too late now.

Myrtle toyed with one last strand of Kelly’s hair. They’d put gold glitter in it. Kelly gave Myrtle a hug, grabbed her beaded clutch, and walked slowly out to meet him, mask on. He’d been extremely busy all week, and so had she. They’d had coffee every morning before work, but everything else had gone on hold for an entire week.

Sam adjusted his studs and checked his black and gold cuff links. He checked his reflection in Myrtle’s porch window for a second. The five-year-old black tux still looked decent.

A red blur danced behind the frosted glass door panes, and he changed his focus. Kelly opened Myrtle’s front door slowly, and inch by inch revealed the red dress. They stared at each other silently for a moment, then Sam started laughing.

“What? Is my slip showing? Do I have spinach in my teeth?”

“Kelly, your city roots are showing. You look fabulous. I have never seen a woman in this town clean up so well.” Sam had to stop himself
from laughing. Obviously he had left one detail out about their evening. He’d have to tell her later. Much later. Why spoil the moment?

Kelly unfolded a black evening coat—
thank God
, he thought—and he helped her slip it on.

“Your sense of humor escapes me at the moment, Sam, but nice save. I’d kiss you, but the red lips are deadly.”

He was standing behind her, and kissed her long, slender neck slowly. The scent of her filled his body with longing. She intoxicated him almost immediately. This beautiful, shapely woman poured into red velvet, her exotic perfume teasing him. He wanted her…tonight.

She turned and put her arms around his waist, pulling him close. Her chin tipped up provocatively. Her luscious red lips parted. Then, instead of kissing him, she spoke.

“Where to, big boy?” A big red smile lit up her face.

“Tonight, we fly away and do the town.”

“And dinner will be where? Cora’s? I bet you two cooked up a romantic table for two with candles and spaghetti like in
Lady and the Tramp
. Only tonight I’m the Tramp, right? I hope I didn’t overdo it with the dress.”

Maybe he’d just let her figure it out when they got there. “You look marvelous, and I will be able to spot you in the crowd. Actually, we’re go
ing to throw my family money around tonight. Are you up for an adventure?”

“Ready and able. Is our limo awaiting us?” She pointed toward the street, expecting Sam’s usual Chevy pickup, but in its place was a dark green Jaguar XKE. “Holy shit, Grayson, is that a ’63? What else is up your sleeve?” Kelly blurted out.

“My elbow, eventually. Climb in, your chariot awaits.” Sam opened her door for her, and she slid down into the tan leather seat. Cars and women were both so sexy. He shut the door gently and rounded the car to the driver’s seat. The night air was sultry, and he was burning for her. Sam revved up the XKE’s temperamental engine and it purred like a tiger.

The skill of Sam’s driving and the sweet handling of the car smoothed out the curves of the north hill area of town. If it was one thing Kelly liked, it was a good car.

She’d managed her first one at eighteen. A VW Karmann Ghia. She and that car had been in love. It was her escape.

Kelly found herself in a part of Paradise she hadn’t explored. They wound their way up, around, and down a long drive lined with tall poplar trees.

Out of beautifully arranged natural landscaping emerged a wood, stone, and glass structure of stunning design and proportion. Arts and
Crafts meets that modern Swedish architect she couldn’t remember at the moment.

“Anyone you know?” Kelly turned slowly and eyed Sam.

“This would be the folks’ place, but don’t worry, we’re just going to borrow some transportation.”

“More transportation? So the Jag just won’t do, huh? Boy, Sam, are there a few things you might have forgotten to mention about ol’ Ozzie and Harriet, here?”

“Okay, they have lots of money. Besides his law practice my dad is a partner in a pharmaceutical company that came up with something useful and made them all a fortune. My parents are really decent rich people, though.”

“Of course you know that now I will have to break up with you so you don’t think I am after your money.”

“Does that mean we
were
going steady?” Sam said with a smile.

“I guess it did, but that’s all over now,” Kelly teased. Sam pulled around past the house and down another little driveway. A large barn came into view. He pulled up beside it.

“Oh, no, not another horse ride. I really didn’t dress for it, Sam.”

“No horses, but before you break up with me, I better pin you to make the going steady official.”

Sam popped open the glove box in front of her, reached in, and pulled out a little black velvet box. He extended it toward her. Kelly’s heart did a thump. She was a sucker for good jewelry.

After all, diamonds are a girl’s best friend. She’d proven that when she decked Raymond. Oh, God. Why did she have to think of that now? It all came rushing back to her and made her head spin. She should tell him. But that would ruin their great evening. Her hands shook as she snapped open the box.

“Are you okay?”

“Little velvet boxes always have this effect on me.” Kelly was trying to joke her way back to steadiness. Inside lay a gold and diamond pin shaped like a daisy. She looked up slowly and smiled. He leaned forward and brushed her cheek with his lips, then whispered softly in her ear.

“You still look sweet, Kelly.”

He was a keeper, all right. She felt flustered suddenly. “Okay, so we’re going steady. Pin me properly, now.” Sam smiled while he unfastened the pin from its backing and slipped it onto the folds of her strapless gown. His hands slid beneath the fabric and pressed against her skin.

He looked intently into her eyes. Kelly could feel the emotion and need rise up in both of them. Heat settled right where his hands were
touching her. She shifted her velvet-gowned self over his direction and let him kiss her full on her red-lipsticked mouth. She ran her hand gently up his temple and into his hair, deepening the kiss, saying what she wanted to say out loud, but couldn’t seem to manage. This was going to be one long, hot evening.

Sam sat back in his bucket seat, stunned from the power of her kiss. She couldn’t help but giggle at the lipstick transfer. She pointed to his mouth and laughed even more.

“I’m doomed to repeat this behavior, so I might as well surrender.” He took out his monogrammed handkerchief and blotted his mouth. “Come on, my little Daisy Mae, let’s go before I forget we have dinner reservations and lose myself in your red velvetness.”

“What’s that sound, Sam?”

Exiting the car, Sam guided her down a flag-stone path toward the barn. It was only one turn of the corner before she saw the noise was coming from an airplane engine warming up and that the “barn” was a hangar with a plane inside. Around the back of the barn Kelly could see a single-lane runway with lights already on. She really was in the Twilight Zone now.

A sleek little Cessna prop plane opened its hatch and lowered a stairway, courtesy of a uniformed man with a neat white beard who looked
about seventy-five. Santa’s summer job. They ascended the stairs, where Santa saluted Sam with a quick movement.

“Welcome aboard, ma’am, sir. Right this way. The weather is great. We should have a smooth ride.”

Kelly was speechless. There were six gray leather seats, and Sam motioned her into the center row, by the window. He took the aisle seat.

“Thanks, Cap’n Jack,” Sam said to Santa.

The flight was as smooth as the champagne she sipped out of a tall, elegant glass.
ROEDERER’S CRYSTAL
1975, she read on the label, and it went down like liquid heaven.

She’d done some high-life time with Raymond, but this was by far the most elegant experience of her twenty-eight years. Sam had thought of everything, and waited on her attentively. She settled into her leather seat and gazed out at the stars.

“This is the best champagne I’ve ever tasted, Sam.”

“Nineteen seventy-five was a very good year for champagne.”

“Probably made up for the fashion blunders,” Kelly said. “I used to cut out old magazine pictures of fashion models. I had a scrapbook that took up the slack time of my childhood. It was
actually a pretty good time line of the styles at the time. My mom couldn’t exactly afford Barbie and her fiscal holdings, ya know, so my paper dolls filled in.”

Sam leaned closer to her. He ran his fingertips over her right temple.

“I’ll buy you a Barbie, sweetheart.”

“Just ply me with champagne and toys. I’m easy.”

“If you were easy, we would be in bed right now.”

“So, I’m
not
easy.” Kelly ran a few kisses down Sam’s neck and made him wish she were.

The rest of the trip was a blur of champagne bubbles and kisses until Sam pointed out the lights of Seattle and the Space Needle.

Kelly wondered whether leaving Paradise was such a good idea. After all, she was still hiding out. But it was too late now. She swept all that aside for twinkling lights and gorgeous Sam. For tonight, she was going to forget about it all and be a princess at the ball.

Their landing was bumpy, but it only served to make the bubbles bounce in his bloodstream a little more. Captain Jack came out of the cockpit as soon as they had taxied down the runway.

“My apologies for the turbulence. We hit some heat wave action. I hope your flight was pleas
ant, sir, miss?” Captain Jack had an amused look on his face and handed a handkerchief to Sam. Sam figured he had red lipstick blotches strategically placed on his face and neck.

“Got my own, Captain, but thanks. Great flying, as always.” Sam took out his own handkerchief and did his usual repair work. Kelly smiled, pulled out her mirror, and reapplied the telltale red lipstick. He was doomed.

She was tipsy, and as they exited the plane she paused at the top of the stairs. He didn’t want her to fly down facefirst, so Sam scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the waiting limo driver.

“Hello, there!” Kelly waved to the driver from her position in Sam’s arms.

“Let’s go straight to dinner, Marcus.” Sam gently slid Kelly into the Town Car’s back seat, where she shifted her dress upward a bit and sank into the black leather comfort.

“Yes, sir. The traffic is pretty mild. We should be there in less than thirty minutes.” Marcus tipped his hat forward and closed the door behind Sam.

“How gallant of you, Sir Sam.”

“My pleasure, believe me. I’d carry you around all over town if it didn’t draw such a crowd. Do you like seafood?” Sam helped her with her seat belt and got his own fastened.

“As long as it doesn’t stare back at me.” Kelly giggled.

Their limo ride was over in a blink and Sam retrieved Kelly from the car gracefully. As they entered the restaurant, she noticed several other couples dressed to the teeth. She got some long stares, which she took as a compliment, hopefully.

They were ushered to a quiet corner table where several candles were lit and an orchid in a plastic box sat at her place. Sam helped her with her wrap, which the host whisked away. Then he pulled out the chair for her.

“Oh, Sam, this is lovely. Where are we anyway?”

“Palisades. I thought we’d have dinner before our main event. How does fried calamari and crab-stuffed mushrooms sound to start?”

“Bring ’em on, big boy, I’m starving.”

Sam was thoroughly amused with Kelly. She must have had some big nights out in L.A., working in the fashion world, but she always seemed to be experiencing everything for the first time.

He ordered appetizers when the waiter came around, and passed on the cocktails. They both needed to eat.

“Those glass pieces hanging from the ceiling are Chihuly. He’s a local glass artist.”

“They’re just beautiful. You sure know your art, Sam.”

“I was raised by collectors. I’m sure my nursery was post-modern. I think there was a Chagall print over my crib.
Circus Horseback Rider,
if I recall correctly,”

“More likely the original.”

“I swear it was only a signed lithograph.”

Kelly went on teasing him about art and his parents and money until the waiter arrived with artfully arranged appetizers.

She was stunning sitting across from him in red velvet. Her arms were slender and tan, and that dress hugged her in all the right places. He found himself enchanted by her movements and her chatter while she dragged her fried calamari in red bell pepper and mango chutney.

He offered her a bite of scampi sautéed in garlic and butter. She opened her mouth and hungrily accepted it. Sam savored the incredibly sensuous moments one at a time. He was in no rush. He knew she would be in his bed soon enough. There was no keeping the two of them from making love in the very near future. Their desire was mutual; he knew that. In the meantime, the journey was an extremely pleasurable one.

After mounds of appetizers, a wonderful salad, very flavorful Thai soup, and lobster, Sam
had the waiter bring the house special dessert: crème brûlée. Kelly went crazy for it and licked her silver spoon to get the last bit.

Kelly was in heaven. Dessert heaven, man heaven, food heaven, all of those. Her head had stopped spinning after her fourth appetizer, and she was ready to go to the ball and boogie.