The Price of Fame - KJ1 (25 page)

“If I told you that, I’d have to kill you, and you know that violence at
this hour of the day disrupts my schedule.”

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The Price of Fame

She had tried to keep her tone light, but Kate knew that her lover had been upset with her for being less than forthcoming about her plans for the evening. She only hoped that Jay would forgive her when she understood why, which, the anchorwoman mused, she would soon enough.

She thought back to her lover’s reaction Thursday to her not being in the house so early in the morning; it was clear to her that Jay was expecting the worst.
I guess that’s what happens when that’s what you’ve
always gotten,
Kate thought to herself. It only strengthened her resolve to make sure that she never gave her lover cause not to trust her. In the end, she knew, only time and consistency would prove to Jay that she needn’t worry anymore, and those were two things Kate hoped they would have forever.

“Kate, it’s time,” a disembodied voice said from close by.

“Yes, it is,” she smiled.

An intense thirty-six hours after she had left, Jay was back in the capital. She was tired, and a little grumpy, and just wanted it to be midnight already. Her conversation with Kate earlier in the day had left her a bit out of sorts.

“You couldn’t just give me a little hint?”

“Nope; it’s just something I have to do.”

“Why on earth are you being so secretive? Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I do, sweetheart, but don’t you trust me?”

“Yes,” Jay had answered softly.

“Okay then. It’s just an obligation I have to fulfill, nothing for you to
worry about, I promise. I’ll see you tonight after the show, right?”

“I guess so.”

Now the writer was going to be stuck for the next three-plus hours trying to be cordial to a man who might one day be president of the United States, when all she really wanted to do was to see Kate and be reassured. Well, she was committed now; she might as well make the best of it.

A plainclothes state police officer met Jay at the door to the Convention Center and ushered her inside to the governor’s table, directly in front of the stage. The governor, resplendent in a black tuxedo, stood as she approached. The writer looked positively elegant in a strapless floor-length black gown and matching heels. The dress hugged her slim form and highlighted her creamy skin and well-defined shoulders and arms. Her neck was adorned with a beautiful emerald and 151

Lynn Ames

diamond choker that complemented the emerald teardrops in her ears and the emerald ring on her right hand. Every man within fifty feet sucked in his gut, straightened his bow tie, and stared at the extraordinary beauty.

The governor was no exception. He offered her his hand and politely introduced her to his wife, the lieutenant governor and his wife, and the other members of his administration present around the table.

Just then the lights flickered once in warning. Jay took the seat the governor held for her to his right, less than fifteen feet from the front of the stage. The huge room, which was filled to capacity with every manner of state official and journalist and their guests, went pitch black for a full minute. In the darkness, the orchestra began to play and a beautiful voice pierced the silence with the first notes of a song. The writer recognized the tune as the Carpenters’
We’ve Only Just Begun
, but the words had been changed.

And then the curtain rose to reveal the singer. Jay thought she might pass out right on the spot. All thoughts of being tired and grumpy disappeared; in fact, if she had been old enough, she would have sworn she was having a hot flash. There, leaning on a high stool perched in the very center of the stage in three-inch heels and a bright red, sequined, cocktail-length sheath with plunging neckline and spaghetti straps, looking directly at her, was Kate. Her hair was swept up in a French knot, revealing her long, slender neck. Smiling broadly, she arched her eyebrow a fraction, enough for Jay to know it was meant just for her, and winked at the governor as she parodied his penchant for trying to build consensus in a government where no one could agree on anything.

Jay’s mind was reeling.
Busy tonight.
Her lover had said she was

“busy” that night. The rat fink. When she’d gotten over her initial shock and the guilt she felt for giving her sweetheart a hard time about where she was going to be that evening, Jay allowed herself the luxury of watching Kate and letting the timbre of her voice penetrate directly into her heart.
My God,
she thought,
she’s got an amazing voice. I wonder
what other little secrets she’s been keeping?
She decided she would grill Kate later. Right then, she just wanted to listen and ogle, which was pretty much what everyone else in the room was doing.

The anchorwoman sang two more numbers during the course of the evening, one to the tune of Carole King’s
It’s Too Late
regarding the perennially late state budget, and another sending up the governor’s ongoing negotiations with the senate Republicans over the death penalty to the Beatles’
We Can Work It Out
. The crowd ate it up, laughing uproariously at the new lyrics and marveling at Kate’s singing talent.

And, Jay had to admit, the other performers and skits had been very entertaining, too. All in all, the night was a smashing success.

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The Price of Fame

It was time for the finale. The capitol bureau chief for one of the major New York dailies walked onto the stage from the wings wearing a stodgy pinstriped business suit and singing his own version of the first stanza of
You’re the One that I Want
, from the musical
Grease
. He had a rich, deep singing voice and even looked a little like John Travolta. There was a dry ice-induced fog of smoke emanating from the other side of the stage, and then the entire Convention Center rose to its feet as one, whistling and catcalling as Kate emerged out of the fog singing the second half of the duet. She was clad in tight black leather pants over leather boots and a sleeveless ribbed knit black v-neck sweater, her hair cascading freely down her back. Jay’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

Kate prowled to the middle of the stage where her singing partner was standing. As they continued singing their own hysterical lyrics to the song, she moved right up against him seductively, running her fingers up his chest and ripping off his suit. Jay nearly growled in jealousy at the sight. She reminded herself that it was all part of the show, but boy, could Kate act. Underneath the suit, the newspaper reporter was wearing his own tight black pants and black muscle t-shirt. He ground his body against the blue-eyed siren’s as they danced and sang in perfect harmony.

Jay clenched her teeth, knowing every guy in the place was wishing he were on stage with her lover. Then, just as she was sure she was going to commit homicide, Kate locked eyes with her and gave her a smile that was reserved for her alone. Jay melted and felt her own mouth respond with an answering grin.

The show ended with a thunderous standing ovation and several curtain calls from the performers. Kate got the biggest cheers of all. As the lights came up, the governor turned to his guest. “Did you enjoy the show, Ms. Parker?”

“Oh yes, it was fabulous. Who knew that journalists had such hidden talents?”

“Yes,” the governor agreed, “they were rather amazing, weren’t they?

It’s tradition for the governor to respond to the performance with one of his own. I promise to leave you in splendid company, though. Will you wait here for a moment?”

“Certainly.”

He stepped away for a minute as the writer surveyed the crowd.

Within a very short time he was back. “Ms. Parker?”

Hearing her name, she turned around to find the governor standing next to her once again. “I have someone I’d like to introduce you to.” He smiled as a figure emerged from behind him. Jay’s eyes went wide. “Ms.

Jamison Parker, may I present one of the capital’s true treasures, Ms.

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Katherine Kyle. Kate, Ms. Parker is a fine reporter for
Time
magazine.

Perhaps you are familiar with her work?”

The anchorwoman didn’t miss a beat. She took her lover’s hand in a formal handshake, addressing the governor but focusing directly on the smaller woman with a completely sincere look. “Yes, Governor, I am a great admirer of Ms. Parker’s work. I have found it to be most stimulating.”

Jay choked and spluttered, nearly swallowing her tongue. Patting her on the back, the governor asked with concern, “Ms. Parker, are you all right?”

“Oh yes, I’m just fine,” she rasped. She chanced favoring Kate with a murderous glare that only the tall woman could see. The anchorwoman’s eyes were sparkling with mischief.
Oh, you evil, evil, woman. Two can
play that game,
Jay thought. Aloud, she said with a straight face, “Yes, Governor, I’m a big fan of Ms. Kyle’s, as well. Her work takes my breath away.”

I asked for that,
thought Kate.

Oblivious to the undercurrent between the two women, the governor offered a self-satisfied smile. “Good, then I can see I’ll be leaving you in excellent hands while I tend to business.” To the show’s star he said,

“Kate, please take my seat and keep Ms. Parker company while I pay you back for your impertinence.”

Without taking her eyes from her lover, the performer responded, “It would be my pleasure.” She held out the seat for Jay as the governor and his tablemates made their way backstage.

When they were both seated and alone at the table, Kate turned to her companion and gave her a brilliant smile. “You look magnificent.”

Lowering her voice to its lowest, sexiest register, and fixing Jay with her most lustful stare, she added very quietly so that only her lover could hear her, “Good enough to eat.”

Flushing, Jay leaned over and purred in Kate’s ear, “Promises, promises.” Then she straightened up once again and added, “And you look rather fabulous yourself, Ms. Kyle-who-was-going-to-be-busy-tonight.” She raised one eyebrow in challenge.

“I couldn’t spoil the surprise, Jay,” Kate snickered and said apologetically. “I did tell you you were going to love the show, didn’t I?”

“Yes. But you failed to mention that you were the star attraction.”

“I was not.” It was Kate’s turn to blush.

“Yeah,” her lover slapped her lightly. “Tell that to the 500 people who were busy drooling over you and especially tell it to the guy who was trying to get inside your pants on stage at the end. Thank God there was no room in there.” There was an edge to Jay’s voice that she tried in vain to hide.

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“Aww. You’re not jealous, are you?”

The writer hesitated a beat.

Kate couldn’t believe it. Turning to face Jay fully, she stared at her intently with eyes gone dark.
Expect the worst, right? Oh, honey, we’re
going to have to work on this,
she thought. For her lover’s ears only, she said with all of the feeling she could summon, “Ms. Jamison Parker, you are the only one for me, now and forever. Don’t you ever doubt that.

They can look all they want, but you are the one who lives in my heart and who owns my body and soul.”

Jay felt the sting of tears leap to her eyes just as the lights were dimmed once again. She never imagined hearing those words from the one woman her heart had craved for so many years. “Oh, sweetheart.

What did I ever do to deserve you?”

Reaching under the tablecloth, Kate caressed her lover’s hands where no one could see them. “I believe that’s already been asked and answered before; besides, I’m the one who should be asking that question, love, not you.”

When the governor’s rebuttal had finished to laughter and applause and he returned to the table, Kate took her leave. Turning to her lover, she took her hand formally once again. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Parker. I hope I’ll get to see you again very soon.” Her eyes twinkled.

“Yes, I would like that very much,” Jay responded, smiling.

“I’m glad you two hit it off,” the governor nodded. “I thought you’d like each other; two smart, beautiful, talented women. That’s great.”

As his words trailed off the star of the show was surrounded by well-wishers. Everyone wanted to compliment her on her performance. Over the heads of those encircling her, she watched Jay make her way to the exit. As if sensing eyes on her, the smaller woman turned around. Kate gave her a look as if to say, “You’re the only one I’m thinking about.”

Jay grinned and proceeded through the doors.

Five minutes later, Kate met her at the elevators to the parking garage, as they had agreed before the governor returned to the table.

“What’s a gorgeous lady like you doing in a place like this? Can I interest you in a ride in my car, perhaps?” The taller woman waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Do you think I’m so easy that I would swoon over a little red convertible?”

Kate paused dramatically for a beat and then grinned. “Yep.”

“Hmmph.” Crossing her arms over her chest in mock indignation, Jay pretended to think. “Do you come with the car, or is that à la carte?”

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“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On who is asking,” Kate said.

Jay dropped her voice an octave and moistened her lips, raking her eyes with exaggerated slowness over her lover’s leather-clad form. “I’m asking,” she said huskily.

Feeling a chill chase itself up and down her body, Kate swallowed convulsively. “Um, in that case, I definitely come with the wheels. Yep.

Definitely.”

“Good,” the writer said triumphantly, hooking her arm through the anchorwoman’s. “Then you’ve got a deal and a date.”

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The Price of Fame

hey barely made it through the door of the house before Jay Tgrabbed Kate by the arm, spinning her

around so that her back

was against the wall. She stepped between her lover’s leather-clad legs and reached up, tangling her fingers in the dark locks and pulling her head down for an incendiary kiss.