Читать книгу: «Tempted In Texas», страница 3

3

SAVED. SAVED FROM herself. Putting on the skirt to attract Alec—what had she been thinking? Or rather, why had she been thinking it?

Fortunately, when she returned, he was typing some manly strategy he’d thought of into her laptop, and didn’t seem to remember the skirt.

Not fitting into the skirt didn’t matter. And yet Gwen ate salad with dressing on the side and avoided ice cream until Wednesday. She wasn’t dieting—she just suddenly developed a real fondness for naked lettuce. Besides, her ice cream day was Friday. Okay, Thursday through Saturday—Wednesday, if it had been a really rough week. But never Monday or Tuesday. Never. Oh, maybe a bite or two from Friday’s pint—but that was absolutely it.

And did the skirt care about naked lettuce or avoiding ice cream? Did it cooperate by at least letting Gwen zip the zipper completely? No.

So when New Year’s Eve rolled around, Gwen had to resort to her “safe” outfit—black silky pants, elastic waist, and the cute, but scratchy, Lurex sweater with the gold and silver champagne glasses all over it. Some of the glasses had bubbles coming out of them and Gwen had to stand up straight or a couple of the bubbles would be positioned suggestively.

The sweater had a V-neck and by aggressively pulling it down and standing with her arms just so, Gwen summoned up more cleavage than she had last year.

At least not all the extra pounds had gone to her hips.

She released the hem of the sweater and the neckline sprang back into mother-approved territory.

Gwen sighed and spent more time on her makeup. Why, she didn’t know. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d told Laurie that the pickings were slim among her parents’ New Year’s Eve crowd.

As the thought occurred to her, Alec knocked on her door. She knew it was Alec because he was the only one knocking on her door these days. And she suddenly knew why she was wrestling with lip liner.

Alec came from a background where the women wore lip liner. They didn’t just buy it with good intentions, then leave it in their bathroom drawers until it dried out and crumbled when they got around to using it on New Year’s Eve to impress him.

Not that she was trying to impress him. He knocked again. Gwen threw down the lip liner, slashed at her mouth with lipstick and hurried to the door, then slowed when she realized he wasn’t going anywhere—she had the car keys, after all.

Speaking of…where had she put her purse? Right, back in the bedroom so she could exchange her leather carryall for a petite evening bag that was basically useless. She was just going to her mother’s, but Alec would see her and Gwen had some pride, misplaced though it was.

He knocked again.

“All right! I heard you the first time you banged on the door!” He must be eager to see Stephanie.

Irritated, Gwen flung open the door. “You’re just going to have to wait until I get my purse and a jack—”

Hands shoved in his pockets, Alec lounged against the iron railing at the top of the stairs outside her door. He looked…he looked…well, certainly worthy of lip liner.

He’d done the slicked-back thing with his hair, only on him it looked good. And the tux was…was black and shawl-collared with a shirt so white it hurt to look at it. He wore the traditional black bow tie and his shirt studs had to be a studly onyx and not plastic.

Gwen hung on to the doorknob with a death grip and tried to remember what she’d been saying. It would help if he’d give her a clue, but Alec wasn’t even looking at her. No, judging by the direction of his gaze, he was looking at her…bubbles.

“Nice sweater.” Grinning, Alec raised his eyes to hers. “Very…effervescent.”

“Ha ha.” Gwen straightened. “You have cat hair on your tux.”

“Damn cat.” He spoke with resignation and brushed at his arms.

“Pant leg,” Gwen pointed. “Come in and I’ll get you some masking tape.”

“Why?” He followed her in and shut the door.

Gwen ignored her wobbly legs and took off for the kitchen. “For the cat hair.”

She rummaged around in her kitchen drawer and brought him the roll of tape. “Wrap it around your hand sticky side out.”

“Wouldn’t it make sense to invest in a lint brush?”

“I have a lint brush, but I don’t want cat hair in it.”

Alec smiled in a worldly amused way and wrapped his hand in the tape.

It was so not fair. He looked fabulous and she could only aspire to cute with slightly risqué bubbles. And then only if she slouched.

While Alec removed all traces of Armageddon, Gwen went back to the bedroom, packed the tiny purse and found her trench coat. It was khaki and didn’t go with her outfit. Why was she only thinking of that now? On the other hand, was it really cold enough for a jacket? What had she worn last year? Probably the trench coat.

Her car had a heater. She’d just ditch the coat.

Then she remembered that she needed an overnight bag which would really spoil her look, but she no longer cared. If she took too much more time, then Alec would come looking for her and the thought of Alec in her bedroom… She refused to entertain thoughts of Alec in her bedroom.

Alec was still in her kitchen disposing of the makeshift lint brush in the trash can under the sink. “So how do I look? Any more cat hair?” He held out his arms and turned around.

Gwen stuck her nose in the air. “Absolutely fab, dahling. Seriously, you look great—like you’re wearing Armani.”

A beat went by. Something about the expression on his face… Gwen cringed inwardly. “You are wearing Armani, aren’t you?”

“I got a great deal.” Alec took her overnight satchel from her. “I paid fifteen bucks for it yesterday afternoon. Got it from a guy who found it hanging in the back of his closet.” He held open the door for her.

“What luck.” Without meeting his eyes, Gwen waited until he was outside, locked the door and handed him the keys.

Alec stood staring at them as they lay in his palm reflecting the multicolored blinking from her neighbor’s Christmas lights.

Maybe she should have taken the Scooby-Doo in a Santa hat off the key ring. Gwen wondered if Stephanie liked Scooby-Doo. “Sorry, my Rolls is in the shop. It needed an oil change.”

He didn’t even crack a smile. “I appreciate this, Gwen.” Gesturing for her to precede him down the stairs, he muttered something that sounded like, “I hope Stephanie does,” but Gwen couldn’t be sure.

Alec was in a strange mood. As he drove her to her parents’ house, he smiled and joked back at her, but there wasn’t any zing to it.

Gwen was fascinated to realize that a good-looking Alec without zing wasn’t nearly as attractive as a rumpled Alec using charm to mooch from her, even though they both knew what he was doing.

Well, wasn’t this a fun way to start New Year’s Eve?

“I’ll be spending the night at my folks’,” she reminded him when the conversation lagged, “so just come get me sometime tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay.”

“If you call first, I’ll be ready and you can make the trip during the halftime of some game.”

“Okay.”

“Or, you could just show up if it’s more convenient.”

“Gee, Gwen, roll over and I might scratch your tummy.”

Jerk. “Try it, and I’ll bite off your fingers while I’m peeing on your carpet.”

He laughed. Finally. But he was still a jerk.

“Sorry. I was being a jerk.”

“I was just thinking that.”

“Ignore me.”

She’d like to, but he wasn’t very ignorable. “What’s wrong?” Stop there. Right there. No! Don’t— “Wasn’t Stephanie glad to hear that you’re going to be there tonight after all?” Slit your wrists. Now. There’s a nail file in the glove compartment.

“Yes.” He added nothing else.

Fine, then. Her attempt at filler conversation had gone nowhere, so she’d just let him brood.

During the ensuing silence, she mentally chanted his happiness is not my responsibility. The last time she’d chanted that was in connection with Eric.

The situation with Alec was completely different, yet here she was, catering to him in the same way. Why did she keep doing this to herself? She’d recognized her problem with men, so why couldn’t she avoid making it so easy for them to take advantage of her? She didn’t want to spend all day at her parents’ house, yet she’d practically begged Alec to keep the car as long as he wanted.

It was her old pattern with men—always putting herself and what she wanted second. Taking care of them, inconveniencing herself and in essence training them not to consider her wants at all. She frequently caught herself doing it at work, too. Not good.

It was apparently going to take more than giving up men to break the habit.

They were winding their way along Memorial Drive nearing the area where her parents lived. Gwen indicated where Alec should turn. “I’d appreciate it if you could get me by noon tomorrow. Any later and Mom will feel that she has to make a production out of lunch and I know she’ll be tired after the party.”

“Will do.”

That wasn’t so hard, was it? Gwen felt the beginnings of empowerment. “Turn down the next street and go all the way to the end.”

“The house with all the floodlights?”

“That’s the one.”

He pulled into the driveway behind the catering van. “Looks like your parents’ party is a major deal.”

“It is. Tons of people in and out all night.” She reached for the door handle and was touched to see that Alec got out, retrieved her satchel for her and carried it all the way to the front door.

“Again, I appreciate this.”

His voice was warmly sincere and just for a second, Gwen wanted to drag him inside like some trophy and display him to her parents. Instead, she reached for her bag. “No prob. See you tomorrow.”

Alec shoved his hands into his pockets and tilted his head to one side. “Gwen?”

She’d already pushed open the door. “Yes?”

“You do look good.” He delivered the line just matter-of-factly enough so she knew he was serious.

She stared at him as her heart thumped wildly. Say something witty. “Thanks.” So much for wit.

He nodded once and headed back to the car, passing Laurie who’d emerged from one of the parked cars.

“Hi—Laurie, is it?”

Looking thunderstruck, Laurie managed an, “Uhhuh.”

Alec lifted a hand. “Happy New Year.”

Laurie turned and watched him until he got into Gwen’s car, then joined Gwen on the porch.

“That was your neighbor?” Laurie was wearing something tight and shiny.

“Yeah. Cleans up real nice for a mechanic, doesn’t he?”

“Well, yeah.” She followed Gwen inside. “How come you just let him drive off like that?”

“He’s going to some benefit.”

“And he can’t come in and be sociable for ten minutes?” Laurie stopped in front of the mirror in the foyer and checked her perfect appearance.

Gwen tugged at her sweater. “He’s got a girlfriend.”

“I repeat, he couldn’t come in—”

“Drop it, Laurie.”

“But…wait a minute, you aren’t wearing the skirt!”

Sighing, Gwen headed for the spare bedroom to stow her satchel. “You are expecting way too much from my parents’ party.”

“I was thinking of your neighbor.”

“You’re expecting way too much from Alec, too.”

Laurie gave her an arch look. “Have you worn the skirt in front of him?”

“No.” Gwen wanted to avoid talking about the skirt. “Come on. Let’s go make friends with the bartender.”

She and Laurie heard voices as they approached the living room. And then they walked into chaos.

“ALEC! YOU’RE HERE.” Stephanie gripped his arm and gave him an air kiss.

“How are things going, Steph?” He’d found her rearranging items in the silent auction display.

She turned to look around the hotel ballroom at the sea of silver and navy blue tables. Her hair was all glued to the top of her head, aside from a couple of curls that brushed her shoulders and drew attention to her neck. Nice.

Except he caught himself thinking of a certain sweater with stray bubbles that made him smile.

“We’re sold out,” she whispered. “I’m so nervous!”

“What’s there to be nervous about?” The band had shown up and was doing a sound check and white-coated bartenders lounged at their stations, so the two main criteria for a good party had been satisfied. Everything looked well under control to Alec.

“A million things could go wrong!” Steph drew a deep breath, nicely filling her strapless silver dress.

Alec was reminded that he hadn’t seen Steph for several weeks. He drew her to him, tweaking a blond curl. “That means a million things could go right.” He bent to kiss her, but Steph pulled back.

“Alec, not now!”

“Then, when?” he murmured, ignoring the unexpected twinge of relief.

“Is that all you can think about?”

“With you in that dress…yes.” It was a canned response, something to ease her nerves.

Stephanie gazed steadily at him. “You drop out of sight for months and think you can just pick up where we left off?”

He straightened and gazed down at her. “Zoinks.” It was a Scooby-Doo reference. Gwen would have caught it.

But he underestimated Stephanie. “Oh, grow up.” She faced him, but as she spoke her eyes constantly scanned the arriving crowd.

“I am growing up. I’m taking life much more seriously these days. Poverty will do that to you.”

“You’re playing the prince and the pauper and watching cartoons.” Stephanie adjusted the bow on a spa basket and straightened the bidding sheet, placing a small silver pencil at the top. Then she moved on to the next item and checked it off her list.

“I thought you understood what I’m trying to accomplish.”

“I understand that you announced that you were going to start your own business the way your grandfather had. I even understand that you want the same handicaps that he had. And I understand that you like the challenge.” She checked off another item—this one for two round-trip tickets to Paris and a week in a hotel—before turning to him. “What I do not understand is why you didn’t discuss it with me first.”

Because he would have accepted the challenge no matter what her opinion. Alec had enough sense of self-preservation to avoid telling Stephanie that, especially right now. She was admittedly nervous. He’d cut her some slack.

But as she continued talking, he realized this was more than a case of nerves. Steph was dealing with a whole lot of repressed anger. “You knew how happy I was to be asked to be on this steering committee. It means the board trusts me not to let the Center down. This is their only fund-raiser. How well we do tonight determines how many women and children we can help next year. And it’s never enough. Never.”

“Steph…everything looks great. You’ll do fine.”

Her jaw hardened and tension visibly marred her lovely neck. “I want more than fine—I want fabulous. I want record-breaking. And I wanted your support. But just when things were gearing up, you dropped out of sight. I’ve had to do everything—make donation calls, go to all the progress meetings, even attend the donor cocktail party this evening—by myself. You didn’t get one lousy donation for the silent auction. Not even from your own company! Don’t think that the absence of Fleming Snack Foods has gone unnoticed. I’m so embarrassed.”

She had a right to be. “I’m sorry.” And he was. “Granddad will make a contribution—he always does. You should have reminded me.”

Stephanie pierced him with a look. “I shouldn’t have had to.”

“No, you shouldn’t have, but Steph, I’ve been working my tail off.”

“Oh, yes. Your strenuous minimum-wage job at the pager store.”

Alec’s guilt faded. He hadn’t volunteered to work on the benefit tonight, though he was willing to acknowledge that if he hadn’t accepted his grandfather’s challenge, he would have helped her. “There’s a lot more going on in my life than my survival job, which you’d know if you’d bothered to come and see me.”

“I did, if you’ll recall.”

He did. They’d sat around and talked, but the conversation never caught fire. She’d brought him up to speed on all the news of their friends, some of which they’d already discussed on the telephone, but there didn’t seem to be anything else to talk about.

In the end, sniffling, Stephanie claimed the cat dander was bothering her and they’d called it a night. It was the first time Alec had harbored positive feelings toward Armageddon.

“Okay, you came over once,” he conceded. “But after that, you never came again. You never asked about my progress and you never showed any interest in what I was doing.”

“Because, Alec, it was apparent that you didn’t want me to be a part of what you’re doing. You made a huge life decision without giving me a thought.”

It was true. He hadn’t considered their relationship that significant. Obviously she had.

“And as for showing interest…did you even once ask about any of this?” She waved her arm around the room. “Did you come and visit me? We could have gone to dinner or met some friends for drinks. But no.”

“I don’t have a car and I couldn’t afford to take you to all the places we used to go,” he ground out.

“Oh, that’s right. Your pseudo poverty.”

She could have footed the bill for an evening out, Alec thought. Had she ever? “It’s sounding to me like you’re only interested in me when I can afford to spend money on you.”

“I don’t like what you’re implying.”

Alec thought he’d been pretty clear, but he’d drop the subject for now. “Hey. We shouldn’t have let so much time go by without seeing each other. The phone’s not the same. Now that you’re almost finished with the party tonight, plan to come hang out with me next week.”

Stephanie stopped fiddling with a display of wine bottles and looked at him, her beautiful blue eyes unblinking. “And do what?”

Alec shoved his hand into his pocket and encountered Gwen’s keys. His fingers found the Scooby-Doo charm and he felt the corner of his mouth lift. “Talk. Just be together.”

Stephanie’s cool gaze warmed and she took a step toward him. He could smell her perfume. It wasn’t his favorite, it was something new. Heavier. “Talk about what?” She brushed at his lapel, maybe removing a stray cat hair, maybe only finding an excuse to stand closer. “About us?”

Us. Was there an “us”?

She was gorgeous and she knew it—he’d told her so, too. He had no problem with gorgeous. He liked gorgeous.

His fingers closed over the key ring until the edges pressed painfully against his knuckles. He also liked smart and funny and comfortable and gabby.

Stephanie was smart and she could talk. She might be on the serious side, but she always laughed at jokes and was great in a group. She got along with his friends and he was okay with hers. But comfortable? No. Stephanie was not comfortable.

Just how important was comfort to him, anyway?

“Stephanie? Oh, hon, everything looks gorgeous!”

Stephanie brightened when mutual friends, accompanied by a man who was maybe a decade older than Alec, approached.

The man gave her an admiring look, maybe just a bit more admiring than Alec, as her boyfriend-of-record, should permit to go unchallenged.

But he didn’t challenge the guy, didn’t walk over and wrap an arm around her waist, because he didn’t feel like it. He felt…nothing, actually. Whatever buttons Stephanie had once pushed had been disconnected.

And he had a pretty good idea who’d disconnected them.