"My EOR is still in the experimental stage, but it's working for us. That's a high-tech method meaning enhanced oil recovery." Riley's voice was tormented and shaky.
"We're doing all we can do, Grandmother," Cole said forcefully. "You might as well know that Coleman Aviation isn't faring any better. Most of the orders for planes, at least a good portion of them, were from the oilmen. They've canceled, and we're left sucking our thumbs. We could go under, too."
"I was too cocky, too inexperienced. I should have seen this coming, should have hedged more," Riley said miserably.
"If you say that one more time, I'm going to slug you," Cole thundered. "There was nothing you could do. You'd have had to be a mind reader or an insider at OPEC. Tell him I'm right, Grandmother," Cole pleaded.
"He's right, Riley. Where in the world did you get the idea that I or anyone else in this family would blame you? Answer me, Riley," Billie said gently.
"I failed. I also loaned Coots Buckalew a million and a half dollars. So he wouldn't go under. A man works all his life, and then because the banks won't help, he goes belly-up. I had to help."
"Of course you did. I would have done the same thing. All of us would. We're people, not just a business. I think you're losing sight of that, Riley. People, family. We're in this together."
Cole grinned. "I'm glad one of us here has some brains. I've been saying the same thing to him for months now, but he wouldn't believe me. Thanks, Grandmother."
"I think we should all have some brandy and coffee, and in that order," Billie said. "Then I want to hear about the oil
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leases in South America. Riley, you didn't know your greatgrandfather Seth, but I did. I want you to believe me when I tell you he would not be disappointed in you." Billie begged forgiveness for the lie. If Seth were alive, he'd rip his great-grandson's heart right out of his chest and stomp on it.
Riley grimaced. "I find that hard to believe, but because you're the one doing the telling, I do believe. I'll get the brandy."
Cole grinned wryly when he stared at his grandmother. "So it was a little white lie; we all have to tell them once in a while," she whispered. Cole bent over to tie his shoelace to hide his grin.
An hour later Billie walked up the wide, curving staircase with a grandson on each side of her. She kissed them soundly at her door. "We're together on this, and don't forget it for one minute. Now, good night, and sleep well."
Back downstairs in the parlor, a beer in hand, Cole stared at his cousin. "You feel any better?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. I'd hate like hell to have you working against me. Thanks for the support."
"All I did was tell the truth. Grandma Billie wasn't here to do a hatchet job. She's behind us all the way; so is the rest of the family. Now, what say we tie one on and forget about business for one night."
"Hear, hear," Riley said, holding his Heineken aloft. The smile on his lips didn't reach his eyes, Cole noted. But it was a start.
"I'm going to miss you, Riley," Lacey said softly.
Riley stared across at the girl he was supposed to marry. She was beautiful—in a hard, shiny kind of way. Ivy called her a plastic mannequin. His stomach was churning. His ulcer was worse than ever. Nothing seemed to help. He'd made up his mind to talk to Lacey this evening before he left for Rio. It was going to be tricky telling her he wanted to postpone their engagement. He hoped she wouldn't cry.
"I asked you to go with me, and you said you had a job and couldn't go," he began. "Why didn't you tell me you took a leave of absence? I had to hear it from Ivy in her last letter."
"Ivy sticks her nose where it doesn't belong. I was planning on telling you, but you always seem so preoccupied. And it wasn't something I wanted to discuss over the phone. Does it matter?"
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"Not to me, but it should matter to you. I don't think Ivy was sticking her nose into things that don't concern her. The way she mentioned it sounded as if she thought I knew. As a matter of fact, she said only the nicest, kindest things about you. Anyway, I thought you loved your job." He knew his voice sounded accusing, but he couldn't help it.
"I do ... I did. It's just that there's so much to do with the engagement party and all. ... " She let her voice trail off as the waiter arrived with two delectable-looking shrimp cocktails.
Riley leaned across the table. The candlelight did strange things to his features, making his eyes glow hot and his lips narrow into a thin, tight line. He looked so menacing Lacey could feel her heart start to pound. She should have known something was coming. This invitation to dinner, even if it was his last night in town, was alarming in itself. Riley never socialized in the middle of the week. It was one of the many things about him that irritated her.
"I think we should postpone the engagement party. The way things look, I might have to spend quite a long time in South America. If things don't go well, I'll come back sooner, but then there'll be other problems. Either way, it isn't fair to you."
Lacey reached for his hand. Tears gathered in her eyes. Practiced tears. "Why don't you let me be the judge of what's fair to me? How's this going to look to both our families? Everyone thought, myself included, that you'd give me an engagement ring for Christmas. Are you trying to tell me you think you are making a mistake? Have you changed your mind?"
He felt terrible at the sight of her tears. He liked Lacey. Damn, why did he get himself into this mess? Had he changed his mind? Of course he had, but then, he'd never made the conscious decision to become engaged in the first place. Lacey had done that, and he'd gone along with it. He was to blame. Now he was going to hurt her, and his stomach would take on additional stress. "No matter how I say this, I'm going to come across as a real heel. I'm very fond of you, Lacey, but I don't think I'm in love with you and I don't think you're in love with me."
"You think I still care for Cole, don't you? Is Cole behind all of this?" Lacey demanded.
"Cole has nothing to do with it," Riley said miserably.
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"My father, then. What's he said to you? It's got something to do with my father—I knew it," she hissed.
Riley didn't deny it. "We both need some breathing room. If we're meant for one another, time will help us. I don't want you to feel tied down while I'm gone."
Dumped, cast aside like an old shoe. Again. Little fingers of panic curled in her stomach. Her mother had told everyone who would listen about the impending engagement. Cole. .. Cole would have a laughing fit. She wondered how much the Coleman family had to do with Riley's decision. From the age of sixteen she'd never been without a beau. Always there was a man to be counted on. What was wrong with her now?
"I think, Riley Coleman, that you've decided I'm not good enough for you. The Colemans have such high standards, and the Buckalews don't quite cut it. That's it, isn't it?"
It was on the tip of Riley's tongue to tell her Ivy could cut it, but he didn't. "No, that's not it at all. I have a lot on my mind, Lacey. You know what the oil business is like these days. You also know my grandfather is ill. There's every possibility that I'll return to Japan sometime in the near future. I have to think of all these things and what's best for everyone concerned. Right now I'm not ready to make any kind of commitment. I'd like you to tell me you understand."
She couldn't let this happen. She'd grovel if she had to. "I do understand. Look, I'll go job-hunting tomorrow. I'll tell my mother to put the engagement party on hold. I love you, Riley," she lied with a straight face, "and I absolutely refuse to accept what you're saying. When you come back from South America, we'll pick up where we left off. Please, Riley," she pleaded prettily. He could be swayed so easily, especially where women were concerned.
Riley's heart thudded. This wasn't working out the way he'd planned. His stomach on fire, he gulped at Lacey's Brandy Alexander and felt a momentary relief. Cream of any kind always helped.
He had no wish to hurt her now or in the future. Lacey had gone through hell once before; he cou
ldn't be party to causing her more misery. He knew he was being a first-class fool when he nodded his head in agreement. He missed the triumphant, selfish look on Lacey's face, hidden by the waiter who'd come to carry away the half-eaten appetizers.
The rest of the dinner passed in a blur for Riley. The ride home with Lacey cuddled next to him only annoyed him. He
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walked her to the door. When she stood on her toes to kiss him, he sidestepped and the kiss fell on his cheek.
On the drive back to Sunbridge he cursed himself over and over. He was still as committed as before. Perhaps more so. Son of a bitch!
Lacey's hopes of making it up the steps without seeing her mother were dashed when Tess practically ran from the living room to follow her up the stairs.
'This is an early evening, Lacey, I thought you'd be gone all night," she said slyly. "What with Riley leaving tomorrow and all."
"You thought wrong, Mama," Lacey said coldly.
"Something's wrong. I can tell by the look on your face. Don't tell me that Jap dumped you. He did, didn't' he?"
"No, Mother, he did not dump me. We have a mutual agreement. We're postponing the engagement till Riley gets all his problems settled. His grandfather is sick. Coleman Oil isn't doing well. There are a lot of things. Riley wants me to be happy, and we agreed that he shouldn't have me to worry about on top of everything else. Relax, Mother; I may become a Coleman yet, but it will take a little longer."
"No need to sound so defensive, honey. I'm just concerned about you."
"Of course you are, Mother. If I don't marry into the Cole-mans, you'll never get to put on that social-ladder-climbing suit you're dying to wear."
"You are a nasty child, Lacey," Tess sniffed. "No other mother would put up with the way you talk to me. You have no respect." Lacey didn't bother to reply. She slammed the door in her mother's face and locked it.
Lacey stayed in her room for four days, coming out only to make herself tea and toast. She spent the rest of the time reading old letters from Cole, looking at pictures of the two of them, and reading old articles about the Colemans. She tried to call him twenty-six times and all twenty-six was told he was either busy or in a meeting. He didn't bother to pick up the phone in his room early in the morning or late at night. She didn't bathe or brush her teeth. Her hair, stiff with hair spray and mousse, stuck up in bleached spikes all over her head. She looked awful and felt worse. The caricature that stared back at her from the bathroom mirror made her wince. She leaned closer. Her mascara was in clumps on her artificial lashes. She wasn't sure if the dark circles under her eyes were
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real or from the mascara running when she cried. She looked like a ghoul. She ripped at the sticky eyelashes and dropped them into the wastebasket. Her lips were dry and cracked. Maybe she was dehydrating. Even her skin, usually moist and supple, was dry and flaky. She stepped on the scale and looked at the numbers clinically. Ninety-two pounds. She'd lost nine pounds in four days.
At two in the morning of the fifth day, Lacey staggered from her bed to the bathroom. She showered and washed her hair, brushed her teeth four times, and gargled lustily with mouthwash. Not liking the taste, she brushed her teeth all over again. She pulled on panties and jeans, barely noticing how loose they were over her slight frame. She didn't bother with a bra but slipped an oversize sweatshirt over her damp, curly hair. Her feet rummaged over the closet floor for her Top-Siders. She was ready.
She crept down the stairs quietly, helped by the thick, sculptured carpeting. She made her way through the dark house and let herself out the side door into the garage. Tess's gleaming candy-apple-red 560 SL stood waiting for her. She knew the key would be in the ignition. She pressed the button on ihe electronic door opener. She shifted into reverse and let the car glide out of the garage and down the driveway. Only when she was a safe distance from the house did she turn on the lights. She drove purposefully, intent only on the road. She refused to think about her destination or what would happen when she arrived.
Lacey cut the lights when she reached the long driveway that led to Sunbridge. She slowed the powerful engine and parked at the far end of the house. She closed the door silently and walked on her rubber-soled shoes to the kitchen door. Doors were never locked at Sunbridge. Quietly, she tiptoed her way to the front hallway and crept up the stairs. The ninth step creaked, so she skipped it. Her heart was pounding now.
At Cole's door she shook her head to ward off the light dizziness she was feeling. Her hand trembled so badly she could hardly grasp the doorknob. She waited a moment and then turned it silently. She closed the door just as silently. She stood a moment to get her bearings. Nothing had been moved; that was good. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Cole sprawled across the bed, the covers at his feet. The first dawn light ribboning through the slatted blinds lay like silver streaks across Cole's muscular legs. She stepped out of her
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shoes and shed her clothing. She padded naked to the window to close the blinds. She padded back to the bed and stood for several moments staring down at Cole while she waited for her breathing to ease.
Gently she climbed into the bed and drew up the top sheet. She waited, hardly daring to breathe. When Cole continued to sleep, she moved closer till she lay spoon-fashion next to him. Her hand reached out and at the same time she slid down till her head was between his legs. Her tongue flicked out, snakelike, over the tip of his shaft, once, twice, and then a third time. Cole's immediate erection and his groan of pleasure made her smile in the dark. She knew the moment Cole's surge began to build, and stopped, pulling herself to the length of him. She kissed him hotly, hungrily, her small, round breasts pressing into him. She played with him, delighting in his groans of desire, and always she would stop when the pressure in him started to build. She leaned over him, rubbing her breasts across his lips, tormenting him and loving every minute of it. She was astride him now, that secret place between her legs slick and wet against his stomach. With her hands she cupped her breasts, offering them to him. She almost stopped when she realized Cole was still asleep, probably thinking he was dreaming. Gently, she parted his lips and thrust one taut nipple into his mouth. She could feel the tenseness in his belly and knew he was growing hard. She rubbed her breasts and her face into the satiny wetness as she slid lower till she was poised over his stiff shaft. Gently, she lowered herself until he filled her. "Take me, Cole, now," she cried huskily. "Take me. Love me." She rolled over, her arms about him like a vise locking her to him.
Cole closed his eyes and pushed her back into the pillows as he thrust up into her, his movements desperate and frenzied. Lacey arched her back, crying out as the thrusts became deep, then shallow, then deep again. A low animal sound escaped Cole's tight lips as he spilled himself into her, bringing both of them to a climax.
When his breathing returned to normal, Cole leaned over and switched on the lamp. His face was hateful as he looked down at her. "I can never forgive you for this," he said through clenched teeth.
"Cole, listen to me, please," Lacey begged. "I needed to know if you and I—"
"Well, now you know. We didn't make love. You crept in
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here like a thief in the night and I fucked you. That's the beginning and the end of it. Get dressed and go home."
"You liked it; admit it," Lacey sobbed. "You haven't forgotten me."
"And what about Riley? Jesus, I can't believe you came here. I can't believe you'd put me in this position. What kind of bitch are you?"
"I love you. Doesn't that make a difference?" Lacey continued to sob.
"Come off it, Lacey; the only person you love is yourself. What if Riley finds out? How can you face him?"
"The only way Riley will find out is if you tell him. I haven't slept with Riley, so what difference does it make?"
"Lady, you are one cool number. I can't believe you just said what you did. Go on, get dressed and get out of here. Don't make me do somet
hing both of us will regret."
Cole leaped out of bed and stood staring down at Lacey, a maniacal look in his eyes. "Are you going to go on your own or do I have to carry you down the stairs and throw your butt out of here, your naked butt?" His voice was hoarse and gruff, his stance as menacing as his eyes.
"I never knew you were so mean and cruel," Lacey whined as she slid her legs over the side of the bed.
"Well, now you know," Cole said. "I don't ever want you to come back here again. Do you understand me, Lacey?"
Lacey didn't bother to answer. She pulled the sweatshirt over her head. She wondered if she told him about Riley's decision whether it would make any difference. But no, it wouldn't matter to Cole one way or the other. He was a cold bastard. Where had she ever gotten the idea that he was a warm, caring person?
At the door she turned to face him. "I guess I needed you to say all those things to me to make me come to my senses. I've loved you for a long time, Cole. When we. . . when we broke up I couldn't let go. Riley did his best to help me, and I started to cling too hard. Don't worry about Riley, I'll never say a word."
"That's fine, that's just great," Cole growled. "What about me? How in the name of God can I face him? Every time I'm in his company I'll think about this."
A wry grin stretched across Lacey's face. "I always wanted to be unforgettable. Good-bye, Cole."
Hot, scorching anger surged through him. He lashed out,
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