Tamed Spirit

by Alison Tyler

  As he poured himself a cup of coffee and looked out his kitchen window, he had no trouble seeing the makings of a movie. Cables were stretched everywhere. The street was cordoned off with actors dressed as policeman standing duty as a small crowd began to gather. Cameras were moving into place, crewmen and extras scurrying about. He didn't spot Cat at first. Then he saw the window across the road open, a woman in a familiar cranberry gown stepping carefully, hesitantly onto the ledge. Cats cautious movements surprised him. He drew closer to his window. Staring intently now, he saw his error. It wasn't Cat standing out there. He realized the woman had to be the actress Cat stunted for. He couldn't remember her name. He wasn't much of a moviegoer. An occasional foreign film was about it for him.

  He saw Cat then. She was standing in the street, off to the side, watching the woman on the ledge. He caught her smile, immediately wondering what had flashed in her mind, instantly remembering that smile from a much closer vantage point yesterday afternoon. He also vividly remembered the passionate kiss they'd shared. That was something he kept remembering, since he'd watched her fly out of his apartment before he'd had the opportunity to see if the next kiss would have as potent an effect.

  Even his rotten cold was better today. Luke was anything but a superstitious fellow; however, he had to admit that Cat Roy had had an amazing effect on his flu as well as his body. He figured it would be safer to think it was that crazy brew rather than the woman herself who had produced the miracle cure, but he couldn't get himself to believe it. No, there was definitely something about Cat…

  He shook his head free of the direction in which his thoughts were heading. This is ridiculous, he. scolded himself. When he was seventeen, he'd fallen madly in love with Sophia Loren after seeing her in Divorce Italian Style, a lusty Italian film. For months he'd fantasized what it would be like to spend a night with that dark-haired, voluptuous beauty. For months he'd made disappointing comparisons between his high school girl friends and the sexy actress. Now, after all those years of growing up and learning the difference between fantasy and reality, he was regressing to his adolescence all over again. His thoughts about Cat were not far removed from those he'd secretly coveted twenty years ago about Sophia. She was always simply Sophia in his fantasies.

  Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite the same. He'd never swept the Italian actress in his arms, passionately kissing those soft ruby lips. He'd never exchanged sensual smiles with Sophia. He'd never been offered a taste of elixir…

  Elixir! Yesterday it was a godawful brew. Today it was elixir. You're really slipping, Eliot, he warned himself. He started to walk away from the window. Then he heard the voice of the guy who'd offered to put his name in lights—or at least in the long list of extras—call Cat's name. She waved back to the director. Luke thought she was about to look up at his window, but instead she walked over to the entry of the building, pausing for a couple of minutes to talk with her near look-alike. One of the crewmen, carrying a garden hose in his hand, joined Cat as the other actress walked away. Cat hadn't looked up at Luke once since he'd spotted her. Was she intentionally avoiding him, or had she lost interest? Was yesterday a brief lark to share a few laughs over with her rugged, robust Hollywood friends?

  He felt a momentary satisfaction as he watched her get doused with the water from the hose. It quickly faded, replaced by a flash of arousal as he observed the shape of her slender body outlined by the clinging wet gown. She wasn't Sophia Loren, but Luke's tastes had changed since adolescence. Cat Roy had all the right measurements for his adult interest. He took a swallow of lukewarm coffee.

  A minute later he watched her step out on the ledge. She moved with a confident, natural grace that was truly impressive. Imagining himself in her place, Luke would have been more than a little nervous. Again he wondered what made Cat Roy tick. She never did answer his question about what she was doing in a job like this. And yet, he realized, the profession fit her. She had this tearless, spirited quality that seemed a basic part of her nature. Luke both admired that quality as well as found it dangerous. Dangerous for her—and for him.

  Their eyes met across the distance. Cat smiled. He didn't smile back. His mind was too flooded with sensations. He quickly glanced down at the ground, making sure the inflatable mattresses were in place. This time he knew it was a movie and that Cat was performing a stunt she had probably done a hundred times. The panic he felt yesterday was no longer present. And yet, he unconsciously held his breath, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. What if she missed those mattresses?

  He stepped closer to the window as she leaned forward. How could she so blithely let herself go? How could he stand by watching her? He shuddered as he saw her land, letting out a deep breath of relief as she swung over to the side of the mattress. This was not for him. Still, he kept staring as the director walked over to her. He couldn't hear her laughter, but he had not forgotten the sound from yesterday. Then he spied a ruggedly handsome man come up to Cat and grab her. Rather roughly, Luke thought, feeling the muscles in his jaw tighten. Spotting Cat's scowl increased his irritation at the guy. The anger switched to a stab of jealousy as the man put his arm around Cat, kissing her in a way that Luke decided was distinctly possessive.

  He moved away from the window, pouring his now cold coffee into the sink. He had to get a grip on himself before he went completely nuts. The sooner he forgot about Cat Roy and her wild stunts, the better he was going to feel. As if to reinforce that thought, he broke into a coughing fit. So much for magical cures.

  "I thought you weren't going to show. You're never late." Teri Caulfield placed her glass of Scotch back on the Mexican tile-topped table.

  "Sorry." Luke slid into a seat across from Teri and smiled. "I'm haven't been myself for the last couple of days." Those understatements just kept rolling along.

  Teri's sharply etched features registered concern. A small furrow appeared across her brow. Luke never noticed before that her frown gave her a slightly puckered look. He hurried to assure her he was fine—just a touch of flu.

  "You should have stopped at the office. Are you sure you feel up to lunch?"

  "Come on, Teri. This is supposed to be a friendly date, not a medical consultation. I'm feeling terrific now. Hardly a sniffle left in me. And I'm starving." He found himself irritated at her continued close inspection.

  The truth was he almost hadn't shown up this afternoon. He had called Teri's office fifteen minutes ago, hoping to catch her in, so that he could cancel out on their luncheon. When the answering service had said she'd left for the day, he considered calling the restaurant to leave a message for her, but then he decided that the wisest thing to do was to keep the date. He really needed to touch base with reality again in his determined efforts to get Cat Roy off his mind. In a way, feeling so much better physically wasn't helping. He was back to thinking Cat might have magic powers at that.

  "How's the book coming?" Teri asked in her twangy New England accent.

  Luke shrugged. He and Teri often discussed his research and the work on his book. Unlike when Cat brought up the subject, Teri's question did not generate embarrassing fantasies. "I picked up an interesting article the other day by Franz Hell-man about achievement and sexual inhibitions. You'll have to read it when you get a chance."

  Teri gave him an odd look. He hadn't meant anything personal by the remark. He tried for a warm smile, but it didn't quite come off. He was annoyed at himself, annoyed at Teri, annoyed that Cat Roy kept flitting into his mind. And he was most annoyed at the constant comparisons he found himself making between Teri and Cat.

  Teri was certainly an attractive woman, but there was an archness in her manner that Luke found particularly noticeable today. He was annoyed by her almost too perfect application of makeup, her meticulously coordinated Ralph Lauren skirt and sweater, and the crisp, twangy accent that gave her a thick Harvard University aura. These were the qualities, he reminded himself, that had first attracted him to Teri Caulfield. He liked the air of su
ccess and aristocratic good looks she exuded. He liked her intellectual bent, her controlled emotionalism. She was bright, accomplished, interesting, and undemanding. And she could not have been more unlike Cat Roy in every conceivable way.

  That was the problem. Teri fit a comfortable mold that Luke readily understood and related to. Cat Roy fit no mold at all. That was the heart of his fascination with her. She was unique, captivating, wholly unpredictable, and utterly sensual. He couldn't keep his mind off his fantasies of her for more than five seconds at a stretch. He also managed to keep evading his own question of how a sophisticated, intelligent man—a psychiatrist no less—could sink to such blatant, primitive infatuation.

  "You haven't heard a word I said," Teri scolded him lightly.

  "Sorry. My mind is still on that pile of journals on my desk," he lied. It wasn't like him to fabricate stories. He was tempted to tell Teri about Cat but changed his mind. She would tell him in no uncertain terms that he needed to have his head examined. Physician, heal thyself. He grinned.

  "Luke Eliot, what is the matter with you? First you look like you're a million miles away, and then you're laughing to yourself over some obviously private joke. Did you take something stronger than aspirin for that cold?"

  Elixir, he thought. "No, of course not," he answered her. "You know I don't like drugs."

  "I know that you're acting strange today. It's a good thing you're going to Greece in a few weeks. You need a rest." She smiled across at him, reaching for his hand. "I'm going to miss you, though."

  Teri was at her prettiest when she smiled. Her hazel eyes crinkled nicely at the corners, her pale skin reflected a faint rosy hue, her delicate lips curved up gracefully. She shook her head slightly as Luke smiled back. A whisk of blond hair escaped her sophisticated chignon. She tucked it carefully back into place.

  The gesture ruined the pleasant effect her smile had generated. The memory of Cat's wild mane tumbling haphazardly around her face as she removed that cowboy hat came into clear focus again. Luke picked up the menu and tried to concentrate on food. It wasn't easy. He had also lied to Teri when he'd said he was starving. He had no appetite at all.

  Luke followed Teri's lead, ordering the same roast beef on croissant, French fries, and salad. He managed some small talk while they waited for the food to arrive, but mostly he let Teri carry the conversation.

  "Todd Archer called the other day. He's going to be in town for the conference tomorrow, and I said we'd save a seat for him. He's looking forward to Brodie's paper on the psychological effects of over-the-counter medications. I'm eager to hear his findings on that myself," Teri said, refusing another Scotch when the waiter brought over their sandwiches. "I guess you're more interested in Matheson's work about the effects of tranquilizers on sexual responsiveness."

  Luke bit into his roast beef sandwich and nodded. Swallowing, he said, "I talked with Matheson a couple of months ago about his research. Very impressive. Actually, there are a few good people presenting tomorrow. We should both enjoy it."

  Luke felt better. He had no trouble picturing Teri as his date at the medical conference tomorrow. She fit in perfectly, and he was confident that they both would have a good time. He could not imagine someone like Cat Roy sitting beside him as Fleisher discussed the interrelationships of psycho-pharmacology and psychoanalysis, or when Chester Brodie reported his findings on the emotional aspects of abusing cough syrup and nose spray. And she would probably laugh in that throaty, utterly sensual way of hers when Matheson got down to a discussion of Valium and its repercussions on sexual potency. He was increasingly glad that he had kept this luncheon date with Teri after all. The comforting realities were slowly but surely beginning to edge out his disturbing fantasies.

  Things were moving along nicely until a large group of people walked into the restaurant and crowded around a nearby booth. Luke recognized several of them, but one in particular caught his eye. Fantasy, in the form of a dynamite-looking, dark-haired stunt woman, instantly disrupted Luke Eliot's carefully garnered, renewed grip on reality.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Cat's hair was still damp from the morning's improvised shower. A few dark strands curled against her cheek. She was dressed in the same suede cowboy jacket as yesterday afternoon, with a pair of tight blue jeans clinging to her sleek body.

  Luke's ever observant eye took in the details before Cat turned in his direction and saw him. Their eyes held for a moment, Cat's a bit startled at seeing him so unexpectedly, Luke's warmly appreciative.

  She brushed a wayward strand of hair from her cheek. Luke's eyes rested on the Ace bandage wound around her wrist. His expression showed concern. Cat's gaze moved across the table to Teri. Her expression registered a shadow of disappointment.

  She hesitated. Luke could see her chest heave as she took in a deeper breath. He smiled. Cat walked over to him.

  "Hi, Doc. How are you feeling today?" She looked him straight in the eye, flashing a winning smile.

  "Better. Much better."

  "You look better." She grinned. "Amazing what a good night's rest can do for a person."

  "What about you?" Luke asked, pointing to her bandaged wrist. He caught Teri's puzzled expression but ignored it for the moment.

  "Oh, this. Nothing. Just a slight sprain. Pitfalls on the trade." Cat's smile took in Luke and his companion.

  Luke made the introductions as the two women eyed each other with curiosity.

  "Nice to meet you, Miss Caulfield." Cat extended her hand.

  "Dr. Caulfield," Teri corrected, briefly shaking hands. "I hope you've had that wrist checked. Sometimes what feels like a mere sprain could be a small fracture."

  Cat nodded, taking in the "Doctor," the twangy voice, and Teri Caulfield's young Joan Kennedy look and manner. Cat knew her immediate dislike of the woman had nothing to do with status, locale, or politics. It had to do with the fact that Dr. Caulfield was with Luke Eliot. She was annoyed at the streak of jealousy that went through her.

  "Cat is doing some stunts for a film they're shooting across from my apartment house," Luke explained, intentionally not going into the embarrassing details of their actual first encounter.

  Cat picked up the hint. "Yes, I met Luke when he was watching us… do some action shots."

  "That must be a fascinating line of work. As well as a risky one."

  "I tend to find that most exciting things have risks attached. That's part of what makes them exciting, I guess. Anyway, I'm reasonably careful, and I never take foolish chances."

  Teri's appraisal narrowed before she turned her head to Luke.

  "Miss Roy would make an interesting study, don't you think, Luke? You've probably already been formulating some theories." To Cat, Teri added, "Luke has a sharply analytic mind—always trying to figure out the reasons behind people's actions."

  "You mean what makes someone tick," she murmured, a flicker of a smile on her lips. "Yes, Luke does have a questioning mind."

  "Pitfalls of the trade," Luke echoed. "But only with patients." He shot Teri a scowl.

  "Then I don't have to worry—if we should meet again sometime—about having my actions analyzed."

  When she met Luke's gaze this time, her eyes were a sparkling blue-green. So they did change color with her mood. He found this particular shade especially ravishing. Fantasies started crowding his mind again.

  "Well—uh—it was nice running into you again, Luke. And nice to meet you, too, Dr. Caulfield. I should get back to my friends." She turned to leave.

  Luke collected his wits as she started off. "Cat…"

  She looked back at him.

  "Thanks." There was a definite twinkle in his eyes. The message in them was clear. Cat knew he appreciated her skipping the details of their encounter. She smiled. It had not all been to save Luke's face. She admitted a private enjoyment out of keeping Dr. Caulfield guessing.

  Her smiled broadened as she heard Luke's explanation to Teri.

  "Cat had some terrific—uh, cough s
yrup that she let me try. It—it was very effective."

  "Obviously."

  Luke bit into his croissant. Teri looked over at Cat.

  "She's stunning. And a little kooky, don't you think? Very Hollywood." Teri hoped her tone was light. She had been dating Luke for nearly a year. In all that time she had been satisfied to keep the relationship very casual and could not recall one prior instance when she felt such a rush of jealousy. After all, it wasn't as if she and Luke were emotionally tied up with one another. They saw each other a couple of times a month, mostly to attend conventions and functions that required escorts. Sometimes, like today, they met for a friendly lunch and brought each other up to date on what they were doing. She liked Luke, enjoyed his company, certainly found him attractive, but she had only been in private practice a couple of years, and most of her energy had been directed toward her work. Now, for the first time, she wondered if she hadn't taken her involvement with Luke too casually. She had to admit that she found his overtly appreciative survey of Cat Roy more than a little irritating. She motioned the waiter over and ordered a second Scotch.

  Luke bristled at Teri's remarks about Cat being Hollywood and kooky, but he did not want to come across defensively. He stuck with her first statement. "Yes, she is striking-looking. Exotic almost."

  "Uhm. Her pupils were slightly dilated. Did you notice?" Teri's tone was markedly professional.

  "No."

  She shrugged. "Id put an educated bet on cocaine. That's the current popular Hollywood drug."

  Luke forgot about sounding defensive. "She doesn't use cocaine—or any other drugs for that matter. She's a vegetarian."

  "Oh. Well, then, I guess I'm wrong. What else do you know about her?" She didn't bother to keep her tone light this time. So what if Luke knew she was a little jealous? Maybe it was time to reevaluate the status of their relationship. It would be nice to see Luke Eliot survey her with that hint of warm seduction for a change.