5 The Ghosts in the Audience

by SUE FINEMAN

  Steffen thought about Ballery’s face when he tossed out the challenge. Buy or move. Poor guy was caught completely unaware. If he didn’t bite, Steffen could be stuck with an empty building that ate money and no tenants to help pay the bills.

  He wanted to sell the condo, too, along with most of the furniture. As long as he owned the condo, as long as he lived in Chicago, Carson and Sheryl would bug him for money. Surely he could find something smaller, or he could stay in a hotel when he came to Chicago on business.

  After he left the meeting, Steffen drove to the rehab center to check on Phillip. He talked with the administrator and the doctor, then paced in the lounge area, waiting for someone to tell Phillip he was here.

  A man walked into the room, and Steffen did a double take. This man looked clean and sober. He’d also gained a little weight. What he wouldn’t give to see his father looking that good.

  Phillip stuck out his hand. “Steffen, it’s nice to see you again.”

  “You look like a different man.”

  “Thanks to you, I feel like a different man.” Phillip motioned to a pair of chairs in the corner and they sat down. “I know you paid for me to be here for six months, but the doctor tells me I’ll be ready to leave sooner.”

  “Where will you go?”

  Phillip shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Steffen gazed into the man’s clear blue eyes and asked, “Have you ever been to Ohio?”

  <>

  As Ginny walked up the porch steps, the sweet perfume of roses caught her attention. The vase of red roses sat in front of the door, and she knew without looking who’d sent them. She plucked the card off and read: Tonight I want more than a kiss. Mr. Sensational.

  Smiling, she unlocked the door and carried the vase inside, wondering what he had in mind. Before, he’d managed to kiss her over the phone. Surely he couldn’t give her a long-distance orgasm.

  At ten, after Ginny had crawled into bed, Boomer jumped up and purred. Then the phone rang. She picked it up and answered, “Steffen?”

  “Who else calls you every night?”

  She laughed softly. “You mean aside from Mark Montgomery?”

  “Is he bothering you again?”

  “Not yet, but he will when he learns the captain gave me his job as lead detective. It’s a nice promotion, one I didn’t expect this soon.”

  “Hey, that’s great, Ginny.”

  “I thought you’d be disappointed.”

  “In you? Honey, I’m proud of you.”

  Her heart swelled. “I wish you were here.”

  “I should be there tomorrow evening. I’m leaving first thing in the morning, and this time I’m driving down so I don’t have to rent a car.”

  “Driving what? That big Lincoln?”

  “Yep. I know it looks like a Mafia staff car, but it’ll get me by until I buy something else.”

  “Like a BMW or Mercedes or a fancy sports car?”

  “More like a Ford or Toyota.”

  “I drove by your new house today. There was a woman outside working in the yard.”

  “Mrs. Mason. Nice lady. I told her we’d take good care of her family home.”

  She lay back on the pillow. “I can’t wait to see the inside.”

  “You’ll see it soon,” he said softly, and the sound of his deep, smooth voice warmed her from the inside out.

  Boomer rubbed against Ginny’s arm and purred.

  “Did you get the flowers?”

  “Yes, and they’re beautiful. I have them sitting beside the bed.”

  “Good. Pull one out so I can kiss you.”

  She pulled out a rose and brushed the velvety soft petals against her lips. “It smells wonderful and feels so soft on my lips.”

  The deep, soft sound of Steffen’s chuckle came through the phone. “Hey, wait for me.”

  “I need more than a kiss tonight, Steffen.”

  “I know, honey. I know. Now lie back and do as I say.”

  He was messing with her mind again, and this time she didn’t care. Her body longed for sexual release only Steffen could give her.

  “Brush the rose over your lips. Feel me kissing you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered into the phone.

  “Now brush it around your neck under your ear, and across your collar bone to your other ear. Pretend what you feel is my lips and my hot breath on your skin. Feel the tingle?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Now brush the rose petals down over your throat and lower. Let it rest between your breasts while you push your clothes out of the way.”

  “I’m not wearing any clothes.”

  “Ah, honey, don’t do that. This is hard enough on me.”

  She smiled. “Continue.”

  “Brush the rose around your nipples until you feel my fingers stroking them, rubbing their hard little nubs.”

  “I feel them.” And it felt so good. So naughty.

  “Good. Now brush the rose petals down to your cute little belly button.”

  She did as he asked and felt his hands and lips on her body as if he were there in person, touching her and kissing her.

  “Pull your knees up and spread them apart. Brush the rose around your hot opening. Are you wet?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then brush the rose over the opening. Feel the flutter, the tightening?”

  She moaned.

  “No fingers, Ginny. Not yet, honey.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Put the rose aside and touch your lips with your fingers, then follow the rose’s path down your body, rubbing your nipples, then your belly button, then touch yourself down there. Pretend it’s my fingers touching you, loving you.”

  As soon as she slid her fingers inside her, she tightened around them, and the spasms took her to a level she’d never reached with her vibrator. She moaned as the orgasm took over her body, giving her the release she needed. In person or over the phone, only Steffen could make her feel this way.

  When she stopped moaning, Steffen said, “I’ll be there tomorrow night to do that in person.”

  “I love you, Steffen.”

  “I love you, too, Ginny. Goodnight, honey. Sweet dreams.”

  “Goodnight.” She pushed the off button on the phone and lay on the bed until her heart stopped pounding so hard.

  And then she slept.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Saturday evening, Roland walked into the Jefferson Inn with Phoebe.

  “This is beautiful,” she said on a sigh. “Absolutely beautiful.”

  Phoebe’s face glowed, and it wasn’t just from the Florida sun. They’d had a wonderful time on their honeymoon. Although Phoebe had written Steffen a thank-you letter, Roland wanted the opportunity to thank him in person for allowing them to use his house on the beach.

  They wandered outside to the patio overlooking the river. A beautiful blonde stood talking with an older man Roland had seen a picture of in the newspaper. He was Steffen’s uncle, Carson Edwards. Roland and Phoebe walked over and introduced themselves.

  Carson introduced the blonde in the slinky pink dress as Sheryl. She smiled politely, and Carson said, “So you know my nephew?”

  “Yes, we do. He and Ginny Kane sent us to his house in Florida for our honeymoon. We just got back last week.”

  At the mention of the beach house, the woman cocked her head. “Steffen didn’t tell us he owned a house in Florida.”

  “It’s beautiful,” said Phoebe. “Right on the beach. He and Ginny are such nice people. It’s a shame about her losing the baby the way she did.”

  Carson and Sheryl shared a long look, then Carson said, “Yes, it’s too bad about the baby.”

  “Ginny’s always been more focused on career than marriage. Until she met Steffen, she didn’t plan to have children, but he wants a family. That’s why he bought the big house here in River Valley, so they’d have room for kids.”

  Sheryl took Carson’s arm. “It was lovely to meet you. Would you
excuse us, please?”

  Roland watched them walk across the lawn toward the gazebo, heads together as if they shared a secret.

  “She’s too young for him,” said Phoebe.

  Roland had a feeling Carson wasn’t the man the woman wanted. Steffen was the one who’d inherited all that money, the one who owned the beach house in Florida and the condo in Chicago. And now he also owned a big house overlooking the river in River Valley, Ohio. He’d be a good catch for any woman, especially one who looked like she spent a lot of money on herself.

  <>

  Steffen walked through the crowded lobby of the inn, shaking hands and making small talk. Ginny was supposed to meet him here before the show, but she’d called and said she’d be late. They had another murder. She said she’d get the team started, then come.

  The show wasn’t scheduled to begin for another thirty minutes, but Steffen had his doubts whether Ginny would make it in time. Murder took precedence over entertainment.

  He spotted Roland and Phoebe, still brown from the Florida sun, and worked his way toward them. The sad little mouse who’d lost her memory had blossomed into a happy, vibrant woman, and Roland looked content and confident.

  Roland stuck out his hand. “Steffen, I want to thank you again for giving us the use of your beach house for our honeymoon. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Steffen shook his hand and kissed Phoebe’s cheek.

  “We were just talking with your uncle and his girlfriend,” said Phoebe.

  “Carson is here?”

  She nodded. “With a younger woman, a beautiful blonde.”

  Carson and Sheryl had no reason to be here, especially after the scene at the condo. What kind of trouble would they cause tonight? Maybe it was just as well that Ginny had things to do at work, anything to keep her away from the inn until his unwanted visitors left.

  <>

  The uniforms had apprehended the man who’d killed his wife. He’d already lawyered up, but once the crime scene techs got finished, it wouldn’t matter who defended him. He had the murder weapon on him, blood spattered on his clothes, and blood on the bottom of his right shoe. The same shoe print was found beside the body at the crime scene. The neighbor heard the gunshot and saw him run from the house and jump into his pickup, the gun still in his hand. She called police.

  Ginny put two of her people on the case and drove out to the inn. She didn’t want to miss Steffen’s show.

  She heard the applause as she walked up the steps to the front porch. Slipping quietly inside, she looked for a place to sit and watch the show, but the room was filled beyond legal capacity. Ignoring the code violation, she glanced around at the people in the room. All the adults in her family were here, along with a reporter from the local newspaper. A man from the River Valley TV station stood in the back holding a video camera. She wondered if he was here for the opening of the inn or because Steffen the Sensational stood by the fireplace, looking poised and handsome.

  Soft laughter filled the room as he teased a woman about her love life. Steffen had an amazing stage presence and a knack for putting people at ease. “Be patient,” he told the woman. “A man will come into your life before Christmas.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Mike.”

  The young woman cocked her head. “Is he as handsome as you?”

  Ginny laughed along with everyone else. No wonder Steffen had an arrogant streak. This pretty young woman was coming on to him big time. It reminded her of the night they met, at the Cartoon Club, where another woman had come into his dressing room and disrobed.

  A voice from the center of the room said, “Sorry, honey, he’s already taken.”

  Ginny scanned the people crowding the room, some sitting and others standing around the back. She spotted Roland and Phoebe, and then she saw Carson Edwards sitting in the center of the room beside the blonde Ginny had met in the restaurant in Chicago. Steffen’s former lover. Sheryl the Bitch.

  Sheryl glanced over and the smug smile on her face turned Ginny’s stomach. “He’s mine,” she said. “We’ve been together for years.”

  Ignoring Sheryl, Steffen asked the expectant mothers in the audience to stand. Sheryl stood, along with three other women. Some were obviously pregnant. The way Sheryl was poured into that slinky dress, Ginny knew she couldn’t be very far along if she was pregnant.

  Steffen talked with one woman, saying, “You’re having a boy. He’ll be a good baby, and he’ll grow into a fine young man. He’ll be intelligent, so be sure he gets a good education.”

  “What should we name him?”

  “Paul, after his grandfather.”

  The woman smiled at the man by her side and sat down.

  Steffen went around the room, talking with the other mothers-to-be, until the only one standing was Sheryl. “Sit down, Sheryl.”

  “I’m pregnant with your baby and you don’t even care.”

  “Since when are you pregnant?”

  “Since the last time we were together.”

  “The last time we were together was back in October. That was eight months ago.” Steffen glanced around the room. “Will the other mothers in the room please tell me if this woman looks eight months pregnant?”

  “No,” a woman called out, and then several women said the same thing. “No.”

  “But, Steffen, darling, we were together three months ago, and I haven’t been with anyone else.”

  Steffen knew Sheryl wasn’t pregnant, but he wanted to prove it to these people, especially Ginny’s family. Using his mind, he pulled Sheryl’s purse off the floor and brought it to a coffee table in front of a sofa. Several people gasped, but he had more important things on his mind at that moment than stupid party tricks. He asked the woman sitting on the sofa, “Would you tell us what’s in the purse?”

  She pulled out one thing at a time. “A wallet… a packet of tissues… birth control pills… condoms… “

  “That’s enough.” He propped his hands on his hips and stared at Sheryl. “If you’re pregnant, why are you taking birth control pills? And why do you need condoms if you aren’t having sex?”

  She lifted her chin. “You said you loved me, and you promised to marry me.”

  Ginny’s father walked up beside Steffen. “We’ll take a ten-minute break while we take care of this situation. The staff has furnished refreshments, so help yourselves.” He motioned to the refreshment table. “Steffen also brought medallions like the one he wears on stage. There should be enough for everyone who wants one.”

  Ginny ducked into the kitchen. She couldn’t face Steffen now. Somehow, Sheryl had found out about the baby, and she was using it like a weapon.

  Mom’s comforting arms came around her. “Who is she?”

  “Steffen’s former lover. He broke up with her and she wasn’t happy about it, especially after she saw the fancy condo overlooking the lake. It’s filled with expensive European antiques and priceless art.”

  Mom rubbed Ginny’s back. “She’s making a fool of herself.”

  “Why did she have to do it here?” said Billy.

  “To hurt me.” Ginny blinked back tears. “How did she find out about the baby?”

  “I don’t know,” said Mom, “but if you love Steffen, you have to trust him.”

  “I do trust him, but maybe he’d be better off with her.” Sheryl could give him the family he wanted. After Pollanski’s vicious kick, Ginny wasn’t sure she could get pregnant again.

  “Ginny, you’re the woman he loves.”

  “I know, but—”

  “Honey, if he wanted her he would have stayed in Chicago. He bought a house here, and he bought it after you lost the baby. Doesn’t that tell you something? He loves you and wants to live in that house with you.”

  “I know.” Still, there was Sheryl. “She doesn’t look pregnant, but if she is, the baby isn’t Steffen’s.” No matter how much of a scene Sheryl made, Ginny knew Steffen hadn’t slept with an
other woman since they’d been together.

  “I can’t listen to any more of this. I’m going home.”

  <>

  Steffen watched Sheryl sobbing behind a handkerchief, but there were no tears. The whole thing was contrived, made up to trick him into dumping Ginny and marrying her. Sheryl didn’t want kids. She wanted a lifestyle she couldn’t afford to provide for herself.

  “Get rid of her,” Donovan said under his breath. He motioned to his twin sons, who escorted Sheryl into the office. Carson tagged along, but Steffen grabbed his arm before he could get through the door. “Wait on the porch.”

  Carson jerked his arm away and, without a word, walked toward the front door.

  Sheryl stared at Charlie and Andy. “Do you mind? We need to talk alone.”

  “They’re staying,” said Steffen. He had a feeling he might need witnesses. “Sheryl, I resent you coming here and upsetting Ginny. She’s still grieving over the baby, and you slapped her in the face with it. It was a cruel thing to do. I told you I never wanted to see you again, and I meant it. I don’t love you. I love Ginny.”

  “She can’t give you a baby, but I can, and I will if you come back to Chicago with me. I’ll give you as many babies as you want.”

  He shook his head. He’d told her he didn’t want to see her again, yet here she was, trying to trick him into marrying her.

  The pretend tears were gone. “I’ll sue you for breach of promise.”

  “What promise? I never promised you anything. All we ever had together was sex. That’s lust, not love.”

  “She’s just after your money.”

  “Like you?” He leaned down until his nose nearly touched hers. “Get out of my life and stay out.”

  Her jaw clenched with anger. “You loved me until—”

  “Sheryl, I didn’t know what love was until I met Ginny. She’s not after money. She has a good job, and her family is doing well.” He waved at the two men standing by the door. “Charlie and Andy are Ginny’s brothers. They own the inn. It’s part of Andy’s farm.”

  “This is part of a farm?”

  “Ginny doesn’t need Steffen’s money,” said Andy. “She’s a police detective, Charlie owns a business, and our other brother owns a private prep school. I’m an architect and I also own a farm. Our father is the former police chief and mayor of River Valley, and our family owns the inn. We may not be rich, but we’re not hurting for money.”