Million-Dollar Makeover

by Cheryl St. John

  Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew she was taking more from him than he’d ever intended to offer, but he couldn’t hold back. He wanted to give her more and he wanted more of her. As though detachment hadn’t been bred into him from birth, he wanted all of her. Riley felt as if he’d been missing this, even though they’d never before shared a bed.

  She climaxed with a soft groan and a shudder, and he gritted his teeth to draw the pleasure out for her. When her body relaxed, he allowed his own swift release and then shifted his weight to her side and kissed her.

  She met his gaze in the darkness, and he thought he sensed a question. He threaded his fingers through her hair, combing it away from her face, and caressed her cheek with a thumb. But she said nothing.

  Lisa wrapped her fingers around his wrist and moved so she could lie comfortably and kiss him.

  Time didn’t exist as their hearts returned to a normal beat and the air-conditioning cooled their heated skin. Riley couldn’t remember ever spending leisurely after-sex time with a woman before. He wanted to kiss her as much now as he had hours ago. And he was still enjoying it every bit as much as before they’d had sex.

  He’d only had this place a few months, but he’d planned to keep the cabin to himself. He was glad it had been Lisa he’d broken the rules for. He was glad he’d brought her.

  He ran his fingers through her hair, catching in the tangles they’d created together. He lowered his face to the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent—a scent more intoxicating than the wine—then placed slow kisses along her shoulder.

  They lay with their legs tangled, and she sensuously rubbed the sole of her foot against his calf.

  Riley rose over her and looked into her eyes before he kissed her. Within minutes he was ready again and she was smiling a welcome.

  Lisa had dozed for a few minutes, but she woke to the unfamiliarity of the room and her bed companion. She had to go to the bathroom, so she got up and closed herself in the adjoining bath. The reality of what she’d done tried to burst her bubble of pleasure, but she fought it. She’d known full well what she was doing. She’d wanted this more than anything. She wasn’t going to be sorry now. A minute later she padded out and gathered her clothing.

  “I have to go home. The boys will need to go out.”

  Riley leaned on one elbow. “Can’t they wait till morning?”

  “I never leave them alone this long at night.” She took her clothes into the bathroom and talked to him through the partially open door as she dressed. “Besides, we don’t want to be seen returning to my place in the morning.”

  “You’re right.” The sound of sheets rustling accompanied a click as he turned on a lamp. She saw the light through the crack in the doorway as she stuffed herself into the corset.

  “My God,” he said.

  “What?”

  “Oh, my God.”

  “What?” She had her dress on and was struggling with the zipper. She opened the door to see what had upset him.

  He stood beside the bed naked, his boxers in his hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what?”

  “That you were a virgin, Lisa.” He raked a hand through his black hair and it stood up in unruly waves. “I am so dense. I knew there was something I wasn’t paying attention to. I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” Heart pounding, she turned back into the bathroom, found a comb in a drawer and tried unsuccessfully to tame her hair. Her inexperience shouldn’t have to be embarrassing.

  “For not knowing.”

  “What was to know? I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want it to be a big deal.” Wherever she’d left her purse, she had a scrunchie. She moved through his room, ignoring him as he tried to step into his pants and follow her at the same time.

  “It is a big deal.” He grabbed his socks and shirt. “You’d never had sex before. I was your first partner and I didn’t know.”

  She was ahead of him on the iron staircase. “I really didn’t want you to know. And now I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Lisa.”

  “Please?” she said, finally pausing in the living room but not looking at him. “Please, Riley, can you just let it go?”

  Behind her he was silent.

  She picked up her handbag, found her hair tie and gathered her hair into a knot on her head. “Will you take me home now?”

  “Of course. Whatever you want.”

  It was much more awkward putting their clothing and shoes back on than it had been taking them off. They descended the stairs and Riley opened the garage doors.

  After he’d locked the place up, they were on their way back toward town. The ride was dark and silent, punctuated only by the burning looks she sensed him sending her way. She would never let him know how she really felt.

  The streets of Thunder Canyon were deserted this time of night, and Riley drove directly to her house and parked in the drive.

  One news van was parked across the street.

  “Don’t get out,” she said. “I don’t want the papers to have a picture of our good-night.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thanks for dinner. And the wine. And making those arrangements with the reporters.”

  He reached for her hand. “Lisa.”

  She looked at him finally. He was as handsome as ever. Mr. Cool. “We met before.”

  “Before what?”

  “Before I inherited the Queen of Hearts.”

  His eyebrows rose in confusion. “We did?”

  “Yes.” Her heart chugged nervously, but she forced the words out anyway. “I was your chemistry tutor in high school.”

  For a moment she thought he was going to deny it, but then he nodded. “I remember having a tutor to get through that class. That was you?”

  “It was me.”

  “Well. Funny how life comes around in a circle sometimes.”

  She didn’t think there was anything funny about it. “Yeah.”

  “I’ll call you.”

  “You’ll see me at the mine tomorrow.”

  He released her hand and reached for her shoulder, but she opened the car door, turning on the overhead light. “Night.”

  Lisa hurried to her door, fumbled for her keys and let herself inside. Why she’d told him, she didn’t know. She hadn’t meant to ever let on.

  Joey and Piper were excited to see her, sniffing her skirt and her feet to see where she’d been. She let them out back and peered around the corner of the house to see Riley’s red car drive away.

  Her first day and night as the new and improved Lisa had gone quite well, she thought, unwilling to acknowledge the awkwardness at the end. No one could possibly think this evening had been boring. It had been box-office, Julia Roberts exciting. Dogs petted and fed, she trudged upstairs, stripped out of the dress and got in the shower.

  After she’d dried her hair and fought for a spot between her two pets in her bed, she relaxed against the pillows and sighed. At least now she did feel different. Still like a fake, but at least a more knowledgeable and experienced fake.

  She smiled to herself. Experienced with none other than wealthy Thunder Canyon scion, Riley Douglas.

  Lisa stared at the newspaper on Bernadine’s desk the following morning. The Shady Lady or the Lucky Lady? the caption under two photographs read. The photograph on the left was a picture of Lily Divine that Lisa had never seen before. The dark-haired woman was garbed in the red dress now on display at the museum. Someone had retouched a black-and-white photograph to add color. Lily was smiling her confident smile and had been cropped out so that only the shoulder of the man beside her could be seen.

  The picture on the right was present-day living color. Last-night color to be exact. It was Lisa in her red dress, smiling a self-pleased smile at the camera. A quick glance at the surroundings showed it to have been taken outside the restaurant.

  One can see the resemblance between these two auburn-haired beauties, both residents of Thunder Canyon,
both well-to-do women, both knockouts in red. Is there more than a physical resemblance between the two?

  “What is that supposed to be implying?”

  “Who knows?” Bernadine replied.

  Lisa held the paper up for a better view. “Do I really look like her?”

  “Well…yes.”

  Lisa smiled. “Not a bad thing.”

  “Not at all.”

  “What business do we have today?”

  “We have a letter from a Logan Banks’s attorney claiming that Logan is your cousin and entitled to his share of the Queen of Hearts.”

  “Never heard of him.”

  “Didn’t think so, but we’re checking him out anyway. We have to send a legal response.”

  Lisa poured herself a cup of coffee. “Isn’t this about the fourth new cousin I’ve had?”

  “Fifth. Great suit.”

  “Thanks. I did a little shopping. Oh, yeah…” She fished in her bag and pulled out the signed contracts. “He signed ’em.”

  Bernadine smoothed the papers on her desktop. “All the incorporation papers have gone through. We have our ID numbers and we’re ready for business. Have you decided about Riley’s loan offer?”

  “Won’t any bank in Thunder Canyon give me a loan now?”

  “Bank loans require collateral. They’d ask for a share of the mine.”

  “Okay.”

  “The personal loan ties up less of your assets.”

  “But I don’t want it to be personal.”

  “You don’t want to owe Douglas.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Whatever you prefer. Want to have lunch?”

  Lisa assured her she did, but added, “We’ll have to be back for the state inspection at the mine this afternoon.”

  “What is it? Water quality?”

  “It’s basically a run-through of regulations since we’re not pumping yet. They’re going to check for proper storage of explosives, escape routes, ladders, marked ore shutes.”

  Bernadine turned to take papers from the printer on the stand behind her. “Wow, you’re really getting the hang of this.”

  “Riley’s the one who’s been learning it all and filling me in.”

  “A good right-hand man, eh?”

  Right hand. Left hand. Good with both hands. Lisa simply nodded.

  Bernadine took her to the Hitching Post for lunch. The place was filled with customers this time, and nearly all of them recognized Lisa. She was greeted with stares, wide-eyed interest and even a few friendly hellos.

  Today’s front page of the Nugget had already been framed and hung over the bar, near the painting of Lily.

  “Well, if it isn’t the Lucky Lady herself!” the bartender called from behind the polished cherrywood bar.

  Several people clapped and cheered as Lisa and Bernadine made their way to a booth. Lisa smiled and gestured with what turned out like a parade wave—at least to her. Feeling silly, she dropped her hand.

  Her cheeks felt flushed. “This is the first time I’ve actually let people see me,” she said, in awe of their reactions. “I’ve been so caught up in hiding and running from the cameras, avoiding people in general, that I guess I just didn’t know what their reactions would really be.”

  “You’re the town celebrity.”

  “For now.”

  They ordered and ate. Occasionally someone stopped by their table to talk to Lisa or congratulate her. When Bernadine asked for their check, the waitress told her their lunch was on the house.

  They headed for the mine in the lawyer’s car, while Lisa grappled with her newly discovered status in town.

  Lisa showed her ID to the security guards along the route, and when they arrived at the mine site, several cars were already parked there. Lisa recognized the Douglases’ silver Town Car.

  Riley was standing with a group of men, some in casual business dress, others in jeans and work shirts. He saw Lisa and Bernadine approach and turned to greet them. Her body tingled with intimate remembrance when he shook her hand.

  He made introductions, and Lisa had to fight the urge to look up at him and gauge his expression. She’d dressed the part of a professional, in her navy pinstripe suit and white blouse. The men were treating her with respect, and she wasn’t about to make a fool of herself by looking at Riley and revealing the emotions threatening to resurface.

  He gave her curious sidelong looks she caught from the corner of her eye, but he kept up the professional front.

  “What are they doing now?” she asked, shading her eyes against the sun. A group of men had moved away.

  “Checking the pumps that will suck water from the mine’s lower levels as we look for another vein.”

  “When will the actual mining begin?” Bernadine asked.

  “As long as everything passes today’s inspection, the mining will start first thing tomorrow.”

  A thrill of anticipation passed through Lisa. “It’s really going to happen.”

  Riley nodded. “It is.” He glanced at her. “You remember we have a meeting day after tomorrow?”

  “It’s on my calendar.”

  “You need to have a plan for how you’re going to proceed with profits.”

  So much to think about and plan for, she thought. “Who knew a lot of money would be so much work to handle?”

  “I’m going to strongly urge you to roll back initial profits into mine improvements and then acquire other mine properties in the vicinity.”

  “I’m sure you know best.” There was no way Bernadine could know by their conversation or careful expressions that they’d been more than business partners last night. Nine hours ago they’d been naked and wrapped around each other like the strands of a licorice twist. The sun seemed warmer all of a sudden, and Lisa fanned herself with the checklist he’d handed her.

  The men returned with their reports, and all were favorable. Riley thanked them and the different groups walked toward the cars.

  “Lisa.”

  She stopped at Riley’s call and motioned for Bernadine to walk on to the car ahead of her.

  “I just wanted to ask how you were doing.”

  “I’m doing fine.”

  He glanced around. “We need to talk.”

  She refused to meet his eyes. She knew exactly what he wanted to talk about and she didn’t feel the same compunction. “Poor timing, Riley.”

  “Not here. Will you meet me tonight?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Tomorrow, then?”

  “I’ll call you.”

  “Okay.”

  She walked to where Bernadine waited in the driver’s seat of her car.

  “What did you say to him?” the lawyer asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “He looks like you told him his dog died.”

  “He doesn’t have a dog.”

  “Hmm. Deduct points for that, huh?”

  Lisa glanced from Bernadine to Riley as he strode toward his chauffeured car. Her stomach dipped a little at the sight of the man…at her intimate personal knowledge of the man…and at the indelible memory of what they’d shared.

  She’d known going into that experience that it wasn’t leading to a relationship. She’d been fine with that, as long as she had the experience…and the memory.

  How did other women handle casual affairs? How would Lily have handled a lover? What should the new and improved Lisa do?

  Lisa corrected her thinking. Riley was not her lover. He was a man to whom she’d been attracted. A man who’d never paid her the time of day until she’d inherited a fortune. And a man with whom she’d slept because she’d wanted to and because she could.

  She could do anything she wanted. She could sleep with him again. She could choose not to.

  She didn’t have to do anything. Except be true to herself.

  But there was something she could not do. And it was imperative she remember she was not Julia Roberts. She could not fall in love with Riley Douglas.

  Ch
apter Eight

  Emelda Ross’s home was located on the western outskirts of town. The only places farther out than hers were the ice rink and the Douglas ranch. Lisa still had unanswered questions in her mind, and the only person she knew of who was left to ask was the elderly lady who told stories to children in the library.

  A dog barked from inside the house as Lisa parked and approached. The elderly woman peered out the door, then stepped onto the porch. A small Jack Russell terrier darted from behind the skirt of her long floral dress and yipped as Lisa got closer.

  “Hi, fella.” Lisa knelt and held out her hand.

  The dog loped down the stairs and stood sniffing the air warily. It then trotted over to Lisa and licked her wrist and her fingers.

  She scratched the animal’s ears. “What’s his name?”

  “Dog. What’s yours?”

  “Lisa Martin.”

  “Lisa Jane! Well, why didn’t you say so? Look at you! Come on in. I have applesauce cake.”

  She stood and climbed the stairs. Dog’s nails clicked on the porch stairs as the pet followed her. “I tried to call, but only got a busy signal.”

  “I take the nuisance off the hook when I nap.” Miss Emelda led the way into her house and ushered Lisa into a huge kitchen that was as outdated as her own. She cut slices of cake and poured Lisa a glass of milk as though she was still ten years old. “What are you reading now, Lisa Jane? You were never big on the classics, as I recall.”

  Lisa smiled as she said, “I like romance novels and cozy mysteries.”

  Miss Emelda chuckled. “I’ve read a few of those myself.” She seated herself on a nearby chair. “I see your picture in the paper every day.” She winked. “I especially liked the red dress.”

  “Thanks.”

  “What brings you clear out here?”

  Lisa tasted the cake, paused in reverence and let her taste buds recover before she replied. “I’ve been digging into my great-great-grandmother’s past.”

  “Aha. Lily.”

  “I visited with Tildy Matheson, and she had journals that belonged to Catherine Douglas. I read those, and what I’m reading and hearing are entirely different slants to what is commonly told about Lily.”

  “I’ve heard the old stories myself,” Miss Emelda said with a sage nod. “I had an aunt who was friends with the Hardings’ daughter.”