by Penny Henry
There was a long pause. A curious triumphant smirk crept into Elliot's face. He was remembering Travis's shock when they had faced him with the fact of their marriage. Travis had turned white and Elliot was sure that Travis would have murdered him on the spot if Melanie hadn't stood between them.
Temple allowed Elliot to brood a little longer. She sensed his mind had drifted back to the past. She studied his brooding face and remembered the scandal at the time. Elliot had been branded a fortune hunter. He had come from good stock and was perfect fodder for the gossip sheets. The Buchanans had owned land in Florida for generations but had fallen on hard times with the radical changes in the shape of the Florida economy. Their land was under-developed and trapped in the midst of theme parks and bustling tourist attractions. The untimely death of Melanie Campbell had hit the headlines barely six months later. She had died in a drunken car wreck. Elliot and the other passengers had escaped with minor injuries. That Melanie Campbell had been driving was the final crushing verdict splashed across the papers. Travis Campbell had been devastated and refused to accept that Melanie had been the cause of her own death. It had been a nasty affair from beginning to end. No charges had been laid against the passengers in Melanie Campbell's vehicle.
Elliot suddenly snapped out of his drunken reverie. "Travis has got it all sewn up. This is just another deal to him. He doesn't care about people." He focused his bleary eyes on Temple. "He doesn’t care about you or anyone else. But I care about you, Temple. I can make things happen for you. I can look after you now that Ben's gone. We could be good together." Elliot licked his lips like the wolf waiting for the piglets to run from their straw house.
Temple half-expected him to 'huff and puff and blow the house down. But it wasn't just her house that Elliot wanted to free her from. Her clothes would be the first thing on his mind. "So Travis is behind the move to sell the leisure complex to site Pegasus Hotels?" she led him.
"Of course," Elliot blandly assured her. He tapped the side of his nose. "But he doesn't know everything. With the money I make from this deal I can tell Mister Travis Campbell exactly what to do with his job. I can live my own life." Then Elliot remembered his prime of objective for the night and added. "We could go away together, Temple. With the money you're due from the lease and with what I make we can do anything we want."
Things were moving way too fast. "Hold on, Elliot. The deal hasn't gone through yet. And anyway, isn't it Travis that stands to make a lot of money?" asked Temple innocently.
Elliot seemed to gather his thoughts. "Yeah, you’re right of course. But I'll be earning a hunk of commission. Nothing's gonna stop this deal now."
Something didn't sit right with Temple. Was Travis Campbell behind the deal or not? Why had Elliot given the impression that he was going to make a lot of money from the deal - then he had changed his mind? She was just about to ask Elliot that very same question when she became aware of a tall figure standing at her shoulder.
She didn't need to look up. Elliot's eyes had become blank and he seemed to have paled a little. Temple was suddenly very aware of her naked flesh. She couldn't possible cover herself up. The next best thing was to brazen it out.
"Good evening, Mister Campbell," said Temple without turning her head.
"Good evening, Ms Hart. Good evening, Elliot," came the liquid gold reply.
Temple wasn't aware if Elliot answered. She was only conscious of her own cartwheeling heart hammering against her ribs. She was suddenly very hot. The small hairs at the nape of her neck were standing up. "Are you spying on me?" asked Temple as she half-turned to stare up at the long-legged figure of Travis Campbell.
"Not at all, Ms Hart. Though, I’ll admit that it does have its attractions." He allowed his gaze to travel to her bare neck and shoulders.
Temple was actually trembling. The nearness of Travis was having an uncontrollable effect on her nerves. She had to act casual. She couldn't let him see what he was doing to her. "So you were just passing by?" mocked Temple, amazed how natural she sounded.
"Actually, I was looking for you."
"Looking for me? But how did you―” She stopped herself in mid sentence. Tracing her whereabouts would take little more than a phone call for a man like Travis Campbell. "Of course, you no doubt have a thick file on each of you potential victims."
"I would hardly classify you as a victim," objected Travis. "You look to be in complete control of the situation." His steady gaze fastened on Elliot, and Temple imagined he was staking out his territory.
Temple blushed. "I can hold my own," she countered. "But tell me, why have you been looking for me? Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind and decided the good news couldn’t wait 'til morning?"
"Not exactly," said Travis half-apologetically. "I was hoping you'd agree to meet me tomorrow. We seem to have got off on the wrong foot. I was hoping to put that right. I owe it to your father and Ben to try."
Temple's swelling ego deflated with the whoosh of a stabbed balloon. Travis wanted to meet her because he owed it to Ben and her father. Fine, she thought. If that was how he wanted to play it, then it was okay with her.
"Great," agreed Temple. "And where shall we hold our pow-wow, Travis? Oh, you don't mind if I call you Travis, do you? We owe it to Ben and my father," she added sarcastically.
"I was hoping you'd join me at my home," said Travis, ignoring Temple’s sarcasm. "That is of course, if you have the time. I have a stable that you might like to look round. You can take one of the horses out if you ride if you want. I want to try to understand you more."
So it was to be more than just a business lunch. Temple speculated on the possibilities. Jill could take care of business. She would probably appreciate the lack of interference. The fresh air would do Temple good after an evening spent in Elliot's company. "It's a deal," she said. "But I don't ride."
Travis grinned, lighting up his handsome face and sending ripples of pleasure through Temple's spine. "Perhaps I can change your mind."
"And maybe I can change yours," said Temple in a flash.
“Touché.” Travis winked broadly. "Until tomorrow then, Ms… uh... Temple," he corrected himself. "Do you need to be picked up?" Temple shook her head. The stables of Travis Campbell were well known in the area. "Enjoy the rest of your evening," said Travis politely. "Goodnight, Temple. Goodnight, Elliot." He fixed his son-in-law with a hard stare before abruptly turning to leave.
Temple watched his back until he disappeared into the crowded restaurant. She wondered what he wanted from her. She had more than a sneaking suspicion of what she wanted from Travis. The heat within her body was proving difficult to ignore. She turned her eyes back to the table. For the moment she had to be content with Elliot's company and concentrate on why she was there.
"He's got some nerve," snarled Elliot, cruelly reminding Temple that she was dining with him and not with Travis.
"Oh, I don't know, Elliot," began Temple, unconsciously defending the absent Travis. "At least what you see is what you get with Travis." The heat inside her body had subsided but Travis' departure had left her feeling empty. She was suddenly feeling wistful.
Elliot misread her signals as vulnerability. "Let's forget about Travis." Elliot dismissed the subject. "We were talking about us."
Elliot was looking at Temple through drink-fogged eyes. It was time to make her excuses. "I think perhaps you've had enough to drink, Elliot. And I'm rather tired. I'd like to leave now."
"Of course, Temple. Whatever you say," said Elliot, pushing back his chair and hurrying to pull Temple's seat clear as she stood up. Now was the time for the second phase of his fantasy. "What would you say to a nightcap?"
"I'd say ‘no thank you’ Elliot," said Temple. She took no pity on the crestfallen look that suddenly fell over Elliot's face. Temple was quite sure that she wouldn't get anything else out of Elliot tonight - at least not without giving up far more than she intended.
Chapter Six
Giovanni was delighted
the couple had enjoyed their meal. Temple was his superstar guest. There would always be a table at Giovanni's for her. Then he took her gold card and offered to call a cab for Elliot. His car would be safe until tomorrow. That was the perfect opportunity for Elliot to remind Temple that his apartment was on her way home. She could easily drop him off.
Temple was dubious but Elliot was persuasive. A final farewell to the attentive proprietor and Elliot was smugly ensconced in the passenger seat of Temple's car. The drive through the city streets proved uneventful. It was only when she caught him watching her from the corner of his eye that she began to have misgivings. He was staring at the expanse of her bare thigh from hooded eyes. Her short dress had ridden high on her legs, displaying her shapely bronzed thighs with disturbing clarity.
Temple was instantly irritated. "Elliot, will you stop looking at me like that."
"I'm sorry, Temple. What can you expect when you dress like that? You’re a beautiful woman. There wasn’t a man in the restaurant that wasn’t thinking the same thing."
"I expect a little respect, Elliot," Temple told her bleary-eyed passenger.
"Absolutely," Elliot drunkenly agreed. "I have a lot of respect for you, Temple. We'd make a great team. We need to talk about us."
"What is all this us, Elliot?" Temple wanted to know. "We hardly know each other."
Elliot went quiet. Then he blurted out; "Travis is too old for you."
Temple glanced in the rear-view mirror, hit the brakes and pulled over. "What the hell are you talking about, Elliot? You're drunk." She felt a little color rise to her cheeks. "Travis Campbell is the last man on earth that would interest me."
"Come of it, Temple. I saw the way you looked at each other. I'm not blind." Elliot was adamant. There was naked jealousy in his voice.
"You're imaging things. And anyway, what the hell business is it of yours who I talk to? You don't own me. You don't even know me."
Elliot was suddenly full ofapologies. "I'm sorry, Temple. I was out of line. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to offend. I really like you, Temple. Travis only cares about business. I don't want to see you get hurt. When this deal goes through I can give you anything that you want. With my share “Elliot stopped himself from adding more. He may have been drunk but he still had enough of his wits about him to know when to bite his tongue.
Temple was too angry to follow up what Elliot had been about to say. She continued in another vein. "I told you, Elliot. The deal hasn't gone through yet. And it never will if I have anything to do with it."
"Do you really think that you can stop Travis on your own?" mocked Elliot. "Wake up, Temple. Travis knows just how to get what he wants. He's a manipulative son of a bitch. He's using you, Temple."
Elliot's stark warning stung Temple into silence. She pressed her lips together. She was angry with Elliot but more hurt by the thought that Travis might be using her. Perhaps she had misjudged Elliot. With some careful handling he might yet prove to be a useful ally in her fight with Travis. She ought at least to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Temple slipped the stick into 'drive'. "Okay, Elliot. Where do I park for your apartment? I think I'll take you up on that nightcap after all.”
"Turn right at the end of this block," directed Elliot. "We're almost there." He settled back in his seat, struggling to suppress a tomcat smile. In minutes he would be alone in his apartment with the gorgeous Temple Hart. All his Christmases had come at once. He could smell her warmth. Now he could expand his fantasy to the feel of her satin skin beneath his hands.
Temple resurrected her doubts the moment she walked into Elliot's apartment. Tacky was the first word that sprang into her mind. Elliot's apartment was obviously a bachelor pad that had been designed with seduction in mind. A concealed music system and low lighting that came on at a wave of his hand sent a creepy sensation down her back. Soft leather furnishings, paintings of semi-naked women and a well-stocked bar added to the illusion. Temple was no prude but this was political incorrectness at its most repugnant.
"Drink?" offered Elliot as he headed for the bar. He poured bourbon for himself.
"Coffee, please," requested Temple. She wasn't about to let a drop of alcohol pass her lips. She had a feeling that she would need a clear mind to survive the night intact.
"Sit down, Temple. Make yourself comfortable." He gestured towards the black leather couch and drained his glass in one swallow before pouring himself another large measure. Then he remembered to switch on the coffee.
Temple ignored the offer of a seat and wandered round the intriguing room. She gave each 'object d'art' a perfunctory examination before swiftly moving on. The whole room was a cave of erotica. The coffee was ready and Elliot carried a cup to where Temple studied a copy of Rodin's 'The Kiss'. She held the small statuette in her hands rotating the figures as she took in the detail of the lovers frozen in time. Elliot put down the coffee and whisky tumbler and stood behind her.
"You like that, don't you?" he said in a throaty voice. “The naked form is a beautiful thing."
Elliot's whisky breath washed over Temple and she fought to suppress a shudder. She could sense his eyes caressing the bare skin of her back and shoulders. Temple replaced the figurine and her eye caught the presence of a painting further down the wall. She moved abruptly on to take a better look. It was an interesting watercolor of a magnificent colonial style house.
"My parents still live there," said Elliot moving in behind. "That was done when the house was in good shape. It's not anymore, unfortunately."
"It must have been a wonderful place to spend your childhood."
"Yes it was," Elliot hazily agreed. "But now it's run down and neglected. The land is useless. The access rights to the fields were held by a separate company that sold out to the highest bidder. We were left high and dry. It was hard enough to work the fields without crossing someone else's property. Then the new roads and car lots came in. It became impossible."
"Didn't anyone think to acquire the rights for yourselves?" asked Temple out of curiosity.
"The studios were fast and secretive in those early days," said Elliot. "Until they arrived business was done on a handshake. Access rights were taken for granted. By the time we wised up it was too late. The studios had moved in."
Temple felt a pang of sympathy. The sea-change in Florida's economy had not been to everyone's liking. "I'm sorry," she said simply.
"My parents run a small alligator show now and sell cheap souvenirs to the tourists. That’s if any of them make it past the theme park rides." The bitterness in his voice was impossible to disguise. "But they won't have to put up with it for much longer. All I need is the money to move them out of there. When this dealgoes throu" Elliot clamed up.
"When this deal goes through... what, Elliot?" Temple spoke softly hoping to encourage him to continue. She turned to face him with a quizzical look on her features.
"When this deal goes through I’m gonna be rich." They were just inches apart and Elliot was breathing heavily.
"Travis must pay you well."
"Screw Travis," growled Elliot. "Let me take care of you, Temple."
He reached out to grab her waist and bent his head to her lips. The kiss was clumsy and whisky laden. Temple put her hands to his shoulders to push him back and hold him off. She turned her head to the side to avoid his mouth. She was acutely conscious of his clammy hands on the skin of her lower back. Elliot's hands weren't the hands she wanted on her body.
"This is not a good idea, Elliot."
Elliot was oblivious to the note of warning. He appeared not to hear Temple's words. He looked down at her breasts and shivered with anticipation. His hands dropped to her hips and he pulled her hard against his erection. Then he lifted one hand to brush aside the thin material of her top to expose a breast. Elliot groaned as lowered his head to cover the nipple with his mouth and suck hard. The fingers of the hand at her back dug into her buttock as his free hand squeezed her breast. He jerked he
r against him as Temple pushed against his shoulders and tried to lean back. Then the hand on her backside let go and travelled round to cup her groin. He slid his palm over the warm mound between her legs as his other hand slipped from one breast to the other. His wet mouth was on her neck and his erection was rubbing against her thigh.
She kept it simple. Elliot was drunk. His bleary eyes were half-shut as he nuzzled into the valley of her breasts. Temple's hands at his shoulders reversed their pressure. She jerked his body forward aided by his own momentum. At the same time she sidestepped away from him, leaving one foot to trip his legs from under his body. Elliot barely had time to push out his hands as he fell towards the floor. He landed heavily and rolled onto his back, flailing his limbs like a turtle out of water. His eyes were glazed and he quickly gave up the attempt to struggle to his feet. As Temple looked down on the bemused features of her would-be seducer, Elliot fell asleep. Temple reached for her cold coffee and drained the cup. "Thanks for the nightcap."
She turned her back and headed for the door, flicking off the lights and pulling the door as she left. The evening hadn't been a total waste of time. She had learned a little of Elliot's background. And she was more positive than ever that he was covering something up. There was also no love lost between Travis Campbell and his slippery son-in-law. That was for sure. She swore to herself that Travis would soon discover that Hart Leisure wasn't just a 'prime site' for redevelopment. Hart Leisure was about people. And they didn't qualify as disposable assets in Temple's estimation.
The powerful engine hummed into life and Temple turned on the heating. The night air was cold. She began to figure how she should approach the next day with Travis. She decided to play it as it came. Even the best-laid plans had a tendency to fall apart. Her thoughts of Travis became more personal as she drove on the quiet streets. Her imagination became confused with the brief physical encounter she had experienced with Elliot. Now it was Travis' strong arms that encircled her narrow waist. And it was his sexy mouth that bent to her parted lips. And it was Travis' voice whispering he would take care of her for the rest of their lives.
