by SUE FINEMAN
She wondered if the other girls from their suite were as nervous as she was. He looked right at her, and she held her breath, but he didn’t call her name. He called Lily.
Lily walked down the steps to take Tony’s hands. He told her that somewhere out there was the right man for her, but he wasn’t it. “You’re looking for something I’m not and can never be. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
The odd couple was gone, and they were down to eleven. Catherine was glad she was still around and disappointed that she had to put up with Fawn for a few more days.
“Goodnight, ladies.” Tony waved. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Tony,” the girls called to him as he walked away.
Upstairs, a camera crew was waiting in their suite. They filmed Lily and Cookie saying goodbye. One camera followed them out and the other stayed to film the reaction of the four women remaining in the room. Like the night before, they each had a private session with the camera in the sitting room.
When it was her turn, Catherine said, “I expect the competition to get tougher, but the four of us left in this suite are off the hook tomorrow.”
<>
Fawn walked back to the room smiling. That wasn’t so bad. In the interview, she’d told Tony what she thought he wanted to hear. Creepy Cookie was gone, and so was the snooty girl working on her graduate degree.
After Fawn’s parents threw her out, her formal education ended. She didn’t stay in high school long enough to get a diploma, and forget college. Her education came from the streets, with classes in shoplifting, stealing credit cards, picking pockets, turning tricks, and how to scam old ladies out of their money.
The maids had changed the sheets, so she moved to the empty bed. Rachel had gotten up in the night to eat and throw up. The girl had serious problems, and Fawn didn’t want to share a bed with her.
Tomorrow, Tony would interview the girls from the other suite. She hoped he’d get rid of Chelsea. The girl had to be a model. She was very tall and absolutely stunning. That would narrow the competition, although from what she’d seen, there was no real competition.
Too bad he didn’t get rid of Catherine today.
Fawn couldn’t stand the sight of her.
<>
The next day of interviews went much like the first for Tony. He was getting the hang of it now. That night, he called Chelsea’s name, and a gorgeous woman who could have been a model walked toward him. It killed him to say goodbye to her, but she didn’t say enough to give him an idea of who she was and what she wanted from life.
Victoria had two little boys and although she said she was willing to have more kids, the tone of her voice said something else. He didn’t mind taking on two that weren’t his, but he got the impression that Victoria wasn’t looking as much for love as a father for her kids and someone to support them. No, thanks. He didn’t want to marry anyone who didn’t love him.
After the ceremony at the fountain, Tony went into the library for another talk with Morgan and the ever-present camera.
“Tony, tomorrow and the next day you will interview the remaining nine girls again and eliminate two more.”
“Do I get to see what they look like?”
Morgan motioned to the wall of portraits. “There they are.”
With the camera on him, Tony peered at each portrait. He’d eliminated three who were pretty and one who was stunning, and he had to eliminate two more before he could put faces with their names. He could tell how tall they were and what part of the country they were from, but he wouldn’t know what they looked like until the interviews were over. Except Catherine. And he’d like to swat her on that cute little backside for getting him into this.
<>
The next morning, Morgan appeared in Tony’s suite with the cameraman, and they talked about the next step in the elimination process. “Looking back, would you have eliminated the same ones if you’d known what they looked like?”
“For the most part. I’m not so sure about Chelsea.”
“Because she’s beautiful?”
“It’s not just her beauty. She didn’t say enough for me to know anything about her. Maybe she was intimidated by the camera, and maybe she’s that quiet all the time. I don’t know. I just know I come from a big, noisy Italian family, and I couldn’t see her at one of my family dinners.”
“How many in your family?” asked Morgan.
“My mother, three brothers, two sisters, and a cousin who grew up with us. All are married except me and my youngest brother. There’s nine kids last I counted, and I expect there’ll be more one of these days. I hope to have a few myself someday.”
“What else are you looking for in a mate?”
“A sense of humor, someone who keeps me guessing, someone who’s responsible and loves kids and dogs.” He smiled. “Someone who will spoil me a little now and then.”
Someone like Catherine.
An hour later, Tony had his questions prepared. This time Catherine came in first. He thought about kissing her, but it wouldn’t be fair to do anything with her that he couldn’t do with the others, and he didn’t want to kiss anyone before they officially met. He held her hand through the interview.
“What do you do for fun, Catherine?”
“Swim, shop, cook. Hang wallpaper.”
He chuckled. “Hang wallpaper?”
“I’ve only done it once, but you know what they say. It’s like riding a bicycle. Once you’ve done it, you never forget how.”
She was being suggestive without saying the words, and he loved it. He remembered throwing her in the pool and that nearly invisible bra.
“If I chose you and we ended up getting married, where would you want to go on the honeymoon and why?”
“Anywhere beautiful and private, because I wouldn’t want to share you with anyone.”
She had all the right answers. He was beginning to like this. Talking with the women before they connected on a physical level was not something he’d ever considered, but then he’d never considered anything but sex. He still wanted sex, especially with a certain ornery redhead, but he was learning more about the things that counted this way.
“Aside from finding the right man and having a family, what is your greatest desire?”
“I want to own a hotel or two or three.”
“How would you manage that with a family?”
“Hire someone to run them, of course.”
He smiled. “Of course.” She’d do a damn good job of it, too.
The other four interviews that day went pretty much as planned. Only one stood out in a negative way. LeeAnn was funny, but she was pushing too hard, and that was a huge turnoff. No matter what she looked like, Tony didn’t feel comfortable with her.
There was no filming that night, at least not for Tony, so he went down to the gym and worked out for an hour, and then he took Riley out for a walk on the beach.
This television stuff wasn’t as hard as he thought it would be.
<>
Catherine felt fairly good about her interview with Tony. Fawn strutted around the suite like she’d be walking away from this show with the prize. If that empty-headed bimbo thought Tony would choose her, she’d better think again. Tony was too smart to be fooled by her.
Wasn’t he?
The girls ate dinner together in the formal dining room, the same room Catherine had eaten in with Tony and his family a few weeks ago. As usual, the cameras caught their banter and all the nuances of the different personalities.
Later, after several glasses of wine, the girls trooped down to the pool, laughing and teasing each other. Two cameras followed.
Fawn sat on the side of the pool and boasted that her interview went so well, Tony was sure to keep her.
“Mine went well, too,” said LeeAnn.
DeeNae asked, “What questions did he ask this time?”
Catherine and Jenny shared a look, but nobody offered up the questions. No sense in givin
g the competition an unfair advantage.
“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow,” said Rachel.
“Tony is easy to talk to,” said Jenny. “He’s not only good looking, he’s a nice guy.”
“Yes, he is,” said Catherine. “Who’s up tomorrow?” As if she didn’t already know.
Andrea and DeeNae both said, “I am,” at the same time, then laughed.
Rachel said, “I’m up too, and so are JoJo and Carina.”
“I hope I’m still around for the costume party,” said JoJo.
“Me, too,” said DeeNae.
Catherine glanced around. All the girls seemed positive they’d be staying for the costume party, but two of them would be sent home tomorrow and another girl would leave after the costume party.
Catherine prayed she wouldn’t be one of them.
<>
Tony finished the interviews the next day. Again, one woman stood out in a negative way. Carina’s language wasn’t just suggestive and explicit, it was downright vulgar, and he knew some of her remarks in the interview would have to be cut or bleeped out. He wasn’t a saint by any means, but he didn’t want Carina in the kitchen or anywhere else with his mother.
That evening, he stood on the terrace and spoke with the women. “I hate to send anyone home, but they tell me I can’t keep you all here for another day.”
He called LeeAnn first, and she burst into tears. When she walked down the steps, she stopped for hugs from the other girls and then came to him.
“I wish we’d met under other circumstances, because I think you’re a little intimidated by the cameras.”
She nodded and he reached up to wipe a tear off her face. “I know that somewhere out there is a great guy who’s perfect for you. I’m sorry it’s not me.” He gave her a big hug and sent her on her way.
He looked up at the faces of eight nervous women and realized how hard this must be for them. One more to go. He called Carina, and she looked stunned. Her hands were shaking when he took them. “You’re a little over the top for a small town boy like me, Carina. I hope you find a guy who’s just right for you.” He hugged her and she walked away. At least this one wasn’t crying. Her jaw was set and her eyes had darkened with anger. Instead of being upset, she looked like she wanted to kill him.
Scanning the relieved faces of the women standing on the stairs around the fountain, Tony said, “When I was told the concept of this show, I thought it was crazy to eliminate anyone before I could see them, but now that I’ve had a chance to talk with you in person, I feel I’ve come to know something important about each one of you. In all honesty, I’m not sure I would have learned that much without the blindfold.
“Tomorrow night, at the costume party, I’ll have a chance to put your faces and names together. I hope you’re looking forward to the party as much as I am.” He grinned. “I’m getting tired of eating meals alone, with no one to talk to but my dog.”
He whistled for Riley, who came running, tail wagging, and they walked through the garden together.
<>
Catherine heard Carina’s tantrum before she got near the room. She was swearing like a sailor, which was probably why Tony dumped her. LeeAnn had stopped crying. Catherine hugged her, and so did the other girls, but nobody went near Carina.
There were seven girls left—Jenny, Rachel, and Fawn from Catherine’s suite, and JoJo, DeeNae, and Andrea from the other suite. The three from the other suite came into Catherine’s room, where they sat on the beds and talked.
DeeNae said, “I’m not surprised he got rid of Carina, but LeeAnn? She’s so sweet.”
Rachel hugged her pillow. “She was trying too hard.”
“Looks like we’ll have an empty bed in our room tonight,” said Andrea.
“And another one tomorrow night,” said Fawn.
Andrea lifted her chin. “No, that’ll be in your room.”
Fawn stared her down. “We’ll see.”
Yes, we’ll see, thought Catherine. Now Tony would choose based on other criteria, like eye contact and physical attraction.
There were seven women left. Four were blondes, two were dark-haired beauties.
And one was Catherine.
Chapter Thirteen
After the camera left the suite and the other girls had gone to bed, Fawn cornered Catherine in the sitting room. “What are you doing here?”
“The same thing you are. Looking for love.”
“Rich people don’t have to look for love.”
Catherine had heard the same thing from Scooter half a lifetime ago, when she came up with this stupid concept for a show. “If you tell anyone who I am, I’ll tell them what you did to my father.”
“I didn’t—”
“You gave him a prescription drug that could have killed him.”
“But it didn’t.”
“No, it just crippled him.” Catherine wanted Fawn to regret what she’d done.
Fawn’s face was a mask of shock. “I didn’t know—”
“You’re not a doctor, are you?”
“No,” she whispered.
“Then you have no business giving anyone a prescription drug. Keep your mouth shut and stay the hell away from me.”
Fawn lifted her perfect chin and looked down her nose at Catherine. “That shouldn’t be hard. You won’t be around long anyway, now that Tony can see us.”
To keep the peace, Catherine told Fawn what she wanted to hear. “You’re probably right. You and Rachel and Jenny will undoubtedly be the finalists.”
The answer seemed to satisfy Fawn, but Catherine didn’t trust her. She wanted a man in the worst way, and she didn’t care what she had to do to get him.
The costume ball was coming up tonight, and Catherine had serious doubts about the suitability of her costume. If Mitzi hadn’t screwed up, the costume wouldn’t be a problem, because someone else would be in this position.
Did she want someone else to be in this position? Did she want Tony to have more choices? Catherine sighed deeply, knowing the answer. Tony was the only man she’d ever loved, and she didn’t like sharing him with all these other girls. Especially Fawn.
What if he picked Fawn at the end?
He wouldn’t do that, would he?
<>
Tony ate dinner alone in his suite and then dressed for the costume ball. Mr. Pettibone came to escort him to the ballroom, where a small orchestra played soft music on the far side. Angelo was with them, all spiffed up in his tux.
Tony waved. “Hey, bro. Are you singing tonight?”
“Yeah. I hope I don’t put anyone to sleep.”
Fat chance of that happening. Angelo was Ma’s pride and joy. He sang tenor like their father, only better. Funny that he’d be here tonight, in the presence of all these women. Angelo hadn’t dated much, but he fell for Teresa the first time he set eyes on her. His younger brother had a gentle spirit, and Teresa treated him like a king. The guy was obviously happy.
One of these days, Tony wanted that kind of happiness for himself. At the family dinner a few weeks ago, watching Catherine interact with his family, he thought he might have found the right woman. But marriage? The thought of being with the same woman for the rest of his life brought a flutter of panic. He wouldn’t make that kind of commitment to any woman if he wasn’t absolutely sure about their love for each other. Although Nick had been divorced, and for good reason, once people in his family married, they stayed married.
The director said, “Ready, Tony?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
As the orchestra played and two camera guys went to work, the first woman walked in. She was tall, with black hair and dark brown eyes, and she was dressed in fringed buckskins. Her hair was in braids and her dress was split up to the top of her thigh, revealing one long, slender leg.
“Wow! You look awesome.”
“So do you, Tony.” Her eyes scanned his chest and came back to his face. “I’m Rachel.”
“Rachel.” He kissed her
hand. “It’s good to see you at last.”
Tony looked up to see the next girl walking toward him. This one was blonde, about medium height, and she wore a belly dancing costume. “Whoa, look at you. Can you dance?”
She whirled around and did a few moves to tell him she could indeed dance. “I’m DeeNae.”
He kissed her hand. “You sure are.”
He’d barely let go of her hand when another woman walked in. This one was a tall blonde dressed as a Grecian goddess in a white dress with lots of gold. She was absolutely stunning in that outfit, and she looked like a natural blonde. She gave him a warm smile. “It’s so nice to see you without the blindfold, Tony. I’m Jenny, the one with the little girl.”
“Jenny,” he said, kissing her hand. “I’m blown away by that costume. It suits you.”
Jenny stepped aside as another woman walked into the room. She tossed a big hat on the floor and began to dance around it. She wore a peasant blouse and full skirt, which she tossed around her legs as she danced. She had short, dark hair and a big smile. He lifted her hand and she whirled around under it. “Tony, I’m JoJo.”
“JoJo,” he said, kissing her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She wasn’t as beautiful as the first three women, but she had a playful gleam in her eyes. She’d impressed him in her interviews, and she wasn’t even blonde.
A blonde in a fancy blue satin dress came in next. Her breasts were pushed up high and the dress was so tight she looked like she could barely breathe. She curtsied stiffly in front of him. Her breasts rounded out over the top of the dress and he thought they were going to pop free. They’d turn off the cameras and edit that out, wouldn’t they?
“Tony, my name is Fawn. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last.”
“Fawn.” He kissed her hand, as he had the others. “You look lovely. Your dress matches your eyes.”
She glowed under his praise. Fawn was a beauty, but he didn’t like her costume. It was too stiff and formal for him.
The next woman came out with a frosty stein of beer on a tray. She was dressed in two colorful skirts, the top one pulled up and tucked in her belt on one side. Her white blouse had a vest over top, laced up and tied tightly to push up her breasts. Still, she could move and breathe, unlike Fawn.
