It sounds great.
Well have all kinds of company
The more the merrier.
She straightened and looked him in the eye. Danny is coming, she told him.
Oh, I see, he said softly.
He awoke very late and very slowly, and in luxurious comfort. The mattress he lay on was soft, the sheets cool and clean. The woman beside him still smelled sweetly of perfume, and of the scent of their lovemaking. She was young, but not too young. Her skin was tanned and sleek. Her hair was dark, and a wealth of it graced the hotel pillow. Shed had her price, but what the hell, so did he. Theyd had fun together.
Coffee had brewed in a pot hed set to go on a timer last night. Brewed and probably burned. Hed never imagined he would sleep so late.
He leaned against his pillow and the headboard.
America was good.
He had always enjoyed it.
There was so much here. Such an abundance. And such foolish people, who didnt begin to understand what they had. Aye, they had their problems; he wasnt at all blind to the world, nor did he lack compassion. But problems were different here. Spoiled rich kids, racial tensions, Republicans, Democratsand, he had to say, though with all compassion, if they didnt have enough problems, they just made more for themselves. But it didnt change the fact that life was good.
The phone rang. He reached to the bedside table; picked it up.
Hello?
Have you the order ready, sir?
I do. Shall I deliver, or do you want to come here?
Its probably better if you come here. We may have more business to discuss.
That will be fine. When?
He was given a time; then the phone clicked. He hung up.
The woman at his side stirred and moaned. She turned toward him; her eyes flickering open. She smiled. Morning.
Morning. He leaned over and kissed her. She was still a cute little thing. Dark-haired, dark-eyed, tanned.
She reached for him beneath the sheets, her hand curling around his sex.
He arched a brow at her.
She laughed. Freebie. I dont usually stay until morning
I dont usually keep a whoa womantill morning, he amended kindly.
Her fingers were talented, and he found himself quickly aroused. He noted, though, the light that was beginning to show around the edges of the curtains.
Whats the matter? she asked him.
He smiled, crushed out his cigarette. Nothing, he told her, drawing her head toward his, kissing her lips, then drawing her downward to continue a more liquid approach to her sensual assault on his body. He glanced at his watch. Plenty of time.
She was very good, and it had been a long time since hed had such an opportunity to dally. He let her have her way, then returned the favor, and when he made love to herif one could, even politely, call the act making love when it with a woman who was a stranger and a whore at thathe did so with energy and pleasure, a courteous partner despite the fact that he swiftly climaxed. Even as he rolled to her side, he checked his watch again.
Late, he muttered, then kissed her lips and headed for the shower. Coffees on. Cigarettes are by the bed.
He showered quickly, with an economy of motion learned over the years. He emerged well scrubbed, hair washed. He grabbed a towel from the rack and studiously worked at drying his hair while he opened the bathroom door and exited, head covered, body naked.
Did you get your cof He began politely, but then paused, muscles tightening What are you doing? he asked sharply.
She was on her knees, his pants in her hands.
I she began, dropping his pants, looking at him. She stumbled to her feet. Had she been about to rob him?
He wondered what she had seen. He noted quickly that she had been through more than his pants. Drawers werent quite closed; the dust ruffle around the bed was still up at the foot of it. What had she discovered that had caused the look of fear she wore?
Or was it merely what she was seeing in his eyes?
She stood, clad in her bra slip and stockings. He watched the workings of her mind. She was wishing shed got dressed and got the hell out while he had showered.
But she hadnt.
Her eyes, glued to his, registered her fear. He didnt look away; he saw the room with his peripheral vision. Shed done a good job in the time shed had. Thorough. She was just a working girland, it appeared, a thief.
Or was she?
I was just looking around, just curious, she said, moistening her lips.
Whatever else she was, she was a damn poor liar.
Ah, love, he said softly. Hadnt you ever heard? Curiosity killed the cat.
Ah, your good friend Daniel OHara, Josh teased. Think of it. If it hadnt been for old Danny boy, you and I might be married now.
And divorcedwed have killed each other in a week, Moira reminded him.
Maybe, maybe not. Lets see, you were intellectually in love with me, but you lusted after your old flame. I was the good, decent man who meant to do all the honorable things, but he was an unobtainable, intriguing and dashing young lover, and though never present, he took your heart as well as yourwell, you know.
Josh, we would never have gotten married.
Probably not, he agreed, a bit too cheerfully.
Well, I dont appreciate the dramatics. Hes an old family friend
And the fact that hes built like a linebacker and looks like an Adonis has nothing to do with it?
Youre being incrediblyshallow. As if I dont judge men by other standards. Besides, youre a very good-looking man yourself.
Thanks. Ill take that. But Im not sure I compare with your exotic foreign lover. And no, its not just his looks that affect you. Its the accent, the voice, the tradition, the fact that hes an old family friend. He put on a Hollywood Irish accent. Aye, me lass, your lover has a definite presence.
Hes not my lover!
How quickly you protest.
I havent even seen him in years.
I can tell you when you saw him last. Summer, almost three years ago. And you wound up lying to your family, saying you were coming back to New York, but you stayed at the Copley with him in Boston. You thought hed stay here, because you wanted him to. He wasnt ready, you got mad. And when he called again the following Christmas, you refused to see him.
I never told you all that!
Well, I may not have made it as husband material, but I am your best friend. And theres something about him you cant quite shake.
Youre wrong.
Am I?
Trust me, I have shaken him. She looked at her watch. How time flies when youre being tortured by your supposed best friend. I have to meet Mrs. Grisholm. She missed her connection this morning. Shes the lady from that little mystery theater group in Maine where the audience joins in and they do the show together. They even cook and eat dinner together. You know. I told you all about her, and it sounds like a
Whats Michael going to say about the return of your old flame? Did you ever tell him about Daniel OHara? Josh interrupted, amused.
Dan is my past, Michael is none of your business.
Whats Michael going to say about the return of your old flame? Did you ever tell him about Daniel OHara? Josh interrupted, amused.
Dan is my past, Michael is none of your business.
Josh started laughing. Her cheeks flamed.
Saint Patricks Day could be lots of fun. Your sleeping arrangements may be none of my business, but we hired Michael as location manager before you two became involved, so I assume hell be joining us in Boston.
Yes, of course hell be joining us in Boston.
Josh was still grinning.
Oh, will you wipe that smirk off your face?
Im sorry. As your one-time would-be lover, I find it amusing that youve spent half your adult life in celibacy and now youre going to have both of the great loves of your life home for the holiday.
Josh she said warningly.
Maybe thats not so bad. Mum and Dad can protect you.
She stood up. I would thank you for being such a great business partner
If I wasnt being such a prick. He was still laughing.
I could tell your wife youre being a horses ass.
She knows all about my ancient crush on you. I think shell find the situation just as much fun as I do.
Youre impossible, and Im leaving.
Youre leaving because youre late, and you love me anyway, he called after her, since she was already heading for the door.
I dont love you, she called, turning around. Make sure you get the check, and leave a decent tip.
You adore me! he called after her.
At the door, she looked back. He was still wearing the same shit-eating grin. He arched a brow to her and started humming Danny Boy.
2
It had been a damned long day. Michael McLean took his work to heart, and he accomplished what he set out to do, whether it took diplomacy and tact or a dead-set determination and a few strong-arm techniques.
When the phone rang, Michael jumped. Hed been lying there, half asleep, and though his work meant that he got calls at all hours, he hadnt been expecting the abrasive ring. Hed been traveling large expanses of the countrythey had to be prepared for every contingencyand he was tired. For a moment the ringing was simply jarring, and he let it go on. Then he forced himself up, dragging his legs over the side of the bed, running his fingers through his hair. He started for his bedside phone, then realized that it was his cellular ringing. He rose, running his fingers through his hair, found his pants and dug out the phone.
He glanced at the caller ID. Moira.
Hey, babe, whats up? Youre all right, arent you? Its late.
I know, Im sorry. I should have called earlier.
You can call me any time, day or night. You know that.
Thanks, she said, her voice soft.
There were lots of women in the world. Hed known his share. But the tenor of her voice slipped into him. There were others, yes. But none quite like her. He pictured her. Moira was a beauty, with her true deep red hair and blue-green eyes. Tall, elegant, with a natural sophistication and the ability to dirty her hands and nails, laugh at any obstacle and get involved with the most absurd situations. When hed answered the ad for an associate producer and locations manager for KW Productions, hed known her from seeing her on the air, having studied what tapes he could find before applying for the job. She was good on tape. She was even better in person. He hadnt been ready for the excitement she could create or the emotion she could invoke. He wished she were there right now. Amazing what the sound of her voice could do to a man.
I should have called youcould have called youhours ago, she went on, then halted suddenly. You havent heard from Josh already, have you?
No.
He heard her sigh. Yeah, he would make me do this one myself. And its so late because Ive been trying to get up the nerve to call you.
He was about to assure her that she never needed nerve to call him when she rushed on.
I know how much work youve already done
You are the boss, you know.
Not really. Josh and I have always made decisions together, and since youve been with us, well, youve just been the perfect addition to the show. Oh, Lord, Michael, Im so sorry to be doing this, butwere making a sudden switch in plans.
Hed been expecting this; still, he felt every muscle in his body tense. He knew what she was about to say.
I know that you and Josh have made an incredible effort on the Orlando angle, that acquiring permits to tape has been a bitchbut were switching locations for Saint Patricks Day. Im so sorry. I know
Family pressure, eh? he asked quietly.
My father has to go in for tests next week. Nothing serious, Mum assures me, but Im willing to bet hes still working the pub himself until all hours of the night. Anyway, she made it sound as if I were punching the Easter Bunny or something, and II caved in.
Dont worry, he told her. Ive already looked into the Boston situation.
What?
Josh and I both kind of expected this, he said.
She was silent.
Moira, its all right. Hey, Im going to love meeting your family. Ill get to feel important, right? The man in your life, someone who means everything in the world to you, right?
Youre incredible, you know that?
Well, of course, youd have nothing less, right? he said.
You know what?
What?
You sound so good.
Her voice was almost like silk.
I was just thinking the same about you.
Theyre crazy, you know.
Who?
My folks.
Moira, youve hit the right guy here. My family is Irish, too. Okay, we dont own a pub and no one runs around whistling Danny Boy all day, but I can deal with the leprechaun and banshee stories. Dont be so worried.
She was still silent. Then she said, Mine do.
What?
They run around whistling Danny Boy all the time.
He laughed. Ive got nothing against the song. Hey, Josh and I had a wager going, you know.
Who bet that I wouldnt cave in to family pressure?
Neither of us. The wager was on the date youd finally do it.
I cant wait to see you, she said. Once again, he pictured her. Not the woman on television. The one who should be here with him now. Softly scented, sleek and smooth, hair down and wild, naked as the day she was born. Maybe that was part of her allure. She could be so elegant and almost aloof in public, and so incredibly sensual and volatile in private.
I dont think there are any planes at this time of night, he said regretfully. Cant even hop a train. I could rent a carif youre really needy.
Youre good. Very good.
No, what I am is
Never mind, she said, laughing again. You know you cant rent a car in Florida and be here that quickly. And I have tohave totie up a few things here tomorrow and then head up right after. That will give us a week before the actual big day. Time so I can see my folks and so we can give the Leisure Channel a really good show.