Читать книгу Secrets of the Lotus - Michelle Garren Flye - Страница 6

Chapter 2

“Knock knock.” Josie poked her head into the cubicle of New York Life’s fashion editor.

Cindy Rodgers continued her telephone conversation even as she motioned for Josie to come in. “Thanks so much, darling. Uh-huh, kisses to the little ones. Bye now.” She hung up and pinned Josie with a glare. “What the hell did you do last night?”

“What do you mean? I went to Dan Mason’s birthday party.”

“That’s not all you did from what I hear. I just got off the telephone with a certain designer whose dress you wore last night. He just happened to be at said party and spotted you and Dan Mason having a private moment in the upstairs hallway, and then he said Dan Mason kissed you at midnight.”

“What was he doing in the upstairs hallway?”

“Don’t try to duck the question!” Cindy rose. At five feet, ten inches, she topped many men, especially in her customary three-and-a-half-inch heels. Josie always thought her friend had the same grace as a giraffe swaying above the lowly shrubbery. “What were you doing up there? And what about that kiss? I want all the gory details, girlfriend.”

Josie laughed. “There are no gory details. He was looking for somebody to kiss to get everybody off his back, I think. And as for the upstairs thing, I went up to look for a bathroom. Dan showed me the, um, right direction.”

“I’ll bet he did.” Cindy sat again. “Did you see his drunk mother? How about his father? That family has plenty of juicy secrets, I’m sure.”

“His mother was at the party and gave a toast.” Josie ignored the second question, playing with a stray pencil on Cindy’s desk. “And yes, she was sloshed.” She sighed, thinking of the pained expression on Dan’s face. She wished she didn’t have to include Dan’s mother’s condition in her column. She didn’t want to cause him any more troubles. He certainly had enough to deal with.

Cindy’s gaze was fixed on her face. “What the hell happened? You’re not telling the whole truth, Josie-girl.”

“Nothing!” Josie made an impatient movement then hesitated. “Except, well, he invited me to Senator Hill’s benefit on Sunday.”

“He did what?” Cindy slapped the desk. “Bingo! I knew I’d get it out of you. How is it you have a date with a billionaire and you don’t find it worth mentioning first thing, hmm?”

“It’s not like a date, really.” Josie tried to sound sure of herself. “He asked if I would be there and when I said no, he said I could come with him.”

“Which sounds very much like a date to me. You’ll need something fabulous to wear. I’ll get on the phone right now. I saw something the other day that would look darling on you. You’ve got the perfect frame for it.”

“Cindy, you’re the only person in New York who thinks I’ve got the perfect frame for anything.” Josie kept the panic out of her voice with difficulty. “Make sure the dress is subtle, okay? It’s a benefit for a United States senator, after all. I don’t want to draw any attention.”

“Sounds like it’s too late for that.” Cindy grinned. “And I doubt very seriously I’m the only person who’s aware of what a beautiful woman you are. In fact, I’d bet Mr. Mason has made note.”

* * * *

Josie was familiar with the family’s recent history, but she scanned through some microfiche from twenty years before when Daniel Mason, Sr., was mayor of New York, making notes about his life and career. She paused on a picture of the family. Dan Junior stood beside his father and mother, both young and happy. Josie smiled at resolute young Dan, who had a face full of dreams and promise. “Going to save the world,” she said as she lingered on the picture for a few moments.

Dan’s younger brother and sister were also in the picture. The brother played with a truck at his older brother’s feet. The sister stood beside her mother, but her gaze was distracted by something out of the frame.

Scrolling on, Josie found more about the family and saw how it had sadly deteriorated. The sister ran away to get married to a Texas oil tycoon her father disliked. The brother moved to California, where he squandered away a good portion of his money on failed movie projects before finally becoming a mediocre producer of experimental films and documentaries. The best Josie could tell, neither of them had ever come home.

And Dan. The clips on him were hardly complimentary. Josie knew him by reputation, but somehow these clips about a billionaire playboy and the man she’d seen straighten his father’s tie didn’t jibe. “Who are you, Dan Mason?” She pressed the copy button on the microfiche machine. “Who are you?”

* * * *

“Are those the dresses?” Josie eyed the garment bag Cindy carried. She had too much experience with Cindy’s idea of style to be confident about her friend’s selection.

“Yes, darling.” Cindy draped the bag carefully over the chair in Josie’s living room. “And I wish you’d just let me choose one for you. You forget, I do this sort of thing for a living.”

“Right.” Josie turned on the overhead lights. “Let’s see them.”

“Well, this is the one I think—”

“My God, Cindy, you’ve got to be kidding me.” Josie stared at the hot pink, skin-tight creation Cindy had over her arm. “This dinner is for a senator.”

Cindy sighed and put the dress aside, reaching for another. “Fine. I knew you’d say that, but you’d look fabulous in it. You’ve got just the right coloring.”

The second dress was red. Josie frowned at the bright color, but she couldn’t find a fault with the cut of the dress, which was simple and almost staid. Still, when she tried it on, she shook her head. “I’m not sure. Doesn’t this make me look kind of too—something?”

Cindy studied her intently. “I don’t understand it. I thought you looked good in red, but this does nothing for you. I think it actually makes you look a little like a tomato.”

“A little? It’s the shade of red. It’s just too much.”

Cindy caught her friend’s glance in the mirror and grinned. “Maybe that’s it. Okay, I’ve got one more in here.” She extracted the final hanger and held it up.

Josie looked at the shimmery gray fabric with doubt. “I don’t see what makes this one so great.”

“Trust me. This dress is fabulous. Seriously. Try it on.”

“I’m not sure about the color, but it’s definitely better than the tomato one.” Josie took the hanger and shook it from side to side. The fabric swung in a flirty way. She smiled. “Okay. I’ll be right back.” She took the dress into the bathroom and slid it on, discovering she liked the way it clung to her thighs, making her feel both sexy and discreet at the same time.

“I’ve got to hand it to you, Cindy.” Josie twirled in front of the mirror, watching the fold of the fine silky fabric as it bounced out and collapsed back. It felt more like a slip than a dress and the front dipped between her breasts much more than she was normally comfortable with, but it was obviously the kind of dress most women would die to be able to wear. “This dress is perfect.”

“If you could see yourself right now.” Cindy shook her head.

“I can.” Josie nodded toward the mirror.

Cindy waved the remark away. “Nobody ever truly sees themselves. If they did, we’d have no fashion nightmares. What are you going to do with your hair?”

Josie shrugged. “Pull it back, I guess.”

“Oh, heavens, don’t do that.” Cindy looked horrified. “God, you’re lucky I’m your best friend. Come here.”

For the next twenty minutes, long enough for Josie to get antsy, Cindy crimped and curled Josie’s hair. She complained about Josie’s refusal to highlight her sandy color with blond streaks and cursed Josie’s cheap blow dryer for singeing her hair in the wrong places.

“There’s a right place to singe your hair?” Josie had to admit she’d never considered such a thing.

“Only if you really know what you’re doing.” Cindy drew the hairbrush through the thick curls a final time. “Okay, you’re done.” She turned Josie to the mirror.

Josie had to admit her friend had been right. The effect of the soft curls around her face and falling over her shoulders was stunning, even if it had taken much longer than her own idea of a French twist.

A knock on the door made her jump. Cindy laughed. “Why on earth are you so nervous, darling? He’s just a man. And tonight he’s your man.”

“I’m nervous because you’re making me wear three-inch heels.” Josie knew she sounded irritated. “I’ll be lucky if I can walk.”

“He’s six-foot-two.” Cindy gestured with the hairdryer. “Even with the heels, you’re only five-seven. You need that extra height or you’ll be talking to his navel all evening. And what if he decides to kiss you? You can’t make him work too hard for it.”

Josie rolled her eyes and hurried to the door as fast as her heels would allow. It would, she suspected, be Alan, waiting to escort her down to the waiting limousine. But she was wrong. When she opened the door, Dan himself was waiting for her, a single red rose in his hand.

“Um…you’re early.”

“Wow.” He grinned, looking her over with appreciation.

“Ooh, he is charming.” Cindy stepped out of the bathroom, the hairdryer still in her hand.

“Always happy to please a beautiful lady.” Dan smiled in Cindy’s direction before turning back to Josie.

“She’s beautiful and only marginally crazy.” Josie sniffed her rose. “Death to two-inch heels and inefficient hair dryers, but otherwise pretty harmless. Dan, I’d like you to meet Cindy Rodgers, fashionista extraordinaire for New York Life.”

Dan smiled. “Do I have you to thank for this?” He indicated Josie.

“I only helped reveal what was already there.” Cindy shrugged, and they both turned to admire Josie.

“I particularly like her hair like that.” Dan nodded at Josie's new waves.

Cindy sparkled. “Totally my idea! She would have put it in a French twist, of all things.”

Dan shook his head. “Ridiculous.”

“If you two don’t stop it, I’m going to go put on jeans and go to this shindig comfortable.” Josie pretended to turn to the bedroom.

“God forbid!” Cindy shrieked. “Get her out of here before she does any damage!” She pushed Dan out the door, Josie in tow. Josie tossed the rose Dan had given her over her head and Cindy caught it. “Have a wonderful evening, darlings!”

“Is she always like that?” Dan pushed the elevator button with a black-gloved finger. He looked particularly fine in a wool-blend overcoat and tailored modern-cut tuxedo.

“Most of the time. She really means it though. When she calls you darling, it’s not an air kiss, you know. She loves everybody until they give her a reason not to. And the people she truly loves, she loves passionately.”

He smiled. “You do look lovely. I have no doubt you’ll be the belle of the ball.” He hesitated, holding the door of the elevator for her as she got off. “She didn’t help you get ready for my party though, did she?”

She snorted. “You sure know how to flatter a girl, Dan Mason.” She accepted his arm as they walked out the door to get into his waiting limousine. “No, that fashion mishap was entirely my own—except the dress, she did get that for me.”

Alan, dressed in a chauffeur’s cap and coat, held the door open for them. “Good evening, Miss Stewart.”

“Cheerio, Alan!” She saluted him and was rewarded by an inscrutable smile before he closed the door.

“For the record,” Dan said, settling into the seat beside her, “I would not at all call the way you looked at my party a fashion mishap. I rather liked it. You looked…more natural. Tonight you glitter, but I can tell it’s on the surface, like most of the women I know, actually. It’s nice to know what’s underneath the glitter is as nice, if not better.”

She blushed. “You actually do know how to pay a compliment.”

“Thanks. And thanks for the column too.”

“What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “I read it with a great deal of trepidation on Friday. When you wrote about my birthday, you barely mentioned my mother and you left my father out of it all together. You could have broken our agreement, you know, and gone ahead and written the story.”

“It crossed my mind. Guess I’m not much of a reporter, huh?”

“You’re a better reporter than you give yourself credit for. And a better person than I gave you credit for.” He shook his head. “How is it a girl like you hasn’t been eaten alive by this city?”

“I’m tougher than I look.” She settled back against the car seat. “Really chewy.”

But Josie didn’t feel very tough half an hour later when the limousine pulled up in front of Gotham Hall. “Oh, damn,” she muttered as they waited their turn to step out onto the red carpet.

“What’s the matter?” Dan looked confused. “You must’ve been to a million of these things.”

“I’m not usually going in the front door.”

“Should I have Alan pull around to the back so you can sneak in through the kitchen?”

“Could you?” She felt as if her heart was going to explode from her chest.

“And walk in alone? No way.” He grinned at her and took her hand. “The only thing you need to be concerned about is the jealousy every woman here is going to feel when I help you out of the car.”

“Why, because I’m with you?” Josie glanced over her shoulder as Alan opened the door for them.

“Nope. Because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Then he pulled her out into the maelstrom of lights and sound.

* * * *

As they entered the hall, Dan paused for a moment, scanning the crowd to get his bearings, then glanced at Josie, placing one hand on the small of her back to guide her through the clusters of chatting people.

“Everyone’s staring at me.” Josie looked uncomfortable.

Dan hid a smile. “Of course they are. You’re with me. We look good together.”

“Sure we do. We probably remind everyone of ‘the long and the short of it.’” She grinned when he looked down at her in surprise. “Oh, come on, if I can’t make short jokes, you’re not allowed to, either.”

They paused to speak to one of Dan’s acquaintances who was already seated at one of the round, white linen-covered tables crowding the hall. Moving on, Dan said, “Height is an illusion. Believe me, it’s not always easy being the tallest person in the room either. I’ve discovered you’re as tall as you think you are. And you don’t act, walk or talk like a short person sometimes does.”

“How do you mean?” she said.

“Just that there’s nothing apologetic in the way you look up at me. You don’t mind making me look down to meet your eyes. You expect it.”

“Why wouldn’t I expect it?”

They stopped again, speaking to a computer millionaire. As they wound their way further through the tables, Josie glanced around. “Where in the hell are we sitting, anyway?”

Dan smiled, nodding to someone he knew but evidently didn’t feel the need to stop and speak to. “Head table.”

“With the senator?”

“He’s a good friend,” he said, “and I’m a good donor.”

“I wish you’d told me. I definitely would have come in the back door if I’d known.”

“Why?”

“Because three-inch heels are not easy to walk in, and if I’d come in the back, I’d be that much closer to our table.”

Dan threw his head back and laughed out loud, drawing several smiles and curious glances from those nearby. He squeezed her arm. “I’m already having more fun than I usually have at these things.”

They found their seats but, before they could sit, were waylaid by a doctor and his wife who Dan knew well. Even as he chatted with the doctor, Dan watched Josie out of the corner of his eye, noting how well she spoke, how charming and beautiful she was. He’d thought as much at his own party, but tonight he felt sure she was probably the loveliest creature he’d ever seen.

And he wasn’t the only one, he noted with satisfaction. Other men and women turned to stare. She made a sensation on his arm, partly because she was different from the other women he’d dated in his adult life, but also because of her personality. He liked having her with him, and he spent the evening enjoying watching her reactions to others and theirs to her.

As he watched Josie dance with Senator Hill for a second time, he wondered if he should make her a more permanent part of his life.

* * * *

Josie collapsed into the back seat of the limousine with a sigh of relief at the end of the night.

“You were amazing tonight,” Dan said, following her in.

“How I managed to talk and dance at the same time, I’ll never know. These shoes were nearly the death of my feet.”

“Let me see.” He held out a hand.

“What? My feet?” She snorted. “No way!”

“Why not? I thought women loved it when men rubbed their feet.”

“No, it’s…” She hesitated. It was too damn personal, but she hesitated to say so. Dan had been a perfect gentleman all night. He’d given her no reason not to trust him, but she still wasn’t comfortable just putting herself—or her feet, anyway—completely into his control.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He took hold of her ankles, pulling her feet onto his lap. Too tired to protest further, Josie leaned her head back and sighed with pleasure when he slipped the too-high heels off her feet. His hands were strong and gentle at the same time.

“You have nice feet.” He studied them in a detached way, as if he were an art critic. “A little warped right now. Why do women wear such high heels to these things? You know you’re going to be on your feet the whole time.” His thumbs massaged her aching arches, finding the right spot and knowing the right amount of pressure to apply.

She bit her lip to avoid vocalizing her pleasure, though if she were a cat she’d be purring. “You’re a hard man to say no to, Dan Mason.”

“I hope so. I may have more requests to make of you before the night is over.”

Josie sat up, taking her feet firmly from his grasp. “Look.” She took a deep breath “I’m not sure what you’re expecting. You’re… Well, you must know I know who you are. I know how you go through women. I’m not that type.”

“I never thought you were.” Dan sniffed his boutonnière. He made a face and tossed the wilted flower into an ashtray.

“I’m not looking for a romantic commitment either.” Josie braced herself, deciding now was the time to forge ahead and let him know exactly where she stood. “I mean, I’m not looking to land New York’s most eligible billionaire bachelor or anything. I’m not interested. I just got out of a sort of intense relationship.”

“Good.” He nodded with satisfaction.

She gave him a suspicious look. “Yeah, so?”

“So what?” He folded his hands and smiled politely.

“So what the hell? You know I’m not going to sleep with you and you claim you’ve known it all along, so why aren’t you rushing me back to my apartment?”

“You don’t get it, do you? You undervalue yourself.” He took her hands. “I enjoy being with you. You’re fun and beautiful and a really good date.”

“Thanks,” Josie said, and they both laughed.

“What I’m trying to say,” Dan continued, “is that even though you’re beautiful, I’m in favor of taking things slow because I don’t want to mess up what I think we can have. I want to continue to see you. I enjoy talking to you. I want to be your friend. I want you to go out with me. Besides…” He let go of her hands and sat back with a self-satisfied smile. “You look good with me.”

“Ha! You flatter yourself, my dear.” She tossed her head. “I’m way out of your league.”

“Nobody’s out of my league.” A silence fell. “That’s the problem.” He gazed out the window at the Hudson River. “Everywhere I go, there’s another woman ready to throw herself at me. I’m tired of obliging them.”

He was right, of course. He could have any woman he wanted. In fact, he had. Still, there was a loneliness about him that tugged at her heart. Josie put her hand on his. The corners of his mouth twitched and he turned his hand over, closing his fingers over hers. Even through their gloves, she could feel his strength. She was glad to note her breathing stayed even. She truly didn’t want to find him attractive, and every minute she spent with him she feared she would.

“So that line would work,” he said, as if to himself.

“What?” She caught the mischievous gleam in his eye and yanked her hand out of his. “You creep!” She smacked him on the shoulder with her purse.

“You seem to have plenty of energy.” He leaned forward and pressed a button. “Alan, take us to Riverside Park.”

“Sure, boss.”

A few minutes later, Alan pulled the car into a space near the river and Dan got out. Josie followed, grateful to get out of the lush, enclosed space of the limousine that had been making her feel claustrophobic. Or maybe it was his proximity she was grateful to escape. Once outside, however, she shivered, pulling her scarf and overcoat tighter around her neck and wishing she had on jeans and a sweater instead of the thin, silky dress. No one else was visible in either direction along the walk. Josie felt as if they were completely alone. Even Alan was hidden within the dark confines of the limousine, though Josie had no doubt he was watching.

“Are you warm enough?” Dan sounded politely concerned.

“I will be. Let’s walk.” She had no choice but to cling to his offered arm, but she wouldn’t have gone back to the limousine for anything at that moment. Between Dan’s slightly overwhelming personality and her own fear she’d be attracted to him, she felt she needed a few minutes of fresh air. The crisp air, the bright stars and the lights of the city reflected in the river combined in an invigorating mix. Josie breathed deeply. “I love the city at this time of year. The Christmas rush is past, the New Year has begun. It’s like the air is full of promises about to be whispered in my ear.”

“Really?”

“Well, I’m an optimist, or so I’ve been told.”

He absently brushed snow from the guardrail until his gloved fingers could curl around the cold iron. “So can I see you again?”

“This could get complicated.” She fiddled with the end of her scarf. “I mean, what about my job? You realize how much of my column you normally take up, right?”

“Wouldn’t our dating be more of a help than a hindrance for your job?”

“My boss might not see it that way,” she said with a shake of her head. “He doesn’t approve of reporters dating sources. Tonight was fine—you got me into the benefit, after all—but if we were seeing each other on a regular basis…”

She let go of his sleeve to make a vague gesture, waving her hand over the water, and realized too late that releasing her anchor was a mistake. Her heel slipped on a patch of ice. Dan caught her but her weight carried him into a snow bank, Josie landing solidly on top of him. She sputtered and tried to roll off him, but his arms were still around her. She felt him laughing beneath her.

“Can you blame me for wanting to take you to all my high society obligations?” He held on just a moment longer. “You’re so graceful.”

She punched him in the arm and wriggled away, sitting in the snow beside him despite the growing dampness. She hoped she wasn’t doing permanent damage to the dress. “If certain people wouldn’t insist on me wearing three-inch heels.”

“The magazine would probably take you off the society beat, wouldn’t they?” He resumed their conversation as if they weren’t sitting in a snow bank. “Conflict of interest?”

“More likely they’d want me to give them an exclusive.” She made a face. “I don’t know, Dan. I’m not sure about this.”

“Are you not sure about me or dating me?”

“I can’t honestly tell you.”

“Fair enough.” He was silent for a moment. “Come to dinner with me tomorrow. Tell your editor your personal life is off limits. If he has a problem with it, quit.”

Josie stood, brushing snow off her sleeves. “Easy for you to say. Not all of us have multi-billion dollar trust funds to fall back on.” She held out her hand. “Come on, you don’t want anybody to see you sitting in the snow.”

He accepted her help. “I want to see you again, Josie.”

She could feel herself weakening even as she helped him to his feet. “I’ll think about it.”

* * * *

Dan walked her up to her apartment, letting her unlock the door before taking her hand. “It was a good night, Josie Stewart. I hope there’ll be more of them.”

He didn’t kiss her. Josie realized she’d been waiting for it only after he smiled, gave her hand a gentle squeeze and dropped it. She wondered why she was surprised, hoping she wasn’t disappointed. “I’ll, um, call you.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” He turned toward the elevator as she stepped into her apartment.

The message light blinked a red eye at her in the semidarkness. She switched on the overhead light and hit the “play” button, turning to toss her coat onto the hall chair.

“Hi, Jo-Jo.”

She stopped and gripped the bar as if for support.

There was a long silence. “Is it snowing up there? I was thinking about when we were kids and it snowed. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, we’d have a blast, remember?”

“I remember.” She closed her eyes and leaned hard on the counter. She thought of her little brother, James, standing in the hallway of the minimum security prison in North Carolina. He was probably scrubbing up the back of his hair the same way he used to do when he was a kid.

“Anyway.” James paused. “You know where I am. Sorry I missed you.”

The call ended abruptly. Josie reached for the telephone in a reflexive action, as if she could stop him from hanging up even though the call had come a couple of hours earlier when she’d been dancing and laughing with New York’s elite. She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. She frowned, thinking about Dan’s life of excess and wondering how she could have been tempted to become a part of that life while James was stuck in prison. She shook her head and admitted to herself that she’d been tempted. Like Cinderella was tempted by a nice pair of shoes and shiny coach. It was human nature, after all, to want what others had. She felt a little ashamed of herself for falling into that trap.

Then she thought about Dan again. He’d seemed sincere about wanting to spend time with her, and if he spent time with her, maybe she could influence him to use at least a part of his fortune in a way that might help, if not James, at least some people like him.

And if she took him up on his offer, she could find out what he was up to—and maybe get a good story out of it.

* * * *

Alan opened the limousine door for Dan in front of his apartment building. “What do you think? She know anything?”

“Nothing at all.” Dan shook his head as he got out of the car. “How a woman as innocent as she is has survived in this hellhole I’ll never know. Especially as a reporter. She could be useful though.”

“How so?”

“Distraction. You know how the press is, Alan. They eat up a romance, and they’ll fall in love with Josie. If the press is caught up in how Dan Mason the philanderer is settling down with a beautiful good girl, my other dealings will attract less attention.” He paused, thinking of her smile and remembering the graceful way she moved on the dance floor. He smiled involuntarily at the memory of falling into the snowdrift with her.

Alan frowned. “You sure about this girl, boss?”

“What do you mean?”

“You sure she’s not gonna be as much of a distraction for you as she is for the press?”

Dan turned to the building. “No chance, Alan. I know what’s on the line.”

“Right.” Alan got back in the car to take it around the corner to the parking garage. “No chance at all.”