Genuine Lies

of them to ring for a servant and have the bags carried down.
    “I’m going to call every night, seven o’clock your time. That’ll be right after dinner. I already put the name of the hotel and the phone number in your bag.”
    “I know, Mom.”
    She recognized impatience when she heard it, but didn’t give a damn. A mother was entitled to behave this way. “You can call me there anytime if you need me. If I’m not in, the desk will take a message.”
    “I know what to do. It’s just like when you go on tour.”
    “Yeah.” But this time there would be an ocean between them.
    “Julia.” Nina hurried down the hall as they stopped at the base of the steps. “You shouldn’t be carrying all that.” “I’m used to it. Really.”
    “It’s fine.” She was already pulling the garment bag from Julia’s shoulder and setting it aside. “I’ll have Lyle put your things in the limo.”
    “I appreciate it. You know, it’s not really necessary for him to drive me to the airport.” And it gave her the creeps. “I can—”
    “You’re Miss B.’s guest,” Nina said primly. “And you’re going to London on Miss B.’s business.” That more than settled the affair in Nina’s mind. She smiled down at Brandon. “It’s going to be awfully quiet and boring around here the next few days, but I’m sure you’ll have a great time with the McKennas.”
    “They’re neat.” He didn’t think it was wise to add that Dustin McKenna had promised to teach him how to make rude noises with his armpit. Women just didn’t understand that kind of thing. At the sound of the doorbell, he was streaking down the hall. “You’re here!” he shouted at CeeCee.
    “You bet. All aboard for three days of fun, excitement, and crowded bathrooms. Hi, Miss Soloman. Thanks for the day off.”
    “You deserve it.” Her smile was absent as her mind leapt forward into what had to be done. “In any case, with everyone haring off here and there, there’s little enough for you to do. Enjoy yourself, Brandon. Safe trip, Julia. I’ll call Lyle and have him bring the car around.”
    “You behave.” Julia walked forward to give Brandon a last crushing hug. “Don’t fight with Dustin.”
    “Okay.” He slung his gym bag over his shoulder. “Bye, Mom.”
    “Bye.” She bit her lip as he marched outside.
    “We’ll take good care of him, Julia.”
    “I know.” She managed a smile. “That’s the easy part.” Through the open door she saw the big black limo slide up behind CeeCee’s Sprint. “I guess that’s my cue.”
    While Julia headed for the airport in the bright LosAngeles sunshine, Eve stretched in bed and listened to the heavy drum of rain on the roof of the bungalow. There’d been no filming today, she thought, just a lot of long, lazy hours inside the cozy little cottage the producers had arranged to rent for the duration of location shooting.
    She didn’t mind a day off—under the circumstances. She stretched again, purring as a strong, wide-palmed hand stroked down her body.
    “Doesn’t sound like it’s going to let up anytime soon,” Peter commented, shifting so that he could roll her on top of him. It amazed him—and aroused him—how good she looked in the morning. Older, certainly, without her careful makeup. But the bones, the eyes, the pale skin, made age a minimal matter. “At this rate, we may be stuck inside all day.”
    Because she felt him pressed hard and hot against her, she slid up, then back to take him inside. “I think we can manage to keep busy.”
    “Yeah.” His hands dug into her hips, urging her on as she began to rock. “I bet we can.”
    Eve arched up and back to let her body absorb all those delicious shock waves of pleasure. She’d been right about him being an intriguing lover. He was young, firm, energetic, and as innately aware of a woman’s needs as his own. She appreciated sexual generosity in a man. It had been a bonus that by the time she had taken that last step and invited him to her bed, she had grown to like him.
    And in bed … What woman her age wouldn’t be gratified that she could excite so completely a man not yet forty? She knew he was lost in her—the ragged pace of his breathing, the glisten of sweat on his chest, the tremors that racked him as he streaked closer to climax.
    Smiling, her head thrown back, she rode him hard, taking them both over that keen edge of pleasure.
    “Christ!” Exhausted, Peter fell back on the bed. His heart was pumping