Genuine Lies

disappointment, she began to make adjustments. “Maybe I could call her and reschedule.”
    “Don’t do it on our account.” Paul winked at Brandon. “The brat and I can take care of dinner ourselves.”
    “Yes, but—”
    But Brandon was interested. “Can you cook?” “Can I cook? I can do better than that. I can drive to McDonald’s.”
    “All right!” He bounded up, then remembered his mother and shot her a hopeful look. A trip to McDonald’s meant all kinds of wonderful things. Including no cleaning up after dinner. “That’s okay, isn’t it?”
    “Yeah.” She kissed the top of his head, then smiled at Paul. “It’s okay.”

A long, hot bath with fragrant oils, the creams, the lotions. Fifteen luxurious minutes fussing with powders and paints. By the time Julia slipped into the icy pink evening pants and draped jacket, she was completely recovered. So recovered, it amused her that Paul had insisted on walking her over to the main house.
    “You smell incredible.” He lifted her wrist to sniff, then lingered to nibble at it. “Maybe you’d like to join me in the guest room later.”
    “I might be persuaded.” She stopped at the main door, turned, and linked her hands around his neck. “Why don’t you start thinking of ways to persuade me?” Her lips touched his lightly, then she surprised and pleased them both by pouring herself into a long, breath-stealing kiss. “Now, go buy yourself a hamburger.”
    It felt as though the blood had drained from his brain straight to his loins. “Two things,” he said. “Eat fast.” She smiled. “What’s the second thing?” “I’ll show you when you get home.” He started off, then called over his shoulders. “Eat real fast.”
    Laughing to herself, Julia knocked and decided she might set the world’s record for gulping dinner. “Hello, Travers.”
    For once the housekeeper didn’t grunt, but looked Julia over with what first appeared to be concern. It changed quickly to suspicion and annoyance. “You’ve got her upset.”
    “Eve?” Julia said as the door closed at her back. “I’ve upset Eve?” Then it struck her and she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or swear. “About the plane? You can hardly blame me for almost being in a crash, Travers.”
    But apparently she could as she stomped back toward the kitchen after one sharp gesture toward the parlor.
    “Always a pleasure chatting with you,” Julia called after her, then made her way toward the parlor.
    Eve was there, pacing the width of the room. Back and forth, an exotic beast in an elegant cage. Emotion washed in her wake, so strong, so intense, it was almost visible. Her eyes glistened, but the tears didn’t fall until she looked over at Julia.
    For once all her will deserted her. With a helpless shake of her head, she folded onto the sofa and began to weep.
    “Oh, no, please.” Julia was across the room like a shot, arms enfolding, voice soothing. Silk rustled as Eve turned into her. Their scents met, opposing notes that somehow harmonized into one exotic fragrance. “It’s all right,” Julia told her, the words as automatic, as comforting as her stroking hands. “Everything’s all right now.”
    “You could have been killed. I don’t know what I would have done.” Moments after breaking down, she was struggling for composure. She drew back, wanting, needing to study Julia’s face. “I swear to you, Julia, I never thought anyone would go this far. I knew they would try to stop me, but I never considered they would try to hurt you to do it.”
    “I haven’t been hurt. I’m not going to be hurt.”
    “No. Because we won’t go any further.”
    “Eve.” Julia searched in her own pocket for a tissue and handed it over. “I’ve just been through all that with Paul. Stopping now won’t make any difference, will it?”
    She took the time to dab at the tears. “No.” Slowly, feeling her age, she rose to go to the bar and poured a drinkfrom the bottle of champagne that was already open and waiting. “You know more than you should.” Her full red lips flattened. “That’s my responsibility. My selfishness.” “My job,” Julia countered.
    Eve took a long sip before pouring a second glass for Julia. The girl had soft shoulders, she thought. Almost fragile in appearance, yet they were strong enough to support. “You don’t want to stop?”
    “I couldn’t if I wanted to. And no, I don’t.” She accepted the glass Eve offered, then touched crystal to