Genuine Lies

she thought, she wanted him too. Timing or not, their desire wouldn’t wait much longer. Cautious, she pulled back. “Holidays make me sentimental,” she managed to say. Smiling, she rubbed her lipstick from his mouth. He grabbed her wrist, pressed a kiss to her palm.
    “Come upstairs with me.”
    Her heart fluttered, surprising her. He’d never asked before. “Not that sentimental.” She struggled to find her balance again. “Your guests will be arriving any minute.”
    “Fuck the guests.”
    She laughed, and tucked a hand through his arm. “Come on, Charlie, you know you want to fuck me. But right now you’re going to pour me a glass of champagne.”
    “And later?”
    “There’s only now, Charlie. The great big now.”
    She strolled through a pair of double doors into a sprawling room that held a ten-foot tree glittering with lights and colored balls. It was a man’s room, and she liked it for that alone. The furniture straight-lined and simple, the chairs deep and comfortable. A fire was roaring in the huge hearth at one end of the room, and a long mahogany bar was well stocked on the other. Eve slid onto one of the leather barstools and took out a cigarette.
    “Bartender,” she said, “the lady needs a drink.” As Charlie opened and poured champagne, she studied him. He was wearing a tuxedo, and the formal wear suited him. He would never compete with the current leading men. Charlie Gray was no Gable or Grant, but he had solidity and sweetness, and an appreciation for his craft. “You’re a nice man, Charlie.” Eve lifted her glass. “Here’s to you, my first real friend in the business.”
    “Here’s to now,” he said, and touched his glass to hers. “And what we make of it.” He walked around the bar to take a present from under the tree. “It isn’t as intimate as Byron, but when I saw it I thought of you.”
    Eve set her cigarette aside to open the box. The necklace of icy diamonds shot white fire against a bed of black velvet. In the center, like blood, dripped a huge, hot ruby. The diamonds were shaped like stars, the ruby like a tear.
    “Oh. Oh, Charlie.”
    “You’re not going to say I shouldn’t have.”
    She shook her head. “I’d never come up with a shopworn line like that.” But her eyes were wet, and there was a lump in her throat. “I was going to say that you have excellent taste. Damn, I can’t come up with anything clever. It’s stunning.”
    “So are you.” He took the necklace out, let it run through his hands. “When you reach for the stars, Eve, you lose blood and tears. That’s something you should remember.” He slipped it around her neck and fastened it. “Some women are born to wear diamonds.”
    “I’m sure I was. Now I’m going to do something very typical.” Laughing, she dug in her purse for her compact. After snapping it open, she studied the necklace in the small square mirror. “God.
Goddamn
, it’s beautiful.” She spun around on the stool to kiss him. “I feel like a queen.”
    “I want you to be happy.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, Eve.” He saw the surprise come into her eyes, followed quickly by distress. Biting back an oath, he dropped his hands. “I have something else for you.”
    “More?” She tried to keep her voice light. She’d known he desired her, that he was fond of her. But love? She didn’t want him to love when she couldn’t return it. More, she didn’t want to be tempted to try. Her hand wasn’t completely steady when she picked up her champagne. “You’re going to have a hard time topping this necklace.”
    “If I know you as well as I think I do, this will top it by a mile.” From the breast pocket of his dinner jacket he took a piece of paper and set it on the bar beside her.
    “January 12, ten A.M., Stage 15.” Puzzled, she lifted a brow. “What is this? Clues for a treasure hunt?”
    “Your screen test.” He saw her cheeks pale and her eyes darken. Her lips trembled open, but she only shook her head. Understanding perfectly, he smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, I thought that would mean more to you than diamonds.” And he knew, already, that once he set her on her way, she would sprint beyond him.
    Very carefully she folded the paper and tucked it in her bag. “Thank you, Charlie. I’ll never forget it.”
    “I went to bed with him that night,” Eve said quietly. Her voice had thickened, but there were no tears. She no longer shed tears,